bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diet particle size influences tropical house cricket life history
Authors: Muzzatti M.J. , Kong J.D. , McColville E.R. , Brzezinski H. , Stabile C.C. , MacMillan H.A. , Bertram S.M.
Published: January 2025

Artificial diets are costly to produce, so diet efficiency is critically important to the success of mass rearing insects. One way to improve feed efficiency is through dietary particle size optimization. We tested whether individual crickets (Gryllodes sigillatus) reared on diets of different particle sizes (0.088-0.125 mm, 0.5-0.7 mm, and 1.0-1.4 mm) would grow differently. Crickets fed a diet ≥0.5 mm grew heavier during the first three weeks but weighed the same after six weeks regardless of diet size. We also tested for dietary size preference, and given a choice crickets consumed the most feed from the 1.0-1.4 mm diet. Next, we tested whether grinding diet to a powder and also pelleting the powder could influence life history. Powdered diet did not influence growth or development, but crickets fed a 2 mm pelleted diet grew larger body size. Overall, our results demonstrate that diet particle size can be leveraged to enhance cricket life history traits important to mass production, as growth was accelerated on larger particle size diets and crickets preferred to eat larger-sized diets. Researchers focusing on physical properties of insect diets should carefully consider the timing of growth and development milestones through which diet particle size may influence feed efficiency.
Optimization of ultrasonic-assisted extraction of total carotenoids from larvae of Antheraea pernyi (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) using response surface methodology
Authors: Li Q. , Pan Z.-Y. , Xie L. , Wang H. , Liu Y.-Q.
Published: January 2025

Carotenoids play multiple important functional roles in insects, including photoprotection, antioxidant, and coloration. Antheraea pernyi Guérin-Méneville, 1855 (Lepidoptera: Saturniidae) is an important traditional edible insect in China, with rich nutritional content and distinctive flavour. However, the information about the natural carotenoids in this edible insect is still extremely limited. The present study reports the quantitative of the carotenoids from the larvae of A. pernyi. Response surface methodology (RSM) analysis was used to optimize the extraction method. The results revealed that the optimal ultrasound-assisted extraction (UAE) condition was a liquid-solid ratio of 19.4 mL/g, extraction temperature of 59.2 °C and extraction time of 38.8 min. Under these conditions, the maximum extraction of total carotenoids yielded 145.184 μg/g of dried yellow-cyan larvae. The results indicated that A. pernyi was a potential natural carotenoids-rich edible insect.
An illustrated key to the praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) of India up to generic level
Authors: KAMILA A. P. , SURESHAN P. M.
Published: January 2025

A dichotomous key up to generic level is provided for the identification of Indian praying mantids (Insecta: Mantodea) with pictorial representations of 70 genera distributed over 13 families and 25 subfamilies.
Odontolabis pareoxa vietnamensis Yamamoto & Pham, a new subspecies of stag beetle (Coleoptera: Lucanidae) from northern Vietnam
Authors: YAMAMOTO SHÛHEI , PHAM PHU VAN
Published: January 2025

The stag beetle genus Odontolabis Hope, 1842 (Lucanidae: Odontolabini) contains approximately 60 species, predominantly restricted to the Oriental Region, with 6 named species from Vietnam. Here, we describe a new subspecies of Odontolabis pareoxa Bomans, Lacroix & Ratti, 1973 from Yên Bái Province in northern Vietnam: Odontolabis pareoxa vietnamensis Yamamoto & Pham, new subspecies. This new subspecies is distinguishable from the nominotypical subspecies by cephalic and pronotal characteristics in males. The findings also indicate a partial similarity in the stag beetle fauna between northern Vietnam and adjacent areas of northern Myanmar.
First description of male from parthenogenesis in a chironomid species Paratanytarsus grimmii (Schneider, 1885) (Diptera: Chironomidae)
Authors: KODAMA ATSUYA , SAITO HIDETOSHI , KAWAI KOICHIRO
Published: January 2025

Paratanytarsus grimmii (Schneider, 1885) is a parthenogenetic species of the family Chironomidae and a pest of water supply systems. This is an apomictic, parthenogenetic species that lacks males. Adult males of P. grimmii have not been known in previous studies, however have been described for the first time based on specimens reared from eggs in the laboratory and confirmed by DNA sequencing. The male of P. grimmii is closely related to those of P. laetipes (Zetterstedt, 1850) and P. toyaprimus Sasa, 1988 owing to shared morphological features of the hypopygium.
Rainfall Regression from C-Band Synthetic Aperture Radar Using Multitask Generative Adversarial Networks
Authors: Colin Aurélien , Husson Romain
Published: January 2025

This paper introduces a data-driven approach to estimate precipitation rates from synthetic aperture radar (SAR) at a spatial resolution of 200 m per pixel. It addresses previous challenges related to the collocation of SAR and weather radar data, specifically the misalignment in collocations and the scarcity of rainfall examples under strong wind. To tackle these challenges, the paper proposes a multiobjective formulation, introducing patch-level components and an adversarial component. It exploits the full NEXRAD archive to look for potential collocations with Sentinel-1 data. With additional enhancements to the training procedure and the incorporation of additional inputs, the resulting model demonstrates improved accuracy in rainfall estimates and the ability to extend its performance to scenarios up to 15 m s−1.

