bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fully Autonomous Programming using Iterative Multi-Agent Debugging with Large Language Models
Authors: Grishina Anastasiia , Liventsev Vadim , Härmä Aki , Moonen Leon
Published: February 2025

Program synthesis with Large Language Models (LLMs) suffers from a “near-miss syndrome”: the generated code closely resembles a correct solution but fails unit tests due to minor errors. We address this with a multi-agent framework called Synthesize, Execute, Instruct, Debug, and Repair (SEIDR). Effectively applying SEIDR to instruction-tuned LLMs requires determining (a) optimal prompts for LLMs, (b) what ranking algorithm selects the best programs in debugging rounds, and (c) balancing the repair of unsuccessful programs with the generation of new ones. We empirically explore these trade-offs by comparing replace-focused, repair-focused, and hybrid debug strategies. We also evaluate lexicase and tournament selection to rank candidates in each generation. On Program Synthesis Benchmark 2 (PSB2), our framework outperforms both conventional use of OpenAI Codex without a repair phase and traditional genetic programming approaches. SEIDR outperforms the use of an LLM alone, solving 18 problems in C++ and 20 in Python on PSB2 at least once across experiments. To assess generalizability, we employ GPT-3.5 and Llama 3 on the PSB2 and HumanEval-X benchmarks. Although SEIDR with these models does not surpass current state-of-the-art methods on the Python benchmarks, the results on HumanEval-C++ are promising. SEIDR with Llama 3-8B achieves an average pass@100 of 84.2%. Across all SEIDR runs, 163 of 164 problems are solved at least once with GPT-3.5 in HumanEval-C++, and 162 of 164 with the smaller Llama 3-8B. We conclude that SEIDR effectively overcomes the near-miss syndrome in program synthesis with LLMs.
Software Engineering for OpenHarmony: A Research Roadmap
Authors: Li Li , Gao Xiang , Sun Hailong , Hu Chunming , Sun Xiaoyu , Wang Haoyu , Cai Haipeng , Su Ting , Luo Xiapu , Bissyande Tegawendé , Klein Jacques , Grundy John , Xie Tao , Chen Haibo , Wang Huaimin
Published: February 2025

Mobile software engineering has been a hot research topic for decades. Our fellow researchers have proposed various approaches (with over 7,000 publications for Android alone) in this field that essentially contributed to the great success of the current mobile ecosystem. Existing research efforts mainly focus on popular mobile platforms, namely Android and iOS. OpenHarmony, a newly open-sourced mobile platform, has rarely been considered, although it is the one requiring the most attention as OpenHarmony is expected to occupy one-third of the market in China (if not in the world). To fill the gap, we present to the mobile software engineering community a research roadmap for encouraging our fellow researchers to contribute promising approaches to OpenHarmony. Specifically, we start by presenting a tertiary study of mobile software engineering, attempting to understand what problems have been targeted by the mobile community and how they have been resolved. We then summarize the existing (limited) achievements of OpenHarmony and subsequently highlight the research gap between Android/iOS and OpenHarmony. This research gap eventually helps in forming the roadmap for conducting software engineering research for OpenHarmony.
Silent Synapses in the Adult Brain
Authors: Vardalaki Dimitra , Yaeger Courtney E. , Harnett Mark T.
Published: February 2025

The formation of new synapses, the connections between neurons, is the critical step for neural circuit assembly. Newly formed glutamatergic synapses are initially silent and require activity-dependent plasticity to become fully functional connections. While these synapses have long been considered a vital part of the developmental program for neural networks, recent findings now indicate that silent synapses are a key source of neural circuit plasticity in the adult brain. Here, we review current evidence for silent synapses in the adult brain and explore the potential roles of these highly plastic structures. We argue that silent synapses may be instrumental in adult neural circuit remodeling and can serve as a latent reservoir of plasticity that enhances information processing and storage. This previously underappreciated aspect of adult plasticity underscores the need for innovative approaches and further investigation into the dynamic contribution of silent synapses to learning and memory in the adult brain.
Deep Learning-based Aligned Strain from Cine Cardiac MRI for Detection of Fibrotic Myocardial Tissue in Patients with Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy
Authors: Koehler Sven , Kuhm Julian , Huffaker Tyler , Young Daniel , Tandon Animesh , André Florian , Frey Norbert , Greil Gerald , Hussain Tarique , Engelhardt Sandy
Published: February 2025

“Just Accepted” papers have undergone full peer review and have been accepted for publication in Radiology: Artificial Intelligence. This article will undergo copyediting, layout, and proof review before it is published in its final version. Please note that during production of the final copyedited article, errors may be discovered which could affect the content. Purpose To develop a deep learning (DL) model that derives aligned strain values from cine (noncontrast) cardiac MRI and evaluate performance of these values to predict myocardial fibrosis in patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Materials and Methods This retrospective study included 139 male patients with DMD who underwent cardiac MRI examinations at a single center between February 2018 and April 2023. A DL pipeline was developed to detect five key frames throughout the cardiac cycle, and respective dense deformation fields, allowing for phase-specific strain analysis across patients and from one key frame to the next. Effectiveness of these strain values in identifying abnormal deformations associated with fibrotic segments was evaluated in 57 patients (15.2 ± 3.1 years), and reproducibility was assessed in 82 patients (12.8 ± 2.7 years), comparing our method with existing feature-tracking and DL-based methods. Statistical analysis compared strain values using t tests, mixed models, and 2000+ ML models, reporting accuracy, F1 score, sensitivity, and specificity. Results DL-based aligned strain identified five times more differences (29 versus 5, P < .01) between fibrotic and nonfibrotic segments compared with traditional strain values and identified abnormal diastolic deformation patterns often missed by traditional methods. Additionally, aligned strain values enhanced performance of predictive models for myocardial fibrosis detection, improving specificity by 40%, overall accuracy by 17%, and accuracy patients with preserved ejection fraction by 61%. Conclusion The proposed aligned strain technique enables motion-based detection of myocardial dysfunction on contrast free cardiac MRI, facilitating detailed interpatient strain analysis, and allowing precise tracking of disease progression in DMD. ©RSNA, 2025
Severe Chronic Suppurative Osteomyelitis Following Dental Implant Placement
Authors: Garrote Marcel da Silva , Barbosa Alexandre Augustus Costa , Teixeira Maria de Fátima Batista Medeiros Alves , Mendonça Elismauro Francisco , Fenelon Gilberto , Guedes Orlando Aguirre , Estrela Carlos
Published: February 2025

