bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Fecal microbiota transplantation for Clostridioides difficile infection in a peritoneal dialysis patient: A case report
Authors: Marasco Giovanni , Cannarile Daniela Cecilia , Cremon Cesare , Papalia Giuliana , Marangoni Antonella , Zucchelli Annalisa , Barone Monica , Lazzarotto Tiziana , Brigidi Patrizia , Stanghellini Vincenzo , Barbara Giovanni
Published: February 2025

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) may be associated with dysbiosis which may increase the risk of gastrointestinal infections. Patients with kidney failure have a predominance of bacteria responsible for the exacerbation of chronic inflammation through the production of ureases, uricase, and uremic toxins and a reduction of bacteria-producing protective molecules as short-chain fatty acids. Patients with CKD have an increased risk of Clostridioides difficile infection. Currently, besides antibiotic therapy, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is the only effective gut microbiota-targeted therapy for treating this infection. Scant evidence is available on FMT in those receiving peritoneal dialysis (PD). In this case, we report a successful FMT performed by colonoscopy in a patient receiving PD for polycystic kidney disease suffering from recurrent Clostridioides difficile infections. The FMT was repeated to enhance microbiota engraftment. The role of FMT in treating Clostridioides difficile in individuals receiving PD may be an important and promising therapeutic strategy but requires further prospective study.
Transcending national borders through educational practices: the Children’s Castle in Luxembourg
Authors: Moretti Federica , Venken Machteld
Published: February 2025

This article offers an international history of welfare ideas and practices in the intermediary space of Luxembourg by retracing the early phases of the Kannerschlass, an innovative pedagogical establishment for children in distress based in a Luxembourgian village close to the French border. It reveals how the institution was able to develop a unique didactic project under municipal ownership after the Second World War, thanks to international exchanges. This was largely the initiative of the directors, educators and policymakers who creatively amalgamated international pedagogical approaches in their practice in the Kannerschlass.
Comprehensive exploration, modeling, and optimization of end milling parameters for magnesium AZ41 using multicriteria decision-making approach
Authors: M Varatharajulu , N Giritharan , S Aravindh , M Vijayanand , Kannan Sathish
Published: February 2025

This work is planned to comprehend the selection of desirable end milling parameters on magnesium AZ41. During machining, spindle speed (SS), feed rate (FR), and depth of cut (DoC) were systematically varied to assess their influence on the efficiency of the machining process. The surface characteristic of the current study was done by scanning electron microscope (SEM) and surface roughens tester. These SEM images explain the texture together with the morphology and composition in association, with the intermetallic phase found on the surface with presence of zinc and aluminum percentage more than Mg. It ensures that, the presence of aluminum content improves surface quality. Selecting optimal parameters in machining requires balancing cost minimization and quality maximization, posing a multiple criteria decision-making challenge. This study addresses the stated issue by employing the evaluation based on distance from average solution (EDAS) method. Further, the response surface methodology (RSM) is applied to build the empirical model through Taguchi design. The empirical model is proposed with a higher correlation coefficient of 0.9806, 0.9961, and 0.9629 for machining time, surface roughness, and material removal rate, respectively. Following the successful development of the model, optimization was performed using the desirability function approach (DFA), which allowed us to balance multiple objectives and achieve the desired outcomes. Optimization studies reveal varying surface roughness levels, with controlled shearing action, FR, and DoC influencing the results. The optimized input parameters concerning multiobjective criteria were found with the SS of 3443.7 rpm and FR of 500 m/min, and DoC of 0.65 mm. The optimized results of EDAS and DFA were found concurrently.
Development of Mn ions incorporated tin oxide nanostructures for effective photocatalytic degradation of toxic dyes and enhanced supercapacitor applications
Authors: Padmaja Bommu , Dhanapandian S. , Paramasivam Prabhu
Published: February 2025

To improve energy storage and photocatalytic (PC) activity for the removal of organic pollutants, we synthesize pure and Mn-doped stannic oxide at different concentrations in this work. The physicochemical parameters of the synthesized materials were investigated employing a variety of analytical instruments. Here, we synthesize the samples using a simple hydrothermal approach. At 5 A/g current density, a maximum specific capacitance of 325 F/g was demonstrated by a Mn-doped stannic oxide electrode. After 1000 continuous cycles of charging and discharging, 84.83% retention of capacitance was noted. Additionally, when Mn-doped stannic oxide NPs are utilized as a photocatalyst to reduce brilliant green (BG), alizarin red S (AR S), and methyl orange (MO) dyes in the presence of sunlight, methyl orange shows the highest degradation efficiency of 96% when compared to all other dyes.
Imagined interventions: Critical-ideational strategies across multiple futures in public interest scenarios
Authors: Mische Ann , Mart Şehrazat G.
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the critical-ideational strategies of public interest scenario projects seeking to intervene in urgent problems related to democracy, development, peacebuilding, and climate change. As cultural technologies for foresight in turbulent times, scenario methodologies direct attention to the temporal multiplicity and contingency of action; they engage diverse ensembles of actors in challenging conversations to identify alternative ways in which futures could unfold. These methods are grounded in pragmatist and phenomenological theories of time and imagination. However, they are not merely speculative exercises, but make political-normative interventions that attribute blame for problems and credit for solutions to state, market, or civil society actors. By distributing responsibility across temporally multi-pronged narratives, these projects stake out positions on the long-term trajectories of capitalism and democracy. Through a textual analysis of the allocation of blame and credit in 29 scenario projects focused on the African context (1991–2017), we examine how coalitions of local and transnational actors harness the uncertainty and multiplicity of futures to imagine, critique, and affirm different kinds of sociopolitical interventions. We compare how different “genres” of scenario projects refract the future into story-sets of continuity, constraint, collapse, and transformation. This temporal splitting enables them to wrestle with trade-offs and incorporate diverging perspectives while making strong overarching claims about the desirability of certain lines of action over others. In this way, scenario coalitions position themselves in relation to core debates about the relative role of the public, private, and civic sectors in causing and responding to the crises of our times.
Un-Silencing ‘The Most Silent Section of “The Silent Service”’: The Portrayal of Royal Navy Submarines and Submariners in the Illustrated London News, 1939–1945
Authors: Backhouse Martin , James Robert
Published: February 2025

