bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluation of the parasympathetic tone activity (PTA) for posttraumatic pain assessment in awake dogs before orthopaedic surgery - A prospective non-randomised clinical study
Authors: Billau Eva Martha , Weniger Max Bernhard Hubertus , Büttner Kathrin , Tacke Sabine , Müller Eva Saskia
Published: February 2025

Study design

A prospective non-randomised clinical study.

Animals

A study group with 18 posttraumatic dogs before surgery and a control group with nine healthy dogs.

Methods

Two different examiners evaluated the pain using two multidimensional pain scales (the Canine Acute Pain Scale of the Colorado State University (CSU-CAPS) and the Modified Glasgow Pain Scale (MGPS)) before the administration of methadone. During the administration of methadone, the Parasympathetic Tone Activity (PTA) was measured. In the control group, the PTA was measured without administration of methadone. In the statistical evaluation, correlation between PTA value and pain scores, and the predictive value of the PTA value in determining whether the animal was classified as painful was investigated. In addition, the results of the different pain scales and the results of the different examiners were compared.

Results

The average PTA values of the control group were 45.67 (± 13.64). Two of nine (22.22%) animals in the control group have their average PTA value above the ‘pain-free state’ of 50. The average PTA values of the study group were 56.16 (± 15.11) and 51.05 (± 13.24) before and after methadone administration, respectively. Comparing the average values of the study group 30 s before methadone administration with the average values of the control group, there was no significant difference (p = 0.5403). Examiner A (experienced) classified 14 of 16 animals (87.5%) with the CSU-CAPS, and examiner A2 (inexperienced) classified 7 of 16 patients (43.75%) as painful. In 56.25% of the cases, both examiners (A and A2) reached the same decision when using CSU-CAPS. When using the MGPS, 10 of 18 patients (55.56%) reached the intervention level regardless of the examiner. In 88.89% of the cases, the two examiners reached the same decision; there is a highly positive correlation between the two examiners (Spearman correlation coefficient rs = 0.84). There was no correlation between the monitor and score values of both pain scales with either examiner.

Conclusion

The PTA monitor on the awake animal was not suitable for pain detection. There were no statistically significant correlations of PTA scores with pain scale scores, regardless of the examiner. Similarly, the tendency for the study group to have lower PTA scores indicates that PTA also appears to be influenced by environmental factors.
Genomic alterations and transcriptional phenotypes in circulating free DNA and matched metastatic tumor
Authors: Takahashi Nobuyuki , Pongor Lorinc , Agrawal Shivam P. , Shtumpf Mariya , Gurjar Ankita , Rajapakse Vinodh N. , Shafiei Ahmad , Schultz Christopher W. , Kim Sehyun , Roame Diana , Carter Paula , Vilimas Rasa , Nichols Samantha , Desai Parth , Figg William Douglas , Bagheri Mohammad , Teif Vladimir B. , Thomas Anish
Published: February 2025

Background

Profiling circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has become a fundamental practice in cancer medicine, but the effectiveness of cfDNA at elucidating tumor-derived molecular features has not been systematically compared to standard single-lesion tumor biopsies in prospective cohorts of patients. The use of plasma instead of tissue to guide therapy is particularly attractive for patients with small cell lung cancer (SCLC), due to the aggressive clinical course of this cancer, which makes obtaining tumor biopsies exceedingly challenging.

Methods

In this study, we analyzed a prospective cohort of 49 plasma samples obtained before, during, and after treatment from 20 patients with recurrent SCLC. We conducted cfDNA low-pass whole genome sequencing (0.1X coverage), comparing it with time-point matched tumor characterized using whole-exome (130X) and transcriptome sequencing.

Results

A direct comparison of cfDNA and tumor biopsy revealed that cfDNA not only mirrors the mutation and copy number landscape of the corresponding tumor but also identifies clinically relevant resistance mechanisms and cancer driver alterations not detected in matched tumor biopsies. Longitudinal cfDNA analysis reliably tracks tumor response, progression, and clonal evolution. Sequencing coverage of plasma DNA fragments around transcription start sites showed distinct treatment-related changes and captured the expression of key transcription factors such as NEUROD1 and REST in the corresponding SCLC tumors. This allowed for the prediction of SCLC neuroendocrine phenotypes and treatment responses.

Conclusions

cfDNA captures a comprehensive view of tumor heterogeneity and evolution. These findings have significant implications for the non-invasive stratification of SCLC, a disease currently treated as a single entity.
Imaging and outcome correlates of ctDNA methylation markers in prostate cancer: a comparative, cross-sectional [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT study
Authors: Kluge Kilian , Lotz Vincent , Einspieler Holger , Haberl David , Spielvogel Clemens , Amereller Dominik , Kramer Gero , Grubmüller Bernhard , Shariat Shahrokh , Haug Alexander , Hacker Marcus , Kenner Lukas , Egger Gerda
Published: February 2025

Background

To validate the clinical utility of a previously identified circulating tumor DNA methylation marker (meth-ctDNA) panel for disease detection and survival outcomes, meth-ctDNA markers were compared to PSA levels and PSMA PET/CT findings in men with different stages of prostate cancer (PCa).

Methods

122 PCa patients who underwent [⁶⁸Ga]Ga-PSMA-11 PET/CT and plasma sampling (03/2019–08/2021) were analyzed. cfDNA was extracted, and a panel of 8 individual meth-ctDNA markers was queried. PET scans were qualitatively and quantitatively assessed. PSA and meth-ctDNA markers were compared to PET findings, and their relative prognostic value was evaluated.

