bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Return to Work After Injuries: Legal Challenges for Seafarers in Canada
Authors: Shan Desai , Medley Alex , Neis Barbara , Small Contessa
Published: February 2025

Return to work (RTW) after injury requires strong stakeholder coordination. Seafaring work is associated with high injury rates, but seafarers’ RTW is understudied. As federally regulated workers, Canadian seafarers are protected by the Canadian Human Rights Act, which prohibits discrimination based on disability. Following a work-related injury or illness, seafarers are eligible for provincial workers’ compensation benefits and RTW; however, RTW is also subject to federal regulations, including the requirement to have a valid marine medical certificate (MMC). This complex regulatory landscape may negatively influence seafarer RTW. Drawing upon a sociolegal study, we find that MMC-related human rights complaints against the federal government highlight the legal challenges seafarers face in the RTW process. Interview findings suggest that to ensure a valid MMC and employment eligibility, injured seafarers might avoid filing compensation claims or RTW before recovery. We recommend the federal-provincial agencies adopt more efficient coordination policies to support seafarers’ RTW.
Launching Your Private Practice: A Practical Guide for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs)
Authors: Flaherty Hanni B.
Published: February 2025

Opening a private practice is a significant milestone for Licensed Clinical Social Workers (LCSWs), offering the opportunity to provide personalized care while navigating the complexities of business ownership. This guide offers a beginning roadmap for LCSWs considering this transition, addressing key areas such as legal and regulatory requirements, business planning, and the physical or virtual setup of a practice. It highlights the importance of choosing an appropriate legal structure, obtaining professional liability insurance, and maintaining active licensure through continuing education and registration. Considerations for creating a confidential and welcoming therapeutic space are explored, emphasizing its role in fostering client trust and positive outcomes. For those offering virtual services, strategies for ensuring professionalism and privacy are also discussed. By addressing the multifaceted aspects of starting and sustaining a private practice, this guide helps LCSWs with the tools and knowledge needed for a successful and ethical practice.
Impact of climate change on winter occupations in Minnesota
Authors: Sames Karen M
Published: February 2025

Climate change impacts everyone, but the warmer and snow starved winter of 2023–2024 in Minnesota has had devastating impacts on people all over the state. It severely limited participation in typical winter outdoor recreational and leisure activities. It resulted in unemployment or underemployment of thousands of Minnesotans. It cost businesses, clubs, and communities untold dollars in lost revenue. In Minnesota, the climate in winters is changing faster than in summers. Occupational therapy practitioners and others can increase their efforts to reduce the human impact of climate change.
Exploring the possibilities of using assistive technology for people with multiple sclerosis
Authors: Slavković Sanela , Ćeranić Isidora , Desideri Lorenzo
Published: February 2025

Background

Assistive Technology (AT) helps individuals with multiple sclerosis (MS) to overcome limitations and enhance their social engagement by providing support in areas that would otherwise be difficult or unachievable.

Objective

The aim of this study is to determine the level of AT usage among individuals with MS and to address various questions related to the sociological implications of (non)use of AT devices, (un)awareness, and logistical barriers that prevent the full utilization of AT devices in the daily activities.

Method

121 participants with previously diagnosed MS (26 AT users, 95 non-users), aged 18–65, were surveyed using a modified The Rapid Assistive Technology Assessment tool (rATA) covering: demographics, needs, supply, financing, satisfaction, and recommendations.

Results

Totally 21.5% of MS individuals used AT, dominantly mobility devices. Insecurity prevents desirable usage of AT devices. Affordability is a factor relevant for the device ownership. Both MS individuals and society lacked sufficient AT informedness.

Conclusion

Based on the results and current guidelines, it’s essential to improve policies, supplying, AT device enhancements, and education to fully utilize AT’s potential in people with MS.
A News Ecology Perspective to Information Verification: Examining the Effects of News Repertoire and News Capital
Authors: Qu Yan , Lu Shuning
Published: February 2025

There is a growing concern about the spread of misinformation on the internet. One of the key solutions to address this challenge is the practice of information verification by individuals. Current research on information verification tends to overlook the influence from individuals’ information and social environment. Informed by the media repertoire and the egocentric network approach, this study proposes to examine one’s news repertoire and news discussion networks as critical correlates with verification beliefs and behavior. A survey with a nationally representative sample in the United States ( N = 1,088) revealed that a rich news repertoire and a higher level of news capital embedded in news discussion networks are positively associated with one’s perceptions of self-efficacy and actual engagement in information verification. In addition, the study uncovers the moderating role of news capital in magnifying the positive linkage between news repertoire richness and verification self-efficacy as well as the indirect pathway linking news repertoire richness to verification behavior via verification self-efficacy. Overall, our study offers a news ecology perspective that expands scholarly understanding and theorization of information verification.
A review of intelligent data analysis: Machine learning approaches for addressing class imbalance in healthcare - challenges and perspectives
Authors: Aubaidan Bashar Hamad , Kadir Rabiah Abdul , Lajb Mohamed Taha , Anwar Muhammad , Qureshi Kashif Naseer , Taha Bakr Ahmed , Ghafoor Kayhan
Published: February 2025

