bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
3  Retrospective cohort study of all cause gastrointestinal illness in camp Qargha, Afghanistan in August 2020
Authors: Riley M , Makin S , Greig O , Taylor H
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Camp Qargha (QAA), a British led NATO base in Kabul, had a history of gastrointestinal outbreaks. August 2020 saw an outbreak identified. Controlling outbreaks and understanding their causes is vital for preserving operational effectiveness. We describe the outbreak and use a retrospective cohort study to test the hypothesis that two-person-rooms are a potential risk factor.

Method

Data collected for clinical and outbreak management was described. Organisms were detected using BioFire® Film Array® Gastrointestinal Panel. Using Stata v.17, we conducted univariate and multivariable binomial logistic regression (MVA) for all GI illness and for specific pathogens detected to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRRs) with 95% confidence Intervals (CI).

Results

36 presentations of gastrointestinal illness in 33 service-personnel during a 24-day outbreak saw 132 working days lost. Diarrhoeagenic e. coli, cryptosporidium, norovirus, and shigella were identified as potential causative organisms, with symptomatic duration, isolation and impact on operational effectiveness greatest in those with shigella or cryptosporidium. On MVA we did not find being in a two person room to be a risk factor (aRR 1.5; 95%CI 0.7-3.2). We did find risk of any GI illness increased 1.7 (95%CI; 0.9-3.0) times, and 1.2 (95%CI 1.0-1.4) times for being part of operational team 1 or living adjacent to another case respectively. Being part of operational team 1 was also a risk factor for enteropathogenic and enterotoxigenic E.coli infection.

Conclusion

Two-person rooms weren’t a significant risk factor for gastrointestinal outbreaks. This is an important negative finding to inform the balance of outbreak control and operational wellbeing where social isolation can be detrimental. Targeted behavioural control measure education should be considered for identified at risk groups in the future. In terms of operational impact, cryptosporidium was the most significant cause of days lost. Further research by military enteric diseases specialists into cryptosporidium illness and spread in deployed settings is recommended.
Study the Effect of Exhaust Manifold Diameter on the Output Performance of a Four-Cylinder Spark Ignition Engine
Authors: Sun Zhigang , Song Zhanfeng , Ma Hong , Liu Chundong
Published: January 2025

As modern engine technology has evolved, optimizing engine performance has become a key research focus for the industry in the face of increasingly stringent environmental regulations and growing demand for energy efficiency. The diameter of the exhaust manifold plays a key role in determining engine performance. This study utilized GT-POWER software to develop an engine simulation model aimed at investigating the effects of different exhaust manifold diameters on engine power, torque, and fuel consumption. The results demonstrated that increasing the exhaust manifold diameter within a specified range significantly reduced fuel consumption at lower speeds, with minimal impact on power and torque. However, at moderate to high speeds, enlarging the exhaust manifold diameter led to a significant increase in power output, an increase in peak torque, and a decrease in fuel consumption, resulting in the shift of peak torque and minimum fuel consumption to higher speeds. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing engine exhaust manifold design.
The Power of Personalized Datasets: Advancing Chinese Composition Writing for Elementary School through Targeted Model Fine-Tuning
Authors: Xie Wenyi , Li Jianchen , Mu Yi , Zhang Hanyu , Zhao Shiwen , Zheng Xinran , Song Karissa
Published: January 2025

Today, the Large Language Model profoundly affects the way we work in all walks of life, as well as the way we teach in the field of education. In this paper, we focus on the Large Language Model we designed for composition education in elementary school language. We focus on the accurate understanding of Chinese vocabulary and the adaptation of language vocabulary and language structures for the domain of elementary school students. At the same time, we also pay attention to the current educational concerns about the misuse of the LLM, and target the sensitive questioning designed about it. In the process, we collected datasets related to composition tutoring in elementary school language and generated multiple rounds of student– teacher dialogues using ChatGPT-3.5. We obtained a more ideal model for essay tutoring in elementary school language by using different datasets and different data input methods.
Securing Vehicle-to-Digital Twin Communications in the Internet of Vehicles
Authors: Jabeen Siddiqi Sadia , Alobaidi Abdulraheem H. , Ahmad Jan Mian , Tariq Muhammad
Published: January 2025

The current landscape of data-centric Internet of Vehicles (IoVs) encompasses a fusion of Human-driven Vehicles (HVs), Autonomous Vehicles (AVs), Road-Side Units (RSUs), and edge-based devices engaged in periodic communication. Given the stringent latency requirements inherent in vehicular communications, the emergence of edge-based vehicular Digital Twins (DTs) plays a pivotal role in problem-solving, ensuring rapid response, regulatory compliance, and seamless availability. While these communications serve as the backbone of IoV, they also create an opportune environment for cybercriminals to exploit. Vulnerabilities at the network layer facilitate intrusions, resulting in a surge of data falsification attacks in recent years. Addressing this challenge demands resilient and intelligent threat detection schemes capable of adapting to the dynamic nature of IoV. This study conducts a comprehensive examination of the vulnerabilities in Vehicle-to-Digital twin (V2DT) data communication through the lens of an attacker utilizing False Data Injection Attack (FDIA). It utilizes cutting-edge Blockchain-based decentralized storage and buffering mechanisms for vehicle dynamics data en route to edge-based DTs. Further, deep learning-powered sensor data analysis serves as an additional layer of security. Evaluation of the proposed threat detection and mitigation model demonstrates 100% tamper detection in V2DT communication, coupled with a 96% accurate classification of anomalous driving behaviors, including aggressive driving or FDIAs.
Implementing Mastery Learning with Educational Technology and the Modern Classrooms Project
Authors: Lira Elena
Published: January 2025

