bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Upadacitinib as rescue therapy for corticosteroid failure acute severe ulcerative colitis: an Asian experience from Taiwan
Authors: Chung Chen-Shuan , Lee Wei-Wei , Le Puo-Hsien
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Acute severe ulcerative colitis (ASUC) is a medical emergent condition, and approximately one-third of patients with ASUC do not respond to corticosteroid. Whether small molecule drugs are efficient and safe for salvage therapy of ASUC is not well-understood.

Methods

Consecutive patients with ASUC who failed responding to first-line corticosteroid were retrospectively enrolled. Clinical, laboratory, endoscopic, and pathological data were analyzed.

Results

Five Asian male patients (median age of 38.9 years old) with ASUC who received salvage therapy with upadacitinib were enrolled. The mean (± standard deviation) disease duration was 3.44 (± 3.30, 0.53 ~ 7.88) years. Baseline Montreal disease extent, C-reactive protein, and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were four (80%) E3 and one (20%) E2 disease, 40.54 (± 74.26) mg/dl, and 24.50 (± 19.09) mm/h, respectively. Daily upadacitinib 45 mg was prescribed for 56 days in all patients. Clinical response, clinical remission, corticosteroid-free remission, and endoscopic improvement at weeks 8 and 12 were achieved in five (100%) and five (100%), four (80%) and five (100%), four (80%) and five (100%), and four (80%) and five (100%) patients, respectively. One (20%) patient achieved histo-endoscopic remission at week 24. None of them had re-hospitalization or colectomy during the follow-up period but one patient developed penile simplex-1 infection which resolved after topical antiviral ointment without upadacitinib discontinuation.

Conclusions

Upadacitinib is an efficient salvage therapy for patients with ASUC. Further investigations are essential to assess long-term durability, safety profile, and viability as a bridging regimen in the treatment of ASUC.
Postprandial plasma amino acid and appetite responses to a low protein breakfast supplemented with whey or pea protein in middle-to-older aged adults
Authors: Korzepa Marie , Marshall Ryan N. , Rogers Lucy M. , Belfield Archie E. , Quinlan Jonathan I. , Huang Yijia , Gritsas Ari , Churchward-Venne Tyler A. , Glover Elisa I. , van Loon Luc J. C. , Wallis Gareth A. , Breen Leigh
Published: February 2025

The addition of low-dose protein to low protein-containing meals in middle-to-older aged adults may promote greater postprandial plasma aminoacidemia and mitigate declines in muscle health but may be dependent on the source and quality of protein consumed. This single-blind randomised study investigated postprandial plasma aminoacidemia and appetite regulatory responses to a typical lower protein-containing (∼0.07 g·kg body mass[BM]−1) mixed breakfast supplemented with ∼0.13 g·kg BM− 1 of whey protein concentrate (MB + WPC) or pea protein isolate (MB + PPI) in middle-to-older aged adults. Venous blood samples were collected whilst fasted and over a 180-min postprandial period to determine plasma amino acid and appetite hormone concentrations. Perceived appetite ratings were measured using Visual Analogue Scales. Plasma total amino acids and essential amino acids increased over time (both P < 0.05) with no between-group differences or overall availability over 180 min (incremental area under the curve (iAUC)). Plasma leucine concentrations increased over time (both P < 0.05) with greater peak concentrations (P = 0.032) and iAUC (P = 0.012) in MB + WPC compared with MB + PPI. Plasma total-ghrelin and total-GLP-1 concentrations and perceived ratings of hunger, fullness, and satiety were transiently altered following MB + WPC and MB + PPI (P < 0.05 for all), with no differences between groups. In middle-to-older aged adults, co-ingesting a small bolus of whey protein alongside a typical lower protein-containing breakfast elicits greater plasma leucinemia than co-ingestion of pea protein, with no differential impact on appetite regulation. Whether the addition of low-dose whey protein to typical meals of middle-to-older aged adults can enhance muscle anabolism without adversely affecting appetite remains to be determined.
Visual cortical activity in Charles Bonnet syndrome: testing the deafferentation hypothesis
Authors: daSilva Morgan Katrina , Collerton Daniel , Firbank Michael J. , Schumacher Julia , ffytche Dominic H. , Taylor John-Paul
Published: February 2025

Visual hallucinations in individuals following sight loss (Charles Bonnet syndrome; CBS) have been posited to arise because of spontaneous, compensatory, neural activity in the visual cortex following sensory input loss from the eyes—known as deafferentation. However, neurophysiological investigations of CBS remain limited. We performed a multi-modal investigation comparing visual cortical activity in 19 people with eye disease who experience visual hallucinations (CBS) with 18 people with eye disease without hallucinations (ED-Controls; matched for age and visual acuity) utilising functional MRI, EEG, and transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS). A pattern of altered visual cortical activity in people with CBS was noted across investigations. Reduced BOLD activation in ventral extrastriate and primary visual cortex, and reduced EEG alpha-reactivity in response to visual stimulation was observed in CBS compared to ED-Controls. The CBS group also demonstrated a shift towards lower frequency band oscillations in the EEG, indicative of cortical slowing, with significantly greater occipital theta power compared to ED-controls. Furthermore, a significant association between reduced activation in response to visual stimulation and increased excitability (in the form of reduced TMS phosphene thresholds) was observed in CBS, indicating persistent visual cortical activation consistent with hyperexcitability, which was found to be significantly associated with increased hallucination severity. These results provide converging lines of evidence to support the role of increased visual cortical excitability in the formation of visual hallucinations in some people following sight loss, consistent with the deafferentation hypothesis.
Short-acting urapidil compared to long-acting phenoxybenzamine in the management of pheochromocytoma
Authors: Feld A. , Mintziras I. , Wächter S. , Zentgraf M. , Bartsch D. K. , Czubayko F. , Holzer K.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

