bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Bovine serum albumin nanoparticles encapsulating Dasatinib and Celecoxib for oral cancer: Preparation, characterization, and in-vitro evaluation
Authors: Aly Ghadeer AbouBakr , Sabra Sally A. , Haroun Medhat , Helmy Maged W. , Moussa Nermine
Published: February 2025

Oral squamous cell carcinoma is a diverse complex disease. Despite the ever-expanding repertoire of anti-cancer treatments, the outcomes are often inadequate highlighting the urgent need for innovative approaches. In this regard, co-targeting signaling pathways such as Src and COX-2 have attracted growing attention in several cancers, but co-inhibition of these two pathways using dasatinib and celecoxib has not been explored in oral cancer. However, the therapeutic efficacy of these drugs is limited due to their low aqueous solubility. Nanoencapsulation can improve this by utilizing naturally available proteins due to their ease of fabrication and biocompatibility. In this sense, this study aimed at preparing and characterizing dastatinib (DAS)/celecoxib (CXB)-loaded bovine serum albumin (BSA) nanoparticles as well as investigating their potential anticancer effects in vitro on SCC-4 oral cancer cell line. DAS/CXB-loaded BSA nanoparticles (NPs) were fabricated by the desolvation method, then characterized in terms of their hydrodynamic particle size, zeta potential, morphology and in vitro drug release. The IC50 was determined via the MTT assay. Cyclin D1, COX-2, p-Src and FAK protein expression levels were determined using ELISA while active caspase-3 was determined colorimetrically. DAS/CXB-loaded BSA NPs exhibited particle size of 336.6 ± 1.098 nm with low PDI value of 0.211 ± 0.019 and zeta potential of -35.0 ± 4.03 mV. Moreover, the in vitro cytotoxicity study revealed decreased IC50 value in case of the dual drug-loaded NPs compared to all treated groups, with significant decrease in the expression levels of cyclin D1, COX-2, p-Src and FAK proteins, besides, increased caspase-3 level. The findings suggest that DAS/CXB-loaded BSA NPs could serve as a drug delivery platform with increased antitumor effectiveness.
Three-Cuts are a Charm: Acyclicity in 3-Connected Cubic Graphs
Authors: Kardoš František , Máčajová Edita , Zerafa Jean Paul
Published: February 2025

Let G be a bridgeless cubic graph. In 2023, the three authors solved a conjecture (also known as the

$$S_4$$

S
4

-Conjecture) made by Mazzuoccolo in 2013: there exist two perfect matchings of G such that the complement of their union is a bipartite subgraph of G. They actually show that given any

$$1^+$$

1
+

-factor F (a spanning subgraph of G such that its vertices have degree at least 1) and an arbitrary edge e of G, there exists a perfect matching M of G containing e such that

$$G\setminus (F\cup M)$$

G
\
(
F
∪
M
)

is bipartite. This is a step closer to comprehend better the Fan–Raspaud Conjecture and eventually the Berge–Fulkerson Conjecture. The

$$S_4$$

S
4

-Conjecture, now a theorem, is also the weakest assertion in a series of three conjectures made by Mazzuoccolo in 2013, with the next stronger statement being: there exist two perfect matchings of G such that the complement of their union is an acyclic subgraph of G. Unfortunately, this conjecture is not true: Jin, Steffen, and Mazzuoccolo later showed that there exists a counterexample admitting 2-cuts. Here we show that, despite of this, every cyclically 3-edge-connected cubic graph satisfies this second conjecture.
What is the nature of cache memory in Parids? A comment on Chettih et al. 2024
Authors: Smulders Tom V. , Cheng Sen
Published: February 2025

Recent findings by Chettih et al. (Cell 187: 1922–1935, 2024) from electrophysiological recordings in the hippocampus of black-capped chickadees shed light on the debate about how food-hoarding Parids may remember their cache sites. When birds retrieve caches, a “bar code” is reactivated, which is very similar to the code generated when the same cache was made. The current evidence suggests that this bar code is only triggered after the bird starts to retrieve the cache, and not in anticipation. This finding is more consistent with cued recall than with free recall of cache locations.
The affine subspace concentration inequality for centered convex bodies
Authors: Eller K. , Freyer A.
Published: February 2025

An affine version of the linear subspace concentration inequality as proposed by Wu in [11] is established for centered convex bodies. This generalizes results from [11] and [8] on polytopes to convex bodies.
Simplifying and Characterizing DAGs and Phylogenetic Networks via Least Common Ancestor Constraints
Authors: Lindeberg Anna , Hellmuth Marc
Published: February 2025