Intelligent data analysis rapidly transforms healthcare care by improving patient care and predicting health outcomes through machine learning (ML) techniques. These advanced analytical methods allow intelligent healthcare systems to process large amounts of health data, improving diagnosis, treatment, and patient monitoring. The success of these systems is highly dependent on the quality and balance of the data they analyze. Class imbalance, a situation where certain classes dominate the dataset, can significantly affect the accuracy and effectiveness of ML models. In healthcare, it is not only crucial, but urgent, to accurately represent all conditions, including rare diseases, to ensure proper diagnosis and treatment. For this analysis, data was gathered from six reputable academic databases: ScienceDirect, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Web of Science, Google Scholar, and PubMed. This review offers a comprehensive overview of current approaches to handling class imbalance, including data preprocessing methods like oversampling, undersampling, hybrid techniques, and ensemble learning strategies such as bagging, boosting, and AdaBoost. It also addresses the limitations of these methods and the ongoing challenges in effectively managing class imbalance in healthcare data. Furthermore, the review explores innovative and promising strategies that have shown success in overcoming class imbalance, with a particular emphasis on fairness, diversity, and ethical considerations, offering a hopeful outlook for the future of healthcare data analysis. The discussion highlights how class imbalance can impact the accuracy and reliability of intelligent healthcare systems, underscoring its significance in improving patient care, healthcare delivery, and the broader medical community.
Placental afterlives: Shifting notions of waste and value in midwifery practice in early modern Europe
Authors: Mukherjee Sinjini
Published: February 2025

It is commonly believed that the placenta and umbilical cord gained significance for the first time within medical discourse in the 1980s, since they contain blood-forming stem cells. This paper looks at how birthing ‘by-products’, namely, the placenta and cord blood, have long histories of shifting relations between bodily ‘waste’ and ‘value.’ A critical reading of germinal medical manuals on midwifery, circulating in early modern Europe between sixteenth and eighteenth century, demonstrates that the placenta and umbilical cord first transitioned from ‘value’ to ‘waste’, much like they turned from ‘waste’ to ‘gold’ in late twentieth century biomedical discourse of the Global North. The paper proposes that the relationship between ‘waste’ and ‘value’ at the site of birthing, can only be can only be understood by mapping them onto the larger epistemic shifts that occurred in the field of medicine, therapeutics and knowledge about the body, in early modern Europe, alongside questioning our own conceptual categories through which we know the past.
The symbolic currency of labor at the parole board
Authors: Greene Joss , Dalke Isaac
Published: February 2025

While scholars have studied labor in and after prison, we know less about the processes that connect the two. How do administrators managing the boundary between prison and the outside world evaluate criminalized people as workers? We analyze how work shapes the adjudication of suitability in 105 California parole hearings. Parole hearings frame the prison as a site of economic enhancement, increasing incarcerated people's skills and eagerness to enter the labor market. However, in parole decisions, commissioners place less emphasis on workplace readiness than on readiness for being out of work. Thus, criminalized subjects are pushed not only to cultivate work discipline, but also to cultivate the self-discipline required to endure material suffering and to interpret this experience as meaningful and under their individual control.
Application of CFD method for ship added resistance tests with coupled sloshing effects
Authors: Zhu Zhang , Wang Shuguang
Published: February 2025

The coupling effect of sloshing has been extensively studied concerning ship stability in waves. With the development of new marine equipment, hydrodynamics problems related to this coupling effect are becoming increasingly significant in marine engineering. Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) offers a robust approach to address these complexities associated with the sloshing-coupled issue, given its capability to model nonlinear flows and complex tank geometries. This study develops a CFD model using the commercial software to validate its effectiveness in addressing sloshing-coupled problems through ship added resistance tests. The model incorporates a moving ship carrying two internal tanks, with the coupling effect excited by external waves and internal sloshing flow. To validate the numerical model, ship is free in surge, heave, and pitch motions are examined under various wavelengths and filling conditions. Observations of sloshing flow are presented alongside analysis of wave-induced motion and resistance. The computational results from CFD demonstrate reasonable agreement with the experimental measurements and potential-based computations, particularly in cases with significant coupling effects.
Somatometric profiles of successful male professional heavyweight boxers
Authors: Fiala Vojtěch , Żywiczyński Przemysław , Tureček Petr , Wacewicz Sławomir
Published: February 2025

Body mass is the most important predictor of success in fighting between conspecifics, with the heavier individual winning most fights. For this reason, the opponents in combat sports are usually weight-matched. The exception is the heavyweight division, which has no weight limit. Elite heavyweight athletes may cluster around an unknown global heavyweight optimum or compete at an individually specific optimal weight. We used comprehensive data (taken from boxrec.com) on bout outcomes for active male professional heavyweight boxers and Bayesian logistic regressions to explore the association between anthropometric predictors and the probability of winning. We identified the population-level optimum weight for heavyweight boxers at around 110 kg. The effects of age and height on the probability of winning were, however, much stronger than the effect of weight. Changing division during a boxer's professional career also affected performance: heavyweight athletes who during their professional careers also fought in lower weight classes were 19.9% [31.1–5.6%] less likely to win a bout in the heavyweight class. The study points to the importance of anthropometric measures for long-term success in professional heavyweight boxing and suggests a cut-off point, at which on average the marginal benefits of being a heavier boxer drop to 0.
Physical activity and testicular cancer survivorship health-related quality of life: a scoping review
Authors: Rovito Michael J. , Brazendale Keith , Gibson Samantha , Martinez Sydney , Fairman Ciaran , Badolato Craig , Lyon Timothy , Baird Bryce , Langan Jaclyn , Leslie M. K.
Published: February 2025

Background:

While the benefits of physical activity (PA) for cancer survivors are well-documented, there is limited research specifically exploring its effects on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among testicular cancer (TC) survivors. This review aims to examine the available literature on the relationship between PA and HRQoL in TC survivors post-treatment.

