bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
An open access resource for marmoset neuroscientific apparatus
Authors: Zimmermann Rollin Isabela , Papoti Daniel , Bishop Mitchell , Szczupak Diego , Corigliano Michael R. , Hitchens T. Kevin , Zhang Bei , Pell Sarah K. A. , Guretse Simeon S. , Dureux Audrey , Murai Takeshi , Sukoff Rizzo Stacey J. , Klassen L. Martyn , Zeman Peter , Gilbert Kyle M. , Menon Ravi S. , Lin Meng-Kuan , Everling Stefan , Silva Afonso C. , Schaeffer David J.
Published: February 2025

The use of the common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus) for neuroscientific inquiry has grown precipitously over the past two decades. Despite windfalls of grant support from funding initiatives in North America, Europe, and Asia to model human brain diseases in the marmoset, marmoset-specific apparatus are of sparse availability from commercial vendors and thus are often developed and reside within individual laboratories. Through our collective research efforts, we have designed and vetted myriad designs for awake or anesthetized magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), positron emission tomography (PET), computed tomography (CT), as well as focused ultrasound (FUS), electrophysiology, optical imaging, surgery, and behavior in marmosets across the age-span. This resource makes these designs openly available, reducing the burden of de novo development across the marmoset field. The computer-aided-design (CAD) files are publicly available through the Marmoset Brain Connectome (MBC) resource (https://www.marmosetbrainconnectome.org/apparatus/) and include dozens of downloadable CAD assemblies, software and online calculators for marmoset neuroscience. In addition, we make available a variety of vetted touchscreen and task-based fMRI code and stimuli. Here, we highlight the online interface and the development and validation of a few yet unpublished resources: software to automatically extract the head morphology of a marmoset from a CT and produce a 3D printable helmet for awake neuroimaging, and the design and validation of 8-channel and 14-channel receive arrays for imaging deep structures during anatomical and functional MRI.
Morphological and molecular characterisation of Aculonchus fumanensis sp. nov. (Nematoda, Dorylaimida, Leptonchidae) from Iran, with a revised taxonomy of the genus
Authors: Esmaeili Maedeh , Amiri Bonab Mohammad , Atighi Mohammad Reza , Bazeghi Fatemeh , Pedram Majid , Peña-Santiago Reyes
Published: February 2025

A new species of the rare leptonchid genus Aculonchus collected from two natural habitats of northern Iran, is characterised, including morphological description, morphometrics and molecular (18S, 28S rDNA) study. Aculonchus fumanensis sp. nov. is distinguished by its 0.64-0.92 mm long body, cuticle tylencholaimid and with abundant radial refractive elements, lip region cap-like, 9.5-10 μm wide and offset by deep constriction, stylet 26-32 μm long, odontophore bearing distinct basal flanges, neck 145-177 μm long, pharyngeal basal bulb up to one-sixth of the total neck length and bearing a valvular chamber inside, female genital system di-ovarian with simple uterus and transverse vulva (V = 51-66), female tail conical and almost straight (25-34 μm, c = 20-27, c′ = 1.5-2.1), and male unknown. The taxonomy of Aculonchus is revised, with an updated diagnosis, list of species, key to their identification, and a compendium of their main morphometrics. Besides, the evolutionary relationships of Aculonchus are briefly discussed.
The role of exercise intensity and duration on cardiac angiogenesis
Authors: Fitrianti H.P. , Ramadhan H.A. , Sylviana N. , Goenawan H.
Published: February 2025

Numerous studies showed the exercise intensity and exercise duration involved in the pathways of angiogenesis biomarkers expression. The aim of this systematic review was to analyse the effects of different exercise intensities and exercise duration in cardiac angiogenesis regulation between healthy animal studies and human studies. The research databases used in this systematic review, including MEDLINE and Cochrane Library, within the last 6 years from 2018 to 2023 and published in English. Before the study selection, the study duplication was detected by Zotero Reference Manager® and then removed. The related studies examined and selected with rayyan.ai® website using a ‘blind-on’ mode to ensure eligibility. The eligible studies were assessed by the SYRCLE’s risk of bias tool and Risk of Bias Tool 2.0. A total of 16 studies were included, consisting of 5 animal studies or in vivo or experimental studies and 11 human studies or clinical trials. The studies then grouped in 3 durations of exercise, that was short-term, long-term term-intermittent, and long-term-continuous exercise. The most significant duration and intensity were found in long-term-continuous exercise and moderate to vigorous intensity exercise. Further research needs to explain the other factors of exercise that influence cardiac angiogenesis, such as the frequency and the type of exercise both in humans and animals to determine the most effective exercise program for a healthy population, as a potential prevention from the cardiovascular disease.
Modal Meinongianism Doesn’t Exist
Authors: Connolly Niall
Published: February 2025