A mastery learning model can be implemented in any level or content area using educational technology and the Modern Classrooms model to create a systematic and sustainable framework for teachers and students.
DialoguePFM:Prompt-based Fusion Model for Emotion Recognition in Conversation
Authors: Tian Yu , Li Junhui , Zhu Suyang , Zhou Guodong
Published: January 2025

Emotion recognition in conversation (ERC) presents a significant challenge in natural language processing. In this study, we propose the Prompt-based Fusion Model (DialoguePFM), which innovatively introduces an emotion representation that conveys the emotion label via mask token in a pre-defined prompt. We then refine both emotion and utterance representations by capturing comprehensive dialogue information using a novel speaker-aware attention mechanism, which distinguishes between self and other speakers. Subsequently, these refined representations are merged before being inputted into the classifier. Empirical evaluations conducted on three English ERC datasets and one Chinese ERC dataset reveal that our proposed model either outperforms or matches the performance of state-of-the-art baselines, underscoring its effectiveness across different languages.
Natural Language Processing Methods for Symbolic Music Generation and Information Retrieval: A Survey
Authors: Le Dinh-Viet-Toan , Bigo Louis , Herremans Dorien , Keller Mikaela
Published: January 2025

Music is frequently associated with the notion of language, as both domains share several similarities, including the ability for their content to be represented as sequences of symbols. In computer science, the fields of Natural Language Processing (NLP) and Music Information Retrieval (MIR) reflect this analogy through a variety of similar tasks, such as author detection or content generation. This similarity has long encouraged the adaptation of NLP methods to process musical data, particularly symbolic music data, and the rise of Transformer neural networks has considerably strengthened this practice. This survey reviews NLP methods applied to symbolic music generation and information retrieval following two axes. We first propose an overview of representations of symbolic music inspired by text sequential representations. We then review a large set of computational models, particularly deep learning models, which have been adapted from NLP to process these musical representations for various MIR tasks. These models are described and categorized through different prisms with a highlight on their music-specialized mechanisms. We finally present a discussion surrounding the adequate use of NLP tools to process symbolic music data. This includes technical issues regarding NLP methods which may open several doors for further research into more effectively adapting NLP tools to symbolic MIR.
Unveiling Cross-checking Opportunities in Verilog Compilers
Authors: Zhou Yike , Jiang Yanyan , Lu Jian
Published: January 2025

The landscape of Verilog toolchains for electronic design automation (EDA) is diverse, and their reliability is crucial, as errors can lead to significant debugging challenges and delays in development. Methodologies such as testing and formal verification have been applied to identify and eliminate defects in these toolchains. We propose a framework named
VeriXmith
to interconnect design tools involved in logical synthesis and simulation for cross-checking. These tools process circuit designs and produce outputs in different languages, such as Verilog netlists from synthesizers and C++ programs from simulators. Since these outputs represent the same circuit semantics, we can leverage this semantic consistency to verify the tools that translate one representation into another. Our approach involves creating semantics extractors to extend the range of circuit representations available for semantic equivalence checking by converting them into a canonical and comparable form. Additionally, we develop mutation operators for Verilog designs to introduce new data/control paths and language constructs, enhancing the diversity of circuit designs as test inputs. By validating semantic equivalence, our framework successfully identifies defects in existing Verilog toolchains. An exploratory experiment uncovers 31 previously unknown bugs in well-known open-source Verilog tools, including Verilator and Yosys.
Safety-Critical Offloading with Constrained Reinforcement Learning for Multi-access Edge Computing
Authors: Huang Hui , Ye Qiang , Zhou Yi
Published: January 2025

The proliferation of computation-intensive applications, such as autonomous driving, has urged mobile devices to alleviate their local computation pressure using external computing resources. As a promising solution, Multi-access Edge Computing (MEC) tackles this problem by offloading computational tasks from mobile devices to edge servers. However, existing offloading schemes suffer from two fundamental limitations. First, they lack built-in measures to prevent deadline misses. For safety-critical applications, including autonomous driving, a deadline miss could result in catastrophic consequences. Second, existing schemes typically update offloading policies periodically. Namely, a policy based on the current system state is generated for a time window consisting of multiple timeslots. Since system states could change from one timeslot to the next one, the generated policy might not work well during the entire window. In this paper, we propose a novel offloading scheme for safety-critical applications, Constrained Reinforcement Learning based Offloading (CRLO). With CRLO, a safety layer is added to the learning-based policy generator, which effectively eliminates deadline misses. Furthermore, a long-sequence forecasting model, Informer, is utilized to predict temporally-dependent system states, which helps to generate appropriate offloading policies. Our experimental results indicate that CRLO outperforms existing schemes in terms of deadline satisfaction and task completion time.
Quantum Safe Lattice-Based Single Round Online Collaborative Multi-Signature Scheme for Blockchain-Enabled IoT Applications
Authors: Bagchi Prithwi , Bera Basudeb , Das Ashok Kumar , Sikdar Biplab
Published: January 2025

