bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Machine Learning-Based predictive model for adolescent metabolic syndrome: Utilizing data from NHANES 2007–2016
Authors: Zhang Yu-zhen , Wu Hai-ying , Ma Run-wei , Feng Bo , Yang Rui , Chen Xiao-gang , Li Min-xiao , Cheng Li-ming
Published: January 2025

Metabolic syndrome (Mets) in adolescents is a growing public health issue linked to obesity, hypertension, and insulin resistance, increasing risks of cardiovascular disease and mental health problems. Early detection and intervention are crucial but often hindered by complex diagnostic requirements. This study aims to develop a predictive model using NHANES data, excluding biochemical indicators, to provide a simple, cost-effective tool for large-scale, non-medical screening and early prevention of adolescent MetS. After excluding adolescents with missing diagnostic variables, the dataset included 2,459 adolescents via NHANES data from 2007–2016. We used LASSO regression and 20-fold cross-validation to screen for the variables with the greatest predictive value. The dataset was divided into training and validation sets in a 7:3 ratio, and SMOTE was used to expand the training set with a ratio of 1:1. Based on the training set, we built eight machine learning models and a multifactor logistic regression model, evaluating nine predictive models in total. After evaluating all models using the confusion matrix, calibration curves and decision curves, the LGB model had the best predictive performance, with an AUC of 0.969, a Youden index of 0.923, accuracy of 0.978, F1 score of 0.989, and Kappa value of 0.800. We further interpreted the LGB model using SHAP, the SHAP hive plot showed that the predictor variables were, in descending order of importance, BMI age sex-specific percentage, weight, upper arm circumference, thigh length, and race. Finally, we deployed it online for broader accessibility. The predictive models we developed and validated demonstrated high performance, making them suitable for large-scale, non-medical primary screening and early warning of adolescent Metabolic syndrome. The online deployment of the model allows for practical use in community and school settings, promoting early intervention and public health improvement.
Adding checkpoint inhibitors to first-line chemotherapy for NUT carcinoma patients
Authors: Haebe Sarah , Schuebbe Gesa , Jurmeister Philipp , von Bergwelt-Baildon Michael , Westphalen C. Benedikt , Lauer Ulrich M. , Kunz Wolfgang G. , Subklewe Marion , Weigert Oliver
Published: January 2025

Rare cancers present significant challenges in diagnosis, treatment, and research, accounting for up to 25% of global cancer cases. Due to their rarity and atypical presentations, they are often misdiagnosed, resulting in late-stage detection and poor outcomes. Here, we describe a patient case with advanced metastatic nasopharynx NUT carcinoma, one of the rarest and most aggressive cancers. We conducted a comprehensive analysis of this patient’s tumor, including Tumor Mutation Burden, Microsatellite Instability, and genetic profiling to explore further putative druggable targets. The tumor exhibited high PD-L1 expression and showed a notable response to immune checkpoint inhibitors when combined with platinum-based radio-chemotherapy. Our findings indicate that checkpoint inhibitors could play a critical role in treating NUT carcinoma, offering new therapeutic avenues and hope for patients with this challenging diagnosis. Whether PD-L1 expression may be a useful predictor of immune checkpoint inhibitor efficacy warrants further research.
The Hsf1-sHsp cascade has pan-antiviral activity in mosquito cells
Authors: Qu Jieqiong , Schinkel Michelle , Chiggiato Lisa , Rosendo Machado Samara , Overheul Gijs J. , Miesen Pascal , van Rij Ronald P.
Published: January 2025

Aedes mosquitoes transmit pathogenic arthropod-borne (arbo) viruses, putting nearly half the world’s population at risk. Blocking virus replication in mosquitoes is a promising approach to prevent arbovirus transmission, the development of which requires in-depth knowledge of virus-host interactions and mosquito immunity. By integrating multi-omics data, we find that heat shock factor 1 (Hsf1) regulates eight small heat shock protein (sHsp) genes within one topologically associated domain in the genome of the Aedes aegypti mosquito. This Hsf1-sHsp cascade acts as an early response against chikungunya virus infection and shows pan-antiviral activity against chikungunya, Sindbis, and dengue virus as well as the insect-specific Agua Salud alphavirus in Ae. aegypti cells and against chikungunya virus and O’nyong-nyong virus in Aedes albopictus and Anopheles gambiae cells, respectively. Our comprehensive in vitro data suggest that Hsf1 could serve as a promising target for the development of novel intervention strategies to limit arbovirus transmission by mosquitoes.
Exogenous dsRNA triggers sequence-specific RNAi and fungal stress responses to control Magnaporthe oryzae in Brachypodium distachyon
Authors: Zheng Ying , Moorlach Benjamin , Jakobs-Schönwandt Desiree , Patel Anant , Pastacaldi Chiara , Jacob Stefan , Sede Ana R. , Heinlein Manfred , Poranen Minna M. , Kogel Karl-Heinz , Ladera Carmona Maria
Published: January 2025

