bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Di Huang Yi Zhi Fang improves cognitive function in APP/PS1 mice by inducing neuronal mitochondrial autophagy through the PINK1-parkin pathway
Authors: Zhang Limin , An Hongmei , Zhen Rongrong , Zhang Tong , Ding Minrui , Zhang Mengxue , Sun Yiguo , Gu Chao
Published: January 2025

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is an irreversible age-related neurodegenerative condition characterized by the deposition of amyloid-β (Aβ) peptides and neurofibrillary tangles. Di Huang Yi Zhi (DHYZ) formula, a traditional Chinese herbal compound comprising several prescriptions, demonstrates properties that improve cognitive abilities in clinical. Nonetheless, its molecular mechanisms on treating AD through improving neuron cells mitochondria function have not been deeply investigated.

Objective

This study administered DHYZ to APP/PS1 mice to explore its potential therapeutic mechanisms in AD treatment.

Methods

APP/PS1 transgenic mice were given DHYZ (L, M, H), donepezil, or distilled water for a consecutive 12-week period. The Morris water maze test was used to assess memory capacity, transmission electron microscopy was used to observe mitochondrial and synaptic structures, immunohistochemistry and western blot detected proteins involved in the mitochondrial autophagy pathway, ELISA measured serum Aβ content, and terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling assessed neuronal cell apoptosis.

Results

DHYZ demonstrates a notable therapeutic impact on mice with AD, effectively improving cognitive and memory impairments. DHYZ decreases Aβ accumulation in the hippocampus by reducing BACE1 activity and enhancing Aβ clearance through the blood-brain barrier. Additionally, DHYZ significantly suppresses neuronal apoptosis, enhances synaptic structure, and increases synapse numbers, processes strongly linked to the activation of mitochondrial PINK1-Parkin autophagy.

Conclusions

DHYZ enhances cognitive function in APP/PS1 mice by stimulating neuronal mitochondrial autophagy through the PINK1-Parkin pathway.
Immune cells: Mediators in the metabolites and Alzheimer’s disease
Authors: Zhang Erdong , Dai Fengqiu , Tao Ling , Chen Yanqin , Chen Tingting , Shen Xiangchun
Published: January 2025

Background

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that predominantly affects elderly individuals across the globe. While genetic, environmental, and lifestyle factors are known to influence the onset of AD, the underlying mechanisms remain unclear.

Objective

To elucidate the intricate interplay between metabolites and immune cell activation in the ethology of AD, and to determine their collective impact on AD risk.

Methods

We conducted a comprehensive analysis of genome-wide association studies data to examine the relationships between metabolites, immune cell phenotypes, and the risk of AD. Our study encompassed a comprehensive examination involving 731 distinct immune cell types, 1400 metabolites, and a large cohort comprising10,520 AD cases with 401,661 controls. We employed univariate Mendelian randomization to assess bidirectional relationships between metabolites and AD, metabolites and immune cells, as well as immune cells and AD. Subsequently, multivariate Mendelian randomization was then applied to evaluate the potential mediating role of immune cells on the relationship between metabolites and AD.

Results

Specific metabolites, the histidine/pyruvate ratio and homoarginine, were positively associated with the risk of AD, mediated by immune cells. Conversely, 4-hydroxycoumarin and glycolithocholate sulfate showed protective associations against AD. Immune cell markers, CD64 on monocytes and HLA DR on CD14+ CD16− monocytes were linked to higher AD risk, while CD33dim HLA DR+ CD11b− myeloid cells and HLA DR on CD8+ T cells were protective.

Conclusions

This study highlights the critical role of immune cells in the pathogenesis of AD, demonstrating how their interaction with specific metabolites influences disease risk.
Differences in brain volume in individuals with mild cognitive impairment and normal cognition across different anatomical regions: The Atherosclerosis Risk in Communities (ARIC) study
Authors: Mijares Diaz Fernando , Orlando Alessandro , Schneider Andrea LC , Pike James R , Jack Clifford R , Deal Jennifer A , Sharrett A Richey
Published: January 2025

Background

Mild cognitive impairment (MCI) represents a stage between cognitively normal and Alzheimer's disease. Despite much published research on MCI, there continues to be a knowledge gap of volumetric brain changes in MCI versus cognitively normal (CN) in racially diverse, community-based samples.

Objective

The study aimed to understand differences in volume of selected brain regions in individuals with MCI versus those who are cognitively normal.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study with 1835 participants, which sampled all cognitively impaired participants (n = 667) and a subsample of cognitively normal participants from the ARIC neurocognitive study (ARIC-NCS). All individuals underwent a brain MRI. Two models (5 versus 22 regions of interest [ROI]) were built to analyze differences in brain volume between cognitively normal and MCI, and among 3 cognitive domains (memory, language, executive function). Using previous visits data, we estimated the standard deviations of 20-year cognitive decline equivalent to the difference in brain volume between MCI and CN.

