bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Steady state, displacement current, and spin polarization for massless fermion in a shear flow
Authors: Lin Shu , Wang Ziyue
Published: February 2025

We consider spin polarization of massless fermions in a shear flow, whose complete contributions contain magnetization current and side-jump current known from collisional chiral kinetic theory. We argue that the side-jump current adopts interpretation of displacement current. We explicitly determine the displacement current contribution in the steady state reached in shear flow for a quantum electrodynamics (QED) plasma. We find the displacement contribution enhances the magnetization contribution at small and large momenta, but leads to a suppression effect at intermediate momenta. Major differences from previous studies on collisional effect are (i) the fermions are in the same steady state as the medium rather than being probes; (ii) Compton scattering and pair annihilation are also included in addition to the Coulomb scattering considered before.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Partial-wave projection of relativistic three-body amplitudes
Authors: Briceño Raúl A. , Costa Caroline S. R. , Jackura Andrew W.
Published: February 2025

We derive the integral equations for partial-wave projected three-body scattering amplitudes, starting from the integral equations for three-body amplitudes developed for lattice QCD analyses. The results, which hold for generic three-body systems of spinless particles, build upon the recently derived partial-wave projected one-particle exchange, a primary component of the relativistic framework proven to satisfy S matrix unitarity. We derive simplified expressions for factorizable short-distance interactions, K3, in two equivalent formalisms—one symmetric under particle interchange and one asymmetric. For the asymmetric case, we offer parametrizations useful for amplitude analysis. Finally, we examine toy models for 3π systems at unphysically heavy pion masses with total isospins 0, 1, and 2.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Minkowski vacuum entanglement and accelerated oscillator chains
Authors: Svidzinsky Anatoly A. , Scully Marlan O. , Unruh William
Published: February 2025

Minkowski vacuum is empty from the perspective of Unruh-Minkowski photons, however, in the Rindler picture, it is filled with entangled pairs of Rindler photons. A ground-state atom uniformly accelerated through Minkowski vacuum can become excited by absorbing a Rindler photon (Unruh effect) or, in the alternative description, by emitting an Unruh-Minkowski photon (Unruh-Wald effect). We find an exact solution for the quantum evolution of a long chain of harmonic oscillators accelerated through Minkowski vacuum and for two chains accelerated in the opposite directions. We show how entanglement of Rindler photons present in Minkowski vacuum is transferred to the oscillators moving in causally disconnected regions. We also show that in the Unruh-Minkowski photon picture the process can be interpreted as if initial correlations between collective oscillator modes are transferred to the generated Unruh-Minkowski photons.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Consistent
N=4
,
D=4
truncation of type IIB supergravity on
S1×S5
Authors: Guarino Adolfo , Sterckx Colin , Trigiante Mario
Published: February 2025

Fetching techniques from generalized geometry and exceptional field theory, we develop a new method to identify consistent subsectors of four-dimensional gauged maximal supergravities that possess a (locally) geometric embedding in type IIB or 11D supergravity. We show that a subsector that is invariant under a structure group GS⊂E7(7) can define a consistent truncation, even when GS is not part of the symmetry of the gauged maximal supergravity. As an illustration of the method, type IIB supergravity on S1×S5 is shown to admit a consistent truncation to pure

N

=

4

, D=4 gauged supergravity. Explicit uplift formulae are presented which provide a type IIB alternative to the M-theory embedding constructed by Cvetic, Lu, and Pope 25 years ago.

Published by the American Physical Society
2025
Fast event-based electron counting for small-molecule structure determination by MicroED
Authors: Vlahakis Niko , Qu Songrong , Richards Logan S. , Moraes Lygia Silva de , Cascio Duilio , Nelson Hosea M. , Rodriguez Jose A.
Published: February 2025

Electron counting helped realize the resolution revolution in single-particle cryoEM and is now accelerating the determination of MicroED structures. Its advantages are best demonstrated by new direct electron detectors capable of fast (kilohertz) event-based electron counting (EBEC). This strategy minimizes the inaccuracies introduced by coincidence loss (CL) and promises rapid determination of accurate structures. We used the Direct Electron Apollo camera to leverage EBEC technology for MicroED data collection. Given its ability to count single electrons, the Apollo collects high-quality MicroED data from organic small-molecule crystals illuminated with incident electron beam flux densities as low as 0.01–0.045 e−/Å2/s. Under even the lowest flux density (0.01 e−/Å2/s) condition, fast EBEC data produced ab initio structures of a salen ligand (268 Da) and biotin (244 Da). Each structure was determined from a 100° wedge of data collected from a single crystal in as few as 50 s, with a delivered fluence of only ∼0.5 e−/Å2. Fast EBEC data collected with a fluence of 2.25 or 3.33 e−/Å2 also facilitated a 1.5 Å structure of thiostrepton (1665 Da). While refinement of these structures appeared unaffected by CL, a CL adjustment applied to EBEC data further improved the distribution of intensities measured from the salen ligand and biotin crystals. However, CL adjustment only marginally improved the refinement of their corresponding structures, signaling the already high counting accuracy of detectors with counting rates in the kilohertz range. Overall, by delivering low-dose structure-worthy data, fast EBEC collection strategies open new possibilities for high-throughput MicroED.
Synthesis and crystal structure of a nickel(II) 2′-deoxy-6-thioguanosine nitrate complex
Authors: Hribesh Samira O. , Clegg William , Harrington Ross W. , Houlton Andrew , Pike Andrew R.
Published: February 2025