In vertebrates and plants, dsRNA plays crucial roles as PAMP and as a mediator of RNAi. How higher fungi respond to dsRNA is not known. We demonstrate that Magnaporthe oryzae (Mo), a globally significant crop pathogen, internalizes dsRNA across a broad size range of 21 to about 3000 bp. Incubation of fungal conidia with 10 ng/µL dsRNA, regardless of size or sequence, induced aberrant germ tube elongation, revealing a strong sequence-unspecific effect of dsRNA in this fungus. Accordingly, the synthetic dsRNA analogue poly(I:C) and dsRNA of various sizes and sequences elicited canonical fungal stress pathways, including nuclear accumulation of the stress marker mitogen-activated protein kinase Hog1p and production of ROS. Leaf application of dsRNA to the cereal model species Brachypodium distachyon suppressed the progression of leaf blast disease. Notably, the sequence-unspecific effect of dsRNA depends on higher doses, while pure sequence-specific effects were observed at low concentrations of dsRNA ( < 0.03 ng/µL). The protective effects of dsRNA were further enhanced by maintaining a gap of at least seven days between dsRNA application and inoculation, and by stabilising the dsRNA in alginate-chitosan nanoparticles. Overall, our study opens up additional possibilities for the development and use of dsRNA pesticides in agriculture.
Free mobility across group boundaries promotes intergroup cooperation
Authors: Gross Jörg , Götz Martin , Reher Katharina , Toscano Filippo
Published: January 2025

Group cooperation is a cornerstone of human society, enabling achievements that surpass individual capabilities. However, groups also define and restrict who benefits from cooperative actions and who does not, raising the question of how to foster cooperation across group boundaries. This study investigates the impact of voluntary mobility across group boundaries on intergroup cooperation. Participants, organized into two groups, decided whether to create benefits for themselves, group members, or everyone. In each round, they were paired with another participant and could reward the other’s actions during an ‘enforcement stage’, allowing for indirect reciprocity. In line with our preregistered hypothesis, when participants interacted only with in-group members, indirect reciprocity enforced group cooperation, while intergroup cooperation declined. Conversely, higher intergroup cooperation emerged when participants were forced to interact solely with out-group members. Crucially, in the free-mobility treatment – where participants could choose whether to meet an in-group or an out-group member in the enforcement stage – intergroup cooperation was significantly higher than when participants were forced to interact only with in-group members, even though most participants endogenously chose to interact with in-group members. A few ‘mobile individuals’ were sufficient to enforce intergroup cooperation by selectively choosing out-group members, enabling indirect reciprocity to transcend group boundaries. These findings highlight the importance of free intergroup mobility for overcoming the limitations of group cooperation.
Conserved role of spike S2 domain N-glycosylation across betacoronaviruses
Authors: Yang Qi , Kelkar Anju , Manicassamy Balaji , Neelamegham Sriram
Published: January 2025

Besides acting as an immunological shield, the N-glycans of SARS-CoV-2 are also critical for viral life cycle. As the S2 subunit of spike is highly conserved across betacoronaviruses, we determined the functional significance of the five ‘stem N-glycans’ located in S2 between N1098-N1194. Studies were performed with 31 Asn-to-Gln mutants, betacoronavirus virus-like particles and single-cycle viral replicons. Deletions of stem N-glycans enhanced S1 shedding from trimeric spike, reduced ACE2 binding and abolished syncytia formation. When three or more N-glycans were deleted, spike expression on cell surface and incorporation into virions was both reduced. Viral entry function was progressively lost upon deleting the N1098 glycan in combination with additional glycosite modifications. In addition to SARS-CoV-2, deleting stem N-glycans in SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV spike also prevented viral entry into target cells. These data suggest multiple functional roles for the stem N-glycans, and evolutionarily conserved properties for these complex carbohydrates across human betacoronaviruses.
Retrieval-augmented generation for generative artificial intelligence in health care
Authors: Yang Rui , Ning Yilin , Keppo Emilia , Liu Mingxuan , Hong Chuan , Bitterman Danielle S. , Ong Jasmine Chiat Ling , Ting Daniel Shu Wei , Liu Nan
Published: January 2025

Generative artificial intelligence has brought disruptive innovations in health care but faces certain challenges. Retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) enables models to generate more reliable content by leveraging the retrieval of external knowledge. In this perspective, we analyze the possible contributions that RAG could bring to health care in equity, reliability, and personalization. Additionally, we discuss the current limitations and challenges of implementing RAG in medical scenarios.
Surgical video workflow analysis via visual-language learning
Authors: Li Pengpeng , Shu Xiangbo , Feng Chun-Mei , Feng Yifei , Zuo Wangmeng , Tang Jinhui
Published: January 2025

Surgical video workflow analysis has made intensive development in computer-assisted surgery by combining deep learning models, aiming to enhance surgical scene analysis and decision-making. However, previous research has primarily focused on coarse-grained analysis of surgical videos, e.g., phase recognition, instrument recognition, and triplet recognition that only considers relationships within surgical triplets. In order to provide a more comprehensive fine-grained analysis of surgical videos, this work focuses on accurately identifying triplets  from surgical videos. Specifically, we propose a vision-language deep learning framework that incorporates intra- and inter- triplet modeling, termed I2TM, to explore the relationships among triplets and leverage the model understanding of the entire surgical process, thereby enhancing the accuracy and robustness of recognition. Besides, we also develop a new surgical triplet semantic enhancer (TSE) to establish semantic relationships, both intra- and inter-triplets, across visual and textual modalities. Extensive experimental results on surgical video benchmark datasets demonstrate that our approach can capture finer semantics, achieve effective surgical video understanding and analysis, with potential for widespread medical applications.
Sn-modified Zr-UiO-66 metal–organic frameworks for dihydroxyacetone conversion into lactic acid
Authors: Kurmanbayeva Karina , Nikulaichev Semyon , Sokovikov Nikolai A. , Torbina Viktoriia V. , Vodyankina Olga V.
Published: January 2025

