bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Obstacles and opportunities for care collaboration through the utilisation of a preventive care process for frail older adults: a study protocol for a mixed methods study design
Authors: Boström Martina Karin , Larsson Ranada Åsa , Wijk Helle , Skott Pia , Erichsen Anette , Rothenberg Elisabet
Published: February 2025

Background

Frail older adults constitute a significant vulnerable group with complex healthcare needs requiring collaboration between various care providers and professions. Despite this requirement, there are considerable knowledge gaps in how to achieve effective collaboration. Preventive measures such as addressing pressure ulcers, falls, malnutrition and poor oral health often receive low priority compared with treating diseases or injuries. This study aims to enhance our understanding of how care collaboration in the preventive care process (PcP) using the Senior alert (SA) register could improve patient safety and equality of care for frail older adults in Sweden.

Methods

This study, conducted over 4 years, employs an explanatory mixed methods design, divided into three phases. The study protocol comprises the two first phases.

Phase 1 (quantitative)

Data from SA (2019–2021) will be analysed to compare municipalities regarding the quality of registration in the PcP. Municipalities with high and low compliance indices will be identified and analysed together with data on demographics, socioeconomics and organisation from Statistics Sweden.

Phase 2 (qualitative)

Focus group interviews will be conducted in residential care units in the municipalities identified in phase 1 with interprofessional teams and older persons/next of kin. Additionally, 30 semi-structured individual interviews with residential care managers and other relevant stakeholders will explore obstacles and opportunities for effective care collaboration.

Discussion

We foresee that the results will contribute to the development of a model for effective PcP and care collaboration that can be used to improve patient safety and quality of care for frail older adults. This model can be tested and upscaled to achieve a more effective and equitable healthcare system.

Ethics and dissemination

The study has been approved by the Swedish ethical review authority. Dissemination plans involve publications, data deposition and engagement with healthcare stakeholders to ensure the practical application of the findings.
Clinicians’ experience with infographic summaries from the BMJ Rapid Recommendations: a qualitative user-testing study among residents and interns at a large teaching hospital in Switzerland
Authors: Hirschel Tiffany , Vandvik Per , Agoritsas Thomas
Published: February 2025

Objective

Clinicians need trustworthy clinical practice guidelines to succeed with evidence-based diagnosis and treatment at the bedside. The BMJ Rapid Recommendations explore innovative ways to enhance dissemination and uptake, including multilayered interactive infographics linked to a digitally structured authoring and publication platform (the MAGICapp). We aimed to assess user experiences of physicians in training in various specialties when they interact with these infographics.

Design

We conducted a qualitative user-testing study to assess user experience of a convenience sample of physicians in training. User testing was carried out through guided think-aloud sessions. We assessed six facets of user experience using a revised version of Morville’s framework: usefulness, understandability, usability, credibility, desirability and identification.

Setting

Setting include Geneva’s University Hospital, a large teaching hospital in Switzerland.

Participants

Participants include a convenience sample of residents and interns without restriction regarding medical field or division of care.

Results

Most users reported a positive experience. The infographics were understandable and useful to rapidly grasp the key elements of the recommendation, its rationale and supporting evidence, in a credible way. Some users felt intimidated by numbers or the amount of information, although they perceived there could be a learning curve while using generic formats. Plain language summaries helped complement the visuals but could be further highlighted. Despite their generally positive experience, several users had limited understanding of key GRADE (Grading of Recommendations Assessment, Development and Evaluation) domains of the quality of evidence and remained uncertain by the implication of weak or conditional recommendations.

Conclusion

Our study allowed to identify several aspects of guideline formats that improve their understandability and usefulness. Guideline organisations can use our findings to adapt their presentation format to enhance their dissemination and uptake in clinical practice. Avenues for research include the interplay between infographics and the digital authoring platform, multiple comparisons and living guidelines.
Incidence rate and associated patient characteristics of liver disease in Wales 2004–2022: a retrospective population-scale observational study
Authors: Gao Jingwei , Akbari Ashley , Ahmed Haroon , Davies Aled , Yeoman Andrew , Pembroke Thomas Peter Ignatius
Published: February 2025

Objective

To describe the incidence and key demographic, socioeconomic and clinical characteristics of individuals with liver disease in Wales.

Design and setting

This study is designed as a retrospective observational study that linked data of anonymised identified individuals from primary, secondary care and mortality data from the Secure Anonymised Information Linkage (SAIL) Databank in Wales.

Participants

All Welsh residents who registered with a SAIL-contributing general practitioner (GP) and diagnosed with liver disease from 2004 to 2022.

Primary and secondary outcome measures

Our primary outcome is the annual age-standardised incidence rate of liver disease. Secondary outcome is the numbers and frequencies of underlying aetiology and the associated comorbidities.

Results

Between 2004 and 2022, 111 098 individuals received a diagnosis of liver disease in Wales and were included in this study. The incidence of liver disease increased threefold during the study period (97.7 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2004 to 316.2 per 100 000 inhabitants in 2022). A total of 79 992 individuals (72%) entered the cohort with the underlying aetiology of liver disease, including alcohol-related liver disease, non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD), viral hepatitis, metabolic, haemochromatosis and autoimmune liver diseases. NAFLD has contributed to most of the change in incidence.