Significance Statement

Identifying rainfall events in coastal areas is crucial for correcting meteorological models and preventing hazards. However, quantitatively measuring precipitation in open ocean and coastal areas is challenging due to the availability and range of ground-based weather radars. Satellite-based observations can provide rain information with extensive spatial coverage and high frequency but usually lack resolution. The present paper proposes to complement existing methods with synthetic aperture radar (SAR). In association with observations from weather radar, it outlines an architecture to derive a relationship between SAR information and the precipitation rate.
Tracking Atmospheric Motions for Obtaining Wind Estimates Using Satellite Observations—From 2D to 3D
Authors: Li Jun , Santek David , Li Zhenglong , Lim Agnes , Di Di , Min Min , Velden Christopher , Menzel W. Paul
Published: January 2025

Weather satellites provide not only atmospheric thermodynamic and hydrometric information but also important dynamic information when high temporal data are used. Atmospheric motion vectors (AMVs) have been routinely derived from global geostationary satellite imagers over tropical and midlatitude regions and polar-orbiting satellite imagers over high-latitude regions since the 1990s and have been widely used in numerical weather prediction (NWP). These AMVs result from tracking clouds and moisture primarily from the infrared and visible bands. While the coverage is good where there are clouds and moisture targets, AMVs can only provide winds for a few tropospheric layers and thus lack vertical information. Recently, active remote sensing technologies have been developed for vertical wind profiling from satellites. Those wind estimates have good accuracy but limited spatial coverage. Expanding wind estimates from two-dimensional (2D) to three-dimensional (3D) over expansive domains is important for improving nowcasting and NWP applications. Hyperspectral infrared sounder observations from polar-orbiting satellites have been used for 3D wind exploration but lack the temporal resolution needed for 3D winds over tropical and midlatitude regions. The feasibility of 3D winds using geostationary hyperspectral infrared sounders has also been demonstrated and validated using 15-min Geostationary Interferometric Infrared Sounder observations. Tropospheric 3D winds will be better achieved through combining both active and passive observations in the future. This paper provides an overview on tracking features from satellites for obtaining tropospheric winds and the evolution from 2D to 3D coverage, along with their potential applications, challenges, and future perspectives.
Intraseasonal Oscillation Intensity Variations of the Atmospheric Heat Source over the Tibetan Plateau and Their Relationship with Summer Precipitation
Authors: Zhu Zhu , Wang Meirong , Wang Jun , Duan Anmin , Liu Boqi , Yu Zhongshui
Published: January 2025

This study investigates intraseasonal oscillation intensity (ISOI) variations of the atmospheric heat source over the Tibetan Plateau (TP) during 1979–2020 and their relationship with local summer precipitation. Our analysis reveals that 10–20-day oscillation predominates over TP, followed by 20–30-day oscillation. ISOIs of both periodicities exhibit significant interannual and decadal variations, with notable weakening trends, particularly over the southern TP. Further analysis indicates a strong relationship between the ISOI and the north–south reversed variations in precipitation across the TP. Mechanically, a weakening of the 10–20-day ISOI correlates with decreased water vapor transport from the Bay of Bengal and the Arabian Sea into the southern TP. This reduction, combined with upper–lower circulation anomalies, leads to a downdraft over the southern TP and reduced precipitation here. Conversely, when the 20–30-day ISOI weakens, water vapor transport from the Arabian Sea into the southern TP diminishes while accumulating over the northeastern TP. Together, an anticlockwise meridional circulation occurs between the northern and southern TPs, causing decreased precipitation in the southern TP and increased precipitation in the northern TP. Dynamic diagnostics further identifies that negative temperature advection and changes in nonadiabatic heating dQ/dt are crucial for the downdraft over the southern TP when the 10–20-day ISOI weakens. In contrast, the weakening of the 20–30-day ISOI involves horizontal relative vorticity and temperature advection in midlevel and upper level, along with dQ/dt in lower levels, which contributes to the downdraft over the southern TP. Meanwhile, the updraft over the northern TP is predominantly linked to horizontal relative vorticity.

Significance Statement

Intraseasonal oscillation intensity (ISOI) variations can influence climate changes across multiple scales. This study focuses on recent variations in ISOI over the Tibetan Plateau (TP), an area where such effects remain poorly understood. We explore the relationship between ISOI and the north–south reversed variations in summer mean precipitation over the TP, revealing the associated potential physical mechanisms and dynamical processes. Our findings highlight the significant connection between ISOI and climate changes.
Selective re-partnering? Mental health and life satisfaction among separated single mothers in Germany and the UK
Authors: Dierker Philipp , Kühn Mine , Myrskylä Mikko
Published: January 2025

