bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Multi‐Omics Analysis Reveals That AhNHL Contributes to Melatonin‐Mediated Cadmium Tolerance in Peanut Plants
Authors: Ren Rui , Cao Zenghui , Ma Xingli , Li Zhongfeng , Zhao Kunkun , Cao Di , Ma Qian , Hou Mengtian , Zhao Kai , Zhang Lin , Qiu Ding , Gong Fangping , Zhang Xingguo , Liu Haitao , Yin Dongmei
Published: February 2025

Cadmium (Cd) pollution significantly hampers cleaner production of peanut (Arachis hypogaea L.). Therefore, exploring of tolerance mechanisms to Cd stress and breeding of low‐Cd peanut cultivars are urgently needed and require intense efforts. Herein, multi‐omics and physiological studies reveal that multiple biological processes, including melatonin (MT) biosynthesis, are involved in the Cd tolerance in peanut plants. Exogenous MT was applied to peanut plants under Cd stress, which decreased Cd accumulation in roots, shoots and seeds for 40%–60%, and promoted the antioxidant capacity. Integrated investigation reveals that MT‐mediated Cd tolerance is mainly attributed to the enhanced metabolism of linolenic acid, glutathione (GSH), and phenylpropanoid (lignin), and development of casparian strip in root cell wall. Defense genes, such as non‐race‐specific disease resistance gene 1/harpininduced gene 1 (NDR1/HIN1)‐like in peanut (AhNHL), were also significantly upregulated by MT under Cd stress. Overexpression of the AhNHL gene in tobacco reduced Cd accumulation for 37%–46%, and alleviated photosynthesis‐inhibition induced by Cd stress. Transcriptomic analysis suggested that AhNHL confers the Cd tolerance mainly through promoting phenylpropanoid biosynthesis and GSH metabolism. Additionally, exogenous GSH effectively alleviated the Cd stress through improving Cd sequestration and antioxidant capacity in peanut plants, while apply of the GSH biosynthesis inhibitor (buthionine sulfoximine) exacerbated the Cd phytotoxicity. Transcriptomic analysis reveals that exogenous GSH improves Cd tolerance through affecting the expression of genes involved in transcription regulation, and metal ion binding and transport. Our findings provide novel insights into molecular mechanisms underlying Cd tolerance in plants, which would facilitate breeding of low‐Cd peanut cultivars.
A Veterinary DICOM‐Based Deep Learning Denoising Algorithm Can Improve Subjective and Objective Brain MRI Image Quality
Authors: Mai Wilfried , Hecht Silke , Paek Matthew , Holmes Shannon P. , Dorez Hugo , Blanchard Martin , Eddin Jamil Nour
Published: February 2025

In this analytical cross‐sectional method comparison study, we evaluated brain MR images in 30 dogs and cats with and without using a DICOM‐based deep‐learning (DL) denoising algorithm developed specifically for veterinary patients. Quantitative comparison was performed by measuring signal‐to‐noise (SNR) and contrast‐to‐noise ratios (CNR) on the same T2‐weighted (T2W), T2‐FLAIR, and Gradient Echo (GRE) MR brain images in each patient (native images and after denoising) in identical regions of interest. Qualitative comparisons were then conducted: three experienced veterinary radiologists independently evaluated each patient's T2W, T2‐FLAIR, and GRE image series. Native and denoised images were evaluated separately, with observers blinded to the type of images they were assessing. For each image type (native and denoised) and pulse sequence type image, they assigned a subjective grade of coarseness, contrast, and overall quality. For all image series tested (T2W, T2‐FLAIR, and GRE), the SNRs of cortical gray matter, subcortical white matter, deep gray matter, and internal capsule were statistically significantly higher on images treated with DL denoising algorithm than native images. Similarly, for all image series types tested, the CNRs between cortical gray and white matter and between deep gray matter and internal capsule were significantly higher on DL algorithm‐treated images than native images. The qualitative analysis confirmed these results, with generally better coarseness, contrast, and overall quality scores for the images treated with the DL denoising algorithm. In this study, this DICOM‐based DL denoising algorithm reduced noise in 1.5T MRI canine and feline brain images, and radiologists’ perceived image quality improved.
Force-Pose Stability Measures and Specified Stability Workspace Generation Techniques for Cable-Driven Parallel Robots
Authors: Peng Liu , Duan Xuechao , Qiao Xinzhou
Published: February 2025

Cable-driven parallel robots (CDPRs) have attracted much attention due to a lot of advantages over conventional parallel robots. One of the main issues is the stability of the robot, which employs cables with strong flexibility and unidirectional restraint to operate the end-effector leads. As a result, this presented article aims to propose a systematic approach to the stability measures for the CDPRs by means of combining the cable tensions and poses of the end-effector. First, two position-influencing factors having important effects on the stability of the CDPRs are presented based on their kinematic model. Then, two cable tension-influencing factors also having essential effects on the stability of the robot are developed based on the determinations of cable tensions. Meanwhile, a function representing the effects of the end-effector's attitudes on the stability of the robots is constructed. Furthermore, the stability measures for the CDPRs are addressed, where a systematic stability measure approach is presented and three stability measure applications, average stability, minimum stability, and weighted average stability, are presented. Subsequently, a specified stability workspace is designed with the proposed force-pose stability measure approach. Finally, the approach to the force-pose stability measures and specified stability workspace generation algorithm are explained through simulation results of a spatial cable-driven parallel robot with 6-DOF with eight cables.
Beam-splitter-free, device-independent, high bit-rate, quantum random number generator based on temporal and spatial correlations of heralded single-photons
Authors: Nai Ayan Kumar , Sharma Amritash , Kumar Vimlesh , Singh Sandeep , Mishra Shreya , Chandrashekar C. M. , Samanta G. K.
Published: February 2025