Conclusions

We observed increasing incidence rates of liver disease in Wales, with NAFLD showing a particularly sharp increase and frequently identified as an underlying condition. A better understanding of the incidence of liver disease is the first step towards effective prevention, early detection and targeted intervention to improve patient outcomes.
Patterned Electrochemical Deposition through Local Heating of Electrodes
Authors: Lee Serin , Fleuren Nils F. J. , Pinkowitz Ainsley , Ross Frances M.
Published: February 2025

The ability to control the rate and nature of electrochemical deposition at different locations on a single electrode could enable pattern generation and the formation of functional structures with dimensions that are smaller than the electrodes themselves. Here we explore the kinetics of this effect by incorporating a heater beneath an electrode to increase the deposition rate locally. For galvanostatic copper deposition from acidified copper sulphate, we perform deposition in a liquid cell in the transmission electron microscope to measure the deposited thickness as a function of time. We show that the Cu deposition rate can double for a temperature rise of 20 °C, but the enhancement occurs only at early times, after which the growth rate converges to the unheated value. We model the factors responsible for the enhancement and conclude that the excess material deposited is limited by diffusion. We discuss opportunities for deposition patterned in this way to control thickness, composition or structure.
Carbon monoxide produced by HO-1 upregulation is the main factor behind the abnormal motility seen in experimental ulcerative colitis in mice
Authors: Zhao Mengchao , Lei Yaru , Wang Mengyuan , Chen Yixin , Hou Shaozhang , Dai Xinyuan , Gao Di , Liu Yudan , Mazet Bruno , Sha Lei
Published: February 2025

The colonic motility is altered in patients with ulcerative colitis (UC), but the mechanism is not clear. Carbon monoxide (CO) is the molecule regulating the resting membrane potential (RMP) gradient across colonic smooth muscle wall. Changes in RMP will affect the contractility of smooth muscle. In this study, we investigated the altered colonic motility in dextran sodium sulfate-induced UC mice and the role of CO. The results showed that in the UC group, the frequency of spontaneous colonic contractions was increased while the AUC was decreased compared to the control group. HO-1, but not HO-2, positive cells were increased in the colonic smooth muscle wall of UC group. These HO-1 positive cells were mainly in the myenteric plexus and PGP9.5 positive, suggesting neuronal overproduction of CO. The RMP of circular smooth muscle cells (SMC) in the colon of UC group was hyperpolarized compared to that of control group. In control group, application of CORM-3, a CO donor, altered colonic spontaneous contractions by increasing their frequency and decreasing amplitude. In UC group, ZnPPIX, a HO-1 inhibitor, reduced the frequency and increased the amplitude. CORM-3 hyperpolarized the RMP of colonic SMC and abolished its gradient in control group, while ZnPPIX depolarized the RMP of colonic SMC and restored its gradient in UC group.

Conclusions: CO produced by HO-1 upregulation is the main factor behind the altered colinic motility seen in UC mice. CO is a potential candidate as a therapeutic target for patients with UC who suffer abnormal colonic motility.
Immune checkpoint inhibitor-associated myocarditis
Authors: Jensen Garrett , Wang Xinjie , Kuempel Jacob , Palaskas Nicolas , Chen Zhishi , Yu Wei , Chen Yanping , Mohammed Haseeb , Luo Weijia , Chang Jiang
Published: February 2025

The most fatal side effect associated with revolutionary immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) cancer therapies is myocarditis, a rare and devastating complication with a mortality rate approaching 40%. This review comprehensively examines the limited knowledge surrounding this recently recognized condition, emphasizing the absence of evidence-based therapeutic strategies, diagnostic modalities, and reliable biomarkers that hinder effective management. It explores advancements in preclinical models that are uncovering disease mechanisms and enabling the identification of therapeutic targets. These efforts have informed the design of early clinical trials aimed at reducing mortality. With the growing prevalence of ICI therapies in oncology, addressing critical gaps—such as long-term outcomes and risk stratification—has become increasingly urgent. By synthesizing current evidence, this work seeks to enhance understanding and guide the development of strategies to improve patient outcomes and ensure the continued safe use of ICIs in cancer care.
Bayesian Approach for Damping Identification of Stay Cables Under Vortex‐Induced Vibrations
Authors: Zhang Jiren , Feng Zhouquan , Dai Jinyuan , Wang Yafei , Hua Xugang , Yan Wang-Ji
Published: February 2025