This article explores the portrayal of Royal Navy submarines, their crews, and depot ships in the Illustrated London News during the Second World War. Through an examination of this newspaper, it argues that Britain was shown to have a technologically advanced and potent submarine service. The coverage in the ILN was not only partly didactic but also reassuring, demonstrating to the newspaper's readers that Britain and its allies were capable of winning the war. The ILN was thus a conduit through which the nation's morale could be boosted by helping to instil a sense of pride and confidence in the country's submarine service's capabilities.
Estimates of Suicide Trends Among Males in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) From Year 2000 to 2019 Using WHO GHE Data
Authors: Siau Ching Sin , Chong Agnes Shu Sze , Fariduddin Muhamad Nur , Marzo Roy Rillera , Aslamiah Samihah , Wee Lei Hum , Kumalasari Asteria Devy , Hoang Van Thi Hai , Prawiromaruto Ian Griffin , Htay Mila Nu Nu , Kittiteerasack Priyoth , Chan Caryn Mei Hsien
Published: February 2025

This study aimed to analyze the estimated suicide trends among males in the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) countries from year 2000 to 2019 and their relationship with unemployment rates. Age-standardized suicide rate and unemployment data of 10 ASEAN countries (Brunei, Cambodia, Indonesia, Lao People’s Democratic Republic, Malaysia, Myanmar, the Philippines, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam) were analyzed using Joinpoint regression. Results showed that ASEAN countries (except the Philippines and Myanmar) recorded an increase or a plateau in the decline of age-standardized suicide rates in males during the second half of the 2010s. This was in contrast with global trends for males, which has been steadily decreasing. Unemployment was significantly associated with suicide rates. Our study found generally increasing or plateauing suicide trends in ASEAN countries between years 2013 and 2017. However, limitations in data quality highlight the importance of improved suicide surveillance to effectively support prevention efforts.
Competition and redistribution in Economic and Monetary Union
Authors: Gerner-Beuerle Carsten
Published: February 2025

Measures taken by the EU institutions and Member States in response to major crises of the EU over the past decades, culminating in Next Generation EU (NGEU), the EU's Covid-19 recovery programme, have been both praised as expressions of ‘real’ European solidarity and criticized for representing a profound change in the EU's constitutional fabric lacking proper constitutional legitimation. These two viewpoints, while seemingly opposed, go hand in hand. Economic and Monetary Union is built on the principle of national fiscal responsibility, which is in tension with mechanisms that involve financial assistance, risk sharing and debt mutualization. This article examines the solidaristic elements that have been present in the EU's economic policies since the early days of the European Communities to probe whether Eurozone financial assistance and NGEU indeed constitute such a profound shift. The article argues that both are in the tradition of a narrow, instrumental version of solidarity that underpins much of the internal market and cohesion policy. Solidarity, in this sense, has the purpose of balancing constraints on competition between the Member States with certain redistributive elements. While this view on solidarity may not dispel all doubts about the constitutionality of financial assistance and debt mutualization, it helps to put claims about a shift towards ‘real’ European solidarity into perspective.
Nurse/Midwife Health Communication Competencies and Transcultural Effectiveness in Family Health Centers in Türkiye
Authors: Türker Atiye , Alpar Şule Ecevit
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Nurses and midwives in family health centers play a critical role in maintaining effective communication with patients, especially those from diverse cultural backgrounds. This study aimed to explore the health communication competencies of these health care professionals and their impact on intercultural effectiveness.

Method:

This cross-sectional study was conducted with 61 midwives and 54 nurses working in 34 family health centers. Data were collected using A Demographic Form, Communication Competence Scale, and Intercultural Effectiveness Scale.

Result:

Regression analysis identified a significant relationship between communication competence and intercultural effectiveness ( F = 14.218; p = .000 < .050). In total, 93.6% of the participants experience language barriers during the care process.

