bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
One-year patency of a novel biorestorative polymeric coronary artery bypass conduit
Authors: George Isaac , Neves Paulo , Cox Martijn , Ebner Adrian
Published: January 2025

Coronary artery bypass graft (CABG) surgery remains the gold standard in the treatment of complex coronary artery disease. Saphenous vein grafts (SVG) are commonly used for the non-left anterior descending artery. However, SVG failure rates in CABG surgery have been reported to be as high as 30% at 1 year and ∼50% at 10 years. Despite suboptimal performance, ∼80% of all CABG surgery includes SVG graft use. Therefore, an off-the-shelf, small-diameter vascular conduit with good patency rates remains a large unmet clinical need. XABG (Xeltis BV, Eindhoven, The Netherlands), a novel supramolecular electrospun biorestorative polymeric conduit with an embedded nitinol microskeleton, is under clinical development to fulfill this unmet need. This case report aims to demonstrate the safety and feasibility of this conduit in a routine CABG operation with implantation in a 70-year-old male patient with three-vessel disease. The XABG conduit remained patent with TIMI 3 flow at 6 months, and patency was confirmed by cardiac computed tomography at 12 months.
Optimizing healthcare queues: a case study on chronic respiratory illness
Authors: Gillard Jonathan , Knight Vincent , Smith Kendal , Wilde Henry
Published: January 2025

Accepted by: M. Zied BABAI

This study employs a data-driven approach to assess the evolving resource needs of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients, exploring the impact on the hospital system. It integrates segmentation, operational queuing theory and parameter recovery from incomplete data to overcome limitations in fine-grained data availability, yielding operational insights using only administrative data. Initiating with a population clustering from granular data, the paper utilizes a multi-class $M/M/c$ model, extracting parameters through parameterization and Wasserstein distance. This model facilitates an informative analysis of the queuing system and population needs through various what-if scenarios. The comprehensive analyses encompass all patient arrival types, revealing that addressing the impact of COPD patients on the system necessitates more than just expanding capacity. Our work demonstrates the potential for specific improvement in clinical performance in respect of COPD patients.
Influenza Virus Surveillance in Healthcare Personnel in Peru: NAMRU SOUTH Experience and Perspective
Authors: Soto Giselle , Romero Candice , Gonzales Miriam , La Rosa Sayda , Ponce Diana , Tecco Anilu , Vega Diana , Silva María , Llanos-Cuentas Alejandro , Matos Eduardo , Chavez Perez V , Castillo Maria Esther , Castro Juan Carlos , Prouty Michael G , Neyra Joan
Published: January 2025

Vaccinating healthcare personnel (HCP) is a top priority for public health globally. This strategy aims not only to protect HCP but also patients, reducing transmission of infections in healthcare services. However, improving vaccine coverage in HCP is still a challenge, especially because they are a risk group for acquiring influenza. Multicomponent influenza vaccination programs targeting behavioral, organizational, and administrative barriers are critical to ensure this priority population is vaccinated. Here, we describe a healthcare worker cohort study that was implemented in Peru, a middle-income country, in 2016, prior to the coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic. This cohort, which is still ongoing, has collected valuable information on influenza vaccine effectiveness, vaccine coverage, risk factors, absenteeism, and use of personal protective equipment, as well as risk of influenza disease, among others. These data can help improve knowledge not only about influenza diseases but also regarding vaccination on this specific influenza risk group in order to improve vaccine uptake.
Cooperation and Conflict Studies in Chinese IR
Authors: Wang Kai , Liu Chuyu , Chen Xintong
Published: January 2025

Although Western security scholarship often focuses disproportionally on conflict, cooperation-oriented research dominates Chinese security studies. To account for this divergence, we draw on Bourdieu’s notion of field as an analytic framework. We argue that a dual power asymmetry—the core–peripheral relations between Western and Chinese international relations (IR) scholars, and the Chinese IR community’s structural dependence on the party-state—profoundly shapes the knowledge production of Chinese security studies and leads to the hegemony of cooperation-centered research. We use a unique combination of empirical materials, including bibliometric data from China’s leading IR journals, content analysis of projects funded by a prestigious Chinese government grant, and qualitative interviews with IR academics at Chinese institutions. We find strong evidence for our theoretical propositions. Our findings shed new light on the global IR debate, national IR parochialism, and the sociology of IR epistemic practice in non-democratic contexts.
Forest dynamics and responses to climate changes and human activities in the arid and semiarid regions of the Altai Mountains, China
Authors: Zhang Liancheng , Jiapaer Guli· , Yu Tao , Liang Hongwu , Chen Bojian , Lin Kaixiong , Ju Tongwei , De Maeyer Philippe , Van de Voorde Tim
Published: January 2025