Multi-signature protocols allow a group of signers to collectively generate a single signature for a shared message. In the context of a decentralized blockchain, multi-signature schemes play a pivotal role in reducing the signature size. Recently, several multi-signature methods have emerged in the literature, some operating in discrete-log settings and others in lattice settings. However, many of the existing lattice-based multi-signature schemes incur high computation costs and online round complexity. Traditional public key-based multi-signature schemes are susceptible to quantum threats and they are computationally intensive as well. A lattice-based multi-signature can provide robust security, which often falls short in terms of efficiency when it comes to round complexity. In this article, we aim to introduce a single-round lattice-based multi-signature scheme specifically designed for decentralized public blockchains. What sets the proposed scheme apart is its ability to function without the need for trapdoor commitments or sample pre-images, which are common features in existing lattice-based signature methods. Furthermore, we explore some potential applications in a generic Internet of Things (IoT) environment and their integration of the proposed scheme with the blockchain technology. The security of the proposed scheme is based on lattice-hard problems, like Ring-SIS (Shortest Integer Solution) and Ring-LWE (Learning With Errors).
Breaking Boundaries: Advancing Gender and Technology Research to Combat Sextortion
Authors: Forattini Fernando M. , Connolly Regina , Joshi K.D.
Published: January 2025

This editorial calls for research into technology-facilitated abuses that push the epistemic and ontological boundaries of gender and technology in IS research. Specifically, it focuses on sextortion in the digital age-a pressing societal challenge that undermines gender equality-analyzing how technology both enables and holds the potential to mitigate this form of corruption. Addressing sextortion and other forms of gender-based exploitation requires rethinking how digital technologies are conceptualized, designed, and implemented. This editorial urges scholars to move beyond critique and explore innovative frameworks that prioritize inclusivity, social justice, and participatory design.
Digital Platforms as Co-Producers of Space: A Lefebvrian Analysis of Tensions in Digital Platforms
Authors: Kango Ujjwal , Gupta Agam , Sharma Divya , Singh Ankita
Published: January 2025

Research on digital platforms has paid scant attention to the entanglement of digital platforms with physical spaces, their interactions, and associated tensions. The entanglement is of increased consequence in the wake of ontological reversal wherein digital constructs the physical. Using Lefebvre's spatial triad of perceived, conceived, and lived space to study digital platform ecosystems, this paper argues that digital platforms through the production of digital space have dramatically transformed the access, experiences, and meanings of the offline physical spaces, thereby emerging as co-producers of contemporary physical space. We illustrate that this process of co-production can lead to gradual emergence of tensions that arise due to the divergence between conceived and lived space and the essential differences in the rationalities of physical and digital space. In doing so, we develop a new spatial understanding of how tensions emerge and build in digital platform ecosystems.
The Relationship Between Profile Disclosure Breadth and Network Size on Professional Social Media: Gender as a Moderator
Authors: Schötteler Sebastian , Meier Florian J. , Gengler Eva , Laumer Sven
Published: January 2025

Professional social media (PSM) platforms, such as LinkedIn, enable professional networking. Larger network sizes on PSM are associated with benefits similar to those that result from bridging social capital. Disclosing profile information, in general, is related to increased network size. Thus, digital profiles may be useful features for shaping PSM network size. However, how profile disclosure breadth shapes network size and which profile information has the strongest effect on network size is unknown. Lastly, how gender affects the relationship between profile disclosure breadth and network size is unclear. To close these research gaps, this study applied regression analysis to 67,189 LinkedIn profiles to explore the relationship between profile disclosure breadth and network size on PSM moderated by gender. The results demonstrate that higher levels of profile disclosure breadth are associated with increased network size. Moreover, profile picture presence, profile headline length, and the number of skills listed affected network size the most. Women had smaller network sizes than men on average, indicating a gender network gap. Furthermore, while remarkable levels of profile disclosure breadth seem to benefit women more than men in terms of network size, the threshold levels required to manifest this benefit are not often achieved in practice.
Optimization of Ti/TiO2 Nanotube/Nano PbO2 Anodes for Enhanced Electrocatalytic Degradation of Methylene Blue: Pulse vs Direct Current Approaches
Authors: Eslami H. , Allahkaram S. R.
Published: January 2025