Results

Every lobe was significantly smaller in individuals with MCI, with the largest difference observed in the temporal lobe. Moreover, there was a significant difference between MCI and CN in every subregion within the temporal lobe. The difference in volume between CN and MCI was equivalent to the total brain volume difference associated with a 1.24 standard deviation greater long-term cognitive decline.

Conclusions

Loss of volume in all cortical lobes, but particularly in the temporal lobe, was associated with MCI. Additionally, significant volume differences were observed in the temporal lobe in all three cognitive domains.
Cognivue Clarity® characterizes amyloid status and preclinical Alzheimer's disease in biomarker confirmed cohorts in the Bio-Hermes Study
Authors: Galvin James E , Kleiman Michael J , Estes Paul W , Harris Heather M , Fung Ernest
Published: January 2025

Background

Cognivue Clarity® is an FDA-cleared computerized cognitive test to screen for cognitive impairment included in the Bio-Hermes Study to test blood-based and digital biomarkers’ ability to screen for mild cognitive impairment (MCI) and Alzheimer's disease (AD). A subset of cognitively normal individuals have amyloid deposition (Preclinical AD) but no current assessment can identify these individuals in the absence of expensive biomarkers.

Objective

We examined differences in Cognivue Clarity performance between amyloid positive and amyloid negative individuals and whether Cognivue Clarity could differentiate True Controls (cognitively normal/amyloid negative), Preclinical AD (cognitively normal/amyloid positive), and MCI due to AD (MCI-AD, cognitively impaired/amyloid positive).

Methods

Cognivue Clarity was administered to all participants in the Bio-Hermes Study who also had amyloid PET and blood-based biomarkers. Performance was compared between biomarker-defined groups: True Controls (n = 297), Preclinical AD (n = 95), and MCI-AD (n = 113).

Results

Cognivue Clarity global scores distinguished amyloid positive individuals from amyloid negative individuals ( p < 0.001) and differentiated True Controls versus Preclinical AD ( p = 0.014) and Preclinical AD versus MCI-AD ( p < 0.001). Three subtests [Shape Discrimination ( p = 0.004), Visual Salience ( p = 0.008), Adaptive Motor Control ( p = 0.004)] and the 3-test mean ( p < 0.001) differentiated True Controls from Preclinical AD. The 3-test composite correlated with Amyloid PET (r = −0.433) and pTau217 (r = −0.400). The 3-test mean identified Preclinical AD in both White and Black participants.

Conclusions

Cognivue Clarity, a 10-min computerized battery, screens for individuals with cognitive impairment, characterizes amyloid positive individuals, and identifies Preclinical AD. This has great potential as a cost- and time-effective strategy to screen and enroll in AD prevention trials.
Data solutionism at work: When public institutions meet data-driven firms
Authors: Ashuri Tamar
Published: January 2025

In recent years, public institutions have turned to data-driven firms for solutions to the many complex operational challenges they face. This study explores the growing ties between public institutions and data-driven firms by focusing on the case of the Tel Aviv Municipality and a (data-driven) startup accelerator it established in the city. Based on semi-structured interviews with the Municipality staff and with representatives of the data-driven firms in the accelerator, I present a grounded framework that outlines the characteristics of the resulting collaboration and describes the mechanisms that facilitate and contain the dynamic thereof. The framework contributes to existing research on tech companies’ involvement in public organizations by suggesting two analytical dimensions, which I term orientation and action. On both, I note various tensions, which are bound to be endemic to collaborations between a public institution and a data firm, and which account for two main motivations behind the Municipality’s actions vis-a-vis its partner data-driven firms, driven by both market imperatives and its overarching aim to benefit the public.
Paulo Freire in ECE: Towards a critical understanding and alternative narratives
Authors: Qi Yue , Sterling Henward Allison
Published: January 2025

This article explores critical understanding and alternative narratives within early childhood education (ECE) by drawing on Paulo Freire's ideas. Building on existing literature on how Freire's work has been interpreted in ECE, we continue the critical discussion on the possibilities and contextualization of Freire's ideas, particularly in the early childhood profession and workforce. We offer a reinterpretation of the pedagogy of hope and its crucial role in supporting a just and sustainable ECE workforce, emphasizing the potential for transformative changes in the field. Through a multi-year, cross-cultural ethnographic study in the US and China, we analyze teachers’ internal voices, counter-narratives, and intersectional dynamics through a Freirean lens, focusing on the well-being of early childhood professionals in culturally diverse communities.
Tribological performance and 3-D surface characterisation of age-hardened Al2090-based ceramic composites
Authors: Sharath BN , Mahesh Vinyas , Mahesh Vishwas , Kattimani Subhaschandra , Harursampath Dineshkumar
Published: January 2025

