bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Une crux dans le texte de Flavius Josèphe (BJ 4.164) : le sacrifice de sa vie par le grand-prêtre Ananos
Authors: Liberman Gauthier
Published: January 2025

We revisit the well-known crux affecting Flavius Josephus BJ 4.164 and propose a new solution based on a very close study of the subtle reasoning of the high priest Ananos in his discourse. In the process we shed light on Josephus’ complex portrayal of a character who plays an important part in the narrative of the Jewish War. The suggested new solution implies the loss of two lines in an antigraphon; unraveling the priest’s reasoning, we state what we think was meant in the presumably lost lines and, using Josephus’ phraseology, we offer a tentative restitution of what stood there.
Shared Tastes: Similarity in Aristotelian Character Friendship
Authors: Purdy Ashley
Published: January 2025

Aristotle claims that character friends are similar to each other. How should we understand this similarity, and what role does it play in friendship? In the paper, I argue that a broad similarity of ‘tastes’—which I understand as the appreciation of relatively good ends—is at least a facilitating condition on the formation of character friendship. This is because it (i) facilitates seeing the other as good in the first place, which is essential to character friendship; and (ii) enables the friends to spend time and share in activities together, which is characteristic of character friendship.
The rise of subaltern gurus in western India: Caste, identity and religion
Authors: Parobo Parag D.
Published: January 2025

Portuguese colonialism and the ramifications of state-sponsored Catholicism occupy centre stage in much of the scholarly writing on Goa. This preoccupation has meant that important parallel developments in Hindu society have tended to go relatively unnoticed. One such development is the meteoric rise in the first half of the twentieth century of subaltern gurus whose popularity is mistakenly seen as a sign of intensified religiosity. Drawing on archival and ethnographic research, this article offers an alternate perspective. It examines the processes underlying the rise of the Padmanabha sampradaya in Bombay and its phenomenal spread to Goa and studies the growth of this guru-centred movement as part of the larger regional histories of conflict and of Bhandari caste identity articulations. The article also explores the ways in which the sampradaya has acquired new political leverage in Goa and its adaptability to the varying circumstances of state-level political competition. It argues that the emergence of gurus was a complex process that involved political elements evident in contemporary electoral politics in Goa and which cannot be decoupled from the social dynamics of the formation.
Placing Human Bondage at the Center of the Johannine Community
Authors: Powery Emerson B.
Published: January 2025

Brian Blount laid out a portrayal of a “Johannine community” that is profoundly influenced by a Christology of “active resistance.” A look at doulos passages in the Fourth Gospel reveals important features of the first-century slave experience. The teaching of John 15 (“I no longer call you slaves”) should be interpreted alongside Jesus’s taking the role of a slave as he washed the disciples’ feet (John 13), as a reminder to Christ-followers that this new, religious community ought to envision a world in which love for one another should have implications for those who are enslaved.
Research on the recovery and performance of keratin in waste blended fabric
Authors: Guo Wei , Xue Tao , Zhang Luping , Meng Jiaguang
Published: January 2025

The viscose components of waste wool/polyester/viscose fabric were dissolved using the phosphoric acid/polyphosphate system. Following filtration, the wool underwent dissolution through the urea/sodium bisulfite/sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) system, and subsequent keratin extraction ensued. The impact of urea, sodium bisulfite, and SDS concentration, as well as reaction time, on the solubility and extraction rate of keratin during the wool extraction process was examined. The obtained keratin was subjected to performance testing. The remaining polyester and viscose cellulose were not used as primary research subjects for the related experiments. Aged wool samples were used as test samples and treated with keratin/ethylene glycol diglycidyl ether (EGDE) and keratin/glutaraldehyde, respectively. The optimal conditions for wool dissolution were determined as 300 g/L urea, 40 g/L sodium bisulfite, and 20 g/L SDS for 6 hours, resulting in wool dissolution and keratin extraction rates of 89.53% and 49.32%, respectively. After testing and calculation, the stress–strain at break of the aged wool sample was 6.67 MPa and 5.25%, while the stress–strain of the keratin/EGDE and keratin/glutaraldehyde-reinforced samples was 22.67 MPa and 21.5%, and 24.41 MPa and 25.25%, which is about two times higher compared with the aged sample, and the glutaraldehyde proved to be more effective as a reinforcing additive. The stress–strain was increased by about two times in comparison with the aged sample. These findings offer new ideas and research methods for conserving and consolidating organic matter artifacts in “keratin/EGDE” and “keratin/glutaraldehyde” artifact samples.
Spectres of gentrification: Towards a hauntological framework for exploring the impacts of gentrification
Authors: Lown Josh
Published: January 2025