The reaction of Ni(NO3)2·6H2O with the thio-modified nucleoside 2′-deoxy-6-thioguanosine (d-tG, C10H13N5O3S) in methanol in a 1:1.3 stoichiometric ratio deposited the title compound, [Ni(d-tG)3](NO3)2·2H2O, as green crystals. Despite the <1:3 Ni–ligand ratio used in the synthesis, the deoxy-thioguanosine binds to form three N
7,S
6-coordinated five-membered chelate rings with individual NiII ions in mononuclear complexes rather than bridge metal centres into more extended oligomeric or polymeric structures.
Out of sight, out of focus: mitigating country-of-origin effects on fashion consumers’ donation behaviour
Authors: Stringer Tara , Alahakoon Thilini , Mathmann Frank , Mortimer Gary , Payne Alice Ruth
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study investigates how actual donations towards social causes within fashion supply chains can be increased in the face of negative country-of-origin effects.

Design/methodology/approach

Literature reports a lack of sustained consumer support for social causes within fashion supply chains. Driven by perceived psychological distance between the manufacturer and the fashion consumer, negative country-of-origin effects have an impact on donation behaviour. Using two online experiments, this study shows that including a garment worker’s image in swing tags mitigates negative country-of-origin effects on actual donations.

Findings

Fashion consumers’ actual donations towards worker rights increased with the presence of a garment worker’s image. In the higher psychological distance condition, exposure to the image reduced negative country-of-origin effects, increasing actual donations. This increase in actual donations is driven by pleasure-seeking, thus indicating that consumer support for social causes within fashion supply chains is underlined by hedonism.

Originality/value

This study focuses on a visual cue-based mechanism of promoting actual donations towards social causes and the role of pleasure-seeking in this process – two previously under-explored areas in the fashion marketing literature. The use of an incentive-compatible measure that required participants to donate real money allows the demonstration of actual donation behaviour, providing robust evidence of the impact of visual cues and their potential to be applied in the real-world.
Lost in turbulence? Healthcare workers’ conceptualisations and experiences with navigating time in personalised care
Authors: Corbett Teresa , Meier Ninna , Bridges Jackie
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The study aims to explore how healthcare workers (HCWs) navigate and experience time when caring for older cancer patients living with other illnesses.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper presents findings from a qualitative study of how HCWs conceptualise and navigate the temporal aspects of delivering personalised care to older people living with multimorbidity. Building on research from organisation studies and the sociology of time, we interviewed 19 UK HCWs about their experiences of delivering care to this patient group.

Findings

Our findings illustrate how the delivery of personalised care contradicts contemporary models for healthcare delivery defined by efficiency and standardisation. We found that HCWs engage with time as both a valuable commodity to be rationed and prioritised within a constrained context and as a malleable resource for managing workload and overcoming “turbulence” in the system. However, participants in this study also shared how the simultaneous multiplicity and lack of time had a profoundly personal impact on them through the emotional toll associated with “time debt” and “lost” time.

Originality/value

This research presents a unique analysis of how time is conceptualised and navigated in contemporary healthcare, offering valuable insights for policy improvement. We conclude that personalised models of healthcare are incompatible with many current temporal structures of treatment trajectories and work-practices, by nature of being centred around the person and not the system of delivery.
Balancing competing rationales in priority-setting in primary healthcare – an interview study on political governance
Authors: Holmér Suzana , Krevers Barbro , Thomas Kristin , Nedlund Ann-Charlotte
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Publicly funded healthcare systems struggle to govern and determine how finite resources should be allocated in relation to political goals within a pre-determined budget. Primary healthcare (PHC) has a central multipurpose function, not least in terms of political strategies, but PHC governance is still largely underexplored. The aim is to explore how politicians responsible for making decisions pertaining to healthcare coverage navigate the governance of public PHC and disentangle it in the form of narratives based on different types of underlying rationales.

Design/methodology/approach

Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 15 politicians from 3 Swedish regional healthcare authorities. The data were analysed abductively based on scientific, clinical and cultural rationales using thematic content analysis.

Findings

Our study provides insights into how PHC’s multipurpose function implicates tensions between politicians' different responsibilities regarding healthcare coverage. It shows how politicians navigate various coexisting rationales, with some being more dominant than others and where tensions also exist between them. In this balancing act, they create narratives addressing different stakeholders and priority-setting dilemmas, reflecting the diverse rationales. Our study reveals that politicians play a crucial role in PHC governance and priorities, balancing rationales that might otherwise become overly dominant.

Originality/value

This paper contributes new knowledge by displaying how politicians balance tensions within and between rationales through different narratives regarding goals/commissions, problematic situations and preferred solutions in PHC governance.
Unveiling the nexus: exploring the relationship between UAE corporate social responsibility laws and employee sustainability
Authors: Al-Tawil Tareq Nael , Rahhal Ala Eddin H.
Published: February 2025

Purpose

This study aims to examine the corporate social responsibility (CSR)-employee sustainability nexus from a legal perspective, focusing on CSR regulation in the UAE and its impact on workplace well-being, professional development and broader socioeconomic outcomes.