Understanding the mechanisms influencing forest changes is crucial for developing effective adaptation strategies to mitigate the impacts of climate change and anthropogenic factors on ecosystems. In this study, we utilized the Theil–Sen median, Mann–Kendall (MK) test, contribution partition, partial least squares (PLS), geodetector, and residual analysis methods to explore the effects of human activities and climate change on forest cover and forest NDVI in the Altai Mountains. For forest cover, the results indicate that both forest management policies and climate change influence changes, with forest management policies being the primary factor. However, the mechanisms vary across different altitude belts. Natural mortality in alpine and subalpine forests, coupled with the promoting effect of climate change, has led to a dynamic equilibrium in forest cover, while human activities and climate change together promote forest cover expansion in the low mountain belt. For the forest NDVI, areas where climate change and human activities jointly increased NDVI growth account for the largest proportion (50.20%) across the six scenarios. Climate change has a wider influence on the NDVI than do human activities, mainly driving NDVI increases (30.28%). In contrast, forest degradation is caused primarily by human activities (19.39%), especially along forest edges. Among the climate factors, precipitation and snowmelt are the main controlling factors. Notably, snowmelt in March and April (SM_34) is the most important water source for forest growth before the growing season. This study offers essential scientific support for forest management and strategic planning in the Altai Mountains.
Characterizing Antimicrobial Prescription Practices and Deviation from Published Guidelines in Pediatric Group A Streptococcal Pharyngitis: A Retrospective Study
Authors: Hamilton Shannon , Schneider Jack G , Boyd LaKeisha , Enane Leslie , Wood James B
Published: January 2025

Corresponding Author: Shannon Hamilton, DO, Ryan White Center for Pediatric Infectious Diseases, Indiana University School of Medicine, Riley Hospital for Children, 705 Riley Hospital Drive, Indianapolis, Indiana, USA, Email: shhami@iu.edu

Abbreviations: GAS (group A Streptococcus), GASP (group A Streptococcus pharyngitis), Infectious Diseases Society of America (IDSA), emergency department (ED), primary care center (PCC)

Sources of funds: This work was supported by the Pediatric Infectious Diseases Society Health

Disparities Fellowship funded by Sanofi Pasteur.

No conflicts of interest.

Background

Little is known about the relationship between patient demographics and prescriber adherence to treatment guidelines. Using group A streptococcal pharyngitis (GASP) as the model, the primary aim of this study is to evaluate the relationship between patient demographics and clinical practice guideline adherence with antibiotic prescribing.

Methods

This is a retrospective review of patients < 18 years old presenting to an emergency department (ED) and primary care center (PCC) in Indianapolis, IN between January 1, 2014 and December 31, 2019. Subjects were identified by ICD-9/10 diagnosis code for GASP and a positive streptococcal test. Patients were excluded if they had GASP in the previous 30 days, were treated for another bacterial infection at time of the visit, required hospitalization, or had an immunocompromising condition. Demographic and clinical data were collected via review of the electronic medical record. The primary endpoints were the number and types (relating to dosing and duration of antibiotics) of deviations from the IDSA 2012 GASP Guidelines.

Results

Of the 1,184 patients who met criteria, 33.5% had no guideline deviations, 54.1% had one, and 12.5% had more than one. The most common type of deviation was higher than recommended antibiotic dosing. Treatment in the PCC was associated with a lower number of guideline deviations (OR 0.5, 95% CI 0.3,0.9, p=0.021). Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity was associated with greater odds of undertreatment (OR 1.6; 95% CI 1.1, 2.3; p=0.011).

Conclusions

Treatment in the PCC was associated with a lower number of guideline deviations. Additionally, Hispanic or Latinx ethnicity was associated with higher odds of antibiotic undertreatment. This preliminary data demonstrates that there is an opportunity for systems- based guideline implementation for delivery of equitable care and improved antimicrobial stewardship for all patients.
Clinical impact of metagenomic next-generation sequencing testing on cerebrospinal fluid in a pediatric cohort with suspected central nervous system infections
Authors: de Lorenzi-Tognon Mikaël , Benoit Patrick , Brazer Noah , Servellita Venice , Oseguera Miriam , Streithorst Jessica , Hillberg Melissa , Ingebrigtsen Danielle , Zorn Kelsey , Wilson Michael , Blicharz Timothy M , Wong Amy P , O’Donovan Brian , Murray Brad , Miller Steve , Chiu Charles Y
Published: January 2025

Conflicts: M.D.T., P.B., N.B., V.S., M.O., J.S., M.H., D.I., M.W. declare no conflict of interests. A.P.W., B.O., T.B., B.M. and S.M. are employed by and own equity in Delve Bio. C.Y.C. is a founder of Delve Bio and on the scientific advisory board for Delve Bio, Flightpath Biosciences, Biomeme, Mammoth Biosciences, BiomeSense and Poppy Health. He is also an inventor on US patent 11380421, “Pathogen detection using next generation sequencing”, under which algorithms for taxonomic classification, filtering and pathogen detection are used by SURPI+ software. C.Y.C. receives research support from Delve Bio and Abbott Laboratories, Inc.

Background

Clinical metagenomic next-generation sequencing (mNGS) testing of cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) has been shown to improve diagnostic yield in suspected central nervous system (CNS) infections. However, real-life impact on patient care and outcomes, especially for children, remains poorly understood.

Methods

We retrospectively evaluated the clinical impact of mNGS testing in a cohort of 194 pediatric patients at University of California, San Francisco, reviewing cases of suspected CNS infections who underwent CSF mNGS testing from 2016 to 2023.

Results

Patients had a median age of 9 years [IQR 2 – 16], 43.6% females, 93.3% inpatient, 65.6% requiring an intensive care unit stay, and 31.3% immunosuppressed. Mortality at day 60 post-mNGS testing was 8.7%. Positive and clinical negative impact of CSF mNGS testing was observed in 37.6% and 0.52% of cases, respectively. Of the 23 clinically-relevant positive mNGS results, concomitant CNS infection was ruled out in 16 cases (69.6%), brain biopsy was avoided in 6 cases (26.1%), and new infectious diagnoses were identified in 5 cases (21.7%). mNGS results led to a management change in 2 cases (8.7%), whereas the results from two additional cases prompted a public health intervention.