Meinongianism takes non-existent objects to actually possess the qualities they are characterised as possessing. But many of these qualities are existence entailing. Priest and Berto’s modal Meinongianism tries to circumvent this problem by taking Pegasus to possess the property of being winged in some nonactual world. I argue that modal Meingongianism’s individuation criterion for fictional and imaginary entities doesn’t allow us to rule out that Emma Woodhouse and Batman are identical. I further argue that depending on the status of the ‘other worlds’ it posits, modal Meinongianism either trivialises Meinongianism’s ‘characterisation principle’ or replaces it with something no less objectionable. Priest and Berto’s view, I conclude, if it is tenable, is not a form of Meinongianism; but arguably it is something better: a structuralist account of non-existent objects.
On the Existence of Nonexistence Commitments
Authors: Rouillé Louis
Published: February 2025

In this article, I introduce a new kind of ontological commitment, according to which one is committed to the nonexistence of some entity. I start with an analysis of ontological commitment which gives prominence to Putnam’s notion of “intellectual honesty” and proceed to argue that whatever the correct view of ontological commitment is, there is a variety of understudied ontological commitment, viz. nonexistence commitments. Based on such commitments, one can make what I call “counter-indispensability arguments”, which are formally similar to indispensability arguments, though the conclusion is antirealist as opposed to realist. I argue that all the reasons we have to accept and use indispensability arguments in ontology carry over to counter-indispensability arguments. Finally, I apply this new tool to two ontological debates. I illustrate how it helps distinguishing between soft and strong versions of antirealism about philosophically controversial entities.
New taxonomic notes on the genus Spilogona Schnabl, 1911 (Diptera: Muscidae) in Arctic Russia, with the description of three new species
Authors: SOROKINA VERA S.
Published: February 2025

Three new Spilogona species are described from Franz Josef Land and Wrangel Island (Spilogona hennigi sp. nov., Spilogona gorodkovi sp. nov., Spilogona latizygoma sp. nov.). Ten new synonymies are proposed: Spilogona contigua Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Limnophora (Spilogona) ciliatocosta Schnabl in Becker et al., 1915; Spilogona dorsostriata Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Scatocoenosia cordyluraeformis Schnabl in Becker et al., 1915; Spilogona albinepennis Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Scatocoenosia cordyluraeformis Schnabl in Becker et al., 1915; Limnophora (Spilogona) reflecta Huckett, 1932, syn. nov. of Aricia depressula Zetterstedt, 1845; Spilogona compacta Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Limnophora (Spilogonoides) lapponica Ringdahl, 1932; Spilogona perambulata Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Spilogona padlei Huckett, 1965; Limnophora (Spilogona) albisquama Ringdahl, 1932, syn. nov. of Limnophoa (Spilogona) pusilla Huckett, 1932; Spilogona barrowensis Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Limnophora (Spilogona) quinquesetosa Schnabl in Becker et al., 1915; Tetramerinx brevicornis Malloch, 1917, syn. nov. of Limnophora (Spilogona) scutulata Schnabl in Schnabl & Dziedzicki, 1911; Spilogona coactilis Huckett, 1965, syn. nov. of Spilogona wrangeli Hennig, 1959. Spilogona churchillensis Huchett, 1965 and Limnophora (Spilogona) subfuscisquama Ringdahl, 1932 are restored from synonymy. An error on the determination label of Spilogona fulvibasis Huckett, 1965 is indicated. The new distribution of Spilogona tendipes (Malloch, 1920) is discussed. The identification couples to some similar species are given. Images of some species and of the male terminalia are given. The cytochrome oxidase I gene sequences (CO1) of Russian specimens of one new species and 35 other species are provided and discussed. Total 71 sequences are provided.
New insights into the phylogeny of Laelapinae mites (Mesostigmata: Laelapidae) associated with sigmodontine rodents (Cricetidae) from Argentina, with a morphological characterization of two species of Mysolaelaps Fonseca, 1936
Authors: SAVCHENKO EKATERINA , ESPINOZA-CARNIGLIA MARIO , LARESCHI MARCELA
Published: February 2025