Discussion:

Given that language barriers are identified as the greatest challenge, it is essential to provide short-term translator support and long-term language education to address this issue effectively. These findings underscore the need for targeted interventions to improve communication competencies, which are crucial for providing culturally competent care in diverse settings.
Social Imagery and Subjective Ideological Proximity to the Supreme Court: Evidence From Evangelical Christians
Authors: Badas Alex , Schmidt Eric R.
Published: February 2025

Public opinion about the U.S. Supreme Court is heavily influenced by whether people perceive that the Court aligns with them ideologically. However, most Americans do not follow the Court closely enough to make informed inferences about their proximity to the Court. To explain this paradox, we theorize that when Americans perceive that they share a salient identity with the Supreme Court Justices, they attribute their own ideological orientation to the Court. Focusing on evangelical Christians, we find strong evidence for this theory. Survey analysis reveals that when evangelicals perceive that a majority of the Justices are evangelical Christians, they report less ideological distance from the Court, even though this does not affect their objective distance from the Court. To clarify the causal direction of this relationship, we conduct a conjoint experiment—showing that when evangelicals evaluate hypothetical nominees to the Court, they report that evangelical nominees are closer to them ideologically. By showing that the Court’s social imagery influences subjective ideological distance judgments, we help explain both the disconnect between subjective and objective proximity and the continued significance of subjective proximity judgments.
The Spectrum of Love: An Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis Case Study of an Interabled Relationship
Authors: Tapia Jose Luis , Schramm Matthew N. , Reyes Ana Guadalupe
Published: February 2025

Over a fourth of adults residing in the United States have a disability. Nevertheless, medical and mental health professionals have limited formal training in disability justice and disability-responsive care. Furthermore, the medical model of disability feeds the societal belief that deems people with disabilities as less than others while sustaining environmental structures rooted in ableist ideology, thus, limiting the quality of care provided to people with disabilities. This interpretative phenomenological analysis aimed to address an existing gap in the literature by examining an interabled couple's experience after one of the partners acquired a disability. We hope the results of this study to: (a) increase understanding of the lived experiences of an interabled couple after a partner acquired a disability; (b) highlight the importance of accounting for both partners’ experiences; and (c) increase awareness of disability-responsive strategies for serving interabled couples counseling.
Uterine Spindle Cell Smooth Muscle Tumor of Uncertain Malignant Potential With Mitotic Figures Greater Than or Equal to 15/10 High-Power Fields: A Clinicopathologic Study of 20 Patients With a Rare Tumor
Authors: Li Ting , Wang Yiqin , Zhang Lihong , Li Jing , Yu Xiaolei , Ning Yan , Zhao Chenyan
Published: February 2025

Background. This study aimed to investigate the prognostic factors associated with uterine spindle cell smooth muscle tumors of uncertain malignant potential (STUMPs) with mitotic figures ≥15/10 high-power fields (HPFs). Methods. A total of 20 patients between January of 2009 and December of 2020 at the Department of Pathology of the Obstetrics and Gynecology Hospital of Fudan University were enrolled. Pathological features and immunohistochemical staining (including estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PR), Ki67, p53, and phosphorylated histone H3 (PHH3)) were assessed, and clinical follow-up data were collected. Results. Among the 16 patients with Stage I, 3 recurrence, mitotic figures and PHH3 were associated with recurrence ( P = 0.014 and P = 0.001, respectively). Among all 20 patients, stage, mitotic figures, PHH3 and Ki67 were associated with recurrence ( P = 0.007, P = 0.003, P = 0.000, and P = 0.028, respectively). The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curve were 0.890 and 0.934 for mitotic figures and PHH3, with a cutoff value of mitotic figures 21/10 HPFs. Three patients (43%) did not experience recurrence without chemotherapy, and 6 patients (86%) did not experience recurrence after bilateral ovariectomy. Conclusions: For STUMPs with mitotic figures ≥15/10 HPFs, the higher the number of mitotic figures, the more likely it is for the tumor be extrauterine and recurrent. Recurrence could be assessed by using the diagnostic cutoff value of mitotic figures >21/10 HPFs or PHH3 >21/10 HPFs. We postulate that ovariectomy or antiestrogen therapy may be beneficial in preventing recurrence.
Linking LEDGF/p75 Overexpression With Microsatellite Instability and KRAS Mutations: A Small-Scale Study in Colorectal Cancer
Authors: Liedtke Victoria , Wartmann Thomas , Shi Wenjie , Kahlert Ulf D.
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Colorectal cancer (CRC) ranks third in men and second in women, with 153,020 new cases and 52,550 deaths in 2023, and with a projected incidence of 2.2 million new cases by 2030 due to lifestyle changes and enhanced diagnostic capabilities. Identification and analysis of new biomarkers, like lens epithelium-derived growth factor splice variant of 75 kDa (LEDGF/p75), which is known to play a crucial role as stress-related oncogene, can make a significant contribution in facilitating early CRC detection.

Methods

This study analyzed the expression of LEDGF/p75 and the ubiquitin E2 conjugating enzyme UBC13 in 15 CRC tissue samples and adjacent non-tumor tissues. All patient samples underwent NGS-based mutation analysis beforehand. The western blot technique was used for protein analysis, and the results were further validated using mRNA expression data from 521 patient samples from the TCGA database.