Results

PSA discriminated best between negative and tumor-indicative PET scans in all (AUC 0.77) and hormone-sensitive (hsPC) patients (0.737). In castration-resistant PCa (CRPC), the meth-ctDNA marker KLF8 performed best (AUC 0.824). CHST11 differentiated best between non- and metastatic scans (AUC 0.705) overall, KLF8 best in hsPC and CRPC (AUC 0.662, 0.85). Several meth-ctDNA markers correlated low to moderate with the tumor volume in all (5/8) and CRPC patients (6/8), while PSA levels correlated moderately to strongly with the tumor volume in all groups (all p < 0.001). CRPC overall survival was independently associated with LDAH and PSA (p = 0.0168, p < 0.001).

Conclusion

The studied meth-ctDNA markers are promising for the minimally-invasive detection and prognostication of CRPC but do not allow for clinical characterization of hsPC. Prospective studies are warranted for their use in therapy response and outcome prediction in CRPC and potential incremental value for PCa monitoring in PSA-low settings.
Bridging therapy with histotripsy prior to liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: a first case report
Authors: Uysal Melis , Wehrle Chase J , Coppa Christopher , Kamath Suneel , Krishnamurthi Smitha , Martin Charles , Hag Mohamed El , Khalil Mazhar , Fujiki Masato , Schlegel Andrea , Miller Charles , Hashimoto Koji , Aucejo Federico , Kwon David CH , Kim Jaekeun
Published: February 2025

Background

Histotripsy is a novel, non-invasive, non-ionizing, and non-thermal ablation technique that disrupts tumors using acoustic cavitation. We report the first use of Histotripsy as bridging therapy prior to liver transplant for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with histotripsy.

Case presentation

A 59-year-old woman presented with Metabolic-Associated Steatotic Liver Disease (MASLD) cirrhosis (labMELD = 14), hepatic encephalopathy, and a single 2 cm OPTN V lesion in the left lateral segment consistent with HCC. The patient underwent histotripsy treatment of the lesion as bridging therapy before receiving liver transplantation. Histopathology analysis of the explanted liver showed total necrosis of the treated area, with no residual viable tissue tumor.

Conclusion

This case demonstrates the potential utility of histotripsy as an effective bridging therapy for patients with combined cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) awaiting liver transplantation, with complete tumor necrosis on explant pathology demonstrating its therapeutic efficacy.
Single-cell multi-omics analysis identifies SPP1+ macrophages as key drivers of ferroptosis-mediated fibrosis in ligamentum flavum hypertrophy
Authors: Fei Chengshuo , Chen Yanlin , Tan Ruiqian , Yang Xinxing , Wu Guanda , Li Chenglong , Shi Jiawei , Le Shiyong , Yang Wenjie , Xu Jiajia , Wang Liang , Zhang Zhongmin
Published: February 2025

Background

Ligamentum flavum hypertrophy (LFH) is a primary contributor to lumbar spinal stenosis. However, a thorough understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms driving LFH fibrotic progression remains incomplete.

Methods

Single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) was performed to construct the single-cell map of human ligamentum flavum (LF) samples. An integrated multi-omics approach, encompassing scRNA-seq, bulk RNA sequencing (bulk RNA-seq), and Mendelian randomization (MR), was applied to conduct comprehensive functional analysis. Clinical tissue specimens and animal models were employed to further confirm the multi-omics findings.

Results

ScRNA-seq provided a single-cell level view of the fibrotic microenvironment in LF, revealing significantly increased proportions of fibroblasts, myofibroblasts, and macrophages in LFH. Using transmission electron microscopy, single-cell gene set scoring, and MR analysis, ferroptosis was identified as a critical risk factor and pathway within LFH. Subcluster analysis of fibroblasts revealed functional heterogeneity among distinct subpopulations, highlighting the functional characteristics and the metabolic dynamics of fibroblast with a high ferroptosis score (High Ferro-score FB). The quantification of gene expression at single-cell level revealed that ferroptosis increased along with fibrosis in LFH specimens, a finding further validated in both human and mice tissue sections. Consistently, bulk RNA-seq confirmed increased proportions of fibroblasts and macrophages in LFH specimens, underscoring a strong correlation between these cell types through Spearman correlation analysis. Notably, subcluster analysis of the mononuclear phagocytes identified a specific subset of SPP1+ macrophages (SPP1+ Mac) enriched in LFH, which exhibited activation of fibrosis and ferroptosis-related metabolic pathways. Cell-cell communication analysis highlighted that SPP1+ Mac exhibited the strongest outgoing and incoming interactions among mononuclear phagocytes in the LFH microenvironment. Ligand-receptor analysis further revealed that the SPP1-CD44 axis could serve as a key mediator regulating the activity of High Ferro-score FB. Multiplex immunofluorescence confirmed substantial Collagen I deposition and reduced Ferritin Light Chain expression in regions with SPP1-CD44 co-localization in LFH specimens.