Mites of the subfamily Laelapinae parasitic on small mammals are remarkably diverse in the Neotropics. Within this subfamily, mites of the genus Mysolaelaps Fonseca, 1936 are endemic to the Neotropics and frequently associated with rodents of the tribe Oryzomyini (Cricetidae: Sigmodontinae). Currently, Mysolaelaps comprises three described species, exclusively on the bases of their morphology. This study aimed to provide molecular information of Mysolaelaps microspinosus Fonseca, 1936 and Mysolaelaps parvispinosus Fonseca, 1936 and analyze their phylogenetic relationships to other Laelapinae mites associated with rodents. Thirty-six mites were collected from Oligoryzomys flavescens (Waterhouse, 1837) from Argentina. Among them, 18 mites were identified as M. microspinosus and 18 as M. parvispinosus. A subsample of mites was submitted to DNA extraction and amplification of the nuclear region 18S-ITS1-5.8S-ITS2. The phylogenetic analyses indicated a closer relationship between Mysolaelaps and Laelaps Koch, 1836 than with mites of the genus Androlaelaps Berlese, 1903 and Gigantolaelaps Nesbitt, 1951. The present study highlighted the scarcity of information regarding the molecular biology of the genus Mysolaelaps and the importance of further molecular studies for understanding the evolutionary history of laelapid mites.
The Competitive Edge: Improving American Board of Surgery In-Training Examination Scores Through a Team-Based Competition
Authors: Masters Sean E. , Howard Kathryn K. , Foote Darci C. , Halka Joshua , Studzinski Diane , Callahan Rose , Ivascu Felicia A. , Akay Begum
Published: February 2025

Background

The American Board of Surgery (ABS) In-Training Examination (ABSITE) scores are predictive of passing the ABS qualifying exam and have become a marker of residency education success. A competitive team-based approach to encourage self-studying and didactic participation is a novel method of ABSITE preparation. We aimed to determine if this method significantly improves residents’ percentile performances on the ABSITE.

Methods

Retrospective review of ABSITE percentile scores were compared before and after implementation of a purchased online question bank (TrueLearn LLC, Mooresville, NC), a team-based competition, and a virtual format of the team-based competition.

Results

The median ABSITE percentile at the program level increased from 40.0 (IQR 21.0-67.0) in 2011 to 77.0 by 2022 (IQR 60.0-91.0) ( P < 0.0001). After implementation of the team-based competition, ABSITE median percentile rose significantly from 67.0 (IQR 31.5-85.5) to 84.5 (IQR 60.8-91.0) ( P = 0.026). This did not change significantly after a transition to a virtual format of the team-based competition in 2021 ( P = 0.146) and 2022 ( P = 0.335). There was no significant relationship between the number of TrueLearn questions taken and ABSITE scores specifically before and after implementation of the team-based competition (AUC = 0.0002, Spearman’s r (67) 0.064, P = 0.605). Furthermore, the team-based competition was well received by residents and was believed to be beneficial to their studying.