Objective:

To identify and synthesize existing studies on the effects of PA on HRQoL outcomes in TC survivors.

Eligibility criteria:

Studies that examined the relationship between PA, TC survivorship, and HRQoL across various phases of survivorship were included. Only peer-reviewed articles and gray literature addressing these topics were considered.

Sources of evidence:

A systematic search was conducted across seven databases and gray literature. Articles were evaluated based on titles, abstracts, and full-text reviews for inclusion.

Charting methods:

Following Arksey and O’Malley’s scoping review framework and PRISMA-ScR guidelines, studies were charted for key findings regarding the effects of PA on cancer-related fatigue, psychosocial outcomes, and HRQoL in TC survivors. The search also focused on identifying barriers to PA adherence and gaps in the current literature.

Results:

Three studies were examined: one experimental study, one feasibility study, and one cross-sectional study. Findings suggested that PA interventions could reduce cancer-related fatigue, improve psychosocial well-being, and enhance HRQoL indicators such as vitality, self-esteem, and social functioning. High-intensity interval training showed short-term benefits, while low-intensity activities demonstrated feasibility for broader adoption. Adherence barriers included treatment side effects and psychosocial factors. Limitations included small sample sizes, self-reported data, and lack of long-term follow-up.

Conclusion:

The findings suggest that PA can improve HRQoL in TC survivors, but significant gaps remain, particularly in terms of longitudinal studies, diverse populations, and tailored interventions. Future research should focus on developing scalable, sustainable PA interventions that address adherence and long-term health outcomes for TC survivors.
Monocular blur impairs heading judgements from optic flow
Authors: Sheppard William E. A. , Coats Rachel O. , Wilkie Richard M. , Baraas Rigmor C.
Published: February 2025

Monocular blur sometimes impairs locomotion; however, it is not always clear when this will happen. Optic flow (the apparent motion of scene texture elements that occurs during self-motion) provides powerful signals about the direction of travel. Here, we test whether monocular blur impairs heading perception from optic flow compared to full vision under various levels of optic flow degradation. Participants ( N = 52, mean age = 30 years) completed contrast sensitivity, visual acuity, and heading perception tasks with rich or degraded optic flow, with or without monocular blur (0.4 logMAR Bangerter filter over the non-dominant eye, full vision in the dominant eye). Heading perception was assessed using a browser-based task where the participants viewed a 3-second video consistent with self-motion over a textured ground plane (moving towards the horizon at an offset heading ranging from −20 to +20°) and identified the point on the horizon towards which they were travelling. The measures of each participant's performance were the absolute and directional angular error between the heading offset and their response. Monocular blur and degraded flow were associated with an increase in absolute heading error and a larger underestimation of heading angle, with the worst performance observed when monocular blur and degraded flow were combined. These results suggest that the impact of monocular blur on heading perception becomes apparent only when optic flow signals are weak (e.g., night-time driving). These findings support the theory that monocular blur and the richness of visual information interact to produce deficits in heading perception.
Twenty-Two-Year Follow-Up After Mitral Valve Replacement With Pulmonary Autograft: A Case Report
Authors: Hughes Aeleia F. , Brown John W.
Published: February 2025

Experience with the Ross II operation both in developed countries and in patients without a rheumatic disease process has remained low. Our center has previously published the largest experience with the Ross II procedure in North America, and now reports the case with which we have had the longest follow-up. To our knowledge, this is the only reported follow-up of a pulmonary autograft in the mitral position that has functioned well without reintervention for over two decades.
A Longitudinal Portrait of California’s Kindergarten English Learners & Their Learning Outcomes
Authors: Novicoff Sarah , Reardon Sean F. , Johnson Rucker
Published: February 2025

California’s K–12 funding and instructional policies for English learners have changed significantly over the past two decades. This paper uses student-level longitudinal data from 2006 to 2019 to examine the learning outcomes of successive cohorts of students who were classified as English learners in kindergarten as they progressed through California’s changing public school system. First, we find ELs grew more diverse linguistically over time. Second, we find that their third-grade achievement improved in math and English language arts and achievement gaps narrowed in both subjects. Third, we find that more recent cohorts reported slightly higher rates of English proficiency acquisition by the end of grade 5. Finally, we find that the proportion who were reclassified by grade 5 increased dramatically for the first two cohorts of our study but then remained constant for the next five years. In the most recent cohort we can observe, only 53% of students who entered kindergarten as ELs were reclassified by the end of grade 5.
‘Thank you in advance for not changing my retirement home’s intrinsic beauty’: NIMBYism, environmental privilege and the politics of offshore wind energy
Authors: Schneider Matthew Jerome , O’Neill Brian F.
Published: February 2025