Osteomyelitis is an infection caused by bacterial contamination of the bone marrow, cortical surfaces, and the periosteum. The clinical examination of a patient with severe osteomyelitis secondary to dental implants revealed a large facial swelling, suppuration in the perimandibular region, limited mouth opening, and diffuse pain that started after the placement of five dental implants. Two failed implants were removed, a reconstructive titanium plate was placed, and the patient was treated with antibiotics, but the infection did not resolve. The patient’s clinical condition became worse, and she sought hospital care. At presentation, she had a fever and was dehydrated. She was hospitalized for 16 days. Her treatment included surgery for the removal of the reconstructive plate, the implants with peri‐implantitis, and bone and necrotic tissue, together with administration of systemic drugs. The diagnosis of osteomyelitis was based on clinical, imaging, and histopathological findings, and she was treated with administration of antibiotics (penicillin, amikacin) for 16 days, followed by cephalosporin for 15 days after hospital discharge. Sixteen days later, her clinical condition was normal. Twelve months later, she received new implants and underwent prosthetic rehabilitation. Imaging tests, surgical elimination of bone and necrotic tissue, and histopathological analyses are essential for an accurate diagnosis. In our case, infection control demanded a careful surgical intervention associated with the administration of systemic antibiotics.
Cortical Morphology Alterations Mediate the Relationship Between Glymphatic System Function and the Severity of Asthenopia
Authors: Chen Yilei , Xu Jun , Kong Yingnan , Kang Yingjie , Gong Zhigang , Wang Hui , Huang Yanwen , Zhan Songhua , Yu Ying , Lv Xiaoli , Tan Wenli
Published: February 2025

Objectives: This study is aimed at assessing glymphatic function by diffusion tensor image analysis along the perivascular space (DTI‐ALPS) and its associations with cortical morphological changes and severity of accommodative asthenopia (AA).

Methods: We prospectively enrolled 50 patients with AA and 47 healthy controls (HCs). All participants underwent diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and T1‐weighted imaging and completed the asthenopia survey scale (ASS). Differences in brain morphometry and the analysis along the perivascular space (ALPS) index between the two groups were compared. The correlation and mediation analyses were conducted to explore the relationships between them.

Results: Compared to HCs, patients with AA exhibited significantly increased sulcal depth in the left superior occipital gyrus (SOG.L) and increased cortical thickness in the left superior temporal gyrus (STG.L), left middle occipital gyrus (MOG.L), left postcentral gyrus (PoCG.L), and left precuneus (PCUN.L). Additionally, patients with AA had a significantly lower ALPS index than HCs. The sulcal depth of the SOG.L was significantly positively correlated with the ASS score in patients with AA, and a positive correlation was found between the cortical thickness of the MOG.L and ASS score. The ALPS index was negatively associated with the sulcal depth of the SOG.L and cortical thickness of the MOG.L. Mediation analysis revealed that the sulcal depth of SOG.L and cortical thickness of MOG.L partially mediated the impact of the DTI‐ALPS index on the ASS score.

Conclusion: Our findings suggested that patients with AA exhibit impaired glymphatic function, which may contribute to the severity of asthenopia through its influence on cortical morphological changes. The ALPS index is anticipated to become a potential imaging biomarker for patients with AA.

Trial Registration: Chinese Registry of Clinical Trials: ChiCTR1900028306
Evaluation of Two Multiplexed qPCR Assays for Malaria Detection and Speciation: A Comparative Study With Nested PCR and Microscopy
Authors: Muyidi Ahmed A. , Ayashi Musa A. , Wakid Majed H. , Alghanmi Maimonah S. , Baakdah Fadi M. , Gattan Hattan S. , Alsaady Isra M. , Alsulami Muslimah N. , Albohiri Haleema H. , Altwaim Sarah A. , Eisa Zaki M. , Brek Thamer M.
Published: February 2025

Background: Malaria is a deadly vector‐borne parasitic disease spread by the bite of an infective female Anopheles mosquito. In routine malaria diagnosis, microscopic examination is generally regarded as the gold standard. Our study sought to evaluate the diagnostic precision of two commercially accessible quantitative PCR (qPCR) kits, in contrast to light microscopy and nested multiplex PCR (NM‐PCR).