Discussion

The team-based competition is easy to implement and improves ABSITE performance through means other than encouraging residents to take more practice questions. The team-based competition is well-received by residents and may prove beneficial to board examination preparation and pass rates.
Between Legitimacy and Cost: Freedom of Association and Collective Bargaining Rights in Global Supply Chains
Authors: Li Chunyun , Kuruvilla Sarosh , Bae Jinsun
Published: February 2025

Scholars and practitioners have advocated for freedom of association and collective bargaining (FOA/CB) rights as a key mechanism to improve labor compliance in global supply chains. Drawing on a longitudinal data set comprising 6,500 Better Work factory assessments across seven countries from 2015 to 2021, the authors compare violations of various FOA/CB elements to provide a general picture of the progress and problems of FOA/CB in supplier workplaces. They argue that suppliers are likely to selectively comply with FOA/CB elements that afford them some legitimacy but will violate the elements that impose significant costs on them. Specifically, the authors find fewer violations of union formation rights, in contrast to higher violations of union operation rights and of collective bargaining rights. Yet, when these latter rights are respected, they are associated with better compliance with other employment standards, with effective collective bargaining having the strongest effect.
Saudi Arabia’s Quest for Regional Hegemony on the Basis of Opposition to Iran
Authors: Cingöz Murat , Özev Muharrem Hilmi , İzol Ramazan
Published: February 2025

This study argues that Saudi Arabia’s increasing regional activism is not only limited to balancing the Iranian threat or competing with the Islamic Republic but is also related to its claim to be a regional hegemonic power. Within the framework of Robert Cox’s Antonio Gramsci-inspired approach to hegemony, Saudi Arabia has sought to establish hegemony through its oil revenues, integration with the global capitalist system, anti-Iranian rhetoric and institutional influence in the Gulf region. However, the inability to secure common consent among regional actors, failures on the ground and disagreements within the Gulf Cooperation Council are major obstacles to these efforts. By emphasising the interplay of ideas, material resources and institutions, the study reveals the limits of Saudi Arabia’s hegemony building and deepens the concept of regional hegemony through a neo-Gramscian analysis.
Mothers at the Intersection of Trauma, Addiction, and Involvement with the Criminal Legal System: An Analysis of Multiple Case Studies
Authors: Solinas-Saunders Monica , Petrunich-Rutherford Maureen L. , Thomas Mark D. , Brown Natasha R. , McElmurry Kevin L. , Jones Melissa A. , Cognetti Abigail M. , Andrews Lytina , Zahabi Amira
Published: February 2025

The study focuses on the complex interconnection of race, sexuality, and socioeconomic background in shaping the stories of mothers struggling with addiction disorders as they attempt to recover from traumatic experiences. A sample of 45 mothers was employed in the study. Using case study analysis methodologies, the stories of 6 mothers were used as representative cases based on their individual characteristics, community settings, and institutional experiences. Further, the 6 cases were used to describe the difficulties experienced by participants across 3 major life transitions: (1) childhood (2) initiation to drug use and addiction disorders (3) motherhood. Across these life transitions, participants emphasized the relevance of traumatic experiences and mental health disorders as main reasons for their drug addiction. For each theme highlighted in the narrative of each case, a connection to all other participants was made to summarize the findings in the whole sample. The analysis indicates that while most mothers experienced trauma during their lifetime, mothers who identified as members of racial/ethnic minorities and those who identified as lesbians were more likely to report trauma from prejudice and discrimination. Furthermore, the analysis highlights that mothers who identified as members of racial minorities were more likely to have their children placed in foster care. In the study, mothers’ involvement with the criminal legal system contributed to the challenges they experienced while renegotiating their relationships with their children. These mothers’ lived experiences and the complexity of the dynamics they described—especially their interactions with the legal system—could potentially help other researchers frame new hypotheses that could be tested by larger empirical studies.
The Spiritless Son of Man: Disentangling λόγος and πνεῦμα in the Fourth Gospel
Authors: Beavers Benjamin Luke
Published: February 2025

The phrase ‘the Word became flesh’ (Jn 1.14) is underdetermined. The author apparently depended on mutually informed context to communicate its meaning. In recent years, Francis Watson and Troels Engberg-Pedersen have proposed different contexts for understanding John, but have agreed that, when the appropriate context is provided, λόγος and πνεῦμα can be read synonymously. On the basis of this judgment, Watson and Engberg-Pedersen each settle on an ‘adoptionist’ reading of John: that the Word became flesh when the Spirit descended on Jesus (Jn 1.32–34). Both scholars argue that the adoptionist perspective ‘works’ when posited throughout the rest of the narrative. However, I argue that these readings are unable to fully incorporate John’s Son of Man theme. I argue that John’s Jesus is subtly depicted as the Son of Man both before he receives the πνεῦμα and after he gives it up. Furthermore, if the ‘adoptionist’ view is ruled out then the traditional reading––that Jn 1.14 refers to the miraculous conception of Jesus by the Holy Spirit––becomes a more attractive possibility. John may know this tradition through oral reports, but the ambiguity of Jn 1.14 may also serve as indirect evidence for the growing view that John knows the Synoptic Gospels.
Functional groups control of metal by electron beam irradiation and its application to superhydrophobic surface
Authors: Wang Li , Wang Haidou , Di Yuelan , Wang Pengfei , Jin Guo , Dong Lihong
Published: February 2025