The development of new wind energy infrastructure is widely supported in the United States. Yet, the siting of wind farms is often contentious. This research problematises how local stakeholders frame their opposition to offshore wind projects at a time when the swift adoption of renewable energies is generally seen as a necessity for environmental, social and economic reasons. Through qualitative content analysis of eighty-nine public comments pertaining to offshore wind projects planned off the North Carolina coast, we argue that objections to wind projects reflect an understanding of the infrastructure’s environmental burden and, importantly, a desire to protect environmental privilege. Findings suggest a need for expanded research on the dimensions of privilege that may be at play across wind farm sites and that any consideration of a just transition must consider how expressions of privilege inform environmental political discourse.
Histo-blood group ABO system transferase plasma levels and risk of future venous thromboembolism: The HUNT Study
Authors: Onsaker Asbjørn Lund , Arntzen Anna Yang , Trégouët David-Alexandre , Nøst Therese Haugdahl , Tang Weihong , Guan Weihua , Jonasson Christian , Morange Pierre-Emmanuel , Hindberg Kristian Dalsbø , Folsom Aaron R. , Hveem Kristian , Morelli Vânia M. , Hansen John-Bjarne
Published: February 2025

The non-O blood group is a well-established risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). However, the association between plasma levels of the histo-blood group ABO system transferase (BGAT), the gene product of the ABO locus, and VTE risk remains unclear. We aimed to investigate the association between plasma BGAT levels and risk of future VTE, and whether this relationship was mediated by plasma von Willebrand factor (VWF) or coagulation factor VIII (FVIII) as VWF is glycosylated by BGAT. Incident VTE-cases (n=294) and randomly sampled age- and-sex-weighted subcohort (n=1,066) were derived from the third survey of the Trøndelag Health Study (HUNT3). Baseline plasma samples (2006-08) were subjected to the SomaScan® aptamer-based-7K platform for protein measurements. Weighted Cox regression was used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) across BGAT quartiles. We found that ABO haplotypes (A1/A2/B/O1/O2) explained ~80% of the BGAT plasma variability. Participants with BGAT levels in the highest quartile had 2-fold higher VTE risk (HR 2.12, 95%CI:1.39-3.22) compared with those with BGAT in the lowest quartile in age-, sex- and sample batch-adjusted models. The associations were particularly pronounced for unprovoked VTE (HR 3.71, 95%CI:1.79-7.67) and deep vein thrombosis (HR 3.28, 95%CI:1.63-6.59). The HRs were similar after further adjustment for body mass index, C-reactive protein, and estimated estimated glomerular filtration rate, and moderately attenuated when adding VWF or FVIII plasma levels to the models. Our findings indicate that elevated BGAT plasma levels are associated with increased risk of future VTE beyond what is explained by VWF and FVIII.
Characterization and Treatment Outcomes of Malignant Histiocytoses in a Retrospective Series of 141 Cases in France
Authors: Bigenwald Camille , Roos-Weil Damien , Pages Arnaud , Hélias-Rodzewicz Zofia , Copie-Bergman Christiane , Nashvi Marzieh , khneisser Pierre , Parrens Marie-Cécile , Traverse-Glehen Alexandra , Ray-Coquard Isabelle , Ysebaert Loic , Marchand Tony , Razanamahery Jérome , Charlotte Frédéric , Neel Antoine , Damaj Gandhi , Dion Jeremie , Nazal-Traissac Eve Marie , Tardy Stéphanie , Salmeron Geraldine , Monjanel Hélène , Iobaih Ahmed , Heritier Sebastien , Haroche Julien , Donadieu Jean , Emile Jean-Francois
Published: February 2025

Malignant histiocytoses (MH) are rare and poorly understood cancers, with no established therapeutic guidelines. We conducted a national retrospective study of MH diagnosed in France between 2000 and 2023. All cases underwent centralized histological review, and several malignant tumors with a stroma highly enriched in histiocytes were excluded. In total, 141 patients were included, with a median age of 62 years (range, 1 to 87 years). The cases comprised either primary MH (64%) or MH associated with other hematologic malignancies (36%). Phenotypes corresponded to histiocytic (43%), interdigitating dendritic cell (37%) or Langerhans cell (12%) sarcomas, or high grade indeterminate dendritic cell tumors (10%) as per the WHO classification. Tumor cells were almost universally positive for CSF1R and PU.1, and 85% showed phosphor-ERK positivity. NGS was performed on 75 cases. Mutations in the MAPK pathway were more frequent in secondary compared to primary MH (90% versus 55%, p=0.0012). PTPN11 mutations were exclusively observed in primary MH (p=0.0035). Mutations in genes related to DNA methylation mechanisms (TET2, ASXL1, DNMT3A) and TP53 were present in 20% and 14% of cases, respectively. Although therapeutic regimens varied considerably, our results demonstrated that surgical resection in localized cases, and the use of BRAF or MEK inhibitors achieved the highest complete response rates, at 63% and 21%, respectively. The prognosis remains poor with a five-year overall survival rate of 31%, which is comparable to that of T/NK cell lymphomas. Prospective follow-up and a standardized treatment approach in specialized reference centers are crucial to improving patient survival.
Sudden bilateral vision loss: a case report of frosted branch angiitis following pentavalent vaccination in a 2-year-old boy
Authors: Aljasir Mohammed Falah , Alhamad Dhoha Mohammed , Alsubhi Shahad Salah , Almalki Assaf Mohammad
Published: February 2025

Background

Frosted branch angiitis (FBA) is a rare form of retinal vasculitis that can lead to significant vision loss. This case report presents a unique case of idiopathic FBA in a 2-year-old boy following pentavalent vaccination.