In patients with pheochromocytoma current guidelines recommend preoperative alpha-adrenoceptor blockade with selective or nonselective antagonists for at least 7–14 days. To date, no information exists about orally administered urapidil retard, a short-acting selective antagonist.

Methods

The medical records of consecutive patients with pheochromocytoma between 2010 and 2023 were reviewed. Patients received phenoxybenzamine between 2010 and 2017, intravenous urapidil was given between 2017 and 2019. Orally administered urapidil retard has been used from 2019 until present.

Results

Forty-nine patients with pheochromocytomas were included. Twenty-six patients received orally administered long-acting phenoxybenzamine and 23 patients were pretreated with short-acting intravenous (n = 8) or orally administered urapidil (n = 15). Treatment prior to surgery was significantly shorter with intravenously (3 days (IQR, 3–4), p = 0.015) or orally administered urapidil (2 days (IQR 2–3), p = 0.003) compared to phenoxybenzamine (7 days (IQR, 4–10)). Side effects were more often in the phenoxybenzamine group (17/26 vs 6/23, p = 0.02). The modified hemodynamic instability (HI) score was low and there was no significant difference between patients treated with phenoxybenzamine and those treated with intravenous or oral urapidil (29 (IQR 18.5–38); 26 (IQR 18–42); 31 (IQR 15–36) ns). No 30-day postoperative mortality or cardiovascular complications occurred in any of the three groups. The postoperative hospital stay was significantly shorter in the orally administered urapidil group compared to the phenoxybenzamine group (3 days (IQR 3–5)) vs 4 days (IQR 4–5)), p = 0.04).

Conclusion

Oral pretreatment with urapidil retard is well tolerated for patients with pheochromocytoma, enabling a safe intra- and postoperative course.
Protective antibodies against enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli are generated from heat-labile toxoid vaccination and exhibit subject- and vaccine-specific diversity
Authors: Maciel Milton , Scott Jordan C. , Baudier Robin L. , Clements John D. , Laird Renee M. , Gutiérrez Ramiro L. , Porter Chad K. , Norton Elizabeth B.
Published: February 2025

Heat-labile toxin (LT) from enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli (ETEC) is an important pathogenic protein. Anti-LT antibodies (Abs) induced by vaccination can neutralize the toxin and potentially prevent diarrheal secretion from ~ 60% of ETEC strains expressing LT. However, only superficial investigation of the anti-toxin response is usually conducted in clinical trials. Here, we utilized human serum samples from two clinical trials performed to assess safety, immunogenicity and protection in a controlled human infection model with a LT + ST + CFA/I + H10407 ETEC strain. These Phase 1 and Phase 2b clinical trials explored a prototype ETEC adhesin (CfaE) and a chimeric adhesin-toxoid protein (dscCfaE-CTA2/LTB5) delivered intradermally or transcutaneously with a mutated form of LT (mLT) as an adjuvant. Serum samples were tested for antigen-specific IgG or IgA Abs by immunoblot, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), or functional neutralizing Abs using LT holotoxin, LTA or LTB subunits. Abs to both LT subunits were present, but the response to each was altered by vaccine formulation, dose, and delivery routes as well as subject. The anti-LT IgG response correlated best to neutralizing antibodies and protection from H10407 controlled challenge when compared to other measures including serum IgA or anti-fimbriae (CfaE) Abs. In addition, our results helped to explain cohort attack rate differences in naïve unvaccinated participants and we found higher anti-LTA IgG post-challenge significantly related to ETEC severity score. Thus, strategies generating and measuring immunity to the complete AB5 structure of LT and subunits are better determinant of assessing protective immunity against LT + or LT + ST + ETEC diarrheal secretion in humans.
Impact of different weather generator scenarios on extreme flood estimates in Switzerland
Authors: Kritidou Eleni , Kauzlaric Martina , Staudinger Maria , Evin Guillaume , Hingray Benoit , Vis Marc , Seibert Jan , Viviroli Daniel
Published: February 2025