Rooted phylogenetic networks, or more generally, directed acyclic graphs (DAGs), are widely used to model species or gene relationships that traditional rooted trees cannot fully capture, especially in the presence of reticulate processes or horizontal gene transfers. Such networks or DAGs are typically inferred from observable data (e.g., genomic sequences of extant species), providing only an estimate of the true evolutionary history. However, these inferred DAGs are often complex and difficult to interpret. In particular, many contain vertices that do not serve as least common ancestors (LCAs) for any subset of the underlying genes or species, thus may lack direct support from the observable data. In contrast, LCA vertices are witnessed by historical traces justifying their existence and thus represent ancestral states substantiated by the data. To reduce unnecessary complexity and eliminate unsupported vertices, we aim to simplify a DAG to retain only LCA vertices while preserving essential evolutionary information. In this paper, we characterize

$$\textrm{LCA}$$

LCA

-relevant and

$$\textrm{lca}$$

lca

-relevant DAGs, defined as those in which every vertex serves as an LCA (or unique LCA) for some subset of taxa. We introduce methods to identify LCAs in DAGs and efficiently transform any DAG into an

$$\textrm{LCA}$$

LCA

-relevant or

$$\textrm{lca}$$

lca

-relevant one while preserving key structural properties of the original DAG or network. This transformation is achieved using a simple operator “

$$\ominus $$

⊖

” that mimics vertex suppression.
The lived experience of active surveillance for prostate cancer: a systematic review and meta-synthesis
Authors: Briggs Russell J. , Dunn Jeff , Chambers Suzanne K. , Jakimowicz Samantha , Green Anna , Heneka Nicole
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Prostate cancer is one of the most prevalent cancers worldwide. Active surveillance is a widely accepted treatment option for some localised prostate cancers. However, concerns have been raised about the experiences of men on this treatment given that almost 40% will discontinue without clinical indications. The objective of this review was to identify the lived experience of men on active surveillance.

Methods

A systematic review and meta-synthesis, according to PRISMA guidelines. Studies were included if they reported qualitative data exploring the experiences of men undertaking active surveillance. Thomas and Harden’s approach was undertaken for data synthesis.

Results

Five databases were searched identifying 3226 articles, and 13 studies met the inclusion criteria. Two overarching analytical themes were identified: (i) men on active surveillance live with a lack of certainty; and (ii) re-establishing agency drives resilience and facilitates confidence in active surveillance. Lack of certainty on active surveillance is derived from men feeling a loss of control over their health and/or lives. This induces a stress response of ongoing worry and anxiety and loss of agency, further driving the stress cycle. Re-establishing agency alleviates the stress response, promotes resilience, and facilitates confidence in active surveillance.

Conclusions

The experience of active surveillance is underpinned by ongoing lack of certainty diminishing agency and driving cyclical stress.

Implications for Cancer Survivors

It is essential that health professionals better support men to establish and maintain confidence in active surveillance. Further research into men’s perspectives of interventions and strategies that best facilitate agency and effectively support them is warranted.
Ergodic theory for monotone Reich–Suzuki type nonexpansive operators
Authors: Bejenaru Andreea , Postolache Mihai
Published: February 2025

A recent study on nonexpansive monotone operators on partially ordered Banach spaces revealed that the sequence of Cesàro means converges to a fixed point, but also plays an instrumental role in the convergence analysis of the Picard successive approximations. Throughout this paper we provide a new iterative construction of Krasnoselskii type, as alternative to the ergodic iteration, that also supports the analysis of the Picard iterative sequence. Moreover, this study considers a wider class of monotone nonexpansive mappings, namely Reich–Suzuki type nonexpansive operators. Finally, a numerical simulation is provided by polynomiographic methods, so as to confirm the intuitive conclusions about the higher efficiency of the Picard iteration and the Krasnoselskii iteration compared to the ergodic procedure.
Factors which influence young people’s experience of gaelic games. A secondary analysis of results from a large cross-sectional national study
Authors: McKay M. T. , Donnelly P. , Lane A. , Horgan P.
Published: February 2025

Enjoyment of sport is an important factor in preventing dropout or drop off. Using a cross-sectional design, and a sample of 4,594 Gaelic games players (aged 13 to 20), the present study was a secondary analysis, examining which factors (if any) were significantly related to self-reported past-year experience in sport. Results show that when comparing those reporting their experience as very poor/poor, fair, or good against those reporting it as very good, the three variables that were consistent in their statistical significance were, age (being younger associated with a better experience), mean scores on a coaching autonomy measure (higher associated with a better experience), and self-reported playing time (higher associated with a better experience). There were nuanced results depending on the nature of the comparisons. At the most extreme comparison (‘very poor or poor’ versus ‘very good’), the former were significantly more likely to report playing other sports, and reported a lower likelihood of continuing to play Gaelic games. Results in the comparison of ‘fair’ and ‘very good’ were slightly different. Here, rather than playing other sports being statistically significant, there was a lower likelihood of playing in multiple contexts (or viewed conversely, a higher likelihood of playing Club only). Finally, when comparing those reporting their experience as ‘good’ versus ‘very good’, the former were significantly more likely to be male. The standout finding of this study (regression coefficients) is that coach autonomy score is significantly related to past year experience of Gaelic games, adjusting for a range of other relevant variables.
Design and Performance Analysis of Kids’ Garments Prototypes Against Electromagnetic Radiation Part_I: Seam Efficiency and Impact of Repeated Washing Cycles on the Shielding Performance
Authors: Pamuk Gulsah , Kayacan Özlem , Kayacan Ozan , Uysal Tuğçe
Published: February 2025

