bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Development, validity, and reliability testing of a research readiness self-evaluation scale with nurses: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Hong Du , Xu Ying , Xu Feng , Jiang Yao , Xiang Xinmiao , Ai Qiuxiao , Chen Weiqiang , Xiao Chunguo , Luo Ying , Sha Juan
Published: February 2025

Nurse research readiness determines research outcomes. Understanding of nurse knowledge, attitude, and behaviors on research preparation can better prepare them for medical search. To develop a nurse research readiness self-evaluation scale and test its validity and reliability. This cross-sectional study was performed between January and October, 2023. Based on the knowledge-attitude-practice model, we first created a draft version of a nurse research readiness scale via a literature review and semi-structured interviews with registered nurses. After a Delphi expert consultation and pilot survey, a second version of the nurse research readiness scale was developed. We then tested the validity and reliability of the scale to develop its final version. A total of 20 experts and 400 nurses were invited to participate in the study, and valid responses were subsequently obtained from 16 experts and 390 nurses. The draft version of the scale had 3 dimensions and 35 items, which was finalized to 3 dimensions and 28 items after expert consultation and validity and reliability tests. The 3 dimensions were extracted using the principal component analysis method, which includes knowledge, belief, and behavior, and this could explain 70.672% of the total variation. The content validity test showed moderate satisfaction, with content validity indexes for each item and an overall scale of 0.833 to 1.000 and 0.878, respectively. The construct validity test was performed using exploratory factor analysis, which showed satisfactory concept measurement, with a loading value > 0.4 in all 28 final items. The criterion-related validity showed a correlation coefficient of 0.893 between the research readiness scale and a previously published research capability scale for nurses, suggesting the consistency of the present scale. The Cronbach α coefficient, Spearman-Brown coefficient, split-half reliability, and test-retest reliability were 0.964, 0.886, 0.940, and 0.824, respectively, thus demonstrating satisfactory reliability of the scale. A nurse research readiness self-evaluation scale was created with satisfactory validity and reliability, which could help nurses to determine their preparations for medical search and identify areas for improvements, with the ultimate goal to improve nursing research and evidence-based nursing practice.
Serum sodium level is predictive for kidney injury or hyponatremia after modest-volume paracentesis (<5 L) in Asian patients with cirrhosis: A single-centered retrospective observational study
Authors: Aramcharoen Chayathorn , Praguylertluck Witchayaporn , Intarasak Naree , Yaowmaneerat Thanapon , Kaewdech Apichat , Chamroonkul Naichaya , Sripongpun Pimsiri
Published: February 2025

Post-paracentesis circulatory dysfunction (PPCD) is a well-known complication in patients with decompensated cirrhosis undergoing large-volume paracentesis (>5 L ascites removal). PPCD can cause acute kidney injury (AKI) and hyponatremia. Given the generally smaller body size observed in patients of Asian descent, we hypothesized that the removal of <5 L of ascitic fluid (modest-volume paracentesis; MVP) might also contribute to the development of PPCD. We investigated whether MVP could lead to AKI/hyponatremia in Thai patients with cirrhosis and identified the factor(s) associated with these outcomes. This was a retrospective, single-center study that included all consecutive patients with cirrhosis who underwent MVP at our unit between 2020 and 2021. Baseline characteristics and laboratory results obtained within 3 days prior to and 7 to 28 days following paracentesis were collected. The occurrence of AKI or hyponatremia was recorded, and the characteristics and laboratory findings of patients who developed these complications were compared with those who did not. During the study period, 73 MVPs were performed in 39 patients. Eight patients (20.5%) developed AKI/hyponatremia within 7 to 28 days of the procedure. Baseline serum sodium level was significantly lower in patients who developed AKI/hyponatremia compared to those who did not (131.0 ± 5.9 vs 135.6 ± 3.0 mEq/L, P = .004). A serum sodium cutoff value of 132 mEq/L showed a specificity and sensitivity of 0.9 and 0.63, respectively, for predicting the development of AKI/hyponatremia, with an area under the curve of 0.81. These findings highlight that PPCD resulted in AKI/hyponatremia, which was previously not anticipated, can indeed occur after paracentesis of <5 L in Thai cirrhotic patients. These results may have significant implications for clinical decision-making regarding the administration of albumin replacement therapy in Asian patients with cirrhosis who are to undergo paracentesis in future clinical practice.
Ischemic intestinal stenosis complicated with portal and superior mesenteric vein thrombosis: Case reports and literature review
Authors: Li Jie , Chang Yuan , Ma Qian , Ke Jun , Ren Zhijian , Jia Zongliang
Published: February 2025

Rationale:

The main complication of the portal vein (PV) and superior mesenteric vein (SMV) thrombosis is intestinal infarction due to acute intestinal ischemia. However, in a small number of cases, chronic ischemia-induced bowel stenosis also occurs, and there are no published articles with a comprehensive literature review on this late complication. Therefore, we aimed to clarify the progression and clinical features of intestinal stenosis which is caused by thrombosis of the PV and SMV, and to share therapeutic experience.