Theoretical foundations that frame gentrification often focus heavily on the material and political economy perspective. While this perspective addresses the material impacts of gentrification – cost of housing, changes in demographics, development of new housing structures – it does not address the way gentrification is experienced by long-time residents of gentrifying communities. One of the often-overlooked dimensions of gentrification is how residents’ perceptions of their continued belonging in the neighbourhood can lead to experiences of alienation. While underexplored in gentrification research, hauntology offers a theoretical framework that allows for a ‘more than material’ understanding of the relationship between personhood, place and property in neighbourhoods undergoing gentrification. Using a case study of a gentrifying neighbourhood in New England, this article describes the utility of the hauntological framework in understanding ‘more than material’ impacts of gentrification. Drawing on extensive ethnographic research, alongside photovoice and walking interviews with long-time residents, this article describes how participants and residents are often haunted by the sense of individual and communal loss of their community’s future place in the neighbourhood. These ‘lost futures’ are often represented by the material changes, such as new buildings, and demographic changes, witnessed through the displacement of their neighbours, occurring in their neighbourhood. This article argues that by engaging with the framework of hauntology, researchers can better interrogate how residents in gentrifying neighbourhoods experience loss through these demographic and material changes.
TIG welding process on IS 2062A steel of 5 mm plate, utilizing a 2.5 mm diameter tungsten solid wire as electrode along with direct current straight polarity and argon inert gas was employed for shielding purpose
Authors: Das Debraj , Mitra Jhuma , Saha Subash Chandra , Roy Barnik Saha
Published: January 2025

The quality as well as efficient welding is crucial to fulfil the consumer satisfaction and getting returns from production, which is mostly depends on weld bead properties for any welding process, which is influence by the selected welding method and its process variables. So, the significant efforts are to choose the appropriate welding process in addition the process parameters as well as their level. In an atmosphere of welding different technique have been developed in last few decades, the demand of Gas Tungsten arc welding (GTAW) or Tungsten inert gas welding (TIG) has been increasing day by day owing to it has potential to fabricate multiple metallic materials (similar/dissimilar), quality joint, smooth modification for industrialization, higher efficiency, and low capital cost. However, published literature regarding research on TIG welding of IS 2062A steel is notably scarce. Detailed discussions on the optimization techniques exploring the impact of process parameters such as welding current, traversing speed, and gas flow rate on both weld quality and bead geometry in TIG welding of mild steel are conspicuously absent in prior works. So it is very crucial for quality joint to applied process optimization on TIG Welding parameters. The study focused on tungsten inert gas welding process on 5 mm thick plate of IS 2062A steel, utilizing a 2.5 mm diameter tungsten solid wire as electrode along with direct current straight polarity and argon inert gas was employed for shielding purpose. To streamline experimentation, a multi-response optimization technique was employed, using Taguchi's L16 experimental design method. Among several welding parameters, the significant parameters like current (I), traversing speed (S), and gas flow rate (Gf) were considered, others parameters were kept constant. The study measured various aspects of bead properties, including penetration, bead width, and depth of HAZ, along with HAZ hardness. The optimized parameter settings, derived from the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio, has been validated as improved the weldment properties along with possess highest grey relation grade, which highlighting the effectiveness of the Grey-based Taguchi method in enhancing joints properties as product quality together with efficiency in manufacturing. Quantitative assessment via the analysis of variance method was conducted to determine the relative significance of each variable on the overall output characteristics of the weldment.
Observer-based hybrid event-triggered sliding mode control of uncertain Markov jump systems
Authors: Lou Haocheng , Jiang Baoping , Wu Zhengtian
Published: January 2025

This paper presents an innovative hybrid event-triggered mechanism for effectively controlling Markov jump systems with uncertainty using sliding mode control. Firstly, an integral sliding surface is established through the design of a Lebesgue state observer. Secondly, a combined event-triggered mechanism relying on state components, output measurement, sliding surface variable, along with a discretized controller, is constructed to ensure finite time quasi-sliding motion. Thirdly, the analysis is undertaken for the stochastic stability performance of the overall closed-loop system using the stochastic Lyapunov function method. Additionally, the exclusion of the Zeno phenomenon is proven. Finally, a simulation study on the circuit is conducted to demonstrate effectiveness.
Safety of pre-operative venogram for hemodialysis access planning in pre-end-stage kidney disease patients
Authors: Holden-Wingate Lucinda R , Fitzgibbon James J , Appah-Sampong Abena , Rana Omar , Holden-Wingate Christopher , Cruz Melissa , Ruan Mengyuan , Ozaki Charles Keith , Hentschel Dirk M , Hussain Mohamad A
Published: January 2025

Background:

Although conventional pre-operative venography can accurately delineate venous anatomy as an alternative to ultrasound for hemodialysis access planning, it may carry a risk of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (AKI) and progression of renal failure in chronic kidney disease (CKD) patients not yet on dialysis. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate the safety and efficacy of pre-operative venograms in pre-end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) patients.

Methods:

We performed a retrospective cohort study (2018–2022) of consecutive pre-ESKD patients who underwent staged bilateral venograms for preoperative vein mapping prior to hemodialysis access creation at a tertiary care medical center. Patients were identified through an institutional database and data were extracted with chart review adjudication. The primary safety outcome was a composite of unplanned dialysis initiation within 7 days of venogram or development of contrast-induced AKI. Secondary outcomes included vascular access creation within 1 year of index venogram.

Results:

A total of 142 pre-ESKD patients underwent 284 venograms. Mean (SD) age was 67 (14) years; 55% were female; and 65% of patients had stage 5 CKD, whereas 35% had stage 3 or 4 CKD. Rate of the primary safety outcome was 2.5%, which was driven by a 2.5% rate of contrast-induced AKI with no instances of unplanned dialysis initiation within 7 days of either venogram. Ultimately, 120 (85%) vascular accesses were created, of which 96% were autogenous fistulas. Forearm arteriovenous fistulas (AVFs) were the most common configuration (69%) followed by upper arm AVFs (27%); AV grafts were created in 4% of cases.