Studies have shown that electromagnetic radiation, which is declared by the World Health Organization to have biological effects on metabolisms, causes health problems such as brain tumors, Alzheimer's, allergies, stress, depression and sleep disorders. Therefore, the damage caused to the human body by electromagnetic waves has become a priority for professionals and academics. Great efforts are being made to develop technical textiles that provide shielding to prevent or reduce this radiation. Since radiation sensitivity in children is much higher than in adults, within the scope of this study, it is aimed to develop clothes for electromagnetic radiation protection, especially for children who spend long hours with mobile devices such as cell phones and tablets. For this aim, double-layered knitted fabric structures connected by loop transfers were developed. Six different conductive knitted structures were manufactured with various conductive/cotton yarn combinations on flat knitting machine. Electromagnetic shielding tests were performed on these samples for both vertical and horizontal directions, also these tests were applied before and after washing cycles. Moreover, 3D virtual prototype designs were made and then these designs were produced as a total of 12 short-sleeve and long-sleeve t-shirts. Sewing quality performances of these fabric structures were also analyzed to evaluate the potential of these prototypes to convert to commercial products. Although the seam strength was found to be good enough, the seam efficiency could not exceed 50%. Therefore, when designing a protective clothing for electromagnetic waves, attention should be paid to the placement position of the fabric on the clothing and before making a decision.
Quantifying the Relative Importance of Sand Deposition and Dune Grasses to Carbon Storage in US Central Atlantic Coast Dunes
Authors: Jay Katya R. , Hacker Sally D. , Hagen Cedric J. , Stepanek John , Moore Laura J. , Ruggiero Peter
Published: February 2025

Coastal ecosystems such as mangroves, salt marshes, and seagrasses sequester large amounts of carbon per unit area due to their high productivity and sediment accumulation rates. However, only a handful of studies have examined carbon sequestration in coastal dunes, which are shaped by biophysical feedback between aeolian sediment transport and burial-tolerant vegetation. The goal of this study was to measure carbon storage and identify the factors that influence its variability along the foredunes of the US Outer Banks barrier islands of North Carolina. Specifically, differences in carbon stocks (above- and belowground biomass and sand), dune grass abundance, and sand supply were measured among islands, cross-shore dune profile locations, and dune grass species. Carbon varied among aboveground grass biomass (0.1 ± 0.1 kg C m−2), belowground grass biomass (1.1 ± 1.6 kg C m−3), and sand (0.9 ± 0.6 kg C m−3), with the largest amount in belowground grass stocks. Aboveground grass carbon stocks were comparable to those in eelgrass beds and salt marshes on a per-area basis, while sediment carbon values in our study system were lower than those in other coastal systems, including other dune locations. Additionally, sand carbon density was positively related to patterns in dune sand supply and grass abundance, reflecting a self-reinforcing vegetation-sediment feedback at both high and low sand accumulation rates.
Italian Association of Nuclear Medicine, Molecular Imaging and Therapy (AIMN) practical guide for peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) with [177Lu]Lu-Oxodotreotide in gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors (GEP-NET)
Authors: Laudicella Riccardo , Albano Domenico , Bauckneht Matteo , Urso Luca , Bodei Lisa , De Rimini Maria Luisa , Grana Chiara Maria , Baldari Sergio , Versari Annibale , Filice Angelina , Bartolomei Mirco , Maccauro Marco
Published: February 2025

Somatostatin receptors (SSTR) are overexpressed by most neuroendocrine tumors (NETs), and patients with SSTR-positive disease can be identified by DOTA-peptide PET. Phase II and III studies proved SSTR-targeted radiopharmaceutical therapy safe and effective in metastatic gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) NETs progressed after SST analogues. Additional data indicate that [177Lu]Lu-oxodotreotide peptide receptor radionuclide therapy (PRRT) also has high potential in earlier clinical situations. The purpose of this Italian procedural guideline is to assist the nuclear medicine personnel in the delivery of [177Lu]Lu-DOTA-peptide therapy, from patient selection to end-of-therapy follow-up, and to facilitate the management of possible side effects and their clinical management. The current document is based upon the current best practice and knowledge of experienced Centers and Nuclear Medicine Physicians in Italy.
Interdependence Prospectively Predicts the Blood Uric Acid Level in Japan: Implications for the Metabolic Basis for Culture
Authors: Park Jiyoung , Kitayama Shinobu
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Uric acid (UA), the end product of purine metabolism, serves as a potent deoxidant of the brain. UA may therefore be related to psychological activities that are culturally endorsed and normatively promoted, insofar as such activities would require high levels of cortical processing, and thus, gradually expose the brain to a greater oxidation risk. We tested this analysis in Japan, a society that values interdependence of the self with others.

Methods

Middle-aged Japanese adults (N = 243) were tested twice for the serum UA concentration, with five years in-between. Moreover, an assortment of measures assessing culturally sanctioned traits (those related to interdependence) and culturally non-sanctioned traits (those related to independence) were collected.

Results

We found that the baseline levels of interdependence predicted an increase in the UA in the next five years. In contrast, there was no such effect for independence. Moreover, the effect of interdependence on the UA increase was mediated by cognitive effort in various domains (such as work, finance, and social relations), suggesting that the culturally sanctioned traits increased cognitive effort devoted to mundane everyday activities, which in turn, predicted the UA to increase over time. Notably, baseline UA levels did not affect changes in psychological traits.