Patient concerns:

We report 4 cases of ischemic intestinal stenosis occurring 4–8 weeks after successful treatment of PV and SMV thrombosis, and retrospectively analyzed the literature from 1990 to July 2024 for relevant cases to report.

Diagnoses:

All 4 patients were admitted to the hospital due to abdominal pain and were diagnosed with ischemic intestinal stenosis complicated with PV and SMV thrombosis through imaging studies.

Interventions:

The 4 patients received thrombolytic and anticoagulant therapy due to PV and SMV thrombosis. Subsequently, they underwent partial small bowel resection and double enterostomy because of the development of intestinal stenosis.

Outcomes:

Postoperative follow-up was conducted for the patients. Three patients underwent enterostomy reduction with a favorable prognosis, while 1 patient was lost to follow-up.

Lessons:

Patients with PV and SMV thrombosis should receive prompt anticoagulant or interventional therapy. In addition, closer follow-up should be carried out to ensure an earlier diagnosis of ischemic intestinal stenosis, leading to more timely treatment and a better prognosis.
Changes of diamine oxidase and D-lactate in human breast and gynecologic cancers after chemotherapy
Authors: Hu Lixia , Kong Fanliang , Yuan Qianqian , Huang Mengqin , Huang Yong
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the changes in diamine oxidase (DAO) and D-lactate levels in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy and their clinical significance in evaluating intestinal barrier function. Breast and gynecologic cancer patients who received chemotherapy between January 2020 and December 2023 were enrolled from our hospital. Blood samples were taken before chemotherapy, within 3 days after chemotherapy, and before the next course of chemotherapy. The level of plasma DAO and D-lactate were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). After chemotherapy, nutritional markers such as albumin (ALB) and prealbumin (PAB) were evaluated. Anorexia, vomiting, nausea and diarrhea were evaluated during the chemotherapy cycle. There were no notable differences in serum DAO and D-lactate levels before chemotherapy among different tumor types, tumor stage and chemotherapy type. Serum DAO and D-lactate levels after chemotherapy were significantly elevated compared to their levels before chemotherapy (P < .05). The plasma DAO and D-lactate levels in cancer patients before the next course of chemotherapy were higher than those observed before the initial treatment, but the difference failed to achieve statistical significance (P > .05). The levels of DAO before chemotherapy were higher in patients with diarrhea and anorexia after chemotherapy than those without diarrhea and anorexia (P < .05). The levels of D-lactate before chemotherapy were notably elevated in patients with vomiting, diarrhea and nausea after chemotherapy than those without vomiting, diarrhea and nausea (P < .05). Monitoring serum levels of DAO and D-lactate in cancer patients undergoing chemotherapy can serve as indicators for evaluating gastrointestinal dysfunction and nutritional status.
Association of type 2 diabetes with osteoporosis and fracture risk: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Cao Yang , Dong Bo , Li Yue , Liu Ying , Shen Li
Published: February 2025

Background:

Osteoporosis, a systemic skeletal disease characterized by low bone mass and increased fracture risk, poses significant social and economic challenges globally, while type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM), a prevalent metabolic disorder, has been linked to complex effects on bone health, including contradictory findings on its relationship with osteoporosis and fracture risk.

Methods:

We searched PubMed, Embase, Cochrane, and Web of Science Library to identify observational studies investigating whether people with T2DM have a higher risk of osteoporosis or fracture than people without diabetes. The time limit for literature retrieval was from the establishment of the database until March 2023. The quality of the studies was assessed using the Newcastle-Ottawa Scale and Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality checklist. The meta-analysis was conducted using Stata 15, and a random-effects model was used if I2 was > 50%. The Egger test was used to assess publication bias.

Results:

The results demonstrated that people with T2DM have a higher risk of osteoporosis. (relative risk, 1.841; 95% confidence interval, 1.219–2.780; P = .004). Similar results were demonstrated for fractures (relative risk, 1.21; 95% confidence interval, 1.09–1.31; P < .001). However, the results of the subgroup analysis showed no significant correlation between T2DM and fractures in univariate analysis, cross-sectional studies, Asia, Europe, Oceania, and vertebral fractures. However, a significant correlation was found in other subgroup analyses.