As the span of cable‐stayed bridges increases, so does the length of stay cables, making cable vortex‐induced vibrations (VIVs) more prominent. This is particularly evident in higher‐order multimodal VIVs, which are closely linked to the damping characteristics of the cables. Traditional operational modal analysis (OMA) methods often fail under VIV conditions due to the inadequacy of the white noise excitation assumption. Moreover, potential influences from ambient vibrations and noise contamination introduce further uncertainties into the identification results. This paper addresses these challenges by proposing a novel Bayesian method for damping identification from measured VIV responses. The proposed method, based on a single‐degree‐of‐freedom (SDOF) vortex‐induced force model and the statistical properties of the power spectral density of the VIV measurements, aims to enhance the accuracy of damping identification while effectively quantifying uncertainties of identified results. The efficacy of the proposed method is validated through simulated scenarios and applied to the field test of a stay cable in the Sutong Bridge. The results not only demonstrate the method’s high accuracy in identifying damping ratios under VIV but also highlight its capability to effectively quantify the uncertainties in the identification results. This method offers a reliable approach for investigating the evolution of damping in VIV of stay cables and enhances the understanding of the mechanisms behind higher‐order multimodal VIV.
Supplementary Movie S2 from MTH1 Inhibitor TH588 Disturbs Mitotic Progression and Induces Mitosis-Dependent Accumulation of Genomic 8-oxodG
Authors: Rudd Sean G. , Gad Helge , Sanjiv Kumar , Amaral Nuno , Hagenkort Anna , Groth Petra , Ström Cecilia E. , Mortusewicz Oliver , Berglund Ulrika Warpman , Helleday Thomas
Published: February 2025

Supplementary Movie S2
Supplementary Data S1 from MTH1 Inhibitor TH588 Disturbs Mitotic Progression and Induces Mitosis-Dependent Accumulation of Genomic 8-oxodG
Authors: Rudd Sean G. , Gad Helge , Sanjiv Kumar , Amaral Nuno , Hagenkort Anna , Groth Petra , Ström Cecilia E. , Mortusewicz Oliver , Berglund Ulrika Warpman , Helleday Thomas
Published: February 2025

Supplementary Data S1
Data from MTH1 Inhibitor TH588 Disturbs Mitotic Progression and Induces Mitosis-Dependent Accumulation of Genomic 8-oxodG
Authors: Rudd Sean G. , Gad Helge , Sanjiv Kumar , Amaral Nuno , Hagenkort Anna , Groth Petra , Ström Cecilia E. , Mortusewicz Oliver , Berglund Ulrika Warpman , Helleday Thomas
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Reactive oxygen species (ROS) oxidize nucleotide triphosphate pools (e.g., 8-oxodGTP), which may kill cells if incorporated into DNA. Whether cancers avoid poisoning from oxidized nucleotides by preventing incorporation via the oxidized purine diphosphatase MTH1 remains under debate. Also, little is known about DNA polymerases incorporating oxidized nucleotides in cells or how oxidized nucleotides in DNA become toxic. Here we show that replacement of one of the main DNA replicases in human cells, DNA polymerase delta (Pol δ), with an error-prone variant allows increased 8-oxodG accumulation into DNA following treatment with TH588, a dual MTH1 inhibitor and microtubule targeting agent. The resulting elevated genomic 8-oxodG correlated with increased cytotoxicity of TH588. Interestingly, no substantial perturbation of replication fork progression was observed, but rather mitotic progression was impaired and mitotic DNA synthesis triggered. Reducing mitotic arrest by reversin treatment prevented accumulation of genomic 8-oxodG and reduced cytotoxicity of TH588, in line with the notion that mitotic arrest is required for ROS buildup and oxidation of the nucleotide pool. Furthermore, delayed mitosis and increased mitotic cell death was observed following TH588 treatment in cells expressing the error-prone but not wild-type Pol δ variant, which is not observed following treatments with antimitotic agents. Collectively, these results link accumulation of genomic oxidized nucleotides with disturbed mitotic progression.
Significance:
These findings uncover a novel link between accumulation of genomic 8-oxodG and perturbed mitotic progression in cancer cells, which can be exploited therapeutically using MTH1 inhibitors.

See related commentary by Alnajjar and Sweasy, p. 3459
A Political Analysis of the Constitutional Provisions of Self-Rule in Ethiopia’s Ethnic Federal System
Authors: Gelaneh Getent Addisu
Published: February 2025

Today, federalism is used as a means of accommodating the diversity of different groups with diverse interests by minimizing the chances of minority groups controlling the majority around the world. Ethiopia established a de facto federal system in 1991 and a legal system in 1995 to manage the diverse interests of its ethnic groups. As pillars of federalism, autonomy and self-determination must be treated fairly for the benefit of all ethnic groups. In a divided society like Ethiopia, autonomy and representation of the middle class become even more important. Although the country’s constitution invests heavily in protecting the autonomy and representation rights of minority groups, Ethiopia’s federal system shows gaps in fully implementing these rights at the local level. This is largely due to legal loopholes and other practical issues that manifest themselves in the form of interference from government officials and incumbent political parties. The paper aimed to investigate the Ethiopian constitutional and legal provisions on minority nationality self-administration using the Awi nation council administration as a case study. To address the objectives of the study, the researcher employed a qualitative approach with a case study as the study design and used primary and secondary data sources. Primary data collected from the key informant interview and focus group discussions Secondary data was also collected from different books, reports, journals, published and unpublished proclamations, conference papers, dissertations, the federal democratic republic of Ethiopia constitution, and the revised Constitution of Amhara. The researcher used purposive sampling and thematic data analysis. With the view to realizing the right of self-administration in the Ethiopian federal structure, the finding of the study has revealed that self-rule is expressed through the distribution of self-determination, cultural autonomy, and effective political participation. The researcher argues that putting the equal recognition of the minority groups under the fake federal system is not sufficient rather the practical implementation of the minority ethnic groups under the different levels of government activities should get the attention of the minority group rights.
From Opaque Mysteries to Lucid Lenses
Authors: Cattaneo Marcello
Published: February 2025

