bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Surgical Outcomes in Unicoronal Synostosis—A 23-Year Experience From a Single Supraregional Craniofacial Unit
Authors: Coleman Mary E. , Khalid Farhan , Indoe James , Duncan Christian , Richardson David , Sinha Ajay , Parks Christopher , Ellenbogen Jonathan , Robertson Benjamin , Hennedige Anusha
Published: January 2025

Unicoronal synostosis is a rare condition leading to anterior plagiocephaly with facial scoliosis and deformation of the anterior cranial fossa. Fronto-orbital advancement and remodelling (FOAR) is the standard of care for management, aiming to normalise the brow shape and position while ameliorating the risk of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) throughout childhood. Published long-term surgical outcome data for unicoronal synostosis is lacking. The authors present our series of 151 cases of FOAR for unicoronal synostosis between January 2000 and January 2023. The average age at surgery was 22.7 months, with an average follow-up of 87 months. Ninety-six patients (66.2%) had no comorbidity. Nineteen (13.1%) had named genetic or chromosomal disorders. There was a 33.1% dural tear rate with no related postoperative CSF leak. Ninety-three patients (67.8%) had a blood transfusion with average donor exposure <1. The total early complication rate was 8.6% most commonly infection and wound dehiscence at 3.4% and 2.8%, respectively. The most common late complication was temporal recession in 30 (20.1%) patients and 3 of these patients required revision surgery. None of our patients required investigation for, or treatment of, raised ICP after the primary surgery. There were no life-threatening complications or mortalities. The authors compare our results to a previous publication on trigonocephaly patients and other available published data. The authors present our recommendations, which include support for a supraregionalized service that encompasses high-volume workload and multidisciplinary care.
Utility of Computed Tomography Angiography of the Head in the Management of the Blunt Trauma Patient with Intracranial Hemorrhage
Authors: Rady Emily Winifred , Shah Bhairav , Wierzbicki Katrina , Kenworthy Nathaniel , Lieber Michael , Radomksi Michal
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND

Computed tomography angiography of the head (CTAH) is not routinely obtained during the initial evaluation of patients with traumatic intracranial hemorrhage (ICH); however, it is useful for diagnosing vascular pathologies that may have led to the bleed. The aims of this study were to identify traumatic ICH patient characteristics on presentation that are associated with positive CTAH findings to elucidate which ones should prompt a CTAH and compare outcomes of patients with positive and negative CTAH findings.

METHODS

This is a retrospective cohort study of 522 patients who had blunt traumatic ICH and subsequently received CTAH between January 1, 2017, and January 1, 2022. Patients were then sorted into two cohorts: positive and negative CTAH findings. The CTAH findings were our primary outcomes and included a spectrum of traumatic vascular injuries as well as nontraumatic vascular pathologies. Secondary outcomes included mortality, intensive care unit admission, intensive care unit length of stay, and neurological intervention rates.

RESULTS

A total of 108 patients (20.7%) had positive CTAH findings. Patients with positive CTAH findings were more likely to be older, have lower heart rate, have more neurological deficits at admission, have fewer signs of external injury, and have increased need for cerebral angiogram and neuro-embolization. Patients with no pathologic CTAH findings were 3.9 times more likely to be alive at discharge. Initial heart rate and presence of neurological deficits on arrival were found to be independent predictors of positive CTAH findings.

CONCLUSION

Empiric CTAH is not necessary in all traumatic ICH patients. However, given the increased rates of neurologic procedures and mortality in patients with positive findings on CTAH, we recommend obtaining CTAH in blunt traumatic ICH patients who present with neurological deficits. The presence of external injuries alone should not influence the clinician's decision to obtain a CTAH.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Prognostic and Epidemiological; Level III.
Anaerobic HgII reduction is driven by cellular HgII-thiol interactions
Authors: Lavoie N.C. , Poulain A.J.
Published: January 2025

Redox reactions play a critical role in determining the availability of mercury species, HgII and Hg0, to anaerobic microbes responsible for methylating inorganic mercury into toxic monomethylmercury. Some anaerobes also contribute to Hg cycling in methylation hotspots by reducing HgII to its gaseous elemental form, Hg0. However, their contributions remain poorly quantified due to limited mechanistic insights and the absence of genetic targets. In this study, we investigated the mechanisms of anaerobic HgII reduction in the versatile anoxygenic photoheterotroph and fermenter Heliomicrobium modesticaldum Ice1. Given HgII strong electrophilic affinity for thiol groups, we hypothesized that cellular thiols are key interaction sites mediating HgII reduction. Exposure of H. modesticaldum to the thiol-alkylating agent N-ethylmaleimide (NEM), which irreversibly binds thiols, resulted in a concentration-dependent inhibition of Hg0 production during both photoheterotrophy and fermentation. Hg partitioning assays with Escherichia coli cells revealed no significant differences in Hg-cell partitioning in the presence or absence of NEM, suggesting that HgII reduction is dependent on intracellular thiol interactions. These findings highlight the importance of thiol-mediated pathways in Heliobacterial HgII reduction. Although the exact cellular components remain unidentified, we discuss potential thiol-containing coupling sites that warrant further investigation.
Macroscopic Stochastic Model for Economic Cycle Dynamics
Authors: Nagel Sören , Heitzig Jobst , Schöll Eckehard
Published: January 2025