This study investigates the synergistic influence of boron nitride (BN) tertiary ceramic additives and age-hardening treatment on the microhardness and wear resistance of Al2090-based hybrid composites, fabricated using the stir casting method. X-ray diffraction (XRD), scanning electron microscopy (SEM), and atomic force microscopy (AFM) studies are carried out to assess the phases present, microstructure, and surface properties, respectively. The metallurgical investigations confirm a relatively superior uniformity in the distribution of particles and the ageing of precipitation at 150°C, vis-à-vis the other temperatures explored in this study. The experimental examinations conducted as per ASTM (E8 and G99) standards revealed a significant improvement in both the hardness and the primary tribological properties, when micron-sized boron carbide, graphite, and boron nitride were used as reinforcements. Age-hardened samples, especially the hybrid composite HS-2 with 5 wt.% each of boron carbide, graphite, and boron nitride, demonstrated an enhanced hardness of 25.23% and lower surface roughness (44.3 nm) compared to Al2090 (AS), due to the presence of load-bearing ceramic reinforcements. Increasing the applied load led to higher wear rates and coefficients of friction for Al2090. However, heat-treated hybrid metal matrix composites (HMMCs) exhibited a contrary behaviour, suggesting enhanced durability. The investigation highlighted the better wear resistance of heat-treated and near-optimally reinforced HMMCs, indicating their potential candidature for wear-resistant aerospace applications.
Beyond the haze: Media coverage of smog in Pakistan
Authors: Qusien Rabia
Published: January 2025

Smog is one of the major environmental challenges for many countries, leading to various health implications for the public across the globe, especially in the Global South. It has been affecting the most populous province of Pakistan, Punjab. A cross-sectional research design is employed to analyse media coverage of two different episodes of smog (2017 and 2019) in six Pakistani newspapers through qualitative content analysis. Systematic random sampling was employed, which resulted in a corpus of 356 news items. The analysis concluded that Urdu newspapers cover the issue of smog relatively more than English newspapers. Six frames were employed in the coverage of smog: attribution of responsibility, disaster, disaster response, public health, morality and ethics, and human interest. The media dominantly presents attribution of responsibility, disaster and disaster response, and public health frames. Overall, this research contributes to our understanding of environmental communication in the Global South and offers insight for effective reporting on smog.
Examining tourist desire to remain at chota chardham homestays: The role of religion as a moderator
Authors: Tariyal Amit , Chamoli Abhay
Published: January 2025

The present study explores the influence of tourists’ attitude (TATT), subjective norms (TSN), and perceived behavioral control (TPBC) on their intention to visit homestays (TIVHS) in Chota Chardham, the four prominent religious destinations in Uttarakhand. The study further examines the moderating effect of extrinsic and intrinsic religiosity on these relationships. Using a purposive sampling technique, 366 completed questionnaires were analyzed through structural equation modeling (SPSS 26). The results reveal that TSN is the most significant predictor of TIVHS, followed by TATT and TPBC. Moreover, religiosity significantly moderates the relationships between TATT, TSN, and TIVHS, while its moderating effect on TPBC and TIVHS was not supported. This study contributes to the religious tourism literature by integrating TPB with religiosity, offering fresh insights into the role of intrinsic and extrinsic religious motivations in shaping homestay choices. The findings provide functional recommendations for tourism stakeholders, highlighting the need to emphasize cultural, spiritual, and community-driven experiences to enhance tourist engagement in homestays.
Multi-objective optimization of bleed slot mechanism for a radial flow compressor based on stall control criteria
Authors: Altafi Davood , Mojaddam Mohammad , Pullen Keith Robert
Published: January 2025

In radial flow compressors, the ability to achieve a delayed surge margin represents a significant aspect of the design process. The challenge in optimizing surge delay techniques arises from the inherent difficulty of measuring instability within the confines of steady-state simulations. In this study, our goal is to define the objective functions necessary for optimizing surge delay techniques, thereby eliminating the direct calculation of surge margin. Using multi-objective optimization with a variety of configurations, we produced three bleed slot designs for a radial flow compressor. Subsequently, the performance of the three optimal designs were evaluated through LES and RANS simulations. To ensure a fair comparison, an unsteadiness indicator was developed that includes both the fluctuation and the average of the mass flow rate. The results indicated that reducing the incidence angle while simultaneously maximizing the pressure ratio and efficiency resulted in a bleed slot that was more effective in delaying impeller stalling. Based on the analysis of the mass flow rate across 26 impeller rotations, the optimal bleed slot demonstrated the most pronounced enhancement in impeller stability, with a 31% increase. The channel length and width of the optimized bleed slot were found to be 81% and 6% of the impeller radius, respectively. The optimized slot resulted in a flow recirculation of approximately one-fifth of the machine’s overall flow rate. This yielded an estimated increase of 2.1% in the pressure ratio of the base compressor under near-surge conditions. However, this came at the expense of a 1.3% reduction in efficiency. It is postulated that inflow excitation is the primary cause of airfoil surge delay, which is governed by the bleed flow rate and the dynamics of the bleed cells. The optimization results also confirmed the existence of a direct correlation between the incidence angle and the rate of entropy generation at the leading edge.
Vibration characteristics of a compression ignition engine fuelled with different biodiesel-diesel blends
Authors: Liu Dong , Li Lintao , Li Guoxing , Zhan Xiuyu , Gao Gengchen , Chen Haoyang , Wang Tie , Gu Fengshou
Published: January 2025