The insertion of a tin species directly into the UiO-66 structure results in an almost quantitative yield of the target products.
The formation of cyclotriazane (N3H3) from ammonia in contact with a silver-exchanged LTA zeolite: a reliable synthesis pathway?
Authors: Beucher Rémi , Afanasiev Pavel , Lacôte Emmanuel , Farrusseng David
Published: January 2025

Direct synthesis of highly reactive cyclotriazane (N3H3) by oxidation over a silver-exchanged zeolite. A dream or reality?.
Photoredox-catalyzed selective head-to-head reductive coupling of activated alkenes
Authors: Chen Shenhao , Han Zongchang , Hu Han-Shi , Li Jun , Xi Chanjuan
Published: January 2025

A photoinduced Ir/PPh3/H2O system for a selective head-to-head hydrodimerization of activated alkenes has been developed, where the [Ph3P-OH] radical enables the PCET process with activated alkenes to form β-C radical that is rarely reported.
Exploring the shift to online open-book final exams: the impact on question types and the experiences of students and academics
Authors: Lu Alice , Ghrayche Joy B. , Pullen Reyne , George-Williams Stephen R.
Published: January 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic prompted the shift to online learning, including a change from paper-based (Type-P) exams to online, open-book (Type-O) exams. This study investigated the impact of the sudden shift from Type-P to Type-O exams on the nature of exam questions, and the students’ and academics’ experiences. Type-P and Type-O exams were analysed, focussing on question type, and Bloom's Taxonomy classifications. Type-O exams had a decrease in drawing questions in favour of short answer questions, and a slight shift to lower-order thinking was seen. Other changes were mostly insignificant. Semi-structured interviews with students revealed the main origins of stress for Type-O exams related to technological failures. Students noted they prepared notes for ease of searching for Type-O exams, and optimal memorisation for Type-P exams. Students who had taken both exam types revealed a preference for Type-P exams, as they preferred drawing answers. Semi-structured interviews with academics revealed that writing questions for Type-O exams required more thought to avoid questions with searchable answers. However, academics enjoyed the conveniences of the online format, which includes the automatic marking of multiple-choice questions. Academics appeared to have an astute awareness of the students’ experience with the differing exam types. Our findings suggest that Type-O exams could be successfully integrated into university systems, however there are important considerations that should be addressed.
Resolving the relationship between capacity/voltage decay and the phase transition by accelerating the layered to spinel transition
Authors: Pang Qi , Zhang Mengke , Song Yang , Liu Yueying , Tang Manqi , Su Sunqi , Qiu Lang , Xiao Yao , Guo Xiaodong
Published: January 2025

Accelerating the phase transition from layered to spinel by directional coating to deeply probe the relationship between capacity decay, voltage decay, and the phase transition.
Targeted anchoring of Cu sites in imine-based covalent organic frameworks as catalytic centers for efficient Li–CO2 batteries
Authors: Chen Haixia , Liu Zhixin , Xu Yunyun , Yu Xingyu , Tao Yinglei , Li Yue , Huang Xianli , He Jianping , Wang Tao
Published: January 2025

Prepared Li–CO2 catalysts with Cu–O,N active centers by solvothermal method, the battery can cycle 110 times at 200 mA g−1. The combination of TDCOF and Cu helps to accelerate electron transfer and efficient decomposition of discharge products.
Regioselective late-stage functionalization of tetraphenylenes: rapid construction of double helical architectures and potential hole transport materials
Authors: Xu Xiang , Ma Hao-Ran , Cui Jian-Fang , Peng Xiao-Shui , Wong Henry N. C.
Published: January 2025

Tetraphenylene-based cyclic iodonium salts could be achieved via regioselective iodination oriented by tert-butyl and nitro substituents. Subsequent atom(s) insertion to these iodonium salts yielded a series of [8 + n] and [n + 8 + n] fused-rings.
Revealing the dissolution mechanism of organic carbonyl electrodes in lithium–organic batteries
Authors: Zhang Shu , Xie Weiwei , Yang Zhuo , Xu Shuo , Zhao Qi , Lu Yong , Zhang Kai , Yan Zhenhua , Chen Jun
Published: January 2025

The dissolution of organic carbonyl electrodes is driven by the competitive solvation of organic electrode molecules by ion-solvation structures and free (uncoordinated) solvents in electrolytes, which are influenced by solvent polarity.
A lubricated and antibacterial hydrogel coating based on polyelectrolyte adhesion for medical catheters
Authors: Li Shaohai , Yu Pengcheng , Dong Fengmei , Zhang Jiawei , Wang Tianyu , Zhang Peipei , Gao Guanghui , Wang Yuanrui , Gao Yang
Published: January 2025