We present a stochastic dynamic model which can explain economic cycles. We show that the macroscopic description yields a complex dynamical landscape consisting of multiple stable fixed points, each corresponding to a split of the population into a large low and a small high income group. The stochastic fluctuations induce switching between the resulting metastable states and excitation oscillations just below a deterministic bifurcation. The shocks are caused by the decisions of a few agents who have a disproportionate influence over the macroscopic state of the economy due to the unequal distribution of wealth among the population. The fluctuations have a long-term effect on the growth of economic output and lead to business cycle oscillations exhibiting coherence resonance, where the correlation time is controlled by the population size which is inversely proportional to the noise intensity.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Quantum-inspired fluid simulation of two-dimensional turbulence with GPU acceleration
Authors: Hölscher Leonhard , Rao Pooja , Müller Lukas , Klepsch Johannes , Luckow Andre , Stollenwerk Tobias , Wilhelm Frank K.
Published: January 2025

Tensor network algorithms can efficiently simulate complex quantum many-body systems by utilizing knowledge of their structure and entanglement. These methodologies have been adapted recently for solving the Navier-Stokes equations, which describe a spectrum of fluid phenomena, from the aerodynamics of vehicles to weather patterns. Within this quantum-inspired paradigm, velocity is encoded as matrix product states (MPS), effectively harnessing the analogy between interscale correlations of fluid dynamics and entanglement in quantum many-body physics. This particular tensor structure is also called quantics tensor train (QTT). By utilizing NVIDIA's cuQuantum library to perform parallel tensor computations on GPUs, our adaptation speeds up simulations by up to 12.1 times. This allows us to study the algorithm in terms of its applicability, scalability, and performance. By simulating two qualitatively different but commonly encountered 2D flow problems at high Reynolds numbers up to 1×107 using a fourth-order time stepping scheme, we find that the algorithm has a potential advantage over direct numerical simulations in the turbulent regime as the requirements for grid resolution increase drastically. In addition, we derive the scaling χ=O(poly(1/ε)) for the maximum bond dimension χ of MPS representing turbulent flow fields, with an error ε, based on the spectral distribution of turbulent kinetic energy. Our findings motivate further exploration of related quantum algorithms and other tensor network methods.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Accurate and efficient representation of intramolecular energy in ab initio generation of crystal structures. Part III: partitioning into torsional groups
Authors: Sugden Isaac J. , Bowskill David H. , Tan Benjamin I. , Zhang Yizu , Adjiman Claire S. , Pantelides Constantinos C.
Published: January 2025

We present an approach to reduce this computational cost substantially, based on the partitioning of the molecule into geometrically separated torsional groups, with the dependence of the intramolecular energy and atomic point charges and dependent degrees of freedom on molecular conformation being computed as a linear combination of the contributions of these groups. This can lead to large savings in computational cost without a significant impact on accuracy, as demonstrated in the cases of N-acetyl-para-aminophenol (paracetamol) and methyl 4-hydroxybenzoate (methyl paraben). The approach is also applied successfully to two larger molecules, benzyl [4-(4-methyl-5-[(4-methylphenyl)sulfonyl]-1,3-thiazol-2-yl)phenyl]carbamate (molecule XX from the fifth CSP blind test) and (2S)-2-[4-(3-fluorobenzyloxy)benzylamino]propionamide (safinamide), for which we conduct the first reported CSP study. In both cases, the use of torsional groups results in over 99% reduction in computational cost, which enables the generation of an initial CSP landscape with high-quality structures found within the standard cutoff of 20 kJ mol−1 for progression to refinement.
How does gameful experience foster customer engagement and brand advocacy? Consumer insights into branding in e-tail
Authors: Malik Garima , Pradhan Debasis
Published: January 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the influence of gameful experience (GAMEX) on customer brand engagement in the context of e-tailing. Drawing on the self-determination and social learning theories, the authors have developed a comprehensive model incorporating cognitive, emotional and behavioral factors leading to brand advocacy and re-visit intention for the retail website.

Design/methodology/approach

The data for this study were obtained from 715 customers across various e-tailing websites. This research uses both quantitative method (partial least squares structural equation modeling − PLS-SEM) and qualitative method (fuzzy set qualitative comparative analysis − fsQCA) to investigate the relationship between GAMEX and customer brand engagement in the e-tailing context, with a focus on the long-term outcomes of brand advocacy and re-visit intention.

Findings

The PLS-SEM results indicate a significant impact of GAMEX on customer brand engagement. In addition, the findings reveal the moderating role of fear of missing out, internet self-efficacy and technoeustress in the association among GAMEX, customer brand engagement, brand advocacy and re-visit intention. The findings from fsQCA support the results obtained from PLS-SEM and reveal four configurations for brand advocacy and five configurations for re-visit intentions.