This study examines the potential influence of selection on the association between re-partnering and single mothers’ mental health and life satisfaction in Germany and the United Kingdom. Drawing on extensive longitudinal panel data, we analyze the trajectories of 1694 separated single mothers in Germany (SOEP) and 1070 in the UK (BHPS/UKHLS). Employing fixed effects models, we examine the outcomes before and after entry into single motherhood and compare trajectories of stably single mothers and re-partnered single mothers. In both countries, the findings weakly indicate that prior to entering single motherhood, re-partnered mothers exhibit higher levels of life satisfaction, suggesting positive selection. Increasing differences in life satisfaction after the transition into single motherhood between mothers that re-partner and stably single mothers indicate a positive association of re-partnering and life satisfaction. No evidence of mental health selection into re-partnering was found in either country, but the trajectory of re-partnered mothers in Germany shows a stronger increase than that of mothers who remain single.
Effectiveness of a Dedicated Rural General Surgery Residency Track: A 13-Year Analysis of the First ACGME Designated Rural Track
Authors: Barber Jude C. , Velez David R. , Johnson Stefan W. , Sticca Robert P.
Published: January 2025

Background

The shortage of general surgeons in rural America is well documented. The North Dakota community–based general surgery residency program initiated a unique approach to training for rural practice through a dedicated rural track. The rural track included 9 months of rotations in specialty rotations beneficial for rural practice. This study analyzed practice patterns and satisfaction of residents completing rural track training.

Methods

An anonymous voluntary survey was sent to rural track graduates between 2010 and 2022 via the Qualtrics Web site.

Data Collection Included

Specialty rotations completed, specialty procedures currently performing, satisfaction with rural track training, and recommended specialty rotations for future rural track graduates.

Results

Twelve of fifteen graduates (80%) responded. Eighty-three percent of respondents chose the rural track because they desired practice in rural areas and/or desired broad-spectrum surgical practice. One hundred percent of the graduates were satisfied with their training. Seventy-five percent of the graduates came from a rural background, and 75% either previously practiced or currently practice in a rural community. Procedural data demonstrated that 67% of the graduates performed endoscopy procedures, 42% performed hand procedures, and 47% performed C-sections. Rural track graduates desired more experience in urology (50%), ENT, OBGYN, and advanced endoscopy (33%). Experience in plastic surgery, GI, hand surgery, dermatology, and IR was cited as beneficial.

Conclusion

The rural track graduates found significant value in their rural track training that benefited them in practice. Three quarters of the graduates entered rural surgery practice, performing a broad spectrum of procedures.
Sexuality education, populism, and the promise of critical health education studies
Authors: Howlett Caitlin
Published: January 2025

Across disciplines, discourses, and borders, there is agreement among scholars that populism poses a serious threat to efforts to preserve and promote the humanity, legitimacy, and safety of individuals and populations who transgress traditional, Western, European, and patriarchal norms about sex, gender, and sexuality. Unsurprisingly, these contentions are often reflected and reproduced in debates about sex and sexuality education. This paper is concerned with the function of ambiguity in populist discourses, ultimately identifying it as a key feature not just of populist discourse but of sex education debates in general. I use a queer of colour critique as a framework for exploring how ambiguous and vague claims about ‘the people’ act as spaces for circulating sexist, racist, and xenophobic politics by focusing on how that ambiguity attempts to erase its politics. Queer of colour critique also illuminates liberalism’s own tendency towards depoliticisation. This suggests that sex education scholars would benefit from better understanding right-wing populist appeals to ‘the people’ as an attempt to depoliticise the political, by shifting discourse to questions of morality. However, I argue it is also necessary to reflect upon the use of this strategy within liberal spaces and question its ability to offer resistance to right-wing populism as a result. The paper ends by discussing the potential value of insisting, as researchers and activists, that sex and sexuality education be studied, imagined, and implemented as an explicitly political project, a project that might find inspiration in critical scholarship responding to the limits of traditional health education studies.
Archives of the Afterlife: The Disappearance of the British Empire’s Dead in Twentieth-Century China
Authors: Vu Linh D.
Published: January 2025

For a century, from the First Opium War (1839–1842) to the beginning of the Second World War (1937–1945) in China, cemeteries were established in many Chinese cities for the growing population of foreign dead, the majority of whom were British citizens. However, the retreat of the British Empire, the Chinese Civil War (1946–1949), and the People’s Republic of China’s desire for growth affected British necropolises. This article shows that despite the compassion and efforts of the Foreign Office and consular staff, bureaucratic hurdles and established legal precedents made it impossible to protect British cemeteries, especially after the destruction of the Cultural Revolution (1966–1976). Diving into the archives of the afterlife of the British Empire’s dead, we learn how dead bodies continue to matter greatly in the distant memories of living relatives, in the secularized bureaucratic exchanges, and in the diplomatic power play.
Music in religion
Authors: Latif Muhammad Asad
Published: January 2025