This article analyses an overlooked phenomenon in the history of Reformed Hebraism in the era of ‘high orthodoxy’ (c. 1640–1720), namely the increasing interest in Kabbalah as an ancient tradition of ‘mystical’ exegesis. It enquires into the reasons that propelled this interest, proposing that they are to be found in the attempt to elaborate an acceptable notion of an allegorical sense of Scripture that was current in antiquity, as well as in the insistence (which was of particular importance in anti-Remonstrant polemics) that the Trinity and the divinity of the Messiah were known to the ancient Jews through the Old Testament and its interpretation. Finally, the article shows how these ideas developed in the more specific context of Dutch Reformed theology, where Kabbalah was understood by some scholars (especially around the Groningen professor Jacob Alting) as evidence of the spiritual dimension inherent in the Mosaic covenant.
Martin Luther, Kabbalah, and Jewish Magic
Authors: Burnett Stephen G.
Published: February 2025

Martin Luther concerned himself with Kabbalah at two points during his long career as a theologian. From 1513 to 1519, he first considered and then rejected Kabbalah as a kind of spiritual ‘ladder’ that allowed believers a fuller experience of the otherwise ‘hidden’ God. Later, in 1543, he wrote against the Jews’ ‘superstitious’ beliefs about the tetragrammaton and kabbalistic ‘magic’ generally. This essay will consider the sources of Luther’s kabbalistic knowledge, his understanding of what Jews believed about Kabbalah, and how Kabbalah fit into Luther’s own views concerning Jews and Judaism more generally. Luther believed that the devil was involved in promoting Kabbalah and Jewish magical practices both to deceive its practitioners and their followers, and as a way of redirecting worship away from the true God.
Gershom Scholem and Christian Kabbalah
Authors: Campanini Saverio
Published: February 2025

This paper tries to shed light on the value and limitations of the label ‘Christian Kabbalah’ for our knowledge of the historical phenomenon it describes. It works out how Christian scholars approached Kabbalah for a variety of reasons, be they instrumental, polemicizing or glorifying approaches, or for further motives. In addition, the article examines how the basic lines of the field of research around the Kabbalah in general were established and which impulses emanated from Gershom Scholem in particular. It concludes with an examination of Scholem’s religious philosophy with regard to his own research interest in the Kabbalah, which goes, in Scholem’s words, beyond historiography in some cases. Scholem described academic research on Kabbalah as ‘ironic’ and this irony affects his own ambivalent attitude towards the Christian Kabbalists of the Renaissance and the early modern epoch.
The State of the Social Sciences in Iran
Authors: Kamrava Mehran
Published: February 2025

The project of indigenizing the social sciences in Iran and coming up with a distinctively Iranian-Islamic social scientific framework has had little success. Despite repeated state efforts and an impressive intellectual pedigree, the failure of the indigenization project is rooted in the structural limitations of the evolution of the social sciences in Iran on the one hand, and the political environment and pressures placed upon it on the other. The rising popularity of social science fields since the 2000s has so far not translated into a deepening understanding of social science disciplines per se. Meanwhile, the state’s championing of the indigenization project, which in practice has meant Islamization, has been its very undoing. The ultimate outcome has been the underdevelopment of the social sciences in Iran, whether as general fields of inquiry or as an indigenous framework for better understanding the country’s social conditions.
Alternative Paradigms or Ideological Alignment?
Authors: Tavasoli Atieh
Published: February 2025

This article delves into the paradoxical evolution of Islamic social science, where criticism of “Western” paradigms intersects with alignment with state authority, leading to the suppression of alternative perspectives within academia through the political intervention of the state to stabilize specific knowledge. The notion of the “Islamic University” in Iran reflects a broader suspicion of “Western” social sciences as cultural and political infiltration, aligning with the state’s project of establishing a “modern Islamic civilization” (Tamadon-e Novin-e Eslami). This demand for Islamic social science underscores the intertwined nature of academia, politics, and cultural identity in post-revolutionary Iran. The novelty of this article lies in its illustration of how this perspective on social sciences, entwined with political power, articulates specific notions about the ‘West’ and ‘Western’ social sciences. My focus is on the three significant projects championed by the state and its key representatives, aiming to critique “Western” social sciences and explore alternative paradigms. Firstly, the Heideggerian approach, spearheaded by Reza Davari Ardakani, the emeritus professor of philosophy at the University of Tehran and former member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, critiques Western social sciences. Secondly, influenced by critics of modernity like Foucault and Eric Voegelin, the approach was represented by Hossein Kachu’iyan, a Sociology professor at the University of Tehran and a former member of the Supreme Council of the Cultural Revolution, who seeks alternative perspectives instead of sociology. Lastly, drawing from traditional Islamic sources and thinkers, the third approach represented by Hamid Parsania aims to establish Islamic social science.
Comparative Analysis of Investigative Bodies in a Three-Tier Criminal Justice Model
Authors: Koishubaeva Arailym , Sadvakassova Adel , Khanov Talgat , Fetkulov Alikzhan , Birzhanov Kairat
Published: February 2025