A flexible hydrogel coating with good lubrication and antimicrobial properties was prepared on the surface of silicone tubes by the adhesion of polyelectrolytes.
Sparse representation for restoring images by exploiting topological structure of graph of patches
Authors: Gao Yaxian , Cai Zhaoyuan , Xie Xianghua , Deng Jingjing , Dou Zengfa , Ma Xiaoke
Published: January 2025

Image restoration poses a significant challenge, aiming to accurately recover damaged images by delving into their inherent characteristics. Various models and algorithms have been explored by researchers to address different types of image distortions, including sparse representation, grouped sparse representation, and low‐rank self‐representation. The grouped sparse representation algorithm leverages the prior knowledge of non‐local self‐similarity and imposes sparsity constraints to maintain texture information within images. To further exploit the intrinsic properties of images, this study proposes a novel low‐rank representation‐guided grouped sparse representation image restoration algorithm. This algorithm integrates self‐representation models and trace optimization techniques to effectively preserve the original image structure, thereby enhancing image restoration performance while retaining the original texture and structural information. The proposed method was evaluated on image denoising and deblocking tasks across several datasets, demonstrating promising results.
Navigating Privacy: A Global Comparative Analysis of Data Protection Laws
Authors: Lim Sungjin , Oh Junhyoung
Published: January 2025

The increasing reliance on big data and artificial intelligence (AI) in the Fourth Industrial Revolution has raised significant concerns about individual privacy protection. This has led various countries to enact or amend privacy protection acts to address these concerns. However, there is a lack of comprehensive research comparing these laws across multiple countries, especially considering recent legislative developments. This study fills this gap by conducting a comparative analysis of privacy information protection acts in five major regions: the European Union (EU), the United States (focusing on California), China, Japan, and South Korea. The analysis explores the diverse approaches to privacy protection adopted by each region, influenced by their unique historical, political, and cultural contexts. For instance, the EU’s General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) emphasizes individual rights influenced by historical abuses of personal information. At the same time, the California Consumer Privacy Act (CCPA) prioritizes consumer rights within a self‐regulatory framework, reflecting the state’s technology‐driven economy. The study also examines China’s Personal Information Protection Law (PIPL), which prioritizes national security; Japan’s Act on the Protection of Personal Information (APPI), which navigates the tension between individual privacy and societal norms; and South Korea’s Personal Information Protection Act (PIPA), which balances individual autonomy with a sense of community, reflecting Confucian values. By identifying specific limitations and areas for improvement in each region’s data protection laws, this study contributes to the ongoing discourse on international data privacy regulation. It offers valuable insights for policymakers and stakeholders seeking to navigate the complexities of the data economy while ensuring robust safeguards for individual privacy.
Dual‐band single‐layer substrate‐integrated waveguide filtering antennas with independently controllable bands
Authors: Gong Ke , Liu Jia , Fan Chunfeng , Hu Xuehui , Sun Jintu , Liu Yan , Chen Shuang , Liu Qing
Published: January 2025

A novel design method of dual‐band single‐layer substrate‐integrated waveguide (SIW) filtering antennas with independently controllable bands is proposed in this paper. The basic two‐pole dual‐band filtering antenna is proposed by a dual‐mode rectangular SIW cavity coupled to two single‐mode SIW cavities with respective radiating slots. Single cavity multi‐mode is realised by etching dumbbell‐shaped slots and metallised vias to achieve the purpose of broadening bandwidth and miniaturisation. The dual‐mode SIW cavity acting as a common structure is fed by a coaxial feeder. The two orthogonal modes are coupled to two single‐mode cavities by coupling windows to produce two two‐pole passband filtering responses, respectively. Metallised vias in radiating SIW cavities are employed to realise good impedance matchings in radiating pass‐bands. The two filtering radiation bands can be controlled independently, which is analysed in detail. Based on the basic two‐pole dual‐band filtering antenna, three‐ and four‐pole dual‐band filtering antennas are further proposed and analysed. For demonstration, two‐, three‐ and four‐pole dual‐band filtering antennas with two centre frequencies of 10 and 11.7 GHz are designed, fabricated, and measured. The good agreement between the simulated and measured results verifies the proposed design methodology of single‐layer SIW dual‐band filtering antennas.
Endoscopic resection of early esophageal neoplasia in patients with esophageal varices: a systematic review
Authors: Frederiks Charlotte N. , Boer Laura S. , Gloudemans Bas , Alvarez Herrero Lorenza , Bergman Jacques J.G.H.M. , Pouw Roos E. , Weusten Bas L.A.M.
Published: January 2025

Although endoscopic resection (ER) is recommended as first-choice treatment for early esophageal neoplasia, patients with esophageal varices are considered a high-risk group owing to an increased risk of bleeding. This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and safety of ER in this specific patient category.

We searched for studies reporting on clinical outcomes of ER in the presence of esophageal varices, irrespective of study design or follow-up time. End points included the incidence of prophylactic measures to reduce the risk of variceal hemorrhage, radical and curative resection rates, and adverse events.