Conclusions

Our findings indicated that SPP1+ Mac may contribute to LFH fibrosis by regulating ferroptosis in High Ferro-score FB through the SPP1-CD44 axis. This study enhances our understanding of the cellular and molecular mechanisms underlying LFH progression, potentially improving early diagnostic strategies and identifying new therapeutic targets.
Retinocytoma: understanding pathogenesis, diagnosis, and treatment approaches
Authors: Al-Hussaini Maysa , Sharie Sarah Al , Sultan Hala , Mohammad Mona , Yousef Yacoub A.
Published: February 2025

Retinocytoma, or retinoma, is a rare benign intraocular tumor primarily affecting the retina. It is often considered a precursor or a differentiated form of retinoblastoma, a malignant retinal tumor predominantly seen in children. Despite its non-aggressive nature and excellent prognosis, retinocytoma remains a significant area of interest due to its implications for genetic counseling, early detection, and management of ocular tumors. The pathogenesis of retinocytoma is closely linked to mutations in the RB1 gene, which plays a vital role in regulating the cell cycle. The detection of RB1 mutations in peripheral blood indicates germline disease, substantially elevating the risk of bilateral retinoblastoma development. Despite its benign nature, retinocytoma necessitates vigilant monitoring due to its potential to transform into retinoblastoma. Current treatment strategies primarily focus on observation and regular follow-up. However, more aggressive treatments are considered if malignant transformation is suspected. The prognosis is generally favorable, with most patients maintaining good visual acuity and a low risk of progression to retinoblastoma. We aim to present an up-to-date review on epidemiology, clinical features, pathogenesis, macroscopic and histopathological features, diagnostic criteria, prognosis, and management strategies.
Stroke neurobiobanking and genomic research in Africa: a narrative review
Authors: Olajide Tobi , Okeke Sophia , Joshua Inioluwa , Femi-Lawal Victor , Ogungbemi Evelyn , Alemenzohu Hillary , Asogwa Chukwuebuka , Babawale Isaac , Olajide Gideon , Michael Anayo , Babawale David , Olawoye Oluwatomisin , Akinrinde Deborah , Ogundele Tosin , Ogundijo Deborah , Chikere Nnamdi , Ala Oluwapelumi , Akano Olatokun , Adeoti Sodiq , Igwe Stephen , Igwilo Joshua , Akinyemi Rufus
Published: February 2025

Background

Stroke represents a significant public health challenge globally, with the African populations bearing a disproportionate burden of its impact. The 2019 update on global stroke statistics revealed a steady rise in stroke incidence across low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs), with LMICs accounting for the majority of stroke deaths and disability. Neurobiobanking and genomics have emerged as promising tools in stroke research, yet their integration remains to be developed in Africa. This narrative review provides an overview of stroke epidemiology, neurobiobanking and genomics integration in stroke research, aiming to synthesize existing knowledge and explore their potential contributions to personalized medicine in Africa.

Discussion

Neurobiobanking is pivotal for stroke research in Africa. This infrastructure facilitates research on stroke genetics and biomarkers, important for personalized medicine in stroke treatment. Understanding genetic factors independent of common risk factors like hypertension is essential for identifying stroke risk and recovery genes. Biomarker research is vital for comprehending stroke pathophysiology and developing targeted interventions. Establishing standardized protocols and ethical guidelines for sample collection is important to maintain the quality and integrity of neurobiobank samples. Initiatives like the Human Hereditary and Health in Africa (H3Africa) project have led to the establishment of biorepositories in Africa, such as the Integrated Biorepository of H3Africa Uganda (IBRH3AU) and the Institute of Human Virology Nigeria H3Africa Biorepository (I-HAB). Additionally, stroke-focused biobanks such as the IBADAN Brain Bank and the Stroke Investigative Research and Education Network (SIREN) are collecting brain tissues for research purposes. African populations exhibit a higher prevalence of hemorrhagic and small vessel ischemic stroke types. Candidate gene studies (CGS) and genome-wide association study (GWAS) have identified genes predisposing Africans to stroke, some of which are low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 1 (LRP1), apolipoprotein L1 (APOL1), cyclin-dependent kinase inhibitor 2A/2B (CDKN2A/CDKN2B), histone deacetylase 9 (HDAC9), and AADACL2 gene, among others.

Conclusion

Stroke neurobiobanking and genomic research offer promising avenues for understanding stroke pathophysiology and developing personalized treatments. Collaboration, data sharing, and ethical considerations are important for progress. Advancing technology and translating research into clinical practice can improve the outcomes for stroke patients.
Metastatic extension of Ewing’s sarcoma to the right heart chambers: a rare case report
Authors: Ettagmouti Yassine , Hayar Salah-Eddine , Atlas Ilyas , Bennani Ghita , Haboub Meryem , Habbal Rachida
Published: February 2025

Background

Ewing’s sarcoma (ES) is a common malignant bone tumor in adolescents and young adults. Its pelvic location is associated with a worse prognosis. Our case represents one of the rare instances in the literature involving an adult patient in whom the disease progressed fatally due to cardiac extension.

Case presentation

We report the case of a 31-year-old female patient who initially presented with swelling in her right lower extremity, which was found to be caused by deep venous thrombosis (DVT) extending from the iliac vein to the inferior vena cava. A thoracic-abdominal CT scan, performed as part of the etiological workup, revealed a tumor in the right hip bone with a malignant appearance, exhibiting both endo and exopelvic extension, and extending to the inferior vena cava (IVC) and right heart chambers. An echo-guided biopsy of the tumor mass confirmed Ewing's sarcoma. The patient's condition rapidly deteriorated, leading to death due to the inoperability of the extensive tumor.