Spontaneous parametric down-conversion (SPDC), an inherently random quantum process, produces pair photons with strong temporal and spatial correlations due to energy and momentum conservation, and acts as the key for quantum random number generation (QRNG). Standard QRNG methods primarily use temporal correlations with beam splitters, limiting bit rates. However, due to spatial correlation, the pair photons in non-collinear phase-matched SPDC-setup appear at diametrically opposite points on an annular spatial distribution. Therefore, exploring the temporal correlation between the spatially correlated photon-pairs from different sections of the annual ring can directly lead to device-independent, multi-bit QRNG at a high rate, eliminating the need of a physical object such as a beam splitter. As a proof-of-concept, we report on high-bit-rate QRNG by using spatial correlation of photon-pairs by sectioning the SPDC ring of a non-collinear, degenerate, high-brightness source and temporal correlation between the diametrically opposite sections. Dividing the annular ring of the high-brightness photon-pair source based on a 20-mm-long, type-0 phase-matched, periodically poled KTP crystal into four sections, recording the timestamp of the coincidences (window of 1 ns) between photons from diametrically opposite sections and assigning bits (0 and 1), we extracted 90 × 106 raw bits over 27.7 s at a pump power of 17 mW. Using minimum entropy evaluation, we determined an extraction ratio of over 95 % for raw bits. Further, using Toeplitz matrix-based post-processing, we developed QRNG with bit rate of 3 Mbps, passing all NIST 800-22 and TestU01 test suites. The generic scheme shows the possibility of further enhancement of bit rate with more sectioning of the SPDC ring.
Association of menthol-flavoured cigarette smoking with all-cause and cause-specific mortality risk
Authors: Bandi Priti , Newton Christina , Xue Zheng , Thomson Blake , Asare Samuel , Patel Minal , Islami Farhad , Nargis Nigar , Patel Alpa V , Jemal Ahmedin , Westmaas Johann Lee , Diver W Ryan
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Menthol-flavoured cigarettes remain unregulated in the USA and in many low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) despite their known impacts on smoking uptake and reduced cessation. Yet, evidence about whether menthol cigarettes are associated with higher disease risks than non-menthol cigarettes is inconclusive, and the industry has used this argument to lobby against regulation.

Methods

All-cause and cause-specific mortality risk was assessed according to baseline smoking status (current, former and never) and menthol flavour status (menthol and non-menthol) of the cigarette brand smoked for the longest period among 969 349 persons from Cancer Prevention Study-II, a population-based prospective cohort study enrolled in 1982–1983 with mortality follow-up of 6 years.

Results

73 486 and 281 680 persons reported menthol brands and non-menthol brands, respectively, among whom 4071 and 20 738 deaths occurred, respectively. Currently smoking cigarettes, whether menthol or non-menthol brands, was associated with highest mortality risks (eg, all causes: about two times higher risk vs never smoking) but quitting substantially reduced risks for both types. Among persons who formerly smoked, menthol versus non-menthol smoking was associated with an elevated mortality risk of 12% from all-causes, 16% from all cardiovascular diseases, 13% from ischaemic heart disease, and 43% from other heart diseases Among individuals currently smoking, there was no difference in mortality risks for menthol versus non-menthol cigarettes except for elevated risk among those smoking≥40 cigarettes per day. Black persons currently smoking menthol versus non-menthol brands had an 88% elevated mortality risk for other heart diseases.

Conclusion

Findings of a unique excess mortality risk associated with menthol cigarettes provide additional scientific evidence—apart from their known impacts on initiation and cessation—in support of menthol flavour regulation in the USA and similar policies in LMICs. Public communication efforts must reiterate that quitting all cigarette types is the only safe option to reduce disease risk.
Identifying Affected Third-Party Java Libraries from Textual Descriptions of Vulnerabilities and Libraries
Authors: Chen Tianyu , Li Lin , Shan Bingjie , Liang Guangtai , Li Ding , Wang Qianxiang , Xie Tao
Published: February 2025

To address security vulnerabilities arising from third-party libraries, security researchers maintain databases monitoring and curating vulnerability reports. Application developers can identify libraries affected by vulnerability reports (in short, affected libraries) by directly querying the databases with their used libraries. However, the querying results of affected libraries are not reliable due to the incompleteness of vulnerability reports. Thus, current approaches model the task of identifying affected libraries as a named-entity-recognition (NER) task or an extreme multi-label learning (XML) task. These approaches suffer from highly inaccurate results in identifying affected libraries with complex and similar names, e.g., Java libraries. To address these limitations, in this article, we propose VulLibMiner, the first to identify affected libraries from textual descriptions of both vulnerabilities and libraries, together with VulLib, a Java vulnerability dataset with their affected libraries. VulLibMiner consists of a TF-IDF matcher to efficiently screen out a small set of candidate libraries and a BERT-FNN model to effectively identify affected libraries from these candidates. We evaluate VulLibMiner using four state-of-the-art/practice approaches of identifying affected libraries on both their dataset named VeraJava and our VulLib dataset. Our evaluation results show that VulLibMiner can effectively identify affected libraries with an average F1 score of 0.669 while the state-of-the-art/practice approaches achieve only 0.547.
Deceiving LLM through Compositional Instruction with Hidden Attacks
Authors: Jiang Shuyu , Chen Xingshu , Tang Rui
Published: February 2025

