bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nucleated Red Blood Cells Secrete Haptoglobin to Induce Immunosuppressive Function in Monocytes
Authors: Takeuchi Shusuke , Fujiyama Satoshi , Nagafuji Motomichi , Mayumi Miyuki , Saito Makoto , Obata-Yasuoka Mana , Hamada Hiromi , Miyazono Yayoi , Takada Hidetoshi
Published: February 2025

Nucleated red blood cells (NRBCs) are precursors of red blood cells (RBCs), but also possess variety of immunomodulatory effects. However, among the three types of NRBCs, the immunological effects of human CD45− NRBCs remain largely unknown. We have previously shown that cord blood‐derived CD45− NRBCs and adult peripheral blood‐derived monocytes cocultured in a lipopolysaccharide (LPS)‐stimulated indirect coculture system that avoided cell‐to‐cell contact, increase IL‐10 and decrease TNF‐α secretion, suggesting an immunosuppressive function of CD45− NRBCs via an unknown soluble factor. The peripheral blood of fetuses and neonates has abundant NRBCs and is physiologically polycythemic, which may lead to the peripheral accumulation of toxic plasma‐free hemoglobin. Plasma‐free hemoglobin binds to haptoglobin, forming a haptoglobin–hemoglobin complex, which is processed within monocytes via the CD163− heme oxygenase 1 (HO‐1) axis and secretes IL‐10. Therefore, we hypothesized that NRBCs secrete haptoglobin and induce the immunosuppressive function of monocytes by activating the CD163−HO‐1 axis. We found that immunosuppressive response decreased when the coculture medium was supplemented with an anti‐CD163 blocking antibody or the HO‐1 inhibitor zinc protoporphyrin IX (ZnPP‐IX). Haptoglobin levels in the culture medium containing NRBCs were high and expressed the haptoglobin gene. Thus, CD45− NRBCs secreted haptoglobin and activated the immunosuppressive function of monocytes.
Influence Diagnostics in Gamma‐Pareto Regression Model With Cook’s Distance for Standardized and Adjusted Pearson, Deviance, and Likelihood Residuals: Simulation and Application
Authors: Saleem Nasir , Akbar Atif , Rehman Irshad Ateeq Ur , Ozdemir Burhanettin , Ahmad khan Javaria
Published: February 2025

Influential analysis is the main diagnostic process to obtain reliable regression results. Same is true for the generalized linear model (GLM). The present article empirically compares the performance of different residuals of the gamma‐Pareto regression model (G‐PRM) to detect the influential points. The G‐PRM residuals are further divided into two categories, that is, standardized and adjusted residuals. Cook’s distance has been computed for both of the stated residuals, and then comparison of these residuals for the detection of influential points has been carried out with the help of simulation and a real dataset. The simulation results show that G‐PRM standardized and adjusted likelihood residuals perform better than standardized and adjusted forms of Pearson and deviance residuals for different values of dispersion parameters and different sample sizes, using Cook’s distance to detect influential points. But standardized likelihood residuals are noted better than adjusted likelihood residuals.
Conversion as Education: Persuading the Jews in Juan Luis Vives’s De veritate fidei christianae (1543)
Authors: Vidal Doval Rosa
Published: February 2025

This article explores how the Spanish humanist Juan Luis Vives (1492/93–1540) understood religious conversion. It argues that in his earlier pedagogical and psychological works – De institutione feminae christianae (1524), De officio mariti (1529), De disciplinis (1531), and De anima et vita (1538) – Vives developed a model of education and learning which would subsequently inform his direct treatment of religious conversion in his posthumously published work De veritate fidei christianae (1543). Vives envisaged conversion as a process akin to humanistic education where an individual, guided by a teacher through a process of learning and reflection, became able to control the passions and to exercise reason in order to embrace Christianity.
A Source-Critical Translation of the Apocryphon of John (Short Recension)
Authors: Thomassen Einar
Published: February 2025

The revelation dialogue entitled The Apocryphon of John was built around an older text which had the form of a treatise. That treatise in turn made use of several sources, one of which was a version of the same treatise that Irenaeus reports in Haer. 1.29. This article offers a reconstruction of the short recension of Ap. John in its original form based on a comparison of the manuscript witnesses and visualises typographically the various layers of the text.
Gnostic and Catholic Appropriations of Platonism
Authors: Haig Albert Roland
Published: February 2025

The ancient Gnostic synthesis of Platonism with the Jewish scriptures is evaluated in contrast to that of emerging Catholic orthodoxy. Plotinus’ critique of Sethian Gnosticism provides the philosophical context for this analysis. A hurdle for both syntheses was the dissimilitude between the Biblical Yahweh and the Platonic first principle. Catholicism eventually resolved this tension by “telescoping” the Plotinian hypostases together into the Trinity, whereas Gnosticism solved it by denying that Yahweh was the true first principle. The Gnostic synthesis represents a more coherent adaptation of Platonism that leaves open the possibility of Plotinus’ vision of union with the One.
Manichaean Mythology in the Time of Justinian
Authors: Menéndez Sánchez Guillermo
Published: February 2025