Conclusion

CSF mNGS testing had a positive clinical impact in 37.6% of our pediatric cohort. Among the 62.4% of cases with no impact, more than half may have yielded actionable results with an 44.4% decrease in assay median turnaround time (from 9 to 4 days). Prioritizing strategies to reduce assay turnaround time would likely improve patient care management and enhance the clinical impact of CSF mNGS testing.
Socioeconomic and Demographic Differences in Rates of Penicillin Allergy Labels in Children
Authors: Siddiqui Zoya , Lee Brian R , Nedved Amanda , McKinsey Jennifer , Benedict Frances Turcotte , Missel Brandi , Pandya Aarti , El Feghaly Rana E
Published: January 2025

Corresponding author: Rana E. El Feghaly MD, MSCI, Department of Pediatrics, Division of Infectious Diseases, Children’s Mercy Kansas City, 2401 Gillham Rd, Kansas City, MO 64108. relfeghaly@cmh.edu; 816 234 3061

Conflict of Interest: REE and AN received funding from Merck for an investigator-initiated grant on reducing health inequity in antimicrobials prescribing for respiratory infections in pediatric urgent cares. All other authors report no conflict of interest.

Background

Penicillins are the most widely prescribed antibiotics. Of the 10% of children with a penicillin allergy label (PAL), 95% do not exhibit a type 1 hypersensitivity allergic reaction following exposure. This study aimed to investigate whether sociodemographic factors, such as race, ethnicity, primary language spoken, insurance type, and area deprivation index (ADI), a tool used to quantify relative socioeconomic conditions of neighborhoods, are associated with PALs in children.

Methods

We performed a retrospective chart review of children ≤19 years evaluated in our pediatric urgent care centers and emergency departments from July 2022-June 2023. We collected patients’ self-reported race, ethnicity, language, use of interpreter, and insurance type, in addition to zip code used to calculate ADI. Multivariable logistic regression models identified groups with higher odds of PALs.

Results

We reviewed 183,692 patients’ charts and found 11,669 (6.3%) patients with PAL. After adjusting for different sociodemographic variables, compared to White Non-Hispanic (NH) children, children of almost all races and ethnicities were less likely to have PALs. Compared to children with Medicaid, children with commercial insurance were more likely to carry a PAL (aOR 1.11, CI 1.03, 1.2, p 0.007), while patients who self-pay were less likely to have PALs (aOR 0.67, CI 0.56, 0.8, p <0.001). Compared to patients not requiring language services, patients who required Spanish language services were less likely to have PAL s(aOR 0.57, CI 0.45, 0.72, p <0.001). Finally, patients from higher ADI deciles (i.e., the neighborhoods with greater socioeconomic disadvantages) were less likely to have PALs (Tables 1 and 2).

Conclusions

In addition to race, socioeconomic status, reflected by insurance and ADI, was also associated with differences in PAL rates. We are now conducting a quality improvement project to reduce inaccurate PALs, with an increased awareness of socioeconomic and demographic variables, to improve health equity among our patients.

Table 1: Comparison of the demographics of children with penicillin allergy labels compared to those without a penicillin allergy label

Table 2: Logistic Regression models depicting the odds ratio of a penicillin allergy label in our patient population
Moyamoya phenomenon following clipping of intracranial aneurysm: case report
Authors: Inam Masna B , Bakhsh Ali , Khattak Mohammed , Chandran Arun , Yousaf Jawad
Published: January 2025

Subarachnoid haemorrhage from aneurysmal rupture is a common emergency in neurosurgery. Depending on aneurysm position, morphology, size, associated clot, and symptoms, it is either managed by endovascular occlusion or by clipping. Here we report the first known case of secondary Moyamoya phenomenon following the clipping of a supraclinoid internal carotid artery Aneurysm. After making a complete recovery following clipping, this patient developed headaches 6 years later. Angiographic imaging revealing Moyamoya phenomenon characterized by total distal arterial occlusion and development of anastomotic collaterals. This phenomenon may be caused by neuroinflammation and suggests a tailored neuroimaging follow-up is required for such patients.
Nasopharyngeal carcinoma with unusual metastatic spread to the spine and meninges: a case report with literature review
Authors: Yassen Salma Swadi , Al-Badri Sajjad Ghanim , Aldarawsha Ali Naser , Elazab Mohamed Samy , Alawad Asdah , Hameedi Ameer Dhahir , Hamid Abdulrahman Khaldoon , Hasan Hussein Mohsin , Al-Fatlawi Nabeel , Asghar Hasan Ali
Published: January 2025

Nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC) is an epithelial malignancy commonly associated with Epstein–Barr virus infection. While bone, liver, and lung metastases are well-documented, central nervous system (CNS) involvement, particularly spinal and meningeal metastases, is extremely rare. We present a 41-year-old male with nasal obstruction and diplopia, diagnosed with locally advanced NPC. After treatment with chemotherapy and intensity-modulated radiotherapy, the patient achieved excellent locoregional control. However, months later, he developed persistent back pain, and imaging revealed metastatic deposits in the spine and meninges. Histopathological analysis confirmed metastatic NPC despite resolution of the primary tumor. The patient received palliative radiotherapy and intrathecal chemotherapy, but disease progression highlighted the aggressive nature and poor prognosis of CNS metastases in NPC. This case underscores the need for advanced imaging, histological confirmation, and tailored therapies in managing rare NPC metastases, with long-term follow-up and innovative therapies critical for improving outcomes in advanced disease.
On the Hegemony of Ancestral Sin in Early Greek Thought: A Hesitation
Authors: Spencer Daniel H
Published: January 2025