Design/methodology/approach

This study uses a narrative literature review to assess the literature, identify deficits in current knowledge and establish desk research findings on CSR’s effect on employee sustainability, particularly in the legal context of the UAE. This study uses a narrative literature review as the primary research method to analyze the CSR-employee sustainability relationship under UAE CSR legislation.

Findings

A key conclusion drawn from this study is the urgent need to transition CSR compliance from voluntary to mandatory based on legal and moral requirements. Increased transparency is needed not only on the corporate level but also to make real changes regarding employees’ sustainable activities. In this way, social responsibility will be placed into rules and regulations that will ensure corporations are able to advance initiatives that have the potential to foster employee well-being, engagement and long-term career development. This study also emphasizes the need to establish more precise and more enforceable boundaries for CSR. Corporate responsibility should no longer be seen as optional or negotiable but integrated as a fundamental aspect of business operations.

Originality/value

The contributions of this study are twofold. First, it deepens the insight into CSR as the system of governance, which is presented both as the voluntary management system that regulates the company’s relations with the external environment and as the legal framework enforced to address external challenges effectively. Second, it situates employee sustainability in this governance framework as a way of showing how the legal and institutional environments condition CSR-HRM-sustainability relationships. This approach not only fills critical research gaps but also provides actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to improve organizational sustainability.
Conclusions and reflections: the development of health tourism in challenging times – a focus on the Visegrád countries
Authors: Dryglas Diana , Smith Melanie Kay
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The purpose of this theme issue is to explore the development of health tourism in challenging times, with a particular focus on the Visegrád countries. The issue investigates the ways in which health tourism enterprises and destinations can enhance resilience, adapt to post-pandemic conditions and navigate economic, social and political uncertainties. Additionally, it highlights the role of health tourism in improving individual and community well-being while aligning with the principles of sustainable development.

Design/methodology/approach

This theme issue employs a thematic approach, incorporating both theoretical and empirical perspectives on health tourism development. The research articles included in this issue utilize various qualitative and quantitative methodologies, such as case studies, survey-based research and Delphi studies. The focus is on examining the sustainability and resilience of health tourism enterprises and destinations in the Visegrád countries, drawing on data from key stakeholders, including industry professionals, policymakers and researchers.

Findings

The studies presented in this theme issue identify several critical aspects of health tourism development in the Visegrád region. Key findings include (1) the increasing significance of health tourism as a tool for regional economic development and social well-being; (2) the necessity of infrastructural improvements and service diversification to attract both domestic and international tourists; (3) the role of strategic collaboration between stakeholders, including policymakers, businesses and healthcare institutions, in ensuring the long-term viability of health tourism; (4) the importance of sustainable practices in health tourism management, particularly in light of climate change and resource conservation challenges and (5) the evolving consumer behaviour patterns in the post-pandemic era, which emphasize wellness, preventive healthcare and personalized experiences.

Originality/value

This theme issue contributes to the growing body of literature on health tourism by addressing gaps in research related to the Visegrád countries. It provides novel insights into the resilience and adaptability of health tourism enterprises and destinations in the face of global crises and economic fluctuations. By offering strategic recommendations for policymakers, industry practitioners and researchers, this issue fosters a deeper understanding of how health tourism can drive regional development and support sustainable growth in uncertain times.
Unveiling above‐ and below‐ground ecological strategies that underlie woody plant encroachment in grasslands
Authors: Jardim Raissa I. L. , Marques Márcia C. M. , do Carmo Marta R. B. , Cavalin Pedro O. , de Oliveira Ricardo A. C. , Carlucci Marcos B.
Published: February 2025

Forests and grasslands often occur side by side in the landscape, forming a complex mosaic system with contrasting environmental conditions, maintained by different fire‐vegetation stabilising feedbacks. Woody species that occur along this sharp gradient must adopt viable ecological strategies to deal with the contrasting environments of these ecosystems. For this, plants are challenged to efficiently coordinate the functioning of ecological strategy dimensions above‐ and below‐ground.

We tested hypotheses related to structural changes in vegetation and associated shifts in community‐level trait patterns and ecological strategies during woody plant encroachment. We surveyed 60 permanent plots in forest‐grassland mosaics at two different times (2012–2022) to obtain data on changes in vegetation structure, species composition, abundance and ecological strategies after 10 years without disturbance, capturing a gradient from open and woody plant‐encroached grasslands to closed forests. An integrated functional approach was used to assess the different dimensions of plant trait variation, including 10 above‐ and below‐ground traits, representing whole‐plant, leaf, stem and root strategies.