Conclusion

Interpreting these results in light of UA’s role as a potent antioxidant for brain tissues, we propose that higher UA levels may support metabolically demanding actions aligned with culturally sanctioned practices, particularly those associated with interdependence in the Japanese context.
Staff Communication at School and Student–Student Relationship Quality in the Classroom: Direct and Indirect Effects on Students’ Experiences as Bullies, Bullied, and Bully-Victims
Authors: Fischer Saskia M. , Macaulay Peter J. R. , Bilz Ludwig
Published: February 2025

Bullying research is often based upon Bronfenbrenner’s socioecological model, focusing on contextual level aspects associated with individual bullying experiences. Thus, various relevant contextual determinants of bullying have been identified, including classroom climate and school climate. However, even if interpersonal relationships are defined broadly in the definitions of classroom and (especially) school climate, its empirical investigation is limited to student–student or student–teacher relationships. In the current study, we included aspects of teacher–teacher relationships in the analyses by investigating staff communication at school. We investigated the associations between staff communication, student–student relationship quality in the classroom, and students’ bullying experiences. In addition, we investigated if staff communication may be indirectly linked to students’ bullying experiences via student–student relationships in the classroom. The sample was drawn from 556 teachers (79% female, Mage = 50.6, SDage = 8.44) and 2,071 students (49% female, Mage = 13.63, SDage = 1.17) in 114 classes across 24 schools in Germany. Two-level- and three-level models were performed. Findings suggest that rivalry as an aspect of student–student relationships in the classroom (a part of the classroom climate) is associated with students’ bullying experiences as bullies, victims, and bully-victims. While staff communication is not directly associated with students’ bullying experiences, it is indirectly associated with it via rivalry in the classroom. The findings also show that staff communication at school is associated with student–student relationships in the classroom. The study has implications for school-wide anti-bullying measures that should also include teacher–teacher aspects, and that future research should endeavour to include both class-level and school-level contexts.
Soil organic carbon accumulation mechanisms in soil amended with straw and biochar: entombing effect or biochemical protection?
Authors: Yuan Yuhan , Liang Yao , Cai Hongguang , Yuan Jingchao , Li Cuilan , Liu Hang , Zhang Chang , Wang Lichun , Zhang Jinjing
Published: February 2025

Converting crop residues into biochar and subsequently incorporating it into soils is a promising strategy to improve carbon sequestration in agroecosystems. However, differences in the potential mechanisms for soil organic carbon (SOC) accumulation between biochar and its feedstock materials remain unclear. This study performed a nine-year field experiment involving four treatments in a Mollisol: mineral fertilizers alone and combined with maize straw or its biochar, and control without fertilizers and amendments. The main objectives of this study were to assess how straw and biochar incorporation influence SOC content, SOC chemical composition, microbial necromass carbon (MNC) content, and microbial community characteristics. Compared with mineral fertilizers alone, straw and biochar significantly (P < 0.05) increased SOC content, while biochar (40.5% increase) had more pronounced effects than straw (23.7% increase). Similarly, both straw and biochar increased MNC content and boosted microbial biomass, but straw had a more pronounced impact than did biochar. Additionally, biochar markedly increased SOC aromaticity by 26.6% (P < 0.05), while straw reduced SOC aromaticity by 2.85% (P > 0.05). Fungi, rather than bacteria, played a more crucial role in increasing SOC content through their necromass inputs under both straw and biochar incorporation. Our results demonstrated that straw enhanced SOC accumulation primarily through entombing effect of microbial necromass, while biochar enhanced SOC accumulation primarily through biochemical protection from recalcitrant aromatic carbon. The present findings provide valuable insight into the potential mechanisms of field practices that lead to maximize soil carbon sequestration.

Graphical Abstract
Application of optimized spring–mass–damper pedestrian load models for vibration assessment of footbridges: numerical and experimental investigation of a cable-stayed system
Authors: Bedon Chiara , Drygala Izabela Joanna , Dulinska Joanna Maria , Jasińska Dorota
Published: February 2025

This article explores the potential and accuracy of spring–mass–damper (SMD) pedestrian load modelling strategies for assessing human-induced vibrations of in-service footbridges. To this aim, a recent SMD modelling proposal based on uncoupled single-body measures (SMD-0, in the following) is specifically used for the calibration of key input parameters. Finite element numerical assumptions and findings are robustly supported by original experimental tests carried out on a case-study footbridge in Poland, proving that the proposed approach can serve as an effective tool for analysing vibrations in pedestrian systems. The research study, most importantly, integrates theoretical modelling with empirical and experimental validations, to enhance the credibility of the obtained results, as well as to support the general applicability of the presented methodology. Complex in-field tests are in fact conducted on the selected footbridge, aiming to assess the effects of pedestrians on its dynamic response. Numerical analyses, which are successively performed in ABAQUS/Standard, for a set of examined walking configurations, confirm the high sensitivity of the footbridge to resonance, which was also observed during the in-field tests. The presently used SMD-0 approach is further assessed towards past SMD literature proposals. As shown, the comparison of standard structural performance indicators (such as the peak acceleration value, root mean square and CREST factor) reveals a significant sensitivity of the footbridge response to the input parameters for the analyzed SMD models. Besides, the presently addressed SMD-0 model has the advantage of being based on single-body sensor measurements and its calibration is not affected by structural features. As such, potential applications of present findings could include the improvement of design standards and safety measures for similar structures.
Implementation and evaluation of a complex outpatient oral antimicrobial therapy program (COpAT) in Canada
Authors: Wong Maggie , Wong Davie
Published: February 2025

Objective:

We describe the implementation, outcomes, and challenges of a complex outpatient oral antimicrobial therapy program (COpAT) in Canada to provide a framework for those interested in establishing such a program.