Since electron beam irradiation tended to increase metal wettability, significantly decreasing surface wettability remained difficult. In this paper, low-energy electron beam irradiation was used to significantly decrease the surface wettability of 316 L stainless steel, and the mechanism of modifying functional groups was revealed. The experimental results demonstrated that the hydrophilic functional groups C-O-C, O-C=O, and -OH had a significant decrease in contents, and the hydrophobic C-C/C-H group contents increased dramatically. The contact angle increased from 50° to 91°. This was due to the interaction of excited secondary electrons with precursor molecules, as well as fragmented carbon radicals and other fragments adsorbed on the surface, which generated new chemical bonds. The effects of various metal materials and microtextures on secondary electron emission were investigated. It was observed that a higher excitation coefficient for secondary electrons corresponds to a greater increase in the contact angle. The addition of different types of precursor molecules has the effect of controlling the wettability of electron beam irradiation. Nitrogen reduced the effect of electron beam irradiation modification, and hydrocarbon molecules increased the effect. A superhydrophobic surface with a contact angle of 160° and a sliding angle of 6° was successfully prepared by combining a pitting texture with hydrocarbon molecules. It has excellent wear resistance, high temperature resistance, and ultraviolet radiation resistance.
A Disaggregation Method for Estimation of Adult Competency in Small Domains
Authors: Erciulescu Andreea L. , Ren Weijia , Li Jianzhu , Krenzke Tom , Mohadjer Leyla , Fay Robert
Published: February 2025

Estimation at fine levels of aggregation is necessary, to better describe society. Small area estimation model-based approaches that combine sparse survey data with rich data from auxiliary sources have been proven useful to improve the reliability of estimates for small domains. Considered here is a scenario where small area model-based estimates, produced at a given aggregation level, need to be disaggregated to better describe the social structure at finer levels. For this scenario, an allocation method was developed to implement the disaggregation, overcoming challenges associated with data availability and model development at such fine levels. The method is applied to adult literacy and numeracy estimation at the county-by-group-level, using data from the U.S. Program for the International Assessment of Adult Competencies. In this application, the groups are defined in terms of age or education.
CT-based radiomics: A potential indicator of KRAS mutation in pulmonary adenocarcinoma
Authors: Mahmoud Menna Allah , Wu Sijun , Su Ruihua , Liufu Yuling , Wen Yanhua , Pan Xiaohuan , Guan Yubao
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

This study aimed to validate a CT-based radiomics signature for predicting Kirsten rat sarcoma (KRAS) mutation status in lung adenocarcinoma (LADC).

Materials and methods:

A total of 815 LADC patients were included. Radiomics features were extracted from non-contrast-enhanced CT (NECT) and contrast-enhanced CT (CECT) images using Pyradiomics. CT-based radiomics were combined with clinical features to distinguish KRAS mutation status. Four feature selection methods and four deep learning classifiers were employed. Data was split into 70% training and 30% test sets, with SMOTE addressing imbalance in the training set. Model performance was evaluated using AUC, accuracy, precision, F1 score, and recall.

Results:

The analysis revealed that 10.4% of patients showed KRAS mutations. The study extracted 1061 radiomics features and combined them with 17 clinical features. After feature selection, two signatures were constructed using top 10, 20, and 50 features. The best performance was achieved using Multilayer Perceptron with 20 features. CECT, it showed 66% precision, 76% recall, 69% F1-score, 84% accuracy, and AUC of 93.3% and 87.4% for train and test sets, respectively. For NECT, accuracy was 85% and 82%, with AUC of 90.7% and 87.6% for train and test sets, respectively.