Conclusion:

In a population of pre-ESKD patients, staged bilateral venograms led to few cases of reversible contrast-induced AKI with no instances of unplanned dialysis initiation. Furthermore, access creation was achieved in 85% of patients with the majority consisting of forearm AVFs. Therefore, preoperative venography for access planning appears safe in pre-ESKD patients.
Icariin improves learning and memory function by enhancing HRD1-mediated ubiquitination of amyloid precursor protein in APP/PS1 mice
Authors: Chen Xia , Lin Cong , He Chengfen , Li Kaikai , Gao Jianmei , Gong Qihai , Li Fei
Published: January 2025

Background

One of the hallmark pathological characteristics of Alzheimer's disease (AD) is amyloid-β (Aβ) accumulated in brain, which is mainly derived from the proteolytic processing of amyloid-β protein precursor (AβPP). The ubiquitin-proteasome system is able to reduce Aβ generation by ubiquitination and degradation of AβPP. Icariin (ICA), a flavonoid isolated from Epimedium brevicornum Maxim., has been reported that it could regulate the metabolism of AβPP and reduce the Aβ level in AD in vivo and in vitro models.

Objective

To investigate whether the effect of ICA on AβPP and Aβ is related to AβPP ubiquitination.

Methods

We used in vivo and in vitro models to observe the effect of ICA on AβPP ubiquitination as well as to investigate the effect of HMG-CoA reductase degradation protein 1 (HRD1), an E3 ubiquitin-protein ligase, on the processing of AβPP ubiquitination.

Results

This study showed that ICA improved the cognitive abilities of APP/PS1 AD mice in Morris Water Maze and Y-maze tests, upregulated HRD1 expression, subsequently elevated the total ubiquitination and K48-linked polyubiquitination of AβPP level, as well as increased AβPP degradation. Moreover, silenced HRD1 gene abolished the aforementioned effects of ICA. Furthermore, ICA decreased the location of AβPP in the early endosome, where AβPP is cleaved into Aβ, evidenced by reducing the co-localization of AβPP and early endosome antigen 1 (EEA1).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that ICA increased AβPP degradation by upregulating HRD1 mediated ubiquitination.
Examining the influence of teachers’ online teaching preparation on Chinese adult language learners: Testing the mediation of learner control and learning motivation
Authors: Ding Yuting , Liu Chengjingyan , Tu Chia Ching
Published: January 2025

To explore the effects of online teaching preparation on Chinese adult language learners, this study used the Questionnaire Star platform to conduct a closed-ended survey of Chinese adults who participated in online foreign language courses. In total, 207 participants were obtained using random sampling. The survey incorporated the (teacher preparedness scale, self-control scale, learning motivation scale, and learning effect scale). The survey items were rated on a five-point Likert scale. SPSS and AMOS were used for reliability and validity analysis and hypothesis verification. The adult language learners’ perceptions of the online preparation predicted learning effect, and these effects were mediated by the learners’ self-control and learning motivations. Given these findings, teachers are encouraged to engage in online training. Additionally, online teaching preparation methods and online language learning courses should be improved. Teachers should evaluate the self-control of Chinese adult language learners in online courses and provide sufficient academic guidance. Teachers should also determine the learning motivation of Chinese adult language learners, apply incentives and assessment methods, and increase learners’ interest to improve online language learning.
The possibility of being a Jew: An autoethnographic journey from shattered memory to the memorial body
Authors: Feliu i Samuel-Lajeunesse Joel
Published: January 2025

Through the story of my relationship with Jewishness, I propose a journey that begins with internalised stigma, moves through the recognition of the trauma of the Holocaust within me and ends with the reconstitution of an anguished body as a living memory of the Holocaust. The construction of this text is a performative exercise in constituting a new inscription in the cultural narrative of the transmission of trauma. Autoethnographic writing forces me to remember, to interpret my body and to dig through my deceased mother’s belongings in order to constitute a new memory. In this text, I propose to think of the traumatised body as a living memorial. I suggest that it is the body in the materiality of its existence that constitutes itself as a memory of trauma through the suffering or discomfort of successive generations. In this sense, the traumatised body is a memorial body that needs to be preserved.
Charles Bonnet syndrome in patients with geographic atrophy secondary to age-related macular degeneration: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Eriksen Nathalie Skovgaard , Mousavi Nabi , Subhi Yousif , Sørensen Torben Lykke , Krogh Nielsen Marie
Published: January 2025

Background:

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a prevalent cause of irreversible vision loss among the elderly. The prevalence and detailed characteristics of Charles Bonnet syndrome (CBS) remain largely unexplored in patients with geographic atrophy (GA) secondary to AMD.

Objectives:

To investigate the prevalence and characteristics of CBS in patients with GA secondary to AMD.

Design:

Prospective cross-sectional study.

