bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical characteristics and BGA-optimized pretest probability of pulmonary embolism in the elderly
Authors: Pätz T. , Gruber K. , Kupp S. , Schmidtke G.-M. , Fürschke A. , Sayk F. , Stiermaier T. , Eitel I. , Wolfrum S. , Meusel M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Pulmonary arterial embolism (PE) is not well characterized in elderly patients. In addition, unnecessary computed tomography pulmonary angiography (CTPA) examinations are often performed within this patient group, especially if the pretest probability is low.

Objective

To identify differences in clinical presentation in patients aged ≥80 years compared to patients <80 years and the effect of a BGA-optimized pretest probability to reduce unnecessary CTPAs according to age category.

Materials and methods

A retrospective analysis of patients with suspected PE and subsequent CTPA was performed, with evaluation of clinical data including capillary blood gas analysis (BGA) parameters (including standardized partial pressure of oxygen [sPaO2]) over a 5-year period. Subsequently, the clinical characteristics of patients with confirmed PE were compared between the two age groups. In addition, an age-adjusted analysis of a BGA-optimized algorithm was performed in patients with a low pretest probability (PTP) according to the Wells score to reduce unnecessary CTPAs.

Results

PE was confirmed in 433 of 1538 patients with suspected PE, of which n = 98 (22.6%) were ≥ 80 years of age. Elderly patients with PE were less frequently male (p < 0.001), had lower rates of tachycardia (p = 0.021), but higher rates of cardiovascular disease history (p = 0.001) and oxygen administration at admission (p = 0.006) compared to those < 80 years. Signs of right heart dysfunction (p = 0.047) and elevated cardiac biomarkers (troponin: p < 0.001; nt-pro-BNP: p = 0.026) were also more common in the elderly. Additionally, simplified Pulmonary Embolism Severity Index (sPESI, p < 0.001) and in-hospital or 30-day death risk (p < 0.001) were higher in the elderly. Using a BGA-optimized algorithm with sPaO2, unnecessary CTPA examinations were reduced by 33.2% in younger patients (75 of 226 without PE) and 23.5% in elderly patients (8 of 34 without PE).

Conclusions

Elderly patients with PE are characterized by higher clinical risk markers and elevated mortality rates compared to younger patients. In patients with suspected PE but low PTP, however, a significant number of unnecessary CTPAs could be avoided by using an BGA-optimized pretest algorithm in elderly patients.
Multidisciplinary treatment is necessary in glioblastoma with extracerebral metastases
Authors: Pepper Niklas B. , Steike David R. , Yppärilä-Wolters Heidi , Müther Michael , Wiewrodt Dorothee , Berssenbrügge Hendrik , Grauer Oliver , Lenz Philipp , Stummer Walter , Eich Hans T.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

While glioblastoma is the most common malignant brain tumor in adults, extracerebral manifestations are very rare in this highly aggressive disease with poor prognosis.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature review in the PubMed database and complemented the data by inclusion of a case treated in our clinic. In this context, we report on a 60-year-old woman with a right frontal glioblastoma, IDH wildtype, MGMT methylated.

Results

Six months after initial diagnosis and primary treatment, there was extensive local intracranial progression with additional extension into the subcutaneous and frontotemporal cranial bones. Despite continuation of multimodal treatment, further extracerebral manifestations occurred 11 months after the initial diagnosis, both in the cranial bone as well as metastases in the right parotid gland, cervical lymph nodes, and lungs. While local radiotherapy enabled the cerebral lesions to be controlled, the patient’s clinical condition deteriorated rapidly despite simultaneous systemic therapy. The treatment had to be discontinued, and the patient died 5 weeks after confirmation of the multilocal extracerebral manifestations and a total of 12 months after initial diagnosis.

Conclusion

Extracerebral manifestations of glioblastoma require close collaboration and joint decision-making with the patient, with an emphasis on palliative strategies.
Bacteriocin-Producing Enterococci Modulate Cheese Microbial Diversity
Authors: Teso-Pérez Claudia , López-Gazcón Areli , Peralta-Sánchez Juan Manuel , Martínez-Bueno Manuel , Valdivia Eva , Fárez-Vidal María Esther , Martín-Platero Antonio M.
Published: January 2025

Cheese production involves various lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that break down lactose, milk proteins, and fats, producing key nutrients and influencing the cheese’s flavor. They form communities that play a crucial role in determining the cheese’s organoleptic properties. The composition of cheeses’ microbial communities is shaped by physicochemical factors (e.g., temperature, pH, and salinity) and biological factors (i.e. microbial interactions). While starter cultures are introduced to control these communities, non-starter LAB represent a significant portion of the final microbial assemblage, but their interactions remain unclear. LAB often produce bacteriocins, antimicrobial peptides that antagonize other bacteria, but their role within LAB communities is not fully understood. This study aimed to assess the impact of bacteriocin production on LAB diversity in cheese, using Enterococcus as a model organism, a common bacteriocin producer. We analyzed enterocin production of enterococcal isolates by antimicrobial assays and microbial diversity differences in raw milk cheeses by two approaches: 16S RNA gene amplicon metagenomic sequencing for the whole microbial community and multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) for the enterococcal diversity. Our results revealed that LAB communities were dominated by lactococci, lactobacilli, and streptococci, with enterococci present in lower numbers. However, cheeses containing bacteriocin-producing enterococci exhibited higher microbial diversity. Interestingly, the highest diversity occurred at low levels of bacteriocin producers, but this effect was not observed within enterococcal populations. These findings suggest that bacteriocin production plays a key role in shaping LAB communities during cheese ripening, although further research is needed to understand its broader implications in other microbial ecosystems.
The role of facet joint degeneration in the treatment success of transforaminal epidural steroid injection: a retrospective clinical study
Authors: Sekizkardes Tutuncu Merve , Sencan Savas , Kurt Canan Bilekyigit , Kokar Serdar , Gunduz Osman Hakan
Published: January 2025