This article proposes a reassessment of the mythological information collected by the abjuration formula known as Capita VII contra Manichaeos. This formula is the first anti-Manichaean work written in Greek that mentions some Manichaean mythological entities. However, in Manichaean texts, these figures appear together in a mythological exposition that describes the creation of the world, the creation of man, and the myth known as “myth of the giants.” The present study argues that the Capita VII have used a source on Manichaean mythology that does not appear to have been known by earlier anti-Manichaean texts.
Collaborating to Leverage American Heart Association's EmPOWERED to Serve Faith‐Based Networks for Methamphetamine and Stimulant Misuse Educational Campaign in Black and Hispanic Churches
Authors: Olsavsky Aviva K. , Boggs Brianna , Dehinbo Olubusola , Salem Tariq , Cason Arika , Sierra Malka , Lay Julie , Sunday Daniel , Huber Kendra , Scott Stephen , Natvig Crystal , Mikulich‐Gilbertson Susan K. , Riley Valerie , Sasson Comilla
Published: February 2025

Objective

In recent years, Black and Hispanic communities have been disproportionately impacted by growth in stimulant use disorders and overdose‐related mortality. Faith‐based institutions serve an important role in communities, and thus, community‐based interventions to enhance psychoeducation and reduce stigma are a promising area. The American Heart Association EmPOWERED to Serve program has developed health lessons through community‐based collaborations, including a video regarding stimulant use.

Methods

In collaboration with church partners, program staff and collaborators developed and implemented a 10‐min video in 12 church communities across several US states and in Puerto Rico. Implementation methods included virtual, hybrid, and in‐person forums. Six churches participated in a pre‐ and post‐video survey to assess effectiveness of the stimulant use disorder video for modifying attitudes toward substance use and for instilling knowledge about stimulant use disorders. Survey data (N = 478) were analyzed in SPSS utilizing Wilcoxon signed ranks for Likert scale responses or McNemar's tests for dichotomous data.

Results

Data suggested improvement in compassion for people with substance use and knowledge regarding stimulant use disorders. By contrast, sense of comfort in talking to loved ones with substance use and beliefs about substance use being a medical illness did not change following the video.

Conclusions

This work suggests that a brief 10‐min educational video lesson implemented by a trusted community leader is feasible and effective for reducing stigma and enhancing knowledge about substance use. Further research is required to design additional interventions and to assess for longitudinal effects.
The Association Between Epicardial Adipose Tissue Thickness and the Triglyceride-glucose Index in Prediabetic Obese Patients
Authors: Karaaslan Hüseyin , İnan Hasan , Elmas Ali Nizami
Published: February 2025

Obesity and pre-diabetes are metabolic disorders associated with insulin resistance (IR). Excess epicardial adipose tissue is also associated with increased IR. The triglyceride-glucose index (TyG) has been evaluated as an alternative measure of the IR in a variety of metabolic and cardiovascular disorders. However, its relationship with EAT thickness has not been studied yet. The study included 176 prediabetic and obese patients. EAT thickness was assessed using echocardiography. EAT thickness, TyG index, anthropometric obesity indices (body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), and waist-hip ratio (WHR)), homeostatic model assessment (HOMA-IR), and biochemical parameters were compared. The following correlations between EAT thickness and related parameters were observed: WC ( r = .529), BMI ( r = .514), ALT ( r = .358), TyG index ( r = .338), and HOMA-IR ( r = .322; P < .001 for all). Multiple regression analysis showed that WC (Beta = .428; P = .004), age (Beta = .223; P < .001), BMI (Beta = .196; P = .029), ALT (Beta = .168; P = .012), and TyG index (Beta = .128; P = .049) were the strongest independent variables correlated with EAT thickness. A model based on WC, BMI, age, TyG index, and ALT provided the best R-square (.387) for estimating EAT thickness ( P < .001). The TyG index showed a significant and independent relationship with EAT, suggesting that it may be useful as an indicator of EAT thickness.
Accommodating Success: Examining the Effects of Accessing Accommodations on Degree Completion Among Community College Students With Non-Apparent Disabilities
Authors: Freeman Jennifer A.
Published: February 2025

This study leverages the Texas Statewide Longitudinal Data System to examine the characteristics of community college students with non-apparent disabilities who access disability accommodations, including students with learning disabilities (LD), other health impairments (OHI), emotional and behavioral disorders (EBD), and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Additionally, it explores the association between accessing accommodations, the timing of initial access, and the completion of certificates, associate degrees, and vertical transfers. The analysis includes eight cohorts of students who graduated from Texas public high schools between the 2006–2007 and 2013–2014 academic years, representing approximately 28,840 students. Findings reveal that students with LD and OHI consistently show a higher likelihood of degree completion and vertical transfers when they access accommodations, regardless of which semester these supports are initially accessed. Conversely, no significant association exists between accessing accommodations and completion outcomes for students with EBD. For students with ASD, those who delay accessing accommodations until their fourth semester or beyond are less likely to complete a degree or transfer. The findings underscore the need for timely and appropriate accommodations to support academic success and highlight the importance of policies and practices that ensure equitable access to these supports.
Nursing Home Residents, Family Members, and Staff Members Views About a Good Death and Preferred Place of Death for a Nursing Home Resident
Authors: Sopcheck Janet , Tappen Ruth M.
Published: February 2025