This article examines the connection between religious and musical experiences and the shared elements that have contributed to their potent emotional impact. Both music and religion have improved the lives of various cultures around the world for decades because of their capacity to foster emotions of joy, clarity and escape from daily life. Several viewpoints are discussed in relation to this link, through the topic of music composed for religious ceremonies and prayers. These pieces, which are intended to bring listeners closer to their higher selves, may be beneficial for both individuals and groups in a range of favourable and unfavourable circumstances and serve as a suitable counterbalance to the solace that comes from religion. This study aims to shed more light on the similarities between music and religion and what it is about them that appeals to people.
Robust finite-time contractive stability analysis of faulty linear network-based control systems with an aperiodic sampling and adaptive event-triggered scheme
Authors: Jani Farzaneh , Hashemzadeh Farzad , Baradarannia Mahdi , Kharrati Hamed
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the problem of finite-time contractive stability analysis and observer-based [Formula: see text] fault-tolerant control (FTC) for linear network-based control systems subject to network-induced time-varying delay. It is assumed that the faults occur in the both actuator and sensor components. For the sake of data transmission reduction, an aperiodic-sampling-based adaptive event-triggered scheme is used, in which the interval between two sampling instants varies within a certain known bound, and the event threshold is adjusted by using the adaptive rule. An unknown input observer (UIO) is used to estimate the system states and faults simultaneously. Then, using Lyapunov–Krasovskii stability theory, delay-dependent sufficient conditions for the observer-based FTC of the networked control system (NCS) are derived. These conditions are presented in the form of linear matrix inequalities (LMIs), ensuring that both the error system and the closed-loop NCS achieve finite-time contractive stability while simultaneously satisfying the [Formula: see text] performance index. Finally, a simulation example is provided to demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed design approach.
Two-layer path planning framework for WMRs in dynamic environments: Optimized ant colony algorithm and dynamic window approach
Authors: Liu Hongshuo , Yue Ming , Liu Minghao , Su Longfei , Zhao Xudong
Published: January 2025

This paper proposes a two-layer path planning method for wheeled mobile robots (WMRs), where an improved ant colony optimization (ACO) and optimized dynamic window approach (DWA) algorithms are used, at the global and local layer, respectively. This method allows WMRs to plan a high-quality path under complex dynamic scenarios, while costing less traveling time and energy consumption. At the level of global path planning, a modified ACO algorithm is presented which incorporates a path duplicate counter, a new heuristic function and path smoothing operation to enhance the feasibility and robustness of global path planning. At the level of local path planning, based on DWA, an optimization method composed by energy evaluation and dynamic obstacle avoidance evaluation sub-function is proposed to save the energy cost, while enhancing the ability of WMRs to avoid moving obstacles. This study aims to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of path planning for WMRs using a combination of ACO and DWA algorithms, such that the proposed algorithm can be applied to multi-obstacle environment to execute dynamic objects avoidance. Finally, a multi-blockage environment involved with dynamic obstacles are simulated to verify the proposed path planning method.
Understanding individual preferences over political appointees: Evidence from a conjoint experiment
Authors: Wang Ching-Hsing
Published: January 2025

Political appointments matter for the functioning of democracy. Although previous research has discussed political appointments from the institutional perspective, little scholarly attention has been paid to understanding individual preferences for political appointees. Utilizing a conjoint experiment in Taiwan, this study finds that individuals tend to favor the selection of candidates who exhibit professional competence, maintain a non-partisan stance and have strong ties to the local community when considering individuals for political appointments within the region. In addition, there is little evidence for the interactions between the candidate’s attributes and the respondent’s political characteristics to drive individual choices of political appointees. The results imply that political leaders should prioritize attributes such as professional competence, non-partisanship and strong local ties when making political appointments. Overall, this study represents one of the few efforts to examine public attitudes towards political appointments and provides insights into individual inclinations regarding political appointees.
For richer, for poorer: Financial communication, power (im)balance, and social sabotage among U.S. different-gender couples
Authors: Li Xiaomin , Kong Dexia , Khan Muhammad Aamir , LeBaron-Black Ashley B. , Holmes Erin K. , James Spencer , Yorgason Jeremy
Published: January 2025

Adopting feminist and intersectional perspectives, this study focused on gendered experiences in financial communication, power dynamics, and social sabotage across lower- versus higher-income couples. Three-wave, dyadic data were collected from 1,093 married couples between 2020 and 2022, covering the period before, during, and after the COVID-19 pandemic. Employing a random-intercept, actor-partner interdependence cross-lagged panel model (i.e., RI-APIM-CLPM), this study was among the initial ones to investigate bidirectional, longitudinal associations among financial communication, power dynamics, and social sabotage. Across high- and low-income couples, bidirectional associations emerged between financial communication and social sabotage. Yet it was unexpected that financial communication problems and the experiences of being socially sabotaged seem to have depleted (vs. reinforced) each other for wives in the higher-income group. Unidirectional associations emerged such that financial communication predicted power (im)balance in high-income couples. Unidirectional associations emerged among low-income couples such that power (im)balance predicted financial communication problems and social sabotage. Our findings collectively suggested a spiral of financial communication problems, power inequity, and social sabotage. Our findings also demonstrated that wives in higher- and lower-income couples faced challenges during the COVID-19 pandemic, though these challenges manifested in distinct forms. Thus, we remind practitioners and researchers of the necessity of considering the unique needs of men and women across different income statuses when addressing issues of financial communication problems, inequitable power, and social sabotage.
Exploring news gratifications across age groups: A European study in 23 countries
Authors: Recalde Mónica , Vara-Miguel Alfonso , Pérez Jorge del Río , Sánchez-Blanco Cristina
Published: January 2025