This study develops a theoretical framework for understanding Kazakhstan’s three-tier criminal justice model, emphasizing recent legislative changes and insights from international practices. The primary focus is to examine how investigative bodies operate within this structure, drawing comparisons with similar models in Germany, France, and Italy. Employing methodologies such as statistical analysis, analogy, generalization, and comparative legal and formal legal approaches, the study identifies unique regulatory features across Kazakhstan and European countries, shaped by respective national interests. The three-tier model, encompassing investigative, judicial, and prosecutorial branches, each with distinct functions, offers insights for optimizing Kazakhstan’s criminal justice system. This analysis contributes actionable recommendations for improving Kazakhstan’s investigative processes by aligning with best practices in criminal law systems worldwide, ultimately aiming to enhance procedural efficiency, safeguard human rights, and strengthen the integrity of criminal investigations in Kazakhstan.
Systematic evaluation of molecular genetic, morphological and acoustic variation reveals three species in the Litoria revelata complex (Anura: Pelodryadidae)
Authors: PRICE LUKE C. , HOSKIN CONRAD J. , MAHONY MICHAEL J. , DONNELLAN STEPHEN C.
Published: February 2025

We used a combination of nuclear and mitochondrial genetic data, body measurements and colouration, and male advertisement calls to analyse the systematic implications of variation in the whirring treefrog Litoria revelata complex, which occurs in three allopatric populations—north-eastern New South Wales/south-eastern Queensland, mid-eastern Queensland, and northern Queensland. The three populations each form divergent lineages for both the nuclear (single nucleotide polymorphisms; SNP) and mitochondrial datasets and are diagnosable also on the basis of morphology and advertisement calls. In combination, we use these lines of data to recognise three species: L. revelata in north-eastern New South Wales/south-eastern Queensland, L. eungellensis sp. nov. in mid-eastern Queensland, and the resurrected L. corbeni in northern Queensland. We provide a preliminary conservation assessment for each species, with the latter two species being localised to very small upland areas and warranting conservation listing and attention.
Rubmacula, a new leafhopper genus from China (Hemiptera: Cicadellidae: Deltocephalinae)
Authors: CHENG MENGSHA , ZHANG LAN , XING JICHUN
Published: February 2025

A new leafhopper genus from China, Rubmacula gen. nov., with R. lvchunensis sp. nov. as type species is described and illustrated. The type specimens of the new species are deposited in the Institute of Entomology, Guizhou University, Guiyang, China (GUGC).
Discovery of Papilio bianor Cramer, 1777 (Lepidoptera: Papilionidae) in the Central Ryukyus, Japan: inference of the dispersal pathway based on morphological and genetic analyses
Authors: MAKITA SHU , ARATA SATOSHI , ITO HAYATO , OSAWA NATSUKO , ENDO HIDEKI , YAGO MASAYA
Published: February 2025

More than 120 species of migrated butterflies have been recorded in the Ryukyu Islands, Japan. Biogeographically, it is important to investigate the origins and characteristics of these species as they might establish populations after accidental migration. In August 2016, a Papilio (Achillides) butterfly was collected on Sesoko Island, approximately 600 m from Okinawa Main Island. Although Papilio (Achillides) ryukyuensis Fujioka is native to this area, the individual had different wing markings from this species. To identify the butterfly and infer its origin, both morphological and genetic analyses were conducted. Morphological analysis indicated that the identification was either Papilio bianor thrasymedes Fruhstorfer from Taiwan or Papilio bianor bianor Cramer from Mainland China. Subsequently, genetic analyses confirmed that the individual should be assigned as P. b. thrasymedes. This suggests that it was migrated from Taiwan, possibly influenced by Typhoon No. 10 of 2016.
Comments on Neoconocephalus Karny, 1907 (Orthoptera, Tettigoniidae, Conocephalinae) species described by Salvador de Toledo Piza Jr.: The first contribution to the knowledge of South American species
Authors: ANTUNES ANDRÉ FONSECA , SOUZADIAS PEDRO G. B. , TAKIYA DANIELA MAEDA
Published: February 2025