Originality/value

This research evaluates the impact of GAMEX on customer brand engagement using a mixed-method approach involving qualitative and quantitative procedures. This study offers valuable insights into the design of gamified marketing activities and current practices for fostering greater engagement.
Oil price uncertainty and capital structure dynamics
Authors: Alnori Faisal , Bugshan Abdullah
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The literature is remarkably silent on questions concerning the nexus between firms’ capital structure adjustment speed and the uncertainty of oil prices. This study aims to examine how oil price fluctuations affect a firm’s capital structure and adjustment speed.

Design/methodology/approach

This research focuses on a set of corporations from the Gulf Cooperation Council spanning from 2011 to 2022. The methods applied are panel fixed effects and dynamic two-step system Generalized Method of Moments models.

Findings

The findings indicate that changes in oil prices significantly impact corporate capital structure. Specifically, high oil price volatility leads to a reduction in both market leverage and book leverage. In addition, increased volatility in oil prices results in higher costs for leverage adjustment speed, which subsequently influences how quickly companies move toward their optimal leverage ratio. It is observed that when there is an increase in oil price volatility, firms adjust their leverage more slowly. At the same time, they do so more rapidly during phases of lower oil price volatility.

Practical implications

The findings of this study hold significant implications for corporate managers, investors and lenders. The observed negative relationship between oil price uncertainty and leverage suggests that corporate managers may benefit from prioritizing equity financing over debt during periods of heightened oil price volatility. In addition, managers should integrate oil price uncertainty into their liquidity management strategies by maintaining sufficient cash reserves. This proactive approach can help mitigate the challenges posed by reduced access to external debt financing during volatile periods. Furthermore, understanding the influence of oil price fluctuations on firms’ cost of debt is crucial, as it directly impacts firms’ adjustment costs in achieving their optimal capital structures. Creditors, too, should consider the adverse effects of oil price volatility on corporate financing when designing credit policies, ensuring they remain responsive to the financial constraints faced by firms under such conditions.

Originality/value

At best, this study presents new evidence that sheds light on the nexus between oil price volatility and the speed at which firms adjust their leverage toward the trade-off theory’s optimal target.
Parameter influence analysis and optimization of wheel–rail creepage characteristics in high-speed railway curves
Authors: An Bolun , Liu Jiapeng , Yang Guang , Liu Feng shou , Shi Tong , Zhai Ming
Published: January 2025

Purpose

To investigate the influence of vehicle operation speed, curve geometry parameters and rail profile parameters on wheel–rail creepage in high-speed railway curves and propose a multi-parameter coordinated optimization strategy to reduce wheel–rail contact fatigue damage.

Design/methodology/approach

Taking a small-radius curve of a high-speed railway as the research object, field measurements were conducted to obtain track parameters and wheel–rail profiles. A coupled vehicle-track dynamics model was established. Multiple numerical experiments were designed using the Latin Hypercube Sampling method to extract wheel-rail creepage indicators and construct a parameter-creepage response surface model.

Findings

Key service parameters affecting wheel–rail creepage were identified, including the matching relationship between curve geometry and vehicle speed and rail profile parameters. The influence patterns of various parameters on wheel–rail creepage were revealed through response surface analysis, leading to the establishment of parameter optimization criteria.

Originality/value

This study presents the systematic investigation of wheel–rail creepage characteristics under multi-parameter coupling in high-speed railway curves. A response surface-based parameter-creepage relationship model was established, and a multi-parameter coordinated optimization strategy was proposed. The research findings provide theoretical guidance for controlling wheel–rail contact fatigue damage and optimizing wheel–rail profiles in high-speed railway curves.
Real‐world 52‐week effectiveness of deucravacitinib in psoriasis: A stratified analysis by age and body mass index
Authors: Hagino Teppei , Onda Marina , Saeki Hidehisa , Fujimoto Eita , Kanda Naoko
Published: January 2025

Deucravacitinib, an oral tyrosine kinase 2 inhibitor, is effective for psoriasis. However, long‐term real‐world effectiveness stratified by age and body mass index (BMI) has not been precisely examined. This study aimed to evaluate 52‐week real‐world effectiveness of deucravacitinib in psoriasis patients, stratified by age (≥65 years vs <65 years) and BMI (≥25 vs <25). A prospective study was conducted from December 2022 to August 2024, involving 107 Japanese patients aged ≥15 years with moderate to severe psoriasis. Patients received 6 mg of deucravacitinib daily for 52 weeks. Therapeutic effectiveness was evaluated by the achievement rates of Psoriasis Area and Severity Index (PASI) 75, PASI 90, PASI 100, and other key clinical indices. Data were stratified by age and BMI. Mean PASI scores decreased until week 52 similarly in all patients’ groups stratified by age or BMI. The achievement rates of PASI 75, PASI 90, and PASI 100 at week 52 were 86.36%, 59.09%, and 13.64% in patients aged ≥65 years, while they were 86.36%, 65.22%, and 39.13% in patients aged <65 years, respectively, showing a slightly lower rate of PASI 100 in patients ≥65 years. The achievement rates of PASI 75, PASI 90, and PASI 100 at week 52 were 81.82%, 73.33%, and 18.18% in patients with BMI ≥25, while they were 88.24%, 82.86%, and 29.41% in patients with BMI < 25, respectively, and these rates at weeks 4, 16, 24, and 40 were slightly lower in patients with BMI ≥25. Deucravacitinib improved clinical indices of psoriasis patients during a 52‐week period in all patients' groups stratified by age or BMI. The present results indicate that deucravacitinib may be effective for elderly psoriasis patients as well as younger or middle‐aged patients, while effectiveness in patients with BMI ≥25 may be slightly lower compared with those with BMI < 25.
Biomarkers associated with progression of infantile hemangioma: Exploratory study
Authors: Miyazaki Ken , Kunimoto Kayo , Yasue Shiho , Endo Saori , Nozawa Akifumi , Ozeki Michio , Ishihara Takuma , Tanaka Minako , Kakimoto Nobuyuki , Suenaga Tomohiro , Tokuhara Daisuke , Ohnishi Hidenori , Inose Yuri , Jinnin Masatoshi
Published: January 2025