Conclusions:

CT-based radiomics signature is a noninvasive method that can predict KRAS mutation status of LADC when mutational profiling is unavailable.
When a Road Becomes a Street
Authors: Yeager Raymond
Published: February 2025

Roads that pass through communities present an array of illumination challenges for lighting professionals. But the techniques of the past are still instructive today
The Toughest Client
Authors: Tarricone Paul
Published: February 2025

The pressure's on when creating the lighting design for your own offices and colleagues. Three IIDA Merit Award projects show how it's done
The Road to America
Authors: Sommerhoff Emilie
Published: February 2025

Foreign lighting manufacturers’ interest in the U.S. market is well established, as is their approach to entry. But will the changing global economy cause them to reconsider the effort?
Aurora-A promotes lenvatinib resistance experimentally through hsa-circ-0058046/miR-424-5p/FGFR1 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma
Authors: Abudoureyimu Mubalake , Sun Ni , Chen Weiwei , Lin Xinrong , Pan Fan , Wang Rui
Published: February 2025

Objective:

This study aimed to investigate whether the dysregulation of Aurora-A is involved in lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma.

Methods:

Bioinformatics tools and drug sensitivity assays were used to investigate the association between Aurora-A expression level and lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cell lines. Cell function experiments had performed after treatment with lenvatinib and/or a selective Aurora-A inhibitor (MLN-8237). CircRNA microarray, RIP, RNA pull-down, and dual-luciferace reporter assay were performed to identify the downstream molecular mechanism of Aurora-A dysregulation.

Results:

Aurora-A expression was positively correlated with lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The Aurora-A selective inhibitor MLN-8237, in combination with lenvatinib, synergistically inhibited hepatocellular carcinoma cell proliferation in vitro and vivo, suggesting the Aurora-A might be a potential therapeutic target for lenvatinib resistance. Mechanistically, Aurora-A induced FGFR1 expression through the hsa-circ-0058046/miR-424-5p/FGFR1 axis. Aurora-A promotes lenvatinib resistance through hsa-circ-0058046/miR-424-5p/FGFR1 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma cells. The simultaneous inhibition of FGFR1 by the Aurora-A inhibitor MLN-8237 and lenvatinib overcame lenvatinib resistance in hepatocellular carcinoma cells.

Conclusion:

Collectively, our findings indicate that Aurora-A promotes lenvatinib resistance through the hsa-circ-0058046/miR-424-5p/FGFR1 axis in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells. These results suggest that Aurora-A may serve as a therapeutic target for HCC patients exhibiting lenvatinib resistance. Furthermore, the combination of lenvatinib and MLN-8237 shows potential for clinical trials aimed at overcoming lenvatinib resistance.
Leading public sector interorganizational collaboration in healthcare: Lessons from the intersection of climate and health
Authors: Zidulka Amy , Mitchell Ingrid Kajzer
Published: February 2025

It is generally accepted that wicked problems cannot be addressed by a single organization and require multiorganizational arrangements across governmental jurisdictions and sectoral boundaries. Health leaders increasingly are being called upon to lead collaborative initiatives. However, doing so is fraught with complexity. This article draws on relevant organizational literature and an empirical study focused on public sector collaboration for the purpose of fostering climate resilience in the health system to put forward four guidelines for collaborative leaders.
Multi-Skin disease classification using hybrid deep learning model
Authors: Jeyageetha K , Vijayalakshmi K , Suresh S , Bhuvanesh A
Published: February 2025

Among the many cancers that people face today, skin cancer is among the deadliest and most dangerous. As a result, improving patients’ chances of survival requires skin cancer to be identified and classified early. Therefore, it is critical to assist radiologists in detecting skin cancer through the development of Computer Aided Diagnosis (CAD) techniques. The diagnostic procedure currently makes heavy use of Deep Learning (DL) techniques for disease identification. In addition, skin lesion extraction and improved classification performance are achieved through Region Growing (RG) based segmentation. At the outset of this study, noise is reduced using an Adaptive Wiener Filter (AWF), and hair is removed using a Maximum Gradient Intensity (MGI). Then, the best RG, which is the result of integrating RG with the Modified Honey Badger Optimiser (MHBO), does the segmentation. Finally, several forms of skin cancer are classified using the DL model MobileSkinNetV2. The experiments were conducted on the ISIC dataset and the results show that the accuracy and precision were improved to 99.01% and 98.6%, respectively. In comparison to existing models, the experimental results show that the proposed model performs competitively, which is great news for dermatologists treating cancer.
Turbulent flushing of internal pipe-type surfaces in hydraulic components
Authors: Song Mingzhen , Zhang Zhisheng , Xia Zhijie , Lu Sujie
Published: February 2025