Neoconocephalus Karny, 1907 is the third largest genus of Tettigoniidae with 129 valid species. Distributed throughout the American continents, it has been the subject of several faunal, bioacoustic, and phylogenetic studies, but never focused on the South American fauna. Type material of 19 Neoconocephalus species described by Professor Salvador de Toledo Piza Júnior (1898–1988) deposited at the Museu de Entomologia of the Escola Superior de Agricultura “Luiz de Queiroz” (MELQ), Universidade de São Paulo, Brazil, was revised. The following nine species are considered valid (with proposed junior synonyms): Neoconocephalus boraceae Piza, 1952, N. boraceanus Piza, 1983, N. corumbaensis Piza, 1969, N. curitibensis Piza, 1952 (= N. rioclarensis Piza, 1975 syn. nov.), N. gaucho Piza, 1969 (= N. creusae Piza, 1970 syn. nov.), N. guyvalerioi Piza, 1972 (= N. precarius Piza, 1975 syn. nov., = N. matogrossensis (Piza, 1983) syn. nov.), N. incertus (Piza, 1958) (= N. ferreirai (Piza, 1971) syn. nov., = N. lavrensis Piza, 1971 syn. nov., = N. paravicinus Piza, 1973 syn. nov., = N. riparius (Piza, 1983) syn. nov., = N. xiphophorus Piza, 1975 syn. nov.), N. karollenkoi Piza, 1983, and N. vittatus (Piza, 1973) (= N. spitzi Piza, 1983 syn. nov.). Based on the study of additional specimens deposited in five other Brazilian collections, these valid species are redescribed and external morphology photographs are provided. In addition, known distribution of these species is updated, including 23 new records for the nine species for ten Brazilian states.
Osteology-based phylogeny and systematics implications of the genus Asio (Strigiformes, Strigidae)
Authors: POSSO SÉRGIO ROBERTO , SALOMÃO CAMILA CARDOSO
Published: February 2025

We present the first phylogenetic analysis of Asio based on an osteological dataset comprising 35 characters (cranial and postcranial) from 36 specimens representing seven species. Parsimony analysis resulted in a single tree (50 steps, CI = 0.72, RI = 0.75): ((Asio otus ((Asio stygius (Asio clamator/Asio grammicus))) ((Asio solomonensis ((Asio capensis/Asio flammeus))))). This topology supports the previously proposed synonymization of Pseudoscops and Nesasio into Asio, based on molecular phylogenetic studies. The primary discrepancy between morphological and molecular datasets lies in the relationships among A. otus, A. grammicus, and A. clamator. Our results provide support (Bootstrap = 100, Bremer = 12, and 17 synapomorphies) for a sister relationship between A. grammicus and A. clamator. Conversely, molecular phylogenies suggest a closer relationship between A. clamator and A. otus. Additionally, we present the first phylogenetic placement of A. stygius, which our analysis identifies as most closely related to the A. grammicus/A. clamator clade (Bootstrap = 56, Bremer = 6, and eight synapomorphies). This finding aligns with the shared Neotropical distribution and we suggest A. grammicus likely evolved from an isolated ancient lineage shared with A. clamator. Significantly, the observed intraspecific osteological variation highlights the necessity for further taxonomic investigations to elucidate species diversity within Asio, particularly within the A. flammeus and A. clamator complexes.
Larval data suggest a species complex in Athanas dimorphus Ortmann, 1894 (Decapoda: Alpheidae): Description of the zoea I from Western Atlantic and larval review of Athanas Leach, 1814
Authors: PASINATTO KARMINE , BOCHINI GABRIEL LUCAS , ALMEIDA ALEXANDRE OLIVEIRA , TEROSSI MARIANA
Published: February 2025

The shrimp Athanas dimorphus is considered an alien species in Western Atlantic. Larval morphology is known from the Indian Ocean, but it has been suggested that the species could actually be a species complex. Our aim was to describe the first zoeal stage of A. dimorphus from Brazil, review the larval morphology of Athanas and document inter- and intraspecific morphological variability within the genus and its taxonomic implications. Our descriptions and illustrations were based on larvae hatched in the laboratory from two females sampled in Pernambuco, which were compared to larval descriptions from the literature review. Morphological variations were found among first stage zoeas of this species from four localities (Brazil, Egypt, India and Pakistan), mainly in relation to segments, setae and aesthetascs of the antennule; setae on the basis of the maxilla; segments on the endopod of the second maxilliped and setae on the telson. The larval data analyzed here supports that A. dimorphus comprises a species complex. A taxonomic revision of this species complex, including specimens from Tanzania (type locality), is needed based on integrative taxonomy using adult and larval morphology (adults and larvae) coupled with genetics.
Contribution to the Mexican Hyperaspidini: Hyperaspis picta (Gorham, 1899) comb. nov. (Coleoptera: Coccinellidae)
Authors: SZAWARYN KAROL , NESTORARRIOLA JORGE ISMAEL
Published: February 2025

This study presents a detailed morphological analysis of the previously neglected genus Semra Özdikmen (=Cinachyra Gorham), following the discovery of a female specimen and the re-examination of the male holotype. The analysis reveals that Semra shares key characteristics with the genus Hyperaspis Chevrolat from the tribe Hyperaspidini, supporting the synonymization of both genera, as a result a new combination Hyperaspis picta comb. nov. is proposed. Despite this, Hyperaspis picta remains very distinctive species due to its unique coloration and surface texture, setting it apart from other American species of Hyperaspis.
On the taxonomy of Ptychognathus andamanicus Alcock, 1900 (Crustacea: Decapoda: Brachyura: Varunidae) from the Andaman Islands, India
Authors: PATEL HERIS , MENDOZA JOSE C. E. , BINEESH K. K. , MITRA SANTANU , TRIVEDI JIGNESHKUMAR N.
Published: February 2025