Methods: This cross‐sectional study in southwest Saudi Arabia included 92 febrile patients meeting the inclusion criteria. Detection of Plasmodium species used light microscopy, NM‐PCR, and qPCR kits (RealStar and Viasure). Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), negative predictive value (NPV), and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were calculated. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v25, with significance set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results: Light microscopy detected 92.4% of cases, NM‐PCR detected 73.9%, and RealStar and Viasure detected 92.4% and 95.7%, respectively. Viasure showed the highest sensitivity (97.6%) and NPV (50%), while NM‐PCR had superior specificity (71.4%). For species identification, Plasmodium falciparum detection was highest with RealStar (85%). Mixed infections were better identified by Viasure (34.6%). RealStar excelled in Plasmodium vivax detection (area under the curve [AUC] = 90%). qPCR detected low parasitemia levels missed by microscopy.

Conclusions: The qPCR kits, particularly Viasure, demonstrated superior sensitivity for detecting Plasmodium species and identifying mixed infections compared to light microscopy and NM‐PCR. While light microscopy showed higher specificity and PPV, qPCR effectively detected low parasitemia levels missed by microscopy, highlighting its value in improving malaria diagnostics.
Structurally Diverse Quinoline Alkaloids With Antileukaemia Activities From Taraxacum mongolicum
Authors: Zhang Xiaodong , Ma Qinge , Yan Weiwei , Li Meng , Liu Haixia , Yuan Bo , Wang Xiaoxue
Published: February 2025

Taraxacum mongolicum, a medicinal and food homologous traditional Chinese medicine, has important research value in clinical practice. Eight new quinoline alkaloids (1–8), including 1N‐geranyl quinoline alkaloids (1–3), 3,4‐phenylquinoline alkaloids (4–6) and 10‐carbonyl‐11‐pyrrolyl quinoline alkaloids (7–8), and twelve known quinoline alkaloid derivatives (9–20) were isolated from T. mongolicum for the first time. These compounds were elucidated according to analysing NMR, MS, UV and IR spectra and compared with references. Among them, compounds (7, 8, 14 and 16) showed certain antileukaemia activities, which exhibited important cell growth inhibitory activities against HL‐60 and K562 cells than adriamycin, which could be potential antileukaemia agents. The plausible biogenetic pathway and preliminary structure–activity relationship of the selected compounds were scientifically summarised and discussed in this work.
Spectroscopic Properties, Biological Activity, and Sensing Applications of Coumarin Derivative (E)‐3‐(3‐(4‐(Dimethylamino)phenyl)acryloyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one in Solution, PVA Films, and PVP Nanofibers
Authors: M. Alhazmy Sadeq , Al-Ashwal Rania , Nasser Khalel Abdallah , M. Al Joufi Abdulsalam , Elshifa M. E. Mohammed Ard , Hassan Mohammed , Sh Alnawmasi Jawza , A. Alhagri Ibrahim
Published: February 2025

This study explored the fluorescence and absorption spectra of (E)‐3‐(3‐(4‐(dimethylamino)phenyl)acryloyl)‐4‐hydroxy‐2H‐chromen‐2‐one (DPAH) in solvents of different polarities and two solid matrices including PVA films and PVP nanofibers. The presence of DPAH with the PVA in films significantly affected the thickness of the films and increased their antibacterial activity against E. coli and S. aureus compared to films without DPAH. The higher the concentration of DPAH, the greater the antibacterial effect, suggesting its potential for developing new antibacterial materials. FTIR spectra of DPAH–PVA films revealed a significant decrease in peak intensity following low‐dose gamma irradiation (220 mR). This result suggests potential application of these films as a solid‐state gamma‐ray biosensor. The fluorescence spectra of DPAH are significantly affected by solvent polarity, leading to a shift in absorption maxima to longer wavelengths and a decrease in molar absorptivity. The large Stokes shifts observed in the emission spectra of the solid matrices (126 nm in ethanol‐doped PVA film and 58 nm in DPAH–PVP nanofiber) highlight their remarkable sensitivity to solvent polarity. This makes them promising candidates for applications requiring a tunable emission source. DPAH fluorescence intensity exhibited linear quenching with increasing concentrations of Cu2+ and Ni2+ ions, suggesting a potential application as a sensitive spectroscopic method for the detection of these metal ions in aqueous solutions.
Effect of Vestibular‐Oriented Balance Training on Postural Control and Risk of Fall in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Khallaf Mohamed , Jaber Hatem , Alameri Mansoor , Magdy Dina , Kamal Hend , Hassanin Mohamed , Mousa Mohamed , Fayed Eman
Published: February 2025

Background: Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects balance and increases the risk of falling by compromising vestibular signal processing.

Objectives: This study aims to assess the impact of vestibular‐oriented balance training on postural control and fall risk among people in the middle stages of PD.

Methods: Forty middle‐stage individuals with PD were assigned to the vestibular‐oriented balance training (study group) or the traditional balance training (control group). Outcome measures including Functional Gait Assessment (FGA) and modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB) using the Biodex Balance System were measured before, immediately after and 4 weeks after treatment.

Results: There was a significant group interaction by time for all outcome measures (p < 0.001). The results showed that the difference in the FGA and mCTSIB scores from baseline was significant between the two groups at all time points (p < 0.001). The study group showed significant sustained improvements in the FGA score overtime, while the control group had a significant improvement at Week 8 but that did not last to Week 12. In mCTSIB, the study group improved significantly in all test conditions (p < 0.001), while the control group showed significant improvement only in Conditions 1 and 2, without lasting effects at Week 12 (p > 0.05).