To identify patients with infantile hemangioma (IH) in need of early‐stage treatment in this multicenter, prospective, observational study, we investigated the potential of plasma cytokines as a clinically useful marker. Plasma samples were collected at three time points from 41 patients with infantile hemangioma: baseline (days 14–60 after delivery), visit 1 (days 61–150, the proliferative phase), and visit 2 (days 151–395, the involuting phase). With a twofold or more increase in tumor volume during the baseline–visit 1 period regarded as progression, progression was seen in 15 cases (36.6%). In the first step, cytokine arrays were performed using plasma samples in five progressive and five non‐progressive cases. Plasma levels of six cytokines at baseline were selected for a prediction marker of change in tumor volume during baseline–visit 1. Validation enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay indicated that the baseline growth differentiation factor 1 (GDF1) concentration tended to correlate with the proliferation ratio of total lesions or target lesion during baseline–visit 1, although without statistical significance. However, the plasma GDF1 concentrations were significantly lower in patients with a fourfold or more increase in total volume (p = 0.013). Furthermore, changes in plasma interleukin (IL)‐7Rα levels showed a statistically significant inverse correlation between volume change of the target lesion during baseline–visit 1 (p = 0.0069). Our results suggest that plasma GDF1 measurement after birth is a useful marker for progression of IH. Additionally, the downregulation of IL‐7Rα that begins several months after birth may also contribute to tumor growth. (UMIN‐CTR: UMIN000038574).
Accommodation–repelling fields for mitigating human–goose conflicts
Authors: Valanne Valeria I. , Xu Yanjie
Published: January 2025

Research Highlight discussing: Seltmann, M., Ylitalo, A.K., Piironen, A., Store, R., Heikkinen, J., Heim, W., Piha, M., Seimola, T., Laaksonen, T., & Forsman, J. (2024). Arctic migrating barnacle geese utilize accommodation fields in a new agricultural staging area. Journal of Applied Ecology, https://doi.org/10.1111/1365‐2664.14838. Human–wildlife conflicts often involve wildlife damage affecting people's livelihoods. Many goose species have increased due to conservation efforts and agriculture practices. Their preference to forage intensively in agricultural areas has caused large‐scale damage to farmland, creating a conflict that needs effective mitigation solutions. Seltmann et al. investigated the effectiveness of accommodation‐and‐repelling‐field mitigation strategy by looking at habitat selection of satellite‐tracked barnacle geese (Branta leucopsis) at regional and local scales in an agricultural area of high goose impact. They found that geese at both scales preferred accommodation fields assigned in the study, suggesting the effectiveness of this management scheme in farmer–goose conflict mitigation. Their research highlighted the needs for refining and implementing locally tailored management strategies for wild birds in human‐modified landscapes by addressing their habitat selection, with regard to the balance between reducing human–wildlife conflicts and supporting biodiversity conservation in the context of global environmental change.
Entangled Illnesses: Embodied Experiences of Managing Multimorbidity
Authors: Oikkonen Venla , Helosvuori Elina , Ganesh Ahalya , Rokkonen Lilli Aini
Published: January 2025

Multimorbidity, meaning multiple long‐term conditions impacting a person's health, has become a rising societal and public health issue. The article contributes to the sociological study of chronic illness and multimorbidity by analysing how the blurriness of illnesses and entanglement of symptoms in multimorbidity is experienced and negotiated by people with coexisting chronic conditions. Drawing on qualitative interviews with people who live with endometriosis, fibromyalgia or hormonal migraine in Finland, we show how people with multiple chronic conditions distinguish between evolving symptoms based on past embodied experiences to make decisions about how to best manage their health. We argue that coexisting illnesses become entangled in ambiguous and open‐ended ways, which, if left unaddressed, complicates treatment. Our analysis of illness experiences is aligned with the growing body of literature that argues that the single‐disease model underlying healthcare systems fails to address the needs of patients living with multiple chronic conditions. Our emphasis on evolving entanglements between illnesses and the blurriness of conditions makes visible crucial discrepancies between lived illness and existing biomedical models and healthcare structures.
Information sharing across MLS platforms and housing prices: Evidence from a temporary suspension of an agreement
Authors: Cheng Ping , D'Lima Walter , Lin Zhenguo , Yang Liuming
Published: January 2025

