bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Deep neural network–powered ground-motion models for acceleration spectrum intensity, Housner’s spectrum intensity, and displacement spectrum intensity
Authors: Wang Mao-Xin , Wang Gang
Published: January 2025

This study develops new ground-motion models (GMMs) for acceleration spectrum intensity ( ASI), Housner’s spectrum intensity ( SI), and displacement spectrum intensity ( DSI) using the NGA-West2 database. A deep neural network (DNN)-based mixed-effects regression approach is presented for the model development accounting for the between-event and within-event variability. The performance evaluation results show the generally unbiased and reliable predictions with R-squared values exceeding 0.9 on both training and testing data. A hybrid-scenario method is subsequently employed to conduct the semi-blind test on large datasets that are not directly used in model development, illustrating favorable model generalization capability. Meanwhile, the DNN models exhibit physically reasonable magnitude and distance scaling characteristics, producing comparable median trends with the existing NGA-West2 GMM-embedded indirect approach. Yet, the major advantage of the new models is their ability to achieve lower statistical dispersion using fewer input parameters (i.e. (moment magnitude Mw, rupture distance Rrup, upper 30-m shear-wave velocity VS30, and focal mechanism indicator) or ( Mw, Rrup, VS30, focal mechanism indicator, depth to top of rupture Ztor, and depth to 1 km/s shear-wave velocity, Z1)). Incorporating Ztor and Z1 into the DNN models yields 10%–20% reduction in mean squared error, while the benefit of adding predictor variables is less pronounced for the functional form-based classical regression models. The new models are applicable to shallow crustal earthquakes with 3 ≤  Mw ≤ 7.9, 0 ≤  Rrup ≤ 400 km, and 150 ≤  VS30 ≤ 1500 m/s.
Development and Validation of a Clinical, CT, Genomic Classifier and BAL Scoring System for Diagnosing IPF
Authors: Kam Michelle Li Wei , Tjong Elysia LH , Chaudhary Sachin , Koelsch Tilman L. , Pryor Joseph B. , Koslow Matthew , Mohning Michael P. , Solomon Joshua J. , Huie Tristan J. , Swigris Jeffrey J. , Fernández Pérez Evans R.
Published: January 2025

The utility of incorporating a usual interstitial pneumonia (UIP) genomic classifier (GC) and bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) cell count analysis alongside traditional clinical-imaging assessment in aiding in the multidisciplinary diagnosis of IPF in patients with a non-definite HRCT UIP pattern is uncertain.

We reviewed consecutive adult patients presenting with fibrotic interstitial lung disease (fILD) and non-definite HRCT UIP pattern who underwent BAL and GC. The initial fILD diagnoses were re-evaluated after bronchoscopy and a final multidisciplinary consensus diagnosis was provided. We created a clinical score by analyzing fILD clinical characteristics, GC, and BAL results from 139 National Jewish Health (NJH) patients and validated it at the University of Arizona, n=52. A multivariable model was developed and assessed using receiver operating characteristic curves.

43/139 (31%) and 29/52 (56%) of patients in the derivation and validation cohort, respectively, were diagnosed with IPF after bronchoscopy, and 85/139 (61%) and 32/52 (61%) had a change in treatment, respectively. Compared to non-IPF, IPF patients had a similar progression-free survival (HR, 1.50; 95%CI, 0.76, 2.95). The final model, assigned a score to eight predictors: age, sex, HRCT probable UIP pattern, exposures, connective tissue disease signs/symptoms, Velcro crackles, CG results, and BAL lymphocyte and monocyte count. The final score demonstrated an AUC of 0.90 (95% CI 0.85 to 0.95) in the derivation cohort and 0.91 (95% CI 0.83 to 0.99) in the validation cohort.

The clinical-HRCT-BAL-GC IPF score may accurately estimate the post-test probability of IPF in patients with a non-definite HRCT UIP pattern.
Effect of water- and land-based exercise on lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition: secondary results from a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Ogonowska-Slodownik Anna , Labecka Marta Kinga , Maciejewska-Skrendo Agnieszka , Morgulec-Adamowicz Natalia , Starczewski Michał , Gajewski Jan , McNamara Renae J , Kaczmarczyk Katarzyna
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the effect of water- and land-based exercise on lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition.

Methods

This was a randomized controlled trial with multigroup pretest-posttest design. Children with post COVID-19 condition aged 10–12 years were randomly assigned to water-based exercise (AQUA), land-based exercise (LAND), or control group with no exercise (CONTROL). The outcomes were the changes in lung function (Lungtest Handy) from baseline to immediately after the 8-week intervention. Parameters measured included forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), and vital capacity (VC).

Results

After the intervention, there was a significant difference (p<0.01) between the AQUA and LAND groups compared to the CONTROL group for FEV1values (F(2,64)=6.80; p=0.91; p<0.01, η2=0.18), and significant differences between CONTROL and AQUA groups (p<0.01) and CONTROL and LAND groups (p<0.05) for FEV1(F(2,64)=6.96; p=0.91; p<0.01, η2=0.18). Repetitions-Groups interactions for FEV1/%FVC (F(2,64)=0.71, p=0.162, p>0.05,η2=0.030) showed that the changes that occurred varied from group to group and the reason for this was an upward trend in LAND and AQUA and a downward trend in CONTROL.