This study focused on examining how the presence of a TiO2 nanotube (NT) interlayer and decreasing particle size affects the electrochemical performance and service life of PbO2-coatings on a titanium substrate. The Ti/TiO2-NT/β-PbO2 and Ti/PbO2 electrodes were synthesized using direct current with particle size of 3 μm and optimized current density values, while the Ti/TiO2-NT/nanoβ-PbO2 electrodes with β-PbO2 particle size of 35 nm were synthesized using a simple pulse electrodeposition method and optimized duty cycle. The results of cyclic voltammetry demonstrated that the Ti/TiO2-NT/nanoPbO2 electrode exhibited a larger electrochemically active surface area, voltammetry charge values of 3.06 mC cm−2, and a lower charge transfer resistance of 9.47 Ω.cm2 compared to the Ti/TiO2-NT/microPbO2 and Ti/PbO2, which had values of 9.26 and 14.62 mC cm−2 and 61.58 Ω.cm2, and 8900 Ω.cm2, respectively. Accelerated service life tests showed that the Ti/TiO2/nanoPbO2 electrode (55 h) had a better service life than those of Ti/TiO2-NT/microPbO2 and Ti/PbO2 electrodes (50 and 18 h respectively). Moreover, the Ti/TiO2-NT/nanoβ-PbO2 electrode showed the highest performance in degrading methylene blue in simulated wastewater by bulk electrolysis, with a removal efficiency of approximately 100% at optimal current density (60 mAcm−2), surpassing the efficiency of the Ti/TiO2-NT/microPbO2 (76%) and Ti/PbO2 electrodes (53%).
Duodenogastric Reflux in Health and Disease: Insights from a Computational Fluid Dynamics Model of the Stomach
Authors: Kuhar Sharun , Seo Jung Hee , Pasricha Pankaj Jay , Camilleri Michael , Mittal Rajat
Published: January 2025

The stomach is responsible for physically and chemically processing the ingested meal before controlled emptying into the duodenum through the pyloric sphincter. An incompetent pylorus allows reflux from the duodenum back into the stomach, and if the amount of reflux is large enough, it could alter the low pH environment of the stomach and erode the mucosal lining of the lumen. In some cases, the regurgitated contents can also reach the esophagus leading to additional complications. In this work, “StomachSim”, an in-silico model of the fluid dynamics of the stomach, is used to study the mechanism of duodenogastric reflux. The effects of variations in food properties and motility disorders on reflux are investigated. The simulations show that the primary driver of reflux is the relaxation of the antrum after a stomach contraction terminates near the pylorus. The region of the stomach walls exposed to the regurgitated contents depends significantly on the density of the stomach contents. For stomach contents of higher viscosity, the increased pressure required to maintain gastric emptying reduces the amount of duodenogastric reflux. Concomitant stomach motility disorders that weaken the relaxation of the walls also affect the amount of reflux. The study illustrates the utility of in-silico models in analyzing the factors at play in gastrointestinal diseases.
Combining hyperpolarized 129Xe MR imaging and spectroscopy to noninvasively estimate pulmonary vascular resistance
Authors: Costelle Anna , Lu Junlan , Leewiwatwong Suphachart , Westerhof Berend , Mummy David , Rajagopal Sudarshan , Driehuys Bastiaan
Published: January 2025

Cardiogenic oscillations in the 129Xe red blood cell (RBC) resonance decrease in precapillary pulmonary hypertension (PH) but are enhanced when capillary blood volume is reduced. To separate these effects, we developed a physiological model that used 129Xe gas exchange MRI to estimate blood volume, which was used to correct oscillation amplitude measurements. Corrected amplitudes correlated significantly with pulmonary vascular resistance, highlighting the potential for future noninvasive detection of PH.
Riding Through the Pandemic: Unveiling Motorcycle Crash Trends Amidst Three Years of the COVID‐19 Crisis
Authors: Islam Shahrin , Huq Armana Sabiha , Khan Sadab Ishraq , Iqra Sabah Hossain
Published: January 2025

Bangladesh has a significant prevalence of motorcycle usage accompanied by a correspondingly high incidence of motorcycle‐related fatalities. The COVID‐19 crisis has brought additional challenges to road safety in Bangladesh because of containment strategies and restrictions. The impacts of the pandemic on motorcycle‐related road traffic crashes, injuries, and fatalities in Bangladesh are investigated in this study using ARIMA time series analysis. Data spanning 86 months (January 2016 to February 2023) were collected from the Accident Research Institute (ARI), which compiles newspaper‐based data serving as an alternative source of information on crashes encompassing both pre‐COVID (January 2016 to February 2020) and COVID‐19 periods (March 2020 to February 2023). Three COVID‐19 waves were demonstrated, with the first wave showing a significant decrease in crashes, injuries, and fatalities due to a government‐imposed lockdown. During the second wave, crashes and fatalities approached predicted values, while injuries remained lower than anticipated. The third wave witnessed a sudden drop, followed by a sharp rise in all three variables. Box and whisker plot analysis confirmed the disparities between observed and predicted values, with observed data being lower. These results demonstrate the significant impact that COVID‐19 containment strategies have had on trends in motorcycle crashes. By understanding these patterns, policymakers and road safety authorities can develop adaptive interventions to mitigate motorcycle‐related incidents during pandemics or similar crises. The study provides a data‐driven foundation for designing context‐specific policies, adjusting law enforcement strategies, and efficiently allocating resources to enhance road safety under varying conditions.
Emodin Suppresses Fluoride‐Induced Pyroptosis in SH‐SY5Y Cells Through the Inhibition of NLRP3 Inflammasome Activation
Authors: Lai Chencen , Jiang Taibai , Xu Tingting , Zhang Taiwei , Zhou Yiyuan , Deng Dongyang , Chen Qian
Published: January 2025