Setting:

Outpatient ambulatory clinic led by infectious diseases physicians, serving patients from a tertiary hospital and a small community hospital.

Design:

Retrospective observational study that evaluated the efficacy, safety, and cost savings of patients enrolled in the program from August 2023 to June 2024.

Results:

One hundred three patients were included, of which 84.4% achieved successful clinical outcomes. Mean age of the patients was 62 years and 30% had diabetes. The top three sources of infections were bone and joint, intra-abdominal, and skin-and-soft tissue. Mean duration of COpAT was 37 days. Seventy-five percent of patients required only a single agent, and amoxicillin/clavulanic acid was most commonly used. Twenty-two patients developed an adverse reaction, of which three required a change in therapy and one resolved with antibiotic dose reduction. No C. difficile infections or mortality were reported 30-days post COpAT discharge. Twelve patients were re-admitted to the hospital; 50% of the cases were unrelated to infections. Compared to outpatient intravenous therapy, the total cost savings from COpAT were estimated to be $255,000 Canadian dollars (CAD), which translated to an average cost savings of $2500 CAD per patient per year.

Conclusion:

We demonstrated favorable clinical and safety outcomes with our COpAT program and substantial cost savings using existing infrastructure. COpAT allows efficient use of healthcare resources including decongestion of hospitals.
Requiring durations of therapy at the time of antibiotic order entry reduces antibiotic use
Authors: Wright Megan R. , Gillon Jessica , Katz Sophie E. , Banerjee Ritu
Published: February 2025

The impact of required durations of therapy for antibiotic orders at the time of order entry has not been reported. Requiring ordering clinicians to enter stop dates at the time of antibiotic order entry decreased DOT/1000 patient days for orders with empiric indication from 154 to 119 (–34.9 (–55.7 to –14)).
Auditor perspectives on barriers to achieving healthcare worker hand hygiene compliance goals
Authors: Leszczynski Joseph , Gibas Kevin M.
Published: February 2025

We surveyed hand hygiene auditors to identify barriers to healthcare worker hand hygiene compliance in our health system. Most auditors reported being comfortable providing staff feedback on hand hygiene practices; however, there was substantial variability in their comfort level based on the occupation of the staff member receiving feedback.
Calm at the Carriage, Kills Bandits, Protects the Stables: Unique Horse Names in Excavated Han Administrative Documents from Xuanquan
Authors: Granger Kelsey
Published: February 2025

The Xuanquan postal station is to date the most well-documented example of a working postal station from the Han period. This paper presents a corpus of 115 excavated horse names recorded in Xuanquan administrative documents. Analysis of these names not only clarifies what tasks these horses were expected to perform at the station, but two unique naming conventions further articulate the complex relationships forged between humans and horses at this frontier site: giving horses human surnames and venerating aged horses. This article thus centers the act of naming individual animals as being of significant importance for future studies of human-animal interactions.
The Metrics of the DMA’s Success
Authors: Colangelo Giuseppe , Ribera Martínez Alba
Published: February 2025

The Digital Markets Act (DMA) is a rare bird in competition policy. Indeed, it is a hybrid framework incorporating the institutional setting of a regulatory tool as well as the conduct already targeted by antitrust authorities in proceedings against digital platforms. From a policy perspective, the DMA seeks to prevent some anticompetitive practices. To this end, the EU legislator has construed an intricate set of provisions pursuing different policy goals. After setting out these goals in relation to the proclaimed legal interests protected by the DMA (ie, contestability and fairness), the paper uncovers the policy goals underlying each of the provisions. Relying on the first round of compliance reports issued by gatekeepers in March and October 2024, the analysis aims at providing adequate pathways to measure the DMA’s success, based on the explicit legal interests and implict policy goals fleshed out by the regulation. The paper maps out market scenarios where policymakers can assert that the DMA’s enforcement has been effective.
Verein Klimaseniorinnen Schweiz and Others v. Switz. (Eur. Ct. H.R.)
Authors: Sulyok Katalin
Published: February 2025

On April 9, 2024, the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR or the Court) seated in Strasbourg released its judgment in the Verein KlimaSeniorinnen Schweiz v. Switzerland case, which marks the first occasion where the Court found a violation of several rights of the European Convention on Human Rights and Fundamental Freedoms (Convention) in a climate change litigation case.
An Entrepreneurial View of Judicial Capture
Authors: Morales Forte Estuardo Sebastian
Published: February 2025