Results

LEDGF/p75 expression was significantly elevated in nearly all tumor tissue samples compared to adjacent tissue (11/15, 73.3%). Additionally, the UBC13 enzyme, a key regulator in the degradation of signaling molecules, was also increased in most tumor tissue samples (9/15, 60.0%). Co-overexpression of LEDGF/p75 and UBC13 was evident in 6/6 patients. Patients with KRAS and MSH2 mutations showed a 75% and 100% correlation with LEDGF/p75 overexpression, respectively.

Conclusion

This study confirms the upregulation of LEDGF/p75 in CRC and shows its correlation with KRAS and MSH2 mutations. The interaction of LEDGF/p75 with DNA damage response proteins may contribute to drug resistance and increased tumor aggressiveness. LEDGF/p75’s potential as a prognostic biomarker independent of lymph node involvement or CEA levels highlights its potential in personalized therapy, and warrants further research into its therapeutic targeting.
Objectified but not Materialized Theory: Human Waste Diagrams Under Erasure
Authors: Prabaharyaka Indrawan
Published: February 2025

This article questions the degrees of objectification and materialization of theory in material culture studies. It does so by examining the transformations and travelings of human waste diagrams, from a critique of economic externalities in sub-Saharan Africa to a tool of nonsewered sanitation planning in Southeast Asia, particularly in Indonesia: How can a theory become a scientific object but it rarely matters (e.g. turning into matters of concern/care and transforming into material artifacts)? This article firstly follows the moments in the 1990s to 2000s when a waste theory based on an accounting of flows and leakages of excrement and money was objectified as new knowledge abstracted from postcolonial cities in Western Africa, where the sewer network coverage is very low or non-existent. It then continues with what happened when the diagram's latest version—Shit Flow Diagram—was translated from English to Indonesian and its components were applied, adapted, and ignored in Indonesia and a new element in the diagram, the chain, was introduced and became a synecdoche of the waste theory. It concludes with a reflection on the limit of diagrams and the salient operation of erasure in the objectification of waste theory therein.
Nirmatrelvir treatment duration and frequency of COVID-19 rebound
Authors: Sudeep Nathan , Kojima Noah , Klausner Jeffrey D
Published: February 2025

Background

Nirmatrelvir has been shown to reduce morbidity and mortality associated with COVID-19. However, it is underutilized due to concerns regarding COVID-19 symptom rebound following nirmatrelvir’s standard 5-day course. This study aims to identify and evaluate a nirmatrelvir dosage regimen that lowers symptom rebound.

Methods

Based on nirmatrelvir pharmacokinetics, we propose a novel 8-day regimen: two doses twice-daily followed by six doses once-daily to reduce rebound frequency. We then carried out a retrospective case series study of clinical outcomes among our patients to investigate their frequency of COVID-19 symptom rebound following nirmatrelvir usage.

Results

Among the 58 prescribed case patients, 49 filled and initiated the prescription. Of those 49 patients, four took the medication for fewer than 5 days, 24 for 5 days (standard regimen), and 21 for 7 or 8 days (extended regimen). Among 5-day treatment cases ( n = 24), 8 (33%) experienced clinical rebound, whereas among the 7-day or 8-day treatment cases ( n = 21), 2 (9.5%) experienced rebound.

Conclusions

These findings suggest that a longer nirmatrelvir/ritonavir course might reduce rebound symptoms compared to the standard 5-day regimen.
Dementia prevalence within the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia National Guard Health System (2015–2023): An exploratory epidemiological study
Authors: Hajjar Samah H , Alsaad Saad M , AlFouzan Maram A , Rohaiem Shaimaa N , Alamri Sultan H , Altamimi Tahani N , Alodhayani Abdulaziz A , Hassanin Hany I , AlHarkan Khalid S , Albalawi Afaf A , Almuzaen Nuzayhah A , Alzahrani Jamaan M , AlAbdulKader Assim M , Almaghaslah Muna A , Alsuhail Abdullah I , Milyani Raneem G , Almashjary Eman N , Balubaid Hashim H , Al Khamis Louay H , Al-Zalabani Abdulmohsen H , Mohammedin Ahmed S
Published: February 2025

Background

Dementia is recognized as one of the prevalent neurocognitive disorders among older adults in Saudi Arabia, yet research efforts on its prevalence remains limited and fragmented, making it difficult to gain a full understanding of its epidemiology.

Objective

To explore dementia epidemiology and associated data within the older population in the sector of National Guard Health System (NGHS), Saudi Arabia.

Methods

This was a multicenter study that utilized medical records from NGHS centers across the country. We included data from all individuals aged 50 years and older who sought medical care between January 1, 2015, and January 1, 2023.

Results

Nearly half of the study's participants were men (51.9%), with the majority being diagnosed between the ages of 70–79 years (38.5%) and 80–89 years (31%). Dementia was identified in 3.37% of participants. The most prevalent subtype was late-onset Alzheimer's disease (35.6%), followed by unspecified dementia (18.4%). Significant differences between genders were observed, particularly in the age at diagnosis (p = 0.003) and the prevalence of ischemic strokes as a risk factor (p < 0.001).