This article aims to challenge the common view that virtually all early eastern thought on the doctrines of the Fall and Original Sin favours what has come to be called Ancestral Sin, or the ‘eastern view’. To begin, Ancestral Sin is broadly outlined in conversation with several recent writers; it is noted in particular the ways in which this tradition has often been defined in opposition to quintessentially ‘western’ emphases vis-à-vis the origin of sin. This serves as a foundation for the remainder of the article, where the hamartiological thought of Tatian, Melito, Theophilus, and Irenaeus is considered against the backdrop of Ancestral Sin as previously demarcated. It is concluded that though each thinker no doubt shares important affinities with Ancestral Sin, the discordances evidenced are both too plentiful and too substantial to overlook, so much so as to cause appreciable hesitancy about a straightforward ‘eastern’ ascription. A fundamental east/west divide on original sin is, in the earliest years at least, not so certain as is sometimes assumed.
Comparative transcriptomics pinpoints conserved and specific transcriptional responses to phosphorus limitation
Authors: Pant Pooja , Duan Hui , Krom Nick , Huertas Raul , Scheible Wolf-Rüdiger
Published: January 2025

Translating biological knowledge from Arabidopsis to crop species is important to advance agriculture and secure food production in the face of dwindling fertilizer resources and biotic and abiotic stresses. However, it is often not trivial to identify functional homologs (orthologs) of Arabidopsis genes in crops. Combining sequence and expression data can improve the correct prediction of orthologs. Here, we conducted a large-scale RNA sequencing based transcriptomics study of Arabidopsis, Medicago, Brachypodium, and Setaria grown side-by-side in phosphorus (P)-sufficient and P-limited conditions to generate comparable transcriptomics datasets. Comparison of top 200 P-limitation-induced genes in Arabidopsis revealed that ~80% of these genes have identifiable close homologs in the other three species but only ~50% retain their P-limitation response in the legume and grasses. Most of the hallmark genes of the P-starvation response were found conserved in all four species. This study reveals many known, novel, unannotated, conserved, and species-specific forms of regulation of the transcriptional P-starvation response. Identification and experimental verification of expressologs by independent RT-qPCR for P-limitation marker genes in Prunus showed the usefulness of comparative transcriptomics in pinpointing the functional orthologs in diverse crop species. This study provides an unprecedented resource for functional genomics and translational research to create P-efficient crops.
The Jewish Question in Exile – Ludwig Marcuse as a Critic
Authors: Clancett Manuel
Published: January 2025

This article explores the often overlooked and largely forgotten contributions of Ludwig Marcuse (1884–1971), a writer, cultural critic, and philosopher and a pivotal figure among German-Jewish émigrés in France and the United States. Despite his considerable influence on renowned contemporaries, Marcuse’s own work (œuvre) remains underrecognized. The objective of this article is twofold: first, to reconstruct Marcuse’s intellectual engagement within its historical context; and second, to analyze a notable instance of his critical activity—specifically his involvement in a debate on the Jewish Question (1933–1935) during his French exile, conducted in dialogue with Lion Feuchtwanger, Arnold Zweig, and Alfred Döblin. To this end, the first part reconstructs Marcuse’s life, shaped by his experiences in exile, and shows how his intellectual background evolved amidst the disastrous political conditions in Europe within the milieu of the Weimar émigrée. Beginning in 1933, the four authors examined whether Zionism, Jewish nationalism, and a redefinition of Jewish identity could address the pressing issues faced by European Jews at the time. The second part, where this debate is revisited, aims to contribute to a better understanding of the different assessments of Zionism by the Weimar intellectual circle in exile.
The evolution of HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis in Uganda from 2010 to 2022
Authors: Walukaga Stewart , Fieberg Ann , Musubire Abdu , Tugume Lillian , Ssebambulidde Kenneth , Kagimu Enock , Kasibante John , Rutakingirwa Morris K , Mpoza Edward , Gakuru Jane , Akampurira Andrew , Jjunju Samuel , Mwesigye James , Muzoora Conrad , Nuwagira Edwin , Bangdiwala Ananta S , Williams Darlisha A , Rhein Joshua , Meya David B , Boulware David R , Hullsiek Kathy Huppler , Rajasingham Radha ,   the ASTRO team, Ndyetukira Jane Francis , Ahimbisibwe Cynthia , Kugonza Florence , Namuju Carolyne , Sadiq Alisat , Namudde Alice , Mwesigye James , Cresswell Fiona V , Kandole Tadeo Kiiza , Kirumira Paul , Okirwoth Michael , Luggya Tony , Kwizera Richard , Mukaremera Liliane , Lofgren Sarah M , Stadelman Anna , Morawski Bozena , Rolfes Melissa A , Wiesner Darin L , Najjuka Grace , Nanteza Catherine , Mushagara Rhina , Bahr Nathan , Namawejje Mariam , Ssennono Mark , Kiragga Agnes , Taseera Kabanda , Nabeta Henry W
Published: January 2025