Biodiesel has wide application prospects due to its good power performance, fuel economy and emission reduction. Experimental studies have found that the measured engine vibration presents an N-shaped nonlinear trend with the increase of the biodiesel proportion in blends, which cannot be explained solely based on the combustion characteristics of blended fuels. To study the mechanisms for this nonlinear trend of engine vibration, a two-degree-of-freedom nonlinear model of piston–cylinder system was established and verified to analyse the correspondence between in-cylinder combustion behaviour and engine dynamic responses. By correlating simulation results with measured signals, it is found that the root cause of the nonlinear vibration trend is the coupling effect of in-cylinder pressure and piston inertial force. The time integral of piston lateral force in the interval from combustion top dead centre (TDC) to the subsequent piston slap ultimately determines the trend of liner vibrations. These key findings pave the fundamentals for the vibration analysis of engines fuelled with other alternative fuels, which is important for improve engine operation performances including reliability assessment and NVH control.
Dual-phase threshold selection methodology for modelling extreme events
Authors: Sakthivel K.M , Nandhini V.
Published: January 2025

Extreme value theory is a method for modelling and evaluating risks in unusual or rare situations, and it has gained popularity in risk management. In general, the probability of extreme occurrences can be assessed by fitting a probability distribution to a sample of extreme observations. It is crucial to examine the tail shape of the distribution since it affects the estimation of parameters associated with extreme events. The extreme value index is a shape parameter that quantifies the tail behaviour of a distribution. Selecting an appropriate threshold is a major challenge in extreme value analysis, especially in peaks over threshold methods. The choice of threshold significantly impacts the bias-variance trade-off in extreme value models. The choice of the threshold based on the stability plot is often subjective. To address this challenge, we have developed an efficient dual-phase threshold selection method. This approach involves trimming non-exceedances through a two-phase procedure and using the Cramér-von Mises test to assess exceedances above a suitable threshold, thereby determining the optimal threshold. Exceedances above a certain threshold typically follow the generalized Pareto distribution asymptotically. Estimates of the return levels associated with their return periods can be used to predict the statistical properties (magnitude and frequency) of upcoming exceedances. A simulation study is conducted to evaluate the effectiveness of the proposed threshold selection method.
Regional-scale bridge health monitoring: survey of current methods and roadmap for future opportunities under changing climate
Authors: Quqa Said , Lasri Othmane , Delo Giulia , Giordano Pier Francesco , Surace Cecilia , Marzani Alessandro , Limongelli Maria Pina
Published: January 2025

Climate-related extreme events are becoming increasingly frequent, posing significant threats to bridges, which are critical components of transportation infrastructure. This paper offers an overview of recent advancements in methodologies and technologies for conducting structural health monitoring (SHM) of bridges over large areas, where deploying sensors on every structure may be cost-prohibitive for local administrations. It specifically examines two approaches that have garnered interest in the past decade: indirect SHM, which involves instrumenting vehicles and analyzing their dynamic responses to infer information about bridges, and satellite interferometric radar data, which offer static displacement measurements for large regions and has recently been exploited for civil SHM purposes. Additionally, it reviews the recent developments in population-based SHM, which facilitates knowledge-sharing among structures with similar characteristics within a population. Through an analysis of the advantages and limitations of these three rapidly developing research areas, the paper outlines future opportunities and lays the roadmap for a comprehensive “regional-scale SHM” approach based on remote and/or crowdsourced data, supported by population-level analyses. Specific topics addressed include strategies for similarity assessment among monitored structures, available data sources, and feature extraction/integration approaches for different scenarios.
“The best part of their day”: Play and choice in kindergarten
Authors: Rodriguez-Meehan Melissa , Chobrda Tiffany , Haughton Van-Jay , Franz Madison
Published: January 2025

Offering choice and opportunities for play in the classroom are ways to increase children’s motivation by appealing to their needs for autonomy and competence. Research shows that implementing choice-based learning in the classroom is beneficial for children and provides multiple opportunities for collaboration and discussion. In this study, the research team applied self-determination theory, seeking to explore and report on the experiences and perceptions of free play and choice-based workstations in a kindergarten classroom. Data were collected through classroom observations, an individual interview with the teacher, and focus group interviews with the children. Additionally, children’s artifacts were collected and analyzed. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and member checking was utilized. Data was analyzed by each member of the research team, applying holistic analysis, and identifying meaning and patterns across all data. The data analysis resulted in three themes emerging, “Overall, it’s just been really, really successful,” “It’s kind of a balancing act,” and “we get to. . .” The joy of choosing. These themes were reported on in the study and were aligned with the research questions. Recommendations for school administrators, teacher educators, teachers, and families include continued advocacy for play and choice in early childhood classrooms, in addition to utilizing this study as a framework for play-based and choice-based pedagogical integration.
Expression of Plasma Levels of miRNA-181b and miRNA-21 in Patients With Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms and Their Effect on Clinical Outcome After Endovascular Treatment
Authors: Leite Túlio Fabiano de Oliveira , da Silva Elpidio Ribeiro , Evelyn Karoline , Tirapelli Daniela Pretti da Cunha , Joviliano Edwaldo Edner
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Abdominal aortic aneurysms (AAA) are major causes of morbidity and mortality in the elderly population. Endovascular aneurysm repair (EVAR) is associated with lower complications rates than conventional treatment; however, rigorous follow-up with contrast imaging is required to confirm aneurysmal sac exclusion. The main objective of this study was to quantify and evaluate miRNA expression response to EVAR based on serum dosages at the 6-month follow-up.