Studies indicate that many residents prefer to die peacefully in the nursing home without pain and suffering. This qualitative study explored residents’, family, and staff members’ perspectives regarding the meaning of a good death and the preferred place of death for a resident. Data analysis of the in-person interviews in a South Florida nursing home included condensation, pattern coding, and thematic interpretation across and within the three participant groups. The two themes that emerged are die in the nursing home or the hospital and “good death” or no such thing as a “good death.” Participants described a good death as quick, painless, without suffering, quiet, peaceful, and dying in your sleep. Seven of the 15 residents chose the nursing home as their preferred place of death, although staff thought that residents would want familiar surroundings. Continued research and provider conversations with residents/families are necessary to promote good deaths for residents.
Is There a Curvilinear Trajectory of Motor Competence Across Different Weight Status? Exploring the Non-Linear Hypothesis in Adolescents
Authors: Chagas Daniel das Virgens , Joia Maria Carolina , Marinho Blena , Vasconcellos Fabricio
Published: February 2025

Background: Evidence supports that motor competence is inversely associated with weight status, yet less is known about this relationship among young people who are underweight. We hypothesized that there is a non-linear trajectory of motor competence across weight status categories (from underweight to obesity). Purpose: To check whether a non-liner relationship exists between motor competence and weight status in adolescents. Research Design: Cross-sectional study. Study sample: we assessed the motor competence of 310 participants (44.8% boys), aged 12–15 years. Data Collection: Motor competence was assessed the Korperkoordinationstest für Kinder (KTK). Weight status (underweight, normal weight, overweight and obesity) was determined using body mass index (BMI). Results: Motor competence was inversely associated with BMI in normal weight (rho = −.222, p = .001), overweight (rho = −.309, p = .028) and obesity (rho = −.663, p < .001), but not in underweight (rho = .193, p = .508). Adolescents with normal weight presented higher motor competence than those with overweight (mean difference = 17.198, p = .001) and obesity (mean difference = 31.686, p < .001). There was no significant difference in motor competence between normal weight and underweight categories. In addition, boys showed a curvilinear trajectory of motor competence, being ascendant from underweight to normal weight and then downward with increasing BMI. Polynomial regressions, fitting a non-linear model, confirmed a non-linear relationship between motor competence and BMI in boys (B = −3.534, p < .001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the inverse relationship between motor competence and BMI does not occur in adolescents who are underweight. Furthermore, our results supported the non-linear hypothesis about the relationship between motor competence and weight status in boys.
Effect of dyebath alkali in salt-free reactive dyeing of cotton to reduce effluent load
Authors: Rahman Md. Mahbubur , Hannan Dr. Md. Abdul , Hasan Md. Byzed , Abir Abrar Yasir
Published: February 2025

The conventional reactive dyeing method of cotton fabric uses a large amount of Glauber salt for exhaustion. The large quantity of salt is an indirect threat to the environment and aquatic life as it produces toxic effluents and increases the salinity of discharged water, and also creates osmotic imbalance by increasing total dissolved solids. Elevated salinity also has significant adverse effects on plant growth and agricultural production. The present work focuses on salt-free dyeing of cotton fabric with reactive Remazol Red 198 (RR198) dye in the presence of alkali. The proposed method was evaluated by the color strength and fastness properties of the dyed fabrics. Various fastness properties (color fastness to wash, water, perspiration, rubbing and light) presented satisfactory results, mostly in the range of 4–5 (on a scale of 5). The maximum color strength value ( K/S) obtained was 4.8, which is significant for optimum depth of shade. The CIE Δ E value was 0.29 for 1% shade, which is within the permitted limit. Moreover, there was no evidence of any deterioration in the fabric’s strength. Wastewater produced in the salt-free dyeing approaches had better water quality than wastewater produced using the conventional dyeing method. Therefore, from an eco-friendly dyeing perspective, the suggested dyeing procedure is attractive.
Public Organizational Culture’s Association With Quality of Working Life: The Mediating Role of Satisfaction With HRM Practices
Authors: Boulet Maude , Dextras-Gauthier Julie
Published: February 2025

Drawing on the Culture-Work-Health model, this research aims to determine public organizational culture profiles and assess the mediating role of HRM satisfaction in the relationship between public cultures and quality of working life (QWL). To achieve these objectives, a content analysis of the value statements of 26 public organizations in Quebec (Canada) was carried out, and an online survey of 784 public servants working in these organizations was conducted. The coupling of qualitative and quantitative data enabled cluster analyses and structural equation models to be performed. In Study 1, 51 public values were identified and grouped into seven categories. Cluster analysis revealed five public culture profiles: agile excellence, ethical benevolence, new public management (NPM), public interest protector, and sustainable benevolence. In Study 2, the associations between these profiles, satisfaction with HRM practices, and QWL were examined using the sample of civil servants. The results show that some types of public culture have a direct effect on QWL, while others have an indirect effect via satisfaction with HRM practices. In any case, public administrators should formulate their value statement with great interest since the articulation of the displayed values has significant implications for civil servants’ QWL.
Marriage Channels, Temporal Inequality, and Migration Decision-Making Agency: Vietnamese Marriage Migrants in Asia
Authors: Chang Hsin-Chieh , Choi Susanne Yuk Ping
Published: February 2025