Conclusion

The study found that a supervised twice weekly 8-week exercise training program in water and on land improved lung function in children with post COVID-19 condition.
Familial risk and phenotypic variation of sarcoidosis in the Icelandic population
Authors: Arnadottir Berglind , Jonasson Jon G , Haraldsdottir Sigridur O , Gislason Thorarinn , Gudbjornsson Bjorn
Published: January 2025

Background

The familial risk of sarcoidosis is heterogeneous, previous studies demonstrate conflicting results. The present study maps the pattern of familial distribution of all known, biopsy-verified sarcoidosis in the Icelandic population (1981–2021).

Methods

All cases were re-confirmed and categorized into one of the five phenotypic groups described by Schuppet al., and in different groups based on disease severity. Distant relationships were accurately traced for relatives of sarcoidosis patients and their mates using the nationwide Icelandic Genealogy Database. This allows creation of matched control groups for the calculation of Relative Risk (RR) and Kinship Coefficient (KC).

Results

462 patients with biopsy-proven diagnoses of sarcoidosis were included. We identified 282 extended families and seven sibling pairs with sarcoidosis. Twenty families had five or more affected individuals. RR was 3.7 (95%CI: 1.54–8.55) in 1st-degree relatives (p=0.003), 1.65 (1.05–1.92) in 4th-degree relatives, (p=0.014) and 1.57 (1.08–1.70) in 5th-degree relatives (p=0.003). RRs among 1st-5th degree relatives of the patients’ mates were not significant. KC for sarcoidosis was only significant for the first two meiosis (KC=1.06, p<0.008 and KC=1.01, p=0.011, respectively). The most common sarcoidosis phenotypes were pulmonary-lymphonodal (47.6%), ocular-cardiac-cutaneous and central nervous system (OCCC) (21.6%), and musculoskeletal cutaneous (MSC) (20.9%). There seems to be no clustering of a single phenotype or resistant sarcoidosis in the extended sarcoidosis families.

Conclusion

Our study does not consider heritability a strong risk factor for sarcoidosis. The risk is highest for first-degree relatives of patients with sarcoidosis. Single phenotypes and resistant sarcoidosis do not cluster in distinct families.
Phytonanoparticles as novel drug carriers for enhanced osteogenesis and osseointegration
Authors: Suresh Nandita , Thomas Nebu George , Mauramo Matti , Waltimo Tuomas , Sorsa Timo , Anil Sukumaran
Published: January 2025

Phytonanoparticles have emerged as a promising class of biomaterials for enhancing bone regeneration and osseointegration, offering unique advantages in biocompatibility, multifunctionality, and sustainability. This comprehensive review explores the synthesis, characterization, and applications of phytonanoparticles in bone tissue engineering. The green synthesis approach, utilizing plant extracts as reducing and stabilizing agents, yields nanoparticles with intrinsic bioactive properties that can synergistically promote osteogenesis. We examine the mechanisms by which phytonanoparticles, particularly those derived from gold, silver, and zinc oxide, influence key molecular pathways in osteogenesis, including RUNX2 and Osterix signaling. The review discusses advanced strategies in phyto-nanoparticle design, such as surface functionalization and stimuli-responsive release mechanisms, which enhance their efficacy in bone regeneration applications. Preclinical studies demonstrating improved osteoblast proliferation, differentiation, and mineralization are critically analyzed, along with emerging clinical data. Despite promising results, scalability, standardization, and regulatory approval challenges persist. The review also addresses the economic and environmental implications of phyto-nanoparticle production. Looking ahead, we identify key research directions, including developing personalized therapies, combination approaches with stem cells or gene delivery, and long-term safety assessments. By harnessing the power of plant-derived nanomaterials, phytonanoparticles represent an innovative approach to addressing the complex challenges of bone regeneration, with potential applications spanning dental, orthopedic, and maxillofacial surgery.

Graphical abstract
Genotyped cluster investigations versus standard contact tracing: comparative impact on latent tuberculosis infection cascade of care in a low-incidence region
Authors: Asare-Baah Michael , Séraphin Marie Nancy , Salmon-Trejo LaTweika A.T. , Johnston Lori , Dominique Lina , Ashkin David , Vaddiparti Krishna , Kwara Awewura , Maurelli Anthony T. , Lauzardo Michael
Published: January 2025

Background

Cluster and contact investigations aim to identify and treat individuals with tuberculosis (TB) and latent TB infection (LTBI). Although genotyped cluster investigations may be superior to contact investigations in generating additional epidemiological links, this may not necessarily translate into reducing infections. Here, we investigated the impact of genotyped cluster investigations compared to standard contact investigations on the LTBI care cascade in a low incidence setting.

Methods

A matched case-control study nested within a cohort of 6,921 TB cases from Florida (2009–2023) was conducted. Cases (n = 670) underwent genotyped cluster investigations, while controls (n = 670) received standard contact investigations and were matched 1:1 by age. The LTBI care cascade outcomes were compared using Pearson’s chi-square tests.