Population and Method:

47 patients with indication for EVAR were recruited and 10 patients without comorbidities. miRNA-181b and miRNA-21 were selected for this study and their serum dosages were measured at two time points: preoperatively and after 6 months of follow-up, and only once in the control group. Demographic profiles, clinical follow-ups, and imaging examinations with angiotomography performed preoperatively and after 6 months were collected.

Results:

Overexpression of miRNA-181b and miRNA-21 was observed in the whole blood of patients with AAA. EVAR of patients with AAA resulted in decreased expression of the studied miRNAs, indicating that exclusion of the aneurysmal sac alters the expression of these markers. In addition, the expressions of miRNAs did not correlate with endoleaks or the diameter of the aneurysm or with the different types of devices used for the EVAR.

Conclusions:

The overexpression of miRNA-181b, miRNA-21 with its reduction after EVAR, may suggest the use of these molecules as potential biomarkers in the follow-up of these patients. However, miRNAs were not able to identify possible endoleaks or discriminate them into subtypes.

Clinical Impact

The clinical application of the use of biomarkers in other areas such as oncology is already well established. In endovascular surgery it is still incipient although with great potential in daily practice, in order to anticipate or schedule possible interventions in patients with endoleak. In addition, understand the mechanisms of action of miRNAs in Atherosclerotic diseases and aortic syndromes could provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology as well as pharmacological development for AAA prevention as well as remodeling of the aneurysm sac after EVAR.
Birth Rate as a Determinant of Dementia Incidence: A Comprehensive Global Analysis
Authors: You Wenpeng
Published: January 2025

Background

The role of parity in predicting dementia risk in women is debated. This study examines how birth rate affects global dementia incidence.

Methods

Country-specific data on birth rate and dementia incidence rate were analyzed using bivariate analysis, partial correlation, and multiple linear regression. Confounding factors such as aging, affluence, genetic predisposition (Ibs), and urbanization were considered.

Results

Pearson’s r and nonparametric analyzes showed a significant inverse correlation between birth rate and dementia incidence. This relationship remained significant after controlling for aging, affluence, Ibs, and urbanization. Multiple linear regression identified birth rate as a significant predictor of dementia incidence, and as the strongest predictor. Affluence and urbanization were not significant predictors. The correlation was stronger in developing countries.

Conclusions

Lower birth rate is an independent risk factor for dementia, particularly in developed countries. These findings highlight the importance of considering birth rate in dementia studies.
Lifestyle Medicine and the Far Horizon: Before, Since, and Beyond
Authors: Katz David L.
Published: January 2025

The American College of Lifestyle Medicine was founded just over 20 years ago. As the organization grew, it incubated an impressive array of structures and processes to foster professional standards, training, credentialing, networking, and scholarship. A compelling and accelerating drumbeat of peer-reviewed publications has demonstrated the advancing base of evidence in which lifestyle medicine practice is rooted. Despite all this good effort, however, the indicators of population health that matter most—longevity and vitality and healthspan, years in life and life in years—have largely trended away from, rather than toward, aspirations. The life course of ACLM has introduced an area of great allure and tremendous promise to health professionals seeking beyond reactive disease care. The processes, structures, and knowledge are in place to advance the goals of vitality and longevity at the population level. Needed, still, are the means of translating that accumulated knowledge into the power of routine, and effective action. Those of us committed to the full potential of lifestyle both in and as medicine have promises yet to keep and miles to go before we sleep. We can, however, see the light on the horizon from here.
Is there a simple and accessible solution to improve acute infarct core imaging? The utility of steady-state CT angiographic source images obtained from a delayed phase acquisition
Authors: Mortimer Alex , Flood Richard , Dunkerton Sophie , McClelland Sarah Beth , Minks David , Crossley Robert , Wareham James , Smith Aubrey , Cox Anthony , Bosnell Rose
Published: January 2025

Background

Early identification and quantification of core infarct is of importance in stroke management for treatment selection, prognostication, and complication prediction. Non-contrast computed tomography (CT) (NCCT) remains the primary tool, but it suffers from limited sensitivity and inter-rater variability; CT perfusion is inconsistently available and commonly blighted by movement artefact. We assessed the performance of a standardised form of CT angiographic source imaging (CTASI) obtained through addition of a delayed phase at 40 seconds post-contrast injection (DP40) following fast-acquisition CT angiography.