Woody plant encroachment led to a substantial increase in woody plant density in former grasslands, transforming their structure to resemble that of young forests. Interestingly, we found clear trade‐offs between above‐ and below‐ground traits among woody species. On the one hand, the species occurring in grassland had conservative leaves, a strategy for protection against high solar incidence, physical damage and drought, and had roots with a ‘do‐it‐yourself’ strategy, which ensures efficiency in the acquisition of nutrients and water in nutrient‐limited soils, and had thick bark related to fire resistance. On the other hand, forest species were usually taller and had acquisitive leaves, indicating highly competitive ability in light‐limited forests, whereas their roots had an ‘outsourcing’ strategy of resource uptake to mycorrhizal fungi in the nutrient‐rich soils of forests.

Synthesis: We advanced the current understanding of woody plant encroachment in grasslands by showing the underlying trait‐based trade‐offs that enable woody species to occur along the transition between forest and grassland through space and time. Importantly, we have shown how below‐ground traits are important in explaining the species strategies, with a negative covariance between above‐ and below‐ground. Our integrative trait‐based approach will be helpful in better understanding and managing forest‐grassland mosaics in southern Brazil and analogous patchy ecosystems around the world.
The afterlife effects of leaf and root litter traits on soil N cycling
Authors: Wambsganss Janna , Huys Raoul , Stephan Hättenschwiler , Poirier Vincent , Munson Alison D. , Freschet Grégoire T.
Published: February 2025

Litter nitrogen (N) release during decomposition crucially influences ecosystem N cycling and the amount of N available to plants and other soil organisms. However, the role of initial litter traits in affecting patterns of temporal N release from litters and determining the fate of N in the soil is still poorly understood.

Here, we measured litter N release during the 12‐month decomposition of 15N‐labelled leaf and root litters of 12 common Mediterranean herbaceous species. We further traced the fate of N during decomposition of the litters into the soil and measured the inorganic N content in the soil solution as well as total N in the particulate (POM) and mineral‐associated organic matter (MAOM) fractions at the end of the incubation.

While most litters exhibited a very rapid initial N release, they were also quite variable in their N dynamics. As such they differed in the quantity and temporal patterns of N release, the accumulation of inorganic N in the soil solution, as well as in the incorporation of N in stable soil organic matter (SOM) fractions during decomposition. This variability was driven by differences in initial litter chemistry, particularly N, but also P and Mn, and litter C leachate concentrations. These and other traits (including water‐soluble compounds and lignin concentrations) explained up to 81% of the variance in N release rate, 48% for N accumulation in the soil solution, 57% for N entering the soil POM and 55% for MAOM fraction.

Synthesis. We identified litter traits and litter types (root versus leaf) with afterlife effects on N cycling in soils and important implications for ecosystem functioning. Highly decomposable litters (typically high N; including most leaf litters) generally support a fast N release through mineralization, thereby the immediate supply of N to plants, but also potentially higher losses from the system, and long‐term storage as MAOM‐N, likely within microbial resynthesis products. In contrast, poorly decomposable litters (typically low N; including most root litters) promote longer and weaker N release and foster N retention via lower N losses and increased POM‐N formation.
Advancing occupational therapy scoping reviews: Recommendations to enhance quality and methodological rigour
Authors: Brown Ted , Gustafsson Louise , McKinstry Carol , Robinson Luke
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Scoping reviews are an increasingly popular methodological approach to collate evidence and synthesise knowledge in many fields including occupational therapy. However, many are published with potential methodological weaknesses. To address this issue, nine methodological recommendations that authors could adopt to improve the quality and rigour of published scoping reviews are proposed based on the authors' opinions and the published evidence.

Overview

It is suggested that when authors are completing a scoping review, they can consider completing one or more of the following methodological guidelines: (1) refer to the Levac et al.'s (2010) scoping review recommendations, the JBI Scoping Review Protocol, and the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews (PRISMA‐ScR) Checklist as methodological guides; (2) include grey literature as a standard component search strategy approach; (3) include thesis and dissertations as recognised sources of evidence; (4) apply a recognised research methodology critical appraisal/quality assessment tools and scales to evidence selected for inclusion in scoping reviews; (5) assign a level of evidence (LoE) framework to the selected evidence; (6) apply a recognised qualitative knowledge syntheses approach to the data extracted; (7) report the steps taken to ensure the trustworthiness of the qualitative knowledge synthesis approach used; (8) include consumer, stakeholder and community consultation; and (9) apply a scoping review‐specific critical appraisal/quality assessment tool as a quality assurance activity. The authors are not proposing that the nine recommendations are mandatory, but instead they are methodological guidelines that scoping review authors can incorporate if they choose.

Consumer and Community Involvement

Consumers and community members were not involved in the writing of the manuscript.