Results

Of the 5,767 identified contacts, 3,230 (56.0%) were associated with the case group, while 2,537 (44.0%) were identified in the control group. A higher proportion of contacts were evaluated in the control group (85.5%) than in the case group (81.5%, p < 0.001). While the proportion of evaluated contacts diagnosed with LTBI did not significantly differ between the groups (case: 20.4%, control: 21.5%, p = 0.088), a higher percentage of LTBI-diagnosed contacts initiated TB preventive treatment (TPT) in the control group (95.9%) than the case group (92.9%, p = 0.029). TPT completion rates were similar, with 65.2% in the case group and 66.3% in the control group (p = 0.055). TB patients in the case group were more likely to be males, U.S.-born, Asians, residents of long-term care or correctional facilities, with past year histories of alcohol use, homelessness, and drug use.

Conclusion

Despite the demographic and epidemiological differences between cases and controls, cluster investigations identified more contacts, with no significant difference in contacts diagnosed with LTBI, but were less effective than standard contact investigations in evaluating contacts, initiating LTBI treatment, and ensuring completion.
Epigenetic age acceleration and methylation differences in IgG4-related cholangitis and primary sclerosing cholangitis
Authors: Noble Alexandra , Motta Rodrigo , Cabras Silvia , Flores Belen Moron , Nowak Jan , Glapa-Nowak Aleksandra , Geremia Alessandra , Satsangi Jack , Culver Emma
Published: January 2025

Background

IgG4-related cholangitis (IgG4-SC) and primary sclerosing cholangitis (PSC) are chronic fibro-inflammatory hepatobiliary conditions, with genetic, environmental, and immunologic risk factors, in which epigenetic alterations may provide insights into pathophysiology and novel biomarkers. This study is the first to assess methylation signatures in IgG4-SC.

Results

Whole blood DNA methylation profiling and genotyping was performed in 264 individuals; 47 with IgG4-SC, 65 with PSC, 64 with ulcerative colitis (UC), and 88 healthy controls. We identified 19 significant methylation differences between IgG4-SC and controls and 38 between PSC and controls. IgG4-SC and PSC shared 8 probes. Inflammatory genes (including CEP97, IFNAR1, TXK, HERC6, C5orf36, PYY, and MTRNR2L1) were predominantly involved in dysregulated methylation. Epigenetic age acceleration was observed in patients with IgG4-SC, but not in those with PSC or UC. meQTL analyses to identify genetic determinants of methylation revealed a strong human leucocyte antigen (HLA) signal in both PSC and IgG4-SC (HLA-DQB2, HLA-DPA1, HLA-F and HLA-DRA).

Conclusions

We identify novel epigenetic alterations in IgG4-SC and PSC, with biological age acceleration in IgG4-SC, providing insights into disease pathogenesis, and highlight the role of genetic variation especially within the HLA region in shaping the methylome.
Lebanese Cannabis sativa L. extract protects from cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity in mice by inhibiting podocytes apoptosis
Authors: Khalil Alia , Al Toufaily Sahar , Shebaby Wassim , Hage Marissa El , Mroue Dima , Faour Wissam , Mroueh Mohamad
Published: January 2025

Background

Cisplatin is an anti-cancer drug used to treat a plethora of solid tumors. However, it is associated with dose dependent nephrotoxicity limiting its use as anticancer agent.

Objective

The current study aimed to investigate the nephroprotective effect of native Lebanese Cannabis sativa in both in vitro and in vivo mice model of cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.

Methods

Podocytes cell viability was assessed using MTS assay with cisplatin (30µM) in presence or absence of Cannabis oil extract (COE) at 0.5, 1 and 2µg/ml for 24h. Acute renal injury was established in adult female C57BL/6 mice with 20mg/kg, i.p. single dose cisplatin. Mice were divided into control group (vehicle), COE group, cisplatin group and cisplatin plus COE (2.5, 5 and 20mg/kg, i.p.). Animal body weight, serum creatinine, blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and proteinuria were measured.

Results

Cell viability assay and western blot analysis revealed that COE prevented apoptosis induced by cisplatin in cultured immortalized rat podocytes. In addition, in vitro scratch assay demonstrated the ability of COE to promote and restore the migratory capacity of podocytes in cisplatin-treated cells.

Interestingly, COE treatment improved urinary and serum parameters characterized by a significant decrease in serum creatinine, urea, and proteinuria at various COE doses. Western blot analysis showed that COE inhibited COX-2 protein induction as well as apoptosis marker production (Bax/Bcl2 ratio) in cisplatin-treated mice when compared to mice treated with cisplatin alone.

Conclusion

Collectively, the aforementioned findings indicate that COE could be a promising approach to protect against cisplatin-induced nephrotoxicity.
Designing an intervention to improve cognitive evaluations in primary care
Authors: O’Brien Kyra S. , Harkins Kristin , Peifer MaryAnne , Kleid Melanie , Coykendall Cameron , Shea Judy , Karlawish Jason , Burke Robert E.
Published: January 2025

Background

Early diagnosis is crucial to the optimal management of patients with cognitive impairment due to Alzheimer’s disease (AD) or AD-related dementias. For some patients, early detection of cognitive impairment enables access to disease-modifying therapies. For all patients, it allows access to psychosocial supports. Patients typically first present their concerns about their cognition to a primary care provider, but in this setting, cognitive impairment is commonly underdiagnosed. There is also high variability in how cognitive evaluations are performed. We sought to understand barriers to and facilitators of cognitive evaluations in primary care, map barriers to implementation strategies, and gain consensus from stakeholders on possible strategies to improve dementia diagnosis in primary care.