Conclusions

Ewing’s sarcoma can affect adults, presenting with late-onset or rapidly metastatic forms. In its extensive form, ES requires multimodal imaging to assess operability and is associated with a poor prognosis. This case report represents one of the rare instances in the literature of Ewing’s sarcoma metastasizing to the heart.
The “good enough” facilitator: elucidating the role of working alliance in the mechanism of facilitation
Authors: Yakovchenko Vera , Merante Monica , Chinman Matthew J. , Neely Brittney , Lamorte Carolyn , Gibson Sandra , Kirchner JoAnn , Morgan Timothy R. , Rogal Shari S.
Published: February 2025

Background

While facilitation is a widely used implementation strategy with proven effectiveness, the development of the facilitator-recipient relationship, i.e., working alliance, has received limited attention. However, we hypothesize that working alliance may be part of the mechanism by which facilitation activates change. This study aimed to examine the associations between working alliance, facilitation, and change in clinical care in a hybrid type 3 trial of a manualized intervention, Getting to Implementation (GTI).

Methods

This concurrent triangulation mixed-methods study was conducted at 12 sites in a stepped-wedge trial. We collected surveys using the Working Alliance Inventory–Short instrument (WAI), which includes three subscales of goal alignment, task alignment, and affective bond, from three respondent types (clinical facilitator, evaluation facilitator, and site team members) after a year of intervention. Facilitation activity type and dose were tracked. Summative qualitative interviews with site champions and facilitators) elicited perceptions on working alliance, facilitation, and experiences with the intervention, and results were triangulated with statistical bivariate analyses. The associations between WAI and facilitation time, fidelity, and change in liver cancer screening rate (the primary trial outcome) were assessed.

Results

Across 12 sites, facilitators and site team members completed 21 interviews and 40 WAI surveys, with site aggregate average working alliance scores of 5.9 ± 0.4 on a seven-point scale. Bond scores were highest (6.1 ± 0.5), followed by Goal (6.0 ± 0.4) and Task (5.8 ± 0.5) scores. Overall and subscale scores differed by respondent type, with site respondents consistently rating items higher than facilitators, particularly in Task items. Fidelity to the GTI process (e.g., timely completion of steps and tools) was significantly positively associated with WAI scores overall (r = 0.41, p = 0.007) and subscale scores, including Goal (r = 0.39, p = 0.011), Task (r = 0.42, p = 0.006), and Bond (r = 0.33, p = 0.039). WAI scores were not correlated with facilitation time (dose). WAI scores overall and the Bond and Goal scores were significantly positively associated with sustained improvement in cancer screening rates (r = 0.57, p = 0.015).

Conclusions

In this implementation trial, working alliance between site teams and facilitators was positively associated with both fidelity and cancer screening outcomes and was notably independent of time spent providing facilitation. Findings highlight the importance of working alliance in implementation studies.

Trial registration

This project was registered at ClinicalTrials.Gov (NCT04178096) on 4/29/20.
The impact of Behcet disease on central auditory processing and cognitive functions
Authors: Abdel-Latief Osman Dina Fouad , Behiry Mervat Essam
Published: February 2025

Background

Behcet disease (BD) patients process auditory information differently. Cognitive impairment has been found abundantly in BD patients.

Objective

To assess cognitive functions and central auditory processing (CAP) in BD adult patients.

Subjects and methods

Thirty-four adult BD patients participated with 34 age and gender matched normal individuals. All subjects were submitted to full history taking, basic audiological evaluation, Speech in Noise Test (SPIN), Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), and electrophysiological event-related potentials P300.

Results

The BD patients group had lower speech discrimination in noise scores, lower MMSE scores, longer P300 latencies, and decreased P300 amplitudes when compared to controls. Significant correlations were observed between MMSE, SPIN scores, P300 latency, amplitude, and the BDCAF scores.

Conclusions

Most BD patients have poor central auditory processing skills and poor cognition. The findings of the present study reveal the stagnating effect of BD on cognition and the CAP ability.
GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis: molecular mechanisms, diseases and therapeutic targets
Authors: Li Yujuan , Guo Bin
Published: February 2025

Pyroptosis is a regulated form of inflammatory cell death in which Gasdermin D (GSDMD) plays a central role as the key effector molecule. GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis is characterized by complex biological features and considerable heterogeneity in its expression, mechanisms, and functional outcomes across various tissues, cell types, and pathological microenvironments. This heterogeneity is particularly pronounced in inflammation-related diseases and tumors. In the context of inflammatory diseases, GSDMD expression is typically upregulated, and its activation in macrophages, neutrophils, T cells, epithelial cells, and mitochondria triggers both pyroptotic and non-pyroptotic pathways, leading to the release of pro-inflammatory cytokines and exacerbation of tissue damage. However, under certain conditions, GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis may also serve a protective immune function. The expression of GSDMD in tumors is regulated in a more complex manner, where it can either promote immune evasion or, in some instances, induce tumor cell death. As our understanding of GSDMD's role continues to progress, there have been advancements in the development of inhibitors targeting GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis; however, these therapeutic interventions remain in the preclinical phase. This review systematically examines the cellular and molecular complexities of GSDMD-mediated pyroptosis, with a particular emphasis on its roles in inflammation-related diseases and cancer. Furthermore, it underscores the substantial therapeutic potential of GSDMD as a target for precision medicine, highlighting its promising clinical applications.
Glycemic Targets and Prevention of Complications
Authors: Tsushima Yumiko , Galloway Nicholas
Published: February 2025

Context

Complications of diabetes mellitus have significant impacts on morbidity, mortality, quality of life, and health costs for individuals. Setting and achieving glycemic targets to prevent these complications is a top priority when managing diabetes. However, patients often already have complications when diagnosed with diabetes mellitus. Therefore, methods to prevent disease progression become a crucial component of diabetes management. The purpose of this article is to review glycemic targets and methods of screening and managing diabetes-related complications.