Given extensive improvements in access to antiretroviral therapy (ART) over the past 12 years, the HIV and cryptococcal meningitis landscapes have dramatically changed since 2010. We sought to evaluate changes in clinical presentation and clinical outcomes of people presenting with HIV-associated cryptococcal meningitis between 2010 and 2022 in Uganda. We analyzed three prospective cohorts of HIV-infected Ugandans with cryptococcal meningitis during 2010–2012, 2013–2017, and 2018–2022. We summarized baseline demographics, clinical characteristics at presentation, and 2-week and 16-week mortality. Overall, 2022 persons had confirmed cryptococcal meningitis between 2010 and 2022. In the most recent 2018–2022 cohort, 48% presented as ART-naïve, and the median CD4 cell count was 26 cells/µl. Participants in the 2018–2022 cohort had the lowest cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) opening pressure (median 22 cmH2O) and the highest percentage with sterile CSF quantitative cultures (21%) compared with earlier cohorts (P < .001 for both), signifying a less severely ill population presenting with cryptococcal meningitis. Two-week mortality was lowest among participants with cryptococcal meningitis enrolled in a clinical trial in the 2018–2022 cohort at 13% compared to 26% in both 2010–2012 and 2013–2017 (P < .001). While AIDS-related deaths have dramatically declined over the past 12 years, cryptococcosis persists, presenting challenges to HIV program implementation. Two-week mortality has improved in the most recent cohort, likely due to the establishment of cryptococcal screening programs, better supportive care including scheduled lumbar punctures, and the availability of flucytosine—an essential component of antifungal therapy.
Testing disc reprocessing models for AGN optical variability by comparison of X-ray and optical power spectra of NGC 4395
Authors: Beard M W J , MᶜHardy I M , Horne K , Cackett E M , Vincentelli F , Santisteban J V Hernández , Miller J , Dhillon V S , Knapen J H , Littlefair S P , Kynoch D , Breedt E , Shen Y , Gelbord J
Published: January 2025

It is generally thought that active galactic nucleus (AGN) optical variability is produced, at least in part, by reprocessing of central X-rays by a surrounding accretion disc, resulting in wavelength-dependent lags between bands. Any good model of AGN optical variability should explain not only these lags, but also the overall pattern of variability as quantified by the power spectral density (PSD). Here, we present $\sim$daily g′-band monitoring of the low-mass AGN NGC 4395 over 3 yr. Together with previous Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) and Gran Telescopio Canarias (GTC)/HiPERCAM observations, we produce an optical PSD covering an unprecedented frequency range of ∼seven decades allowing excellent determination of PSD parameters. The PSD is well fitted by a bending power law with low-frequency slope $\alpha _{L} = 1.0 \pm 0.2$, high-frequency slope $2.1^{+0.2}_{-0.4}$, and bend time-scale $3.0^{+6.6}_{-1.7}\,$ d. This time-scale is close to that derived previously from a damped random walk (DRW) model fitted to just the TESS observations, although $\alpha _{L}$ is too steep to be consistent with a DRW. We compare the observed PSD with one made from light curves synthesized assuming reprocessing of X-rays, as observed by XMM–Newton and Swift, in a disc defined by the observed lags. The simulated PSD is also well described by a bending power law but with a bend two decades higher in frequency. We conclude that the large-amplitude optical variations seen on long time-scales are not due to disc reprocessing but require a second source of variability whose origin is unknown but could be propagating disc accretion rate variations.
From Galaxy Zoo DECaLS to BASS/MzLS: detailed galaxy morphology classification with unsupervised domain adaption
Authors: Ye Renhao , Shen Shiyin , de Souza Rafael S , Xu Quanfeng , Chen Mi , Chen Zhu , Ishida Emille E O , Krone-Martins Alberto , Durgesh Rupesh
Published: January 2025

The Dark Energy Spectroscopic Instrument Legacy Imaging Surveys (DESI-LIS) comprise three distinct surveys: the Dark Energy Camera Legacy Survey (DECaLS), the Beijing–Arizona Sky Survey (BASS), and the Mayall z-band Legacy Survey (MzLS). The citizen science project Galaxy Zoo DECaLS 5 (GZD-5) has provided extensive and detailed morphology labels for a sample of 253 287 galaxies within the DECaLS survey. This data set has been foundational for numerous deep learning-based galaxy morphology classification studies. However, due to differences in signal-to-noise ratios and resolutions between the DECaLS images and those from BASS and MzLS (collectively referred to as BMz), a neural network trained on DECaLS images cannot be directly applied to BMz images due to distributional mismatch. In this study, we explore an unsupervised domain adaptation (UDA) method that fine-tunes a source domain model trained on DECaLS images with GZD-5 labels to BMz images, aiming to reduce bias in galaxy morphology classification within the BMz survey. Our source domain model, used as a starting point for UDA, achieves performance on the DECaLS galaxies’ validation set comparable to the results of related works. For BMz galaxies, the fine-tuned target domain model significantly improves performance compared to the direct application of the source domain model, reaching a level comparable to that of the source domain. We also release a catalogue of detailed morphology classifications for 248 088 galaxies within the BMz survey, accompanied by usage recommendations.
Identifying components of care coordination for primary brain tumor: A scoping review
Authors: Jeon Megan S , Banks Hannah , He Sharon , Carlick Thomas , Shaw Joanne M , Kelly Brian , Koh Eng-Siew , Halkett Georgia K B , Ownsworth Tamara , Chan Raymond J , Pinkham Mark B , Sansom-Daly Ursula M , Dhillon Haryana M ,   for the BRAINS Investigator Group
Published: January 2025