Recent scholarship has examined the multiple dimensions of structural and cultural inequalities that impact the well-being of intra-Asia marriage migrants in both sending and receiving countries. One missing mechanism that may shape varied patterns of pre- and post-migration inequalities — the different marriage channels that facilitate different types of encounters between prospective brides from emerging economies and prospective grooms from advanced economies — deserves more theoretical and empirical attention. Based on over 100 life-history interviews with Vietnamese marriage migrants in Taiwan and South Korea, our analysis shows how women's meeting their foreign spouse through personal encounters, introduction networks, or commercial brokers denotes their relatively advantaged, constrained, or disadvantaged structural and cultural circumstances and, in turn, shapes the time available for them for expressing decision-making agency. We argue that marriage channel serves as an intermediate stratifying mechanism — an unequal space, reflecting migrant women's differential socioeconomic positions and gendered familial obligations in Vietnam and shaping a hidden dimension of inequality — temporal inequality — that is embedded in the processes of migration decision-making across different marriage channels. Our theorization of marriage channels and how they reflect the interplay between time for expressing agency and socio-cultural circumstances illuminates a comprehensive contextualization of the social phenomenon of intra-Asia marriage migration in the pre-migration phase. Through considering how both economic and non-economic factors shape marriage migration decision-making processes and their impacts on women's time for expressing agency across different marriage channels, our study contributes to scholarship on gender, time and women's agency, intra-Asia marriage migration, and international migration decision-making.
Imagined Exit as Voice: Americans’ Emigration Aspirations Under Obama and Trump
Authors: Marrow Helen B. , Klekowski von Koppenfels Amanda
Published: February 2025

This article interrogates whether, and if so how, political factors underlie the migration aspirations of US-born citizens—a group of people often assumed to have the privilege and options to relocate elsewhere, typically “voluntarily” and for a mix of economic or social/cultural/lifestyle reasons, rather than being pushed out politically by war, revolution, or violence. Drawing on a unique, nationally-representative panel of 1,764 US-born citizens surveyed in 2014 and 2019, and despite many media suggesting the contrary, we show that the overall prevalence and distribution of Americans’ migration aspirations period actually stayed stable during this volatile time period. Nevertheless, we do uncover evidence that political considerations do shape what aspirations US-born citizens do express, with both weaker national attachment and liberal political ideology consistently raising their odds, and political engagement operating in different directions, depending on panelists’ ideological affiliations and the specific governing regime. We discuss the relevance of these findings for literature on migration aspirations from the Global North, multicausal theories of migration, and the relationship between Hirschman’s classic concepts of loyalty, voice, and exit.
Fighting Fake News: Building Cognitive Resistance and Mental Antibodies Through a Digital Media Literacy Inoculation Intervention
Authors: Zarzosa Jennifer , Ruvalcaba Cecilia
Published: February 2025

Misinformation in digital media is growing at an exponential rate. The rapid growth of technologies such as social media and artificial intelligence necessitates the skills to navigate through the vast amount of digital media information. Education in digital media literacy is critical to ensure students do not fall prey to easily manipulated features, yet obtaining these skills is not core to business schools’ learning objectives. This article proposes the use of digital media literacy modules within marketing courses to inoculate students from misinformation tactics. Our findings indicated that if students undergo this intervention, they can combat misinformation by applying information literacy, media literacy, and technological literacy techniques. Through exposure to misinformation tactics and the strategies for assessing information, students will strengthen their defense against misinformation and increase their digital media literacy. Information on these modules, learning objectives, and specific course topics for integration are provided and discussed.
The relative (in)visibility of sociologists in the French, American, British, and German national fields (1970–2018)
Authors: Gingras Yves , Khelfaoui Mahdi
Published: February 2025

In this article, we analyze the relative (in)visibility of authors in four countries that are central to the global production of sociology: France, the United States, the United Kingdom, and Germany. A cross-comparison of these national fields shows that, although citation distributions consistently follow a power law, authors who are the most frequently cited in their national field are not necessarily those who are the most frequently cited abroad. Mapping the space of national and international visibility of authors in each analyzed country shows an invariant structure: a majority of authors are only visible nationally, fewer authors reach a large national visibility and relative international visibility, and even fewer authors reach a large national and international visibility. Thus, only a very few authors of the four countries achieve what we can call a ‘global’ visibility, which is associated with the production and circulation, through translations, of works of theoretical nature. Our findings generalize Etienne Ollion and Andrew Abbott’s analysis of the reception of French sociologists in the field of American sociology, by showing that their results have nothing specific to the French case and rather constitute a very general result that applies to the distribution of citations within any national field.
Cancers Detected on Supplemental Breast Ultrasound in Women With Dense Breasts: Update From a Canadian Centre
Authors: Gordon Paula B. , Warren Linda J. , Seely Jean M.
Published: February 2025