Evidence Acquisition

A PubMed review of the literature pertaining to diabetes mellitus, glycemic targets, microvascular complications, and macrovascular complications was conducted. We reviewed articles published between 1993 and 2024. Guidelines published by nationally recognized organizations in the fields of diabetes, nephrology, and cardiology were referenced. Public health statistics obtained by the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Kidney Foundation were used.

Evidence Synthesis

Achieving glycemic targets and screening for diabetes-related complications at appropriate intervals remains the key factor for early detection and intervention. An algorithmic approach to glycemic management based on individual risk factors is beneficial in choosing pharmacotherapy.

Conclusion

The consequences of diabetes-related complications can be detrimental. However, achieving and maintaining glycemic targets combined with diligent screening, reduction of risk factors, and prompt treatment can halt disease progression.
Community Building through Creative Placemaking in Bristol, England
Authors: Banks Donna M. E.
Published: February 2025

This essay highlights community murals as a potent tool in creative placemaking as they foreground overlooked narratives and weave them into the larger public discourse. While scholars have noted the importance of history and race in creative placemaking discourse, this essay’s contribution lies in its focus on murals. The author argues that the physical and cultural landscape of Bristol, England, has been transformed through the creation of seven large-scale commemorative murals featuring noted men and women of the Windrush generation. The street murals comprising the Seven Saints of St. Pauls Art and Heritage Trail serve as a visual narrative of a more comprehensive history while also contributing to the creation of the “Black spatial imaginary.”
Unruly Diasporas
Authors: Ramsey Nicole D.
Published: February 2025

This essay examines how memory and diasporic community formation serve as tools for Afro-Belizeans in the United States to preserve their histories amid colonial and postcolonial contexts and natural disasters. Utilizing autoethnography and testimonials from Belizean women, it explores the role of memory and placemaking within the broader context of Caribbean and Central American migration. Focusing on the Belizean exodus following Hurricane Hattie in 1961, this essay also highlights the displacement and exile of Black migrants and examines the visibility, erasure, and transnational presence of the Belizean community in Los Angeles shaped by environmental challenges. It underscores the critical role of oral histories in capturing Black Belizeans’ experiences, especially given the limited archival records owing to regional erasure. The author emphasizes the importance of centering and preserving counternarratives that challenge marginalization, offering insights into the ongoing exclusion and sociocultural challenges faced by the Belizean community.
Introduction
Authors: Modest Wayne
Published: February 2025

This essay introduces a special section on Otto and Hermine Huiswoud, Black Caribbean internationalists whose anticolonial and Communist organizing spanned several decades and continents, from Suriname and the United States to the Netherlands, Belgium, and France, and to Russia. Otto and Hermine Huiswoud were born in Suriname and Guyana, respectively, and would later move to the United States, becoming active members of the Communist Party of the USA. Later they moved and worked in the Netherlands. Theirs were lives of international political activism, in a shared, if sometimes conflictual project with some of the leading anti-colonial radicals of the early to mid-twentieth century, figures like Marcus Garvey and George Padmore but also leading figures of the Harlem Renaissance such as Claude McKay and Langston Hughes. While the Huiswouds’ political activity is known among a small group of scholars and activists, their lives and work remain underexplored. For example, in the Netherlands, where the author writes, it was not until the founding of the Black Archives in Amsterdam in 2016 that the Huiswouds would become part of broad-scale discussions about anticolonial traditions in the Dutch Caribbean. This special section aligns with the author’s ongoing interest in Black anticolonial intellectual traditions of the Caribbean—in a project called Other Radicals—and the role of figures from the Dutch Caribbean in this project. More than an interest in the question of power and the production of silences of the archives, or of archival occlusion of Black anticolonial struggle, however, this introduction asks what it might mean to attend more rigorously to the question of secrecy. Afterall, the Huiswouds, like many other radicals who lived at the intersections of anticolonial and Marxist-Communist mobilization, lived lives shrouded by secrecy, doubly cautious of the colonial state apparatus as they were of the anti-Communist sentiments that circulated at the beginning of the twentieth century, and even today. Taking secrecy in the archives seriously, then, may enable better understanding of the freedom struggles of Black internationalists, for Blacks but also for the worker—for the Black worker.
An Excerpt of Marie Léticée’s Camille’s Lakou, with a Translator’s Note
Authors: Meehan Kevin
Published: February 2025

Presented here are three chapters from Marie Léticée’s Camille’s Lakou, translated from her 2016 novel Moun Lakou. The book presents a double-protagonist coming-of-age story in which the narrator relates her autobiographical tale to a younger character facing crises similar to those of the narrator and the narrator’s single-parent mother. The excerpted chapters all come from the narrator Camille’s embedded tale and describe scenes of the impoverished, urban, Guadeloupean 1960s milieu from which the narrator emerged. One reads about water management, public transportation, the bustle of outdoor markets, and the slapstick modernity of an imported French department store, as well as an endearing but doomed communal use of toilets known as caca à deux. The chapters are followed by a translator’s note offering biographical and literary historical context for both the author and text, with a particular focus on the lakou, or yard, as a Guadeloupean and region-wide social formation. The note also examines the language spectrum employed in the original and explores decisions about how to render the original in English.
Introduction
Authors: Dovey Lindiwe , Agina Añulika , Thomas Michael W.
Published: February 2025