Methods

Semi-structured interviews conducted with primary care providers (PCPs). We used the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research to inform our question guide and analysis, and incorporated chart-stimulated recall – using actual patients who had cognitive complaints who had presented to these providers – to understand clinicians’ medical decision-making processes. These data were used to map identified barriers and facilitators to targeted implementation strategies. Then, this candidate list of strategies was presented to an expert stakeholder panel including clinicians and clinical operations specialists. Through a modified Delphi process, the list was narrowed to select the most promising strategies to incorporate in an intervention to improve cognitive evaluations in primary care.

Results

Twenty PCPs were interviewed and mentioned barriers included lack of expertise to perform or interpret an assessment, time pressures, lack of incentives, competing priorities, lack of decision-making supports, and limited access to dementia specialists. Facilitators included the presence of an informant or caregiver and having additional staff to conduct cognitive testing. Implementation mapping resulted in a list of 15 candidate strategies. Using the modified Delphi process, these were narrowed to six.

Conclusions

We used a rigorous process to identify barriers to and facilitators of cognitive assessments in primary care, identify promising implementation strategies to address these barriers, and obtain the feedback of front-line users on these strategies. This holds substantial promise for improving cognitive assessments in primary care in future implementation trials.
Music therapy for autism spectrum disorder: does it have a role?
Authors: Davies Eleri , King Rosemary
Published: January 2025

Music therapy attempts to facilitate communication and expression – core problems for autistic people – through the development of experiences and relationships mediated by music. This commentary assesses a Cochrane Review of the effects of music therapy, compared with placebo or standard care, for autistic people, and its conclusion that music therapy is probably associated with an increased chance of global improvement and perhaps a slight increase in quality of life and reduction in total autism symptom severity in the short to medium term. The review was not able to examine longer-term effects as the longest follow-up period was 12 months. The certainty of the evidence was graded from moderate to very low, and therefore the results need to be viewed with caution.
New Horizons in Menopause, Menopausal Hormone Therapy, and Alzheimer's Disease: Current Insights and Future Directions
Authors: Mosconi Lisa , Nerattini Matilde , Williams Schantel , Fink Matthew
Published: January 2025

Accumulating evidence suggests that the effects of menopausal hormone therapy (MHT) on risk of Alzheimer disease (AD) and all-cause dementia are influenced by timing of initiation relative to age, time-since-menopause, and the type of formulation. Randomized clinical trials (RCTs) of MHT conducted in postmenopausal women ages 65 and older indicated an increased risk of dementia. While RCTs conducted in midlife are lacking, observational research has provided evidence for associations between midlife estrogen-only therapy (ET) use and a reduced risk of AD and dementia, whereas estrogen-progestogen therapy (EPT) was associated with more variable outcomes. However, existing studies are heterogenous, and conventional endpoints might not adequately assess MHT's potential for AD prevention. Herein, several approaches are being discussed, and the case is being made for utilizing AD biomarkers for assessment of early, AD-specific outcomes in relation to MHT use. From a clinical standpoint, findings that MHT may lower dementia risk warrant consideration as existing therapies like acetylcholinesterase inhibitors and memantine lack preventative efficacy, and vaccines for primary or secondary prevention are not yet available. MHT-associated risks, including breast cancer, stroke and venous thromboembolism, are generally considered rare (<10 events/10 000 women). Overall, the literature supports renewed research interest in evaluating MHT as a female-specific, time-sensitive approach for AD risk reduction, which is key to applying cumulated data in clinical decision making concerning AD prevention.
Signs of Shared and Personal Experience in Dominican Breviaries
Authors: Räsänen Marika
Published: January 2025

The breviary was essential to the devotional life of Dominican friars, allowing them to celebrate the daily office individually when they were unable to join the communal liturgy. The Dominican vocation, rooted in the apostolic life and itinerant preaching, required a commitment to observing the canonical hours. Personal breviaries enabled friars to merge conventual and itinerant ideals, adhering to the Dominican order's rule. While serving friars’ personal use, breviaries also marked collective identity, distinguishing Dominicans from other religious professionals and fostering the order's unity. This article explores the breviary as both a personal and communal object, examining its liturgical content as an expression of lived religion. It argues that the breviary, often overlooked by scholars, can in some cases reveal a negotiation between individual and communal religious experiences. As products of their communities, breviaries represent shared experiences and offer insights into the devotional lives of individual friars, reflecting lived religion beyond normative theology.
Blinded by the Light: Experience, Narrative, and Identity in Late Medieval and Early Modern Jaén
Authors: Devaney Thomas C.
Published: January 2025

Modern histories of the shrine of Nuestra Señora de la Capilla (Our Lady of the Chapel) in Jaén, Spain emphasize the continuity of devotions at the site and the importance of tradition in local religious culture. The shrine's origins lie in the testimony of four witnesses who, in 1430, recounted in detail their experiences of seeing a heavenly procession. These witnesses, however, made little attempt to decipher the meaning of what they saw. That interpretation came only much later, as seventeenth-century authors fit it into their narratives of Jaén's central role in the “reconquest” of Spain. This article examines how successive efforts to translate the lived experiences of these individuals — in their own testimony, as reframed by later writers, and as incorporated into civic traditions — have structured the experiences of generations of local residents.
The Witnessings of the Spirit: Experimental Religion and Heart Knowledge in Seventeenth-Century Britain
Authors: Walsham Alexandra
Published: January 2025