Methods

Contrast resolution between ischaemic and normal grey matter (GM) was compared qualitatively and quantitatively to NCCT. Using Alberta Stroke Program Early CT Score (ASPECTS), DP40 low density was compared to NCCT and venous phase CT perfusion source images (CTPSI) and to 24-hour NCCT ASPECTS in patients with timely endovascular recanalisation (Thrombolysis In Cerebral Infarction 2C/3).

Results

Seventy-four patients with a proximal middle cerebral artery or terminal internal carotid artery occlusion were included. The mean attenuation difference between ischaemic and normal GM increased from 4.86+/−3.12 HU (NCCT) to 9.30+/−3.14 HU (DP40) (p < 0.0001). Subjective assessment by two raters revealed that DP40 improved ischaemic tissue conspicuity in 39 to 41 (78–82%) of cases (kappa 0.805, standard error 0.108, 95% confidence interval: 0.593–1.000). The correlation between ASPECTS on baseline imaging and eventual 24-hour ASPECTS improved from R = 0.7197 for NCCT to R = 0.9875 for DP40 (z = 7.89, p < 0.0001). The correlation between DP40 and venous phase CTPSI ASPECTS was 0.9681, p < 0.0001.

Conclusion

DP40 CTASI represent a simple technique for improving detection and estimation of extent of ischaemia over NCCT and show close correlation with surrogate measures of infarct core.
‘Emigration is Not Inevitable’: The Critique of Free Circulation and the Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and Their Families
Authors: Stokes Lauren
Published: January 2025

This article examines the idea of ‘free circulation’ in the context of the 1957 Treaty of Rome, the founding document of the European Economic Community. It also examines the critique of that right that was developed by Italian Communists, specifically Carlo Levi, Paolo Cinanni and the organization that the two men cofounded in 1967, the Italian Federation of Migrant Workers and Their Families (Federazione italiana lavoratori emigranti e famiglie [FILEF]). FILEF rapidly became the largest organization of left-wing Italian emigrants abroad. Its publications interpreted emigration not as a form of ‘free movement’, as the standard narrative of European integration would have it, but as a disguised form of forced migration. Writers for the organization argued that the ‘free circulation’ guaranteed by the Treaty of Rome was a hollow promise; the state should turn its attention to ending emigration rather than glorifying it as a purported ‘right’.
Stretching authenticity in times of restricted mobility: Transtextuality, place anchoring, and boredom in romance reality show 90 Day Fiancé: Self-Quarantined
Authors: Aitaki Georgia
Published: January 2025

The article explores the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the production and narrative strategies of the 90 Day Fiancé franchise, focusing on its spin-off, 90 Day Fiancé: Self-Quarantined (2020). It examines how the programme adapted to mobility restrictions and lockdown policies through self-filming, remote interviewing, and focusing on mundane, pandemic-specific activities. Using theories of reality TV, documentary and authenticity, the study highlights the spin-off’s negotiation of authenticity via transtextuality, place anchoring and boredom. The article contributes to understanding how pandemic-era reality TV embraced flexibility and pragmatism, blending heightened authenticity with performative elements to maintain relatability and audience engagement.
Of benches and rubble: The aesthetics of difficult memory in two South African museums
Authors: Beyers Christiaan
Published: January 2025

This article examines the commemorative strategies of two prominent South African museums, the Apartheid Museum and the District Six Museum, focusing on how remnants of destruction and systemic oppression, incorporated as memorial objects, affect the curated aesthetics of these spaces. Particular attention is paid to how rubble links museum interiors to their surrounding landscapes, with curation attributing meaning to it as a symbol of the plight of those who have been displaced or are no longer present. This is contrasted with apartheid benches, which serve as a foil for calling forth a spirit of solidarity against bigotry. The two museums are selected as case studies for their divergent approaches to shaping post-apartheid memory and redefining collective identities. The study argues that rubble generates an aura that introduces contingency into exhibitions, potentially disrupting established narratives and offering insights into the treatment of remnants of destruction at other memory sites.
The use of cannabidiol as adjunctive therapy in adult patients with drug-resistant epilepsy: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ong Marjorie Jia Yi , Abd Rahman Muhammad Samir Haziq , Lee Vanessa Lin Lin , Lee Kong Heng , Chang Carmen Jia Yinn , Khoo Ching Soong , Hod Rozita , Tan Hui Jan , Trinka Eugen
Published: January 2025

Background:

Highly purified cannabidiol (CBD), recently approved for various neurological disorders, is explored as a potential therapeutic avenue for drug-resistant epilepsy (DRE) among adult people with epilepsy (PWE) in this systematic review and meta-analysis.