This study examines a unique case of a suspension of a data‐sharing agreement between two multiple listing services (MLSs) in South Florida, and investigates the impact of such a (negative) shock on the trading outcomes of the MLS platforms. Using property listing data from the two MLSs, we find that sale prices were lower during the data suspension period for transactions involving properties that were in areas where the listing broker may rely on brokers from the other MLS to bring potential buyers. The negative price impact remains stable and consistent under various robustness checks. Furthermore, the results also reveal heterogeneous pricing and liquidity effects due to the data‐sharing suspension‐related shock.
Temperature Requirements Can Affect the Microbial Composition Causing Sour Rot in Grapes
Authors: Brischetto Chiara , Rossi Vittorio , Salotti Irene , Languasco Luca , Fedele Giorgia
Published: January 2025

Sour rot (SR) is a late‐season non‐Botrytis rot affecting grapevines, resulting from a complex interplay of microorganisms, including non‐Saccharomyces yeasts and acetic acid bacteria. Nonmicrobial factors contributing to disease development encompass vectors (e.g., Drosophila spp.), the presence of wounds or microcracks on grape berry surfaces, and environmental conditions during berry ripening. The microbial complexes within SR‐affected grapes exhibit variability among different bioclimates and seasons, with certain microorganisms predominating under specific conditions. This study examined the influence of environmental conditions on the microbiome composition associated with SR‐affected grape bunches, utilising data from 41 locations across three distinct Italian bioclimates. We selected nine yeast and two bacterial species frequently isolated from sour‐rotted grapes for analysis. The growth responses of these microorganisms to temperature were assessed by categorising them into four ecophysiological clusters. Furthermore, we analysed the distribution of these microorganisms and their respective ecophysiological clusters across the three bioclimates. The results indicate that the microbiomes involved in SR can vary according to the bioclimatic conditions of the grape‐growing area. Further research is required to comprehend the ecological requirements of these microorganisms, define their ecological niches to understand their geographical distribution and epidemiology, and enhance SR management strategies.
Sulfate and Dissolved Organic Carbon Concentrations Drive Distinct Microbial Community Patterns in Prairie Wetland Ponds
Authors: Zahir Zohra , Khan Faraz , Hall Britt D.
Published: January 2025

Prairie wetland ponds on the Great Plains of North America offer a diverse array of geochemical scenarios that can be informative about their impact on microbial communities. These ecosystems offer invaluable ecological services while experiencing significant stressors, primarily through drainage and climate change. In this first study systematically combining environmental conditions with microbial community composition to identify various niches in prairie wetland ponds, sediments had higher microbial abundance but lower phylogenetic diversity in ponds with lower concentrations of dissolved organic carbon ([DOC]; 10–18 mg/L) and sulfate ([SO42−]; 37–58 mg/L) in water. As [DOC] and [SO42−] increased, there was an initial decline in abundance but not phylogenetic diversity. Maximum values of both abundance and phylogenetic diversity occurred between 56 and 115 mg/L [DOC] and 5,000–6,000 mg/L [SO42−] and decreased thereafter in ponds with 150–180 mg/L and 8,000–14,000 mg/L [DOC] and [SO42−], respectively. These findings confirm that environmental variables shape the microbial communities and that key microbial taxa involved in sulfur and carbon cycling dominated these ponds potentially impacting vital biogeochemical processes such as bioavailability of heavy metals, carbon sequestration, and methane emissions.
Living Beyond the Edge: Impacts of Climate Change on Rock Lizards at the Niche Margin
Authors: Bombi Pierluigi , Calò Fabrizio , Salvi Daniele
Published: January 2025

Ectotherms are particularly threatened by climate change because they are strictly reliant on environmental conditions for homeostasis. Increasing environmental temperatures may approach the species' critical thermal maximum, with deleterious effects on individual thermoregulation capacities. This study tests the hypothesis developed in a recent work that under ongoing global warming populations living in sites at the warm edge of the species' thermal niche will suffer a disruption of the thermoregulation process, with detrimental effects at the individual and population level. We collected individual measurements and temperature data for Mediterranean endemic rock lizards, across the entire distribution range of the species and during two different sampling periods ~20 years apart to compare thermoregulation coefficient (C), body condition index (BCI) and population size under different climatic conditions. We found that C and BCI vary across space and time following a linear pattern along the thermal niche gradient (Niche Margin Effect, NME) until a threshold temperature, beyond which the NME is disrupted. This threshold temperature indicates the warm edge of the species' thermal niche. A slightly higher temperature marks the threshold at which we observed significant population declines over the 20‐year study period in the warmest sites. This suggests a lagged response of population trends to climate warming. This study suggests a mechanism of disruption of homeostatic processes when the warm margin of the thermal niche is reached and indicates that individual parameters such as thermoregulation coefficient and body condition, rather than demographic trends, are key indicators for an early detection of population extinction risk. The multipopulation approach implemented in our study allows to identify the niche edge that underlies species' vulnerability to global warming, and to identify populations suffering negative effects of climate change before demographic collapse. This might allow to plan appropriate mitigation measures and management strategies to avoid local extinctions.
Categorising reported errors and incidents from morbidity and mortality meetings (M&Ms) in a small animal multi‐specialty veterinary teaching hospital
Authors: Giles G , Boland LA , Kirkwood N , Ward MP , Quain A
Published: January 2025

Background

Errors in veterinary clinical settings can lead to patient harm. Morbidity and mortality meetings (M&Ms) are forums to discuss errors and incidents that can lead or have led to adverse outcomes, potential harm or unsafe conditions, with the purpose of improving patient safety in future. Despite growing implementation of M&Ms in veterinary medicine, their effectiveness in improving future patient safety may be constrained by the need for absolute confidentiality during meetings.