The introduction to this volume focuses on theorizing new global audiovisual practices and processes through the concept of “screen worlds.” These screen worlds are dynamic, fragmented, interactive, and transnational; they sometimes make appearances at film festivals, but they are certainly not exclusive to festivals. The chapter argues that screen worlds have arisen due to the effects of digitization and expanding internet usage on screen media creation, circulation, and consumption. This expansion has created an unprecedented form of media synchronicity and convergence in which Africans are firmly embedded. The introduction argues that, through rigorously theorizing the concept of screen worlds, film and media scholars can analyze screen production, distribution, and spectatorship in fresh ways that go beyond the purely cinematic, paying attention to screens in all their materiality, and to people’s physical and emotional relations with screens—whether as filmmakers or film spectators.
FESPACO @ Fifty
Authors: Frassinelli Pier Paolo
Published: February 2025

This chapter analyzes the fiftieth anniversary of FESPACO (the Pan-African Film and TV Festival of Ouagadougou), which took place in 2019. It uses the anniversary as an opportunity to reflect on some of the most significant recent changes in African cinemas, which have to do with the political economy of content production, distribution, and consumption; with the different spaces and platforms—screens, cinemas, film festivals, websites, and other public and private spaces—where African films are screened; and with the new forms, genres, and trends these films represent. It discusses how the corporatization and “Netflixation” of African film production and distribution are bypassing and redefining old divisions between auteur and commercial cinema, and how these changes manifested at the 2019 edition of FESPACO, which has historically represented and promoted art house cinema.
Effects of vessel noise on beluga (Delphinapterus leucas) call type use: ultrasonic communication as an adaptation to noisy environments?
Authors: Vergara Valeria , Mikus Marie-Ana , Chion Clément , Lagrois Dominic , Marcoux Marianne , Michaud Robert
Published: February 2025

Animal vocalizations can evolve structural features as long-term adaptations to noisy environments. Using such signals, cetaceans could mitigate masking from vessel noise. This study investigates whether beluga whales (Delphinapterus leucas) use ultrasonic high-frequency burst pulse (HFBP) calls to communicate in noisy conditions. We identified HFBP calls in three populations: St. Lawrence Estuary, Eastern High Arctic-Baffin Bay, and Western Hudson Bay. Focusing on the industrialized St. Lawrence, we investigated the effects of vessel noise on HFBP call rates compared to other call types. Ultrasonic calls, spanning a bandwidth of 36.4±6.5 to 144 kHz (Nyquist frequency), comprised 13% of the St. Lawrence beluga repertoire (n=25,435). Noise events (n=21) were defined as periods when at least one vessel was visible within 2 km of the hydrophone while belugas were within 500 m. Sound pressure levels were measured before, during, and after exposure. Generalized linear mixed models revealed consistent HFBP call rates before, during, and after vessel noise exposure, while contact calls and other call types declined during exposure (n=4,528). These findings suggest that ultrasonic signals that evolved in the Arctic—where ice-associated noise may have created a need for high-frequency communication—remain a viable communication channel in vessel noise, allowing belugas to exploit these signals to maintain communication. Understanding how belugas utilize signals in noisy environments can inform conservation strategies for noise-impacted marine mammals.
Sox9 and Nfi transcription factors regulate the timing of neurogenesis and ependymal maturation in dopamine progenitors
Authors: Lahti Laura , Volakakis Nikolaos , Gillberg Linda , Yaghmaeian Salmani Behzad , Tiklová Katarína , Kee Nigel , Lundén-Miguel Hilda , Werkman Maarten , Piper Michael , Gronostajski Richard , Perlmann Thomas
Published: February 2025

Correct timing of neurogenesis is critical for generating the correct number and subtypes of glia and neurons in the embryo, and for preventing tumours and stem cell depletion in the adults. Here we analyse how the midbrain dopamine neuron (mDA) progenitors transition into cell cycle arrest (G0) and begin to mature into ependymal cells. The comparison of mDA progenitors from different embryonic stages revealed the upregulation of Nfi and Sox9 transcription factors during development. Their conditional inactivation in the early embryonic midbrain leads to delayed G0 entry and ependymal maturation in the entire midbrain ventricular zone, reduced gliogenesis, and increased generation of neurons, including mDA neurons. In contrast, their inactivation in late embryogenesis does not result in mitotic re-entry, suggesting that these factors are necessary for the G0 induction, but not for its maintenance. Our characterisation of adult ependymal cells by single-cell RNA sequencing and histology show that mDA-progenitor-derived cells retain several progenitor features but also secrete neuropeptides and contact neighbouring cells and blood vessels, indicating that these cells may form a novel part of the circumventricular organ system.
The effects on anthropogenic sound on embryonic little skates (Leucoraja erinacea) and chain dogfish (Scyliorhinus rotifer)
Authors: Martinez Alyvia , Hall Lily M. , Fuentes Mary Ann , Putland Rosalyn L. , Mensinger Allen F.
Published: February 2025