Conclusion

Adopting the suggested methodological recommendations as a regular part of completing occupational therapy‐related scoping reviews will increase their quality, precision, and rigour.
Development and preliminary validation of the C‐SCORE: A brief scale for use in systemic couple therapy
Authors: Carr Alan , Kieran Aideen , Sherbersky Hannah , Shepherd Melanie , Galbraith Michael , Whittinger Naureen , Pomini Valeria , Kunsang Yang Yang  , Nearchou Finiki , Stratton Peter
Published: February 2025

A new version of the Systemic Clinical Outcome Routine Evaluation (C‐SCORE) was developed for use with couples to assess, plan and monitor progress in therapy. This study aimed to examine the psychometric properties of C‐SCORE in an international community sample of 300 participants. Exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis showed that a twenty‐two‐item, five‐factor version of C‐SCORE best fit the data. The scale and its factor sub‐scales had good internal consistency and test–retest reliability over a 1‐month period. C‐SCORE showed good concurrent and construct validity as evidenced by significant associations with other measures of couple relational functioning, mental health and wellbeing and self‐rated couple issues. These promising findings require further validation with a clinical sample.
Governance Quality Under Economic Uncertainty: Global Insights
Authors: Woahid Murad S M , Rahman Arifur
Published: February 2025

This study examines the impact of economic uncertainty on governance quality using a cross‐country panel data set from 1993 to 2022. Governance quality is measured through control of corruption, regulatory quality, government effectiveness and political stability. Results show that economic uncertainty significantly weakens governance, with pronounced effects on political stability and government effectiveness, particularly in higher‐income countries. Robustness checks, including inverse probability weighting and alternative uncertainty measures, confirm these findings. The study underscores the critical role of economic stability in mitigating corruption, reducing political instability and supporting Sustainable Development Goal 16 by fostering stronger governance globally.
Prompt payment enforcement on framework agreements for public hospitals: evidence from Chile
Authors: Jordán Felipe
Published: February 2025

Demand aggregation through Framework Agreements (FAs) has emerged as a promising tool to support the efficient expansion of affordable healthcare in developing countries. However, the effectiveness of FAs in achieving lower costs may be hindered if prompt payment is not enforced. This paper estimates the impacts of a reform implemented in Chile in 2014, which introduced a prompt payment enforcement procedure in the FAs that supplied public hospitals. Under this reform, firms were allowed to suspend dispatches until overdue bills were paid. The results from a difference‐in‐differences estimation indicate that hospitals with greater exposure to the reform, measured by their larger share of late bill payments, reduced their payment delays after 2013 compared with less‐exposed hospitals, without compromising health‐care quality. The resulting decrease in the average financial cost of FAs led to lower prices, highlighting the importance of prompt payment enforcement for realising savings through FAs.
Navigating Past Oceans: Comparing Metabarcoding and Metagenomics of Marine Ancient Sediment Environmental DNA
Authors: Holman Luke E. , Zampirolo Giulia , Gyllencreutz Richard , Scourse James , Frøslev Tobias , Carøe Christian , Gopalakrishnan Shyam , Pedersen Mikkel Winther , Bohmann Kristine
Published: February 2025

The condition of ancient marine ecosystems provides context for contemporary biodiversity changes in human‐impacted oceans. Sequencing sedimentary ancient DNA (sedaDNA) is an emerging method for generating high‐resolution biodiversity time‐series data, offering insights into past ecosystems. However, few studies directly compare the two predominant sedaDNA sequencing approaches: metabarcoding and shotgun‐metagenomics, and it remains unclear if these methodological differences affect diversity metrics. We compared these methods using sedaDNA from an archived marine sediment record sampled in the Skagerrak, North Sea, spanning almost 8000 years. We performed metabarcoding of a eukaryotic 18S rRNA region (V9) and sequenced 153–229 million metagenomic reads per sample. Our results show limited overlap between metabarcoding and metagenomics, with only three metazoan genera detected by both methods. For overlapping taxa, metabarcoding detections became inconsistent for samples older than 2000 years, while metagenomics detected taxa throughout the time series. We observed divergent patterns of alpha diversity, with metagenomics indicating decreased richness towards the present and metabarcoding showing an increase. However, beta diversity patterns were similar between methods, with discrepancies only in metazoan data comparisons. Our findings demonstrate that the choice of sequencing method significantly impacts detected biodiversity in an ancient marine sediment record. While we stress that studies with limited variation in DNA degradation among samples may not be strongly affected, researchers should exonerate methodological explanations for observed biodiversity changes in marine sediment cores, particularly when considering alpha diversity, before making ecological interpretations.
Relation Between Brain Morphological Features and Psychiatric Hospitalization Risk in Major Depressive and Bipolar Disorders
Authors: Miskowiak Kamilla W. , Macoveanu Julian , Ozenne Brice , Beaman Emily E. , Dam Vibeke H. , Fisher Patrick M. , Knudsen Gitte M. , Kessing Lars V. , Jørgensen Martin B. , Frokjaer Vibe G. , Sankar Anjali
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Patients with mood disorders, especially, major depressive disorder (MDD) and bipolar disorder (BD), are at heightened risk of relapse and psychiatric rehospitalizations. Therefore, there is an urgent need to identify modifiable biomarkers to inform personalized and intensified prevention strategies for those at the greatest risk of relapse and hospital readmissions. Brain structural measures subserving cognitive function hold particular promise among potential predictive biomarkers.

Methods

In the present study, structural magnetic resonance imaging scans were obtained from 319 patients with MDD (n = 241) or BD (n = 78). Longitudinal data on psychiatric hospitalization for up to 10 years were available from the Danish National population‐based registers. Interhemispheric hippocampal asymmetry, a putative marker of cognitive function and brain reserve, was calculated for each patient. The association between hippocampal asymmetry and future psychiatric hospitalization was assessed using a cause‐specific Cox regression model. Exploratory analyses, also using a cause‐specific Cox model, assessed the association of prefrontal and hippocampal gray matter volume and whole‐brain white matter volume with hospitalizations.