Objective

To pilot the use of a simple framework to categorise errors and incidents triggering M&Ms in a multi‐specialty Australian veterinary teaching hospital.

Methodology

A retrospective analysis of deidentified M&M summaries over 5 years (2018–2023) from a small animal multi‐specialty veterinary teaching hospital. Animal demographic and incident information were extracted, classified by incident type and severity of harm adapted from Wallis and colleagues (2019). Descriptive statistics were produced for error category, severity, incident type and quarter of the year they occurred in. Recommendations were analysed using codebook thematic analysis.

Results

There were 68 cases in total. The most common overall errors were oversight (n = 26/25.0%), drug (n = 20/19.2%), iatrogenic (n = 17, 16.3%) and staff (n = 17, 16.3%). Most cases resulted in temporary harm (n = 36, 52.9%), though 20.6% (n = 14) resulted in death, euthanasia or permanent harm. The most frequent recommendations were ‘improving communications and record keeping’, improving staff training’ and ‘ensuring appropriate equipment is available’.

Conclusion

Categorisation of errors using this simple framework can facilitate sharing of information which can be used to refine practices and improve animal safety, without compromising confidentiality of M&M meetings.
Keep bright in the dark: Multimodal emotional effects on donation‐based crowdfunding performance and their empathic mechanisms
Authors: Guo Rui , Wang Guolong , Wu Ding , Wu Zhen
Published: January 2025

How to raise donations effectively, especially in the E‐era, has puzzled fundraisers and scientists across various disciplines. Our research focuses on donation‐based crowdfunding projects and investigates how the emotional valence expressed verbally (in textual descriptions) and visually (in facial images) in project descriptions affects project performance. Study 1 uses field data (N = 3817), grabs project information and descriptions from a top donation‐based crowdfunding platform, computes visual and verbal emotional valence using a deep‐learning‐based affective computing method and analyses how multimodal emotional valence influences donation outcomes. Study 2 conducts experiments in GPT‐4 (Study 2a, N = 400) and humans (Study 2b, N = 240), manipulates the project's visual and verbal emotional valence through AI‐generated stimuli and then assesses donation decisions (both GPT‐4 and humans) and corresponding state empathy (humans). The results indicate a multimodal positivity superiority effect: both visual and verbal emotional valence promote initial whether‐to‐donate decisions, whereas only verbal emotional valence further promotes the how‐much‐to‐donate decisions. Notably, such multimodal emotional effects can be explained through different mediating paths of empathic concern and empathic hopefulness. The current study theoretically facilitates our understanding of the emotional motivations underlying human prosociality and provides insights into crafting impactful advertisements for online donations.
Product differentiation, demand expansion and the welfare effects of cross‐ownership
Authors: Banerjee Swapnendu , Mukherjee Arijit , Poddar Sougata
Published: January 2025

We show the effects of cross‐ownership on product differentiation, consumer surplus and welfare under Cournot and Bertrand competition. Under Cournot competition, cross‐ownership increases (decreases) product differentiation if demand expansion following product differentiation is large (small). Under Bertrand competition, cross‐ownership may increase or decrease product differentiation regardless of the demand expansion effect of product differentiation. Cross‐ownership may increase consumer surplus and welfare under both Cournot and Bertrand competition. Demand expansion following product differentiation and the type of product market competition play important roles for the effects of cross‐ownership in an industry with endogenous product differentiation. We also show that Cournot competition may create higher consumer surplus and welfare compared with Bertrand competition.
Diagnostic Utility of Relative Apical Sparing Index in Cardiac Amyloidosis Subtypes: A Comparative Study of Immunoglobulin Light Chain and Transthyretin Amyloid Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Saijo Yoshihito , Yamada Hirotsugu , Yamaguchi Natsumi , Nishio Susumu , Zheng Robert , Takahashi Tomonori , Hara Tomoya , Kadota Muneyuki , Kawabata Yutaka , Ueno Rie , Matsuura Tomomi , Ise Takayuki , Yamaguchi Koji , Yagi Shusuke , Soeki Takeshi , Wakatsuki Tetsuzo , Sata Masataka
Published: January 2025

Background

Speckles tracking echocardiography imaging enables clinicians to detect subtle systolic dysfunction. The aim of the present study was to elucidate the differences in speckle tracking echocardiographic findings between immunoglobulin light chain amyloid cardiomyopathy (AL‐CM) and transthyretin amyloid cardiomyopathy (TTR‐CM).