After screening 2371 studies, 42 studies (including our own unpublished cohort) with a total of 186 patients were included in this systematic review. Endoscopic band ligation (72/186; 39%) and endoscopic injection sclerotherapy (22/186; 12%) were the prophylactic measures most widely adopted to eradicate varices prior to ER. Other frequently described prophylactic measures included direct varix coagulation during ER (18/186; 10%) and the placement of a transjugular intrahepatic portosystemic shunt prior to ER (9/186; 5%). While the radical and curative resection rates were high (86% and 72%, respectively), the periprocedural and delayed bleeding risks were reported to be relatively low (6% and 3%, respectively). In all studies, no procedure-related mortality was observed.

ER appeared to be a safe and effective treatment option in selected patients with concurrent early esophageal neoplasia and esophageal varices, provided that a tailored approach of adequate prophylactic measures to prevent bleeding is applied.
Application of an Externally Developed Algorithm to Identify Research Cases and Controls from Electronic Health Record Data: Failures and Successes
Authors: Garduno Rapp Nelly Estefanie , Herzberg Simone D , Ong Henry H , Kao Cindy , Lehmann Christoph Ulrich , Gangireddy Srushti , Jain Nitin B , Giri Ayush
Published: January 2025

Background: The use of Electronic Health Records (EHRs) in research demands robust, interoperable systems. By linking biorepositories to EHR algorithms, researchers can efficiently identify cases and controls for large observational studies (e.g., Genome-Wide Association Studies (GWAS)). This is critical for ensuring efficient and cost-effective research. However, the lack of standardized metadata and algorithms across different EHRs complicates their sharing and application. Our study presents an example of a successful implementation and validation process.
Objective: To implement and validate a rule-based algorithm from a tertiary medical center in Tennessee to classify cases and controls from a research study on rotator cuff tear nested within a tertiary medical center in North Texas and to assess the algorithm's performance.
Methods: We applied a phenotypic algorithm (designed and validated in a tertiary medical center in Tennessee) using EHR data from 492 patients enrolled in case-control study recruited from a tertiary medical center in North Texas. The algorithm leveraged ICD (International Classification of Diseases) and CPT (Current Procedural Terminology) codes to identify case and control status for degenerative rotator cuff tears. A manual review was conducted to compare the algorithm's classification with a previously recorded gold standard documented by clinical researchers.
Results: Initially the algorithm identified 398 (80.9%) patients correctly as cases or controls. After fine-tunning and corrections of errors in our gold standard dataset, we calculated a sensitivity of 0.94 and specificity of 0.76.
Discussion: The implementation of the algorithm presented challenges due to the variability in coding practices between medical centers. To enhance performance, we refined the algorithm's data dictionary by incorporating additional codes. The process highlighted the need for meticulous code verification and standardization in multi-center studies.
Conclusion: Sharing case-control algorithms boosts EHR research. Our rule-based algorithm improved multi-site patient identification and revealed 12 data entry errors, helping validate our results.
Rectal Artery Embolization for the Treatment of Hemorrhoidal Disease
Authors: Zakavi Seyed S. , Mirza-Aghazadeh-Attari Mohammad , Mansur Arian , Habibollahi Peiman , Nezami Nariman , Camacho Juan C.
Published: January 2025

The term “hemorrhoid” is commonly invoked to characterize the pathologic process of symptomatic hemorrhoidal disease instead of the normal anatomic structure. While often treated with conservative measures, rectal artery embolization offers a minimally invasive alternative for patients with persistent or severe symptoms. This technique involves blocking the blood supply to the hemorrhoids using embolic agents, reducing blood flow, and alleviating symptoms. This review explores the clinical evaluation, techniques, and outcomes associated with rectal artery embolization for the treatment of hemorrhoidal disease. A discussion of the pathophysiology of hemorrhoids, the anatomy of rectal arteries, and the embolization procedure is provided in detail. Additionally, the safety and efficacy of the technique, including potential complications and outcomes, are reviewed.
Percutaneous Jejunostomy
Authors: Jacobs Adam P. , Little Nancy Ann B. , Raja Junaid , Brown Stephen R. , Gunn Andrew J. , Huang Junjian
Published: January 2025

Direct percutaneous jejunostomy placement is an often underutilized procedure that can allow for supplemental enteral nutrition in a certain subset of patients, in which percutaneous gastrostomy is not technically feasible, or in patients who require post-pyloric feeding. Percutaneous jejunostomy catheter placement was first described in the 1980s; since that time there have been minimal case series on the procedural technique and outcomes. At our institution, we perform percutaneous jejunostomy placement as a planned two-stage procedure. During the initial stage, direct jejunostomy is performed under a combination of fluoroscopic and ultrasound guidance, after distending the jejunum through a nasojejunal tube. After confirming intraluminal access, at least one Cope suture anchor is deployed, and guidewire access is maintained. Subsequently, the track is serially dilated, and a 14-Fr pigtail catheter is placed into the jejunum. Approximately 4 to 6 weeks later, the patient returns for conversion of the pigtail drain into a formal jejunostomy catheter with retention balloon, under fluoroscopic guidance. Several of the prior larger studies on the technique have noted major complications to occur in 12% of patients and minor complications to occur in 9.8% of patients. While percutaneous jejunostomy placement is not a frequently performed procedure, technical success and complication rates are comparable to that of surgical jejunostomy.
Optimizing Care for Complex Biliary Patients through Team Development and Multidisciplinary Collaboration
Authors: Reiland Allison , Stiff Kristine , Riaz Ahsun , Husnain Ali
Published: January 2025