Methods:

A total of 149 patients with GA secondary to AMD were previously screened and examined for clinical studies. These patients were then prospective contacted by telephone for this study, and 120 patients responded and agreed to do an interview on symptoms of CBS. All with CBS were inquired about detailed characteristics of their hallucinations.

Results:

Patients with GA secondary to AMD were aged 82.1 ± 6.2 years and 62% were of female biological sex. The prevalence of CBS was 25 in 120 (20.8%). Thirteen (52%) of those with CBS were not previously informed of the disease. We found no difference between those with and without CBS in terms of age, biological sex, hearing difficulties, whether living alone or with others, co-morbidity of psychiatric or neurological diseases, or psychotropic use. Characteristics of the visual hallucinations were reported to occur at various frequencies from daily to less than monthly, occur during various times of the day, and almost always last minutes at most. Ten in 25 (40%) had not told anyone of having CBS.

Conclusion:

One in five with GA has CBS, which ranks GA as an eye disease with one of the highest reported prevalences of CBS. The condition presents with a significant variation across the patient group. A very large proportion of those with CBS were not informed of the disease and had never told anyone of their condition by their own initiative.
Prostate cancer cells elevate glycolysis and G6PD in response to caffeic acid phenethyl ester-induced growth inhibition
Authors: Lin Tzu-Ping , Chen Pei-Chun , Lin Ching-Yu , Wang Bi-Juan , Kuo Ying-Yu , Yeh Chien-Chih , Tseng Jen-Chih , Huo Chieh , Kao Cheng-Li , Shih Li-Jane , Chen Jen-Kun , Li Chia-Yang , Hour Tzyh-Chyuan , Chuu Chih-Pin
Published: January 2025

Background

Caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) is the main bioactive component of poplar type propolis. We previously reported that treatment with caffeic acid phenethyl ester (CAPE) suppressed the cell proliferation, tumor growth, as well as migration and invasion of prostate cancer (PCa) cells via inhibition of signaling pathways of AKT, c-Myc, Wnt and EGFR. We also demonstrated that combined treatment of CAPE and docetaxel altered the genes involved in glycolysis and tricarboxylic acid (TCA) cycle. We therefore suspect that CAPE treatment may interfere glucose metabolism in PCa cells.

Methods

Seahorse Bioenergetics platform was applied to analyzed the extra cellular acidification rate (ECAR) and oxygen consumption rate (OCR) of PCa cells under CAPE treatment. UPLC-MSMS with Multiple Reaction Monitoring (MRM), PCR, and western blot were used to analyze the effects of CAPE on metabolites, genes, and proteins involved in glycolysis, TCA cycle and pentose phosphate pathway in PCa cells. Flow cytometry and ELISA were used to determine the level of reactive oxygen species in PCa cells being treated with CAPE.

Results

Seahorse Bioenergetics analysis revealed that ECAR, glycolysis, OCR, and ATP production were elevated in C4-2B cells under CAPE treatment. Protein levels of glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), phosphogluconate dehydrogenase (PGD), glutaminase (GLS), phospho-AMPK Thr172 as well as abundance of pyruvate, lactate, ribulose-5-phosphate, and sedoheptulose-7-phosphate were increased in CAPE-treated C4-2B cells. ROS level decreased 48 h after treatment with CAPE. Co-treatment of AMPK inhibitor with CAPE exhibited additive growth inhibition on PCa cells.

Conclusions

Our study indicated that PCa cells attempted to overcome the CAPE-induced stress by upregulation of glycolysis and G6PD but failed to impede the growth inhibition caused by CAPE. Concurrent treatment of CAPE and inhibitors targeting glycolysis may be effective therapy for advanced PCa.
Shiftwork and insulin resistance in professional drivers: exploring the association using non-insulin-based surrogate measures
Authors: Tawfik Mirella Youssef , Amer Shaimaa A. A. M. , Fouad Ahmed Mahmoud
Published: January 2025

Background

Previous research has made use of the Homeostatic Model Assessment for Insulin Resistance (HOMA-IR) index to explore the association between shiftwork (SW) and insulin resistance (IR). However, the limitations of the HOMA-IR index restrict its use. This study aimed to investigate the relationship between SW and IR in professional drivers using four alternative non-insulin-based IR surrogate measures (NIRS), and to determine the predictors of elevated NIRS.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted on professional drivers at four Egyptian companies, where 187 SW were compared to 193 dayworkers (DW). Measurements included: sociodemographic, work, and clinical characteristics. Laboratory and NIRS data included: triglyceride glucose (TyG), triglyceride glucose-body mass index (TyG-BMI), triglyceride to high density lipoprotein cholesterol (TG/HDL-C), and metabolic score of insulin resistance (METS-IR). Further assessments included insomnia severity index (ISI), and perceived stress scale (PSS-10).

Results

Shiftwork-drivers showed significantly higher levels of NIRS compared to DW-drivers. Shiftwork was significantly associated with elevated TyG (OR: 5.04, 95% CI: 1.98–12.84), TyG-BMI (OR: 4.50, 95% CI: 2.45–8.26), and METS-IR (OR: 6.30, 95% CI: 2.72–14.58). Significant interactions between SW and insomnia or meal-timing habits existed, where SW-drivers with clinically significant insomnia had 11 times higher odds of elevated TyG compared to DW drivers without insomnia. Likewise, SW-drivers experiencing poor meal timing habits had 5.5- and 6.8-times higher odds of elevated TG/HDL-C and METS-IR, respectively, compared to DW divers without poor meal timing habits. Other significant predictors for elevated NIRS included: age, income, stress, overweight/obesity, and poor meal timing habits.