Conclusions:

Osteoporosis and fractures are significantly associated with T2DM.
Postoperative radiotherapy for stage pIIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer patients undergoing sublobar resection: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Wang Shou-Feng , Pan Xin-Bin , Huang Wei , Zhao Yin-Nong
Published: February 2025

This study assesses the effect of postoperative radiotherapy on survival outcomes in patients diagnosed with stage pIIIA-N2 non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) after sublobar resection. Data of patients with stage pIIIA-N2 NSCLC who underwent sublobar resection were extracted from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database spanning from 2000 to 2020. Patients were divided into 2 groups: postoperative radiotherapy and observation. Cancer-specific survival (CSS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed and compared between the 2 groups. A total of 444 patients were included in the study, with 210 (47.3%) receiving postoperative radiotherapy and 234 (52.7%) with observation. The CSS (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.99, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.78–1.26; P = .926) and OS (HR = 0.93, 95% CI: 0.75–1.15; P = .512) did not show significant differences between the postoperative radiotherapy and observation groups. Subgroup analysis of patients receiving postoperative chemotherapy revealed comparable CSS (HR = 1.24, 95% CI: 0.89–1.71; P = .203) and OS (HR = 1.12, 95% CI: 0.85–1.49; P = .425) between the 2 groups. Similarly, for patients without postoperative chemotherapy, CSS (HR = 1.11, 95% CI: 0.66–1.84; P = .699) and OS (HR = 1.08, 95% CI: 0.68–1.71; P = .740) were not significantly different between the 2 groups. Postoperative radiotherapy does not improve survival in patients with stage pIIIA-N2 NSCLC following sublobar resection.
Clinical evaluation of hypercoagulability in advanced malignant tumors using thromboelastography and conventional coagulation tests
Authors: Yang Jinzhu , Shen Lei
Published: February 2025

This study compares the diagnostic value of conventional coagulation tests (CCTs) and thromboelastography (TEG) for high blood coagulation states in advanced malignant tumors and to explore the diagnostic efficacy of their combination. In this study, 120 patients with advanced malignancy were divided into hypercoagulable state (n = 62) and non-hypercoagulable state (n = 58) groups. Traditional coagulation tests or CCTs (including prothrombin time, activated partial thromboplastin time, international normalized ratio, fibrinogen, D-dimer, and platelet count) were conducted. Simultaneously, TEG parameters, such as kinetic time, reaction time, clotting angle, maximum amplitude, and coagulation index, were assessed. Baseline demographic and pathological data were also collected. The role of conventional coagulation indicators, TEG indicators, and their combination in diagnosing high blood coagulation states was explored. The diagnostic efficiency was evaluated by constructing curves and calculating the area under the curve (AUC). Among 120 patients with advanced malignancy, 51.67% (62/120) had a hypercoagulable state. Among CCTs, activated partial thromboplastin time, D-dimer, and platelet count were associated with a hypercoagulable state, whereas no significant differences were found in other indicators. Among TEG parameters, maximum amplitude, reaction time, and clotting angle were associated with a hypercoagulable state, whereas kinetic time and coagulation index were not significantly different. The combined use of CCTs and TEG parameters was more effective in diagnosing hypercoagulable states than either test alone. The AUC values for the diagnostic efficacy of the CCTs, TEG, and TEG combined with CCTs for the diagnosis of hypercoagulable transitions in blood were 0.825, 0.744, and 0.947, respectively, with the highest AUC value in the combined test group. This study indicates that TEG parameters were highly correlated with hypercoagulability in patients with malignant tumors. The combined use of CCTs and TEG parameters is more effective for diagnosing hypercoagulability. These results can guide the clinical management and treatment of patients with malignant tumors.
Gender equality in education and community pharmacy practice in the Middle East: A systematic review of literature
Authors: Alshahrani Ali
Published: February 2025

Background:

Most of the world has made progress towards attaining gender equality in education and practice of healthcare. Nevertheless, in the Middle East, noting restrictive social and religious norms, there are questions as to whether such equality witnessed in other parts of the world is a reality in this region.

Methods:

A comprehensive search of 4 electronic databases was carried out for literature on gender equality on education and community pharmacy practice in the Middle East. A total of 9 articles directly addressing issues on the study topic within the Middle East were included in the systematic review.

Results:

The findings showed good progress in educational attainments across most of the Middle Eastern region. Women and men alike have almost equal chances in education, with some nations like Saudi Arabia having more women than men graduating from universities. However, there are high-level disparities in community pharmacy practice, where despite many of the workers in pharmacy within the region being women, their representation in top positions in pharmacy is very low. They also earn less than their male counterparts, and at times they are forced to engage in unpaid healthcare work like it recently emerged in Lebanon following the financial crisis within the nation. Barriers such as restricted mobility, gendered social roles, and discrimination at work present as the key factors fueling the inequality levels witnessed in the region in pharmacy practice.

Conclusions:

The Middle East is a region that like other parts of the world, is making good progress towards equality in education. However, such equality in education appears not to translate to equal job opportunities in the practice of community pharmacy, pointing to a need for relevant stakeholders to engage in measures for addressing the identified barriers that prevent women from fully equaling men in healthcare practice for the benefit of the larger society.
30 second screening test and education reduce chronic pain incidence after blood donation: Large prospective observational study from Japan
Authors: Hagiwara Yusuke , Nakamura Tatsuo , Shima Hiroko , Tani Yoshihiko , Takahashi Yoshimitsu , Sonoki Kentaro , Moroi Keishichirou , Yoshida Ryu
Published: February 2025