Conclusions

In this multicenter study utilizing the NGHS cohort, Alzheimer's disease emerged as the most prevalent subtype of dementia. This research has the potential to influence clinical practices by enhancing the early identification and management of dementia and provides a solid foundation for developing evidence-based policy strategies to tackle the increasing challenges of dementia in Saudi Arabia.
Providing music selection and matching suggestions for dance creations using music information retrieval and artificial intelligence techniques
Authors: Wu Rentana , Pan Yixiao
Published: February 2025

Music significantly influences dance performances by shaping the overall mood and energy. However, the challenge of selecting appropriate tracks that seamlessly align with diverse dance styles often hampers choreographers’ creative expression and audience engagement. The objective of the study is to develop an intelligent system that utilizes music information retrieval (MIR) and artificial intelligence (AI) techniques to provide music selection and matching suggestions for dance creations. The study collects data from musical tracks, which included various genres and styles tailored to different dance forms. Initially collected data are preprocessed to enhance quality and remove noise. Feature extraction is performed using convolutional neural networks (CNNs), which analyze time-frequency representations of the music to capture relevant musical features. This feature extraction process is integral to the MIR framework, enabling the system to discern patterns and attributes with the music. A suggestion system is then developed, utilizing the extracted features to match music tracks to dance styles. The study proposed a derivative-free optimized refined random forest (DFO-RRF) method that effectively enhances model performance by fine-tuning hyperparameters without gradient calculations and improves accuracy in matching music tracks to dance styles through efficient feature utilization and model performance tuning. The result demonstrated a significant improvement in music-dance matching accuracy compared to traditional methods. The DFO-RRF method, which is the recommended approach, contains the highest peak results in terms of accuracy (96%), recall (96%), maximum load system (2550), and recommendation error (2.5). The integration of music information retrieval (MIR) and derivative-free optimized refined random forest (DFO-RRF) in this study provides a novel and innovative approach to music selection and matching for dance, thereby significantly enhancing the choreographic process. The study enhances dancers’ and choreographers’ creative possibilities by providing music suggestions based on their performances, streamlining the duration process.
The Projected (Non)-Futures of Electronic Monitoring in the Child Justice System: Professionals’ Perspectives in Portugal
Authors: Granja Rafaela , Leote de Carvalho Maria João , Pimentel Andreia
Published: February 2025

In an era marked by the construction of an increasingly digital and technological justice for children, the use of electronic monitoring within child justice systems is a controversial issue. This article examines the projected (non)futures of electronic monitoring in Portugal by exploring the perspectives of relevant stakeholders involved in the child justice system. Our data show that both opposing and supportive perspectives are anchored on four key axes – education, control, environments and conditions, and stigma – that underpin stakeholders’ perceptions of the different challenges, principles and goals that underpin the child justice.
Understanding Cybergrooming: A Systematic Review of Perpetrator Characteristics, Strategies, and Types
Authors: Moosburner Maeve , Weber Christine , Kuban Theresa , Wachs Sebastian , Schmidt Alexander F. , Etzler Sonja , Rettenberger Martin
Published: February 2025

This systematic review aimed to synthesize findings on the characteristics of individuals with cybergrooming offense histories (ICOs), their grooming strategies, and emergent typologies. The Cochrane approach guided the review. Publications were included if they investigated adult ICOs older than 18 years of age, their characteristics, the strategies they utilized, existing typologies, and if they were empirical studies. Overall, 2,603 publications were retrieved from PubMed, PsycInfo, Psyndex, Web of Science, ERIC, and Google Scholar, using a string-guided electronic search. The quality of all 22 publications that met the inclusion criteria was assessed using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool, and the findings were synthesized. Results from 1,525 individuals across 22 studies revealed that ICOs tended to be male, around 30 years old, had few/no prior convictions, and were likely to have mental health problems. Strategies such as trying to build a real or feigned affectionate relationship via enticement, the introduction and pursuit of sexual content, and the assessment of the risk to be detected were common. Most studies differentiated between individuals who were primarily interested in an intimate relationship with the victim (the primarily intimacy-seeking) and those who were mainly interested in a quick satisfaction of their sexual needs (the primarily sexually preoccupied). Future research should focus on naturally occurring ICO/victim constellations and employ quantitative measures for adequate data collection. The findings underscore variety regarding strategies depending on ICOs’ underlying factors, the state of the conversation with the victim, and their overall intention.
Men’s Sexual Violence Against Women: A Systematic Review of Self-Reported Measures of Perpetration
Authors: Mou Ngai Lam
Published: February 2025

Research has studied men’s perpetration of sexual violence against women using various self-reported measures. A major difference among these measures is the types of perpetration tactics they assess. Measures having a broader range of tactics tend to detect higher perpetration rates. Yet, it is unclear whether these measures perform better on other aspects of reliability and validity as well. This review aimed to identify the available measures of men’s sexual violence perpetration against women and to review the types of tactics and psychometric evidence of these measures. A systematic search was conducted in nine databases to identify articles that used a standardized self-report measure to assess men’s sexual violence perpetration against women. The final sample included 85 articles, and 13 unique measures were identified from these articles. Results showed that three broad types of tactics were included in these measures: use of physical force, use of substances, and verbal coercion. Some measures also included a type of physical tactic that was manipulative or coercive but not necessarily forceful. Only one measure captured all types of tactics identified. Psychometric evidence was available for 12 measures, but the evidence regarding which measure provides the most accurate perpetration rates was inconclusive due to a lack of replications. This review highlighted the need for improving measures of sexual violence perpetration. Measures of perpetration should include a comprehensive range of tactics to increase validity, and more research is needed to examine test-retest reliability, false positives, and false negatives in responses to perpetration measures.
Black Women, Youtube, and The Anti-work Movement
Authors: Berry Sharla
Published: February 2025