The estimation of extreme floods using long continuous simulations is linked to uncertainties which are inherent in different components of the modeling chain. The main objective of this study was to investigate the role of precipitation input data from a weather generator for extreme flood estimates. A hydrometeorological modeling chain consisting of a multi-site weather generator (GWEX) at an hourly time scale, a rainfall-runoff model (HBV) and a hydrologic routing model (RS Minerve), was implemented, using different parameterizations of GWEX. While the sensitivity to the altered precipitation inputs was not uniform across the selected catchments due to their different physiographic characteristics, we found that the uncertainty of flood estimates increased with increasing return period. In addition, the flood peaks were strongly affected when a bootstrapping of precipitation was performed and to a lesser extent when weather types (WT) were used to condition the parameters of GWEX. However, the latter seemed to reduce the spread of the uncertainty both in generated precipitation and simulated floods. Therefore, results suggested that precipitation inputs strongly contribute to the uncertainties of extreme floods. Accounting for uncertainty information enhances the usefulness of long continuous simulations and is essential as a context for applications including hydraulic engineering, spatial planning and safety assessments.
Process Development and Risk Assessment for Processing Magnesium Alloys Using LPBF Technology
Authors: Haas Franz , Tiefnig Raphael , Braun Marcel , Taschauer Michael , Steinacker Stephan
Published: February 2025

Lightweight design is very closely associated with additive manufacturing. Besides the design possibilities offered by this technology, the material used also plays a key role. Especially in the LPBF process, the production of the powder and the processing of the material is a major challenge. This applies in particular to magnesium alloys as a lightweight material. Due to its low density and good strength and rigidity properties, this material is ideal for lightweight engineering applications. The basis of this contribution is a risk assessment (including a detailed FMEA and measures to minimize risks) for the processing and handling of magnesium powder in the LPBF process. As part of the practical tests, several test specimens with existing parameters for AZ91D were printed, and their properties (relative density, microstructure and bonding behaviour) were analysed. By adjusting the alloy composition (improved evaporation characteristics) and optimizing the process (e.g. optimum inert gas flow, platform temperature) and the process parameters, it is possible to process magnesium more economically in the LPBF process.
Enigmatic intractable Epilepsy patients have antibodies that bind glutamate receptor peptides, kill neurons, damage the brain, and cause Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures
Authors: Taiwo Rhoda Olowe , Goldberg Hadassa Sterm , Ilouz Nili , Singh Prince Kumar , Shekh-Ahmad Tawfeeq , Levite Mia
Published: February 2025

Epilepsy affects 1–2% of the world population, is enigmatic in 30% of cases, and is often intractable, unresponsive to antiepileptic drugs, and accompanied by cognitive, psychiatric and behavioral problems. Tests for Autoimmune Epilepsy are not performed routinely, and limited to passive diagnosis of known autoimmune antibodies, without essential functional tests to reveal active pathogenic antibodies. We investigated two young Epilepsy patients with different Epilepsy characteristics, repeated intractable seizures, and enigmatic etiology. We suspected Autoimmune Epilepsy. We found that both patients have elevated IgG antibodies, and three types of glutamate receptor antibodies, to: AMPA-GluR3B, NMDA-NR1 and NMDA-NR2 peptides. In contrast, they lack autoantibodies to: LGI1, CASPR2, GABA-RB1, Amphiphysin, CV2, PNMA1, Ri, Yo, Hu, Recoverin, Soxi and Titin. IgG antibodies of both patients bound and killed human neural cells In vitro. Moreover, In vivo video EEG studies in naive rats revealed that patient’s IgG antibodies, infused continually into rat brain, bound neural cells in the hippocampus and cortex, caused neural loss in these brain regions, and induced recurrent Generalized Tonic Clonic Seizures. We assume they can do so also in the patient’s brain. This is the first model of human Autoimmune Epilepsy in rats. It can serve for discovery of patient’s pathogenic antibodies, and drug development. Tests for autoimmune antibodies that bind glutamate receptor peptides, and functional diagnostic tests, are obligatory in all enigmatic intractable Epilepsy patients. Current diagnosis of Autoimmune Epilepsy is insufficient! If pathogenic antibodies are found, intractable patients must receive available, suitable and potentially life-changing immunotherapies for Autoimmune Epilepsy.
Determinants of BMI underreporting in adults from families at high risk for type 2 diabetes in Europe: The Feel4Diabetes study
Authors: Mourouti Niki , Kantaras Paris , Mouratidou Theodora , Karaglani Makrina , Giménez-Legarre Natalia , de Miguel-Etayo Pilar , Rurik Imre , Torzsa Péter , Iotova Violeta , Tankova Tsvetalina , Bazdarska Yuliya , Wikstrom Katja , Cardon Greet , Liatis Stavros , Makrilakis Konstantinos , Manios Yannis
Published: February 2025

Aim

The aim of this study was to investigate the determinants of body mass index (BMI) underreporting in adults from families at high risk for type 2 diabetes in Europe.

Subject and methods

In total, 3169 adults (65.3% females) from six European countries were included in this cross-sectional analysis using data from the baseline assessment of the Feel4Diabetes study. Anthropometric, sociodemographic, dietary, and behavioral data were assessed, and underreporting of BMI was calculated.