Fervent Protestants validated their individual and collective status as God's elect children by recalling the spiritual “experiments” he had wrought within their hearts and souls. By investigating their written testimonies of the emotional and corporeal effects which the Holy Spirit worked in the bodies of visible saints, this article illuminates the interconnections between introspection and community, private belief and public performance, religious subjectivity and “scientific” empiricism in mid-seventeenth-century England. It highlights further dimensions of the contemporary quest for certainty and proof in a context in which the very meaning and status of truth was being destabilized by the English Civil Wars and the Interregnum experiment in republican rule. It also shows that contemporaries themselves wrote histories of “experience” and developed a distinctive concept of “lived religion” of their own.
Testing hypotheses of skull function with comparative finite element analysis: three methods reveal contrasting results
Authors: Mitchell D. Rex , Wroe Stephen , Martin Meg , Weisbecker Vera
Published: January 2025

Comparative finite element analysis often involves standardising aspects of models to test equivalent loading scenarios across species. However, regarding feeding biomechanics of the vertebrate skull, what is considered ‘equivalent’ can depend on the hypothesis. Using 13 diversely shaped skulls of marsupial bettongs and potoroos (Potoroidae), we demonstrate that scaling muscle forces to standardise specific aspects of biting mechanics can produce clearly opposing comparisons of stress or strain that are differentially suited to address specific kinds of hypotheses. We therefore propose three categories of hypotheses for skull biting mechanics, each involving a unique method of muscle scaling to produce meaningful results: those comparing (1) the skull's efficiency in distributing muscle forces to the biting teeth, via standardising input muscle force to skull size, (2) structural biting adaptation through standardising mechanical advantage to simulate size-adjusted, equivalent bites and (3) feeding ecology affected by size, such as niche partitioning, via standardising bite reaction force.
Exploring the effects of exercise on overall adiposity, targeted fat depots, and cardiometabolic risk in children with obesity
Authors: Cadenas-Sanchez Cristina , Herrada-Robles Maria , Labayen Idoia , Ruiz Jonatan R.
Published: January 2025

Previous evidence has highlighted the role of exercise interventions in improving the health of children with overweight/obesity. This article provides an overview of the current understanding regarding exercise interventions and their impact on overall adiposity, specific fat depots, and cardiometabolic health in children with overweight/obesity. Aerobic exercise alone and combined with resistance training have been shown to improve adiposity. Furthermore, these interventions have demonstrated a significant capacity to reduce fat accumulation in various fat depots, with reductions of up to 20% in accumulated fat, potentially leading to significant cardiovascular benefits. Similar positive effects have been observed on diverse cardiometabolic health outcomes including lipids profiles, blood pressure, insulin sensitivity, and overall cardiometabolic risk in children with overweight/obesity. Data from longitudinal studies also show that promoting regular physical activity from a young age is crucial for improving long-term cardiorespiratory fitness and reducing the risk of cardiovascular diseases later in life. This review concludes that exercise interventions yield significant positive effects on overall adiposity, specific fat depots, and cardiometabolic health factors in children with overweight/obesity.
The case of Wellness Valley: promoting physical activity and exercise medicine for a sustainable health care system
Authors: Bigica Marco , Crisci Riccardo , Zanuso Silvano
Published: January 2025

Today’s health care systems primarily focus on treating noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) rather than preventing them. Currently, this approach is not sustainable and requires innovative transformations to face the challenges posed by the aging population, the increasing NCD prevalence, widespread physical inactivity, and growing obesity rates. Regular physical activity and exercise improve quality of life and are effective for the prevention and treatment of numerous NCDs and to reduce health care costs. Physical activity promotion and exercise medicine thus represent cost-effective solutions for a sustainable model of health. The Wellness Valley initiative in Emilia-Romagna, Italy, exemplifies this model by fostering active, healthy lifestyles. In Wellness Valley, physical activity is promoted through multi-stakeholder initiatives of education and engagement, and exercise medicine is supported in the medical community through continuous education and dedicated infrastructure, such as certified health-promoting gyms. With these initiatives in place, the population of Wellness Valley is more physically active compared to the Italian national average. Overall, shifting health models toward preventative strategies centered on healthy active lifestyles and exercise can increase physical activity levels and contribute to alleviating the growing burden of NCDs on health care systems.
Role of high-intensity exercise interventions in the management of frailty: a short systematic review
Authors: Guadalupe-Grau Amelia , Delgado-Hernando Angel , Sierra-Ramón Miguel , Vila-Maldonado Sara , Ara Ignacio , Rodríguez-Gómez Irene
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to summarize the current evidence on the impact of high-intensity exercise training interventions on frailty and physical function in older adults. A systematic review of controlled trials involving frail and prefrail older adults was conducted, examining resistance, power, and aerobic training, as well as combinations of these methods using loads greater than 70% of maximum capacity or maximal intended movement velocity. The review included eight studies with 437 participants, averaging 78.2 yr old. Results showed that high-intensity exercise significantly improved frailty phenotype scores by 0.3 to 3.0 criteria and enhanced physical function metrics, including the Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), usual gait speed, and the five-repetition sit-to-stand test. Concurrent supervised training programs involving power-oriented and aerobic exercises yielded the most substantial benefits, particularly in frailty and SPPB scores. In conclusion, high-intensity exercise, especially concurrent training, effectively improved frailty and physical function in older adults. These programs should be incorporated into routine care to reduce frailty and improve the quality of life in this population. Further research should focus on standardizing protocols and evaluating long-term benefits.
Can exercise potentiate the effects of habitual medicines to lower blood pressure, blood lipids, and blood glucose?
Authors: Mora-Rodriguez Ricardo , Morales-Palomo Felix , Alvarez-Jimenez Laura , Mora-Gonzalez Diego , Moreno-Cabañas Alfonso
Published: January 2025