For people with primary brain tumors (PBT) and their carers, care coordination (CC) offers comprehensive, timely, person-centered care. This review aimed to systematically scope the breadth of literature relevant to approaches to CC for PBT. Four databases were searched (PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, and CINAHL) for empirical research, and gray literature was searched for doctoral theses, clinical guidelines, and education resources for healthcare professionals (HCPs) related to the concept/model of CC in neuro-oncology. Data were systematically evaluated and synthesized following PRISMA-SCR guidelines. From 1163 screened abstracts, 30 eligible reports were reviewed (13 addressed CC interventions, 9 narrative reports, 5 describing CC/navigator positions, and 3 clinical guidelines). Most reports described nurse-led models of care within single tertiary care centers in metropolitan settings: a single HCP acting as primary contact, educator, and liaison, screening patient/carer distress and providing referrals as key components of CC. Clinical guidelines emphasize healthcare system navigation and access to medical care in CC. A CC approach overseeing the whole PBT trajectory was lacking. Facilitators of CC included availability of HCP dedicated to CC; HCPs’ competency in relationship-based and communication skills; and improved access to resources. System-level and resource barriers to CC were identified. Knowledge about CC is largely based on descriptions of nurse-led models of PBT care. Further research is required to refine the framework of CC reflecting factors of known importance in PBT care, and identify training and support needs of HCPs who may play a pivotal role in current models of neuro-oncology CC.
Enhancing the Design of Nutrient Clinical Trials for Disease Prevention—A Focus on Vitamin D: A Systematic Review
Authors: Wimalawansa Sunil J
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This systematic review (SR) highlights principles for nutrient clinical trials and explore the diverse physiological functions of vitamin D beyond its traditional role in the musculoskeletal system related to clinical study designs.

Background

Thousands of published research articles have investigated the benefits of vitamin D (a nutrient example taken in this SR) beyond the musculoskeletal system, including the immune, pulmonary, and cardiovascular systems; pregnancy; autoimmune disorders; and cancer. They illustrated vitamin D's molecular mechanisms, interactions, and genomic and nongenomic actions.

Methods

This SR was designed to identify shortcomings in clinical study designs, statistical methods, and data interpretation that led to inconsistent findings in vitamin D–related publications. SR also highlights examples and insights into avoiding study design errors in future clinical studies, including randomized controlled clinical trials (RCTs). The SR adheres to the latest PRISMA statement, guidelines, and the PICOS process.

Results

Inappropriate or flawed study designs were frequent in clinical trials. Major failures discussed here include too short clinical study duration, inadequate or infrequent doses, insufficient statistical power, failure to measure baseline and achieved levels, and recruiting vitamin D–sufficient participants. These design errors have led to misleading interpretations. Thus, conclusions from such studies should not be generalized or used in guidelines, recommendations, or policymaking.

Conclusion

Adequately powered epidemiological studies and RCTs with sufficient vitamin D and duration in individuals with vitamin D deficiency reported favorable clinical outcomes, enriching the literature, enabling to understand its physiology and mechanisms. Proper study designs with rigorous methodologies and cautious interpretation of outcomes are crucial in advancing the nutrient field. The principles discussed apply not only to vitamin D, but also other micro-nutrients and nutraceutical research. Adhering to them enhances the credibility and reliability of clinical trials, SRs, and meta-analysis outcomes. The study emphasizes the importance of focused, hypothesis-driven, well-designed, statistically powered RCTs to explore the diverse benefits of nutrients, conducted in index nutrient deficient participants, and avoidance of study design errors. Findings from such studies should be incorporated into clinical practice, policymaking, and public health guidelines, improving the health of the nation and reducing healthcare costs.
Branched oligosaccharides cause atypical starch granule initiation in Arabidopsis chloroplasts
Authors: Heutinck Arvid J M , Camenisch Selina , Fischer-Stettler Michaela , Sharma Mayank , Pfister Barbara , Eicke Simona , Liu Chun , Zeeman Samuel C
Published: January 2025

Plant chloroplasts store starch during the day, which acts as a source of carbohydrates and energy at night. Starch granule initiation relies on the elongation of malto-oligosaccharide primers. In Arabidopsis thaliana, PROTEIN TARGETING TO STARCH 2 (PTST2) and STARCH SYNTHASE 4 (SS4) are essential for the selective binding and elongation of malto-oligosaccharide primers, respectively, and very few granules are initiated in their absence. However, the precise origin and metabolism of the primers remain unknown. Potential origins of malto-oligosaccharide primers include de novo biosynthesis or their release from existing starch granules. For example, the endoamylase α-AMYLASE 3 (AMY3) can cleave a range of malto-oligosaccharides from the granule surface during starch degradation at night, some of which are branched. In the Arabidopsis double mutant deficient in the two debranching enzymes ISOAMYLASE 3 (ISA3) and LIMIT DEXTRINASE (LDA), branched malto-oligosaccharides accumulate in the chloroplast stroma. Here, we reveal that the isa3 lda double mutant shows a substantial increase in granule number per chloroplast, caused by these branched malto-oligosaccharides. The amy3 isa3 lda triple mutant, which lacks branched malto-oligosaccharides, has far fewer granules than isa3 lda, and its granule numbers are barely higher than in the wild type. Plants lacking both ISA3 and LDA and either PTST2 or SS4 show granule over-initiation, indicating that this process occurs independently of the recently described granule initiation pathway. Our findings provide insight into how and where starch granules are initiated. This knowledge can be used to alter granule number and morphological characteristics, traits known to affect starch properties.
Recommendations For Mobilization and Manipulation Treatment and Screening for Vascular Complications in Clinical Practice Guidelines for Neck Pain: A Systematic Review
Authors: Peters Renske , Hallegraeff Joannes , Koes Bart , Van Trijffel Emiel
Published: January 2025