Objective: Breast ultrasound is one of several tools proposed for supplemental screening of women with dense breasts but is not widely available in Canada. Methods: An IRB-approved, evaluation of ultrasound-guided breast biopsies prompted by screening breast ultrasound performed from August 1, 2021, to December 31, 2022, offered to asymptomatic women with category C and D breast tissue density after normal screening mammography (2D) in the provincial organized screening program, or surveillance diagnostic mammography after breast cancer. Risk factors, stage (AJCC 8th ed), incremental cancer detection rate (ICDR), biopsy rates, and positive predictive values for biopsy (PPV3) were evaluated. Results: 5257 women were screened, yielding 247 women (ages 34-82, median age of 56) who underwent biopsies (281 masses), 32 of whom were diagnosed with breast cancer, 27 invasive and 5 DCIS for PPV3 13.0% (32/247), and ICDR 6.1/1000. Ductal cancers found were stage 0 in 5/32 (15.6%), stage 1A in 18/32 (56.3%), and stage 1B in 2/32 (6.3%), 1 ductal/lobular cancer was stage 3B (3.1%), 5 lobular cancers (16.6%) were stage 1A (1), 1B (2), and 2B (2) and 1 adenoid cystic carcinoma was stage 2A (3.1%); 3 cancers were found on incident and 29 on prevalent screens, 27 (84.4%) in category c and 20 (62.5%) in women with no personal or first-degree family history of breast cancer. Conclusion: A high ICDR for screening breast ultrasound of 6.1/1000 was found. Clinical Relevance Statement: In women with dense breasts screened with 2D mammography where access to supplemental screening with MRI and contrast mammography is limited, supplemental screening ultrasound can play a significant role in cancer detection with a high ICDR in women in both category c and d densities that is higher than in jurisdictions offering annual screening mammography, or where MRI is used for surveillance after cancer.
Advances in cryogels for drug delivery and biomedical engineering
Authors: Omidian Hossein , Wilson Renae L
Published: February 2025

Cryogels are supermacroporous materials synthesized under subzero conditions, characterized by interconnected pores that provide exceptional biocompatibility, mechanical stability, and responsiveness to environmental stimuli. This review highlights their innovative applications in controlled drug delivery and tissue engineering. Advances in pH-sensitive and stimuli-responsive cryogels have enabled precise, sustained drug release, enhancing therapeutic efficacy while minimizing adverse effects. In the field of tissue engineering, cryogels serve as biomimetic scaffolds that promote cell adhesion and regeneration, making them valuable in bone and soft tissue repair. Despite these promising developments, challenges such as mechanical fragility and scalability persist. This review discusses strategies to overcome these limitations, including advanced synthesis techniques, functionalization approaches, and predictive design tools leveraging machine learning. These efforts emphasize the transformative potential of cryogels in medicine, biotechnology, and sustainability.
Your Job Makes us Lose Sleep: The Effect of Workplace Bullying on Own and Partner’ Insomnia
Authors: Rodríguez-Muñoz Alfredo , Antino Mirko , Ruiz-Zorrilla Paula , Sanz-Vergel Ana Isabel , León-Pérez Jose M.
Published: February 2025

Exposure to bullying behaviors has been associated with a variety of negative health outcomes, such as sleep complaints. However, the current state of the knowledge is limited regarding the short-term bullying processes. Thus, we conducted research with two different time frames, to analyze short- (diary) and medium-term (monthly) associations of workplace bullying with insomnia. In the first study, we used a daily diary research design, with a sample of 147 participants ( N = 735 occasions). In the second study, we used a longitudinal design with four waves and two months of time lag, with a sample of 139 heterosexual couples ( N = 278 participants; N = 1,112 occasions). Multilevel analyses showed that, in the first study, there was an indirect effect of bullying on sleep severity through rumination. In the second study, rumination transmitted the indirect effect of bullying on sleep satisfaction and sleep impact. In addition, we found a partial mediation effect of rumination between bullying and sleep severity. Furthermore, we also found a contagion of employees’ and their partners’ insomnia symptoms (i.e., severity and sleep impact). The results of this study provide some insight into the mechanisms underlying workplace bullying’s effects on sleep and identify a differential effect based on time lag.
Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Ex Vivo–Generated Donor Antigen–Specific Immunomodulatory Cells on Pancreatic Islet Transplantation
Authors: Forgioni Agustina , Watanabe Masaaki , Goto Ryoichi , Harada Takuya , Ota Takuji , Shimamura Tsuyoshi , Taketomi Akinobu
Published: February 2025