Research on motivations for news consumption has primarily focused on uses and gratifications (U&G) from both conventional and new media. However, there is a gap regarding age perspectives in this field. This study aims to address this gap by examining whether differences and similarities exist in the motivations for news consumption among the citizens of 23 European countries. Analyzing data from 45,073 respondents, the study finds significant variations in motivation across age groups, particularly in informational, learning, entertaining, and social gratifications. Interestingly, there are no age-based differences in motivation driven by civic duties. Furthermore, the study shows that country differences do not significantly influence the relationship between age and motivation. The results add valuable insights into both academics and practitioners in the field of news of consumption and expand knowledge of the current literature.
Risk Factors for Recurrent Instability After Arthroscopic Bankart Repair in Pediatric and Adolescent Patients: A Systematic Review
Authors: Warner Tyler , Kay Jeffrey , McInnis Shane , Heyworth Benton E.
Published: January 2025

Background:

While risk factors for recurrent instability (RI) after arthroscopic Bankart repair (ABR) for anterior glenohumeral instability (aGHI) have been well established in adult populations, there is much less evidence in pediatric and adolescent patients, despite being the most affected epidemiologic subpopulation.

Purpose:

To identify the clinical, demographic, radiologic, and operative risk factors for RI after ABR for aGHI in pediatric and adolescent patients.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

This systematic review was performed according to the PRISMA guidelines (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses). Three databases (PubMed, Embase, and Ovid [MEDLINE]) were searched from data inception to July 5, 2023, using the terms “pediatric,”“shoulder instability,” and “Bankart repair,” allowing data on patients with age up to 19 years. The Methodological Index for Non-randomized Studies tool was used to assess the quality of included studies.

Results:

Eleven studies met the criteria, with 767 patients (770 shoulders) with a mean age of 16.4 years (range, 12-19; 18% female). The pooled RI rate was 28%, and the revision aGHI surgery rate was 20%. The following risk factors were identified for RI after ABR, in descending order of frequency of identification, in terms of number of studies: younger age and greater glenoid bone loss, as well as the presence and/or greater size of a Hill-Sachs lesion (HSL) (2 studies each), followed by off-track HSL, >1 dislocation before index surgery, overhead and/or contact sports participation, larger anterior labral tear size, loss of glenoid retroversion, greater number of anchors used, lower postoperative patient-reported outcome scores (PROs), nonunion after bony Bankart repair, and absence of concomitant remplissage (1 study each).

Conclusion:

In pediatric and adolescent patients with aGHI, the most common risk factors identified for RI after ABR were younger age, greater glenoid bone loss, and the presence and greater size of an HSL. Other risk factors included >1 dislocation before index surgery, participation in overhead and/or contact sports, larger anterior labral tear size, loss of glenoid retroversion, greater number of anchors used, lower postoperative PROs, nonunion after bony Bankart repair, and absence of concomitant remplissage.
The Association Between Delaying Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction in Adolescents and Increasing Meniscal and Chondral Pathology: A Cohort Study of 2740 Adolescents
Authors: Hickie Kirsten L. , Salmon Lucy J. , Gooden Benjamin R. , Lyons Matthew C. , Sundaraj Keran , Carmody David , Huang Phil , Pinczewski Leo A. , Roe Justin P.
Published: January 2025

Background:

A growing body of evidence surrounds secondary meniscal and cartilage pathology after delay to anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstruction (ACLR). Many of these studies focus on or include an adult population.

Purpose:

To elucidate the prevalence of secondary meniscal and chondral pathology with delay to ACLR in the adolescent population as well as examine the influence of sex, skeletal maturity, and trends over the years.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A prospective database was used to identify all patients younger than 19 years who underwent ACLR at the authors’ center between January 1993 and April 2023. Operative data including meniscal and chondral injury and treatment were prospectively recorded at the time of ACLR. A retrospective analysis was performed assessing the relationship between meniscal treatment and chondral injury at ACLR and the time from injury to ACLR, controlling for age, sex, and decade of surgery with multiple regression analysis. Prevalence of meniscal and chondral surgery at ACLR was examined over time and compared between sexes and age groups.

Results:

A total of 2740 patients were identified with a median age of 17 years (range, 7-19 years). Surgical delay of 5 to 12 months increased the risk of medial meniscal tear requiring surgery by 1.6 (95% CI, 1.1-2.2; P = .007). Surgical delay >12 months increased the risk of medial meniscal tear requiring surgery by 4.2 (95% CI, 3.1-5.8; P = .001) and medial chondral injury by 3.4 (95% CI, 2.2-5.1; P = .001). The repairability of medial meniscal tears decreased with greater delay to reconstruction (57% before 5 months vs 19% after 12 months; P = .001). Lateral meniscal tear repairability followed a similar trend. More male than female participants had secondary pathology (46% vs 39%; P = .001). Patients aged 14-19 years had more meniscal surgery and chondral pathology compared with those younger than 14 years (45% vs 30%, P = .001).