Objective

Transforaminal epidural steroid injection (TFESI) is highly effective in alleviating radicular back pain. While predictive factors for TFESI treatment outcomes have been previously studied, there is a lack of data on the relationship between facet joint degeneration and TFESI efficacy. This study is aimed at studying the impact of facet joint degeneration on TFESI treatment outcomes for unilateral radicular pain.

Design

A retrospective analysis was conducted on patients with unilateral radicular pain who underwent lumbosacral TFESI. Pain severity was assessed using the Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) at baseline, 1 h post-procedure, and 3 weeks post-procedure. Degree of facet joint degeneration was evaluated via MRI. Patients were categorized into two groups: low-grade facet joint degeneration group (group 1) and high-grade facet joint degeneration group (group 2).

Results

A total of 147 patients were included in the study. NRS scores were significantly higher in group 2 compared to group 1 at the 3rd week follow-up. Treatment success, defined as a ≥ 50% reduction in NRS scores, was also significantly higher in group 1.

Conclusion

Facet joint degeneration adversely impacts the treatment success of TFESI. A comprehensive evaluation of facet joint pathologies prior to procedure planning is imperative for optimizing treatment outcomes.
Ravulizumab demonstrates long-term efficacy, safety and favorable patient survival in patients with paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria
Authors: Kulasekararaj Austin , Brodsky Robert , Schrezenmeier Hubert , Griffin Morag , Röth Alexander , Piatek Caroline , Ogawa Masayo , Yu Ji , Patel Ami S. , Patel Yogesh , Notaro Rosario , Usuki Kensuke , Kulagin Alexander , Gualandro Sandra , Füreder Wolfgang , Peffault de Latour Regis , Szer Jeff , Lee Jong Wook
Published: January 2025

Ravulizumab is a second-generation complement component 5 (C5) inhibitor (C5i) approved for the treatment of paroxysmal nocturnal hemoglobinuria (PNH) following positive results from two pivotal trials in patients with PNH originally naive to C5i treatment and eculizumab-experienced patients with PNH. In both trials, after the 26week primary evaluation period, all patients received ravulizumab for up to 6 years. To report ravulizumab treatment outcomes in patients with PNH originally naive to C5i treatment and eculizumab-experienced patients with PNH treated for up to 6 years. Originally C5i-naive (N = 244) and eculizumab-experienced (N = 191) patients with PNH continued ravulizumab treatment for up to 6 years. Major adverse vascular events (MAVEs; including thrombotic events [TEs]) and survival are reported, including a comparison of survival with untreated patients from the International PNH Registry. Laboratory parameters for intravascular hemolysis (IVH) are also described. For up to 6 years (1468.0 patient-years of exposure), ravulizumab provided durable control of terminal complement activity and IVH, resulting in a low incidence of MAVEs (including TEs) reported (MAVE rate: 0.7–1.4 per 100 patient-years) and, compared with untreated patients from the International PNH Registry, reduced the risk of mortality by five-fold. The few breakthrough IVH events reported (N = 122) were commonly associated with complement-amplifying conditions, and only two events (1.8%) were associated with suboptimal inhibition of C5 (i.e. serum free C5 ≥ 0.5 µg/mL). These results support the long-term use of ravulizumab as the first-line treatment of choice for patients with PNH. Trial registration details: NCT01374360; registered: October 29, 2004; NCT02946463; registered: October 27, 2016; NCT03056040; registered: June 05, 2017.
Maternal lipids in overweight and obesity: implications for pregnancy outcomes and offspring’s body composition
Authors: Albrecht Marie , Worthmann Anna , Heeren Jörg , Diemert Anke , Arck Petra Clara
Published: January 2025

Overweight and obesity (OWO) are linked to dyslipidemia and low-grade chronic inflammation, which is fueled by lipotoxicity and oxidative stress. In the context of pregnancy, maternal OWO has long been known to negatively impact on pregnancy outcomes and maternal health, as well as to imprint a higher risk for diseases in offspring later in life. Emerging research suggests that individual lipid metabolites, which collectively form the lipidome, may play a causal role in the pathogenesis of OWO-related diseases. This can be applied to the onset of pregnancy complications such as gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP), which in fact occur more frequently in women affected by OWO. In this review, we summarize current knowledge on maternal lipid metabolites in pregnancy and highlight associations between the maternal lipidome and the risk to develop GDM, HDP and childhood OWO. Emerging data underpin that dysregulations in maternal triglyceride, phospholipid and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) metabolism may play a role in modulating the risk for adverse pregnancy outcomes and childhood OWO, but it is yet premature to convert currently available insights into clinical guidelines. Well-designed large-scale lipidomic studies, combined with translational approaches including animal models of obesity, will likely facilitate the recognition of underling pathways of OWO-related pregnancy complications and child’s health outcomes, based on which clinical guidelines and recommendations can be updated.
Baseline PSMA PET/CT parameters predict overall survival and treatment response in metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer patients
Authors: Kleiburg Fleur , de Geus-Oei Lioe-Fee , Spijkerman Romy , Noortman Wyanne A. , van Velden Floris H. P. , Manohar Srirang , Smit Frits , Toonen Frank A. J. , Luelmo Saskia A. C. , van der Hulle Tom , Heijmen Linda
Published: January 2025