The identity of “Ptychognathus andamanica Alcock, 1900” originally described from Saddle Hill in North Andaman Island, India, is clarified. This species was synonymized with Ptychognathus riedelii (A. Milne-Edwards, 1868) based on the morphological characters of female specimens described by Alcock, 1900. A re-examination of the sole remaining syntype female (deposited in the Zoological Survey of India collection and herein designated as the lectotype) and a fresh male specimen collected from the Andaman Islands revealed that P. andamanicus is morphologically distinct from P. riedelii. Hence, P. andamanicus is herewith considered as a valid species. Ptychognathus andamanicus is redescribed and illustrated in the present study and its morphological differences with P. riedelii are discussed in detail.
Learning Through a Language: The Unresolved Question of Mother Tongue in a Multi-ethnic Society
Authors: Gayan Gargi
Published: February 2025

With the emergence of the concepts like democracy and equality, the idea of imparting mass education emerged. It advocated the principle of imparting a common curriculum to all through a standard language. Standardised language as a medium of education thus does not necessarily have democratic potential. In this article, I draw from an ethnographic study of a multi-ethnic government school in Assam to argue that (a) the idea of mother tongue as a taken-for-granted category in a culturally diverse and socio-economically unequal context needs to be questioned; (b) the gap between the social and cultural world of teachers and students is a major obstacle for learning; and (c) a centralised understanding of teacher’s training and assessment of student’s quality does little to improve learning.
Chinese music in Sydney, Australia, and new modes of transmission: The case of a community conservatory
Authors: Wang Ke , Webb Michael
Published: February 2025

Chinese people have performed their music in Sydney (Australia) for well over a century, albeit with fluctuating frequency and mostly to Chinese audiences. Since 2015, interest in Chinese music has been mounting in Sydney. This case study explores the experiences of nine instructors who teach Chinese musical instruments at a private music conservatory which one of them founded. The data collected reveal that: teaching Chinese music in a multicultural diasporic context involves a range of unique challenges; while there has been an increase in the number of people learning Chinese musical instruments, the music is still not widely known or popular in Australia, and; the study’s participants are successfully employing a range of novel strategies to address some of the challenges and to raise the music’s public profile. The study uncovers aspects of Chinese music’s dynamism in a multicultural context, and the vibrancy it brings to Australia’s contemporary culture.
Early Kasai portoenterostomy in a 9-day-old newborn with extrahepatic biliary atresia: a case report highlighting improved prognosis with prompt intervention
Authors: El-Shabrawi Mortada H.F. , Eltagy Gamal , Qinawy Mohamed , Oshi Mohammed Am , Algethami Amjad , Alhujayri Nawaf A , Alharthi Shaker S , Alelyani Abdullah M , Kamal Naglaa M
Published: February 2025

Extrahepatic biliary atresia (EHBA) is a leading cause of neonatal cholestasis, often resulting in end-stage cirrhosis and portal hypertension without early diagnosis and treatment. This report highlights the importance of timely intervention, describing a 6-day-old male newborn diagnosed with EHBA who underwent successful Kasai portoenterostomy at 9 days of age. While the procedure is typically performed within the first 60 days of life, this exceptionally early intervention led to significantly improved outcomes. Postoperative recovery was marked by bilirubin normalization within 2 months and steady improvement in liver function tests, demonstrating the advantages of early surgery. The procedure involved creating a Roux-en-Y hepatic portojejunostomy to restore bile flow, preventing progression to biliary cirrhosis. Early intervention achieved effective bile drainage and substantial clinical improvement. At the 1-year follow-up, the infant displayed normal growth and liver function. This case supports the hypothesis that performing Kasai portoenterostomy earlier than current guidelines recommend may lead to better outcomes. It underscores the need for vigilant neonatal care to recognize early signs of cholestasis and enable prompt surgical intervention. Early diagnosis and intervention can preserve liver function, potentially delaying or preventing the need for liver transplantation.
Relationship between the ultrasound features of different molecular subtypes of breast cancer and positive PD-1/PD-L1 expression
Authors: Yan Ruiqian , Li Haixia , Gao Junxi
Published: February 2025

Objectives

To analyze differences in programmed cell death protein 1/ligand 1 (PD-1/PD-L1) expression, as well as the relationships between ultrasound/contrast-enhanced ultrasound characteristics and PD-1/PD-L1 expression, among invasive breast cancer molecular subtypes.

Methods

The study included 172 invasive breast cancer patients with surgical resection and pathological confirmation at the First Affiliated Hospital of Xinjiang Medical University from June 2016 to April 2022. PD-1/PD-L1 expression was detected by immunohistochemistry. All patients underwent conventional ultrasound and some underwent contrast-enhanced ultrasound examination before resection.

Results

PD-1 and PD-L1 were expressed in 112 and 121 cases, respectively. The luminal B and HER-2 subtypes had the lowest and highest PD-1 expression rates, respectively. The luminal B and triple-negative subtypes had the lowest and highest PD-L1 expression rates, respectively. Among 112 PD-1-positive cases, most luminal B cases exhibited ill-defined margins, while distant metastasis was more common in triple-negative cases. Among 121 PD-L1-positive cases, many HER-2-positive and triple-negative cases presented as large masses (diameter ≥ 2 cm), while luminal B cases were more likely to show calcification. Most luminal B PD-L1-positive cases displayed indistinct margins on contrast-enhanced ultrasound.