Conclusion:

Surgical delay >4 months from injury is associated with a steady increase in the prevalence of medial meniscal and chondral pathology in adolescents with ACL rupture. If ACL surgery is delayed >12 months, the odds of requiring medial meniscal surgery is increased by a factor of 4 and the odds of having a chondral lesion is increased by a factor of 3. Timely diagnosis of ACL injury and early surgical referral are important for reducing the odds of meniscal and chondral pathology in adolescents.
Women without a tactical advantage: Boko Haram's female suicide bombers
Authors: Ryckman Kirssa Cline , Henshaw Alexis Leanna
Published: January 2025

Female suicide bombers are increasingly deployed by terror groups, which is often explained by their tactical advantage: women are more likely to reach their targets and tend to generate higher levels of fatalities. However, the women of Boko Haram – the most prolific user of female suicide attackers – lack this tactical advantage. To address this puzzle, we consider the ways in which alternative motivations to deploy female attackers, including logistical and publicity benefits, undercut this tactical advantage. Boko Haram deploys women, in part, because they are viewed as expendable, yet unwilling and undertrained attackers can lead to fewer fatalities. Women also enjoy a publicity benefit, yet greater media attention can diminish the benefits of being an unsuspected perpetrator over time, increasing the chances that women will be intercepted in when carrying out attacks.
Enhanced swin transformer based tuberculosis classification with segmentation using chest X-ray
Authors: Visu P , Sathiya V , Ajitha P , Surendran R
Published: January 2025

Background: 

Tuberculosis disease is the disease that causes significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. Thus, early detection of the disease is crucial for proper treatment and controlling the spread of Tuberculosis disease. Chest X-ray imaging is one of the most widely used diagnostic tools for detecting the Tuberculosis, which is time-consuming, and prone to errors. Nowadays, deep learning model provides the automated classification of medical images with promising outcome.

Objective: 

Thus, this research introduced a deep learning based segmentation and classification model. Initially, the Adaptive Gaussian Filtering based pre-processing and data augmentation is performed to remove artefacts and biased outcome. Then, Attention UNet (A_UNet) based segmentation is proposed for segmenting the required region of Chest X-ray.

Methods: 

Using the segmented outcome, Enhanced Swin Transformer (EnSTrans) model based Tuberculosis classification model is designed with Residual Pyramid Network based Multi-layer perceptron (MLP) layer for enhancing the classification accuracy.

Results: 

Enhanced Lotus Effect Optimization (EnLeO) Algorithm is employed for the loss function optimization of the EnSTrans model.

Conclusions: 

The proposed methods acquired the Accuracy, Recall, Precision, F-score, and Specificity of 99.0576%, 98.9459%, 99.145%, 98.96%, and 99.152% respectively.
Baclofinding solutions: Baclofen-induced encephalopathy in a peritoneal dialysis patient
Authors: AlShaqaq Ali , Al Sahlawi Muthana , Amir Abdulrazack , Ahmed Mahmoud , Alkhunaizi Ahmed
Published: January 2025

Baclofen is a gamma-aminobutyric acid agonist that is commonly and widely used for the treatment of muscle spasticity. Given its predominant kidney excretion, patients with reduced kidney function are at particular risk of drug accumulation and toxicity, with neurotoxicity in the form of drowsiness, encephalopathy, seizures, and coma being the most reported clinical features. In addition to the importance of early identification of baclofen toxicity and drug discontinuation, dialysis can effectively accelerate baclofen elimination given its small molecule weight, and the relatively low volume of distribution and weak protein binding. While several cases of baclofen-induced toxicity have been reported in hemodialysis patients, the literature on baclofen toxicity in individuals receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD) is limited. Here, we present a case of baclofen-induced encephalopathy in a PD patient following a single dose of baclofen. In this case, our patient was managed by continuous (24 h) automated PD, with complete recovery of neurological status within three days.
Substitution Group Effects in Gas Separation with Polyimides
Authors: Toi Keio , Tsuzumi Hiroyuki , Ito Tomoyasu
Published: January 2025

The diffusion coefficients and the solubility coefficients of oxygen, nitrogen and carbon dioxide below 1.3 atm were measured for seven polyimides, chemical structures of which were systematically changed. The solubility is better described according to a dual-mode sorption model, rather than Henry's law, from the sorption experiments. The diffusivities correlated with packing density (reciprocal of specific free volume) of the polymer. except in the case of two polyimides. The packing density of these two polymers may not be successfully calculated by Bondi's method. However, all the diffusion coefficients decreased linearly with an increase in the cohesive energy density (CEO), calculated by the group contribution method of van Krevelen. These results suggest that gas diffusion in polyimides correlates with CEO better than with the packing density. Therefore, the cohesive energy density can be considered a more reliable indicator ofthe efficient gas separation. In this study, the reason why the cohesive energy density shows a more reliable correlation to the transport coefficient is also discussed.
Ethical considerations in the UK-Nepal nurse recruitment: Nepali nurses’ perspectives
Authors: Ghimire Animesh , Qiu Yunjing , Neupane Mamata Sharma , Ghimire Purushottam
Published: January 2025

Background

The global migration of nurses from resource-constrained to affluent nations raises complex ethical concerns, often rooted in historical power imbalances and neocolonial legacies. The Nepal-UK Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on nurse recruitment, while presented as a solution to workforce shortages, exemplifies this complex dynamic, prompting critical questions about its implications for individual nurses and the healthcare systems involved.