Case Presentation

A previously healthy 2-year-old Emirati boy presented with sudden painless bilateral vision loss for one day. His mother noted difficulty walking and a lack of interest in visual stimuli. A few days prior, the child had received a pentavalent vaccination and experienced upper respiratory tract symptoms. Ophthalmic examination revealed bilateral dilated pupils, anterior chamber inflammation, and extensive retinal vascular sheathing. Investigations were unremarkable. The patient was treated with oral Prednisolone and Acyclovir. Within two weeks, the vision improved significantly, with complete resolution of retinal vasculitis observed within one month. Over the course of one year, the patient showed no recurrence of symptoms, and only small, stable retinal scars were noted.

Conclusion

This case highlights the potential association between pentavalent vaccination and the onset of idiopathic FBA. The pathophysiology behind this association remains speculative, with potential mechanisms including immune dysregulation and molecular mimicry. Prompt recognition and treatment with systemic steroids can lead to favorable outcomes, emphasizing the importance of monitoring visual symptoms in pediatric patients following vaccination.
ChromInst: a multicentre evaluation of robustness in aneuploidy and structural rearrangement testing
Authors: Niu Wenbin , Dai Shanjun , Hu Linli , He Yao , Zhang Xiqian , Xue Xia , Wu Li , Jin Haixia , Liu Dun , Tong Keya , Shi Senlin , Tian Li , Zhou Yifan , Yao Guidong , Lu Sijia , Yao Yaxin , Zhao Dunmei , Jin Lei , Bai Haiyan , Liu Fenghua , Liu Dongyun , Sun Yingpu
Published: February 2025

Background

Preimplantation genetic testing for aneuploidy and for chromosomal structural rearrangement (PGT-A/-SR) can improve clinical pregnancy rates and live birth rates, and shorten the time to pregnancy. The large-scale statistics on their efficacy and accuracy across different centres, as well as the frequency of abnormalities for each chromosome, will provide a valuable supplement to previous research.

Methods

Patients who had PGT-A or -SR procedures at five reproductive centres from 2018 to 2022 were recruited based on PGT-A/-SR indications. ChromInst and next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based PGT technology were utilised to detect copy number variations in embryos. Sequencing data metrics such as median absolute pairwise difference (MAPD) and detection success rate were analysed to evaluate the robustness of ChromInst. To assess ChromInst’s accuracy, the chromosomal results from amniocentesis, abortions, and neonatal blood was as the gold standard for negative PGT results; the fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH), which was performed on embryos that identified as aneuploid through PGT was as the gold standard for positive PGT results. The frequency of abnormalities in each chromosome was also explored in aneuploid embryos.

Results

A total of 5,730 embryos were tested from 1,015 patients in the study, 391 of whom had PGT-A and 624 of whom had PGT-SR. 99.5% (5,699/5,730) of the embryos had an NGS sequencing MAPD value < 0.25, and 99.3% (5,689/5,730) of the embryos achieved successful PGT-A/-SR detection. Compared with the gold standard, the concordance of negative PGT-A/-SR results was 99.8% (506/507), and that of positive results was 99.8% (1,123/1,125). The euploidy rate in the PGT-A population was 45.9% (981/2,135). The proportion of euploid + balanced embryos was highest among couples with non-polymorphic inversions (44.6%, 152/341), followed by those with Robertsonian translocations (39.0%, 293/752), and lowest among those with reciprocal translocations (22.5%, 483/2,143). Chromosomes 16, 22, and 15 had the highest frequency of autosomal trisomies among the embryos from PGT-A patients, while chromosomes 16, 22, and 21 had the highest frequency of monosomies. High-frequency chromosomes with de novo chromosomal abnormalities for trisomies and monosomies were similar in the PGT-SR patients to those in the PGT-A patients.

Conclusions

ChromInst-based PGT-A/-SR could accommodate operational variations among different clinical centres, ensuring accurate results through robust and stable detection performance. Prior to PGT-A/-SR, more trustworthy data could be provided to support the genetic counselling.
Impact of partially defatted black soldier fly larvae meal on coccidia-infected chickens: effects on growth performance, intestinal health, and cecal short-chain fatty acid concentrations
Authors: Yuan Jing , Ajuwon Kolapo M. , Adeola Olayiwola
Published: February 2025

Background

Black soldier fly larvae meal (BSFLM) stands out as a promising nutritional resource due to its rich bioactive substances and favorable protein profile. Nonetheless, its potential to mitigate coccidia infection in broilers remains uncertain. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of partially defatted BSFLM (pBSFLM) on growth performance, nutrient utilization, and intestinal health, focusing on morphology, immunology, and cecal fermentation in coccidia-infected broilers.