Pancreatic islet transplantation (PITx) is a promising treatment option for patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus. Previously, we demonstrated that therapy with alloantigen-specific immunomodulatory cells (IMCs) generated ex vivo in the presence of anti-CD80 and CD86 monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), successfully induced tolerance following clinical liver transplantation. To extend IMC therapy to PITx, it is crucial to address the strong inflammatory and innate immune responses that occur immediately after PITx. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of IMCs in modulating macrophage activation and mitigating inflammatory damage of pancreatic islets. IMCs were induced using mouse splenocytes in the presence of anti-mouse anti-CD80 (RM80) and anti-CD86 (GL-1) mAbs. IMCs exerted donor-specific immunosuppressive effects in a mixed lymphocyte reaction. During lipopolysaccharide (LPS) stimulation, the addition of IMCs suppressed conversion to the M1 phenotype and promoted a shift toward the M2 phenotype, particularly under direct cell–cell contact conditions. Nitric oxide production, a hallmark of M1 polarized macrophages, was significantly reduced in LPS-stimulated RAW264 macrophages by IMC treatment. These findings were associated with reduced secretion of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumoral necrosis factor α, and interleukin-6, and increased interleukin-10 production by macrophages. IMCs effectively prevented macrophage-mediated islet destruction after 12 h of co-culture with LPS-stimulated macrophages and significantly inhibited macrophage migration toward allogeneic islets in vitro. Intraportal co-infusion of IMCs with syngeneic islets in a mouse PITx model resulted in reduced messenger RNA (mRNA) expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the recipient liver. Immunohistochemical staining revealed a significantly lower number of F4/80+ macrophages at the transplantation site in IMCs-treated mice. These results demonstrate that IMCs modulate macrophage polarization, promoting a shift toward the M2 phenotype and protecting islets from macrophage-mediated damage. These effects combined with its intrinsic donor antigen-specific immunosuppressive capacity make IMC therapy a promising strategy for improving outcomes after PITx.
The Point of No Return? Impediments to Return to Work for Injured Migrant Agricultural Workers in Two Canadian Provinces
Authors: Mayell Stephanie , McLaughlin Janet , Hennebry Jenna , Sanchez Guillermo Ventura , Goswami Pankil , Hanley Jill
Published: February 2025

Migrant agricultural workers employed through Canada's Temporary Foreign Worker Program face serious occupational health and safety hazards, with compounded difficulties in accessing workers’ compensation (WC) if they are sick or injured by the job. Little is known, however, about their ability to return to work (RTW) upon recovery—a fundamental right included in the conception of WC, but complicated by their restrictive work permits and precarious immigration status. Based on interviews with injured migrant workers in two Canadian provinces (Quebec and Ontario), our research suggests that workers’ RTW process is anything but straightforward. This article highlights three key issues—pressure to return to work prematurely, communication and bureaucratic challenges with WC agencies, and impacts of injury/illness and failure to return to work on workers’ long-term well-being. Consequences and opportunities for reform are discussed.
Care Pathways for Undocumented Migrant Children Seeking Cleft Lip and Palate Care: Institutional Experience, Current State Policies, and Opportunities
Authors: Gomez Diego A. , Palmer Skyler K. , Andrews Maureen , Porras Antonio R. , Yu Jason W. , Khechoyan David Y. , French Brooke , Nguyen Phuong D.
Published: February 2025

Timely medical care is crucial for optimal outcomes in children with cleft lip and palate. Undocumented migrant children face significant healthcare barriers. This study assesses the demographic characteristics and unmet surgical needs of undocumented children at our institution and analyzes state-level policies affecting their care.

A retrospective review was conducted at a single institution between 2023 and 2024. Medicaid and Children's Health Insurance Program policies were reviewed as of August 2024, categorizing states by immigrant child healthcare coverage.

Multidisciplinary cleft clinic in a pediatric referral center.

Ten undocumented children were included, with clinical data and immigration status collected from social work and insurance records.

Timing of initial cleft surgery, additional surgical needs, and surgical completion were assessed.

Ten undocumented children were identified, with a mean age of 7 (range 1-10) years. Eight received primary cleft surgery in their home countries, but many had unmet surgical needs, including alveolar bone grafting (n = 4), oronasal fistula closure (n = 5), and dental care (n = 3). Twelve states provide comprehensive coverage regardless of immigration status, with 2 more expected by 2025. Twenty-three states cover only certain noncitizens without a waiting period, while 14 impose a 5-year delay. Broad coverage was concentrated in the Northeast and West ( P = .002), with only one US–Mexico border state included.

This study highlights barriers undocumented migrant children face in accessing cleft care, with disparities in state-funded policies potentially delaying critical interventions. Addressing these disparities is essential for equitable healthcare access.
Physicochemical characterization, bioactive compounds, and antioxidant activity of the wild berry Ribes magellanicum
Authors: Aguilera José M , Moreno M Carolina , Toledo Tamar , Matamala Claudia
Published: February 2025

The Patagonian wild berry Ribes magellanicum has promising applications in food and nutrition due to its flavor and the presence of health-promoting bioactive compounds. Relevant chemical, physicochemical, and structural characteristics of the fruit for its utilization as food were investigated. The average moisture content was 79.3% while protein, lipids, sugars, and crude fiber amounted to 7.4, 5.8, 64.3, and 14.5 g/100 g dry fruit, respectively. Average values of fruit diameter, number of seeds, juice yield, soluble solids, and pH were determined as 5 mm, 17, 59.2%, 15.5 °Brix, and 4.3, respectively. Total phenolic compounds amounted to 2543 mg/100 g dry weight, anthocyanins to 561 mg C3G/100 g dry weight, and carotenoids to 43.3 mg/100 g oil. ORAC and DPPH values were 36.0 and 15.8 mmol TE/100 g dry weight, respectively. Linoleic acid predominated in a lipid profile that exhibited a good ω-6/ω-3 ratio (1.37). The structure of the berry consisted of a skin (exocarp) and a pulp (mesocarp) that contained many seeds representing 54% of the weight of the berry. These characteristics of R. magellanicum are similar to other wild Patagonian berries that have found applications as foods due to their convenience and the presence of abundant bioactive compounds.
The long-lasting shadow of terror and political conflict: Effects of the 2015-2016 national security events on Turkey’s inbound tourism
Authors: Alpaslan Firuze , Firgo Matthias
Published: February 2025