Conclusions: The findings indicate that the implementation of vestibular‐oriented balance training during the middle stage of PD might have a notable and lasting impact on both postural control and the risk of falls.
Neoadjuvant paclitaxel/olaparib in comparison to paclitaxel/carboplatin in patients with HER2-negative BC and HRD –long-term survival of the GeparOLA study
Authors: Fasching Peter A. , Schmatloch Sabine , Hauke Jan , Rey Julia , Jackisch Christian , Klare Peter , Link Theresa , Hanusch Claus , Huober Jens , Stefek Andrea , Holtschmidt Johannes , Schneeweiss Andreas , Uleer Christoph , Schmitt Wolfgang D. , Doering Gabriele , Rhiem Kerstin , Denkert Carsten , Schmutzler Rita K. , Solbach Christine , Hahnen Eric , Hartkopf Andreas , Untch Michael , Bjelic-Radisic Vesna , Nekljudova Valentina , Blohmer Jens-Uwe , Loibl Sibylle
Published: February 2025

Backgound: The GeparOLA study evaluated paclitaxel(P) plus olaparib(O) in neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT) for patients with HER2-negative early breast cancer (eBC) with homologous recombination deficiency (HRD). HRD was defined by high HRD-score or germline(g)/tumor(t) BRCA1/2 mutations (g/tBRCA1/2mut). Here, we report long-term outcome data. Patients and Methods: GeparOLA (NCT02789332) was a randomized, multicenter, prospective, open-label, phase II trial. Patients with HER2-negative eBC, HRD, indication for chemotherapy (cT2-cT4a-d or cT1c and cN+ or cT1c and pNSLN+ or cT1c and triple-negative[TN]BC or cT1c and Ki-67>20%), were randomly assigned to P+O or P+carboplatin(Cb), both followed by epirubicin+cyclophosphamide(EC). Long-term efficacy endpoints were secondary endpoints and included invasive disease-free survival(iDFS), distant disease-free survival(DDFS) and overall survival(OS). Results: Between 09/2016 and 07/2018, 107 patients were randomized and 106 (PO N=69;PCb N=37) started treatment. The median age was 47.0 years; 35.8% had cT1 tumors; 31.4% were cN+; 86.8% had G3 tumors; 89.6% had Ki-67>20% and 72.6% were TN. After median follow-up of 49.8 months, 18(15 PO; 3 PCb) iDFS events and 7(6 PO; 1 PCb) deaths were reported. The 4-year iDFS (76.0%PO vs 88.5%PCb, HR=2.86 [95%CI 0.83-9.90],log-rank p=0.081), DDFS (81.2%PO vs 93.4%PCb, HR=3.03 [95%CI 0.67-13.67],log-rank p=0.129) and OS (89.2%PO vs 96.9%PCb, HR=3.27 [95%CI 0.39-27.20],log-rank p=0.244) tended to be inferior with O. Patients without g/tBRCA1/2mut benefited from Cb [7/30 patients had iDFS/DDFS events in PO vs 0/16 in PCb]. Conclusion: For HER2-negative eBC with HRD, olaparib showed a tendency for inferior outcomes compared to carboplatin, particularly in patients without g/tBRCA1/2mut. In patients with g/tBRCA1/2mut olaparib may replace carboplatin.
Effects of Artemisia annua sublingual immunotherapy on asthma control and pulmonary function in patients with mild-moderate allergic asthma
Authors: Zhao Yumeng , Huang Hehua , Zou Hongmei , Qian Yuqing , Wang Xinzhuo , Guan Wenchao , Zhang Min , Ma Huijuan , Xu Chong , Chai Ruonan
Published: February 2025