Objective

Metastatic castration-resistant prostate cancer (mCRPC) is a heterogeneous disease with varying survival outcomes. This study investigated whether baseline PSMA PET/CT parameters are associated with survival and treatment response.

Methods

Sixty mCRPC patients underwent [18F]PSMA-1007 PET/CT before treatment with androgen receptor-targeted agents (ARTAs) or chemotherapy. Intensity-based parameters, volumetric parameters, metastatic sites and DmaxVox (distance between the two outermost voxels) from baseline PSMA PET/CT were collected, as well as age, Gleason score and laboratory parameters. Cox regression analysis evaluated their prognostic value for overall survival (OS). Additionally, a preliminary lesion-level analysis was done (n = 241 lesions) with lesion location and twelve radiomic features selected from previous literature. Logistic regression evaluated their association with PSMA PET/CT-based lesion progression after 3–4 months of treatment.

Results

Total tumour volume (PSMA-TV) (HR = 1.41 per doubling [1.17–1.70]), total lesion uptake (TL-PSMA) (HR = 1.40 per doubling [1.16–1.69]) and DmaxVox (HR = 1.31 per 10 cm increase [1.07–1.62]) were prognostic for OS, each independent of baseline PSA level (HR = 0.82 per doubling [0.68–0.98]), haemoglobin level (HR = 0.68 per mmol/L increase [0.49–0.95]) and line of treatment. On lesion-level, location (prostate vs bone OR = 0.23 [0.06–0.83]) and SUVmean (OR = 1.72 per doubling [1.08–2.75]) were independent prognostic markers for lesion progression, morphological and texture-based radiomic features were not.

Conclusion

Baseline PSMA PET/CT scans have prognostic value in mCRPC patients and can potentially aid in treatment decision-making. DmaxVox can serve as a simpler alternative to PSMA-TV when automated segmentation software is not available. When combined with PSMA-TV, lower PSA levels indicated worse OS, which may be a marker of tumour dedifferentiation. Further research is needed to validate these models in larger patient cohorts.

Key Points

Question

mCRPC is a highly heterogeneous disease, requiring good prognostic markers.

Findings

PSMA-TV was the best independent prognostic marker for OS; maximum distance between lesions (DmaxVox) can be used as a simpler alternative.

Clinical relevance

Baseline PSMA PET/CT parameters representing tumour burden were independently associated with OS in mCRPC patients, providing prognostic insights for clinical decision-making. Although PSMA-TV was the best prognostic marker, DmaxVox can serve as an easier to obtain alternative.
Temporal variation in nutritional status and preoperative anemia among patients with retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma: a retrospective longitudinal cohort study
Authors: Willis Franziska , Trunk Anna-Marlen , Musa Julian , Harnoss Jonathan M. , Strowitzki Moritz J. , Engerer Cosima , Harnoss Julian-C. , Al-Saeedi Mohammed , Büchler Markus W. , Schneider Martin
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Optimal management of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) often requires extensive tumor resections, frequently involving gastrointestinal organs. The impact of these procedures on the nutritional status and hemoglobin (Hb) levels of RPS patients remain unexplored. In this study, we aimed to evaluate preoperative nutritional status as well as the prevalence of anemia in RPS patients, and to investigate longitudinal changes throughout the disease course in order to identify potential strategies for prehabilitation.

Materials and methods

Patients undergoing resection of primary and recurrent RPS at Heidelberg University Hospital were retrospectively analyzed. Changes in nutritional parameters and Hb levels throughout the disease course were analyzed using hierarchical linear regression models. Multivariable Cox regression analyses were performed to identify independent predictors of overall survival. Subgroup analyses were conducted for primary tumors, first, second and third recurrences.

Results

Amongst 370 patients analyzed, comprising 219 with primary disease, we observed neither a significant prevalence of preoperative malnutrition nor notable changes in BMI or serum albumin levels throughout the disease course. Preoperative anemia affected up to 40% of RPS patients, and Hb levels significantly decreased over the course of the disease (p = 0.022), particularly in correlation with the number of tumor resections performed (p = 0.010). Low preoperative Hb levels were associated with increased 30-day mortality and they were identified as an independent prognostic factor for shorter overall survival in primary RPS as well as in second and third recurrences.