Aim

This qualitative study explored the ethical complexities and dilemmas associated with the Nepal-UK nurse recruitment Memorandum of Understanding (MoU). This bilateral agreement has sparked debate about its potential impact on both individual nurses and the healthcare systems of Nepal and the UK.

Research Design

A qualitative exploratory design utilizing semi-structured interviews was employed. Data were analyzed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Participants and Research Context

Twelve Nepali nurses from two private hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepal, participated in the study.

Ethical Considerations

The study was approved by the Nepal Health Research Council. All participants provided informed consent and were assured of confidentiality and anonymity.

Results

Four themes emerged from the data: (1) The lingering legacy of colonialism casts a shadow on the Nepal-UK relationship, raising concerns about potential exploitation and unequal power dynamics. (2) Nepali nurses grapple with the ethical dilemmas of pursuing personal dreams while acknowledging their responsibilities towards their communities and Nepal’s healthcare system. (3) The MoU’s claims of ethical recruitment are scrutinized, with nurses questioning its fairness and sustainability. (4) The agreement is challenged as a potential band-aid solution that may perpetuate global health inequities rather than fostering a genuine partnership.

Conclusions

The Nepal-UK MoU, while offering opportunities for individual nurses, also raises alarms about brain drain, exploitation, and the perpetuation of global health disparities. The study underscores the urgent need for a paradigm shift in international nurse recruitment practices, prioritizing genuine partnership, equitable distribution of benefits, and sustainable solutions that address the root causes of healthcare workforce challenges in both source and destination countries.
Urban regeneration projects and the role of municipal officials: A strategy-as-practice perspective
Authors: Mizzau Lorenzo , Montanari Fabrizio , Rodighiero Stefano , Rinaldini Matteo
Published: January 2025

Urban regeneration projects are increasingly used as cities face complex problems and challenges involving economic, social, and environmental issues. Such projects are marked by considerable complexity given the variety of actors involved and the diversity of their claims. A challenge, however, emerges as to how engage such actors and integrate their varied inputs with various administrative and organizational constraints, leading projects that are both participated and well implemented. This article analyzes how such challenge was practically tackled by a municipal administration managing a small-scale, public-led urban regeneration project in Reggio Emilia, Italy. Drawing on a strategy-as-practice perspective, our qualitative study illuminates the strategizing process and practices through which public officials can achieve project closure by balancing participation and constraints, contributing to the literature on collaborative urban regeneration projects and discussing the role of municipal officials in this light.
Impact of Business Environment on Trade Flows: Evidence from RCEP Countries
Authors: Sy Vo , Karlsson Thomas , Mingxia Zhu
Published: January 2025

This study is a pioneering investigation of the business environment’s impact on trade flows among Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership signatories. It measures the impact on trade flows using a gravity model, including factors such as business regulations, infrastructure and border and transport efficiency. A two-step Heckman procedure estimates the probability of receiving inward foreign direct investment. The results indicate that business regulations have a positive impact on trade flows and the probability of receiving investment. In addition, border and transportation efficiency is correlated with increased bilateral trade. However, infrastructure investment, although crucial for promoting bilateral trade, proves negatively correlated with receiving investment. These results are robust to standard econometric checks. Thus, this study indicates that partnership signatories must focus on improving their domestic business environments to reap the full benefits of the trade agreement.
Streptococcus hillyeri isolated from septic pleuritis in a horse
Authors: Albert Ervin , Biksi Imre , Laczkó Levente , Miló László , Cseri Karolina , Bőkényné Tóth Renáta , Papp Dalma , Halmay Dóra , Bódai Emese , Bakos Zoltán
Published: January 2025

Here we report the isolation of Streptococcus hillyeri from a thoracic sample from a horse. A 17-y-old Hungarian Sport Horse mare was referred to the equine clinic of the University of Veterinary Medicine Budapest, Hungary, with suspected pleuritis. Upon arrival, the horse was febrile and had tachycardia, severe inspiratory dyspnea, and tachypnea. Thoracic ultrasonography revealed severe bilateral pleural effusion, and a large area of lung consolidation. After sampling of both hemithoraces, 66 L of turbid exudate were drained. Based on these findings, a tentative diagnosis of septic pleuritis was made, and the horse was immediately started on a course of broad-spectrum antibiotics, a NSAID, an anticoagulant, and intravenous fluids. Despite intensive care, the clinical parameters deteriorated, and the horse was euthanized 6 d later. Cytology confirmed septic pleuritis, with short chains or groups of coccoid bacteria. Anaerobic culture yielded gram-positive cocci from both hemithoraces in almost pure culture, which we identified as S. hillyeri by 16S rDNA and whole-genome analysis. Additionally, we identified 4 previously unassigned Streptococcus sp. sequences as S. hillyeri. Of these, 3 were obtained from aborted equine fetuses and a fourth from a donkey mastitis case, supporting the pathogenic nature of S. hillyeri in these host species.
Mental Health, Family, and Work-Life Consequences of Pregnancy Loss: A Qualitative Study of Black Canadian Women
Authors: Boakye Priscilla N. , Prendergast Nadia , Mugambi Diana , Thomas Obewu Ola Abanta
Published: January 2025