Results

The results indicated a negative association between rightward hippocampal asymmetry (i.e., left<right) and risk of future hospitalizations (HR = 0.90, corresponding to a 10‐year risk reduction of 0.018 for a 1% increase in asymmetry, p = 0.040). Exploratory analysis indicated that a larger right hippocampus volume was associated with a reduced risk of hospitalization (HR = 0.18, p = 0.004) while a larger bilateral dorsolateral prefrontal volume (HR = 1.06, p = 0.01) was associated with an increased risk of hospitalization.

Conclusion

The findings suggest a role for hippocampal and, additionally, prefrontal morphological features in the risk of future psychiatric hospitalizations in mood disorders.
Discrepancies in Beta‐Lactam Antibiotics Cross‐Reactivity: Implications for Clinical Practice
Authors: Hutten Evelien Maria , Bulatović Ćalasan Maja , Trubiano Jason Anthony , Pleijhuis Rick Gert‐Jan , Terreehorst Ingrid
Published: February 2025

Background

In patients with a beta‐lactam antibiotic (BA) allergy label, avoidance of the whole group of BAs leads to displacement of first‐line therapies potentially influencing patient outcomes and antimicrobial resistance. Studies previously published on BA cross‐reactivity use different sets of BA and seem to contain conflicting recommendations on safe BA alternatives in case of (suspected) BA allergy.

Methods

The objectives were (i) to identify discrepancies between studies regarding cross‐allergy in BA and (ii) to identify research gaps. The tables and errata of 4 studies (Romano et al., Trubiano et al., Zagursky et al., SWAB‐guideline by Wijnakker et al.) were evaluated and compared head‐to‐head.

Results

A total of 51 antibiotics were covered by the four authors, theoretically leading to 2550 potential recommendations regarding alternatives in case of specific allergies. Internal discrepancies existed in 2 tables. Since none of the tables included all 51 BAs, in 356 situations data were lacking regarding specific alternatives. In 1104 situations, only one author gave advice about a specific alternative. Harmony and disharmony between authors could be evaluated in 1090 cases. The advice regarding alternative BAs was 696 times in harmony (482 safe, 214 unsafe), while discrepancies were found in 394 cases. This led to a different advice (safe vs. unsafe) in 272 cases or 69%.

Conclusion

Disharmony between authors was identified in 36% of the cases. In 69%, this led to a clinically relevant, different advice. This indicates the need for synchronisation of cross‐reactivity tables and answering remaining research gaps.
Text in R graphics
Authors: Murrell Paul
Published: February 2025

R graphics has provided the ability to draw simple text labels on plots since R version 1.0.0. However, these basic text‐drawing facilities are quite limited. Over the past 25 years, more sophisticated text‐drawing features have been added: support for the Unicode character set; access to system fonts; text paths; support for text markup; and rendering of typeset text. This article charts the development of text‐drawing support in R and provides demonstrations of some of the more sophisticated features.
Risk of Incident Type 2 Diabetes and Prediabetes in Patients With Direct Acting Antiviral‐Induced Cure of Hepatitis C Virus Infection
Authors: Chang Yu‐Ping , Lee Ji‐Yuh , Chen Chi‐Yi , Kao Wei‐Yu , Lin Chih‐Lin , Yang Sheng‐Shun , Shih Yu‐Lueng , Peng Cheng‐Yuan , Lee Fu‐Jen , Tsai Ming‐Chang , Huang Shang‐Chin , Su Tung‐Hung , Tseng Tai‐Chung , Liu Chun‐Jen , Chen Pei‐Jer , Kao Jia‐Horng , Liu Chen‐Hua
Published: February 2025

Background

Data regarding the risk of incident type 2 diabetes (T2D) and prediabetes among patients with hepatitis C virus (HCV) achieving direct‐acting antivirals (DAAs)‐induced sustained virologic response (SVR12) remains limited.

Methods

A total of 1079 patients, including 589 with normoglycemia and 490 with prediabetes, who underwent biannual fasting glucose and glycosylated haemoglobin (HbA1c) assessment for a median post‐SVR12 follow‐up of 5.5 years, were enrolled. We reported the crude (cIRs) and age‐standardised incidence rates (ASIRs) of T2D and prediabetes. Factors associated with incident T2D and prediabetes were assessed using the Cox proportional hazards models.

Results

The cIRs of T2D and prediabetes were 1.18 and 8.99 per 100 person‐years of follow‐up (PYFU), respectively. Additionally, the ASIRs of T2D and prediabetes were 1.09 (95% CI: 0.76–1.53) and 8.47 (95% CI: 7.23–9.90) per 100 PYFU. Prediabetes (adjusted hazard ratio [aHR]: 4.71; 95% confidence interval (CI): 2.55–8.70, p < 0.001), body mass index (BMI) per kg/m2 increase (aHR: 1.17; 95% CI: 1.09–1.26, p < 0.001) and liver stiffness measurement (LSM) per kPa increase (aHR: 1.05; 95% CI: 1.02–1.09, p = 0.001) were associated with a higher risk of incident T2D. Age per year increase (aHR: 1.02; 95% CI: 1.01–1.03, p < 0.001) was associated with a higher risk of incident prediabetes.