Our preliminary investigation has unveiled that emodin may inhibit the neurotoxic effects of sodium fluoride (NaF) on SH‐SY5Y cells by deactivating ERK and activating the Nrf2/HO‐1 signaling pathway. This action thereby restores synaptic damage and reduces excessive reactive oxygen species (ROS) generation. To delve further into the neuroprotective effects of emodin on neuronal cells, our study revealed that 48 h of NaF treatment disrupted the balance between mitochondrial fission and fusion in SH‐SY5Y cells. This disruption significantly upregulated proteins associated with pyroptosis pathways, including NLRP3, Caspase‐1, IL‐1β, and GSDMD expression, while inhibiting NF‐κB phosphorylation. Notably, pretreatment with emodin effectively reinstated these alterations induced by NaF exposure, indicating its capacity to not only mitigate ROS production but also regulate mitochondrial dynamics and pyroptosis pathways. This counteraction of the toxic effects of NaF on SH‐SY5Y cells provides valuable insights into the neuroprotective role of emodin.
Figure 1 from Serially Quantifying TERT Rearrangement Breakpoints in ctDNA Enables Minimal Residual Disease Monitoring in Patients with Neuroblastoma
Authors: Hollander Jan F. , Szymansky Annabell , Wünschel Jasmin , Astrahantseff Kathy , Rosswog Carolina , Thorwarth Anne , Thole-Kliesch Theresa M. , Chamorro González Rocío , Hundsdörfer Patrick , Hauptmann Kathrin , Schmelz Karin , Gürgen Dennis , Rogasch Julian M.M. , Henssen Anton G. , Fischer Matthias , Schulte Johannes H. , Eckert Cornelia , Eggert Angelika , Lodrini Marco , Deubzer Hedwig E.
Published: January 2025

A ddPCR assay detecting unique TERT rearrangement breakpoints for improved in-time molecular disease monitoring. A, Representative original data output from the uniplex ddPCR assay designed to quantify copies of the TERT breakpoint unique to the GI-ME-N cell line (left). The 1D amplitude plot depicts event number (droplets) versus fluorescence amplitude with positive (blue) and negative (gray) droplets separated by the threshold line (pink). Quantification of TERT breakpoint copies detected in GI-ME-N cells grown in vitro, conditioned cell culture medium, and subcutaneous GI-ME-N xenografts grown in mice (mean ± SD, n ≥ 3). B, The TERT rearrangement breakpoint copies detected in genomic DNA from neuroblastoma tissue samples by ddPCR are shown for patient P1. Neg. co., negative control; NTC, nontemplate control; M, metastasis; PT, primary tumor.
Data from Serially Quantifying TERT Rearrangement Breakpoints in ctDNA Enables Minimal Residual Disease Monitoring in Patients with Neuroblastoma
Authors: Hollander Jan F. , Szymansky Annabell , Wünschel Jasmin , Astrahantseff Kathy , Rosswog Carolina , Thorwarth Anne , Thole-Kliesch Theresa M. , Chamorro González Rocío , Hundsdörfer Patrick , Hauptmann Kathrin , Schmelz Karin , Gürgen Dennis , Rogasch Julian M.M. , Henssen Anton G. , Fischer Matthias , Schulte Johannes H. , Eckert Cornelia , Eggert Angelika , Lodrini Marco , Deubzer Hedwig E.
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Telomerase is reactivated by genomic TERT rearrangements in ∼30% of diagnosed high-risk neuroblastomas. Dismal patient prognosis results if the RAS/MAPK/ALK signaling transduction network also harbors mutations. We present a liquid biopsy–based monitoring strategy for this particularly vulnerable pediatric patient subgroup for which real-time molecular diagnostic tools are limited to date. Droplet digital PCR assays quantifying patient-individualized TERT rearrangement breakpoint copies, ALK copy numbers, and allelic ALK p.R1275Q mutation frequencies were applied to longitudinally collected liquid biopsies (peripheral blood and bone marrow [BM] plasma, n = 44 biosamples), the mononuclear cell fraction from BM and matched tumor samples. Marker detection was compared with current gold-standard diagnostics. Reanalysis of whole-genome and targeted panel sequencing data from 169 patients identified 64 TERT-rearranged neuroblastoma samples collected at initial and/or relapse diagnosis from 55 patients (254 total TERT rearrangement events). Detection and quantification of unique TERT rearrangement breakpoints in as little as 1 ng of total cell-free DNA in peripheral blood plasma improved therapy response assessment and early relapse detection in individual patients. Proof-of-concept is provided for minimal residual disease detection in the BM niche, from which relapses frequently arise, by analyzing unique TERT rearrangement breakpoints in BM plasma–derived cell-free DNA. TERT rearrangement breakpoints, as a single marker or combined with mutations in the RAS/MAPK/ALK signaling transduction network, can serve as robust and highly sensitive biomarkers for disease activity and spatially and temporally resolve disease better than current gold-standard diagnostics in individual patients with TERT-driven neuroblastoma.
Significance:
Real-time molecular monitoring of TERT-rearranged high-risk neuroblastoma is an unmet clinical need. We tested liquid biopsy-based assays for patient-individualized TERT breakpoint sequences to monitor disease in pediatric patients. Our digital PCR approach provides high resolution of spatial and temporal disease quantification in individual patients and is applicable for clinical routine.
Modelagem de produção de lentes MODE para satélites como Sistema a Eventos Discretos
Authors: Donaire Lucas Panfilo , Costa João Luis Ritton , Cardoso Fabio Baptista
Published: January 2025