Objective

This systematic review aimed to determine the methodological quality of international clinical practice guidelines and the clinical credibility and implementability of recommendations regarding manipulation or mobilization treatment recommendations proposed in clinical practice guidelines for the management of people with neck pain. A secondary aim of this review was to provide an overview of recommendations for manipulation or mobilization in patients with neck pain. Manipulation or mobilization treatment of patients with neck pain is under debate for its potential risk of serious adverse events. Serious adverse events are rare, but it is the clinicians’ responsibility to thoroughly screen patients at risk of vascular complications. A third aim of this review was to describe the extent to which the included guidelines inform clinical practice about screening for the risk of complications due to vascular pathology in the cervical spine.

Methods

A systematic review of 13 electronic databases and 4 repositories was performed for potentially relevant guidelines published between January 1, 2000 and September 22, 2022. Two reviewers independently appraised eligible guidelines using Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation II (AGREE II) and Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation: Recommendation EXcellence (AGREE-REX) criteria. A best evidence synthesis was performed and screening of risk factors was assessed.

Results

A total of 19 clinical practice guidelines were included, of which 5 were of high quality. All high-quality guidelines recommend the use of manipulation or mobilization, with or without exercise. Eight (42%) guidelines described the screening of risk factors for adverse events. Two (11%) guidelines met the a priori defined criteria for screening and scored present and complete.

Conclusion

International clinical practice guidelines consistently recommend the use of manipulations and mobilizations in the treatment of neck pain. There is a notable absence of recommendations regarding the identification of patients at risk for vascular complications.

Impact

The findings of this study allow guideline developers to improve the quality of future neck pain guidelines, and to consider including vascular screening tools. Furthermore, it proposes recommendations to physical therapists interested in applying manipulations and mobilizations in the treatment of patients with neck pain.
Risk-based screening for the evaluation of atrial fibrillation in general practice (R-BEAT): a randomized cross-over trial
Authors: Murphy Robert , Waters Ruairi , Murphy Andrew , McDermott Suzanne , Reddin Catriona , Hernon Orlaith , Davies Naomi , Alvarez-Iglesias Alberto , Twomey Eamonn , O’Shea Eamon , Sloane Peter , Curran Joseph , Kiely Aoife , Waters Caitriona , Kilraine John , McDonagh Siobhan , Carney Adrian , Devane Declan , O’Donnell Martin
Published: January 2025

Background

The optimal approach to the diagnosis of atrial fibrillation in primary care is unclear.

Aim

To determine if external loop recorder (ELR) screening improves atrial fibrillation detection in community-dwelling adults with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of greater than two.

Design

Randomized cross-over clinical trial.

Methods

Community-dwelling adults ≥55 years with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of greater than two, who were deemed suitable for atrial fibrillation screening and oral anticoagulation by their general practitioner were randomly assigned to immediate or delayed ELR monitoring. The intervention period was ELR cardiac monitoring for 1 week and the usual care period was healthcare professional pulse screening and completion of electrocardiogram (ECG) or cardiac rhythm strip if pulse was identified as irregular.

Results

Of the 488 participants randomized, 244 were assigned to the immediate monitoring period (intervention) and 244 were assigned to the delayed monitoring period. Mean (SD) age was 75.0 (7.0) years and 333 participants were women (68%). Atrial fibrillation was detected in 32 of 488 participants (6.6%) in the intervention period versus five of 488 (1%) in the usual care period (absolute difference, 5.53% (3.2–7.9%), P < 0.001; number needed to screen 15 (11–23)). Twelve cases (37.5%) of ELR-detected atrial fibrillation were greater than 24 h in duration. Oral anticoagulation was initiated in all participants (n = 32).

Conclusions

Among older community-dwelling adults with a CHA2DS2-VASc score of greater than two, screening with ELR for one week was associated with a 5.5% incremental detection of new atrial fibrillation over usual care.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Register: NCT03911986
Inference with a Single Treated Cluster
Authors: Hagemann Andreas
Published: January 2025

I introduce a generic method for inference about a scalar parameter in research designs with a finite number of heterogeneous clusters where only a single cluster received treatment. This situation is commonplace in difference-in-differences estimation, but the test developed here applies more broadly. I show that the test controls size and has power under asymptotics where the number of observations within each cluster is large but the number of clusters is fixed. The test combines weighted, approximately Gaussian parameter estimates with a rearrangement procedure to obtain its critical values. The weights needed for most empirically relevant situations are tabulated in the paper. Calculation of the critical values is computationally simple and does not require simulation or resampling. The rearrangement test is highly robust to situations where some clusters are much more variable than others. Examples and an empirical application are provided.
Histone deacetylase 6 inhibition prevents hypercholesterolemia-induced erectile dysfunction independent of changes in markers of autophagy
Authors: Ihrig Colin M , Montgomery McLane M , Nomura Yohei , Nakano Mitsunori , Pandey Deepesh , La Favor Justin D
Published: January 2025

Background

Erectile dysfunction is a condition with a rapidly increasing prevalence globally with a strong correlation to the increase in obesity and cardiovascular disease rates.