Conclusion

Anemia screening should be performed preoperatively and during regular follow-ups to enable early-on therapy, thus potentially improving patient outcomes in RPS.
Volumetric Measurements of Mean Velocity Vector and Reynolds Stress Tensor for CFD Validation: Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry in a Nuclear Fuel Assembly Model with Mixing Grids
Authors: John Kristine , Romig Swantje , Rehm Markus , Hadžić Hidajet , Pohl Peter , Grundmann Sven , Bruschewski Martin
Published: January 2025

Experimental studies in industrial-relevant geometries are of great value for validating computational fluid dynamics (CFD). This study provides such data using Magnetic Resonance Velocimetry (MRV) in a replica of the single-phase and isothermal OECD/NEA-KAERI rod bundle benchmark exercise based on the MATiS-H test facility at the Korea Atomic Energy Research Institute (KAERI). The geometry is a 5 × 5 nuclear fuel assembly model of a pressurized water reactor with a split-type mixing grid inducing a swirling flow in each sub-channel. The Reynolds number based on the hydraulic diameter is 50,250. Recent studies demonstrated that MRV enables a comprehensive validation of CFD results in industrial-relevant test cases by providing time-averaged, three-dimensional measurement data from complex opaque structures. Nevertheless, there was still some potential left to improve the accuracy of the measurement. This study uses a newly developed MRV method to accurately measure the mean velocity vectors and the Reynolds stress tensor in three dimensions. The measurement volume reaches from shortly upstream to 10 times the hydraulic diameter downstream of the mixing grid. The estimated mean measurement uncertainty of the velocity data is 1.9% based on the bulk velocity of 1.72 m/s. In the case of the Reynolds stress data, the estimated mean uncertainty for each component is between 0.7 and 1.8% based on the square of the bulk velocity. The comparison to previously published Laser Doppler velocimetry measurements confirms the high accuracy of the reported 3D MRV data. The study includes a detailed description of the technique and boundary conditions. The measurement data is available to interested parties upon request.
Intracardiac or transesophageal echocardiography for left atrial appendage occlusion: an updated systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Beneki Eirini , Dimitriadis Kyriakos , Theofilis Panagiotis , Pyrpyris Nikolaos , Iliakis Panayiotis , Kalompatsou Argyro , Kostakis Panagiotis , Koukos Markos , Soulaidopoulos Stergios , Tzimas Georgios , Tsioufis Konstantinos , Lancellotti Patrizio , Aggeli Constantina
Published: January 2025

Background

Intracardiac echocardiography (ICE) appears to be a potential alternative for percutaneous left atrial appendage occlusion (LAAO) to transesophageal echocardiography (TEE). Thus, a meta-analysis was performed comparing ICE vs. TEE for LAAO guidance.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed using MEDLINE, Scopus and Web of Science electronic databases from their inception to November 2023.

Results

18 studies (124,230 patients) were included. Technical success was higher in ICE- compared to TEE-guidance (OR: 1.36, 95% CI 1.14 to 1.63, p = 0.006) and fewer devices employed (SMD: -0.22, 95% CI -0.43 to -0.01, p = 0.04, I2 = 62%). ICE guidance related with more pericardial effusion/tamponade and iatrogenic residual shunts (logRR: 0.62, 95% CI 0.36 to 0.89, p < 0.001 and RR: 1.53, 95% CI 1.12 to 2.09, p = 0.02, I2 = 1%, respectively). More vascular complications were noted in ICE group (logRR: 0.45, 95% CI 0.11 to 0.78, p = 0.009).

Conclusion

ICE-guided imaging is an effective alternative to TEE in LAAO, as it shows better efficacy than TEE, considering technical success. However, the higher rates of adverse events should be carefully considered.
Understanding Treatment Pathways in Cognitive-Behavioral and Experiential Therapies for Social Anxiety: Evidence from a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Abeditehrani Hanieh , Dijk Corine , Arntz Arnoud
Published: January 2025

Background

Cognitive behavioral group therapy (CBGT), psychodrama (PD), and their integration (CBPT) are effective in treating social anxiety disorder (SAD). However, the processes underlying their effectiveness are not fully understood. This study investigated whether changes in cognitive biases and reductions in avoidance behaviours mediated treatment effects. For PD and CBPT we additionally hypothesized a mediation effect of increased spontaneity.

Methods

Using data of 116 SAD participants in a randomized controlled trial (RCT) with four conditions (waitlist, CBGT, PD, CBPT), we examined mediators of treatment effect. Mediation analyses with bootstrapping tested the pathways trough which active treatments (compared to waitlist) affected post-treatment effects.

Results

The analyses indicated that perceived cost of negative social events mediated CBGT and CBPT outcomes, while perceived probability mediated PD and CBPT. Spontaneity did not mediate effects in of any treatment, while avoidance mediated outcomes across all interventions. Analysis using post-treatment mediators were all significant and showed no treatment specificity.

Conclusions

Underscoring its critical role in treating SAD, avoidance emerged as a consistent mediator of treatment effects. In contrast, cognitive biases were treatment-specific: reduced costs mediated outcomes in interventions with cognitive techniques, while reduced likelihood mediated outcomes in experiential interventions.
Patient-Therapist Congruence Regarding Therapy Progress Perceptions in Psychotherapy for Persistent Somatic Symptoms
Authors: Daehler Sarah , Lutz Wolfgang , Probst Thomas , Rief Winfried , Rubel Julian , Schwartz Sarah , Kleinstaeuber Maria
Published: January 2025

Background

This study expands the understanding of congruence, or the level of agreement, between therapists and patients regarding therapy progress perception during psychotherapy for distressing persistent somatic symptoms (PSS).