Results

Underreporting of BMI ranged from 20% to 84%. Women were 1.27 times more likely to underreport their BMI than men (p = 0.01), while participants from Southeastern Europe were 1.52 times more likely to underreport their BMI than those residing in Central/Northern Europe (p < 0.001). Furthermore, participants with BMI > 25 kg/m2 and those with waist circumference (WC) ≥88 cm for women and ≥102 cm for men were 3.4 and 2.6 times more likely to underreport their BMI, respectively (p < 0.001). Regarding the clinical status of the participants, the existence of (pre)diabetes, hypertension (HTN), and metabolic syndrome (MS) was also associated with underreporting of BMI. More specifically, participants with (pre)diabetes, HTN, and MS were 1.4, 1.6, and 1.8 times more likely to be under-reporters (p = 0.001, p = 0.003, and p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

Given the increasing global rates of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), having a more precise estimation of obesity is crucial in order to develop effective public health policies that promote obesity prevention and contribute to the battle against obesity and NCDs.
On the convergence of the gradient descent method with stochastic fixed-point rounding errors under the Polyak–Łojasiewicz inequality
Authors: Xia Lu , Massei Stefano , Hochstenbach Michiel E.
Published: February 2025

In the training of neural networks with low-precision computation and fixed-point arithmetic, rounding errors often cause stagnation or are detrimental to the convergence of the optimizers. This study provides insights into the choice of appropriate stochastic rounding strategies to mitigate the adverse impact of roundoff errors on the convergence of the gradient descent method, for problems satisfying the Polyak–Łojasiewicz inequality. Within this context, we show that a biased stochastic rounding strategy may be even beneficial in so far as it eliminates the vanishing gradient problem and forces the expected roundoff error in a descent direction. Furthermore, we obtain a bound on the convergence rate that is stricter than the one achieved by unbiased stochastic rounding. The theoretical analysis is validated by comparing the performances of various rounding strategies when optimizing several examples using low-precision fixed-point arithmetic.
Unitary Time Evolution in Quantum Mechanics is a Stronger Physical Postulate than Linear Time Evolution
Authors: Parker Edward
Published: February 2025

Discussions of quantum mechanics often loosely claim that time evolution logically must be unitary, in order for the probabilistic interpretation of the amplitudes of the state vector to make sense at all times. We discuss from first principles whether this claim is true: if we assume only that the time-evolution operator is linear, then does the stronger requirement that it be unitary follow from the other axioms of quantum mechanics? The answer is subtle. We discuss two mathematically distinct but physically equivalent formulations of the axioms of quantum mechanics, and consider generalizing each to postulate only that time evolution is linear. Within one formulation, the unitarity of time evolution follows logically from the other axioms – but within the other formulation, it does not. Allowing the time-evolution operator to be (a priori) arbitrarily linear does not change the physical observables in one formulation of quantum mechanics, but changes the other formulation to a distinct (internally consistent) physical theory that allows new phenomenology like (e.g.) faster-than-light communication. Therefore, the unitarity of time evolution is arguably better thought of as a logically independent and experimentally falsifiable axiom of quantum mechanics, not as a tautological consequence of the other axioms.
Evolutionary Constraints: Gauss’ Law as a Toy Model for Gluing
Authors: Bengtsson Ingemar , Rácz István
Published: February 2025

It is possible to solve the Einstein constraint equations as an evolutionary rather than an elliptic system. Here we consider the Gauss constraint in electrodynamics as a toy model for this. We use a combination of the evolutionary method with the gluing construction to produce initial data for an electromagnetic pulse surrounded by vacuum. It turns out that solving the evolutionary form of the constraint is straightforward, and explicitly yields the desired type of initial data. In contrast, proving the existence of a solution to the same problem within the elliptic setting requires sophisticated arguments based on functional analysis
Patterns of phenotypic variation in Gossypium turneri: a wild cotton with a restricted distribution in Sonora, Mexico
Authors: Yescas-Romo Karla Fabiola , Hayano-Kanashiro Corina , Molina-Freaner Francisco
Published: February 2025