Conclusions

This study demonstrates a significant association between shiftwork and elevated insulin resistance in professional drivers. Insomnia and poor meal timing habits significantly increases the odds of insulin resistance among professional drivers, suggesting interventions targeting sleep quality, meal timing, and stress management.
Tattoo ink exposure is associated with lymphoma and skin cancers – a Danish study of twins
Authors: Clemmensen Signe Bedsted , Mengel-From Jonas , Kaprio Jaakko , Frederiksen Henrik , von Bornemann Hjelmborg Jacob
Published: January 2025

Background

We aim to study the potential association between tattoo ink exposure and development of certain types of cancers in the recently established Danish Twin Tattoo Cohort. Tattoo ink is known to transfer from skin to blood and accumulate in regional lymph nodes. We are concerned that tattoo ink induces inflammation at the deposit site, leading to chronic inflammation and increasing risk of abnormal cell proliferation, especially skin cancer and lymphoma.

Methods

We conducted two designs of twin studies to improve confounder control: A cohort study of 2,367 randomly selected twins and a case-control study of 316 twins born in the period 1960–1996. Cancer diagnoses (ICD-10) were retrieved from the Danish Cancer Registry and tattoo ink exposure from the Danish Twin Tattoo survey from 2021. The analysis addressed effects of time-varying exposure.

Results

In the case-control study, individual-level analysis resulted in a hazard of skin cancer (of any type except basal cell carcinoma) that was 1.62 times higher among tattooed individuals (95% CI: 1.08–2.41). Twin-matched analysis of 14 twin pairs discordant for tattoo ink exposure and skin cancer showed HR = 1.33 (95% CI: 0.46–3.84). For skin cancer and lymphoma, increased hazards were found for tattoos larger than the palm of a hand: HR = 2.37 (95% CI: 1.11–5.06) and HR = 2.73 (95% CI: 1.33–5.60), respectively. In the cohort study design, individual-level analysis resulted in a hazard ratio of 3.91 (95% CI: 1.42–10.8) for skin cancer and 2.83 (95% CI: 1.30–6.16) for basal cell carcinoma.

Conclusion

In conclusion, our study suggests an increased hazard of lymphoma and skin cancers among tattooed individuals, demonstrated through two designs: a twin cohort and a case-cotwin study. We are concerned that tattoo ink interacting with surrounding cells may have severe consequences. Studies that pinpoint the etiological pathway of tattoo ink induced carcinogenesis are recommended to benefit public health.
Dentists’ readiness to accept an electronic oral health surveillance system in Egypt using a modified framework of the unified theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT): a cross-sectional survey
Authors: Abdelrahman Hams H. , Hamza Maha , Essam Wafaa , Adham May
Published: January 2025

Background

Effective public health surveillance is essential for policymaking and resource allocation. The World Health Organization (WHO) supports the integration of mobile technologies to create mobile Oral (m-Oral) Health surveillance systems to enhance disease monitoring. The effectiveness and sustainability of electronic health information initiatives depend on users’ acceptance of new technologies. This research assessed dentists’ acceptance of electronic oral health surveillance systems (EOHSS) and related factors, guided by the Unified Theory of Acceptance and Use of Technology (UTAUT) model.

Materials and methods

A cross-sectional study included 1470 Egyptian dentists in an online survey from November 2023 to May 2024. The dentists were recruited from the five administrative regions in Egypt using convenience and snowball sampling. Participants responded to a questionnaire that was based on the UTAUT model. Structural equation model (SEM) was used for data analysis.

Results

83.4% of dentists intended to use EOHSS. Performance expectancy (PE) (ß = 0.240, 95% CI: 0.182, 0.295), training adequacy (TA) (ß = 0.232, 95% CI: 0.165, 0.291), and effort expectancy (EE) (ß = 0.231, 95% CI: 0.169, 0.289) had the greatest influence on behavioral intention (BI). In contrast, anxiety towards electronic systems (ANX) (ß = -0.140, 95% CI: -0.187, -0.095) had a significant negative effect on BI. Effort Expectancy (EE) had a significantly stronger positive impact on BI of females than males. Moreover, EE had a significantly stronger impact on BI of dentists older than 40 years old than those who were younger than 30 years old.

Conclusions

Egyptian dentists’ intentions to use the EOHSS were influenced by PE, TA, and EE. However, anxiety related to technology may limit its adoption. EE had a greater positive impact on BI in females and in older dentists.
Empowering nurse leaders: readiness for AI integration and the perceived benefits of predictive analytics
Authors: Kotp Mohamed Hashem , Ismail Hossam Ali , Basyouny Hassan Ahmed Awad , Aly Mohamed Ahmed , Hendy Abdelaziz , Nashwan Abdulqadir J. , Hendy Ahmed , Abd Elmoaty Aliaa Ezz Eldin
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is increasingly being integrated into healthcare, particularly through predictive analytics that can enhance patient care and operational efficiency. Nursing leaders play a crucial role in the successful adoption of these technologies.