Method

We completed a Grid Sequence Analysis of 174 patient-therapist dyads completing cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) to explore congruence patterns regarding therapy progress perceptions, assess baseline characteristic associations with congruence patterns, and investigate whether these patterns are associated with treatment outcomes.

Results

A notable majority of dyads (91.4%) were able to reach strong positive congruence by the end of treatment. No baseline characteristics were associated with congruence patterns, except for baseline depression, which was related to a congruence pattern in which the patient underestimated therapeutic progress relative to their therapist. Strong positive congruence was associated with decreased symptom severity at the end of treatment, but no association with disability was found.

Conclusion

Overall, it appears that congruence is an important factor in the treatment of PSS. Our results demonstrate that patients can develop strong positive congruence with their therapists regardless of what baseline characteristics they present with. Thus, therapists should aim to develop positive congruence with their patients early in treatment.
Yield determinants of Kappaphycus alvarezii seaweed in South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: van Oort P. A. J. , Julianto B. , Latama G. , Siradjuddin I. , Rukminasari N. , Walyandra Z. Z. , Ibrahim I. A. , Verhagen A. , van der Werf A. K.
Published: January 2025

There has been limited systematic monitoring of seaweed growth with simultaneous measurement of important yield determinants. This study reports on Kappaphycus alvarezii (Cottonii) seaweed experiments in South Sulawesi, Indonesia. The first (June – Oct 2023) experiment showed lower yields for the lowest seedling weight and similar yields for the medium/high seedling weight. During this period, seaweed losses from lines (empty ties), ice-ice disease and fouling by epiphytes increased. The second experiment (March – July 2024) showed high yields for the traditional longline and low yields with tube-nets and cages, due to fouling by epiphytes and mud. Yields did not differ systematically between villages and did not differ systematically between nearshore and further offshore. Yields were highest for planting in March and lowest for planting in August. Stronger winds and rougher sea towards October were shown to be an important yield determinant, but not the only one. During the March-October period losses from lines increased, pressure from the ice-ice disease increased, fouling by mud and epiphytes increased, temperatures decreased and windspeed increased. Yields in the March-October cultivation cycles were determined by a combination of the effects of these five yield determinants. To our best knowledge the current study is the first to study this full range of possible yield determinants and to simultaneously monitor for longer period (five cycles, with bi-weekly sampling) both seaweed biomass and yield determinants.
PolyCard: A learned cardinality estimator for intersection queries on spatial polygons
Authors: Ji Yuchen , Amagata Daichi , Sasaki Yuya , Hara Takahiro
Published: January 2025

How can we estimate the result size for a given query on complex spatial objects like polygons? Estimating a query’s result size, also known as the cardinality estimation, plays a significant role in query scheduling and optimization. Accurate and fast cardinality estimation substantially improves query efficiency. Existing compatible solutions, mainly histogram-based, deal with polygons as their minimal bounding rectangles for easier processing, which leads to inaccurate estimation. To address this issue, we present PolyCard, a learned cardinality estimator for intersection queries on spatial polygons. We successfully apply learning techniques to spatial polygons with variable sizes. PolyCard has the following properties. (i) Accurate: PolyCard improves 30% accuracy compared with existing solutions, (ii) Fast: PolyCard takes only 4 microseconds for an estimation, and (iii) Stable: PolyCard is robust against datasets and queries of different cardinalities. Our experiments on four real-world datasets of millions of polygons demonstrate the efficiency and effectiveness of PolyCard.
Identification of Components of the Sex Pheromone of the kōwhai Moth, Uresiphita Polygonalis Maorialis, a New Zealand Native Crambid
Authors: El-Sayed Ashraf M. , Gibb A. R.
Published: January 2025

The identification of sex pheromones in native New Zealand moths has been limited, largely due to their minimal pest impact on agricultural ecosystems. The kōwhai moth, Uresiphita polygonalis maorialis, a native crambid, is known for its herbivory on Sophora spp. and Lupinus arboreus leaves. Understanding the chemical ecology of this species is essential for studying its behavior, population dynamics, and ecological interactions. In this study, the female sex pheromone of U. polygonalis maorialis was analyzed using coupled gas chromatography-electroantennogram detection (GC-EAD). This approach identified four antennally active compounds in the female gland extracts. Subsequent gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and chemical derivatization revealed these compounds to be tetradecyl acetate (14:Ac), (E)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (E11-14:Ac), (Z)-11-tetradecenyl acetate (Z11-14:Ac), and (Z)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (Z11-16:Ac). Field trapping experiments evaluated various combinations of these four EAD-active compounds and (E)-11-hexadecenyl acetate (E11-16:Ac). Results indicated that traps baited with blends containing E11-14:Ac, Z11-14:Ac, and Z11-16:Ac captured significantly more males compared to unbaited delta traps. A blend ratio of 144:84:72 µg (E11-14:Ac: Z11-14:Ac: Z11-16:Ac) proved the most effective, capturing the highest number of males. Male captures were recorded from late November to late February, peaking in late December, suggesting a univoltine population in Canterbury. Among the three tested doses, the 300 µg and 1000 µg doses of the three-component blend were the most effective. The identification of the sex pheromone components of U. polygonalis maorialis provides a valuable tool for monitoring this species, contributing to a deeper understanding of its population densities and distribution within its native range. It also offers insights into the evolutionary development of pheromone communication within the genus, shedding light on species divergence and adaptation.
Beyond “Dead Words”: Enhancing Documentation Practices for Domestic Violence-Informed Work
Authors: Isobe Jasmin , Laing Lesley , Kertesz Margaret , Humphreys Cathy
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Domestic violence-informed documentation practices across health and human services were explored as an aspect of a wider action research project in New South Wales, Australia. In health and human service responses to families living at the intersection of domestic violence, substance misuse and mental ill-health, practitioners navigate the complexities of collaborative and integrated work to address violence and abuse. Documentation is an aspect of practice where ethical, quality and safety issues arise, impacting individuals, organizations, and service sectors.