Crop wild relatives (CWR) represent important genetic resources for crop improvement. Gossypium turneri, a wild cotton species with a restricted distribution in the Sonoran Desert of northwestern Mexico, has been identified as a potential breeding resource for cotton improvement. While several agronomically important traits have been previously identified through limited observations from only one location within its range, phenotypic variation in this xerophytic species has not been thoroughly studied. This study aimed to describe the pattern of phenotypic variation in floral and leaf traits along the three known populations of G. turneri and identify traits of agronomic interest. Leaves and flowers through its distribution range were collected and quantitative and qualitative attributes were analyzed. Phenotypic variation in flowers and leaves was predominantly found among individuals within populations, with a smaller proportion occurring between populations, likely due to the species’ restricted distribution. Interpopulation variation in leaf traits was probably influenced by differences in local rainfall, whereas flower traits exhibited minimal interpopulation variation, likely due to similarities in pollinator composition. Some traits of interest for cotton improvement were identified, such as polymorphic bracts and production of anthers without pollen among flowers. This desert-adapted wild cotton offers valuable traits with potential for adaptation of cultivated cotton to water- and heat-stressed environments.
Exploring the activated charcoal adsorption column to improve cosmetic grade C-phycocyanin purification from Spirulina
Authors: Payne Eric J. R. , Griffiths Melinda , Harrison Susan T. L. , Fagan-Endres Marijke A.
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the effectiveness of activated charcoal, a common adsorbent, in various packed column configurations in the context of a process to purify C-phycocyanin (C-PC) from Spirulina. The adsorption column performance is considered in isolation and as part of purification trains, which include chitosan treatment and ammonium sulfate precipitation. Operating parameters of interest included activated charcoal particle size, solution retention time in the column and concentration of the Spirulina crude extract used. The feed was a low purity crude extract and the final target was cosmetic grade C-PC (purity > 1.5). A slower column feed flowrate and smaller activated charcoal particle size were shown to improve the degree of C-PC purification via adsorption. Variation of the crude extract concentration did not have a significant effect. In all cases, high C-PC recoveries over the column were achieved. However, use of a single activated charcoal adsorption column was not able to purify the C-PC to cosmetic grade. Cosmetic grade purity (of between 1.68 ± 0.18 and 2.61 ± 0.44) was reached by coupling the column with chitosan treatment and ammonium sulfate precipitation when using a lower feed concentration of 2.60 ± 0.07 mg C-PC mL−1. A higher concentration feed could not be purified to cosmetic grade within this investigation, confirming that feed concentration affects the efficiency of the activated charcoal column in combination with the other downstream process steps. The overall process had better yields and was able to accommodate a higher concentration of C-PC than reported in literature.
Early Haploidentical Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Provides Rapid Leukocyte and Immune Reconstitution in AK2 Patient Identified by TREC Newborn Screening
Authors: Cicek Alphan , Schuster Friedhelm R. , Boyle Janel O. , Hoenig Manfred , Meisel Roland , Ghosh Sujal
Published: February 2025

Reticular dysgenesis (RD) is a rare inborn error of immune cell formation defined by severe combined immunodeficiency, agranulocytosis and sensorineural deafness. We report a case of successful haploidentical maternal hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) in a boy with RD detected by TREC newborn screening. The patient was admitted to our hospital at 2 weeks of age and was kept in laminar-air flow / hepa-filtered isolation until HSCT was performed at 8 weeks of age with a busulfan, fludarabine conditioning regime. Except few episodes of acute skin graft-versus-host disease (aGVHD) the peritransplant period was uneventful. The patient was discharged 7 weeks post-HSCT. At 18 months of age cochlear implants were placed. The patient was thriving well, showed full donor chimerism and a T cell count > 1000 TCRab + CD3 + cells/µl after one year. Our case highlights that severely immune-compromised patients with RD benefit from early diagnosis by newborn screening, immediate isolation to prevent infections, and early haploidentical HSCT to overcome neonatal neutropenia and establish protective immunity.
A Service Conception of Democratic Authority
Authors: Satola Alexander P.
Published: February 2025

Joseph Raz’s service conception of authority grounds the moral justification of authority in its capacity to help agents do what they have most reason to do. Critics of the service conception have argued that the service conception is inadequate as a conception of democratic authority because it cannot accord due weight to the role of democratic procedures in the justification of legitimate political authority. In this paper, I argue that the service conception can account for democratic procedures when respect for democracy is understood as a secondary reason to accept the legitimacy of an authority. The distinction between primary and secondary justifications of authority underlines my reply to the procedural democratic objection and sheds light on the meaning of ‘normal’ justification in the context of practical authority. Thus, in the paper, after introducing the service conception and its background theory of practical reason, I then examine and reject the arguments underlying the procedural democratic objection. The service conception highlights the limits of democratic authority, but it also illuminates the value of democracy and clarifies its role in a sound justification of legitimate authority.
Methods to Observe Tribological Failures in Self-Mated Steel Contacts
Authors: Koly Farida Ahmed , Bhattacharjee Arnab , Murthy Nikhil , Gould Benjamin , Ajayi Oyelayo , Walck Scott , Martin Cinta Lorenzo , Berkebile Stephen , Burris David L.
Published: February 2025

Scuffing, a type of wear found in highly stressed or poorly lubricated contacts, is characterized by a rapid increase in friction and severe plastic deformation of the near-surface material. Scuffing has proven difficult to study because it initiates unpredictably, progresses rapidly, and typically develops within an inaccessible contact interface. Although there have been successful in-situ studies of scuffing in real-time, the transparent counter body needed for these studies changes the interactions between the surfaces and the lubricant, which affects the scuffing process in unknown ways. This paper describes the development of X-ray-compatible tribometry to study the scuffing of self-mated steels in-situ and in real-time. The method uses a crossed cylinders configuration with a thin (500 μm thick) stationary component and a small (≈200 μm) contact width to maximize X-ray interactions with atoms within the stress field generated by the contact. The resulting instrument and method are used to benchmark the scuffing response of self-mated 52,100 steel under tribologically challenging ‘oil-off’ lubrication conditions. The results demonstrate reliable scuffing in this configuration despite the relatively small contact areas and loads used. Following scuffing, gross plastic deformation was observed on both surfaces along with significant subsurface grain refinement and flow only on the stationary surface, which experienced constant contact. Interestingly, high friction initiated at specific locations of the migratory surface, which experienced intermittent contact, and then propagated across the track over time, suggesting that local conditions of the migratory surface dominated friction leading into the failure event.