Venipuncture is a commonly performed procedure to obtain blood for testing or donation, but nerve injuries with persistent or chronic pain can occasionally occur. We implemented Phalen elbow flexion shoulder abduction (PEFSA) test to screen potential blood donors who may be at risk for persistent or chronic nerve pain after blood donation. Data were prospectively collected on all blood donors at Red Cross centers in Kansai area of Japan for 5 years prior to PEFSA test implementation, and then for 2 years after test implementation. Potential donors who had positive PEFSA test were given a handout informing them of potentially elevated risk for nerve complications. All donors who had persistent pain were followed and treated at Red Cross centers. There were 3,877,975 donors before and 1,461,965 potential donors after PEFSA test implementation. A total of 221 out of 15,776 potential donors with positive PEFSA test decided to stop donation. Prior to test implementation, 98 (0.00253%) donors developed persistent pain. Nineteen had symptoms lasting over 1 year. Six were diagnosed with complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). After PEFSA test implementation, 22 (0.00151%) developed persistent pain. None had symptoms lasting >1 year or developed CRPS. Our data suggest that the PEFSA test alone do not identify high risk potential donors, but also educating the positive potential donors significantly decrease incidence of persistent pain and CRPS. To our knowledge, this study is the first to test an intervention that can help prevent persistent pain or CRPS from blood donation.
Extubation Failure in Neonates Following Congenital Cardiac Surgery: Multicenter Retrospective Cohort, 2017–2020
Authors: Hames Daniel L. , Abbas Qalab , Asfari Ahmed , Borasino Santiago , Diddle J. Wesley , Gazit Avihu Z. , Lipsitz Stuart , Marshall Amanda , Reise Katherine , Guerineau Luciana Rodriguez , Wolovits Joshua S. , Salvin Joshua W.
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

Extubation failure (EF) in neonates recovering from congenital cardiac surgery is associated with morbidity and mortality. Adding continuous physiologic monitoring data and risk analytics algorithms to clinical factors has the potential to assist clinicians in identifying those neonates at high risk for EF. We aimed to evaluate the association of two physiologic risk analytics algorithms evaluating the probability of inadequate delivery of oxygen index (IDo
2) and inadequate ventilation of carbon dioxide index (IVco
2) with EF in neonates receiving mechanical ventilation (MV) after cardiac surgery. A secondary aim was to evaluate the clinical factors associated with EF.

Design:

Multicenter retrospective cohort study.

Setting:

Eight international pediatric cardiac ICUs.

Patients:

Neonates (age < 1 mo at the time of surgery) receiving MV for longer than 48 hours following cardiac surgery between January 1, 2017, and December 31, 2020.

Interventions:

None.

Measurements and Main Results:

Data from 736 neonates were analyzed with 102 (13.9%) having EF (defined as reintubation within 48 hr of extubation). In multivariable analysis (odds ratio [OR] and 95% CI), preoperative respiratory support (OR, 1.72 [95% CI, 1.11–2.67]) was associated with greater odds of EF. In all, 611 neonates had pre-extubation IDo
2 data and 478 neonates had both pre-extubation IDo
2 and IVco
2 data. In multivariable analysis of patients with both pre-extubation IDo
2 and IVco
2 data, single ventricle anatomy (OR, 2.50 [95% CI, 1.27–4.92]) and high IDo
2 (≥ 25) or high IVco
2 (≥ 50) in the 2 hours preceding extubation (OR, 1.77 [95% CI, 1.01–3.12]) were associated with greater odds of EF.

Conclusions:

In this 2017–2020 cohort, EF is high in post-cardiac surgery neonates receiving at least 48 hours of MV. The IDo
2 and IVco
2 algorithms may be useful in assessing risk of EF in such neonates.
A Qualitative Study Exploring the Acceptability and Usability of the e-Prescribing Risk and Safety Evaluation (ePRaSE) Assessment Within English Hospitals
Authors: Heed Jude , Heed Andrew , Klein Stephanie , Slee Ann , Watson Neil , Husband Andrew K. , Slight Sarah P.
Published: February 2025

Objectives:

The e-prescribing risk and safety evaluation (ePRaSE) tool was developed to support the evaluation of hospital e-prescribing (EP) systems. The tool uses fictitious patients alongside previously validated prescribing scenarios to detect whether these systems provide appropriate prescribing advice to users. We sought to evaluate the usability and acceptability of ePRaSE across different EP systems in England.

Materials and Methods:

NHS hospitals in England with live EP systems were invited to participate. A combination of observations and semi-structured interviews were used to explore participants’ perspectives on the acceptability and usability of ePRaSE throughout all stages of the tool development. The data were transcribed verbatim, coded, and analyzed using the Framework Approach.

Results:

The study was conducted over 2 periods: April-December 2019 and September 2022-January 2023. Thirty-two health care professionals across 22 different NHS hospitals participated in semi-structured interviews (n=25) and 13 observations (n=20) involving 11 different EP systems in total. The ePRaSE assessment was completed in 2 to 3 hours and participants described the tool as easy to use with clinically relevant prescribing tasks. However, some participants experienced difficulties inputting clinical data, such as laboratory results, due to restricted access to different parts of the electronic health record. Many participants suggested areas for further improvement such as capturing a broader range of implemented clinical decision support and requested more detailed feedback on the performance of their systems.