Objectives:

To conduct an extensive literature review and meta-analysis of CBD use for DRE in adult PWE.

Design:

Systematic review and meta-analysis.

Data sources and methods:

We conducted a systematic review of the literature according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses guidelines and two electronic resources; we searched Ovid MEDLINE and Scopus using appropriate keywords until August 2023. Data were presented as standardized mean difference (SMD) and odds ratio with confidence interval (CI) via random effect. We appraised the risk of bias of the included studies using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool while their strength of evidence with the Oxford Centre for Evidence-Based Medicine (OCEBM) and Grading of Recommendations Assessment Development and Education (GRADE) Levels of Evidence.

Results:

We identified 16 studies, 3 of which were randomized controlled trials and 3 prospective cohort studies, while the rest were expanded access programs, deriving a total of 668 participants receiving CBD for seizure control. CBD was used concomitantly with antiseizure medications in all studies. There was a statistically significant seizure reduction in the group receiving CBD therapy compared to the placebo group (SMD: −1.50, 95% CI (−3.47, 0.47), p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

The evidence on CBD use in adult patients with DRE demonstrates a moderate level of certainty according to GRADE level and OCEBM level 2. Further prospective studies involving multiple centers are encouraged to study both the efficacy and safety of CBD in adult patients with DRE.

Trial registration:

International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (PROSPERO) 2023 CRD42023449955.
The Physical Congregation of People According to the Dimensions of the Stereotype Content Model and the BIAS Map
Authors: Chisango Tadios , Mhlanga Songile , Ngwenya Bekitemba , Mhizha Samson
Published: January 2025

With the use of community samples, we explored the application of the dimensions of the stereotype content model (SCM) and the related behavior from intergroup affect and stereotypes (BIAS) map from social perception to the actual physical congregation of people in social groups. Across two studies, our findings indicate that people congregate in social groups in accordance with the dimensions of the SCM. In turn, the findings also show behavioral intentions toward outgroups in actual social interactions that have been hypothesized in the BIAS model. We discuss the implications of the findings and offer recommendations on how to deal with conflicts that may arise as a result of interactions that are incongruent due to the warmth and competence differences.
Information Prioritization Underpins the Flexible Expression of Social Preferences Under Time Constraints
Authors: Teoh Yi Yang , Cho Hyuna , Hutcherson Cendri A.
Published: January 2025

While recent research shows how time constraints exacerbate the influence of contextual (dis)incentives on information prioritization and subsequent choice during prosocial decision-making, this emerging perspective is silent on how pervasive individual differences in dispositional social preferences might interact with these contextual factors to shape these processes. To bridge this gap, we demonstrated in a preregistered study ( N = 200 adults from the United States and Canada; Prolific Academic) that people calibrate their information priorities based on both their dispositional social preferences and contextual (dis)incentives, and that time constraints further exacerbated information prioritization that aligned with their own social preferences, in addition to information incentivized by the broader social context. Furthermore, these information priorities subsequently biased prosocial choices, extremifying people’s selfish/prosocial choice patterns under time constraints. These findings suggest that flexible information prioritization underpins people’s capacity to navigate different social interactions while balancing their own preferences against external incentives and constraints.
Outcomes of a pilot randomized clinical trial testing brief interventions to increase HIV pre-exposure prophylaxis uptake among rural people who inject drugs attending syringe services programs
Authors: Surratt Hilary L. , Brown Sarah , Burton Abby L. , Cranford Will , Fanucchi Laura C. , Green Christie , Mersch Stephanie M. , Rains Rebecca , Westgate Philip M.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Kentucky is one of seven states with high, sustained rural HIV transmission tied to injection drug use. Expanding access to pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) has been endorsed as a key HIV prevention strategy; however, uptake among people who inject drugs (PWID) has been negligible in rural areas. Syringe services programs (SSPs) have been implemented throughout Kentucky’s Appalachian region, providing an important opportunity to integrate PrEP services.

Objectives:

The primary objective was to examine preliminary efficacy and effect sizes of the study interventions on PrEP initiation among HIV-negative PWID.

Design:

Parallel group randomized controlled trial.

Methods:

Eighty participants were enrolled from two rural SSP locations in southeastern Kentucky. Following informed consent, participants completed a baseline interview, and were randomized to the intervention comparators. The primary endpoint was PrEP initiation, measured by dispensed PrEP prescription, within the 6-month study period. Analyses employed intent-to-treat (ITT) and per protocol approaches.

Results:

In total, 77/80 enrollees (96.2%) completed at least one session of their assigned intervention, regardless of trial arm. Seventy (87.5%) were linked to the embedded PrEP provider for the initial clinical visit; 38 (47.5%) completed a follow-up clinical visit with the provider, 22 (27.5%) were issued a prescription, and 7 (8.8%) initiated PrEP during the study period. We observed a 12.1% difference (14.6% vs 2.5%; ITT) and 12.8% difference (15.4% vs 2.6%; per protocol) in the primary outcome (PrEP initiation), in favor of the experimental intervention.