There is an increasing number of well-informed doctors who, in addition to prescribing medicines, advise patients to exercise. As a result, many middle-aged individuals are exercising and taking medicines. However, patients and doctors are not always aware of the possible interactions between these two therapies. This review presents the most current information on the interactions between exercise and the prevalent oral medications taken by individuals with metabolic syndrome. These medications are angiotensin inhibitors to treat hypertension, statins to treat dyslipidemia, and metformin to treat type 2 diabetes. Epidemiological associations between medication and exercise are also presented, along with a discussion of randomized intervention studies that address cause–effect. Conclusions based on the available data are also presented in figures to better describe the medicine–exercise interactions.
Comparing Five Generations of ActiGraph Devices using an Orbital Shaker
Authors: LaMunion Samuel R. , Nguyen Joe , Brychta Robert J. , Troiano Richard P. , Friedl Karl E. , Chen Kong Y.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

ActiGraph accelerometers are used extensively to objectively assess physical activity, sedentary behavior, and sleep. Here, we present an objective validation of five generations of ActiGraph sensors to characterize potential differences in output arising from changes to hardware or firmware.

Methods

An orbital shaker generated accelerations from 0 to 3700 milli-g in a randomized order to test the wGT3X-BT, GT9X, CentrePoint Insight Watch (CPIW) 1.0 and 2.0, and the GT3X+ devices used in the 2011-2014 National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES). Absolute (±50 milli-g) and relative (±5%) raw vector magnitude (VM) agreement to a NIST-calibrated accelerometer (3DM) was the primary outcome for static offset (delta from 3DM VM at 0 g), drift (delta VM start – minus end), and dynamic response.

Results

We observed inter-generation differences [(Mean ± SD) -27.5 ± 8.7 mg (GT9X) to 4.8 ± 32.0 mg (GT3X+)] and intra-generational variability in static offset that carried over to lower shaker accelerations (< ~1300 milli-g), but these variations were mitigated with post-hoc calibration or integrated units (e.g., counts, MIMS). All generations fell within the ±5% of the 3DM across the tested acceleration range and were within ±50 mg of the 3DM below 3000 milli-g’s. Drift was small [0.91 ± 0.27 mg (GT3X+), 0.07 ± 0.31 mg (GT9X)] relative to ≥1000 milli-g VM signal.

Conclusions

Using an orbital shaker and criterion accelerometer we found small differences in the raw output of five ActiGraph generations across a range of accelerations typical of free-living data. However, the devices largely fell within established limits of agreement to the NHANES GT3X+ devices and variability was minimized with auto-calibration or when data was expressed in MIMS or counts.
Δημιουργία μεθοδολογίας αξιολόγησης της πιστοληπτικής ικανότητας των δημοσίων και ιδιωτικών επιχειρήσεων για την παροχή της εγγύησης του ελληνικού δημοσίου ως εργαλείο ενίσχυσης της ελληνικής οικονομίας
Authors: Καραπαναγιώτης Νεκτάριος
Published: January 2025

Η παρούσα μελέτη εμβαθύνει στην κρίσιμη σχέση μεταξύ της πιστοληπτικής ικανότητας των επιχειρήσεων και της παροχής κρατικών εγγυήσεων, με στόχο την ενίσχυση της οικονομικής δραστηριότητας και της ανάπτυξης. Η έρευνα διεξάγει μια εκτενή ανασκόπηση της υπάρχουσας σύγχρονης βιβλιογραφίας σχετικά με τις κρατικές πιστωτικές εγγυήσεις, αναδεικνύοντας τα πλεονεκτήματα και τις προκλήσεις που ενέχει η εφαρμογή τους. Εστιάζοντας στις ανάγκες των οριακά βιώσιμων επιχειρήσεων, η διατριβή προτείνει δύο καινοτόμες προσεγγίσεις για τη βελτίωση των συστημάτων αξιολόγησης πιστοληπτικής ικανότητας.
A discrete choice experiment to elicit preferences for a chronic disease screening programme in Queensland, Australia: designing the choice sets for the final survey
Authors: Senanayake Sameera , Barnett Adrian , Brain David , Allen Michelle , Powell Elizabeth E , O’Beirne James , Valery Patricia , Hickman Ingrid J , Kularatna Sanjeewa
Published: January 2025