Recently, large language models (LLMs) have demonstrated promising applications in the autonomous driving (AD) domain, including language-based interactions and decision-making. Ensuring they safely handle harmful inputs is crucial before formal deployment. However, research reveals emerging hand-crafted jailbreak attacks, which pack harmful prompts into harmless instructions, can bypass LLMs’ security mechanisms and elicit harmful responses. To deeply understand such jailbreaks, this paper introduces a Compositional Instruction Attack (CIA) framework to generalize them, and develop two CIA jailbreaking methods to automatically generate tailored jailbreak prompts for each harmful prompt. Then, this paper builds the first CIA question-answering (CIAQA) dataset with 2.7K multiple-choice questions of 900 successful jailbreaks, for assessing LLMs’ ability to identify underlying harmful intents, harmfulness, and task priority in CIA jailbreaks. Combined with experimental analysis on CIAQA and other datasets, this paper concludes three possible reasons for the failure of LLM defenses against CIAs. Finally, we propose an intent-based defense paradigm (IBD), enabling LLMs to defend against CIA by leveraging its capability to identify intents. Experimental results show CIA can achieve attack success rates (ASR) of 95%+ and 85%+ in AD and common harmful scenarios for three well-known LLMs (GPT-4, GPT-3.5, and Llama2-70b-chat), and IBD reduces ASR by 74%+.
Transfer Learning in Sensor-Based Human Activity Recognition: A Survey
Authors: Dhekane Sourish Gunesh , Ploetz Thomas
Published: February 2025

Sensor-based human activity recognition (HAR) has been an active research area for many years, resulting in practical applications in smart environments, assisted living, fitness, healthcare, etc. Recently, deep learning based end-to-end training has pushed the state-of-the-art performance in domains such as computer vision and natural language, where large amounts of annotated data are available. However, large quantities of annotated data are typically not available for sensor-based HAR. Moreover, the real-world settings on which HAR is performed differ in terms of sensor modalities, classification tasks, and target users. To address this problem, transfer learning has been explored extensively. In this survey, we focus on these transfer learning methods in the application domains of smart home and wearables-based HAR. In particular, we provide a
problem-solution
perspective by categorizing and presenting the works in terms of their contributions and the challenges they address. We present an overview of the state-of-the-art for both application domains. Based on our analysis of 246 papers, we highlight the gaps in the literature and provide a roadmap for addressing these. This survey provides a reference to the HAR community, by summarizing the existing works and providing a promising research agenda.
Comprehensive Understanding of Accelerated Stress Test Protocols for Fe-N-C Catalysts in Acidic Aqueous Media
Authors: Wu Hao-Ran , Li Yuan , Chen Miao-Ying , Li Wei-Dong , Ding Yi-Bo , Yuan Xing , Rong Si-Yu , Lu Bang-An
Published: February 2025

Accelerated cycling tests on a rotating disk electrode (RDE) are commonly used to rapidly assess the stability of Fe-N-C catalysts. While RDE-based accelerated stress test (AST) protocols offer several advantages, the reliability of RDE-measured catalyst stability is often limited by the significant disparity in durability between RDE and fuel cell tests. To bridge this gap, it is essential to understand how various test conditions influence the results during stability testing. In this study, we identified the key factors affecting catalyst stability, including rotational speed and electrolyte temperature, through a systematic examination of AST parameters. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive analysis of the effects of anions on catalyst stability. By optimizing these parameters, we propose a more rigorous AST testing protocol. This work offers valuable insights for rapid and accurate performance assessments of M-N-C catalysts.
Observation of Liquid Movement during PVA Brush Deformation in Post-CMP Cleaning
Authors: Miwa Makoto , Suzuki Shota , Ryota Koshino , Sanada Toshiyuki
Published: February 2025

While contact cleaning with polyvinyl acetal (PVA) brushes in post-chemical mechanical planarization (CMP) processes has the advantage of high cleaning efficiency, it increases the possibility of cross-contamination from the brushes onto the wafers. This study investigated the liquid movement from or into the brushes during its deformation, which significantly influences the removal and reattachment of contaminants. We observed liquid movement due to brush deformation and compared the velocity with theoretical estimation to obtain insights into liquid replacement. First, we measured the liquid velocity around a vertically deformed cylindrical brush. Then, we visualized the liquid flow from three brush deformation types commonly observed in actual cleaning. Experiments with simple uniform deformations demonstrate that the induced velocity was consistent with theoretical estimates, indicating the time-reversible flow around the brush. Contrarily, at local deformation, i.e., edge compression, a significant amount of liquid remained outside the brush after shape recovery, indicating liquid replacement of the liquid inside the brush. Finally, we discuss the relationship between liquid exchange and cleaning or cross-contamination by creating a liquid movement map based on the volume changes observed in the nodule contact path.
Development of Geocapillary Barrier System for Water Retention in Highway Landscaping
Authors: Haji Binti Mohamed , Thuo Joseph , Achieng K. O.
Published: February 2025