Este trabalho aborda o sistema de produção de lentes MODE (Multiple-order Diffractive Engineered Surface), lentes de alta tecnologia usadas em satélites (DUPUIS, 2022). O principal desafio é a automação do processo de fabricação, que apresenta alta complexidade, custos elevados e demanda cuidados rigorosos. Essa produção pode ser considerada como um sistema a eventos discretos, onde cada etapa representaria um evento. Nesse artigo, vamos propor uma modelagem do controle do processo de produção das lentes via Redes de Petri, usando a metodologia PFS\RdP (MIYAGI, 1996). Com a Rede de Petri em mãos, aplica-se uma metodologia de isomorfismo para programar o sistema de controle em um controlador programável com a linguagem Ladder. O que motivou essa escolha foi o interesse por tecnologias de alto padrão e as nuances que podem surgir em sua produção. Esse projeto pode assumir o Objetivo de Desenvolvimento Sustentável número 9 da ONU, referente à Indústria, Inovação e Infraestrutura. Particularmente, se encaixa no tópico 9.5: fortalecer a pesquisa científica, melhorar as capacidades tecnológicas de setores industriais, incentivando a inovação.
Hydroids (Cnidaria, Hydrozoa) from Guinea Bissau
Authors: GIL MARTA , RAMIL FRAN
Published: January 2025

The present report deals with the hydroids collected during the Spanish survey Bissau-0811, and two CCLME international surveys, carried out in 2008, 2011 and 2012, respectively, along the coast of Guinea-Bissau, between 20 and 940 m depth. A total of 76 species belonging to 40 genera and 23 families were identified. Hebella sp. probably represents a new species, but the lack of fertile material prevents us from describing it as such. Hebella ritchiei Vervoort, 1959 was found fertile for the first time. The new combination Obelia pseudodichotoma (Vervoort, 1959) comb. nov. is proposed for Laomedea pseudodichotoma Vervoort, 1959, upon the finding of fully developed medusa buds inside its gonothecae. The subspecies Halecium sibogae marocanum Billard 1934, is elevated to full species, as Halecium marocanum Billard, 1934 nov. status, based on reliable morphological grounds. Auto-epizoic colonies of Halecium beanii (Johnston, 1838), Idiellana pristis (Lamouroux, 1816) and Nemertesia irregularis (Quelch, 1885) were found among the collected materials. With 43 species recorded for the first time from the waters of Guinea-Bissau, the number of known hydroids from the area is raised from 47 to 90 with this report. A checklist of the hydroids occurring in the study area is also included.
Review of the genus Karnyothrips (Thysanoptera, Phlaeothripidae) from Asia between India and Japan
Authors: OKAJIMA SHÛJI , MASUMOTO MASAMI
Published: January 2025

The genus Karnyothrips, classified into the tribe Haplothripini of the subfamily Phlaeothripinae, is studied taxonomically from Asia. Forty-four species are recognized, of which 26 species are newly described, and two species are transferred from Apterygothrips and Xylaplothrips: K. acer Okajima, K. acutus sp. n., K. affinis sp. n., K. alpha Pitkin, K. antennalis Okajima, K. apoensis sp. n., K. breviceps sp. n., K. brevipilosus sp. n., K. capitatus sp. n., K. cyathomorphus Wang, Mirab-balou & Tong, K. expandosus Reyes, K. flavescens sp. n., K. flavicornis Okajima, K. flavipes (Jones), K. formosanus sp. n., K. infectus sp. n., K. inflatus Okajima, K. inpallens sp. n., K. insignis Okajima, K. lalae sp. n., K. longicaudus sp. n., K. macrommatus sp. n., K. maculatus sp. n., K. melaleucus (Bagnall), K. micans (Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish) comb. n. (transferred from Xylaplothrips), K. micrommatus sp. n., K. mucidus (Ananthakrishnan & Jagadish), K. nigriflavus Ramakrishna, K. oppositus sp. n., K. pacificus Okajima, K. pellucidus (Ananthakrishnan) comb. n. (transferred from Apterygothrips), K. pitkini sp. n., K. quadriconus sp. n., K. robustus Okajima, K. semiflavus sp. n., K. similis sp. n., K. simpliceps sp. n., K. spinulus Okajima, K. submaculatus sp. n., K. tenax sp. n., K. triconus sp. n., K. variabilis sp. n., K. vietnamensis sp. n. and K. yoshi Okajima. Two species, K. fungulus Ananthakrishnan and Xylaplothrips palmerae Chen, are synonymized with K. flavipes. One species is excluded from Karnyothrips: K. ateuchis Reyes from the Philippines is transferred to Reyesothrips gen. n. The generic definition and relationships of Karnyothrips are considered. An illustrated key for discriminating 43 Karnyothrips species from Asia is provided.
Each hour injures, the last one kills
Authors: Looi Jeffrey CL , Robinson Natasha , Robson Stephen J
Published: January 2025

The haemorrhage of psychiatrists from the NSW state-funded mental health system parallels losses throughout Australia, and internationally. The lack of workforce cripples the capacity to provide adequate care. There has been persistently neglectful under-resourcing of the care of people with severe mental illness. A sense of horror exists due to the inability to provide high-quality care as a result of lack of infrastructure, staff, and time. This horror has driven psychiatrists to exit a dysfunctional state-funded health system, and an urgent remedy, although needed, appears absent.
Pharmacist-Directed Transition of Care Services Decrease Readmissions at a Safety-Net Hospital
Authors: Carboni Shannon , Tawfik Monika , Menon Brooke , Rhodes Heather , Brigino Ann
Published: January 2025

Background:

Limited data exist describing the influence of pharmacist-led transition of care (TOC) services in safety-net hospital settings.