Graphical Abstract
The role of Experiential Avoidance and related factors in eating disorders: a systematic review
Authors: Gulacan Dilan , Gunay-Oge Rumeysa , Inozu Mujgan
Published: February 2025

Current treatments for eating disorders generally aim to identify and reduce maladaptive regulation strategies and develop adaptive strategies. Nevertheless, there is a need to improve interventions when treatment failures, high mortality and relapse rates are taken into consideration. This study examines the role of experiential avoidance, a transdiagnostic concept that is addressed in many therapy approaches, in eating disorder symptomatology and factors associated with experiential avoidance. The findings are expected to significantly contribute to current treatment approaches, especially acceptance and mindfulness-based approaches. Three electronic databases (PubMed, Scopus and Web of Science) were searched on 15 December 2023 using relevant keywords and no publication date restrictions were used. As a result of the screening, 17 articles were found. The findings revealed that there were strong and significant relationships between experiential avoidance and eating disorder symptoms. In this relationship, emotion regulation, rumination, mindfulness and anxiety sensitivity concepts of experiential avoidance were found to be important modulatory factors. The results obtained are important in terms of understanding the cognitive, social and emotional motivations underlying eating behaviour and determining appropriate intervention approaches for eating disorders. The findings are discussed in line with the relevant literature, theoretical framework and current approaches. Consistent and inconsistent aspects of the findings, possible causes and suggestions for their elimination were made.
Im Übergang
Authors: Stetter Manuel
Published: February 2025

Bestattungen dienen nicht nur dem Trost der Hinterbliebenen und der Würdigung der Verstorbenen. Sie können auch als soziale Praktiken der Familienkonstitution analysiert werden. Anhand von Datenmaterialien aus einem ethnografischen Forschungsprojekt versucht der Beitrag, verschiedene Facetten des funeralen doing family herauszuarbeiten. Familien kommen damit als Größen in Betracht, die deutlich über einen bloßen ’Kontext’ ritualisierter Übergangspraktiken hinausgehen. Bestattungen sind gesellschaftliche Orte einer lebendigen familialen Ritualkultur, in der Familie sozial konstituiert wird.
The Role of Methadone and Regional Anesthesia in the Management of Patients Undergoing Complex Spinal Surgery
Authors: Cil Hemra , Buren Marc
Published: February 2025

Purpose of Review

The population of complex spine surgery patients continues to expand. Despite the application of multiple perioperative strategies, postoperative pain is a significant problem for the spine patient population. This review presents and increases awareness of new interventions, including methadone and regional anesthetic techniques, to improve the perioperative management of patients undergoing complex spine surgeries.

Recent Findings

Erector spinae plane (ESP) block is a safe, simple, and novel technique that should be considered in spine patients for opioid-sparing analgesia. Local anesthetic adjuvants that have been used to prolong the analgesic duration of regional blocks can be used during the ESP block.

Instead of intermittent administration of shorter-acting opioids like hydromorphone, methadone should be considered for longer and less uneven periods of pain control. Regional block techniques like ESP and Thoracolumbar interfascial plane (TLIP) blocks can provide high-quality analgesia. Randomized trials in larger patient populations are needed to provide better data on these interventions.
Environmental Factors Influencing Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations in Afromontane Catchments
Authors: Harrison Rowena , van Tol Johan , Amiotte Suchet Philippe , Thevenot Mathieu , Mathieu Olivier
Published: February 2025

Dissolved organic carbon is attributed to several environmental factors, including climate, hydrology, land cover and management, soil type, and topography. This study aimed to gain an understanding of the various environmental factors driving the temporal patterns of DOC export in Afromontane catchments. Through the installation of piezometers as well as two UV–Vis high frequency probes installed within two Afromontane catchments (named CP-VI and CP-IX), water samples were analysed for DOC. The average DOC concentration per day was calculated and used to compare DOC concentrations against the daily rainfall, daily average water temperature, daily average turbidity, daily average conductivity, and daily streamflow discharge. Results of the study show that DOC concentrations followed seasonal trends of precipitation as well as the connectivity of flow paths between wetlands and stream networks. A statistical difference was recorded between terrestrial and wetland areas (CP-VI: p = 0.043 and CP-IX: p =  < 0.0001) as well as between soils groups (CP-VI: p = 0.001 and CP-IX: p = 0.041), with the more saturated soil group recording the higher DOC concentrations in both catchments. DOC concentration variability is closely linked to distinct DOC source zones and their hydrologic connectivity to the stream network. In particular, the drying and wetting cycles of individual wetland systems as well as specific saturation zones influenced both the baseflow connectivity as well as the overland flow during wetter periods and during rainfall events. The connectivity of wetlands to streams within both catchments plays a vital role in the attenuation and export of DOC within these watersheds.
Autonomy or control? An agent-based study of self-organising versus centralised task allocation
Authors: Wang Shaoni , Dang Yanzhong , Jager Wander , Zoethout Kees
Published: February 2025