Conclusion

The incidence rates of T2D and prediabetes remain substantial among patients after HCV eradication. Lifestyle modification, drug therapy and regular monitoring of glycemic status are crucial for patients at risk of developing T2D and prediabetes following HCV clearance.
Outcomes of daratumumab–bortezomib–thalidomide–dexamethasone in treatment‐naive systemic AL amyloidosis
Authors: Khwaja Jahanzaib , Ravichandran Sriram , Cohen Oliver , Foard Darren , Low May , Martinez‐Naharro Ana , Venneri Lucia , Fontana Marianna , Hawkins Philip N. , Gillmore Julian , Lachmann Helen J. , Whelan Carol , Mahmood Shameem , Wechalekar Ashutosh
Published: February 2025

Systemic light chain (AL) amyloidosis is an incurable disorder caused by extra‐cellular deposition of light‐chain aggregates in critical organs. An immunomodulatory agent‐based quadruplet including anti‐CD38 therapy has not been investigated as a first‐line treatment in AL amyloidosis. We report the UK experience of daratumumab–bortezomib–thalidomide–dexamethasone for the first‐line treatment of AL amyloidosis. Consecutive patients with a new diagnosis of systemic AL between 2021 and 2023 were retrospectively reviewed from the UK National Amyloidosis Centre database. One hundred and two patients were included; median age was 61 years, involved free light‐chain concentration 234 mg/L, 65% had cardiac and 63% renal involvement with modified Mayo stage I/II/IIIa/IIIb in 24%/36%/21% and 19% respectively. A median of 6 cycles was delivered. By intention‐to‐treat analysis, best haematological overall response rate was 97%: complete response at 65%, very good partial response at 22%, partial response at 11% and no response at 3%. At 6‐ and 12‐month time points from treatment initiation, best cardiac response rates were 39% and 45%, respectively, for evaluable patients. At a median duration of 18 months follow‐up, the estimated 1‐year overall survival was 89% (95% confidence interval [CI] 81–94) and treatment‐free survival/death was 82% (95% CI 73–89). We demonstrate efficacy in this real‐world population with comparable results to the gold standard, daratumumab–bortezomib–cyclophosphamide–dexamethasone.
Opportunities of patient‐derived organoids in drug development
Authors: Büning Antonia , Reckzeh Elena
Published: February 2025

Various model systems are utilised during drug development starting from basic research, moving to preclinical research and development for clinical applications in order to identify new drugs to improve human health. However, there are characteristics of humans that are not captured by established models. Such models include homogeneous two‐dimensional (2D) cell lines, which lack cellular heterogeneity and physiological relevance, and species differences of animal models. Organoids can mitigate these differences by providing more physiologically relevant three‐dimensional (3D) cell models that resemble the molecular state in healthy and pathological tissue. This review presents exemplary approaches using patient‐derived organoids (PDOs) that have been developed and the new opportunities that are evolving in drug development with a focus on patient adult stem cell (ASC)‐derived organoids. These demonstrate the potential of PDOs used alongside established cell and animal models to improve drug development from basic research to clinical applications such as personalised medicine.
Case Series of Eight Congenital Tufting Enteropathy Patients and Literature Review
Authors: Fang Youhong , Luo Youyou , Xu Luojia , Yu Jindan , Chen Jie
Published: February 2025

Congenital tufting enteropathy (CTE) is a rare autosomal recessive inherited disorder caused by mutations in the epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) gene, characterized by severe diarrhea and growth failure. Between December 2017 and December 2023, eight patients diagnosed with CTE at our hospital were retrospectively analyzed for their clinical and genetic features, alongside a comprehensive literature review. All patients presented with severe malnutrition and growth failure upon admission. Parenteral nutrition (PN) with high caloric intake was required for all patients to achieve growth catch‐up. A total of 142 patients with EpCAM mutations were reviewed, including 137 previously reported cases and five newly identified patients described in this study. Among the 114 CTE patients with detailed treatment information, 108 patients received PN therapy, with six patients successfully weaned off PN. Additionally, 19 patients underwent intestinal transplantation (IT). Outcome analysis revealed that 30 patients (27.3%) died, including five post‐IT deaths. A total of 68 EpCAM mutations were identified, with most located in exon 3. The most frequently reported variant was c.499dup C. In this study, four novel mutations were detected in our patients. This study provides a comprehensive overview of the clinical and genetic characteristics of CTE, enhancing the understanding of its phenotype and genotype, particularly in Asian patients.
Function‐Specific Localization in the Supplementary Motor Area: A Potential Effective Target for Tourette Syndrome
Authors: Wang Jue , Yue Juan , Wang Ye , Li Xiao‐Long , Deng Xin‐Ping , Lou Yu‐Ting , Gao Liu‐Yan , Chen Xiao‐Quan , Su Qun‐Yan , Zang Yu‐Feng , Feng Jian‐Hua
Published: February 2025

Aims

Repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) targeting the supplementary motor area (SMA) may treat Tourette's syndrome (TS) by modulating the function of the globus pallidus internus (GPi) via the cortico‐striato‐thalamo‐cortical circuit.