There has been a rise in complex gallbladder and biliary procedures performed in interventional radiology (IR) at the Northwestern Memorial Hospital (NMH) with the introduction of new equipment and techniques. These procedures often call for thoughtful decision-making and multidisciplinary collaboration. The integration of various healthcare disciplines—including transplant surgery, hepatology, gastroenterology, IR, and nursing—is vital to cutting-edge innovations and improved patient outcomes. Due to the large volume of cases that can be seen, particularly at academic institutions, obstacles exist to management, chief among them being poor clinical follow-up. Thus, a dedicated IR hepatopancreaticobiliary (HPB) clinic and service line has been instated with the goal of improved clinical practice and patient management. The aim of this article is to analyze the role of multidisciplinary collaboration, discuss the rationale of a dedicated HPB service line as well as describe the structure and activities of the HPB clinic with the goal of improving the management of biliary and gallbladder patients.
The Effect of Topical Heparin Gel on Reducing Hand–Foot Syndrome Symptoms in Cancer Patients Treated with Capecitabine
Authors: Mirjalili Maede , Salehinajafabadi Yaser , Shahraki Hadi Raeisi , Masumi Rohollah
Published: January 2025

Background and Aims Hand–foot syndrome (HFS) is a distinct and relatively frequent toxic skin reaction associated with certain chemotherapy agents, particularly capecitabine. Given the complications of this syndrome and the critical importance of timely and accurate treatment, the present study aims to investigate the efficacy of topical heparin gel in alleviating HFS in cancer patients undergoing treatment with capecitabine.

Methods A total of 40 patients with grade ⩽ 1 HFS associated with capecitabine were randomly assigned to intervention and control groups. The intervention group received heparin sulfate gel four times a day (21 days) along with capecitabine treatment, while the control group received only capecitabine and placebo gel. The changes in the severity of HFS and clinical manifestations, including erythema, swelling, blisters, hyperkeratosis, and bleeding, at baseline and 3 weeks posttreatment were evaluated. The data were subsequently validated by Fisher's or Chi-square tests.

Results At the beginning of the study, there were no significant differences between the two groups regarding disease manifestations. However, after the intervention, a significant difference was observed between the groups in terms of erythema and swelling (p = 0.001). There were no significant differences between the groups in other manifestations, such as blisters, bleeding, and scaling (p = 0.99). Comparison of the degree of HFS in the intervention group showed that 11 patients experienced improvement after the intervention, while all patients in the control group remained at the same degree of syndrome as before the intervention.

Conclusion The management of HFS in cancer treatment includes a combination of prevention, patient education, symptom improvement, and dose-intensity management. According to the results, it can be said that due to the positive effect of topical heparin gel in improving HFS caused by capecitabine and due to the absence of side effects, the use of topical heparin gel is recommended.

Key Points
Central American panethnic identities and the politics of solidarity in Los Angeles
Authors: Zimmerman Arely M.
Published: January 2025

Pan-ethnic groups are political-cultural collectivities made up of groups from different national origins, but which are nevertheless perceived as homogeneous. The pan-ethnic label Central American is often used to identify peoples from the isthmus despite their deep ethnic, racial, linguistic, regional, national, and cultural differences. This article examines the social construction of pan-ethnicity among Central Americans as they campaign for Little Central America, a renaming project in the heart of Los Angeles. I draw on twenty-one interviews with longtime community leaders, and participant observation with prominent Central American coalitions, to examine how they construct pan-ethnic group boundaries while negotiating group differences. Despite their vast differences, leaders draw on histories of resistance and political struggle, transnationalism, and shared experiences of invisibility and marginalization within dominant constructions of US Latinidad to call for pan-ethnic unity, while negotiating differences in gender and political ideologies, as well as racial differences. By examining these negotiations within the context of the Little Central America campaign, I show how community leaders manage the construction of group boundaries to mobilize claims for representation.
Israeli foreign policy towards Turkey since 2011: from adverse asymmetry to equivalence?
Authors: Aran Amnon
Published: January 2025

Turkey was the first Muslim-majority country to recognise Israel de facto in 1949. Since then, Israeli foreign policy towards Turkey has generated stimulating academic debate, converging around the assumption that Israeli foreign policy towards Turkey is defined by an adverse asymmetry (Bengio in The Turkish–Israeli relationship: Changing ties of Middle Eastern outsiders, 2004 and in Insight Turkey 11(2):43–55, 2009; Inbar in Israel Affairs 11(4):591–607, 2005) that favours Turkey. Israel, it has been argued, has always been in the position of courting Turkey, the senior partner in the relationship. This article challenges this contention. It proposes a new analytical framework that encompasses foreign policy friction, discord and alignment and an integrative approach to examine the strategic, economic, military and energy aspects of Israeli foreign policy towards Turkey. The within-case study methodology employed shows that the confluence among the policies pursued by Israel since 2011—amid regional trends and a shift from a unipolar to a multipolar global order—has prompted a shift in Israeli foreign policy from an adverse asymmetry to an equivalence-based engagement with Turkey.
Untapping the potential of Indigenous water jurisdiction: perspectives from Whanganui and Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: Macpherson Elizabeth , Turoa Hayden
Published: January 2025