This paper examines the impact of the 2015-2016 national security events on inbound tourism in Turkey. Using the Synthetic Control Method (SCM), the study reveals significant and persistent causal effects on tourism metrics: Between 2015 and 2019, international tourist arrivals were 36% lower, overnight stays 41% lower, and expenditures 18% lower, on average, than in a “synthetic” Turkey constructed as a counterfactual. Although increased security stabilization from 2018 onwards helped Turkey’s tourism recover, tourism activities were still far below their counterfactuals even in 2019. This highlights a substantial negative long-term impact of severe security incidents on international tourism.
Daily fluid intake and brain amyloid deposition: A cohort study
Authors: Kim Jee Wook , Byun Min Soo , Yi Dahyun , Jung Joon Hyung , Kong Nayeong , Chang Yoon Young , Jung Gijung , Ahn Hyejin , Lee Jun-Young , Kang Koung Mi , Sohn Chul-Ho , Lee Yun-Sang , Kim Yu Kyeong , Lee Dong Young ,   for the KBASE Research Group #
Published: February 2025

Background

Little information is yet available for the association between daily water intake, a modifiable lifestyle factor, and Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathology and cerebrovascular injury in the living human brain.

Objective

Our aim was to explore the correlation between daily fluid intake and in vivo AD pathologies (i.e., amyloid-β (Aβ) and tau) and cerebrovascular injury.

Methods

287 cognitively normal (CN) older adults completed extensive clinical assessments, daily fluid intake evaluations, and multimodal brain imaging at both the initial baseline and the subsequent 2-year follow-up.

Results

Low daily fluid intake was significantly associated with a higher level or a more rapid increase of Aβ deposition, especially in apolipoprotein E4 negative individuals. Meanwhile, low daily fluid intake was cross-sectionally related with cerebrovascular injury.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that high daily fluid intake is associated with decreased brain amyloid deposition, indicating that sufficient daily fluid intake may be helpful for prevention of AD.
Learning monocular depth estimation for defect measurement from civil RGB-D dataset
Authors: Midwinter Max , Al-Sabbag Zaid Abbas , Bajaj Rishabh , Yeum Chul Min
Published: February 2025

A large quantity of civil infrastructure in North America is near the end of their design life. Consequently, the routine visual structural inspection is increasingly necessary to ensure the safety and efficient management of the infrastructure stock. The increasing need for inspections and the laborious nature of the work has caused strain on the inspection industry. To improve inspection efficacy, various researchers have proposed novel deep learning methodologies to automatically classify, detect, and segment structural defects from images. After the defects are identified, it is often desirable to quantify the size of the defect, for severity classification and repair cost estimation. Yet, the measurement from a single image for quantification is not a trivial task, requiring supplementary data or sensor inputs, which may not be practical or economical in the current inspection process. In this study, we propose to recover the three-dimensional geometry of a scene from a single image, by using deep learning-based monocular depth estimation. The monocular depth estimation field has made great progress by leveraging deep learning and a plethora of open red, green, blue, and depth (RGB-D) datasets. However, there has not been a publicly available in situ Light Detection and Ranging (LiDAR) RGB-D dataset for the civil engineering domain, which is a barrier for researchers to develop and evaluate spatial computer vision methods in the civil engineering context. To bridge this gap, we build a LiDAR-based RGB-D dataset for training monocular depth estimators. Then using the civil RGB-D dataset, we test a solution for the real-world application of monocular depth estimation to quantify defects in civil infrastructure.
Corrosion mechanism and failure analysis of 09CrCuSb acid-resistant steel in blast furnace gas environment
Authors: Liang Duoyao , Hou Lifeng , Wei Yinghui , Jia Jianwen , Du Huayun
Published: February 2025

A steel mill replaced Q235 carbon steel with 09CrCuSb acid-resistant steel for its blast furnace gas pipeline, aiming to extend service life to 9 years. However, after only 3 years, leaks were detected at the bottom of the pipelines. Detailed analysis of the service environment revealed that the pipeline temperature fell below the sulfuric acid dew point temperature following wet dust removal, resulting in a bottom solution with a pH close to 2 and a high concentration of Cl−. Through detailed observations of the failed pipeline surface and corroborating simulation experiments, we determined that this condensate environment is detrimental to the enrichment of alloy elements Cu and Sb on the acid-resistant steel surface. Instead, it promotes the formation of a loose and porous corrosion product, β-FeOOH. This resulted in localised corrosion characteristics, including the absence of a protective rust layer and severe pitting corrosion, ultimately leading to the premature failure of the acid-resistant steel.
Democratic consciousness’ discourses in history education: The Spanish curriculum
Authors: Moreno-Vera Juan Ramón
Published: February 2025