This study investigates the potential use of geosynthetic materials as capillary barriers to enhance water retention in landscaping soils. The soil was first classified using the Unified Soil Classification System (USCS); then, the Van Genuchten model was used to model and compare the unsaturated hydraulic characteristics of the soil and geosynthetic materials. Five different materials; gravel, sand, needle punched 50 (NP 50) geotextile, thermally bonded (TB) 9 and (TB) 21 geotextiles were used together with silty clay to create capillary barriers in five different 500 mm deep soil columns to determine how each of the materials influences the amount of water stored. Water infiltrated into each of the columns constructed as capacitive moisture sensors tracked changes in moisture content in the soil. The air entry pressure and residual matric suction for the materials were determined from soil water retention curves (SWRCs) and compared to water content retained in each column. This study concluded that a properly designed capillary barrier can increase water retention in landscape soils. It was also demonstrated that materials with the higher residual matric suction (NP 50 and sand) stored more water than those with the least (TB 21 and TB 9).
Dietary Melatonin Boosts Reproduction and Growth Performance of Ornamental Fish Giant Danio (Devario aequipinnatus): A Transformative Approach for Scrapping Wild‐Caught Fish Business
Authors: Samal Khusbu , Biswas Pradyut , Singh Soibam Khogen , Das Pronob , Debbarma Reshmi , Deb Suparna , Meena Dharmendra Kumar , Borah Simanku
Published: February 2025

The present global trade of endemic ornamental fishes is heavily relied wild‐caught species that concerns long‐term sustainability. This study examined the effects of dietary melatonin on the reproductive performance and health of Devario aequipinnatus (giant danio). A basal diet of 35% protein (basal diet as control) was supplemented with four different doses of melatonin (2 mg [M1], 10 mg [M2], 50 mg [M3] and 100 mg [M4] per 100 g of feed) given to experimental groups in triplicate. Fish (average weight: 1.13 ± 0.15 g) was stocked in tanks (n = 10) and fed 5% of body weight twice daily. After 60‐day feeding, key reproductive metrics such as the gonadosomatic index (GSI), fecundity, egg diameter and histological changes were analysed along with growth and physiological status. The GSI was observed to be better with the increase in dosage and was higher in M3 (3.05 ± 0.03%) (p  < 0.05). Histological examination revealed the presence of advanced oocyte stages IV and V in M3, while higher (>50 mg) melatonin levels suppressed the GSI. Egg diameter increased with the dosage of melatonin up to 50 mg/100 g (1.18 ± 0.6 mm). Testicular development was most advanced in 50 mg (M3) dose of melatonin with significant higher appearance of stage II spermatids or spermatozoa. In addition, M3 exhibited markedly elevated levels of vitellogenin (VG) (3.38 ± 0.22 nmol/L) in female fish and testosterone (16.4 ± 1.11 nmol/L) in male fish compared to the control. Broken‐line regression analysis indicates that the optimal dose for improved growth performance was identified at 63 mg/100 g of diet. Melatonin supplementation significantly increased (p  < 0.05) haematological indices such as haematocrit value, leucocyte count, haemoglobin (Hb) and packed cell volume (PCV) compared to the control, except for the 100 mg group (M4). Although stress markers such as glucose and cortisol were similar to the control, there was a plausible rise in the amount of antioxidant enzyme (p  < 0.05) in the melatonin groups. Overall findings of the study demonstrate the potential of melatonin improving the reproductive and physiological status of endemic ornamental fish for accelerating the captive breeding programme for sustainable trade.
Comparative Analysis of Risk Factors for Postpartum Hemorrhage in Forceps‐Assisted and Vacuum‐Assisted Vaginal Deliveries
Authors: Li Hui , Jiang Yurong , Pan Hua
Published: February 2025

Objective: This study aims to compare the clinical outcomes of forceps‐assisted vaginal delivery (FAVD) and vacuum‐assisted vaginal delivery (VAVD) in primiparous women and to identify risk factors contributing to moderate and severe postpartum hemorrhage (PPH) associated with these delivery methods.

Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on clinical data from 1237 primiparous women who delivered at the Obstetrics Department of Hunan Maternal and Child Health Hospital between April 2018 and April 2022. Among these, 711 underwent FAVD and 526 underwent VAVD. Maternal and neonatal characteristics, including age, gestational age, prepregnancy body mass index (BMI), pregnancy weight gain, neonatal weight, and labor duration, were evaluated. The study assessed labor duration, neonatal weight, maternal complications, neonatal complications, and the incidence and severity of PPH. Binary logistic regression analysis was performed to identify risk factors for moderate (500–1000 mL blood loss) and severe (> 1000 mL blood loss) PPH associated with the two delivery methods.

Results: Compared with FAVD, VAVD was associated with a higher incidence of uterine atony (p < 0.05) and increased risks of both moderate and severe PPH (p < 0.05). Pregnant women with significant gestational weight gain more frequently underwent VAVD (p < 0.05), which also correlated with prolonged second and total labor stages compared with FAVD (p < 0.05). Logistic regression revealed that uterine atony was a significant risk factor for both moderate and severe PPH (p < 0.05). Prolonged total labor independently increased the risk of severe PPH in VAVD cases (p < 0.05 and OR 1.575), while gestational weight gain and prolonged labor were independent risk factors for moderate PPH in FAVD cases (p < 0.05, OR 1.047 and OR 1.287, respectively).