Indigenous peoples have maintained sustainable, longstanding relationships with water and have valuable knowledge to contribute to water management. Still, legal and policy frameworks routinely include only tokenistic acknowledgements of Indigenous water ‘values’, while ongoing injustices related to the allocation and governance of water resources remain unresolved. Those concerned about the recognition of Indigenous water rights and relationships often point to the case of Aotearoa New Zealand, and specifically the Treaty of Waitangi settlement legislation recognising the Whanganui River as a ‘legal person’, as a replicable model for improved water governance and Indigenous water rights. In this article we use a sociolegal method to draw out globally relevant lessons from the groundbreaking Whanganui River model about the potential for Western or settler-state law to support and uphold Indigenous rights and relationships in water. Our analysis confirms that enabling Indigenous water jurisdiction could hold the key to more sustainable and equitable futures, but it requires a long-term commitment from states and local communities to relationship brokering, power sharing, and trust building with Indigenous peoples.
Superconducting properties of fullerenes in the mixed state (A Review)
Authors: Buntar V. , Weber H. W.
Published: January 2025

A review of magnetization measurements and their evaluation in terms of critical fields and characteristic lengths in fullerene superconductors is presented. Typical results of magnetization curves are shown and the evaluation of the superconducting fraction from these measurements is discussed. We also discuss results on the determination of the critical fields and characteristic lengths by different experimental techniques and make a comparison of these results between granular and crystalline samples.
Analysis of peculiarities in the propagation of edge magnetoplasmons in a sheet of surface electrons
Authors: Kirichek O. I. , Berkutov I. B. , Kovdrya Yu. Z. , Grigor’ev V. N.
Published: January 2025

A new mode of edge magnetoplasmons in a surface electron layer over liquid helium is investigated experimentally with the help of a new method of excitation and detection of edge magnetoplasma oscillations. The experiments were made in the frequency range 1.5−3 MHz in a magnetic field up to 0.5 T at temperatures 0.6−0.9 K. The obtained results are compared with the existing theoretical models.
Stability criterion for uniform precession of the half and double magnetization in 3He–B
Authors: Vachnadze G. E. , Suramlishvili N. G.
Published: January 2025

A criterion of stability to long-wave fluctuations is established for uniform precession of the half and double magnetization in superfluid 3He−B in a strong magnetic field. The influence of counterflows of the superfluid and normal components on the stability of precession states is investigated.
The role of quantized energy levels in the macroscopic quantum behavior of Josephson junctions
Authors: Silvestrini P. , Ruggiero B. , Esposito A.
Published: January 2025

The effects of the presence of quantized levels in the problem of the (V=0)-state decay in Josephson junctions have been investigated. In considering the dynamics of the junction in the quantum picture, a preliminary study of the classical thermal fluctuation is necessary especially for the determination of the relevant junction parameters to be used in the quantum limit. Measurements of the lifetime of the zero-voltage state in a single hysteretic Josephson junction show clear evidence of two different damping regimes. Results are obtained for a wide range of damping within the underdamped region because the damping resistance depends exponentially on inverse temperature as does the junction quasiparticle resistance. This latter aspect is relevant because or allows to obtain a damping level that decreases with temperature, and hence, at low temperature we are able to study an extremely underdamped system. Many new interesting aspects related to the quantum behavior of the junction can be observed with such a low damping level. It is shown that a fast sweep of a Josephson tunnel junction can reveal the presence of quantum energy levels in the associated washboard potential. Peculiar effects, which can be observed on P(I) and Г(I), are obtained by numerical integration of the entire time dependent master equation describing the dynamics of the statistical population of each quantum level. The curves obtained predict the results of possible new experiments. Finally, we discuss, within the well-established quantum picture of the junction, the idea of a resonant macroscopic quantum tunneling between levels with the same energy in neighboring wells of the potential shape describing the junction. This process produces small voltage spikes in the current-voltage characteristics, as well as peculiar peaks in the current switching distributions at given current values, which can be measured in junctions and SQUIDs with suitable parameters.
Effect of pressure of the linear background of tunnel conductivity of superconducting metal oxides
Authors: Tarenkov V. Yu. , D’yachenko A. I. , Abaleshev A. V. , Svistunov V. M.
Published: January 2025

The effect of hydrostatic pressure (up to 10 kbar) on the tunnel conductivity G(V) of contacts based on bismuth Bi-2223 ceramics (Tc= 110 K) is investigated. It is shown that the linear background in the differential conductivity G(V), which is proportional to the voltage |V|, increases under pressure more rapidly than the conductivity G0 at zero bias voltage V=0. This indicates that the anomalous (proportional to |V|) background in the tunnel HTS curves is not associated directly with high-Tc superconductivity.
On the theory of 2D superconductivity at an arbitrary density of charge carriers and indirect interaction between them
Authors: Loktev V. M. , Sharapov S. G.
Published: January 2025