Aim

The aim of the current study is to investigate the potential role of tubacin, a histone deacetylase 6 (HDAC6) inhibitor, in restoring erectile function in a hypercholesterolemia-induced endothelial dysfunction model.

Methods

Thirty-nine male C57Bl/6 J mice were divided into 3 groups. Two groups were administered an adeno-associated virus encoding for the gain of function of proprotein convertase subtilisin/kexin type 9 (PCSK9) and placed on a high-fat diet (HFD) with 1.25% cholesterol added for 18 weeks in order to induce a prolonged state of hypercholesterolemia. One of the PCSK9 groups received daily intraperitoneal injections of the HDAC6 inhibitor tubacin, while the other 2 groups received daily vehicle injections. Erectile function was assessed through measurement of intracavernosal pressure and mean arterial pressure during cavernous nerve stimulation, as well as assessment of agonist-stimulated ex vivo relaxation of the corpus cavernosum (CC). Western blotting was performed from CC tissue samples.

Outcomes

Erectile and endothelial functions were assessed, as well as protein markers of mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, and autophagy.

Results

Erectile function was impaired in the HFD + PCSK9 group throughout the entire voltage range of stimulation. However, the HFD + PCSK9 mice that were treated with tubacin experienced significant restoration of erectile function at the medium and high voltages of nerve stimulation. Similarly, ex vivo CC relaxation responses to acetylcholine and the cystathionine γ-lyase (CSE) substrate L-cysteine were reduced in the vehicle-treated HFD + PCSK9 mice, both of which were restored in the HFD + PCSK9 mice treated with tubacin. Corpus-cavernosum protein expression of CSE was significantly elevated in the tubacin-treated HFD + PCSK9 mice relative to both other groups. There were no significant differences observed in any of the protein markers of mitochondrial dynamics, mitophagy, or autophagy investigated.

Clinical translation

Histone deacetylase 6 inhibition may protect against erectile and endothelial dysfunction associated with hypercholesterolemia.

Strengths and limitations

This was the first study to investigate HDAC6-specific inhibition for treatment of erectile dysfunction. A study limitation was the exclusive focus on the CC, rather than structure and function of the pre-penile arteries that may develop a substantial atherosclerotic plaque burden under hypercholesterolemic conditions.

Conclusions

Tubacin may prevent hypercholesterolemia-induced erectile dysfunction through a hydrogen sulfide–related mechanism unrelated to regulation of mitophagy or autophagy.
Novel insights into the role of gut microbiota and its metabolites in diabetic chronic wounds
Authors: Huang Yixuan , Tang Ying , Zhao Xiaotong , Xu Murong , Chen Mingwei
Published: January 2025

Wounds in patients with diabetes present significant physical and economic challenges due to impaired healing and prolonged inflammation, exacerbated by complex interactions between microbes. Especially, the development and healing of diabetic foot ulcers (DFUs) remain an urgent clinical problem. The human gut harbors a vast microbial ecosystem comprising intestinal flora and their metabolic products. Recent advancements in research have illuminated the concept of the “gut‐skin axis,” revealing intricate relationships between gut microbiota, microbiota‐derived metabolites, and various skin diseases, including DFUs. This review aims to unravel the formation and healing process of DFUs in the context of the gut‐skin axis. We reviewed the current research progress worldwide regarding to the gut‐skin axis, compared and discussed significant changes in the microbiota colonizing the skin and gut in patients with DFUs. The roles of microbiota‐derived metabolites such as lipopolysaccharides, short‐chain fatty acids, and trimethylamine‐N‐oxide in the development of DFUs are highlighted. We also reviewed treatment strategies currently employed in clinical practice and identified potential therapeutic targets such as probiotics for treating DFUs. The need for more comprehensive experimental designs to elucidate the intricate relationship between gut microbiota and its metabolites in the context of DFUs are therefore highlighted.
It’s Not Written All Over My Face
Authors: Declercq Jana
Published: January 2025

Objectives:

Historically in medicine and beyond, the understanding of and treatment of pain is based on finding tissue injury. The fact that for chronic pain, there often is no (longer) any traceable tissue injury, in combination with the fact that pain essentially is a private experience, poses a challenge for clinical communication. This paper therefore examines how pain is linguistically and interactionally constructed as invisible.

Materials and Methods:

The qualitative approach of interactional sociolinguistic analysis is used to analyze 37 consultations and 11 semistructured interviews with patients with chronic pain, collected at a Belgian pain clinic. This fine-grained approach to studying communication provides an in-depth empirical understanding of the phenomenon under scrutiny.

Results:

The data show that pain is constructed as invisible on several levels: (1) on the biomechanical and clinical level, in terms of its lack of visible or traceable tissue injury, (2) on the level of interaction, as pain needs to be made apparent to other people through pain displays, and (3) on the social level, as chronic pain often is not visible or apparent in society more broadly.

Conclusion:

The discussion explores how on these 3 levels, notions of the abnormal or deviant body come into play, in which patients and health professionals complexly construct pain both as not normal (i.e., not a neutral or desirable state of being), whereas, at the same time, the lack of traceable tissue injury is constructed as medically normal for chronic pain. This also relates to how patients and health care providers often orient to the stigma around chronic pain.