This is a case study of Guatemala’s judicial system, initially designed to be a pluralist model in 1984. However, it is now captured by political entrepreneurs who are undermining liberal democracy. The research warns about similar risks in other young democracies and explains the pitfalls of judicial councils and capturable courts. Although judiciaries are now seen as safeguards against authoritarianism, this study demonstrates how they can be subverted. Unlike authoritarian populists who weaken judicial institutions through popular support, this case shows how entrepreneurs rely on intimidation and capture. Using data of the growth of lawyers, I propose the entrepreneurs outnumbered the elites committed to democracy and captured the nomination process in favor of uncommitted elites leading to democratic backsliding.
Dresses and ties: the effect of grammatical gender and stereotypical semantic bias in three Spanish-speaking communities
Authors: Zunino Gabriela Mariel , Aguilar Miriam , Stetie Noelia Ayelén , Martínez Rebolledo Camila , Hinojosa José Antonio
Published: February 2025

Stereotype construction is a complex process, with multiple relations to language processing, that combines collective sociocultural factors with individual cognitive elements. Regarding gendered languages, there is a debate about the effect of grammatical gender on the representation of inanimate entities. To evaluate the potential interaction between gender stereotypes and gender morphology on words that refer to inanimate entities in three different communities of Spanish speakers, we developed a task of conscious judgments on the level of association to men or women of words that refer to objects. In a 3 × 2 × 3 × 2 design, we manipulated Semantic Bias (gender stereotypicality), with three levels (male, e.g., martillo, hammer-M; female, e.g., vestido, dress-M; neutral, e.g., lápiz, pencil-M); Morphology, with two levels (masculine, e.g., vestido, dress-M; feminine, e.g., pulsera, bracelet-F); Linguistic variety, with three levels (Argentine, Chilean and Peninsular) and Questionnaire, with two levels (related to men vs. related to women). The results showed that grammatical gender has an effect on words that refer to inanimate entities when those words do not carry a strong stereotypical association (neutral items), semantic bias related to gender stereotypes overshadows any potential effect of grammatical gender in biased items, and there are differences depending on the community (Argentine, Chilean and Peninsular).
Intention and Quistclose trusts in the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal: a disguised departure from the orthodoxy?
Authors: Lai Joshua , Sin Ivan
Published: February 2025

The irony behind a simple definition of ‘[t]rusts for the transfer of money or other property for a specified purpose’1 is that, in continuing to name them after Barclays Bank v Quistclose Investments,2 the doctrine seems to be as elusive as ever.3 In China Life Trustees v China Energy Reserve and Chemicals Group Overseas Company,4 the task of throwing light on the Quistclose trust fell to the Hong Kong Court of Final Appeal (HKCFA) for the first time.
Partisans of Color: Asian American and Latino Party ID in an Era of Racialization and Polarization
Authors: PÉREZ EFRÉN , LEE JESSICA HYUNJEONG , LUNA GUSTAVO MÁRTIR
Published: February 2025

What influences partisan allegiance among Asian Americans and Latinos? These fast-growing demographics are heavily populated by immigrants who were raised outside the United States, which limits parental socialization as the primary mechanism behind their partisan identities. We argue that contemporary Asian and Latino partisanship is better understood in a context characterized by racialization and polarization. Asian and Latino adults regularly navigate the straits between their racial and American identities—two categories, sorted along partisan lines, that shape their sense of belonging in the US. We hypothesize that Asian and Latino adults generally prioritize their racial or national identity, which affects the intensity of their allegiance to Democrats or Republicans. Leveraging major Asian and Latino surveys since 2006 (N = 20,327), we uncover wide heterogeneity in identity prioritization, with 27% of Asian and Latino adults privileging their American identity over their racial one. Greater prioritization of one’s racial (versus national) identity is significantly associated with Democratic (versus Republican) allegiance (meta-analyzed d ~ 0.30). These patterns also emerge at an automatic level via Implicit Association Tests (IATs). Across two experiments (N = 2,920) we then isolate one possible mechanism: Asian and Latino adults who feel their prioritized identity is overlooked signal their preferred attachment through their partisan allegiance.
FORBIDDEN PARTITION CONFIGURATION SPACES OF GRAPHS
Authors: DOVER JAMES
Published: February 2025

We propose a generalised version of configuration spaces defined by disallowing combinations of simultaneous collisions among the n points determined by a family of forbidden partitions. In the case where the underlying space is a finite graph, we construct a cubical complex with the same homology as this configuration space.
The Machine Works: Why Turnout Buying is More Effective Than it Appears
Authors: Greene Kenneth F.
Published: February 2025

Turnout buying is a mainstay of machine politics. Despite strong theory that selective incentives should spur turnout, meta-analyses of empirical studies show no effect, thus making machine politics seem irrational and unsustainable. I argue that the apparent failure of turnout buying is an artefact of common measurement decisions in experimental and observational research that lump together turnout buying, abstention buying, and vote-choice buying. Data generated using these compound measures include countervailing and null effects that drive estimates of the effects of each strategy toward zero. I show that machines have incentives to diversify their strategies enough to make compound measures substantially underestimate the impact of turnout buying. I propose simple alternative measurement approaches and show how they perform using new survey data and a constituency-level analysis of machine strategy in Mexico. Findings close the gap between theory and facts and reaffirm the rationality of machine politics.
Decentralized method for real-time optimal path planning of robot in dynamic environment
Authors: Zhang Chen , Zhou Lelai , Li Yibin
Published: February 2025