Self-consistent equations derived for the order parameter and chemical potential proceeding from the microscopic model Hamiltonian for a system of Fermi particles interacting with phonons make it possible to analyze the superconducting properties of the system for an arbitrary concentration of fermions. The solution of these equations is used to trace the transition from local pairs to the Cooper pairing mode. It is shown that the superconducting behavior is determined by the position of the Fermi level relative to the maximum phonon energy as well as by the intensity of indirect interaction between fermions.
Experimental studies of the low-field nonlinear susceptibility of YBCO epitaxial films loaded by transport current
Authors: Khokhlov V. A. , Drobot’ko V. F.
Published: January 2025

Preliminary results of experimental investigations of the temperature dependences of the susceptibility components χ′(T) and χ″(T) and the modulus ∣χ3∣ of its third harmonic are reported for a YBCO coarse-grain epitaxial film loaded by a direct transport current. The film contains weak bonds in grains (small-angle bonds) as well as between the grains (large-angle bonds). Transport current leads to a shift in the onset of a diamagnetic response towards lower temperatures, to an increase in the steepness of the high-temperature front of the χ′(T) and χ″(T) curves, and to an increase in the maximum values of χm″(T) and χ3 and |χ3|. The derivative dχm″/dItr is smaller that d∣χ3∣/dItr by approximately a factor of 2.5. Possible reasons behind the observed effect are considered.
Limiting transition in the pseudospin model of structural disorder with barriers
Authors: Kovarskiĭ V. L. , Khristov A. V.
Published: January 2025

A modification of Ising’s model, taking into account the presence of an energy barrier U0 between the states is considered. It is shown that the limiting transition U0 → ∞ leads to the conventional Ising model. The conditions under which the model is equivalent to the Potts three-component model with the effective value of relative multiplicity of state degeneracy are obtained. The range of applicability of the model is determined.
On possible contribution of metastable localized solitons to the dynamic structural factor of two-dimensional ferromagnets
Authors: Kolezhuk A. K. , Filin D. V.
Published: January 2025

It is shown that localized magnetic solitons with a finite lifetime make a peculiar contribution to the response functions.
Magnetoelastic dynamics for bounded ferromagnets near spin reorientation phase transition
Authors: Lavrinenko N. M. , Stefanovskiĭ E. P.
Published: January 2025

Magnetoelastic dynamics in a plane-parallel ferromagnetic plate is investigated in the vicinity of the spin-reorientation phase transition of the soft mode type. The dependence of the dynamic shift of quasi-acoustic frequency on the plate thickness and temperature is studied.
Magnetic properties of C60 doped with polytetrafluoroethylene pyrolysis products: Contribution from triplet states
Authors: Kaplienko A. I. , Khats’ko E. N. , Chernyi A. S. , Vashchenko L. A. , Vovk O. M. , Kontar’ A. A.
Published: January 2025

Magnetic properties of fullerene C60 doped with low-molecular products of polytetrafluoroethylene pyrolysis products are investigated. The temperature dependence χ(T) of the magnetic susceptibility of doped C60 is described correctly under the assumption that χ(T) is the sum of the contributions from the susceptibility of two types of one-dimensional spin chains of finite length. The first type includes the chains formed by electron spins localized at individual atoms of polymer fragments of the type of cumulenes, while the other type includes the chains formed during thermal population of low-lying triplet states of polymer chains of the polyene type. The nonlinear magnetic field dependence of the total susceptibility at high temperatures is determined by the magnetic field dependence of the susceptibility of spin chains formed during thermal population of low-lying triplet states.
New impurity effects in thermal expansion of 14N2–Ar solid solutions
Authors: Aleksandrovskii A. N. , Manzhelii V. G. , Esel’son V. B. , Udovidchenko B. G.
Published: January 2025

Thermal expansion of solid solutions of nitrogen in argon (0.51; 2.24; 4.89% 14N2) has been investigated in the temperature range 1−16 K. An impurity contribution Δα to a linear expansion coefficient has been separated. Negative values of Δα at T<4.3 K for the solution with the nitrogen concentration 0.51% and independence of Δα on impurity content for two concentrated solutions below 7 K have been found. A qualitative explanation of the peculiarities mentioned has been proposed.
Preface
Authors: Dmitriev V. M.
Published: January 2025

This issue (as well as issues 6 and 11 of the current volume) contains papers selected and reviewed by the Program Committee of the International Conference on Physical Aspects of Superconductivity held in Kharkov (Ukraine) on September 25–28, 1995. The conference was organized to sum up the results obtained under the long-term grants program (1994–5) in one of the branches of the section “Physics-II” of the G. Soros International Science Foundation.

The conference covered the following aspects of superconductor physics: mechanisms of superconductivity and electronic structure of superconductors;acoustic, mechanical, and thermal properties of superconductors;crystallographic and structural properties of superconductors;vortices and magnetic-flux dynamics in superconductors;transport and tunneling properties of superconductors;high-frequency and optical properties of superconductors;magnetic structure of superconductors.
Phase transitions and superconductivity mechanism in HTS oxides
Authors: Anshukova N. V. , Golovashkin A. I. , Ivanova L. I. , Malyuchkov O. T. , Rusakov A. P.
Published: January 2025

A physical model of electron ordering, the mechanism of concentration insulator–metal phase transition, and the superconductivity mechanism in HTS oxides is proposed on the basis of experimental data. The model explains anomalous properties of these materials.