Aim

This study aims to assess the readiness of nursing leaders for AI integration and evaluate their perceptions of the benefits of AI-driven predictive analytics in healthcare.

Methods

A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among 187 nurse leaders across nine private hospitals in Cairo. The sample was selected using a combination of simple random sampling and non-probability convenience sampling methods to ensure a diverse representation of nursing leadership. Data collection took place from March to May 2024, utilizing a structured questionnaire specifically designed to assess nurse leaders’ readiness for AI integration and their perceptions of AI-driven predictive analytics The data were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics, version 26.0. Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) was employed to identify underlying factors related to readiness and perceived benefits. Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) was subsequently performed to validate the factor structure. Multiple linear regression analysis was conducted to identify significant predictors of AI readiness and perceived benefits.

Results

The study revealed that over one-third of nurse leaders exhibited high readiness for AI integration. Significant predictors of readiness included age, educational attainment, and employment status. Positive correlations were found between readiness and perceived benefits of AI, particularly in areas such as care planning and decision-making.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that nursing leaders are generally prepared to integrate AI into their workflows, especially those with advanced education and experience. However, further training and policy development are necessary to fully realize the benefits of AI in nursing practice.
The global, regional, and national burden of type 2 diabetes mellitus attributable to low physical activity from 1990 to 2021: a systematic analysis of the global burden of disease study 2021
Authors: Wei Jiehua , Fan Luying , He Zixuan , Zhang Senmao , Zhang Ying , Zhu Xidi , Xia Fan , Song Xinli , Chen Lizhang , Zou Zhiyong , Wang Tingting
Published: January 2025

Background

Low physical activity (LPA) is a leading risk factor for type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We examine the temporal and spatial trends in the burden of T2DM attributable to LPA at the global, regional, and country scales.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021. The numbers of deaths and disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) of LPA-related T2DM, and the corresponding age-standardized mortality rate (ASMR) and age-standardized DALYs rate (ASDR) were compared across regions and countries by age, sex, and sociodemographic index (SDI). The annual percentage changes (EAPCs) in the ASMR or ASDR were calculated to quantify temporal trends from 1990 to 2021. We also quantified the relationship between SDI and the ASMR and ASDR of T2DM attributable to LPA.

Results

Globally, the number of T2DM deaths and DALYs attributable to LPA were approximately 0.15 million and 5.52 million respectively in 2021, which more than doubled compared to 1990. Over the past 32 years, the global EAPCs of ASMR and ASDR were 0.26 (95% CI: 0.20, 0.31) and 0.97 (95% CI: 0.93, 1.02), respectively. The ASMR or ASDR had a reverse U-shaped relationship with the SDI, with the most severe burden observed in the low-middle and middle SDI regions. The age group older than 60 years had the highest rate of DALYs for LPA-related T2DM in 2021, while the 25–44 age group showed the largest increase between 1990 and 2021.

Conclusions

Over the past 32 years, the global burden of LPA-related T2DM has continued to increase at an alarming rate in almost all countries, particularly in regions with low-middle and middle SDI. Substantial increases in national action are urgently needed to target elder populations especially in low-middle and middle SDI regions, and special efforts should be made to promote physical activity in young adults with LPA.
Epidemiology of transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis: a systematic literature review
Authors: Delgado Diego , Dabbous Firas , Shivappa Nitin , Mazhar Faizan , Wittbrodt Eric , Shridharmurthy Divya , Järbrink Krister
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Significant advances in the treatment of transthyretin (ATTR) amyloidosis has led to an evolving understanding of the epidemiology of this condition. This systematic literature review (SLR) aims to synthesize current evidence on epidemiology and mortality outcomes in ATTR amyloidosis, addressing the need for a comprehensive understanding of its current global impact.

Methods

An SLR of the literature from January 2018 to April 2023 was conducted using the Medline and Embase databases. The review followed the PRISMA guidelines. Studies evaluating populations with genotypes and phenotypes of ATTR amyloidosis (variant and wild-type cardiomyopathy, polyneuropathy, and mixed) were included. Observational studies, systematic reviews, and meta-analyses were eligible, while reports, commentaries, clinical trials, and non-ATTR amyloidosis studies were excluded. Extracted data included prevalence, incidence, and mortality rates.

Results

Of the 1,458 studies identified, 113 met the inclusion criteria. Forty-nine studies reported on epidemiology, while 64 focused on mortality rates in cohorts of patients with ATTR amyloidosis from Europe (n = 16), North America (n = 26), Asia (n = 5), and Australia (n = 2). No studies were found that exclusively focused on ATTR amyloidosis in Africa or South America. ATTR prevalence ranged from 6.1/million in the US to 232/million in Portugal with very limited data on ATTR-PN. The 2-year mortality risk ranged from 10 to 30% among wild-type ATTR-CM and from 10 to 50% for variant type of ATTR-CM.