There are increasing concerns from scientists and policymakers regarding the potential effects of sound on aquatic life. While mobile species can move away from sound sources, slow moving or sessile organisms are unable to escape. Many species of elasmobranchs are oviparous and deposit egg cases that remain in a fixed position on or near the seabed with development times ranging from months to over a year. The auditory sensitivity of elasmobranchs has been relatively understudied compared to marine mammals and teleost fish, with little known about the effect of sound on adults and almost nothing reported on how sound may impact developing embryos. Therefore, the effect of sound on the behavior of late stage embryonic little skates (Leucoraja erinacea) and chain dogfish (Scyliorhinus rotifer) in their egg case, was monitored. Both species reacted to sound prior to hatching. Little skates interrupted tail movements in response to 300 and 400 Hz pure tones as well as playbacks of boat sound, while sharks ceased respiratory movements during boat sound playbacks. Thus, late-stage embryos can detect and are affected by sound and fisheries managers may need to account for the impact of anthropogenic sound near oviparous elasmobranch breeding grounds.
Dynamic upper vocal tract articulations during zebra finch song – acoustic effects and independence of instantaneous auditory feedback
Authors: Méndez Jorge M. , Faiß Marius , Winn Marie , Goller Franz
Published: February 2025

In birds, the sound generated in the syrinx is modified by upper vocal tract filter properties prior to being emitted. Filtering of upper harmonics, for example, allows birds to produce tonal sounds. The main dynamic filter component is the oropharyngeal-esophageal cavity (OEC), whose volume can be adjusted to track the fundamental frequency of modulated sounds. It is less well understood, how birds, which use harmonically rich sounds, such as the zebra finch (Taeniopygia guttata), engage upper vocal tract structures to produce the complex spectral composition of their vocalizations. Furthermore, it is not known whether birds use instantaneous auditory feedback to adjust filter properties of the upper vocal tract structures. To fill these gaps, we developed a sensor system for tracking expansion of the OEC and recorded these movements together with subsyringeal air sac pressure and vocal behavior in intact zebra finches and after denervation of the right syringeal muscles. To go beyond correlations between OEC expansion and acoustic features, we prevented OEC expansion. The results illustrate the stereotyped dynamics of OEC expansion and confirm that relationships between OEC volume and acoustic features are complex. Significant shifts in sound frequency after denervation did not induce changes in the stereotyped OEC expansion patterns. Preventing OEC expansion caused predicted and unpredicted changes in the spectral composition of song syllables. Together these results illustrate that the complex spectral composition of zebra finch song syllables arises from dynamic adjustments of OEC volume, but resonance features are determined by an interaction of all upper vocal tract structures.
Artificial intelligence model for internet of things attack detection using machine learning algorithms
Authors: Abebe Anduamlak , Gebeyehu Seffi , Alem Abebaw
Published: February 2025

Background The rapid growth of the Internet of Things (IoT) has brought transformative benefits across industries, yet it also presents significant security challenges due to the proliferation of connected devices. Methods This study proposes an artificial intelligence (AI) model leveraging machine learning algorithms to detect and classify multiple types of IoT attacks, including distributed denial of service (DDoS), reconnaissance, brute force, spoofing, and Mirai attacks, using the CICIoT2023 dataset. The dataset was divided into training and testing sets to ensure accurate performance assessment. After training, the models were tested, and their effectiveness was evaluated through metrics like accuracy and confusion matrices. Results and conclusions Among the algorithms used, the decision tree model outperformed than others, achieving an impressive accuracy of 98.34%. In contrast, Bayes classifiers, support vector machines (SVM), and logistic regression achieved accuracy rates of 92%, 91.5%, and 75%, respectively. These results highlight the significant potential of machine learning techniques in detecting and mitigating various IoT attacks, offering promising avenues for enhancing IoT security. The improvement of the performance of the IoT attack detection model using large datasets and the appropriate using deep learning algorithms with their parameters will be our future consideration in the domain.
Retoryka oprawy. Kilka dotknięć i spojrzeń na całokształt
Authors: Choroszy Jan A.
Published: February 2025

Retoryka oprawy wydaje się pojęciem ambiwalentnym, a na pewno odległym od tradycyjnego myślenia o tym materialnym składniku książki. Powszechnie stosowany termin „okładka” sprowadza oprawę do jednego wymiaru, redukuje jej przestrzenną złożoność, przesuwa ją w pobliże plakatu. Potrzeba nowego określenia retoryczności oprawy rodzi się ze spostrzeżenia niepełności ujęć dotychczasowych, pomijających całość oddziaływania w środowisku kulturowym. Współczesne teorie percepcji i emocji, neuropsychologia i psychiatria, kognitywistyka mogą tu być źródłem inspiracji, choć doraźnie wystarczy zakorzenienie refleksji w antropologii obrazu, rzeźby, sztuk widowiskowych i performansu. W tym kontekście należy zmierzać w kierunku ujęcia, w którym oprawa jest konstruktem znakowym, semantycznym, ideologicznym, obrazowo-figuralnym i retorycznym (językowym), a jednocześnie dynamicznym, relacyjnym, performującym, staje się aktem wizualnym. Skoro oprawy nie można ograniczać do obrazu i obrazowości, a tym bardziej do graficznych reprezentacji werbalnych jej składników, skoro i materialność rzutuje na jej percepcję, która kształtuje się jako migotliwy wynik indywidualnej lub kolektywnej symbolizacji, można ją zdefiniować jako wizualno-werbalno-fakturalną figurę retoryczną – kompozycję ustanawiającą specyficzny typ otwartej relacji komunikacyjnej, której kontekst stanowi zarówno treść (tekst) książki, jak i otoczenie socjo-historyczno-kulturowe, a proces odbioru jest uwarunkowany osobowością czytelnika.
Okładka jako wizytówka wydawnictwa
Authors: Piekarczyk Dorota
Published: February 2025