Conclusions:

EP system users found ePRaSE to be a useful and acceptable tool. Further refinement is desirable, particularly in recording EP system responses and providing detailed results to optimize EP systems for safety benefits.
Outcomes among patients with isolated traumatic brain injury before and after Medicaid expansion
Authors: Rallo Michael S. , Radwanski Ryan E. , Teichman Amanda L. , Narayan Mayur , Nanda Anil , Choron Rachel L.
Published: February 2025

INTRODUCTION

Insurance coverage is a critical determinant of access to care. Uninsured patients suffer poorer outcomes including increased risk of morbidity/mortality. To reduce uninsurance among adults, the Affordable Care Act provisioned states the option to expand Medicaid eligibility. We hypothesized that patients with isolated traumatic brain injury (TBI) had more insurance coverage and better outcomes after Medicaid expansion as compared with before.

METHODS

National data on trauma admissions were obtained from the American College of Surgeons Trauma Quality Program Public Use File for 3 years preceding and following the implementation of Medicaid expansion in 2014. Isolated TBI admissions were identified by an Abbreviated Injury Scale–Head score of ≥2 without significant bodily injury. Only patients between the ages 18 and 64 years were included, as that was the Medicaid expansion target demographic. Univariate and multivariate analyses controlling for injury severity were used to detect changes in insurance coverage (Medicaid, private/other insurance, uninsured), outcomes, and discharge disposition.

RESULTS

There were 267,716 and 313,664 admissions for isolated TBI in pre- and postexpansion years. The proportion of patients insured by Medicaid rose significantly from 13.8% to 22.6% (+8.8%, p < 0.01) in postexpansion years with a concomitant decrease in self-pay/uninsurance (−6.7%, p < 0.01) and private/other insurance (−2.1%, p < 0.01). While there was no significant difference in isolated TBI mortality pre- to postexpansion (3.4% vs. 3.5%, p = 0.18), patients in the postexpansion period were more likely to receive posthospital care at an inpatient facility or via home health service compared with pre-expansion (odds ratio [OR], 1.3; p < 0.01). After controlling for injury severity, patients with Medicaid in the postexpansion period had reduced odds of mortality (OR, 0.6; p < 0.01) and increased rates of posthospital care (OR, 2.1; p < 0.01).

CONCLUSION

Medicaid expansion corresponded to increased Medicaid coverage and a higher rate of posthospital care among adults with isolated TBI. Following expansion, patients with Medicaid were 1.6 times as likely to survive and 2.1 times as likely to be discharged under medical care compared with uninsured patients.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Retrospective Analysis; Level IV.
Reference Values of the Tube-Based Laryngeal Adductor Reflex of the Healthy Recurrent Laryngeal Nerve
Authors: Téllez Maria J. , Escobar-Montalvo Juan Manuel , Sinclair Catherine F. , Rodriguez Morel Paola M. , Torralba Patricia , Ulkatan Sedat , Urken Mark L.
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

This study aimed to establish reference values for laryngeal adductor reflex latency and amplitude under general anesthesia using a noninvasive technique with commercially available electromyographic endotracheal tubes.

Methods:

This retrospective observational study included 380 patients undergoing head and neck surgery. The inclusion criteria were recording the laryngeal adductor reflex from the nonsurgical side and the absence of pathology in the recurrent laryngeal nerve. Measurements were taken before incision and surgical completion.

Results:

The R1 component medians for the latency and amplitude were 20 ms and 448 µV for the right and 22 ms and 425 µV for the left LARs, respectively. There were significant differences in the R1 latencies between the sides. Quantile regression models revealed that 95th percentile amplitudes exceeded 400 µV, whereas 5% of our data set surpassed 600 µV. The R2 component was present in 26% of patients initially but decreased to 8% at surgical conclusion. The percentage difference between the median R1 value at the end of the surgery, compared with the opening value, was up to 4% for latency and 10% for amplitude.

Conclusions:

The R1 component of the laryngeal adductor reflex remains a reliable tool for intraoperative neuromonitoring. This is the largest study to provide reference values for laryngeal adductor reflex, aiding future diagnostic applications in head and neck surgeries.
Shear Stress Modulates Inflammatory Responses in Porcine Endothelial Cells Contributing to the Fibrotic Response of Porcine Cardiac Fibroblasts
Authors: Ji Pengfei , Grande-Allen Kathryn Jane , Balaji Swathi , Birla Ravi K. , Keswani Sundeep G.
Published: February 2025