Conclusions: VAVD is associated with longer labor duration, a higher likelihood of PPH, and increased neonatal scalp hematoma incidence compared with FAVD. Prolonged total labor significantly contributes to moderate PPH risk in FAVD and severe PPH risk in VAVD. Uterine atony is an independent predictor of both moderate and severe PPH.
Herbal Medicine Extracts Improve Motor Function by Anti‐Inflammatory Activity in hSOD1G93A Animal Model
Authors: Yang Eun Jin , Lee Sun Hwa
Published: February 2025

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a multicomplex neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor neuron death, muscle atrophy, and respiratory failure. Owing to its multicomplex mechanisms and multifactorial nature in the skeletal muscle and spinal cord (SC), no effective therapy has been developed. However, herbal medicines, known for their multitarget properties, have demonstrated promising efficacy with limited side effects in treating various diseases. Specifically, Paeonia lactiflora Pallas has been demonstrated to exhibit analgesic, antidepressant, anti‐inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. However, the pharmacological mechanisms underlying the beneficial effects of P. lactiflora in hSOD1G93A animal models remain unexplored. Therefore, this study was conducted to investigate the multitarget effects of P. lactiflora in hSOD1G93A transgenic mice, an ALS model. Footprint tests, western blot assays, and immunohistochemical analysis were used to assess the effect of P. lactiflora on the tibia anterior (TA), gastrocnemius (GC), and SC. The results revealed that P. lactiflora augmented motor function and decreased motor neuron loss in hSOD1G93A mice. Furthermore, P. lactiflora significantly lowered the expression of proteins associated with inflammation and oxidative stress in the skeletal muscle (TA and GC) and SC. P. lactiflora also regulated autophagy function by reducing the levels of key markers, such as P62/sequestosome 1 (SQSTM1), microtubule‐associated proteins 1A/1B light chain 3B, and SMAD family member 2, in the muscle and SC. Overall, P. lactiflora treatment improved motor function, prevented motor neuron death, and exhibited anti‐inflammatory and antioxidative effects in the skeletal muscle and SC of ALS mouse models. These results suggest that P. lactiflora could serve as a promising multitarget therapeutic agent for systemic and multipathological diseases.
The Efficacy and Safety of Adjustable Intragastric Balloon for Weight Loss: a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Authors: Xia Chuqi , Wang Yinuo , Sun Guowu , Lei Wanyang , Liang Daoming
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Adjustable intragastric balloon (aIGB), as known as a novel minimally invasive therapy for obesity, provide a sustained alternative for weight loss. Weight loss is achieved by implanting a balloon into the patient's stomach, with the volume of the balloon being adjustable through the injection or extraction of physiological saline. Its key distinction from other intragastric balloons lies in post-implantation volume control. Currently, the efficacy and safety of aIGB have not been well described.
Methods: MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Library were searched for relevant articles. Efficacy and safety of aIGB were evaluated by total body weight loss (TWL) after treatment and severe adverse events.
Results: A total of 12 eligible studies with 4981 patients were included. The average inserting time was 9.9 months, and the pooled mean TWL was 16.4% (95%CI 0.153 - 0.175, I2 = 91.2%). The pooled prevalence of patients choosing upward balloon adjustment was 34.2% (95%CI 0.220 - 0.485, I2 = 96.5), and all reported additional weight loss with a mean of 6.3 (4.8~9.3) kg. The pooled prevalence of patients choosing downward balloon adjustment was 9.2% (95%CI 0.065 - 0.119, I2 = 73.9%), and the pooled prevalence of alleviating intolerance in these patients was 90.8% (95%CI 0.817-0.974, I2 = 53.4%). The pooled prevalence of intolerance and early removal within 3 months was 5.7% (95%CI 0.035 - 0.078, I2 = 79.8%), and the pooled prevalence of stomach ulcer was 1.1% (95%CI 0.008 - 0.014, I2 = 5.1%). There was no obvious publication bias detected for these outcomes. Leave-one-out and subgroup analysis demonstrated the results were statistically reliable.
Conclusion: aIGB has the ability of significant and sustained weight loss, and can effectively manage both intolerance and weight loss plateaus by adjusting the balloon volume during treatment.
Inhibitory effects of probiotic & gastro-intestinal bacteria on H. pylori in vitro
Authors: Westphal Johannes Raphael , Koch Nadine , Macke Lukas , Vasapolli Riccardo , Saka Didem , Vilchez-Vargas Ramiro , Song Tianjun , Malfertheiner Peter , Schulz Christian
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Helicobacter pylori is a highly prevalent pathogen affecting approximately 50% of the world population, causing chronic gastritis and subsequently adenocarcinoma. Antibiotic resistance rates in H. pylori are increasing, thus demanding alternative treatment options. Some beneficial bacteria, including probiotics and gastrointestinal commensals, were shown to inhibit H. pylori growth, viability, and initial attachment to the gastric epithelium.
Methods: In this review we systematically summarized the currently available literature for in vitro inhibition of H. pylori through beneficial bacteria from the Lactobacillales order. We performed research on PubMed and Google scholar in accordance with the PRISMA guidelines.
Results: A multitude of species was shown to possess anti-H. pylori activity although the majority of investigated bacteria belonged to only one bacterial genus: Lactobacillus. Anti-H. pylori activity was mediated through transcriptional modulation of virulence factors, a competition for binding sites, an induction of a dormancy state of H. pylori and the secretion of anti-H. pylori compounds.
Conclusion: Many bacterial compounds that show probiotic properties are capable of inhibiting H. pylori in in vitro experiments. However, a huge variety of test methods to detect anti-H. pylori effects demands for a standardization.
Maternal and Neonatal Factors Associated with Delayed Closure of Ductus Arteriosus in Term-Born Neonates: Insights from the Copenhagen Baby Heart Cohort Study
Authors: Mariager Anton Friis , Hammeken Alberte , Malham Mikkel , Raja Raheel Altaf , Sellmer Anna , Navne Johan , Bundgaard Henning , Iversen Kasper Karmark , Jeppesen Dorthe Lisbeth
Published: February 2025

Background
The prenatal shunt, ductus arteriosus (DA), typically closes during the cardio-pulmonary transition at birth. We evaluated maternal and neonatal factors associated with delayed closure of DA in term-born neonates.