Sharla Berry on refusing to play a zero-sum game.
AI and the Looking-glass Self
Authors: Lund Pedersen Carsten
Published: February 2025

Carsten Lund Pedersen on identity and the AI gaze.
Being First-Generation
Authors: Roscigno Vincent J. , Whiteside Jasmine , Axxe Erick , Mcdaniel Anne , Mcdossi Oded
Published: February 2025

Vincent J. Roscigno, Jasmine Whiteside, Erick Axxe, Anne McDaniel, and Oded Mcdossi on first-gen students’ vulnerabilities and resilience.
Flow diversion in the treatment of intracranial aneurysms using the novel FRED X device: An early experience from a single high-volume center
Authors: Clausen Thomas Mandel , Nakamura Ryan , Conching Andie , Choi Joo Won , Zhang Yi Jonathan , Hui Ferdinand , Tsappidi Samuel
Published: February 2025

Background

The Flow Re-Direction Endoluminal Device X (FRED X) offers several benefits over other flow-diverter devices including an antithrombotic coating, optimized in-vessel stability, and increased flexibility for easier device placement. We present a to-date experience of the safety and utility of the FRED X device in the repair of posterior and anterior circulation aneurysms.

Methods

A retrospective review was conducted on all endovascular procedures that utilized the FRED X device at our center from May 2022 to November 2023.

Results

77 patients (72.7% women, mean age 58.9), underwent a total of 85 procedures using the FRED X device. Indications included treatment of incidentally discovered aneurysms, acute dissections, aneurysm rupture, repair of residual filling following prior intervention, and use of FRED X for recanalization of non-aneurysmal extracranial stroke. 31.3% of the aneurysms were in the posterior circulation, 68.7% were in the anterior circulation. 9.4% of patients presented with SAH due to acute aneurysm rupture. Patients treated with FRED X were separated into OFF-Label (40.0%) or ON-label (60.0%) indications. Occlusion rate at 6-month follow-up were 72.2% in the OFF-label group, 66.7% in the ON-label group, and 68.4% overall. Rate of major periprocedural complications was 1.2% and the cumulative rate of postprocedural complication at follow-up was 5.3%.

Conclusion

This study shows that FRED X treatment of intracranial aneurysms is safe in both OFF-label and ON-label indications. Continued follow-up of our patient population will further establish the safety, efficacy, and long-term stability of this device.
An advanced and comprehensive hybrid approach for analyzing crude oil futures prices
Authors: Li Hui
Published: February 2025

Fossil fuels, such as crude oil, play a critical role in the global energy supply chain. The prices of crude oil significantly impact various businesses and economies worldwide. Predicting crude oil prices is particularly challenging in oil-producing countries due to the nonlinear and dynamic nature of price fluctuations, which are characterized by significant uncertainty. This study aims to examine factors that influence WTI crude oil prices over an extended period, from June 2014 to October 2023. Understanding the fundamental issues within the crude oil market is crucial for this analysis. Given the inherent volatility of crude oil prices, which arises from a range of factors, advanced analytical techniques are required to improve forecasting accuracy. To address this challenge, the study employs the Radial Basis Function (RBF) model, an effective ensemble learning technique renowned for its capability to identify complex patterns in datasets. The RBF model is enhanced with three optimization strategies to boost its predictive accuracy and optimize its parameters: Zebra Optimization, Barnacles Mating Optimization, and Fruit-Fly Optimization. The research findings suggest that integrating optimization techniques, particularly the Zebra Optimization Algorithm, with the RBF model can significantly enhance the accuracy of crude oil price forecasts. The proposed model achieved a coefficient of determination (R²) of 0.9889, indicating a high level of explanatory power. This result demonstrates the model's ability to accurately capture fluctuations in West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude oil prices by incorporating trading volume as well as open, high, low, and close prices.
Presenting a bi-classification model to detect fake news from textual data using artificial intelligence methods and text analysis techniques
Authors: Zhou Wen
Published: February 2025