This study is focused on discrete subaortic stenosis (DSS) which is a congenital heart disease resulting in the formation of fibrotic tissue in the left ventricular outflow track of pediatric patients [1]. The pathogenesis of the molecular mechanism resulting in the formation of the fibrotic tissue remains unknown and is the focus of this study. We hypothesized the cytokine released in response to wall shear stress act on the fibroblasts to promote the formation of the fibrotic membrane and subsequently, DSS. To test this study hypothesis, porcine endocardial endothelial cells were cultured within cone and plate bioreactors, designed to replicate the wall shear stress observed in the left ventricular outflow track of DSS patients. Conditioned media was collected as a function of shear stress magnitude and used to condition porcine cardiac fibroblasts. We used an extensive set of end-point metrics to characterize fibroblast phenotype to include bulk-RNA sequencing, RT-qPCR, cell viability and immunofluorescence. The results of this study demonstrate that shear stress-conditioned media from porcine EEC releases a defined cocktail of cytokines that provide the trigger to program the fibrotic response during DSS. These results provide specific molecular targets that can be developed into a therapeutic strategy for patients with DSS and provide a solution to an otherwise challenging disease to manage.
Global, regional, and national burden of chronic kidney disease attributable to low physical activity from 1990 to 2021: an analysis of the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021
Authors: Ji Jinzhong , Guan Qing , Ma Yuning , Ren Gaozhan , Sun Mingxin , Huang Tingyang , Lin Weiqiang , Lin Xiuquan , Zhou Hao
Published: February 2025

Background

Low Physical Activity (LPA) is a recognized risk factor for Chronic Kidney Disease (CKD). However, there is currently a lack of research reports addressing the global burden of CKD attributable to LPA.

Methods

We systematically described the burden of CKD attributable to LPA globally, regionally, and nationally using data from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. We examined the distribution by age, sex, and time trends. Furthermore, we conducted analyses on cross-national inequalities and frontier analysis. Additionally, we analyzed the distribution of CKD attributable to LPA burden among CKD subtypes.

Results

Between 1990 and 2021, the burden of CKD attributable to LPA significantly increased, reaching 40,918.47 deaths in 2021, with an age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) of 0.50 per 100,000 population, 913,068.96 DALYs, and an age-standardized DALYs (ASDR) of 10.81 per 100,000 population. Over the next decade, the global burden of CKD attributable to LPA is projected to continue to rise, with an estimated ASMR of 0.90 per 100,000 population and an ASDR of 11.56 per 100,000 population by 2031. The 85-89 age group had the highest number of deaths, while the 70-74 age group had the highest DALYs, with both ASMR and ASDR increasing with age. Inequalities in CKD burden attributable to LPA exist across different Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions, with the Middle SDI region bearing the heaviest burden, but opportunities to alleviate CKD burden exist at all SDI levels. Globally, the highest proportion of CKD attributable to LPA was in hypertensive and diabetic nephropathy.

Conclusions

The burden of CKD attributable to LPA is increasing worldwide and is expected to continue rising over the next decade. Inequalities in CKD burden attributable to LPA exist. Globally, the burden of CKD attributable to LPA is primarily distributed among type 2 diabetes and hypertensive nephropathy. These findings underscore the importance of promoting physical activity in controlling CKD burden, especially targeting high-risk populations and regions.
Numerical application of the mode matching technique to the longitudinal impedance computation in particle accelerators
Authors: Biancacci N. , Passarelli A.
Published: February 2025

The accurate knowledge of the beam coupling impedance in particle accelerators is important in order to address potential impedance-driven instabilities and for planning machine upgrades. While simple models exist for various components (e.g., beam pipes, step transitions, and collimators), they are often insufficient to correctly describe the overall machine impedance with the necessary precision. Numerical 3D simulations, such as those performed with CST wakefield and eigenmode solvers, are typically used to improve the impedance model accuracy accounting for the accelerator device’s detailed geometry. Nevertheless, for structures exhibiting low ohmic losses in low energy machines, where the beam velocity is not yet ultrarelativistic, existing 3D codes face computational challenges. Specifically, wakefield simulation times can become excessively long, and the eigenmode resonator model is not physically valid for nonultrarelativistic cases. To overcome these limitations, the mode matching technique, previously applied exclusively to canonical geometries, has been extended to arbitrary 3D particle accelerator structures by numerically computing the eigenmodes within their volume. With appropriate field manipulation at the beam pipe interfaces, the impedance of resonant structures can be accurately calculated without being affected by ohmic losses or particle velocity. Additionally, being combined with CST eigenmode simulations, this method takes advantage of the underlying tetrahedral mesh, providing a more accurate representation of device geometry compared to the hexahedral mesh used in wakefield simulations. In this work, we present the theory, development, and results of this generalized method, with a particular focus on the longitudinal impedance computation for a buncher of the High Brightness Beams Test Facility, where the effects of low wall losses and low beam velocity play a significant role.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Characterizing the quantum properties of ultralight dark matter: An open quantum systems approach
Authors: Bernal Jose-Daniel , Petery Ryan B. , Joven K. J. , Singh Swati
Published: February 2025