Method
We conducted a retrospective cohort study that included full-term neonates from the prospective observational Copenhagen Baby Heart cohort study. We assessed the association between maternal and neonatal factors and delayed ductal closure.

Results
We included 19,566 neonates, of whom 48% were female. Echocardiography was performed at a median age of 12 (IQR:9-15) and eight (IQR:2-13) days for neonates with no DA and an open DA, respectively. Associations with delayed ductal closure included maternal obesity adjusted risk ratio=2 (95%CI:1-3.8), maternal hypothyroidism during pregnancy aRR=2.02 (95%CI:1.2-3.4), low Apgar 2.6 (95%CI:1.2-6), high weight aRR=1.81(95%CI:1.2-2.6), and length at birth aRR=1.7(95%CI:1.1-2.6).

Conclusion
The identified risk factors for delayed ductal closure in term-born neonates may help increase clinical attention and improve neonatal care.
Validation of an Arabic questionnaire to assess pediatric behavioral feeding disorders
Authors: Helal Yasmein , Kadri Elham , Afsah Omayma , Abou-Elsaad Tamer
Published: February 2025

Introduction:
Behavioral feeding assessment allows for identifying the nature and the cause of abnormal feeding behaviors during mealtime, making prognostic predictions, and creating effective treatment plans. This study aimed to develop and validate an Arabic questionnaire to assess abnormal feeding behaviors among Arabic-speaking children.
Methods:
Mansoura Pediatric Eating Assessment Scale (MPEAS) was developed and administered to the parents of 100 Arabic-speaking children aged 1-5, including 50 typically developing children without feeding problems and 50 children with abnormal feeding behaviors. The scale includes 40 items in four subdomains (feeding skills, mealtime circumstances, child behavior, and parent behavior). Scoring was based on a 4-point Likert scale, with lower scores indicating greater impairment. Standardized procedures were used to develop and validate the MPEAS, including the items generation phase, pilot study, validation, and reliability testing.
Results:
MPEAS demonstrated excellent validity (face, content, discriminant, predictive, and convergent) and reliability.
Conclusion:
MPEAS is a valid, reliable, and easily applicable tool for assessing behavioral feeding problems in Arabic-speaking children. This sensitive and specific tool has the potential to significantly improve the screening and treatment of behavioral feeding problems among Arabic-speaking children, offering hope for better outcomes.
ER+ HER2- Invasive Breast Cancer: Tumor Remission Following Viscum Album Extract - Influenza Vaccine Treatment: A Report of Two Cases
Authors: Kaesbach Saphira , Hintze Alexander , Engelbrecht Swantje , Wartenberg Martin , Templeton Arnoud J.
Published: February 2025

Introduction Many patients with breast cancer use complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) including mistletoe preparations (Viscum Album Extracts, VAE). CAM alone has been associated with poor outcomes. Few, if any, confirmed breast cancer remissions have been reported with CAM treatment alone.
Case presentations Case 1: 61-year-old female with a histologically confirmed local recurrence of hormone receptor positive (HR+) Her2/neu negative (HER2-) breast cancer three years after the initial diagnosis and treatment. The patient declined conventional therapies and was treated with intratumoral VAE plus intratumoral influenza vaccine (IV) and concurrent VAE-induced hyperthermia. Lumpectomy five months later confirmed a near pathological complete remission (near pCR). Follow-up at 3 years confirms durable remission. Case 2: 59-year-old female with histologically confirmed HR+, HER2- right sided breast cancer with 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT positive metastatic disease who declined conventional treatment. The patient was treated with 17 monthly cycles of VAE-induced hyperthermia, eight of which included intratumoral VAE, four of these eight including intratumoral IV. Almost two years after treatment start, a follow up 2-[18F]FDG-PET/CT showed marked morphological and metabolic reduction of breast tumor on the right side, stable local lymph node metastases in the right axilla, complete remission of pulmonary metastases, the single bone metastasis, and the majority of hilomediastinal lymph node metastases but a new metabolic highly active left adrenal lesion.
Conclusions Clinical studies of intratumoral Viscum Album Extract-Influenza Vaccine with concurrent VAE-induced hyperthermia in ER positive HER2/neu negative breast cancer are warranted.
Development, Content Validity, and Test-Retest Reliability of a Childhood Hydrocephalus Severity Scale
Authors: Idowu Olufemi Emmanuel , Idowu Jeuel Ogooluwa
Published: February 2025