Methods

Over the initial 13 d, 480 newly-hatched Cobb 500 male birds were allocated to three diets with increasing pBSFLM concentrations (0, 60, or 120 g/kg). At d 13 post hatching, chicks within each dietary group were further allotted to non-challenge or challenge subsets, generating six treatments in a 3 × 2 factorial arrangement. Challenged birds were orally administered oocysts of E. maxima, E. acervulina, and E. tenella (25,000:125,000:25,000).

Results

During the infection phase (d 13 to 19), linear interactions between Eimeria and pBSFLM were observed in gain to feed ratio (G:F) (P < 0.05) and cecal interferon-γ (IFN-γ, P < 0.05), with a tendency in cecal acetate concentration (P = 0.06). A quadratic interaction was observed in crypt depth (CD, P < 0.05). Incremental pBSFLM inclusion negatively affected G:F, CD, IFN-γ, and acetate productions in the ceca under coccidia challenge. Conversely in non-challenged birds, the impact of pBSFLM varied from neutral (e.g. G:F) to potentially advantageous (e.g. acetate). Challenged birds exhibited decreased (P < 0.01) BW, BW gain, feed intake (FI), and the apparent ileal digestibility and total tract nutrient utilization of DM, gross energy, and nitrogen (N). Eimeria challenge reduced (P < 0.01) serum carotenoid concentrations, decreased the villus height to crypt depth ratio (VH:CD, P < 0.01), and increased concentrations of branched-chain fatty acids, specifically isobutyrate (P = 0.059) and isovalerate (P < 0.05) in the cecum. Dietary pBSFLM addition linearly reduced (P < 0.05) BW, FI, and N utilization. Tendencies (P < 0.06) were observed where pBSFLM linearly decreased VH:CD and reduced goblet cell density.

Conclusions

Increasing pBSFLM supplementation, particularly at 12%, adversely affected growth, ileal morphology, cecal acetate production, and downregulated key cytokine expression in response to coccidia infection.
Long-term kinetics of proviral load in HTLV-1 carriers: defining risk for the development of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma
Authors: Jimbo Koji , Nojima Masanori , Toriuchi Keiko , Yamagishi Makoto , Nakashima Makoto , Yamano Yoshihisa , Uchimaru Kaoru , Nannya Yasuhito
Published: February 2025

Background

Assessment of adult T-cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) development among human T-lymphotropic virus 1 (HTLV-1)-infected individuals (carriers) constitute a significant issue. A high HTLV-1 proviral load (PVL) in carriers has been used as a risk factor for ATL development and PVLs are considered to remain unchanged over time among carriers.

Methods

This single-center analysis used a cohort from a prospective observational study of HTLV-1 carriers in Japan (JSPFAD). Carriers whose PVL was measured at least twice between October 2004 and March 2023 were included. We used trajectory analysis to construct a kinetic model of the PVL.

Results

Analysis of 1371 samples from 252 carriers revealed a slight but significant increase in the PVL with age (P < 0.001). Trajectory analysis of PVL kinetics classified the carriers into six groups, in three of which increased over time. When we applied the model to 15 carriers who subsequently developed ATL, 12 (80%) were classified into the highest PVL group, with an estimated 15-year ATL development of 47.5% (95% confidence interval: 20.4–74.2%). Notably, younger patients are at greater risk of developing ATL if their PVL values are comparable. Our risk estimation model is available online (https://atlriskpredictor.shinyapps.io/ATL_risk_calculator/).

Conclusions

This study demonstrated that the PVLs increases over time, allowing for prospective risk estimation for ATL development. Further validation is needed to assess the validity of this model.

Trial registration

Retrospectively registered.
Impact of topographic change on the East Asian monsoon in Japan and Eastern Asia during the Last Glacial Maximum
Authors: Gowan Evan James , Tomita Tomohiko , Nishioka Daiki , Zhang Xu , Sun Yong , Shi Xiaoxu , Knorr Gregor , Krebs-Kanzow Uta , Gierz Paul , Lohmann Gerrit , Obase Takashi , Kuniyoshi Yuta , Abe-Ouchi Ayako
Published: February 2025

The rainfall patterns in Eastern Asia are largely a consequence of the Asian winter and summer monsoons. On timescales 10

$$^4$$

4

–10

$$^6$$

6

of years, the position and strength of the monsoons change as a result of variations in Northern Hemisphere summer insolation. However, locally, it is possible there is a superimposed signal due to sea level change. Due to the growth of ice sheets, primarily in northern North America and Europe, global average sea level fell about 120 m during the Last Glacial Maximum (27,000–19,500 years ago). This caused the broad shallow continental shelf regions in coastal Eastern Asia to be exposed, and also greatly limited the flow of warm Pacific water into the Sea of Japan. In this study, we perform climate modelling experiments to isolate the impact of the lower sea level on the rainfall patterns in Eastern Asia. We find that the lowered sea level locally increases the summer precipitation, impacting the southern parts of Japan as well as Eastern China. The lower sea level also causes a decrease in winter precipitation in Japan. Our oxygen isotope modelling results show that the lower sea level alone is sufficient to explain the extremely depleted

$$\delta ^{18}$$

δ
18

O values measured from proxies in Last Glacial Maximum sediments in the Sea of Japan. These results show that the rainfall proxy records in the coastal Eastern Asia region, especially near the East China Sea, should not be interpreted as purely due to insolation driven changes to the monsoon front, as they also contain a local signal due to sea level changes. Further impacts of sea level changes on continental proxy records are likely limited, and they are measuring a purely global climate change signal.
Effects of cigarette smoking on retinal thickness and choroidal vascularity index: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Quiroz-Reyes Miguel A. , Quiroz-Gonzalez Erick A. , Quiroz-Gonzalez Miguel A. , Lima-Gomez Virgilio
Published: February 2025