Conclusions

PD-1 expression differed among molecular subtypes of invasive breast cancer. Ultrasound/contrast-enhanced ultrasound features correlated with PD-1/PD-L1 expression in different breast cancer subtypes.
Beyond Postpositivism: Dialectics, Epistemology, and Critical Sociology with Adorno and Horkheimer
Authors: Day Cameron
Published: February 2025

A broad “postpositivism” characterizes the epistemological basis of contemporary sociology. Nevertheless, sociology remains a multiparadigmatic discipline, home to approaches that differ greatly from each other in method. In this article, I examine questions of epistemology in sociological research by revisiting Adorno and Horkheimer’s critiques of positivism in German sociology. I argue that Adorno and Horkheimer’s articulation of an alternative critical theory provides four central features that remain novel in sociology today: (1) the refusal of a priori methodological or data protocol, (2) a strongly interpretive approach to theorization, (3) a necessarily totalizing approach to theorization, and (4) an active and overt political Marxism. I conclude by comparing implications of Adorno and Horkheimer’s critical sociology with Burawoy’s extended case method, with which it shares many features yet remains distinct.
Potential Risk Factors for Psychosis in Parkinson’s Disease: A Review of Cohort and Case-Control Studies
Authors: Davydow Dimitry S. , Okun Michael S. , Pontone Gregory M.
Published: February 2025

Background

Among neuropsychiatric sequelae of Parkinson’s disease (PD), psychosis may have the most adverse impacts on prognosis and quality of life.

Objectives

To summarize and critically review the literature on potential risk factors for psychosis in PD, with particular focus on potentially modifiable risk factors.

Methods

We conducted a literature review using PubMed and EMBASE. We included articles if: (1) the study population was comprised of patients with PD, (2) the presence of psychosis was systematically ascertained through clinician diagnosis, clinical outcome assessments and/or administrative data, and (3) potential risk factors were examined prior to the onset of psychosis.

Results

Twenty-six studies (15 prospective cohort, 10 retrospective cohort, 1 retrospective case-control) of 21 patient cohorts (n = 15,535 unique patients) were included in the review. Ten studies included minor phenomena in their definition of psychosis. The most consistent potential risk factors for psychosis were sleep disturbances, particularly rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder and autonomic dysfunction. Potentially modifiable risk factors for psychosis included excessive daytime sleepiness and exposure to anticholinergic medications and levodopa. Possible biomarkers for psychosis in PD included reduced striatal dopamine transporter binding on imaging and mutations in the GBA gene.

Conclusions

Several studies have identified potentially modifiable risk factors for the development of psychosis in PD. Future studies should utilize consistent, validated definitions of psychosis and focus on increasing understanding of, and developing interventions for, potentially modifiable risk factors for psychosis in patients with PD.
Impact of Commodity Trading and Risk Management (CTRM) Digital Capabilities on Operational Performance: An Empirical Assessment of Oil and Energy Trading Firms of UAE
Authors: Chandrasekharan Rajesh Nellissery , Baser Narayan
Published: February 2025

The commodity trading and risk management (CTRM) system is crucial in the oil trading business, providing real-time data and analytics to manage risks, optimise trading strategies and streamline operations in the volatile oil markets. This research examines the impact of digital solution capabilities like data management, data analytics and trade risk management via the CTRM system on the operational performance of UAE oil trading firms through decision-making quality. Primary data was collected through a structured questionnaire from 72 oil and energy trading firms in the UAE. The data analysis was done with the structural equation modelling technique through Smart PLS software. The findings revealed that the data management capabilities have a direct positive impact on operational performance and quality of decision-making. However, data analytics does not significantly impact operational performance, suggesting that analytics alone is not sufficient to enhance decision-making quality. This study has managerial implications for commodity trading firms to enhance CTRM digital solutions’ capabilities, particularly in data and trade risk management with improved operational performance and decision-making quality, offering valuable insights for industry professionals and decision-makers seeking a competitive edge in the commodity trading sector.
Characterization of linear quadrupoles operated with amplitude-asymmetric sinusoidal waveforms
Authors: Ivanov Alexander I. , Sysoev Alexey A. , Konenkov Andrew N. , Konenkov Nikolai V.
Published: February 2025

The stability regions formed by the asymmetric sinusoidal shape of the periodic supply potential of the quadrupole mass filter are calculated, with the signal duty cycle [Formula: see text]. Two cases are considered, when [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], where [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] are the amplitudes of the positive and negative parts of the sinusoid. Stability islands are revealed, where the QMF operation is possible by changing amplitude [Formula: see text] without DC potential. For the values [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], the mass selected instability mode with a resolution of about 7000 is found. In this island, the potential well depth reaches its maximum along the Y coordinate. At the amplitudes [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text], stability regions are formed, the operation in which allows reaching [Formula: see text]. The results of the transmission and excitation contours modeling confirm the validity of the method for calculating the stability diagrams of a linear quadrupole with asymmetric sinusoidal waveform.