Teams comprised of exceptional individuals are often thought to excel in performance, but the reality is that even such teams can face challenges in group environments. Problems like excessive coordination and declining motivation can undermine a team’s productivity. This study seeks to improve team cooperation through task allocation while addressing individual needs. However, conventional research methods struggle to capture the complexities of individual interactions and adaptability. Thus, the study employs Agent-Based Modelling (ABM) to investigate the impact of task allocation on team performance, both in centralised (top–down) and self-organising (bottom–up) approaches. The study uncovers several key findings: (a) assigning tasks of appropriate difficulty level can significantly improve team performance and satisfaction; (b) the self-organising task allocation approach excels in enhancing group satisfaction, highlighting the importance of providing employees with a sense of autonomy and control over their work; (c) the study identifies that the performance of teams under centralised and self-organising approaches is contingent on the team’s developmental stage, emphasising the need for tailored management strategies that align with the team’s current stage of development. The study challenges the conventional belief that exceptional individual performance automatically translates to outstanding team performance. It underscores the importance of recognising the role of individual needs and management strategies in shaping team dynamics, and ultimately, team performance.
Impact of a cerebrospinal fluid diagnostic stewardship intervention on quantity of tests, length of stay, antibiotic prescriptions, and cost
Authors: Pathak Aaron , Shay Sabra , Lasco Todd , Al Mohajer Mayar
Published: February 2025

Redundant and low-value cerebrospinal fluid analysis for suspected meningitis can increase costs and antimicrobial use. Our diagnostic stewardship intervention limited available infectious disease cerebrospinal fluid assays to seven common tests, including a multiplex polymerase chain reaction panel. There was no significant difference in the cost of testing or clinical outcomes.
Direct numerical simulation study of turbulent pipe flow with imposed radial rotation
Authors: Ceci Alessandro , Pirozzoli Sergio
Published: February 2025

We carry out direct numerical simulations (DNS) of fully developed turbulent pipe flow subjected to radial system rotation, examining a broad range of rotational speed and Reynolds number. In response to the imposed system rotation, strong secondary motions arise in the form of streamwise-aligned counter-rotating eddies, which engage significantly with the boundary layer, exerting a notable influence on the turbulent flow. At high rotation numbers, a Taylor–Proudman region appears, marked by a constant mean axial velocity along the rotation axis. As rotation increases, local flow relaminarisation takes place starting at the suction side of the pipe, ultimately resulting in full relaminarisation when the rotation number is higher than unity. In this regime the near-wall region of the flow exhibits the typical hallmark of laminar Ekman layers, whose strength varies with the azimuthal position along the pipe perimeter. A predictive analytical formula for frictional drag is derived for this ultimate high rotation which accurately reproduces the DNS data. The behaviour of friction is more complex to predict at low-to-intermediate rotation numbers owing to concurrent effects of viscosity, turbulence, secondary motions and rotation, which we quantify in an extended version of the Fukagata–Iwamoto–Kasagi identity.
Lifestyle risk factors for overweight and obesity among rural Indian adults: a community-based prospective cohort study
Authors: Rai Rajesh Kumar , Bromage Sabri , De Neve Jan-Walter , Barik Anamitra
Published: February 2025

India’s nutrition transition has led to an increased burden of overweight/obesity (body mass index of ≥23 kg/m2), driven by lifestyle factors like poor diet, inactivity, and substance use, prompting public health interventions. However, these interventions lack supporting evidence, especially in rural areas, hindering effective strategies for this population. To address this evidence gap, this study used cohort data (baseline: 2018–19, follow-up: 2022–23) from the Birbhum Population Project (West Bengal, India) to analyse lifestyle risk factors and their association with incidence and remission of overweight/obesity among adults aged ≥18 years (sample: 8,974). Modified Poisson regression model was employed to attain the study objective. From 2017–2018 to 2022–2023, the prevalence of overweight/obesity increased from 15.2% (95% CI: 14.1%–16.4%) to 21.0% (95% CI: 19.7%–22.3%) among men and from 24.1% (95% CI: 22.9%–25.2%) to 33.8% (95% CI: 32.5%–35.1%) among women. Overall, 23.0% (95% CI: 21.8%–24.3%) of adults experienced incidence of overweight/obesity, while 13.9% (95% CI: 12.4%–15.6%) experienced remission. Use of motor vehicles among unemployed participants was associated with incident overweight/obesity (relative risk or RR: 1.058; 95% CI: 1.023–1.095; P: 0.001). Vigorous activity at home (including gardening, yard work, and household chores) was linked to higher odds of recovering from overweight/obesity (RR: 1.065; 95% CI: 1.008–1.125; P: 0.025). Frequent tobacco use (often/daily vs. none) was inversely associated with remission of overweight-obesity (RR: 0.689; 95% CI: 0.484–0.980; P: 0.038), as was each 1 ml in alcohol consumption (RR: 0.995; 95% CI: 0.991–0.999; P: 0.022). Discouraging habitual motor vehicle use may help prevent overweight/obesity, while promoting home-based activities may aid remission, particularly for women who are at higher risk for overweight/obesity.
The Shadow of the Law: Adversarial Formalism in Prisoner-Staff Relations
Authors: Durand Corentin
Published: February 2025