Objective: To observe and assess the efficacy and safety of Artemisia annua (A. annua)-sublingual immunotherapy (SLIT) in patients with mild-moderate allergic asthma (AS).
Methods: In this retrospective study, the complete data of 60 patients with mild-moderate AS from October 2022 to October 2023 was included. Patients were stratified into two different groups based on treatment regimens: the SLIT group, 30 individuals who underwent standardized A. annua-SLIT for at least 6 months before pollen season, and the control group, the other 30 patients only received the symptomatic drug. During the 2022 and 2023 pollen season, asthma daytime symptom score (ADSS), asthma nighttime symptom score (ANSS), total medicine score (TMS), asthma control test score (ACT), forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1), and FEV1/forced vital capacity (FVC) were measured to evaluate the efficacy, and adverse events (AEs) were used to assess its safety.
Results: There were no significant differences in all clinical outcomes between the two groups during the 2022 pollen season (all P > 0.05). However, after SLIT treatment, the level of ADSS, ANSS, TMS, ACT, FEV1, and patients’ number of well controlled AS significantly improved compared with the control group (all P < 0.01). Notably, all the clinical outcomes significantly improved compared with the baseline only in the SLIT group (all P < 0.001). No severe AEs were reported, and all AEs were mild.
Conclusion: Pre-seasonal treatment of A. annua-SLIT for at least 6 months could relieve daytime and nighttime symptoms, reduce medication use, and improve asthma control and lung function in mono- and poly-sensitized patients with mild-moderate AS.
Variations in Characteristics and Clinical Outcomes of Esophageal Squamous Cell Carcinoma Among Asian American
Authors: Yu Xiaoxia , Xu Lixia , Zhang Shuwen , Pan Ping , Xia Ying
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Research on esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) in Asian American (AsA) populations frequently aggregates data, thereby overlooking the considerable diversity inherent within this demographic. The aim of this study was to investigate the variations in ESCC characteristics and clinical outcomes among AsA. Methods: Patients diagnosed with ESCC were identified through the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results (SEER) 17 database. The AsA cohort was categorized into specific subgroups: Chinese, Japanese, Filipino, Korean, Vietnamese, South Asian (Asian Indian or Pakistani), and other Asian. The Kaplan-Meier method was employed to estimate unadjusted overall survival (OS), while Cox proportional hazards models were utilized to assess adjusted OS. Results: A total of 9,252 patients were included, with the cohort comprising 1,100 Asian, 2,135 Black, 951 Hispanic, and 5,066 White individuals. AsA patients demonstrated the highest unadjusted OS (P < .001). The Vietnamese subgroup exhibited the highest proportion of male patients at 92.1%. South Asian patients showed the highest unadjusted OS among the distinct Asian subgroups, with survival rates of 56% at one year (95% CI 49–64), 31% at three years (95% CI 25–40), and 23% at five years (95% CI 17–32). After adjusting, only Chinese and South Asian patients displayed significantly improved OS compared to the White reference group (P < .05). Conclusion: Considerable disparities in ESCC characteristics and outcomes exist among AsA populations. Socioeconomic, genetic, and epigenetic factors may influence these differences. Further research is essential to clarify the mechanisms of this discrepancy.
The relationship between pineal gland and choroid plexus calcifications. Potential link for an intracranial calcification phenotype?
Authors: Del Brutto Oscar H. , Mera Robertino M. , Rumbea Denisse A. , Arias Emilio E. , Castillo Pablo R. , Patel Vishal
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Little is known about the association between the most common brain structures presenting with calcium deposits, the pineal gland and the choroid plexus. This study aims to assess whether the extent of pineal gland calcifications (PGC) and choroid plexus calcifications (PGC) are independent or correlate to each other.
Methods: The study included 1,009 individuals aged ≥40 years enrolled in a population-based cohort who received a head CT. Images were converted to the Neuroimaging Informatics Technology Initiative format, and whole brain segmentation was performed using SynthSeg. Voxels within the pineal gland region and the ventricular cavities with attenuation >50 HU were considered to contain a calcified component. Total voxel volumes within both regions were calculated for each participant. Linear regression models were fitted to assess the association between PGC and CPC volumes. Non-parametric locally weighted scatterplot smoothing regression was used to evaluate the relationship between these variables.
Results: PGC were associated with CPC (β: 0.018; 95% C.I.: 0.009 – 0.027), after adjusting for demographics. The Pearson correlation coefficient for this association was 0.1636 (p<0.001) while the Spearman pairwise rank correlation coefficient was 0.1647 (p<0.001).
Conclusions: PGC and CPC are significantly correlated, suggesting the existence of an intrinsic predisposition to facilitate calcium deposits in brain tissues.
Dimensões da influência do Instagram nas decisões de compra dos consumidores
Authors: Anjos Thais Alessandra Silva dos , Paiva Luis Eduardo Brandão , Lima Luanda Regina Reis , Costa Filho Francisco Carlos da
Published: February 2025

This research aims to analyze the dimensions of the influence of Instagram on purchasing decisions. By a qualitative and descriptive study, interviews were conducted with eight Instagram users. Tesults were related to the practicality and quality of the sold products. Regarding motivation, two categories were found for analysis and discussion: the influence of third-party disclosures and recommendations and advertising. As for the findings on influences, five categories are highlighted: feedback, social impact, personalized digital marketing strategies, price, and personality. Results highlight the importance of personal interactions and the effectiveness of visual marketing strategies on Instagram, offering valuable insights to optimize consumer engagement.
Uma proposta para caracterizar as estratégias persuasivas em reviews gastronômicos realizados por influenciadores digitais no Instagram
Authors: Parise Giovanna , Wottrich Laura
Published: February 2025

This paper presents a proposal to characterize the persuasive strategies employed in food reviews made by digital influencers on Instagram. Using an ethnographic approach, enriched by theoretical discussions on the subject, five profiles of Brazilian digital influencers were analyzed: @sofiasporai, @reviewsporsp, @rolezandoembrasilia, @indo.comer and @belemdiicas. The persuasive strategies employed are a form of publicization based on experiential advertising. When construing the message, the reviews present two mobilizing logics—emotional and rational. Through testimonials and emotional appeals, these present five persuasive characteristics: persuasive expressions, gastronomic attributes, sensory stimuli, colloquiality and authenticity.
ASH2L Deficiency in Smooth Muscle Drives Pulmonary Vascular Remodeling
Authors: Zhang Jing , Gu Xia , Cheng Tian-Le , Qi Yong-Jia , Liu Dao-Yan , Wu Na , Wang Da-Peng , Huang Yu , Zhu Zhi-Ming , Fan Ye
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND:

Histone H3 lysine 4 methylation is one of the most abundant epigenetic modifications, which has been recently linked to vascular remodeling in pulmonary hypertension (PH). SET1/MLL methyltransferase complexes comprise the main enzymes responsible for methylating H3 lysine 4, yet their roles in vascular remodeling and PH are not fully understood. We aim to assess the contribution of ASH2L, a core SET1/MLL family member, to the pathogenesis of PH.

METHODS:

Human pulmonary artery specimens and primary vascular cells, smooth muscle cell (SMC)-specific ASH2L-deficient mice, rats with SMC-specific ASH2L overexpression, mass spectrometry, immunoprecipitation, and chromatin immunoprecipitation were used to define the role of ASH2L in PH.