Conclusions

This SLR demonstrated heterogeneity in ATTR epidemiology and mortality rates across global regions. Further investigation is needed to address knowledge gaps of the epidemiology and burden of ATTR, which may improve early diagnosis and management.
A novel “lateral approach short axis in-plane” technique vs. conventional “short-axis out-of-plane approach” for ultrasound-guided internal jugular vein access: a prospective randomized non-inferiority trial
Authors: Kalina Michal , Vargová Patricia , Bubeníková Adéla , Škulec Roman , Černý Vladimír , Astapenko David
Published: January 2025

Background

The cannulation of the internal jugular vein (IJV) is a frequent procedure in critically ill patients. According to the guidelines, real-time ultrasound navigation is recommended. Traditional techniques pose several disadvantages, such as suboptimal needle visualization. Therefore, this non-inferiority trial aimed to describe the novel approach and compare the novel lateral in-plane short-axis approach for IJV access with the conventional short-axis out-of-plane approach.

Objectives

The primary objective of the trial was to prove that the first attempt success rate in the novel technique is non-inferior to the conventional technique. The secondary objectives were to demonstrate that the complication rate and the functional duration of the catheter in the novel technique are not inferior to those in the conventional technique.

Methods

Patients eligible for IJV cannulation were randomly assigned to either the novel technique (Group A) or the conventional one (Group B). The procedure duration, success rate and the number of attempts required were documented. The functionality of the catheter and complications were monitored from insertion until the catheter removal. Standard descriptive statistical methods were employed for the analysis.

Results

A total of 200 subjects were equally divided between Group A and Group B. For the primary outcome, there was no significant difference in first attempt success rate (Group A: 79, Group B: 77, p = 0.434). Secondary outcomes, including complications and catheter functional time, did not differ significantly between the groups. However, the novel technique demonstrated a significantly faster procedure time (Group A: 315 s, Group B: 330 s, p = 0.016). Notably, the novel approach was linked with significantly larger IJV diameter measured during the procedure (Group A: 18.2 mm, Group B: 12.1 mm, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The novel lateral in-plane short-axis approach for IJV cannulation is a non-inferior alternative with a lower incidence of posterior vessel wall puncture compared to the conventional approach.
Risk of hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome associated with meteorological factors in diverse epidemic regions: a nationwide longitudinal study in China
Authors: Chang Nan , Huang Wenzhong , Niu Yanlin , Xu Zhihu , Gao Yuan , Ye Tingting , Wang Zihao , Wei Xiaohui , Guo Yuming , Liu Qiyong
Published: January 2025

Background

Hemorrhagic fever with renal syndrome (HFRS) is a climate-sensitive zoonotic disease that poses a significant public health burden worldwide. While previous studies have established associations between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence, there remains a critical knowledge gap regarding the heterogeneity of these effects across diverse epidemic regions. Addressing this gap is essential for developing region-specific prevention and control strategies. This study conducted a national investigation to examine the associations between meteorological factors and HFRS in three distinct epidemic regions.

Methods

We collected daily meteorological data (temperature and relative humidity) and HFRS incidence cases of 285 cities in China from the Resource and Environment Science and Data Center and the Chinese National Notifiable Infectious Disease Reporting Information System from 2005–2022. Study locations were stratified into three distinct epidemic categories (Rattus-dominant, Apodemus-dominant, and mixed) based on the seasonality of peak incidence. The associations between meteorological variables and HFRS incidence were investigated using a time-stratified case-crossover design combined with distributed lag nonlinear modeling for each epidemic category.

Results

The exposure-response relationships between meteorological factors and HFRS incidence revealed significant heterogeneity across epidemic regions, as evidenced by Cochran’s Q test for temperature (Q = 324.40, P < 0.01) and relative humidity (Q = 30.57, P < 0.01). The optimal daily average temperature for HFRS transmission in Rattus-dominant epidemic regions (− 6.6 °C), characterized by spring epidemics, was lower than that observed in Apodemus-dominant epidemic regions (13.7 °C), where primary cases occurred during autumn and winter months. Furthermore, the association between relative humidity and HFRS incidence exhibited as a monotonic negative correlation in Rattus-dominant regions, while Apodemus-dominant regions showed a nonlinear, inverted U-shaped association.

Conclusions

This study highlights the heterogeneous effects of meteorological factors on HFRS incidence across different epidemic regions. Targeted preventive measures should be taken during cold and dry spring days in Rattus-dominant regions, and during warm and moderately humid winter days in Apodemus-dominant regions. In mixed epidemic regions, both scenarios require attention. These findings provide novel scientific evidence for the formulation and implementation of region-specific HFRS prevention policies.