The main objective of this paper is to analyse the discourses of democratic values in the last Spanish curriculum of history education. The procedure analysis is a CDA (critical discourse analysis) following Wodak's methodology and an ad hoc instrument focusing on the description of the ideological perspectives in the curricula, the visible and invisible topics, and the type of democracy. The results showed that, in Spain, the presence of democratic consciousness has been amplified in the new curriculum. The skills and evaluation criteria are now linked to the SDG (sustainable development goals by the UN) and, also, to a multicultural and constitutional democracy. Topics like minorities, slavery, dictatorship's victims, memory, LGTBIQ + rights or gender equality are emerging in the new decree.
Physician-Modified Endografts for Non-deferrable Complex Abdominal Aortic Aneurysm Repair Using the Endurant Platform: Templates and Initial Results
Authors: Álvarez Marcos Francisco , Reyes Valdivia Andrés , De Blas Bravo Mariano , Alonso Pérez Manuel
Published: February 2025

Introduction and objectives:

Complex abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) repair often requires the use of fenestrated and branched endografts, which can be influenced by factors such as device availability, cost, and operator expertise. This study aims to evaluate the preliminary results with physician-modified endografts (PMEGs) utilizing the Medtronic Endurant platform.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of consecutive patients unsuitable for other techniques or custom-made devices, in which a PMEG Endurant was used for repair between 2021 and 2024. Bidimensional templates of the Endurant endograft were developed to ensure precise fenestration placement, which was confirmed intraoperatively with a 3D-printed aortic template. Endpoints were technical success, mortality, reinterventions, and target vessel patency.

Results:

Thirty-seven target vessels in 18 patients (mean age 79.4 ± 9 years, 94% male) were treated with Endurant main bodies (n=10, 55.6%), abdominal tubes (n=4, 22.2%), or aortic extensions (n=4, 22.2%). Mean aneurysm diameter was 70.0 ± 23 mm. Mean number of fenestrations was 2.1 ± 1 (33.3% 3-FEN or 4-FEN). The most frequent bridging stents were iCover (n=15, 40.5%), BeGraft (n=10, 27.0%), and VBX (n=9, 24.3%). Mean implantation time was 198.9 ± 90 minutes. Technical success was achieved in all but one case (n=17, 94%), with no 30 day mortality, no reinterventions, and 100% target vessel patency at a median follow-up of 10 months. Three patients (16.7%) died of non aortic-related causes. One residual type IA endoleak was adverted in computed tomography scan controls and was left untreated according to patient’s decision.

Conclusion:

PMEG utilizing the Medtronic Endurant endograft, supported by bidimensional templates and 3D-printed confirmation models, provided safe and effective short-term outcomes for complex, non-deferrable AAA repair. Long-term data and a prospective study on PMEG with a standardized protocol would allow for evidence to arise on this technique, facilitating adequate comparisons with custom-made and off-the-shelf devices.

Clinical Impact

This short series highlights the initial outcomes of physician-modified endografts (PMEG) using the Medtronic Endurant platform. Dedicated 2D templates for all Endurant sizes are provided as supplementary material, offering valuable assistance to practitioners in the vascular community. A standardized modification protocol, based on these templates along with the double-check of a sterile 3D-printed model, has allowed to achieve satisfactory short term outcomes. These outcomes are comparable to those of custom-made devices, even in scenarios requiring non-deferrable repairs and involving challenging anatomic constraints, such as type 1A endoleaks.
Effect of Hepatitis C Infection on Semen Parameters of Men From Rawalpindi and Islamabad, Punjab, Pakistan
Authors: Uddin Jamal , Akhter Shamim , Asad Muhammad Javaid , Irfan Muhammad , Qayyum Mazhar , Aijaz Majid , Aslam Shahzad
Published: February 2025

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) poses a global health challenge, especially due to its genetic diversity and capacity to infect 71 million people worldwide. This infection is prevalent in Pakistan, with 15% of the population affected, with varying rates across provinces. HCV primarily targets liver cells but can also impact other bodily systems, including the reproductive system. Liver infection, oxidative stress, and inflammation may directly or indirectly affect the production, transport, and functions of reproductive hormones and sperm. This study hypothesized that HCV infection may reduce male fertility in the patients. In this case–control study, 74 HCV-infected men and 12 healthy controls from Rawalpindi and Islamabad were compared for semen quality. Participants provided semen samples following strict guidelines, ensuring the reliability of results. The semen analysis, conducted using manual and computer-assisted techniques, revealed significant ( p < .05) reductions in volume, concentration, motility, and morphology among HCV-infected men compared to the control group. In addition, a weak negative correlation between virus load and semen parameters was observed. These findings reveal broader health implications of HCV beyond liver damage, highlighting the need for targeted reproductive health interventions for affected men. Improved fertility preservation options and informed reproductive guidance for HCV-infected men could significantly benefit those undergoing treatment.