The law is commonly described as one of the major forces shaping contemporary correctional institutions. However, we still lack a satisfactory understanding of how it has affected power relations behind bars. Drawing from two ethnographies of French correctional facilities, this article finds that changes to the material environment where incarcerated people and correctional staff interact have altered the relational economy of prisons and jails more than legal actions have. To avoid litigation, prison administrators design and use countless graphic artifacts, which has further reshaped the adversarial nature of social relations in prisons and jails. This bureaucratic approach has introduced the form of the law into the most banal of everyday communications between prisoners and authorities, replacing the informal asymmetrical interpersonal negotiations that have traditionally maintained order. Building on Robert Kagan’s typology of modes of policy making and dispute resolution, I re-examine power relations in contemporary French prisons and jails as a tension between formal and informal framings as well as hierarchical and participatory organizations of authority. I call this hybrid relational economy, where the force of the law lies mostly in its formal shadow, adversarial formalism.
Diluting The Saints Cordials: Questioning the Canon of Richard Sibbes
Authors: SNODDY RICHARD M.
Published: February 2025

This article notes the appearance of the same sermons on Romans viii.15–16 in the nineteenth-century editions of both James Ussher and Richard Sibbes. It explores the sources on which these editions rest and the publication history of The saints cordials, the contents of which were too uncritically accepted by Sibbes's nineteenth-century editor, A. B. Grosart. Manuscript evidence is employed to argue that three items in Grosart's edition of Sibbes should be attributed to Ussher, and the provenance of a further eleven is questioned. The article concludes with a survey of the appearance of the disputed material in modern Sibbes scholarship.
Apple seeds: R.J. Morris’ pedagogy in history and computing
Authors: Morton Graeme
Published: February 2025

Once the disorderly output from the mainframe was pushed to one side, R.J. Morris was quick to realize the potential of the early Apple Mac personal computer to enhance how he taught the historical method. In this article, I reflect on Morris’ pedagogy in the fields of urban history and middle-class formation, and in his approach to nominal record linkage. These insights come from my experience as both an undergraduate and postgraduate student under his guidance and then later as collaborator in the classroom and in research. When teaching the power of the computer to advance the historian’s craft, Bob Morris never lost sight of the ‘concept’ as his favoured means of exploring and understanding historical transformation.
Simulating multiple equilibria in rational expectations models with occasionally-binding constraints: An algorithm and a policy application
Authors: Hatcher Michael
Published: February 2025

This paper presents an algorithm for simulating multiple equilibria in otherwise-linear dynamic models with occasionally-binding constraints. Our algorithm extends the guess-and-verify approach of Guerrieri and Iacoviello (2015) to detect and simulate multiple perfect foresight equilibria, and allows arbitrary “news shocks” up to a finite horizon. When there are multiple equilibria, we show how to compute expected paths using a “prior probabilities” approach and we provide an approach for running stochastic simulations with switching between equilibria on the simulated path. A policy application studies a New Keynesian model with a zero lower bound on nominal interest rates and multiple equilibria, including a “bad” solution based on self-fulfilling pessimistic expectations. A price-level targeting rule does not always eliminate the bad solution, but it shrinks the indeterminacy region substantially and improves stabilization and welfare relative to more conventional interest rate rules or forward guidance.
Adaptation and validation of the Health Anxiety Inventory (short version) for medical settings
Authors: Colenutt Jessica , Daniels Jo
Published: February 2025

The objectives of study 1 were to use expert opinion to identify the limitations of the Health Anxiety Inventory – Short Version (SHAI) for administration in medical populations and to develop an adapted version for medical populations. The objective of the second study was to evaluate the psychometric properties of the adapted measure. A three-round Delphi study method was used in study 1. Eight experts with experience of living with a physical health condition and four experts by profession working within physical health were invited to review the SHAI. Study 2 employed a cross-sectional mixed methods questionnaire design. Individuals with multiple sclerosis (n=115), myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (n=84) and chronic pain (n=116) were invited to complete a battery of questionnaires via an online survey. The adapted version of the SHAI for Medical Populations (HAI-M) consisted of 12 items scoring from 0 to 3, reaching high consensus (75% agreement) for administration in medical populations. All groups rated the HAI-M as more acceptable than the SHAI and no significant differences were found on HAI-M scores between clinical groups. The HAI-M demonstrated high internal consistency (.875), good test–retest reliability (.812) and convergent validity (.801). Divergent validity was also acceptable (.515). This study provides preliminary evidence for a psychometrically sound health anxiety screening tool for use in medical populations.

Key learning aims

(1)

To gain insights into the presentation of health anxiety in medical conditions.

(2)

To consider the validity and reliability of using questionnaire measures developed using analogue sample norms, and how this may affect measurement when used in different context and settings.

(3)

The process of systematically adapting, developing and testing standardised measures for use in special subgroups.