Adaptation to the dynamic environment and variable task sequence is the critical ability for robot navigation and task execution. The Cyclic Networking Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (CNRRT) method is proposed to obtain the optimal path in real time and realize long-term path planning ability in a complex dynamic environment. The cyclic branch is introduced to the acyclic graph of Rapidly-exploring Random Tree (RRT) method, which forms a decentralized path network in the configuration space. An iterative searching strategy is built to search for the optimal path in the network. The branch prune, reconnection, and regrowth processes enable the decentralized network to efficiently respond to dynamic changes in the environment. The CNRRT can search for the real-time optimal path in the dynamic environment, dealing with the configuration and task changes robustly. Besides, the CNRRT is consistent for scenarios with long-term task sequence without significant performance fluctuation. Simulations and real-world comparative experiments verify the effectiveness of the proposed method.
OPTIMAL MODEL AVERAGING FOR JOINT VALUE-AT-RISK AND EXPECTED SHORTFALL REGRESSION
Authors: Jiao Shoukun , Xu Wenchao , Ye Wuyi , Zhang Xinyu
Published: February 2025

Since the implementation of the Basel III Accord, expected shortfall (ES) has gained increasing attention from regulators as a complement to value-at-risk (VaR). The problem of elicitability for ES makes jointly modeling VaR and ES a popular method to study ES. In this article, we develop model averaging for joint VaR and ES regression models that selects the two weight vectors by minimizing a jackknife criterion. We show the large sample properties of the estimators under potential model misspecification with increasing dimension of parameters and the asymptotic optimality of the selected weights in the sense of minimizing the out-of-sample excess final prediction error. Simulation studies and three empirical analyses reveal good finite sample performance.
Single ventricle infants: outcomes and impact of home monitoring programme enrolment
Authors: Scott Alice E. , Johnson Mark J. , Bharucha Tara , Marino Luise V.
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Poor weight gain in infants with single ventricle cardiac physiology between stage 1 and stage 2 palliative surgeries is associated with worse outcomes. The growth of infants with single ventricle physiology, enrolled in home monitoring programmes in the United Kingdom, has not been widely described.

Aim:

To explore the growth of infants with single ventricle physiology supported by a home monitoring programme, at a tertiary centre in the South of England.

Methods:

A retrospective review of two cohorts, comparing weight gain amongst infants with single ventricle physiology, before and following the implementation of a home monitoring programme. Inclusion was dependent on a diagnosis compatible with single ventricle physiology during the interstage.

Results:

Enrolment into a home monitoring programme (cohort 2) was associated with 55% more infants being discharged home during the interstage period (p < 0.05). Interstage mortality did not differ between cohorts. There were no differences in interstage growth velocity between cohorts (cohort 1 23.98 ± 11.7 g/day and cohort 2 23.82 ± 8.3 g/day); however, infants in cohort 2 experienced less growth deceleration early in life, and achieved catch-up growth at 12-23 months. Interstage nasogastric feeding, regardless of the cohort, was associated with worse growth outcomes.

Conclusion:

A home monitoring programme for infants with single ventricle physiology provides the opportunity for infants to be safely discharged home to their families and cared for at home during the interstage. Infants in the home monitoring programme experienced better growth, achieving weight restoration at 12–23 months.
Evaluation of cardiac electrophysiological balance index in children diagnosed with type 1 diabetes mellitus
Authors: Ertaş Kerem , Gül Özlem , Yıldırım Ruken , Özalkak Şervan
Published: February 2025

Objective:

The most common cause of morbidity and mortality in type 1 diabetes mellitus is cardiovascular system involvement. Sudden death has been reported in type 1 diabetes mellitus patients. To analyse the use of the cardiac electrophysiological balance index in predicting ventricular arrhythmias in children with type 1 diabetes mellitus disease.

Methods:

One hundred type 1 diabetes mellitus paediatric patients and 100 healthy children, divided into three groups according to their haemoglobin A1C levels, were included in the study. All participants were evaluated with transthoracic echocardiography, 12-lead electrocardiography, and 24-h Holter after a detailed physical examination. Systolic and diastolic function parameters, electrocardiography intervals, and heart rate variability parameters were evaluated.

Results:

The mean age in the type 1 diabetes mellitus and control groups was 11.52 (± 3.52) and 11.78 (± 3.45) years, respectively. In total, 57% of the type 1 diabetes mellitus group and 56% of the control group were male. The mean haemoglobin A1C value was 9.14% (± 1.79) and the disease duration was 3.71 years (± 3.13). The type 1 diabetes mellitus group had a higher QTc duration, deceleration time duration, A velocity, and a lower E/A ratio than the control group. In the type 1 diabetes mellitus group, Tpe, Tpe/QT ratio, QTc/QRS ratio, Tpe/QRS ratio, Tpe/(QT × QRS) ratio values were significantly higher than in the control group.