Obtaining insight into the constituents of dark matter and their interactions with normal matter has inspired a wide range of experimental efforts. Several approaches, particularly those involving searches for ultralight bosonic dark matter (UBDM) fields, involve the use of quantum systems or measurements performed at the limits imposed by quantum mechanics. While a classical treatment of UBDM and its detectors is satisfactory, a fully quantum description would assist in developing future detection strategies. Here, we present an open quantum systems approach that accomplishes this while providing intuition into the quantum nature of the detection process itself. Furthermore, we apply the quantum theory of optical coherence to characterize the statistical properties of the UBDM field. Using representative examples, we show that this theoretical treatment has implications in uncovering signatures of the cosmological production mechanism of the UBDM field and its galactic merger history. By adapting tools from quantum optics, this work will help facilitate the creation of novel methods to extract astrophysically relevant information from correlation measurements.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Two-Higgs-doublet model fitting and
tt¯bb¯
signals at the ILC
Authors: Tran Hieu Minh , Nguyen Huong Thu , Kurihara Yoshimasa
Published: February 2025

One of the most straightforward extensions of the standard model (SM) is having an additional Higgs doublet to the SM, namely the two-Higgs-doublet models. In the type-I model, an additional Higgs doublet is introduced that does not couple to any fermion via the Yukawa interaction in the original Lagrangian. Considering various theoretical and phenomenological constraints, we have found the best-fitted parameter set in the type-I model using the minimum χ2 method by scanning the model’s parameter space. We show that this optimal parameter set can be tested by precisely analyzing the decay processes Ds+→τ+ντ, D+→μ+νμ, and B0→K*μ+μ−. Moreover, the decay channels h→γγ and Zγ can be used to distinguish the model from the SM. For a direct search of the model at future colliders, we have proposed an investigation of the e+e−→tt¯bb¯ process at the International Linear Collider to detect the new physics of the model. Considering the initial state radiation correction and applying appropriate background cuts, the calculation result of the scattering cross section shows that it is feasible to observe a clear and unique signal in the tb¯ invariant mass distribution corresponding to the charged Higgs pair creations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Numerical-relativity surrogate model for hyperbolic encounters of black holes: Challenges in parameter estimation
Authors: Fontbuté Joan , Andrade Tomas , Luna Raimon , Bustillo Juan Calderón , Morrás Gonzalo , Jaraba Santiago , García-Bellido Juan , Izquierdo Germán López
Published: February 2025

We present a surrogate numerical-relativity model for close hyperbolic black-hole encounters with equal masses and spins aligned with the orbital momentum. Our model, generated in terms of the Newman–Penrose scalar ψ4, spans impact parameters b/M∈[11,15] and spin components χi∈[−0.5,0.5], modeling the (ℓ,m)=(2,0), (2,±2), (3,±2), and (4,±4) emission multipoles. The model is faithful to numerical-relativity simulations, yielding mismatches lower than 10−3. We test the ability of our model to recover the parameters of numerically simulated signals. We find that, despite the high accuracy of the model, parameter inference struggles to correctly capture the parameters of the source even for SNRs as large as 50 due to the strong degeneracies present in the parameter space. This indicates that correctly identifying these systems will require extremely large signal loudness, which is only typical of third generation detectors. Nevertheless, we also find that, if one attempts to infer certain combinations of such degenerated parameters, there might be a chance to prove the existence of this type of event, even with the current ground-based detectors, as long as these combinations make sense astrophysically and cosmologically.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Perturbative Stability and Error-Correction Thresholds of Quantum Codes
Authors: Li Yaodong , O’Dea Nicholas , Khemani Vedika
Published: February 2025

Topologically ordered phases are stable to local perturbations, and topological quantum error-correcting codes enjoy thresholds to local errors. We connect the two notions of stability by constructing classical statistical mechanics models for decoding general Calderbank-Shor-Steane codes and classical linear codes. Our construction encodes correction success probabilities under uncorrelated bit-flip and phase-flip errors, and simultaneously describes a generalized Z2 lattice-gauge theory with quenched disorder. We observe that the clean limit of the latter is precisely the imaginary-time path integral of the corresponding quantum code Hamiltonian when the errors are turned into a perturbative X or Z magnetic field. Motivated by error-correction considerations, we define general order parameters for all such generalized Z2 lattice-gauge theories, and show that they are generally lower bounded by success probabilities of error correction. For CSS codes satisfying the low-density parity-check condition and with a sufficiently large code distance, we prove the existence of a low-temperature ordered phase of the corresponding lattice-gauge theories, particularly for those lacking Euclidean spatial locality and/or when there is a nonzero code rate. We further argue that these results provide evidence for stable phases in the corresponding perturbed quantum Hamiltonians, obtained in the limit of continuous imaginary time. To do so, we distinguish space- and timelike defects in the lattice-gauge theory. A high free-energy cost of spacelike defects corresponds to a successful “memory experiment” and suppresses the energy splitting among the ground states, while a high free-energy cost of timelike defects corresponds to a successful “stability experiment” and points to a nonzero gap to local excitations.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Fishing cat optimizer: a novel metaheuristic technique
Authors: Wang Xiaowei
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The fishing cat's unique hunting strategies, including ambush, detection, diving and trapping, inspired the development of a novel metaheuristic optimization algorithm named the Fishing Cat Optimizer (FCO). The purpose of this paper is to introduce FCO, offering a fresh perspective on metaheuristic optimization and demonstrating its potential for solving complex problems.