Introduction: This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable, multi-domain scale for assessing childhood hydrocephalus severity and to enhance communication, guide treatment decisions, and improve patient care.
Methods: A stepwise consensus approach informed by a modified Delphi technique was employed. Healthcare professionals participated in anonymous surveys and face-to-face meetings to define the core domains of the scale. Content validity, internal consistency, and inter-rater reliability were assessed.
Results: The Delphi process yielded a refined 7-item, 10-point Childhood Hydrocephalus Severity Scale (CHS) focussing on age, Evans index, associated malformations, neurological deficit, intraventricular haemorrhage, and mid-arm circumference. Content validity analysis using the Content Validity Index (CVI) demonstrated strong agreement (mean I-CVI = 0.91) among experts regarding the relevance of CHS items. All individual item CVI scores exceeded 0.8, supporting the inclusion of each factor. The CHS exhibited excellent internal consistency (Cronbach's alpha = 0.988). High intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were observed for both single measures (ICC = 0.902, 95% CI: 0.862-0.931) and average measures (ICC = 0.985, 95% CI: 0.978-0.990), indicating near-perfect agreement between raters. Both ICC values were statistically significant (p < 0.001).
Conclusion: The CHS demonstrates promising potential as a reliable and valid tool for childhood hydrocephalus severity assessment. This scale has the potential to enhance communication, guide treatment decisions, and improve patient care in childhood hydrocephalus.
DOT1L regulates cellular senescence during the progression from acute kidney injury to chronic kidney disease via the micro-222-5p/WNT9B signaling pathway.
Authors: Yao Congcong , Wei Wei , Wu Guoyu , Zhang Yan , Sun Keke , Liu Zhiyuan , Abudureheman Yushanjiang , Wu Heng , Lv Qi , Paredong Ayinuer , Shou Songtao , Jin Heng
Published: February 2025

Background: Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common clinical condition where cellular senescence plays a crucial role in its progression. Previous studies have suggested that DOT1L plays a pivotal role in cellular senescence, yet its specific mechanisms in regulating AKI cellular senescence remain unclear.
Methods: This study utilized a glycerol-induced in vivo AKI model and employed the DOT1L-specific inhibitor EPZ004777 (EPZ) to suppress DOT1L function. Aging staining, PAS staining, and Masson staining were employed to assess renal aging, injury, and interstitial fibrosis. In vitro experiments utilized doxorubicin-treated human kidney tubular epithelial (HK-2) cells to establish an AKI cellular senescence model. EPZ was used to inhibit DOT1L, evaluating its impact on cellular senescence. High-throughput miRNA sequencing was performed to analyze differential expression of miRNAs downstream of DOT1L, and DOT1L overexpression and dual luciferase reporter gene experiments were conducted to explore interactions among DOT1L, miR-222-5p, and WNT9B.
Results: The results demonstrated that in vivo inhibition of DOT1L significantly reduced cellular senescence and improved renal tubular injury and interstitial fibrosis. In the doxorubicin -induced HK-2 cell model, DOT1L inhibition markedly decreased cellular senescence and lowered mRNA and protein levels of senescence markers, while alleviating cell cycle arrest. DOT1L inhibition notably upregulated miR-222-5p expression and suppressed WNT9B expression, with opposite effects observed with DOT1L overexpression.
Conclusion: DOT1L regulates cellular senescence through the miR-222-5p/WNT9B pathway in AKI. These findings suggest that DOT1L may serve as a potential therapeutic target to mitigate the progression of AKI to chronic kidney disease.
Microangiopathic Anemia
Authors: Bommer Martin , Bloehdorn Johannes
Published: February 2025

Background: Patients suffering from hemolytic anemia, thrombocytopenia and organ damage may suffer from microangiopathic anemia or also called thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). This condition is caused by many different pathogenic mechanism and is always a life-threatening due to vessel occlusion in vital organs. Rapid and careful workup is mandatory to identify the cause of TMA. To identify patients suffering from immune mediated thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (iTTP) ADAMTS13 (a disintegrin and metalloproteinase with a thrombospondin type 1 motif, member 13) measurement is mandatory. All patients with ADAMTS13 activity below 10 IU/dL are assigned to the diagnosis iTTP and need urgent targeted treatment. Meanwhile caplacizumab – an anti-von Willebrand factor humanized single-variable-domain immunoglobulin fragment – is approved for the treatment of iTTP. Patients with TMA and ADAMTS13 activity>10 IU/dL can be assigned to other forms of TMA such as hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), complement mediated TMA (cmTMA) - previously assigned to the term atypical HUS (aHUS) - or TMA secondary to underlying diseases such as autoimmune disorders, cancer, or infectious diseases. Complement inhibition with C5 targeted treatment, such as eculizumab or ravulizumab, is approved for the treatment of cmTMA.
Even more challenging may be the differential diagnosis in pregnancy, in cancer patients with complex medication and the need to rule out conditions imitating TMA such as Evans syndrome, intoxication, infection or severe vitamin B12 deficiency.
Summary: Identifying TMA and defining the pathophysiology of TMA is urgently necessary in patients with thrombocytopenia, hemolytic anemia with or without obvious organ damage.

Key message: ADAMTS13 testing is the most important specific test to classify thrombotic microangiopathy.
Arte não-binária e o estado de crise brasileiro: Flores mortas de Jota Mombaça
Authors: Gama Vannie Aurin Pavelski da
Published: February 2025

Em tempos de crise social e política, evidenciadas pela pandemia de COVID-19, as demandas e expressões de uma sociedade brasileira fragilizada tomam força: nos últimos dois anos, novos direitos para pessoas não-binárias foram historicamente conquistados. A presença de novos artistas não-bináries na arte contemporânea brasileira também se fez sincrônica em espaços artísticos, como durante a 34º Edição da Bienal de São Paulo em 2022,  inicialmente adiada pela pandemia, onde artistas como a não-binária Jota Mombaça participara com a obra Spell to become invisible. Assim, como estamos nos fazendo visíveis em cenários ameaçadores à democracia e aos direitos das minorias no Brasil em anos pandêmicos? Reflexões acerca do tema são neste artigo trazidas por meio da análise de diferentes obras da artista Jota Mombaça entrelaçadas a um breve panorama das crises de Estado e das problemáticas da ilegibilidade existencial não-binária contrapostas pelos direitos alcançados por nossa sigla no Brasil, entre 2020 e 2022.
O que é um artista? O dilema da autoria no conceitualismo
Authors: Freitas Artur Correia de
Published: February 2025