RESULTS:

Analysis of bulk RNA-sequencing data sets from human lung vessels identified ASH2L as the only differentially expressed SET1/MLL family member in PH compared with healthy controls. Decreased ASH2L expression in human pulmonary arteries correlated with the clinical severity of PH, which contrasted with elevated H3 lysine 4 methylation and was primarily localized to SMCs. Depletion of ASH2L promoted whereas its restoration ameliorated SMC proliferation and vascular remodeling in PH. Mechanistically, we revealed that ASH2L functioned independently of the canonical H3 lysine 4 trimethylation-based transcriptional activation, while it formed a protein complex with KLF5 and FBXW7, thereby accelerating the ubiquitin-proteasomal degradation of KLF5. NOTCH3 was discovered as a new downstream target of KLF5, and the loss of ASH2L promoted the recruitment of KLF5 to the NOTCH3 promoter, thus enhancing NOTCH3 expression. Pharmacological blockage of KLF5 attenuated PH in chronic hypoxia-exposed SMC-specific ASH2L-deficient mice and sugen/hypoxia-challenged rats.

CONCLUSIONS:

This study demonstrated that ASH2L deficiency causatively affects SMC proliferation and lung vascular remodeling that is partially mediated through KLF5-dependent NOTCH3 transcription. Activating ASH2L or targeting KLF5 might represent potential therapeutic strategies for PH.
Endothelial PPARδ Ablation Exacerbates Vascular Hyperpermeability via STAT1/CXCL10 Signaling in Acute Lung Injury
Authors: Hong Huiling , Wu Yalan , Li Yangxian , Han Yumeng , Cao Xiaoyun , Wu Vivian Wei Yan , Chan Thomas Ting Hei , Zhou Jingying , Cao Qin , Lui Kathy O. , Wong Chun-Kwok , Dai Zhiyu , Tian Xiao Yu
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND:

Vascular hyperpermeability is one of the hallmarks of acute lung injury, contributing to excessive inflammation and respiratory failure. The PPARδ (peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor delta) is an anti-inflammatory transcription factor, although its role in endothelial barrier function remains unclear. Here, we studied the essential role of PPARδ in maintaining vascular endothelial barrier integrity during lung inflammation and investigated the underlying mechanisms.

METHODS:

Endothelial cell (EC)–selective PPARδ knockout mice (Ppard
EC-KO
) and littermate control mice (Ppard
EC-WT
) received lipopolysaccharide injection to induce acute lung injury. Lung inflammation, pulmonary vascular leakage, and mouse mortality were monitored. Single-cell RNA sequencing was performed on sorted mouse lung ECs.

RESULTS:

Ppard
EC-KO
mice exhibited aggravated lung inflammation, characterized by increased leukocyte infiltration, elevated production of proinflammatory cytokines, and higher mortality rates. The enhanced inflammatory responses were associated with increased protein leakage, interstitial edema, and impaired endothelial barrier structure, leading to vascular hyperpermeability in Ppard
EC-KO
mice. Mechanistically, with single-cell RNA sequencing, we identified the emergence of an interferon-activated capillary EC population marked by CXCL10 (C-X-C motif chemokine 10) expression following lipopolysaccharide challenge. PPARδ silencing significantly increased CXCL10 expression in ECs through activating STAT1. Notably, CXCL10 treatment induced degradation of tight junction proteins ZO-1 (zonula occluden-1) and claudin-5 through the ubiquitin-proteasome system, disrupting membrane junction continuity in ECs. Administration of anti-CXCL10 antibody or CXCL10 receptor antagonist AMG487 suppressed both lipopolysaccharide-induced lung inflammation and vascular leakage in Ppard
EC-KO
mice.

CONCLUSIONS:

These results highlighted a novel anti-inflammatory role of PPARδ in ECs by suppressing CXCL10-mediating vascular hyperpermeability. Targeting the CXCL10 signaling shows therapeutic potential against vascular injury in acute lung injury.
Competition and Isomorphism
Authors: Sun Yanfei
Published: February 2025

This article studies organizational isomorphism as a force of religious change and highlights the importance of competition in inciting the isomorphic behaviors of religious organizations. Empirically, it tackles the puzzle of why, facing competitive pressure, Chinese Buddhist organizations actively copied organizational traits of their rivals during the Republican China era (1912–1949) and in Taiwan under Chiang Kai-shek (1949–1975), but not in post-Mao mainland China since 1978. Theoretically, it aims to amend the institutional isomorphism theory of DiMaggio and Powell by suggesting that competition remains a significant force in organizational change in the modern age. The analysis suggests that for incumbent religious organizations to launch competitive isomorphic moves, they must meet at least two prerequisites: first, they must acutely perceive competitive pressure; second, without the resources or means to neutralize the challenge, they must learn from their rivals’ strengths to (re)gain dominance. This article also stresses the vital and pervasive role of the state, in terms of its nature and patterned behaviors, in conditioning incumbent organizations’ perceptions of and responses to their rivals.
Iphigenia devrukhensis (Colchicaceae), a new species from rocky plateaus of the Konkan region of Maharashtra, India
Authors: MORE PRATEEK SHANTARAM , NAIKWADE PRATAP VYANKATRAO
Published: February 2025

N/A
A cathedral too far: Testing the limits of Catholic church closures in Quebec
Authors: Lux Ryan Andrew
Published: February 2025