Wychodząc od przyczyn wzrostu zainteresowania okładkami i ich roli w społecznym obiegu informacji o książce, autorka skupia się na jednym, wspominanym dotąd tylko, temacie – funkcji okładki w tworzeniu wizerunku wydawnictwa. Autorka, korzystając z metodologii językoznawczej i semiotycznej, pokazuje i analizuje te elementy okładki, które dają wydawcy największe możliwości kształtowania wizerunku instytucji, jaką reprezentuje. Analizy pokazują, że do elementów tych należą: cały projekt typograficzny okładki, nazwa i logo wydawnictwa oraz parateksty, takie jak: opis handlowy książki, nota o autorze, recenzje i opis serii. Autorka koncentruje się na strukturze poszczególnych znaków, mechanizmach i środkach językowych, zwłaszcza perswazyjnych, które pozwalają budować wiarygodność i rzetelność wydawnictwa, wzbudzać w odbiorcach zaufanie i szacunek do instytucji.
Zespolenie treści z formą. Uwagi o wybranych projektach wydawniczych Emila Zegadłowicza
Authors: Kulczyńska-Kruk Joanna
Published: February 2025

Emil Zegadłowicz był pasjonatem literatury pięknej i wielokrotnie nawiązywał do tradycji sztuki edytorskiej Johna Ruskina i Williama Morrisa. Przywiązywał dużą wagę do edycji swoich utworów. Dzięki bogatemu archiwum pisarza, które się zachowało, mamy dostęp do wielu dokumentów świadczących o jego zaangażowaniu w przygotowanie książki do druku, jej skład, dystrybucję i wreszcie promocję. Twórczy udział Zegadłowicza w projekcie obejmował sferę tekstową, graficzną oraz edytorską. W artykule omówiono wybrane projekty wydawnicze Emila Zegadłowicza: Powsinogi beskidzkie, Wielka nowina w Beskidzie, Noc świętego Jana Ewangelisty, „Niam niam”. Antologia poezji murzyńskiej, Siedem pieśni zgrzebnych o Janie Kasprowiczu, Pallas Atene, Podkowa na progu.
Wzór na diabelsko dobrą okładkę. O wybranych projektach Bohdana Butenki
Authors: Wincencjusz-Patyna Anita
Published: February 2025

W artykule omówiono ideę całościowego projektu graficznego książki w odniesieniu do wybranych przykładów z twórczości jednego z najmocniejszych filarów polskiej szkoły ilustracji – Bohdana Butenki (1931–2019). Analizie poddano okładkę do powieści sensacyjnej dla młodzieży Cyryl, gdzie jesteś? pióra Wiktora Woroszylskiego (1962), okładkę powiastki młodzieżowej o tematyce szkolnej Agnieszki Osieckiej pt. Wzór na diabelski ogon (1974) oraz obwolutę i okładkę antologii dla dorosłych zbierającej utwory diaboliczne polskich pisarzy i poetów zatytułowanej Diabli wiedzą co… (1972). Odnosząc się do terminologii związanej z architekturą, w ślad za ugruntowanym w literaturze przedmiotu określeniem Butenki jako „architekta książki”, autorka próbuje wskazać powiązania między elementami całości projektu w pełni widocznymi na okładce/obwolucie. Analizie zostają też poddane te trzy oryginalne, ale za każdym razem zupełnie inne koncepty.
Human-Centric Information Systems Research on the Digital Future of Healthcare
Authors: Bardhan Indranil , Kohli Rajiv , Oborn Eivor , Mishra Abhay , Tan Chuan Hoo , Tremblay Monica Chiarini , Sarker Suprateek
Published: February 2025

Funding: I. Bardhan is grateful for the financial support provided by The University of Texas at Austin [Charles and Elizabeth Prothro Regents Chair]. E. Oborn is supported in part by the National Institute for Health Research Applied Research Centre Collaborations for Leadership in Applied Health Research and CareWest Midlands [Grant WMCLAHRC-2014-1].
Degeneracy Is OK: Logarithmic Regret for Network Revenue Management with Indiscrete Distributions
Authors: Jiang Jiashuo , Ma Will , Zhang Jiawei
Published: February 2025

The network revenue management problem is a fundamental problem in online decision making with resource constraints. Tremendous efforts have been devoted to deriving near-optimal policies for the network revenue management problem with a theoretical guarantee better than the classic $O(\sqrt{T})$ regret. Logarithmic or better regret has been derived, however, with an additional nondegeneracy assumption that requires the underlying fluid approximation to enjoy a unique optimal basis. This work relaxes the nondegeneracy assumption and achieves logarithmic regret for network revenue management problems for general indiscrete reward distribution. To achieve these advances, this work develops several new techniques, including a new method of bounding myopic regret, a semifluid relaxation of the off-line allocation, and an improved bound on the dual convergence, which has the potential to inspire other works. All in all, this work takes a fundamental step toward relaxing the nondegeneracy assumption, which traditionally limits the scope of online algorithms.