Pregnancy loss is a traumatic event that has far-reaching consequences for affected women and their families. While most studies have focused on the immediate stressors Black women face after a pregnancy loss, little is known about the consequences beyond this period. The purpose of this study was to explore the experiences of Black Canadian women beyond the immediate period of pregnancy loss. Using an exploratory qualitative design, we purposely recruited and interviewed 32 Black Canadian women with lived experience of pregnancy loss. Guided by thematic analysis approach, we identified three themes: (a) experiencing mental health breakdown, (b) struggling to maintain emotional connection with family, and (c) dealing with the stress of returning to work. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of the long-term impact of pregnancy loss on Black Canadian women's mental health, family, and work-life. Providing ongoing follow-up care is crucial to identifying and addressing the risk of depression and suicide that Black Canadian women experience after a pregnancy loss.
Use of Local Anesthesia in Adolescent and Adults Undergoing Cleft Lip Repair or Revision: A Systematic Review
Authors: Mansour Amer , Najjar Wassim , Garcia-Garcia Jose A , Annan Beyhan , Vyas Raj M. , Hamdan Usama S.
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aims to assess the safety and efficacy of solely using local anesthetics for cleft lip repair and/or revision in adolescent and adult patients.

Design

Systematic review.

Setting

Clinical studies describing the use of local anesthetics in cleft lip repair procedures.

Patients, Participants

A literature search was conducted using PubMed, Google Scholar, and Embase following the PRISMA 2025 guidelines. Inclusion criteria were studies focusing exclusively on local anesthetic techniques in adolescent or adult patients undergoing cleft lip procedures. Non-English studies, studies involving patients under the age of 10, or those undergoing cleft palate or other otolaryngological procedures were excluded. Risk of bias was addressed by using a modified Downs and Black checklist.

Interventions

Review of local anesthetic use alone for adult and adolescent patients undergoing cleft lip repair or revision.

Main Outcomes

The main studied outcomes were any reported general perioperative complications, the necessity of switching to general anesthesia, patients’ self-reported pain during the surgery, wound dehiscence, wound infection, and the need for postoperative narcotics for pain control.

Results

The included studies demonstrated consistent evidence supporting the sole use of local anesthesia for cleft lip repair and revision, with absence of wound dehiscence or infection. Most patients reported minimal to no pain and required no general anesthesia during the procedures.

Conclusions

The current literature supports the safety and efficacy of local anesthesia alone for cleft lip repair and revision procedures. This modality offers a promising approach in resource-limited countries where access to general anesthesia is often limited.
Osteoid Osteoma in an Elderly Patient: Diagnostic Challenges
Authors: Koga Shunsuke , Du Wei , Cipriano Cara A. , Cooper Kumarasen
Published: January 2025

Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone tumor commonly affecting young individuals, with a rare occurrence in older adults. It typically presents with night pain relieved by nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs and is characterized radiographically by a small, radiolucent nidus surrounded by reactive sclerosis. We present a 70-year-old female patient with persistent right hip pain, initially diagnosed as arthritis, who underwent total hip arthroplasty. Preoperative imaging findings were inconclusive, showing edema and degenerative changes without a definitive lesion. Histopathological examination of the arthroplasty specimen revealed a nodule consistent with osteoid osteoma. This report highlights the diagnostic challenge of osteoid osteoma in elderly patients, where symptoms may be atypical and overlap with other conditions like osteoarthritis.
Validation of the Slovenian Intimate Violence and Traumatic Affect Scale (S-VITA)
Authors: Krohne Nina , Leo Diego De , Poštuvan Vita
Published: January 2025

This study addresses the scarcity of quantitative tools for assessing the mental health consequences of intimate partner violence on women, focusing on validating the Slovenian translation of the Intimate Violence and Traumatic Affect Scale (S-VITA). Using an online cross-sectional design, we surveyed a representative sample of 1,016 Slovenian women, with 275 experiencing intimate partner violence (IPV). Confirmatory factor analysis, performed on the IPV subsample, supported the proposed four-factor model (Fear, Terror, Guilt, and Shame) with strong internal consistency. The scale demonstrated robust construct and divergent, convergent, and cross-cultural validity. With compelling psychometric properties, we recommend its adoption by Slovenian professionals and researchers, suggesting its applicability in diverse linguistic contexts.