This article examines the latest wave of mass Catholic church closures in Quebec through the prism of one of its most dramatic cases: the Saint-Germain Cathedral in Rimouski. Using an approach that includes media analysis, ethnography and interviews with key actors, this article identifies six types of figures who participate in closures from three domains: religion, civil society and politics. The relationships, motivations and world views of these types are mapped out and suggest the passage from the socio-religious configuration of cultural Catholicism towards one where the Church shifts to a private religion or clientelist model. This examination of Rimouski’s cathedral scandal offers an analysis that stands at the crossroads between the sociology of religions and a political sociology of cultural conflict and social change in Quebec.
Informal Workers as Outsiders: Political Participation and Voice Across MENA Countries
Authors: Duman Anil
Published: February 2025

This study explores how informal employment, prevalent across the Middle East and North Africa (MENA) region, impacts political behavior by creating insider–outsider divides. While previous research offers mixed evidence on the relationship between informal employment, voting patterns, and social policy preferences, our analysis reveals a significant and robust negative association between informality and various forms of political mobilization, including petitioning, protesting, and the use of force for political causes. Informal sector workers are less likely to engage politically due to limited resources, organizational constraints, and diminished incentives within exclusionary economic and political systems. Importantly, our findings show that this inverse relationship persists regardless of democratic context, although social assistance programs can partially mediate the effects of informality on political engagement. Our findings emphasize the importance of structural barriers in fostering inclusive political participation and expand the literature on the relationship between labor markets, social policy, and democratization in Global South.
Pedagogizing the Affective Dimension of Language Teacher Identity Through Critical Emotional Reflexivity
Authors: Song Juyoung
Published: February 2025

Bridging research and practice on teacher emotions, this study demonstrates how the affective dimension of teacher identity can be pedagogized through emotion as a mode of critical inquiry. Focusing on Ray, a Spanish language teacher in a rural area in the US, the study presents the process and outcomes of his semester-long self-inquiry. Data analysis, drawn from Ray's reflective narratives on his emotions in teaching and biweekly collaborative dialogues with a teacher educator, examines how this inquiry led to his development of critical emotional reflexivity. The findings reveal how his critical inquiry enabled him to recognize tensions in his teacher identity when required to teach subjects outside his area of expertise. Additionally, the study highlights how pedagogizing identity fostered his critical perspectives on biases and unfair practices related to his teacher identity, particularly when his Spanish class was regarded as “other” space compared to the classrooms of “regular” subjects. The findings suggest that teacher emotion as critical inquiry requires not only an understanding of one's emotions, but also a critical awareness of the intersection between the social and political contexts of teaching and those emotions. The study provides implications for language teacher education and training.
Theological Ethics and Moral Helplessness in the Anxious Present: Responsibility and Repair
Authors: Ward Kate
Published: February 2025

Theological ethics has inadvertently contributed to the diminished autonomy many feel amid the anxieties of daily life. The shift from act-based ethics to totalizing ethics, and Vatican II’s universal call to social justice, urged Christians to work for earthly justice without offering tools for assessing one’s moral goodness when these projects fail. Virtue ethics that is attentive to moral luck can help combat moral helplessness by observing moral agency in action patterns that shape the self’s dispositions.
Global burden of malaria and neglected tropical diseases in children and adolescents, 1990–2019: a population-based, cross-sectional study
Authors: Zheng Jinxin , Zhang Daoqi , Zhang Shunxian , Chen Muxin , Guo Zhaoyu , Guan Shiyang , Liu Yushu , Bergquist Robert , Li Shizhu , Zhou Xiaonong , Feng Xinyu
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To estimate the global burden of malaria and neglected tropical diseases (NTDs) in children and adolescents aged 0–19 years and to analyse trends to inform public health and policy decisions.

Design

Population-based, cross-sectional study.

Setting

Global analysis across 204 countries and territories.

Participants

Children and adolescents aged 0–19 years with malaria and NTDs, stratified by age, gender and location from 1990 to 2019.

Main outcome measures

Yearly incidence, prevalence, and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) for malaria and NTDs, age-standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) and age-standardised DALY rates (ASDRs).

Results

The global burden of malaria and NTDs among children and adolescents aged 0–19 years remains substantial. In 2019, 195.6 million cases of malaria and NTDs were recorded globally, resulting in 43.9 million (95% Uncertainty Interval (UI): 25.0–70.4 million) DALYs. The incidence rate increased until 2005 and then declined. Sub-Saharan Africa had the highest ASDR, while high-income regions had the lowest. Significant ASDR reductions occurred in Andean Latin America and South Asia. The burden was highest in low-Socio-Demographic Index (SDI) regions, with malaria accounting for over 93% of DALYs among children under five. Females had slightly higher incidence rates, while DALYs were evenly distributed between genders. There was an inverse association observed between SDI and ASDRs.

Conclusions

Malaria and NTDs continue to disproportionately affect children and adolescents in low-SDI regions, especially sub-Saharan Africa. Sustaining gains while accelerating control efforts is the key to successful control progress and ambiguous elimination goals for both malaria and NTDs.
Quantifying Grating Acuity in Children With Developmental Delays Using Newborn Acuity Cards
Authors: Sumalini Rebecca , Ampolu Bharathi , Satgunam PremNandhini
Published: February 2025