In this investigation, an attempt was made to present a model for distinguishing fake news from truthful news in textual data. For this purpose, using intelligent methods and based on the principles of text analysis, a bi-classification model was presented that divided the textual data into deceptive and truthful classes. Basic algorithms based on artificial intelligence (AI) used for modeling consisting of Adaboost (Ada), Support Vector Classifier (SVC), Random Forest (RF), Neural Network (NN), BERT, and Convolutional Neural Network (ConvNet). Among the methods used in this study are the TF-IDF method for vectorization of textual data; the PCA (Principal Component Analysis) technique for feature transformation; the word2index as well as word embedding models for converting the words into numbers, and the N-gram technique to create a sequence of words. Finally, by conducting a case study and by examining different evaluation indices, the comparison of the offending models was done. The outcomes of this investigation showed that despite the high similarity between the two classes (86.6% similarity in train data and 79.8% similarity in test data), the BERT model had the best result compared to the others. This model has high complexity and can better extract relationships between data. In the basic article, the best value of the Accuracy index was 0.90, which was improved to 0.93 in this study.
Significance of whole-blood EBV DNA status in T/NK-cell lymphoma-associated hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: a single-center retrospective analysis
Authors: Xiong Mengqi , Li Li , Wang Lulu , Zhu Lixia , Chen Rongrong , He Jingsong , Ye Xiujin
Published: February 2025

Background:

Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) is a severe hyperinflammatory condition often triggered by malignancies, especially T/NK-cell lymphoma-associated HLH (T/NK-LAHLH). Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection is strongly linked to T/NK-LAHLH and worsens prognosis. However, the prognostic value of whole-blood EBV DNA levels in T/NK-LAHLH remains unclear, necessitating further investigation to improve risk assessment and treatment strategies.

Objective:

To investigate the clinical characteristics and prognostic significance of whole-blood EBV DNA status in patients with T/NK-LAHLH.

Design:

A single-center, retrospective study was conducted, including 85 patients diagnosed with T/NK-LAHLH between January 2017 and August 2022. Patients were categorized based on EBV DNA status, and clinical outcomes were compared.

Methods:

EBV DNA levels were quantified using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assays. Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox regression models to assess overall survival (OS) and identify independent prognostic factors.

Results:

A total of 85 T/NK-LAHLH patients were included, with a median age of 52 years (range: 18–81 years) and 60% male. The OS rates at 1, 3, 6, and 12 months were 66.6%, 49.8%, 33.8%, and 28.4%, respectively. Among these patients, 67 (78.8%) were EBV DNA-positive, while 18 (21.2%) were EBV DNA negative. EBV DNA-positive patients exhibited significantly lower platelet and globulin levels, higher IL-10 levels, and prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time compared to EBV DNA-negative patients ( p < 0.05). The 6-month OS rate was significantly lower in EBV DNA-positive patients compared to EBV DNA-negative patients (22.5% vs 75.1%, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified EBV DNA positivity as an independent risk factor for shorter 6-month OS (hazard ratio (HR): 4.715; 95% CI: 1.662–13.377; p = 0.004). Among the four patients who underwent allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation, all achieved complete remission and remained alive at the last follow-up.

Conclusion:

Whole-blood EBV DNA positivity is a significant prognostic factor for poor outcomes in T/NK-LAHLH patients. These findings highlight the need for incorporating EBV DNA monitoring into clinical management and further research to refine therapeutic strategies.
A case report on comparison between PMCT and conventional autopsy approach in traumatic death
Authors: Datta Arijit , Galoria Darshan , Dave Shridhar , Tiwari Preeti , Shukla Srushti , Patel Viral
Published: February 2025

In cases of traumatic death, precise injury evaluation is crucial for both legal and medical reasons. In the modern era, many scholarly articles recommend postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) instead of routine postmortem practices. This case report compares the findings of PMCT with those of conventional autopsy methods for assessing blunt traumatic injuries. In this case, we received the body of a 16-year-old male who died due to a road traffic accident. Before performing a routine postmortem examination, we performed CT imaging to compare the findings with those of routine procedures. This report highlights the significance of the conventional postmortem approach in identifying soft tissue and bony injuries that are undetectable by imaging techniques. While CT imaging offers noninvasive visualization of injuries, manual examination remains essential for identifying specific injuries, particularly those affecting soft tissues. The combination of CT imaging and conventional autopsy procedures strengthens the precision and dependability of forensic evaluations in cases of traumatic death, especially in intricate situations involving multiple wounds. Recognizing the advantages and constraints of these methods is vital for advancing forensic inquiries and improving legal outcomes in medical contexts.
ACU-Net: Attention-based convolutional U-Net model for segmenting brain tumors in fMRI images
Authors: Talukder Md Alamin , Layek Md Abu , Hossain Md Aslam , Islam Md Aminul , Nur-e-Alam Mohammad , Kazi Mohsin
Published: February 2025

Objective

Accurate segmentation of brain tumors in medical imaging is essential for diagnosis and treatment planning. Current techniques often struggle with capturing complex tumor features and are computationally demanding, limiting their clinical application. This study introduces the attention-based convolutional U-Net (ACU-Net) model, designed to improve segmentation accuracy and efficiency in fMRI images by incorporating attention mechanisms that selectively highlight critical features while preserving spatial context.

Methods

The ACU-Net model combines convolutional neural networks (CNNs) with attention mechanisms to enhance feature extraction and spatial coherence. We evaluated ACU-Net on the BraTS 2018 and BraTS 2020 fMRI datasets using rigorous data splitting for training, validation, and testing. Performance metrics, particularly Dice scores, were used to assess segmentation accuracy across different tumor regions, including whole tumor (WT), tumor core (TC), and enhancing tumor (ET) classes.