Methods

We conducted a randomized longitudinal study to examine circuit functionality and clinical efficacy. The GPi was identified as an “effective region” for TS treatment. Using functional MRI, individualized targets within the SMA were identified. Function‐specific targets [left SMA (n = 19), right SMA (n = 16)] were compared with conventional scalp‐localized SMA targets (n = 19). Age‐ and gender‐matched typical developmental children (TDC) served as controls (n = 48). TS patients received 50 Hz continuous theta burst stimulation (cTBS) at 70% RMT over five consecutive days (1800 pulses/day). Clinical efficacy was assessed using the Yale Global Tic Severity Scale (YGTSS) at one and two weeks post‐cTBS. Functional connectivity (FC) analyses of the GPi evaluated the impact on brain function.

Results

There was an approximately 3 cm Y‐axis distance between the function‐specific and conventional targets. TS patients exhibited significantly reduced GPi‐base FC in bilateral motor areas at baseline compared to TDC. Following cTBS, 4 out of 19 patients in the left SMA group achieved a ≥ 30% reduction in YGTSS scores. cTBS modulated brain function in the left inferior orbital frontal cortex and right Lingual/cerebellum, primarily influenced by the right SMA target, whereas the conventional target showed no effect on YGTSS scores. Changes in GPi‐target FC were significantly correlated with reduction in YGTSS total scores (r = 0.638, p = 0.026).

Conclusion

These findings suggest that function‐specific SMA targets may yield more pronounced modulatory effects, with the left SMA target achieving “Effectiveness” after just one week of cTBS. Combining function‐specific SMA‐targeted cTBS with standard treatment shows promise in accelerating clinical efficacy for TS treatment, warranting further investigation.
Tetrahedral Framework Nucleic Acid‐Based Delivery of DJ‐1‐saRNA Prevent Retinal Ischaemia–Reperfusion Injury via Inhibiting Ferroptosis
Authors: Zhang Xianggui , Deng Zhende , Xu Xiaoxiao , Zhu Jingyi , Huang Zhen , Ye Ya , Liu Jingying , Luo Delun , Liu Jinnan , Yan Ming , Song Yanping
Published: February 2025

Retinal ischaemia/reperfusion injury (RI/RI) is the primary pathophysiological mechanism underlying retinal ischaemic diseases, potentially resulting in significant and irreversible visual impairment. Currently, there are no effective treatments available for RI/RI, and oxidative stress is a critical factor that contributes to the associated damage. DJ‐1, an important endogenous antioxidant, has been proposed as a promising therapeutic agent for RI/RI owing to its potential for overexpression. In this study, tetrahedral frame nucleic acids (tFNAs) were utilised as an effective delivery vehicle for DJ‐1 small activating RNA (saRNA), resulting in the synthesis of a novel nanocomposite (tFNAs‐DJ‐1‐saRNA). In vitro experiments demonstrated that tFNAs effectively delivered DJ‐1‐saRNA to R28 cells, thus exerting a repair effect on oxidative stress injury. In vivo investigations revealed that the intravitreal injection of tFNAs‐DJ‐1‐saRNA facilitated retinal DJ‐1 gene expression and mitigated retinal atrophy induced by RI/RI. Mechanistically, tFNAs‐DJ‐1‐saRNA activated the xCT/GPX4 pathway, thereby inhibiting ferroptosis, reducing ganglion cell damage and protecting the retinal tissue. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that the tFNAs‐DJ‐1‐saRNA complex can ameliorate RI/RI by inhibiting ferroptosis, suggesting its potential as a novel agent for the treatment of retinal ischaemic diseases.
Internal fixation of short bilateral sagittal split osteotomy of the mandibular ramus: A mechanical evaluation
Authors: de Araújo Filho Nilton Pires , Vale Daniel Santiago , Souza Alann Thaffarell Portilho , Borba Alexandre Meireles , Freitas Gileade Pereira , Lopes Helena Bacha
Published: February 2025

This study evaluated in vitro three internal fixation methods for short bilateral sagittal split osteotomy (BSSO) of the mandibular ramus using polyurethane replicas. After simulating an 8‐mm mandible advancement with a counterclockwise rotation of 6° to the occlusal plane, the short BSSO was fixed bilaterally by using: (i) three linear bicortical screws; (ii) one miniplate with four monocortical screws and one bicortical screw (hybrid system); and (iii) two miniplates with eight monocortical screws. The load was measured on the central incisors or first molars bilaterally at the displacements of 1, 3, 5, and 7 mm. The data were analyzed using one‐way analysis of variance (ANOVA) with Tukey's post hoc test. In addition, a linear regression analysis with dummy variables was performed for each combination of displacement and loading point. There were no statistically significant differences in the loads applied to both central incisors and first molars bilaterally among fixation methods at 1‐mm displacement. However, the necessary load was larger for the two miniplates method for 3‐, 5‐, and 7‐mm displacements. Considering the biomechanical aspects and the cost benefit related to the fixation materials, using three linear bicortical screws or a hybrid system may be more favorable than employing two miniplates with eight monocortical screws.