Background

Smoking increases oxidative stress, affecting the vascular endothelium by decreasing the antioxidant vitamin C and disrupting regular nitric oxide activity. It reduces blood flow in the retina and choroid due to increased vascular resistance and compromised choroidal blood flow regulation compared to nonsmokers. This systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to elucidate the impact of cigarette smoking on retinal thickness and the choroidal vascularity index (CVI).

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was performed across multiple databases, including Web of Science, Medline, PubMed, and Embase, adhering to the PRISMA and MOOSE guidelines. Observational studies were selected to explore the relationships between smoking and ocular parameters such as CVI, full-retinal, and choroidal thickness. Two independent reviewers conducted the data extraction and quality assessment using a modified Newcastle–Ottawa scale. Statistical analysis was performed using a random-effects model.

Results

Four out of the 743 identified articles, involving 702 eyes, met the inclusion criteria. The analysis revealed a significant reduction in the CVI among smokers (SMD: -0.61, 95% CI: -0.78 to -0.43, p < 0.00001), indicating compromised choroidal vascularity. In contrast, the impact of smoking on subfoveal choroidal thickness (SFCT) was not statistically significant (mean difference: 3.88 μm, 95% CI: -7.34 to 15.10, p = 0.50), with high heterogeneity (I² = 79%). Additionally, the full-retinal thickness (FRT) did not show a significant difference between smokers and nonsmokers.

Conclusion

Cigarette smoking negatively affects choroidal vascularity, as indicated by a significant reduction in CVI. However, its impact on FRT and SFCT remains unclear and requires further research. These findings highlight the importance of smoking cessation for eye health and suggest that CVI is a valuable noninvasive biomarker for monitoring vascular changes in smokers.

Trial registration

PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024627478.
The naked and the dead: an unusual case of sudden death
Authors: Sopková Dorota , Gurková Alica , Popaďák Peter
Published: February 2025

Background

In many societies, public nudity is a subject to a certain level of stigma associated with sexual deviance and perversion. Discovery of a naked body outdoors is considered a suspicious circumstance in forensic practice, most often leading to an assumption of sexually motivated homicide.

Case presentation

A 50-year-old man was found dead on a marked hiking trail; he was naked, wearing only a pair of socks and sneakers and a small backpack. No mechanical injuries were observed during the initial inspection at the scene. The reason for the man’s presence in the forest and his nudity was at that time unknown.

Conclusions

In the presented case, circumstantial evidence and autopsy findings led to a conclusion of a sudden cardiac death during naked hiking, a modern trend associated with naturism practice that is gradually gaining popularity around the world.
Vitamin D status, polymorphisms, and clinical outcomes in couples undergoing assisted reproductive technologies: exploring the role of 25(OH)D levels
Authors: Jreij Rana , Jounblat Rania , Mrad Youmna , Moussa Elie Hajj , Abdallah Maria , Fakih Chadi , Najjar Fadia , Hamade Aline
Published: February 2025

Purpose

Vitamin D status has been recognized as an important factor in human health, and its relevance in the context of couples utilizing assisted reproductive technologies is of particular interest.

Methods

This study aimed to assess the levels of 25(OH)D by ELISA in the biological fluids (serum, semen, and follicular fluid) of 105 couples undergoing in vitro fertilization or intracytoplasmic sperm injection. Additionally, the association among 3 vitamin D receptor polymorphisms (Apa1, Fok1, and Taq1) and vitamin D status, as well as the clinical pregnancy rate after in vitro fertilization, were investigated.

Results

The results revealed a high rate of hypovitaminosis in the women’s group. Furthermore, a significant difference was observed in the fertilization rate (P = 0.007). Correlations were found between Apa1 polymorphism and the number of collected oocytes (P = 0.014), the number of embryos (P = 0.001), the number of 2 pronuclear (P = 0.001), and the frequency of clinical pregnancies (P = 0.046). Additionally, correlations were found between Taq1 SNP and the number of embryos (P = 0.046) and the serum vitamin D level (P = 0.042). The Fok1 polymorphism showed correlations with semen concentration (P = 0.044) and clinical outcome (P = 0.032).