Results

ACU-Net demonstrated high segmentation accuracy, achieving Dice scores of 99.23%, 99.27%, and 96.99% for WT, TC, and ET, respectively, on the BraTS 2018 dataset, and 98.72%, 98.40%, and 97.66% for WT, TC, and ET on the BraTS 2020 dataset. These results indicate that ACU-Net effectively captures tumor boundaries and subregions with precision, surpassing traditional segmentation approaches.

Conclusion

The ACU-Net model shows significant potential to enhance clinical diagnosis and treatment planning by providing precise and efficient brain tumor segmentation in fMRI images. The integration of attention mechanisms within a CNN architecture proves beneficial for identifying complex tumor structures, suggesting that ACU-Net can be a valuable tool in medical imaging applications.
The Association Between Mindfulness and Social Media Addiction Among Nurses: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Kang Chunliang , Wang Huan , Li Jinfang , Zhang Qiuxiang , Xie Wenzhao
Published: February 2025

Background:

With the increasing use of social media, social media addiction (SMA) has become a pressing issue and is associated with multiple negative outcomes. Lack of mindfulness has been shown to be associated with an increased risk of SMA, yet such an association has never been explored among nurses in China.

Methods

From December 4, 2022 to March 14, 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted in 29 hospitals in Hunan Province, China. A total of 1,141 nurses were recruited and completed the online questionnaires. Mindfulness and SMA were assessed by the Mindful Awareness Attention Scale (MAAS) and Social Networking Service Addiction Scale (SNSAS), respectively. Multivariate linear regression analysis was used to explore the association between mindfulness and SMA, and other influencing factors of SMA.

Results

The nurses had an average score of 68.02 ± 11.86 for mindfulness and 46.15 ± 15.09 for SMA. The results of linear regression analysis showed that lower levels of mindfulness (β = –0.06, p < .001), shorter working years (β = –0.21, p = .014), and experiencing more frequent workplace violence (β = 0.21, p =.007) were associated with an increased risk of SMA.

Conclusions/Application to Practice

Our study shows a generally moderate level of SMA among nurses in Hunan Province, which was influenced by mindfulness, working years, and workplace violence. Mindfulness-based interventions may be effective interventions to alleviate nurses’ SMA. Special attention should also be paid to nurses with shorter working years and those who experienced workplace violence.
Introducing the Glutamate-Amplifies-Noradrenergic-Effects (GANE) Model to the Neurocognitive Study of Emotion-Related Impulsivity
Authors: Elliott Matthew V. , Hsu Ming , Uddin Lucina Q. , Modavi Kiana , Johnson Sheri L.
Published: February 2025

Emotion-related impulsivity (ERI) shows robust longitudinal associations with psychiatric disorders, aggression, and suicidality, yet a parsimonious account of its neurocognitive correlates has not been offered. We connect ERI with the glutamate-amplifies-noradrenergic-effects (GANE) model, a framework describing how norepinephrine tunes “hotspots” of brain activation during heightened physiological arousal. First, we systematically reviewed studies of ERI and task-based functional MRI. Meta-analysis of significant effects yielded one cluster in right inferior frontal gyrus. Twenty-six of 30 significant effects systematically colocalized in neuroanatomical hotspots in each corresponding task, in line with GANE. Second, adults recruited for a range of psychopathology ( N = 120) completed a reward/punishment go/no-go task while undergoing functional MRI. ERI correlated with stronger nucleus-accumbens activation for a model sensitive to heightened trial reward and in anterior cingulate for models sensitive to heightened trial arousal. Findings provide empirical support for the relevance of GANE hotspot mechanisms to ERI.
Rare Complications in Endoscopic Spinal Surgery: A Narrative Review of Unique Cases
Authors: Stadler Ryan D. , Shrestha Nancy , Dara Gabriel , Yu Alexander , Kurapatti Mark , Etigunta Suhas , Berman Daniel , Lee Joshua , Cho Brian , Cho Samuel K.
Published: February 2025

Study Design

Narrative Review.

Objectives

Endoscopic spine surgery is becoming an increasingly popular approach to treat spinal disease due to its minimally invasive nature. Although certain adverse events are well-reported within the literature, there is a scarcity of information for complications that are rare but still potentially serious. The purpose of this study is to describe these rare complications of endoscopic spine surgery and discuss management and prevention strategies.

Methods

A search was conducted in PubMed and Embase to review the literature for all adverse events following endoscopic spine surgery, with no restrictions on publication year. Cohort and case report studies describing infrequently reported complications were collected for analysis.

Results

A total of 38 studies were included which described rare complications in 93 patients following endoscopic spine surgery. These included neurological events (seizure, pseudomeningocele, pneumocephalus, upper limb palsy), vascular events (hemorrhage, hematoma, arteriovenous fistula), mechanical events (cage migration, guidewire breakage), and additional events (discal pseudocyst, pulmonary edema, arrhythmia, total spinal anesthesia).

Conclusions

Endoscopic spine surgery is rapidly evolving and emerging as a popular alternative to conventional approaches. Though regarded as a generally safe form of surgery, it is imperative that surgeons are aware of all complications which may occur, even those that may be infrequently reported in the literature.