Objective:

This analysis assessed the impact of pharmacist-led TOC services on hospital readmissions in a high-risk managed Medicaid population impacted by housing instability, substance use disorder (SUD), and mental health issues.

Methods:

A retrospective evaluation of patients who received safety-net hospital-based TOC pharmacy services between January 1, 2022, and December 31, 2022, was conducted. Patients 18 years and older, insured by a select managed Medicaid plan, and admitted to an inpatient medicine service were included. Patients were excluded if they were admitted from or discharged to a facility or hospice, discharged before medically ready, or died within 30 days of discharge. Interventions included an initial visit, discharge medication delivery and education, and a post-discharge follow-up phone call within 24 to 72 hours. Patients were provided with a number to call for medication-related questions post-discharge. The primary outcome was 30-day hospital readmissions. Secondary outcomes included time to and reason for readmission and a description of TOC services.

Results:

There were 292 patients engaged in pharmacist-led TOC services. Nearly 1 in 6 patients were experiencing homelessness and almost 40% were struggling with SUD during the index admission. The median readmission performance in the target population 6 months prior to TOC service implementation was 20.2% and fell to 12.3% post-intervention. Substance use disorder was the leading contributor to re-hospitalization, accounting for 58% of readmissions. Six (16.7%) readmissions were medication-related; 5 of 6 were complicated by SUD. There were no preventable medication-related readmissions. There are limitations to this study; not all patients received all TOC program components. Prospective, randomized-controlled studies are needed to show cause and effect.

Conclusion and Relevance:

This evaluation suggests pharmacist-led TOC discharge services may lead to hospital readmission reduction in a socially complex managed Medicaid population in a safety-net hospital setting.
COVID-19 health distress among autistic adults: Does psychological flexibility explain effects of health distress on mental health concerns?
Authors: Aller Ty B , Kelley Heather H , Juhasz Audrey , Covington Benjamin
Published: January 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic caused significant health distress among autistic adults in the United States. While there is considerable evidence that autistic adults’ COVID-19 health distress was related to increases in mental health concerns (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress), there is a less clear understanding of the possible mechanisms by which this process occurs. Accordingly, our participatory action research team assessed whether psychological flexibility, a strengths-based mechanism from acceptance and commitment therapy, mediated the association between COVID-19-related health distress and mental health concerns (e.g. depression, anxiety, and stress). We found that among 281 autistic adults the positive relationship between COVID-19 health distress and mental health concerns was partially mediated by values progress (a component of psychological flexibility) and values obstruction (a component of psychological inflexibility). Results provide preliminary support that the strengths-based mechanism of psychological flexibility might be a salient therapeutic target to improve mental health among autistic adults experiencing health distress.

Lay Abstract

What is already known? In the United States, the COVID-19 Pandemic caused many autistic adults to be fearful and worried about their health. There is a lot of research that says that when autistic adults experience health distress it can worsen their mental health. We do not know, however, what might explain how experiencing health distress negatively affects mental health. Because of this, our participatory action research team wanted to understand if there are strengths-based processes that help us understand the relationship between health distress and mental health concerns. What does this paper add? We examined among 281 autistic adults how a strengths-based construct from acceptance and commitment therapy called psychological flexibility might explain the relationship between health distress and mental health concerns. We found that for adults that had more values progress, doing the things that mattered to them, was associated with better mental health even while experiencing health distress. We also found that values obstruction, getting stuck on uncomfortable thoughts and feelings and trying to avoid them, explained worse mental health for autistic adults experiencing health distress. Implications for research and practice? The findings of this study provide initial support that psychological flexibility can explain the relationship between health distress and mental health concerns among autistic adults. Interventions that seek to improve psychological flexibility, like acceptance and commitment therapy, might be useful in improving autistic adults’ mental health while they are experiencing health distress.
Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma in children and adolescents
Authors: Schwartz Lindsay F , Devine Kaitlin J. , Xavier Ana C
Published: January 2025