Methods

Senior practitioners from specialist domestic violence, substance use, mental health and child protection services participated in a series of Communities of Practice to explore integrated and collaborative practice using the Safe & Together™ Model approach to working with families impacted by domestic violence and abuse. Documentary practices were explored as an important aspect of the wider research project, and ethnographic notes from Community of Practice and reflective focus groups were thematically analyzed.

Results

Four key themes regarding domestic violence-informed documentation practices were highlighted in the analysis: recognizing the power of documentation; maintaining an all-of-family focus; focussing on patterns and context; and the importance of language that emphasizes behavioral specificity. Taken together, these themes speak to the powerful role played by domestic violence-informed documentation for clients accessing services, as well as to the opportunity for practice-changing work through documentation that diverse practitioners can take up when working with families and with each other.

Conclusion

This paper contributes to a growing body of practice-led knowledge building and provides an in-depth examination of domestic violence-informed documentation practices from the perspectives of practitioners working at the intersections of domestic violence, substance use, mental health and child protection issues across health and human services. It highlights the complex and empowering opportunities that attention to language and documentation holds and emphasizes the need for further research exploration and capacity building for domestic violence-informed practice.
V/Zn Incorporated-MCM-41: Synthesis, Characterization and Visible Light Photocatalytic Activity for Tetracycline Degradation
Authors: Wahba Mohammed Ahmed , Khaled Rabab Khaled
Published: January 2025

Water pollution by pharmaceutical pollutants such as antibiotics represents a serious environmental crisis which is rising day by day. So, the development of new efficient visible light photocatalysts has long been imperative to address the water pollution. In this study, zinc/vanadium (Zn/V) incorporated MCM-41 (Mobil Composition of Matter No. 41) (ZVM) has been successfully synthesized using a simple surfactant-coprecipitation assisted method and evaluated as an efficient visible light photocatalyst for tetracycline (TC) fast degradation. The effects of Zn/V metal cations’ synergistic effect on morphological, surface, optical, and removal capability of MCM-41-metal incorporated samples were explored. Compared to pure silica, ZVM mesoporous material unveiled reduced pore diameter, thicker wall and reduced Brunauer-Emmett-Teller surface area (BETs) with still preserved ordered hexagonal structure. Scanning electron microscopy-transmission electron microscopy (SEM-TEM) analysis revealed significant morphological changes in MCM-41 upon Zn/V incorporation. Zn/V modification reduced the MCM-41 bandgap energy and this suggests the applicability of this tailored material in solar energy photocatalysis applications. The ZVM catalyst, containing 4 wt% of each metal (Zn and V), demonstrated exceptional performance in degrading TC, achieving a degradation efficiency of 98.13% within just 25 min. The resulting material exhibited improved ion-exchange capacity, increased number of active sites, and optimized properties, leading to significantly enhanced catalytic performance in specific catalytic reactions. Additionally, a possible photocatalytic mechanism for degradation of TC over ZVM has been proposed and involvement of holes (h+) and hydroxyl radicals as reactive species is elucidated by radical trapping experiments. These results demonstrate the potential of ZVM as an efficient visible light photocatalyst for fast degradation of tetracycline with good recovery and recyclability which can be an efficient tool to meet the UNs’ SDG:6.
Cyberbullying and cyberstalking in higher education: policies and practices for supporting students and university staff
Authors: Bussu Anna , Pulina Manuela , Ashton Sally-Ann , Mangiarulo Marta
Published: January 2025

This paper explores cyberbullying and cyberstalking victimisation in a Higher Education community and potential strategies for better supporting victims. It analyses qualitative responses from a convenience sample of students and staff who experienced these adverse behaviours. The data were collected from 34 self-selected respondents from a university in the United Kingdom. All qualitative responses were analysed using thematic analysis through ATLAS.ti 7.5. The interpretation of the data adopted a constructivist epistemological lens. Two-thirds of the sample reported cyber-victimisation formally to the police and/or their employers, but they encountered diverse responses, ranging from strong support to feeling judged or misunderstood. The study highlights that several victims adopted personal strategies to counteract cyberbullying and cyberstalking. Support from family and friends emerged as the primary protective factor for students and university staff. The findings contribute to the development of best practices and policies, as well as the mitigation of risk factors, ultimately fostering cyber user resilience.
Transthyretin Cardiac Amyloidosis: Current and Emerging Therapies
Authors: Patel Aditi G. M. , Li Pengyang , Badrish Narotham , Kesari Aditya , Shah Keyur B.
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

In this article, we describe current and newer TTR stabilizers, TTR silencers which include small interfering RNA agents (siRNA), antisense oligonucleotides (ASO) and CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing, and TTR depleters, which investigates the use of monoclonal antibodies to remove amyloid fibril deposits for patients with advanced disease.