Conclusion

These results suggest the importance of systemic vitamin D for women prior to pregnancy. The findings emphasize the potential benefits of vitamin D supplementation in women before pregnancy and call for cautious interpretation of data regarding the impact of vitamin D on pregnancy.
A Cftr-independent, Ano1-rich seawater-adaptive ionocyte in sea lamprey gills
Authors: Shaughnessy Ciaran A. , Hall Daniel J. , Norstog Jessica L. , Barany Andre , Regish Amy M. , Ferreira-Martins Diogo , Breves Jason P. , Komoroske Lisa M. , McCormick Stephen D.
Published: February 2025

All ionoregulating marine fishes examined to date utilize seawater-type ionocytes expressing the apical Cl- channel, cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (Cftr) to secrete Cl−. We performed transcriptomic, molecular, and functional studies to identify Cl− transporters in the seawater-type ionocytes of sea lamprey (Petromyzon marinus). Gill cftr expression was minimal or undetectable in larvae and post-metamorphic juveniles. We identified other Cl− transporters highly expressed in the gills and/or upregulated following metamorphosis and further investigated two candidates that stood out in our analysis, a Ca2+-activated Cl− channel, anoctamin 1 (ano1), and the Clc chloride channel family member 2 (clcn2). Of these, ano1 was expressed 10-100 times more than clcn2 in the gills; moreover, ano1 was upregulated during seawater acclimation, while clcn2 was not. Using an antibody raised against sea lamprey Ano1, we did not detect Ano1 in the gills of larvae, found elevated levels in juveniles and observed a 4-fold increase in juveniles after seawater acclimation. Ano1 was localized to seawater-type branchial ionocytes but, surprisingly, was localized to the basolateral membrane. In vivo pharmacological inhibition experiments demonstrated that a DIDS-sensitive mechanism was critical to the maintenance of osmoregulatory homeostasis in seawater- but not freshwater-acclimated sea lamprey. Taken together, our results provide evidence of a Cftr-independent mechanism for branchial Cl− secretion in sea lamprey that leverages Ano1-expressing ionocytes. Once further characterized, the Cftr-independent, Ano1-rich ionocytes of sea lamprey could reveal novel strategies for branchial Cl− secretion, whether by Ano1 or some other Cl− transporter, not previously known in ionoregulating marine organisms.
Precursors of interactional value formation through digital banking interactions
Authors: Tauh Ramya , Basri Savitha
Published: February 2025

Background The dynamic nature of consumer behavior and the complex design of banking services make digital banking interactions challenging. Automated systems/responses lack a personal touch and may lead to miscommunication creating further difficulty in retaining customers. Hence, a co-creating interaction and interactional value formation (IVF) becomes a necessity for banks to have meaningful and experiential customer interactions. This article adds to the limited body of banking literature by explaining the precursors that influence IVF in digital banking interactions. Methods 442 digitally active banking customers of private, public, and small finance banks were selected from the Karnataka region to assess the relationship of precursors with IVF. A quantitative approach was adopted through a survey questionnaire to gather the responses. The data gathered was analyzed using SmartPLS 4.0 software. Findings Knowledge has the most significant relationship with IVF. Customers perceive the seeking and sharing of information as the most critical for a co-creating interaction. Relationship quality moderately influences value formation in digital interactions; however, communication was not found to have a relationship with co-creation. Conclusions The study will help bank managers and employees align their resources to develop knowledge and relationship aspects in their digital interactions to foster co-creation. Banks must move beyond frequent, generic updates or promotional messages that may overwhelm customers. Instead, they should adopt a more tailored approach, emphasizing relevance and value in their interactions to avoid perceptions of intrusion or inefficiency.
Perceived barriers and opportunities to the use of 3D printing in a healthcare system with low adoption: A semi-structured interview study
Authors: Cronin Una M. , Cummins Niamh M. , O'Sullivan Aidan , O'Sullivan Leonard
Published: February 2025

Background The application of Three-D (3D) printing in medicine is gaining momentum. Although its use is being adopted in healthcare in some regions, other countries have not embraced 3D printing widely, with relatively low adoption. It is important to gain an understanding of the barriers and opportunities to the acceptance of 3D printing technology in low adoption healthcare systems, to understand why usage is low, and to consider how to support its use where appropriate. The region chosen for the study was the Republic of Ireland, a high-income country with low adoption of 3D printing in healthcare. Methods An interview study was conducted to identify barriers and opportunities to the use of 3D printing in this healthcare system and employed a qualitative descriptive approach. Purposeful and snowball sampling was used to recruit participants from diverse stakeholders working in both public and private healthcare systems. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with ten healthcare professionals. Audio recordings were recorded verbatim using Otter AI and thematic analysis was performed using NVivo utilising the Braun and Clarke framework. Respondents included doctors, nurses, occupational therapists, physiotherapists, and a hand therapist. Results Three main themes were identified: Theme 1: Needs within the health service that could be supported by 3D printing, Theme 2: Barriers to adoption of 3D printing in the healthcare service, and Theme 3: Opportunities to support the adoption of 3D printing use in healthcare. Conclusions Research is required on these barriers to ensure patients accessing healthcare systems are provided with the same opportunities to receive personalised, cutting-edge care as their international counterparts who currently adopt this technology.
The organization's economic security system
Authors: Gadzhiev Nazirhan , Konovalenko Sergey , Torzhenova Tat'yana , Rabadanov Rabadan
Published: February 2025

The textbook reveals the specifics of the discipline "The system of economic security of the organization." Studying its material will allow students and cadets to master the methodological aspects of assessing the organization's economic security system, identify risks and threats to the organization's economic security, and find ways to neutralize them.
Meets the requirements of the latest generation of federal state educational standards for higher education.
For students and cadets of all forms of education in specialty 05/38.01 "Economic security".