Methods

The patients with a confirmed diagnosis of cardiac amyloidosis through cardiac biopsy from March 2013 to October 2022 were included. The relative apical sparing index (RASI) was calculated using speckle tracking echocardiography by the following equation; average apical strain/(average basal strain + mid strain).

Results

The final study population consisted of 35 patients with cardiac amyloidosis (AL‐CM: 10 patients, TTR‐CM: 25 patients). The mean age was 74 ± 12 years. Although both subgroups had a gradual change of strain values from basal to apical segments, RASI was significantly lower in AL‐CM compared to TTR‐CM (0.92 ± 0.29 vs. 1.46 ± 0.53, p = 0.001). A RASI cutoff value of <1.0 proved useful in differentiating the diagnosis of AL‐CM from TTR‐CM (sensitivity: 81%, specificity: 70%, AUC: 0.82). A significant positive correlation with left ventricular mass index and RASI was found in AL‐CM, but not in TTR‐CM.

Conclusion

The apical sparing phenomenon was more remarkable in TTR‐CM compared with AL‐CM. RASI might be useful for the discrimination of cardiac amyloidosis subtypes. There was a difference in the relationship of RASI with left ventricular wall thickness between the cardiac amyloidosis subtypes.
Powdery Mildews on North American Oaks: High Levels of Diversity and Pathogen‐Host Coevolution
Authors: Bradshaw Michael , Quijada Luis , Braun Uwe , Smith Matthew E. , Pfister Donald H.
Published: January 2025

Erysiphe species infecting oaks in North America are common and widespread, but compared to Asia and Europe, the taxonomy and phylogeny of North American species is unknown. The present study addresses this dispairity. Comprehensive multilocus phylogenetic analyses, including CAM, GAPDH, GS, ITS, RPB2 and TUB, revealed a high degree of co‐evolution between North American oaks and the Erysiphe spp. that infect them. A concatenated multilocus tree and individual trees based on single loci revealed many highly supported species clades. The clades are formally named to conform with the current taxonomic classification. Available names, such as E. abbreviata, E. calocladophora and E. extensa, are associated with corresponding clades, and are newly circumscribed supported by ex‐type sequences or, if not available, by the designation of epitypes with ex‐epitype sequences. Erysiphe densissima is reintroduced for a clade that corresponds to the old name ‘E. extensa var. curta’. Eight new species are described, including Erysiphe carolinensis, E. gambelii, E. occidentalis, E. phellos, E. pseudoextensa, E. quercophila, E. quercus‐laurifoliae and E. schweinitziana. A new diagnostically and taxonomically relevant trait associated with the anamorphs of North American Erysiphe species on oaks has been assssed. This is a special conidiophore‐like lateral outgrowth of the superficial hyphae, comparable to ‘aerial hyphae,’ which are also known for species of the powdery mildew genus Cystotheca which also infect Quercus species.
Users´ perspectives and preferences on using wearables in epilepsy: A critical review
Authors: Hadady Levente , Robinson Torie , Bruno Elisa , Richardson Mark P. , Beniczky Sándor
Published: January 2025

Seizure detection devices (SDDs) offer promising technological advancements in epilepsy management, providing real‐time seizure monitoring and alerts for patients and caregivers. This critical review explores user perspectives and experiences with SDDs to better understand factors influencing their adoption and sustained use. An electronic literature search identified 34 relevant studies addressing common themes such as usability, motivation, comfort, accuracy, barriers, and the financial burden of these devices. Usability emerged as the most frequently discussed factor, with patients and caregivers also emphasizing the importance of ease of use, long battery life, and waterproof design. Although validated devices showed high user satisfaction, technical challenges, false negatives, and false positives need much improvement. Motivation to use SDDs was driven by enhanced safety, symptom tracking, and health care professional recommendations. Comfort and wearability were also critical aspects, with users favoring lightweight, breathable, and discreet designs for long‐term wear. Users reported the devices as “comfortable” and preferring wrist or arm‐worn devices for the long term. Accuracy—particularly minimizing false positives and false negatives—was a priority for users. Barriers to adoption included device cost, limited insurance reimbursement, discomfort, and concerns about data privacy. Despite these challenges, many users were willing to use SDDs. Recommendations from health care professionals significantly increased user motivation. This review highlights the need for SDD designs that address user concerns regarding usability, comfort, looks, and accuracy, while also reducing financial and technical barriers. Enhancing clinical involvement and tailoring devices to specific patient needs may be crucial to promoting wider SDD adoption. Further research is needed to evaluate the impact of SDDs on quality of life and to explore ways to mitigate challenges in long‐term use.
A novel artificial intelligence‐powered tool for automated root canal segmentation in single‐rooted teeth on cone‐beam computed tomography
Authors: Santos‐Junior Airton Oliveira , Fontenele Rocharles Cavalcante , Neves Frederico Sampaio , Tanomaru‐Filho Mário , Jacobs Reinhilde
Published: January 2025

Aim

To develop and validate an artificial intelligence (AI)‐powered tool based on convolutional neural network (CNN) for automatic segmentation of root canals in single‐rooted teeth using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT).