Conclusion:

Children with type 1 diabetes mellitus are at risk for atrial and ventricular arrhythmias without valvular disease, ischemic heart disease, or diastolic dysfunction despite normal systolic function. No correlation was found between disease duration, metabolic control, autonomic function parameters, and arrhythmia risk; however, it was associated with diastolic function parameters.
Implementation of a scoring tool and treatment algorithm for necrotising enterocolitis in the CHD population: a novel quality improvement approach
Authors: Furlong-Dillard Jamie M. , Baumgarten Heron , Stone Samantha L. , Feygin Yana , Gabbard Shannon , Foley David , Tzanetos Deanna R. Todd
Published: February 2025

Patients with CHD have an increased risk of necrotising enterocolitis, leading to higher mortality compared to infants without necrotising enterocolitis. Current definitions and treatment recommendations are based on premature infants and accepted criteria for diagnosing or treating necrotising enterocolitis in infants with CHD are lacking. We performed a quality improvement project to develop and implement a diagnostic scoring tool and treatment algorithm for necrotising enterocolitis in infants with CHD, aiming to enhance early diagnosis, categorise disease severity, and expedite safe return to enteral feeding.

The scoring tool and algorithm were implemented in children with CHD under six months of age with clinical suspicion of necrotising enterocolitis. Outcome measures included days of nil per os (NPO), duration of antibiotic treatment, time on total parenteral nutrition, and time to full enteral feeding after diagnosis. Balancing measures included progression to surgical necrotising enterocolitis, vasoactive-inotropic score, length of stay, and mortality.

Twenty-seven patients were included (14 preintervention and 13 postintervention) and 39 episodes of necrotising enterocolitis were analysed (19 preintervention and 20 postintervention). In the postintervention group, patients were NPO for fewer days (2 vs. 7 days, p = 0.004), had a shorter duration of antibiotic treatment (3 vs. 7 days, p = 0.02), received total parenteral nutrition for fewer days (0 vs. 20 days, p = 0.01), and returned to full feeds more quickly (8 versus 18 days, p = 0.013) without increased progression to surgical necrotising enterocolitis (3 versus 0, p = 0.11).

Implementation of a novel necrotising enterocolitis scoring tool and treatment algorithm reduced NPO days, antibiotic duration, and time to full feeds without increasing surgical necrotising enterocolitis in infants with CHD.
Prefix priming within and across languages in early and late bilinguals
Authors: Cho Jeonghwa , Brennan Jonathan
Published: February 2025

In contrast to ample evidence for cross-linguistic priming of monomorphemic words, cross-linguistic representation of affixes is not well understood. The current study examines cross-linguistic prefix priming among early and late English-Spanish bilinguals, focusing on prefixes that have the same form and meaning in the two languages. We first confirm robust prefix priming among English monolingual speakers (Experiment 1). We also observe prefix priming from first-language English to second-language Spanish but only for early bilinguals (Experiment 2). On the other hand, both early and late bilinguals do not show reliable prefix priming effects that are dissociated from orthographic or semantic priming from Spanish to English (Experiment 3) or from Spanish to Spanish (Experiment 4). The results suggest that for early bilinguals, the tested prefixes in their L1 and L2 have shared representations. Less reliable results for late bilinguals may reflect their weaker sensitivity to morphological structure in a second language.
Self-perceived nutrition competence of primary care physicians in Singapore: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Chua Andrew Yu Jing , Lee Eng Sing , Lee Poay Sian Sabrina , Lew Jeremy Kaiwei , Sim Sai Zhen
Published: February 2025

Introduction:

Poor diet is a major contributing factor to the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases. There is a need for effective nutrition care in primary care that manages the bulk of such diseases. This study aimed to describe the self-perceived nutrition competence of primary care physicians (PCPs) in Singapore and to evaluate the associated factors.

Methods:

A cross-sectional study utilizing an anonymous online survey platform was conducted among PCPs from a public primary care institution in Singapore. We collected data on PCPs’ sociodemographic information, previous nutrition education and personal dietary habits, and measured self-perceived nutrition competence using the NUTrition COMPetence (NUTCOMP) questionnaire. Multivariable linear regression was conducted to examine the association between PCPs’ characteristics with their self-perceived nutrition competence.

Results:

Totally, 153 PCPs (45.9%) completed the survey in full. Among the four NUTCOMP constructs, ‘nutrition knowledge’ (2.8 ± 0.6) and ‘nutrition skills’ (2.9 ± 0.6) had the lowest mean scores followed by ‘nutrition communication and counselling’ (3.1 ± 0.6) and ‘attitudes towards providing nutrition care’ (4.3 ± 0.5). PCPs with formal nutrition training had significantly higher NUTCOMP scores compared with those without (β = 10.76, 95%CI:4.57–16.94), and those with 5 to 9 years and more than 10 years of work experience had significantly higher scores than those with less than 5 years (β = 7.62, 95%CI:0.44–14.81, and β = 9.44, 95%CI:2.85–16.04, respectively).

Conclusion:

PCPs had lowest self-perceived confidence in nutrition knowledge and skills. Previous formal nutrition education and a longer primary care work experience were associated with better self-perceived nutrition competence. Future research to better integrate nutrition competencies into formal education programmes may be useful to improve PCPs’ self-perceived nutrition competence.