Hepatosplenic T-cell lymphoma (HSTCL) is an aggressive mature T-cell lymphoma characterized by significant hepatosplenomegaly, bone marrow involvement, and minimal or no lymphadenopathy. Primarily affecting young adults, it is exceptionally rare in children and adolescents. This makes diagnosis and treatment particularly challenging for pathologists and pediatric oncologists. Diagnosis typically relies on bone marrow, spleen, or liver biopsy, with histopathological features including small/medium lymphoid cells with irregular nuclear contours that obstruct the sinuses or sinusoids of the spleen or liver. Immunophenotyping usually reveals CD2/3/7 positivity and CD4/8 negativity, with γδ T-cell receptor rearrangements in most cases. Some genetic distinctions described in pediatric and adolescent patients include chromosome 7 and 8 abnormalities and mutations involving SETD2 and STAT5B. Given the lack of standardized approaches, childhood and adolescent patients with HSTCL are often treated with adult protocols, such as intensive cytotoxic chemotherapy regimens followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT). Despite these highly intensive treatments, prognosis for HSTCL remains poor in children and adolescents, with an estimated five-year overall survival of <15%. HSTCL's rarity in children and adolescents limits accurate epidemiologic estimates, clinical experience, data collection, treatment advances, and surveillance recommendations. Data on relapsed/refractory disease is even more limited. This review summarizes known clinical and histopathologic features as well as outcomes specific to children and adolescents with HSTCL, highlighting potential distinctions from adults. We will also discuss future strategies to acquire additional biologic and molecular data, streamline diagnosis, and advance treatment approaches to ultimately improve outcomes for young patients with this deadly disease.
The acceptability of a novel seismocardiography device for measuring VO2 max in a workplace setting: a mixed methods approach
Authors: Carter Anouska M , Humphreys Liam , Beswick Alison , Kesterton Sue , Bugg Alex , Platts Katharine
Published: January 2025

Background

Workplace health screening rarely includes measures of cardiorespiratory fitness, despite it being a greater predictor of cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality than other routinely measured risk factors. This study aimed to determine the comparative acceptability of using a novel seismocardiography device to measure cardiorespiratory fitness via VO2 max during a workplace health check.

Methods

Participants were invited to participate in workplace health screening sessions where VO2 max was assessed by both seismocardiography at rest and sub-maximal exercise testing, in order for acceptability of both to be compared across multiple domains. Questionnaires and focus group guides for participants and practitioners were developed based on the Theoretical Framework of Acceptability. Data were analysed using t-tests and deductive thematic analysis.

Results

There was a significant difference in the acceptability domain of ‘affective attitude’ between the novel SCG device (M = 9.06 ± 1.14) and the sub-maximal exercise testing (M = 7.94 ± 1.79); t = 3.296, p = .001, d = 0.50, and in the domain of ‘burden’ between the novel SCG device (M = 9.16, ± 0.55) and the sub-maximal exercise testing (M = 7.41 ± 1.45); t = 7.033, p = < 0.001, d = 1.45. Practitioners and employees highlighted the potential of seismocardiography to create a more inclusive and accessible workplace offer, allowing those with restricted mobility or those with differing physical or emotional needs to participate in wellness testing; yet there was a lack of understanding in both groups around intervention effectiveness and coherence.

Conclusions

Seismocardiography may offer an acceptable route to cardiorespiratory fitness testing in the workplace, due to the low effort requirement and simplicity of administration. This study suggests that practitioners delivering such services have a critical role to play in acceptability of health interventions at work, as employees will be heavily influenced by practitioner beliefs around coherence and effectiveness. Comprehensive delivery training is important for the adoption of new health-related technologies such as seismocardiography into workplace health screening.
Posterior instrumented correction and fusion of Scheuermann´s results in physiological reconstruction of sagittal alignment and excellent overall clinical outcome- clinical trail of 73 patients
Authors: Jensch M.-L. , Platz U. , Quante M. , Köszegvary M. , Thomsen B. , Gliemroth J. , Berlin C. , Halm H.
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The aim was to assess the clinical outcomes after posterior spinal fusion (PSF) in patients with Scheuermann’s disease (SD).

Methods

SD undergoing PSF were retrospectively analyzed. Clinical outcome was determined using SRS-22- and Eq. 5D-questionaires preop and after 3, 12, 24 months after surgery. Whole spine x-rays were analyzed (preop, postop, after 6, 12, 24 months): sagittal and coronary Cobb angles, and pelvic parameters were evaluated; ideal lumbar lordosis (LL) was calculated using formula of le Huec (LL = 0.54*PI + 27.6). Surgical time, complications and blood loss were compared. Postop appearance of proximal (PJF) and distal junction failure (DJF) were calculated. Values were given as mean. Comparison with significance α = 0.05.

Results

73 patients were included. SRS-22 total score and EQ5D showed significant increase from preop to two-year FU (each p < 0.001). Preop Thoracic kyphosis (TK) was 75.1° with significant correction to 48.5° (p < 0.001). LL showed mean correction from 68.2° to 46.7° (p < 0.001). Difference between ideal and measured LL showed improvement from − 17.2° preop to -3.3° 6 month postop, good spontaneous correction of hyperlordosis. 63% had < 10° deviation from ideal LL 6 month postoperatively, whereas only 21.4% were in this range preoperatively. No significant changes for spinopelvic parameters during FU. Complications occurred in 13,7% of cases. A low revision rate for PJF (2,7%) was necessary. Subscore mental health showed a correlation to preop TK (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

Physiological reconstruction of sagittal alignment could be achieved in most cases (63%). Clinical FU results were convincing with significant improvement of patient’s satisfaction. Complication rate was moderate and risk of PJF after PSF low.