Design/methodology/approach

The FCO algorithm structures the optimization process into four distinct phases. Each phase incorporates a tailored search strategy to enrich the diversity of the search population and attain an optimal balance between extensive global exploration and focused local exploitation.

Findings

To assess the efficacy of the FCO algorithm, we conducted a comparative analysis with state-of-the-art algorithms, including COA, WOA, HHO, SMA, DO and ARO, using a test suite comprising 75 benchmark functions. The findings indicate that the FCO algorithm achieved optimal results on 88% of the test functions, whereas the SMA algorithm, which ranked second, excelled on only 21% of the functions. Furthermore, FCO secured an average ranking of 1.2 across the four benchmark sets of CEC2005, CEC2017, CEC2019 and CEC2022, demonstrating its superior convergence capability and robustness compared to other comparable algorithms.

Research limitations/implications

Although the FCO algorithm performs excellently in solving single-objective optimization problems and constrained optimization problems, it also has some shortcomings and defects. First, the structure of the FCO algorithm is relatively complex and there are many parameters. The value of parameters has a certain impact on solving optimization problems. Second, the computational complexity of the FCO algorithm is relatively high. When solving high-dimensional optimization problems, it takes more time than algorithms such as GWO and WOA. Third, although the FCO algorithm performs excellently in solving multimodal functions, it rarely obtains the theoretical optimal solution when solving combinatorial optimization problems.

Practical implications

The FCO algorithm is applied to the solution process of five common engineering design optimization problems.

Originality/value

This paper innovatively proposes the FCO algorithm, which mimics the unique hunting mechanisms of fishing cats, including strategies such as lurking, perceiving, rapid diving and precise trapping. These mechanisms are abstracted into four closely connected iterative stages, corresponding to extensive and in-depth exploration, multi-dimensional fine detection, rapid and precise developmental search and localized refinement and contraction search. This enables efficient global optimization and local fine-tuning in complex environments, significantly enhancing the algorithm's adaptability and search efficiency.
On the asymmetric effects of stock market valuation and macroeconomic environment on venture capital and private equity
Authors: Dokas Ioannis , Geronikolaou George , Papadamou Stephanos , Spyromitros Eleftherios
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study investigates the dynamic interactions between the financing of entrepreneurship through Private Equity and several factors, such as stock market valuations, gross domestic product and consumer prices, and the effect of monetary policy in the decision for investments.

Design/methodology/approach

Our methodology consists in applying a panel vector autoregression approach that allows testing the causality of the variables of interest without assuming any specific direction. We disaggregate private equity to venture capital investments and later stage private equity and we uncover their asymmetric response to the examined factors. All types of investments are shown to be affected by GDP, stock prices, consumer prices and interest rates. However, the effect of the latter three variables are evidently more pronounced in later stage private equity compared to venture capital.

Findings

Our findings contribute to the understanding of the motives behind Venture Capital and Private Equity financings and uncover novel paths of the transmission of monetary policy to entrepreneurial finance.

Originality/value

The novelty of this research concerns the investigation of the monetary policy impact on investment decisions, including venture capital and private equity. This article provides significant highlights for the first time in the relative literature, offering new knowledge in the investment decision-making process in a dynamic framework.
Reducing poverty in India: the impact of global and local structural factors
Authors: Khan Imran , Sahu Mrutuyanjaya
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of global and local structural factors on reducing poverty.

Design/methodology/approach

The research uses data spanning from 1996–2022 and uses the nonlinear autoregressive distributed lag model. This model allows for the assessment of the short and long-term effects of remittance inflow (RI) growth, control on corruption and employment rate (ER) on poverty reduction in India.

Findings

The research findings indicate that in the short run, an increase in international RIs, a higher control of corruption and a greater ERare associated with a decrease in poverty in India. Specifically, a positive change in RIs and control of corruption significantly reduces poverty, while an increase in the ERhas a substantial impact. However, in the long run, only a positive change in RIs and a higher control of corruption continue to significantly reduce poverty.

Originality/value

This study makes several significant contributions to the existing literature. First, it examines the simultaneous impact of three structural factors on poverty, offering insights into their combined long-term effects on the economy. Second, unlike previous studies, this research investigates the nonlinear effects on poverty, which is particularly relevant for developing nations. Lastly, this study aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 1, which aims to end poverty in all its forms everywhere. The findings of this study are expected to assist Indian policymakers in formulating effective poverty eradication strategies and provide guidance for other developing nations facing similar challenges.