Recent Findings

Once thought to be a rare and fatal condition, increased recognition, improved non-invasive diagnostic tools, and the explosive development of novel therapies, has transformed the landscape of transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM). Advances in cardiac imaging with respect to echocardiography, cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (CMR), and radionuclide bone scintigraphy has increased the diagnosis of ATTR-CM over the last twenty years. Ongoing clinical trials are evaluating several novel therapies at several mechanistic targets in the transthyretin (TTR) amyloidogenesis cascade, including the recently published findings from the study of vutrisiran, a siRNA agent.

Our review provides a comprehensive summary of current and emerging therapies for ATTR-CM. While these are promising, disease-modifying treatments, reaching vulnerable populations early in the disease course should be a focus for future studies and interventions.
Evaluating CK20 and MCPyV Antibody Clones in Diagnosing Merkel Cell Carcinoma
Authors: Yeni Erdem Begum , Baykal Can , Ozluk Yasemin , Ahmed Melin A. , Kozanoglu Erol , Saip Pinar , Buyukbabani Nesimi , Ozturk Sari Sule
Published: January 2025

Merkel cell carcinoma (MCC) is diagnosed through histopathological and immunohistochemical examination of biopsies from skin or other organs. Its distinguishing features include perinuclear dot-like staining with Cytokeratin 20 (CK20) and detection of Merkel cell polyomavirus (MCPyV) using various methods. However, CK20 and MCPyV negative MCC cases have been reported at varying rates. In this single center cross-sectional study, we aimed to determine which clones are more effective in diagnosing MCC by comparing the performance of CK20 antibody clones Ks20.8 and SP33, as well as MCPyV antibody clones Ab3 and CM2B4. Fifty-four patients diagnosed with MCC were included. Among these, 42 cases were primary cutaneous, and 12 cases were nodal MCC. Fifty-two (96.3%) cases were positive with both CK20 clones, while two cases were negative. Clone SP33 stained areas of necrosis, whereas Ks20.8 showed no aberrant staining. MCPyV was detected in 44 cases (81.5%) using clone Ab3 and 39 cases (72.2%) using clone CM2B4. Staining with MCPyV clone Ab3 was diffuse and strong in most cases, while approximately 30% of CM2B4-positive cases exhibited low percentages and/or weak staining, complicating the evaluation. The two CK20-negative cases were also negative with both MCPyV clones. Our data demonstrated that CK20 clone Ks20.8 may be preferred for MCC diagnosis due to its consistent performance and lack of aberrant staining. Similarly, MCPyV clone Ab3 appears superior to CM2B4 for identifying MCPyV-positive cases.
Developing surrogate models for the early-stage design of residential blocks using graph neural networks
Authors: Wu Zhaoji , Li Mingkai , Liu Wenli , Cheng Jack C. P. , Wang Zhe , Kwok Helen H. L. , Huang Cong , Hou Fangli
Published: January 2025

Building simulation based on physical modeling is commonly adopted for performance prediction, but the high time costs hinder its application in the early design stage of buildings. Data-driven surrogate models have been proposed as a means to replicate computationally expensive simulation models. However, existing surrogate models for sustainable residential block design are limited in scope, focusing either on individual buildings or on specific cases within multi-block projects. This study leverages graph neural networks to develop optimal surrogate models incorporating inter-building effects to predict multiple indicators of sustainable performance for residential blocks at a region level. A graph schema is proposed to represent the general geometric features and relations among buildings in residential block design. A regional dataset is generated for model training and testing, using real residential zones in Hong Kong. The surrogate models are developed and evaluated, using two kinds of architectures (individual architectures for specific indicators and an integrative architecture) and three different neural networks (graph attention network (GAT), graph convolutional network, and artificial neural network). The results showed that the surrogate models using the individual architectures and GAT outperform the models using other architectures and neural networks. These surrogate models achieve a high prediction accuracy with CV(RMSE)s of 11.79%, 7.63%, and 8.00% in terms of energy consumption, indoor thermal comfort, and daylighting, respectively, on the regional test set. Moreover, they enable a significant acceleration of the performance evaluation, reducing the calculation time from 6.346 min to 1.565 ms (243,297 times) per case compared to physics-based simulations.
Using inquiry-based learning approach in the teaching process of divisibility rules
Authors: Teke Bedirhan , Çalışıcı Hamza
Published: January 2025

The aim of this study is to reveal the impact of Inquiry-Based Learning (IBL) on students’ ability to come up with the rules of divisibility themselves and on their academic achievement in the 8th grade Mathematics course as well as to obtain students’ views on the learning and teaching process, through the use of a mixed-methods sequential explanatory design. The quantitative part of the study was composed of a one-group pre-test–post-test design, while the qualitative part involved a case study design. The sample group consisted of 20 students studying in the 8th grade of a secondary school in the 2020/21 academic year. At the end of the procedure, interviews were held with four students. The relevant data analysis indicated that the students’ level of readiness regarding the divisibility rules was not at a sufficient level, and that the difference between the pre-test and post-test scores was statistically significant with a high positive effect size on the students’ academic achievement. The results based on student views revealed that the rules forgotten due to memorization turned out to become permanent with the use of the IBL activities for learning the divisibility rules, that the students understood the subject matter better, that they came up with the divisibility rules themselves during the implementation of the activities, and that they enjoyed such a learning process.
Piezoelectric properties of PVDF and green synthesized metal oxide nanocomposite thin films
Authors: Kumar Dinesh , Kumar Pawan , Borah Neelakshi Niti Kachari , Siddhartha  , Singh Manveer , Singh Udaibir
Published: January 2025