Introduction: The Newborn Acuity Cards (NAC) have been used on neonates and were noted to be simple, fast, and reliable. The distinguishing features of NAC include central placement of the gratings and wide range of grating acuity that can be measured. In the current study, NAC were used with children who had developmental delays to determine the clinical utility of the cards for this group. Methods: Binocular grating acuity was measured using NAC in children with developmental delays. Grating acuity was measured on one group using descending method of limits and on a separate group using random presentation. The acuity findings were obtained from the medical records. Retest was carried out on eight children after 1.2 ± 1.0 months using NAC. Results: A total of 47 children participated ( Mage: 23.1 ± 15.6 months, male: 59.5%). Testability rates were 100% and 93.6% using descending method of limits and random presentation, respectively. In the data obtained from the medical records, only functional assessment was documented in 30 children (63.8%). However, among them, 27 children (90%) could be tested successfully using NAC. Grating acuity measured using NAC ranged from −1.21 to 0.35 logCPD (≈2.68–1.13 logMAR). The coefficient of repeatability for NAC was 0.85 octaves (<2 cards difference). Discussion: This is the first study to establish the clinical utility of NAC in children with developmental delays and to demonstrate the feasibility of using the cards when quantification using other conventional tests may be difficult. The study findings also indicate good repeatability indices using NAC, albeit with a small sample. Implications for Practitioners: NAC can be useful to test grating acuity of children with developmental delays. Wide range of acuity, grating placement, and better testability rates are potential reasons to adapt NAC for this group when quantification of acuity with conventional tests is not possible.
Role of executive functions in reading fluency efficiency of struggling readers: the case of Turkish young learners / El papel de las funciones ejecutivas en la eficiencia de la fluidez lectora de los lectores con dificultades: el caso de los jóvenes estudiantes turcos
Authors: Guldenoglu Birkan , Yavuz Cemre , İnan Bahadır
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to examine the role of executive functions in the reading fluency efficiency of struggling readers who were exposed to a highly transparent orthography, Turkish. Participants were 216 first- and third-grade elementary school students divided into two categories, as struggling readers or typically developing ones (control group). To assess participants’ executive functions, we used the Turkish translation of CHEXI, addressing the evaluation of the executive functions of primary school children based on teacher opinions. Data were analysed using MANOVA and logistic regression tests. Findings indicate that Turkish struggling readers across all grade levels face challenges related to executive function and lack sufficient skills in this area to achieve fluency in reading. Moreover, the significant and strong correlations observed across reader profiles provide compelling evidence that executive functions play a critical role in the process of decoding Turkish words, irrespective of the specific grade level. The acquisition of adequate reading skills in Turkish, an orthography that is highly transparent, appears to be influenced by the peculiarities of cognitive executive functions.
Enhanced age-hardening and formation of plate precipitates in Mg-Gd-Ag-Al alloy fabricated by wire-arc additive manufacturing
Authors: Ma Dong , Xu Chunjie , Sui Shang , Tian Jun , Zeng Fanhong , Remennik Sergei , Shechtman Dan , Zhang Zhongming , Guo Can , Qi Yuanshen
Published: February 2025

In this work, the microstructure of the WAAM-fabricated Mg-12.1Gd-1.6Ag-0.7Al (wt.%) alloy featured a distinct lamellar structure with alternating dendrites and equiaxed grains. The second phase contained MgAg, GdH2, (Mg, Ag)5Gd and Al2Gd. After the solid solution treatment at 500°C for 2 h, coarse (Mg, Ag)5Gd phase dissolved, followed by the formation of lamellar Al2Gd phase. With additional aging treatment at 200°C for 24 h, dense γ′′ and β′ nano-precipitates formed in the α-Mg matrix, resulting in remarkable precipitation strengthening, namely the improved UTS of 312 ± 7.9 MPa, YS of 224 ± 5.3 MPa and EL of 4.3 ± 0.5%. This work contributes to the development of high-performance, advanced magnesium alloy workpieces.
Healthcare professionals’ perspectives of providing end-of-life care for infants, children and young people in acute settings: A multi-site qualitative study
Authors: McLorie Emma Victoria , Hackett Julia , Barrett Laura , Peat George , Weatherly Helen , Hinde Sebastian , Walker Gabriella , Noyes Jane , Oddie Sam , Vasudevan Chakrapani , Feltbower Richard G. , Phillips Bob , Hewitt Catherine , Hain Richard , Subramanian Gayathri , Haynes Andrew , Papworth Andrew , Fraser Lorna Katharine , Murtagh Fliss E.M.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Paediatric end-of-life care is an important part of palliative care, and provides care and support for children in the last days, weeks, months or year of life. However, there is currently a picture of inconsistent and disjointed provision. Despite differences in delivery models across countries and cultures, healthcare professionals need to be able to support families through this difficult time. However, there is limited evidence to base high quality end-of-life care.

Aim:

To explore healthcare professionals’ experiences of delivering end-of-life care to infants, children and young people, their needs and the factors affecting access and implementation.

Design:

Qualitative study employing online focus groups, analysed using framework analysis.

Setting/participants:

Healthcare professionals who provided end-of-life care to infants, children and young people, across cancer centres and neonatal and paediatric intensive care units.

Results:

A total of 168 professionals from 13 tertiary hospitals participated in 23 focus groups. Three themes highlighted many barriers to delivering optimal care: (1) Professional perceptions of end-of-life care; (2) What we want to provide versus what we can and (3) Workforce and sustainability: Healthcare professional support. These illustrate professionals’ awareness and desire to deliver high-quality care, yet are constrained by a number of factors, suggesting the current system is not suitable.

Conclusions:

This study provides an in-depth exploration of paediatric end-of-life care, from those professionals working across the settings accounting for the majority of end-of-life care delivery. Many of these issues could be resolved by investment in: funding, time, education and support to enable delivery of increasingly complex end-of-life care.