Methodology

A total of 69 CBCT scans were retrospectively recruited from a hospital database and acquired from two devices with varying protocols. These scans were randomly assigned to the training (n = 31, 88 teeth), validation (n = 8, 15 teeth) and testing (n = 30, 120 teeth) sets. For the training and validation data sets, each CBCT scan was imported to the Virtual Patient Creator platform, where manual segmentation of root canals was performed by two operators, establishing the ground truth. Subsequently, the AI model was tested on 30 CBCT scans (120 teeth), and the AI‐generated three‐dimensional (3D) virtual models were exported in standard triangle language (STL) format. Importantly, the testing data set encompassed different types of single‐rooted teeth. An experienced operator evaluated the automated segmentation, and manual refinements were made to create refined 3D models (R‐AI). The AI and R‐AI models were compared for performance evaluation. Additionally, 30% of the testing sample was manually segmented at two different times to compare AI‐based and human segmentation methods. The time taken by each segmentation method to obtain 3D models was recorded in seconds(s) for further comparison.

Results

The AI‐driven tool demonstrated highly accurate segmentation of single‐rooted teeth (Dice similarity coefficient [DSC] ranging from 89% to 93%; 95% Hausdorff distance [HD] ranging from 0.10 to 0.13 mm), with no significant impact of tooth type on accuracy metrics (p > .05). The AI approach outperformed the manual method (p < .05), showing higher DSC and lower 95% HD values. In terms of time efficiency, manual segmentation required significantly more time (2262.4 ± 679.1 s) compared to R‐AI (94 ± 64.7 s) and AI (41.8 ± 12.2 s) methods (p < .05), representing a 54‐fold decrease.

Conclusions

The novel AI‐based tool exhibited highly accurate and time‐efficient performance in the automatic root canal segmentation on CBCT, surpassing the human performance.
PETRICCS Guideline Protocol: A Call to Improve Reporting Standards in Cell Culture Research
Authors: Monteiro Mylene Martins , dos Santos Juliana Amorim , Paiva Barbosa Victor , De Luca Canto Graziela , Squarize Cristiane H. , Coletta Ricardo D. , Guerra Eliete Neves Silva
Published: January 2025

Background

Cell culture studies play an important role in addressing fundamental scientific questions. However, inadequate reporting of these studies results in a lack of transparency and reproducibility. Recognizing the need for improvement, several ongoing efforts, such as CRIS guidelines and the ICLAC checklist, are focused on enhancing best practices for in vitro studies. Nonetheless, a comprehensive guideline specifically addressing the reporting of cell culture methods remains lacking. In this manner, a consensus‐based approach is being undertaken to develop the Preferred and Transparent Reporting Items for Cell Culture Studies (PETRICCS) guideline. This project aims to present the protocol and the details for its development.

Methods

The process comprises five phases: (i) Initial Steps: a Steering Committee identifies the need for a guideline and drafts the PETRICCS protocol; (ii) Pre‐meeting: an International Group of Cell Culture Experts (IGCE) reviews the draft guideline through a Delphi consensus exercise; (iii) Consensus Meeting: the steering committee presents the guideline's development, addresses concerns, and reaches consensus on the final items; (iv) Post‐meeting: explanatory documents are prepared to assist authors in reporting their findings; and (v) Post‐publication: PETRICCS, along with supporting documents, is published and made freely accessible.

Results and Conclusions

PETRICCS will assist researchers in reporting and reviewing cell culture findings, enhancing transparency and reproducibility while filling a gap in this crucial scientific field. The guideline will incorporate the experiences of experts, creating a more equitable environment for authors, peer‐reviewers, and editors during the publication process.
The Cell Cycle Regulatory Proteins p16, CDK4, and PTEN Are Unsuitable as Biomarkers in Oral Melanocytic Lesions
Authors: Queiroz Aline , Santana Thalita , Paris Adriana Fraga Costa , Trierveiler Marília
Published: January 2025

Background

Melanocytic neoplasms are rare in the oral cavity and represent a diagnostic challenge due to the overlap between benign and malignant lesions. However, their pathogenesis is not fully elucidated. The aim of this study was to evaluate the expression of the cell cycle‐related proteins p16, CDK4, and PTEN in oral melanocytic nevi and melanomas.

Methods

A total of 42 cases of melanocytic nevi and five cases of melanoma underwent immunohistochemical analysis. Cases were scored as 0, 1 (< 5% of positive cells), 2 (6%–50% of positive cells), and 3 (> 50% of positive cells). Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05.

Results

Two cases of melanocytic nevi were totally negative for p16 and 95.2% of cases scored 1. For CDK4, 47.6% of the cases scored 2 and 52.4% scored 3. For PTEN, 97.6% of the cases scored 3 and only one case showed a score of 2. All melanoma cases were classified with a score of 2 for p16, and for CDK4 and PTEN, all cases exhibited a score of 3. PTEN and CDK4 were higher expressed when compared to p16 both in melanocytic nevi and melanomas (p < 0.001), and melanocytic nevi showed low expression of p16 when compared to melanomas (p < 0.0001).

Conclusion

The findings suggest that these cell cycle‐related proteins are not useful biomarkers in melanocytic lesions of the oral mucosa and support the apparent biological distinction between oral and cutaneous lesions.