In this investigation, novel PVDF-metal oxide (MO) nanocomposite-based systems were meticulously developed and thoroughly characterised. Employing an eco-friendly green synthesis process, a polymer-metal oxide nanocomposite system was successfully constructed using two distinct nanoparticles. The integration of nanocomposite systems was accomplished using the versatile sol–gel technology, and an innovative spin coating method was utilised to create the nanocomposite thin films without requiring an electrical field or a post-processing poling step. The characterisation encompassing morphology, structural, electrical, and piezoelectric performance was conducted. Notably, all PVDF/MO nanocomposite thin films surpassed the individual PVDF thin film in piezoelectric performance, demonstrating their exceptional potential. Among them, the PVDF nanocomposite doped with ZnO and TiO2 exhibited the most promising and superior piezoelectric performance. The outstanding piezoelectric capabilities displayed by The PVDF/MO nanocomposite systems offer remarkable potential for their utilization as an innovative energy source in nanogenerators, making them an enthralling option for future applications.
A reliability, availability and maintainability (RAM) model for electromechanical components in hydropower plants
Authors: Singh Pardeep , Singh Sarbjeet , Soltanali Hamzeh , Vardhan Sachit
Published: January 2025

Hydropower generation is world best source of renewable energy and is continuously playing a tremendous job in energy requirement. To cope up with day by day increasing demand in electric energy, it is very essential to keep the hydropower plants in sustainable operational condition. To achieve this, the maintenance strategies based on Reliability, Availability and Maintainability (RAM) analysis play a pivotal role in sustainability of the hydropower plants. In our case study various critical components of hydropower plant were identified such as turbine, governor and generator. The causes and effects of various failures in the critical components were identified using Failure Mode Effect Analysis (FMEA) and Fault tree Analysis (FTA). The main role in the study is presenting a RAM model which helps in evaluating different levels of performance in Hydropower plant. Finally, the RAM parameters were evaluated and their outcomes were suggested to find the convenient maintenance intervals. The results of the proposed model revealed that the critical flaws of the hydrogenation process such as turbines, governors and generator should to be taken on priority basis to achieve the high level of reliability and safety. The results of present framework is to achieve the high level of reliability, hence, the main flaws of the hydrogenation process such as turbines, governors and generator should to be taken on priority basis. The proposed study could be valuable for improving the availability and safety of the critical equipment in hydropower plant. As a consequence, the results of present study could be beneficial for other hydro generating facilities to achieve the sustainable maintenance and operation programs in electricity generation systems.
Operators of Hilbert and Cesàro type acting on Dirichlet spaces
Authors: Galanopoulos Petros , Girela Daniel
Published: January 2025

If

$$\alpha >-1$$

α
>
-
1

the space of Dirichlet type

$$\mathcal {D}^2_\alpha $$

D

α
2

consists of those functions f which are analytic in the unit disc

$$\mathbb {D}$$

D

such that

$$f^\prime $$

f
′

belongs to the weighted Bergman space

$$A^2_\alpha $$

A
α
2

. The space

$$D^2_0$$

D
0
2

is the classical Dirichlet space

$$\mathcal {D}$$

D

. If g is an analytic function in

$${\mathbb D}$$

D

, we study the generalized Hilbert operator

$$\mathcal {H}_{g}$$

H
g

defined by

$$\begin{aligned} \mathcal {H}_g(f)(z)=\int _0^1f(t)g'(tz)\,dt \end{aligned}$$

H
g

(
f
)

(
z
)

=

∫
0
1

f

(
t
)

g
′

(
t
z
)

d
t

acting on the spaces

$$\mathcal {D}^2_\alpha $$

D

α
2

(

$$0\le \alpha \le 1$$

0
≤
α
≤
1

). We obtain a characterization of those g for which

$$\mathcal {H}_g$$

H
g

is bounded, compact, or Hilbert-Schmidt on the Dirichlet space

$$\mathcal {D}$$

D

. In addition to this, we use our results concerning the operators

$$\mathcal {H}_g$$

H
g

to study certain Cesàro-type operators

$$\mathcal {C}_{(\eta )}$$

C

(
η
)

acting on the spaces

$$\mathcal {D}^2_\alpha $$

D

α
2

(

$$0\le \alpha \le 1$$

0
≤
α
≤
1

). We give also a characterization of the positive finite Borel measures

$$\mu $$

μ

in [0, 1) for which a certain Cesàro type operator

$$\mathcal {C}_\mu $$

C
μ

associated to

$$\mu $$

μ

is bounded on the Bergman space

$$A^1_\alpha $$

A
α
1

(

$$\alpha >-1$$

α
>
-
1

). This is an extension of the previously known results for the spaces

$$A^p_\alpha $$

A
α
p

with

$$p>1$$

p
>
1

and

$$\alpha >-1$$

α
>
-
1

.