What is the influence of conceptualism on ourunderstanding of authorship in contemporary art? In the realm of creative processes, what happens when we encounter artworks whose material traces simply do not depend on the artist’s body? Executed 32 years after the author’s death, Robert  Smithson’s artwork Floating island is analyzed here as an example of these questions. By hypothesis, it is perceived that proposals like this entail a renewed understanding of what an “artist” is or can be. At the core of the argument are Michel Foucault’s concept of “author-function” and Caroline Jones’s concept of “artist-function”. In conclusion, it is evident that the historical significance of conceptualism demonstrates the coexistence of two authorial models of the artist-function.
“Cada vez, tantas lenguas en cualquier lengua”: La biblioteca multilingüe de Haroldo de Campos
Authors: Hidalgo Max
Published: February 2025

O estudo da biblioteca de Haroldo de Campos nos permite revisitar a trajetória e a obra do crítico, tradutor e poeta brasileiro, a fim de destacar o papel desempenhado pelo multilinguismo e o modo como as mais diversas línguas se entrelaçaram em sua própria obra. A biblioteca de HC, a partir da qual é possível reconstruir tanto sua formação quanto os usos que o poeta fez dela, aparece como força motriz e condição de possibilidade do trabalho situado de um cosmopolita periférico que fez do contato entre línguas um dos pontos de ancoragem de sua proposta crítica e poética. Seu estudo, juntamente com o de outras bibliotecas e arquivos espalhados pelo mundo, nos permite retornar às bases materiais e à política literária desse autor brasileiro, nas quais as relações entre as línguas tiveram um papel fundamental.
Chinese English as a Foreign Language College Students’ Emotional Intelligence and Willingness to Communicate: A Latent Profile Analysis
Authors: Gao Yihan , Guo Yumeng , Wang Yongliang
Published: February 2025

In language learning, communication is essential, where learners’ desire and willingness to interact with others are significant in honing their communication capabilities alongside other necessary competencies. There are many factors that influence students’ willingness to communicate (WTC), among which the correlation between emotional intelligence and WTC still needs to be further researched. To investigate the emotional intelligence profiles of Chinese EFL college students and to examine different levels of their willingness to communicate, we recruited 476 Chinese English as a foreign language (EFL) learners across 11 provinces to complete our questionnaire. Through latent profile analysis (LPA) and one way analysis of variance, we found that there were four EI profiles of Chinese EFL college students: Emotionally Challenged (EC), Emotionally Struggling (ES), Emotionally Average (EA), and Emotionally Proficient (EP), among which most students (63%) fell into the EA profile. The EC profile (17%) was the second largest profile. We also found that each of the four profiles had unique WTC characteristics, with and different dimensions of WTC including, speaking, reading, writing, and comprehension. Notably, the EC profile demonstrated the lowest WTC level among the four profiles, whereas the EP profile displayed the highest overall WTC level. These findings are meaningful for comprehending students’ emotional intelligence profiles within language learning environments, and they provide valuable insights for educators to address diverse students’ needs to enhance their WTC.
Tangled up in 'Life': A Qualitative Study of Enterprise, Power and Bio-Resistance
Authors: Mccabe Darren
Published: February 2025

It has been argued that managing employees is changing from discipline towards bio-power that targets life abilities and extra-work qualities. Drawing on qualitative research into an Organizational Transformation programme in Local Government Authority, this article identifies a more entangled situation. First, it explores how Change Agents sought to enrol employee support for transformation through employing a discourse that included enterprise and mutuality. Second, it analyses how bio-power is entangled with discursive and disciplinary power. Third, it introduces the term bio-resistance that refers to the capacity to utilize ‘life itself’ in multifaceted, ambivalent and illimitable ways, to resist.
Health Professional Perceptions of Delivering Hospital Falls Prevention Education—A Qualitative Study
Authors: Hill Anne-Marie , Loo Cheng Yen , Coulter Steffanie , Watson Carol , Vaz Sharmila , Morris Meg E. , Flicker Leon , Weselman Tammy
Published: February 2025

Background:

Providing patient falls prevention education can help reduce falls in hospitals, yet research exploring staff perceptions about providing falls education in hospitals is limited.

Objective:

We sought to determine enablers and barriers to implementing a hospital falls prevention education program (the Safe Recovery Program) from the clinical staff perspective.

Methods:

Purposive sampling was used to recruit health professionals (N = 40) from 12 acute medical and surgical wards at a 450-bed hospital in Perth, Western Australia. Participants were given the option to take part in a focus group or semi-structured interview. Data were analyzed via directed content analysis.

Results:

Findings were distinguished into 2 themes, being the barriers and enablers to implementing the Safe Recovery Program. Enabler subthemes were the mode and medium of delivering the program, the use of repetition to instill the learnings, identifying who is best to deliver the program, and utilizing the role of informal carers to reinforce the education. Barrier subthemes were patient cognitive impairments and patient illness, patient risk-taking behavior, timing of program delivery according to patient readiness, time and resource shortage, and communication barriers with non-English speaking patients.

Conclusion:

A comprehensive approach to program delivery can enable health professionals to implement evidence-based falls prevention education in hospitals. Extant factors must be considered during the implementation phase to ensure the Safe Recovery Program is sustainable and to optimize patient uptake of falls prevention education.