Background Chronic diseases are a significant health concern in Australia. Understanding community preferences for health screening services is vital for enhancing service delivery. We conducted a study to determine community preferences for health screening services for chronic diseases in Australia using a discrete choice experiment (DCE). This paper aims to present the development of the final DCE design using priors estimated from a survey. Methods A DCE was conducted in Australia. An online survey was administered to a general Australian population over 18. The final attribute list of five attributes with three levels each was designed. A D-efficient design with 30 pair-wise choice tasks was developed using a fractional factorial design. A pre-test was conducted to assess comprehension and understanding of the online DCE survey. The pilot survey aimed to compute priors (i.e. coefficients) associated with attributes. A multinomial logit model was used to analyse the pilot DCE data. Results The survey included 30 choice tasks in three blocks, with 119 participants responding. The best DCE design was selected based on D-error, with a lower D-error indicating the most efficient design. The pilot survey results indicated a strong preference for highly accurate screening tests, with coefficients for 85% and 95% accuracy being positive. Coefficients estimated from the pilot survey were used as priors to design the DCE choice tasks for the main survey. The final DCE design showed a notable improvement in the attribute level overlap compared to the design used for the pilot survey. Conclusions A rigorous approach was taken to develop a DCE survey that could effectively determine the preferences of the community for health screening services. The resulting DCE design consisted of 30 choice tasks presented in pairs and was deemed efficient enough to gather comprehensive information in the final survey.
Biblical Intertextuality in Ferran de Pol
Authors: Garcia Raffi Josep V. , Garcia Raffi Xavier
Published: January 2025

The main objective of this article is to offer an intertextual study of the presence of the Bible in the work of Ferran de Pol. Intertextuality is understood as the relationship that exists between two or more texts when we can identify in one of them more or less explicit phrases taken from others, in this case from the Bible. We do not analyse any religious intention of the author, but we note that the Bible was undoubtedly one of his formative books. We find the greatest biblical presence in his novels Érem quatre (‘We Were Four’, 1960), Miralls tèrbols (‘Cloudy Mirrors’, 1966) and the unpublished Ella, jo i el càntic (She, I and the Song, 1987). Ferran de Pol’s rewriting of the Bible has multiple and heterogeneous functions: in some cases it acts as the central axis of a specific work, in others it has compositional, rhetorical, satirical, conceptual or parodic functions.
La reescritura prismática del orfismo y sus dimensiones en la poesía de Carles Riba, Agustí Bartra y Josep Sebastià Pons
Authors: López Vilar Marta
Published: January 2025

According to historian of religions Marcel Detienne in his book The Writing of Orpheus, this figure is the origin of writing. From this point, I will propose the origin of this article, which will develop how Orphism – in its mythical and religious dimensions – is articulated within the poetic thought of the Catalan poets Carles Riba (1893–1959) and Agustí Bartra (1908–1982), and of the Rosellonian poet Josep Sebastià Pons (1886–1962).
On the other hand, the article will show how Orphic rewriting is configured in a prismatic way in each of them: death as the beginning of knowledge and transcendence, the symbol as the embodiment of civil and spiritual conscience and, finally, the Orphic myth as the expression of mourning and absence.
In the case of Riba and Bartra, with the ferocious trigger of exile, Orphism is shown as a path of knowledge of mystery and enigma in the act of writing, as well as an unveiling of human consciousness. Carles Riba recreates and makes use of the mechanisms of religion and the Orphic mysteries to give form to his particular initiation after a metaphysical death that appears, for example, in elegy 10 of Elegies de Bierville (second edition, Santiago de Chile, 1949). Agustí Bartra, in his Ecce Homo (1968), rewrites Orphic motifs (elegy II, for example) to create a civic and metaphysical awareness in man and, in this way, dignifies him. In his poem “Òrfica”, from Els himnes (1974), the myth of Orpheus and Eurydice is rewritten as a new meaning of love as a transcendence removed from the body and converted into a translucent song of waiting.
Josep Sebastià Pons, on the other hand, expounds Orphism as a myth of mourning, memory and love as metaphysical knowledge in his posthumous Faula d’Orfeu (1966). Writing is a means of reinterpreting the functions of remembering and forgetting, and of creating an unfolding of the poetic voice in the figures of Orpheus and Eurydice, framed in a mythical imagery that rewrites the loss of the loved one.
THE CURRENT STATE AND PROSPECTS OF REGULATION OF DIVORCE PROCEEDINGS: RUSSIAN AND FOREIGN PRACTICE
Authors: Zemtsova Yu. V. , Nechaeva Polina P. , Shanihina Nadezhda N.
Published: January 2025