Conclusion:

This pilot trial established proof of concept for integrated PrEP care within SSPs in rural areas, and demonstrated a clinically meaningful difference in PrEP initiation between interventions, which warrants examination in a larger trial. Rates of early care discontinuation indicate a need for ongoing patient engagement strategies and implementation support for community SSPs.

Trial registration:

Prospective registration with ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT05037513 (registered August 5, 2021).
The benefits of being between (many) fields: Mapping the high-dimensional space of AI research
Authors: Berman Glen , Williams Kate , Cohen Eliel
Published: January 2025

This article considers how the emerging Artificial Intelligence (AI) research field is constructed, primarily in university settings. AI research is a site of significant national funding, industry investment, and media interest. As such, for researchers working across the resource-constrained science system, their relationship to the field is significant; legitimisation as an AI researcher can bring material and symbolic rewards. Through interviews (n = 90) with academics affiliated with AI-branded research organisations in the US, UK, and Australia, the article develops an empirical account of the construction of AI research as a high-dimensional field – a field that moves between multiple disciplinary and sectoral boundaries across national and international hierarchies. The article draws on the sociology of expertise and studies of research infrastructures to develop the conceptual frame of dimensionality to explain the vertical and horizontal dynamics informing the AI field's development. The article's contributions are its description of the emerging AI field, which complements critical studies of how the figure of AI is mobilised in other settings, and its extension of field theory to fluid spaces that leverage the boundary zone between several overlapping field arrangements.
Developing a codesigned text message-based digital oral health education resource (TOOTH)
Authors: King Shalinie , Church Lauren Adriel , O’Hagan Edel , Candelaria Dion , Pawar Aboli , Cooper Ashley , Chen Rebecca , Gibson Alice
Published: January 2025

Objective

Digital health technologies offer a more equitable way of providing access to health education. This study engaged consumers and clinicians from two Australian regions with a high burden of oral disease to develop a digital oral health resource called “TOOTH” tailored for adults.

Methods

A total of three focus groups (one clinician and two consumers) were conducted to identify themes that were used to draft text message content. The study team reviewed, refined, and mapped these messages to behaviour change techniques and developed videos to support key concepts.

Results

Eight multidisciplinary clinicians (dentist, oral health therapist, dietician, cardiac nurse, and dental nurse), 75% female with a mean age of 48 ± 10 years, and seven consumers from a metropolitan and a regional area in New South Wales, 43% female with a mean age 62 ± 11.6 years participated in the focus groups. Key themes identified by clinicians included (1) limited support from medical and allied health teams for integrating oral health care into the healthcare system, (2) government-supported measures enable prevention, and (3) poor oral health of Australians. Consumers highlighted (1) barriers to accessing oral health care, (2) negative attitudes towards oral health, and (3) limited oral health-related knowledge. The final resource developed includes 81 text messages sequenced to ensure a gradual increase in knowledge and skill and five supporting videos.

Conclusions

The TOOTH resource has the potential to improve awareness and knowledge regarding oral disease prevention, enabling more equitable access to oral health education and better self-management of oral health.
Psychometric properties of a physiotherapy care satisfaction scale using telerehabilitation in caregivers of pediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Gonzalez Ccosi Jessica Liz , Ricra Deysi Pedraza , Basauri-Delgado Miguel , Saintila Jacksaint
Published: January 2025

Background

Evidence on the psychometric properties of satisfaction scales in telerehabilitation is limited, especially in specific populations such as caregivers of children.

Objective

To determine the psychometric properties of a physiotherapy care satisfaction scale using telerehabilitation in caregivers of pediatric patients during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods

A total of 155 caregivers were evaluated between June and December 2020. Approximately 91% (141) were women. Evidence of content validity for the scale was obtained through evaluation by three expert judges, who confirmed the adaptation of the University of Washington Telemedicine Patient Satisfaction Survey, in which the word “telemedicine” was replaced with “telerehabilitation” and “physician” with “physical therapist.”

Results

For the confirmatory factor analysis, two models were tested. The first one-factor model with nine items did not fit satisfactorily based on the goodness-of-fit indices ( χ2/ df = 13.96, comparative fit index [CFI] = 0.963, non-normed fit index [NNFI] = 0.951, root mean square error of approximation [RMSEA] = 0.290 [0.265, 0.316], and standardized root mean square residual [SRMR] = 0.178). In contrast, the second one-factor model, which involved respecification of Items 6 and 7, was considered acceptable ( χ2/ df = 1.60, CFI = 0.998, NNFI = 0.998, RMSEA = 0.062 [0.021, 0.096], and SRMR = 0.057). Reliability was acceptable, with a value of 0.888. Additionally, network analysis confirmed the direct relationship between the items, with Item 7 showing the greatest strength centrality.

Conclusion

The instrument demonstrated sufficient evidence of validity and reliability in the Peruvian context, supporting its use with pediatric patients.