Graphical Abstract
Space-based long term condition monitoring of cold region pavement with PS-InSAR
Authors: Jiang Yusheng , Yu Xiong
Published: January 2025

The durability of cold-climate pavement is affected by ground frost heave and thaw settlement. Field monitoring of pavement elevation changes remain challenging and expansive. This study demonstrates space-based Interferometric Synthetic Aperture Radar (InSAR) technology as a potential way to monitor seasonal pavement elevation change in cold region. Traditional InSAR applications, which were designed for geoscience scales, do not achieve the needed sensitivity or spatial resolution for pavement engineering applications. The testbed used is a cold-region airport located in Qinghai Province, China. The site contains heterogeneous ground conditions in an area of 4km

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6km. Analyses were conducted using 132 ascending and 149 descending C-band InSAR images from the Sentinel-1 satellite. InSAR algorithm based on Persistent scatterers (PS-InSAR) were implemented for data analyses. Time series displacement across five distinct persistent scatterers (PSs) groups at different locations were obtained. From these, three main seasonal vertical ground deformation patterns were identified, each reflecting the diverse subsurface soil characteristics across the sites. The ground elevation changes were decomposed into baseline trend and seasonal changes. The results of seasonal ground deformations allowed to differentiate the ground soils as frost-susceptible and non-frost-susceptible, an important information for geotechnical site investigation. This helps identify areas of pavement subjected to frost heave and thaw weakening. The study demonstrates that potential of space-based InSAR technology to achieve spatial resolution and sensitivity for monitoring the performance of cold region pavement. The results allow to identify areas of pavement vulnerable to cold region climate and climate change.
An Imagined Experience? Dancing as Intercorporeality in the Fifteenth-Century Pastoralia of Vadstena Abbey
Authors: Katajala-Peltomaa Sari
Published: January 2025

Proper gestures, signs, and rituals were important for orthopraxis in the Middle Ages; they affected the way religion was “lived out,” since the body was a site where religion was experienced. Analyzing fifteenth-century pastoralia from Vadstena Abbey in Sweden, this article argues that didactic textual representations of dancing reveal elements of lived religion. The imagined dancing in preachers’ exempla served as a warning against illicit behavior, while for the audience it could evoke corporeal praying and an alternative way of celebrating liturgical feasts. Both perspectives have in common, however, an understanding of dancing as a shared experience and intercorporeal communication that created spiritual communitas.
Single cell-derived multicellular meristem: insights into male-to-hermaphrodite conversion and de novo meristem formation in Ceratopteris
Authors: Yang Xi , Yan An , Liu Xing , Volkening Alexandria , Zhou Yun
Published: January 2025

Land plants alternate between asexual sporophytes and sexual gametophytes. Unlike seed plants, ferns develop free-living gametophytes. Gametophytes of the model fern Ceratopteris exhibit two sex types: hermaphrodites with pluripotent meristems and males lacking meristems. In the absence of the pheromone antheridiogen, males convert to hermaphrodites by forming de novo meristems, although the mechanisms remain unclear. Using long-term time-lapse imaging and computational analyses, we captured male-to-hermaphrodite conversion at single-cell resolution and reconstructed the lineage and division atlas of newly formed meristems. Lineage tracing revealed that the de novo-formed meristem originates from a single non-antheridium cell: the meristem progenitor cell (MPC). During conversion, the MPC lineage showed increased mitotic activity, with marginal cells proliferating faster than inner cells. A mathematical model suggested that stochastic variation in cell division, combined with strong inhibitory signals from dividing marginal cells, is sufficient to explain gametophyte dynamics. Experimental disruption of division timing agreed with the model, showing that precise cell cycle progression is essential for MPC establishment and sex-type conversion. These findings reveal cellular mechanisms governing sex conversion and de novo meristem formation in land plants.
A case for broadening our view of mechanism in developmental biology
Authors: Özpolat B. Duygu , Arur Swathi , Srivastava Mansi
Published: January 2025

Developmental biologists can perform studies that describe a phenomenon (descriptive work) and/or explain how the phenomenon works (mechanistic work). There is a prevalent perception that molecular/genetic explanations achieved via perturbations of gene function are the primary means of advancing mechanistic knowledge. We believe this to be a limited perspective, one that does not effectively represent the breadth of work in our field. We surveyed a representative and diverse group of colleagues to share their views on what it takes to infer mechanism. Here, we briefly examine the factors that have shaped the dominant view of mechanism, summarize responses to the survey, present our views, and suggest a path forward that embraces a broad outlook on the diversity of studies that advance knowledge in our field.
Ecophysiological responses to heat waves in the marine intertidal zone
Authors: Stillman Jonathon H. , Amri Adrienne B. , Holdreith Joe M. , Hooper Alexis , Leon Rafael V. , Pruett Liliana R. , Bukaty Buck M.
Published: January 2025

One notable consequence of climate change is an increase in the frequency, scale and severity of heat waves. Heat waves in terrestrial habitats (atmospheric heat waves, AHW) and marine habitats (marine heat waves, MHW) have received considerable attention as environmental forces that impact organisms, populations and whole ecosystems. Only one ecosystem, the intertidal zone, experiences both MHWs and AHWs. In this Review, we outline the range of responses that intertidal zone organisms exhibit in response to heat waves. We begin by examining the drivers of thermal maxima in intertidal zone ecosystems. We develop a simple model of intertidal zone daily maximum temperatures based on publicly available tide and solar radiation models, and compare it with logged, under-rock temperature data at an intertidal site. We then summarize experimental and ecological studies of how intertidal zone ecosystems and organisms respond to heat waves across dimensions of biotic response. Additional attention is paid to the impacts of extreme heat on cellular physiology, including oxidative stress responses to thermally induced mitochondrial overdrive and dysfunction. We examine the energetic consequences of these mechanisms and how they shift organismal traits, including growth, reproduction and immune function. We conclude by considering important future directions for improving studies of the impacts of heat waves on intertidal zone organisms.