Background. The divorce process is an important indicator of changes in society, reflecting the main trends in the cultural, legal and economic aspects of the life of the state. The article is aimed at studying the evolution of legal regulation in the USSR and modern Russia. In addition, normative legal acts and statistical data reflecting the main aspects of divorce proceedings in the Russian Federation are studied. The author analyzes some features of the family law of foreign countries in the field of regulation of the divorce process. Based on the conducted research, the authors have developed recommendations aimed at transforming Russian family legislation.
Purpose – consider the transformation of the divorce process from the Soviet era to the present day, as well as to update information about the features of the divorce process within the framework of modern law. To develop recommendations on the modernization of family law in the Russian Federation.
Materials and methods. The article applied such methods as the historical and legal method, which tracked changes in the regulation of the divorce process from the Soviet period to the present, analytical, which allowed to study normative legal acts, comparative, through which legal norms and divorce practice in the USSR, Russia and other countries were compared. Within the framework of this study, an analysis of the main normative legal acts regulating the divorce process in Russia was carried out, including the Code of Laws on Marriage, Family and Guardianship (1926), the Code on Marriage and Family of the RSFSR (1969), the Family Code of the Russian Federation (as amended on 03.07.1995) and its latest editions, as well as statistical data from the Unified Interdepartmental Information and Statistical System (EMISS) and the Federal State Statistics Service.
Results. The results of the study show that in our country, approaches to regulating the divorce process have undergone changes. The Soviet model of regulating the divorce process reflected not only the desire of the state to strengthen family foundations, but also the desire to use marriage as an instrument of control over social processes. The adoption of the Family Code of the Russian Federation in 1995 is an important step in the transition from strict state control to a more liberal model of regulating family relations, which resulted in the simplification of divorce procedures. The conducted research allows us to trace how changes in legislation have affected the dynamics of divorces, the level of disputes over the division of property and lawsuits related to the upbringing of children. The proposed recommendations will make it possible to adapt family law to modern trends and changes taking place in society.
SIGNS OF THE ADMINISTRATIVE AND LEGAL REGIME IN THE SYSTEM OF EVENTS OF THE NORTHERN DELIVERY
Authors: Goncharuk Galina V.
Published: January 2025

The relevance of the research lies in the strategic importance of events for early delivery of goods to hard-to-reach territories of the North and the Arctic of Russia to ensure national security, including the preservation and development of the local population. In addition, the legal regulation of early delivery of goods, which is actively developing in 2023-2024, raises the question of the administrative and legal status of northern delivery for researchers.
The research attempts to substantiate the possibility of assigning the status of an administrative and legal regime to the system of northern delivery events. Accordingly, the purpose of the article is to draw conclusions about the possibility of assigning the status of an administrative and legal regime to the system of northern delivery, based on the analysis of the basic features of administrative and legal regimes defined in the dogmatic theory of law with the main characteristics of northern delivery.
In conclusion of the research, the author of the article comes to the conclusion that the system of northern delivery events can be assigned the status of an administrative and legal regime, since it corresponds to its main features, subject and mechanisms.
On the Value of the Tail Event Information
Authors: Bakır N. Onur
Published: January 2025

This paper analyzes the buying price of the tail event information that is generated by the outcome of a simple event that identifies whether the value of a random prospect exceeds a critical threshold value. Our discussion begins with the analysis of perfect tail event information. We determine how the maximum amount a risk-averse decision maker is willing to pay changes as a function of this threshold value and discuss whether quick financial comparisons can be made between these information alternatives. We also provide results on the value of information calculus to measure how the buying price behaves as we increase our information content through acquisition of two or more tail event information alternatives. Our theoretical results indicate the correlation between the buying prices of simpler tail event information alternatives and more complex versions of event information. The focus of the article then shifts to modeling of an additional risk that may be encountered in information acquisition. In particular, we analyze imperfect tail event information and discuss how the accuracy of the information source affects the corresponding buying price. Finally, we demonstrate our findings through examples and provide insights into our results.
Diversification Quotients: Quantifying Diversification via Risk Measures
Authors: Han Xia , Lin Liyuan , Wang Ruodu
Published: January 2025

We establish the first axiomatic theory for diversification indices using six intuitive axioms: nonnegativity, location invariance, scale invariance, rationality, normalization, and continuity. The unique class of indices satisfying these axioms, called the diversification quotients (DQs), are defined based on a parametric family of risk measures. A further axiom of portfolio convexity pins down DQs based on coherent risk measures. The DQ has many attractive properties, and it can address several theoretical and practical limitations of existing indices. In particular, for the popular risk measures value at risk and expected shortfall, the corresponding DQ admits simple formulas, and it is efficient to optimize in portfolio selection. Moreover, it can properly capture tail heaviness and common shocks, which are neglected by traditional diversification indices. When illustrated with financial data, the DQ is intuitive to interpret, and its performance is competitive against other diversification indices.

This paper was accepted by Manel Baucells, behavioral economics and decision analysis.

Funding: X. Han is supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China [Grants 12301604, 12371471, and 12471449). L. Lin is supported by the Hickman Scholarship from the Society of Actuaries. R. Wang is supported by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada [Grants CRC-2022-00141 and RGPIN-2024-03728] and the Sun Life Research Fellowship.

Supplemental Material: The online appendix and data files are available at https://doi.org/10.1287/mnsc.2023.00513 .
Comprehensive Analysis of Millets in India: Area, Production, Cost of Production and Export Statistics
Authors: Banerjee Rahul , Bharti Bharti , Das Pankaj , Barman Samir , Devi Sarita , Ankita Ankita
Published: January 2025

Millets, recognized for their nutritional richness and adaptability to diverse environmental conditions, have regained global attention due to their sustainable agricultural practices and nutritional benefits. This paper explores the historical significance, global and Indian production trends, cost dynamics, export patterns, and governmental initiatives driving millet cultivation in India. By analyzing statistical data and research findings, the study underscores millets' potential to enhance food security, mitigate environmental impact, and foster socio-economic development.