The cleanliness of hydraulic systems has long been regarded as a crucial indicator of their performance and longevity. This study aims to elevate the cleanliness level of hydraulic components from 500 μm to 300 μm. To achieve this goal, this study integrates the flushing process and establishes a physical and mathematical model of wired solid pollutants on internal pipe-type surfaces during flushing based on Reynolds equation. This paper proposes the introduction of a cleanliness coefficient as a quantitative measure for evaluating cleanliness. The cleanliness coefficient serves as a threshold to determine whether particles can be effectively removed or not. The results of the orthogonal experiment demonstrate that the error between theoretical models and actual outcomes is merely 7.4%, affirming the effectiveness of the physical and mathematical models. The cleanliness coefficient provides guidance for setting flushing process parameters. The innovation of this study lies in the introduction of the cleanliness coefficient concept, which offers a more quantitative approach compared to traditional qualitative assessment methods.
Study on the multiphase unsteady flow characteristics of asymmetric multiphase rotor pumps
Authors: Wang Meiling , Huang Zhiqiang , Li Gang , Wang Junjie , Qian Weiji , Cheng Shidong , Hou Yumin
Published: February 2025

Existing multiphase pumps face challenges in transporting more than two phases, including high costs and energy consumption. To address the challenges of multiphase transportation in oilfields, a new multiphase rotor pump has been developed to reduce energy consumption and enhance efficiency. This study employs computational fluid dynamics technology, validated by experiments. Using dynamic mesh technology and the Eulerian multiphase flow model, the study analyzes the effects of pulsation characteristics, turbulent kinetic energy dissipation, gas content, bubble diameter, solid content, and particle diameter on pump performance. The results indicate that: (a) Compared to single-phase media, the pump's performance slightly decreases when transporting multiphase media, but the volumetric efficiency remains above 74%, indicating good media compatibility. Transport efficiency follows the order: ηsingle-phase > ηthree-phase > ηtwo-phase. (b) During transport, gas–solid mixtures tend to separate, with the gas phase primarily on the rotor surface and the solid phase along the pump chamber walls. Increasing the gas volume fraction reduces pump performance, but when the bubble diameter exceeds the meshing clearance, it can improve transport efficiency. Variations in sand content positively impact the pump's transport capacity. (c) Turbulent kinetic energy dissipation for single-phase, two-phase, and three-phase media is concentrated at the clearance and outlet. The dissipation intensity for multiphase media is greater than that for single-phase media and increases with the gas volume fraction. The solid phase shows minimal sensitivity to turbulent kinetic energy dissipation. The findings provide a reference for designing asymmetric multiphase rotor pumps and their use in petroleum transportation.
Fatigue behavior of friction stir welded AA6061 alloy using brass insert
Authors: Nagu Korra , Varun A , Kumar Mechiri Sandeep , Kumar Kethavath Kranthi , Satyanarayana MVNV , Kumar Adepu
Published: February 2025

Aluminum alloys, broadly used in aerospace and automotive, are particularly susceptible to fatigue failures. The grain refinement characteristics can improve the fatigue behavior of aluminum alloys, which can be achieved using friction stir welding (FSW). The primary aim of this study is to examine how incorporating a brass insert influences the fatigue crack growth behavior of AA6061-T6 alloy welded through FSW, comparing welds with and without the insert. Microstructural analysis showed fine recrystallized grains are obtained for both welds. However, welding with the insert exhibited smaller grains. Moreover, robust intermetallics are formed for welding with insert due to the intermixing reaction at FSW temperature, which improves mechanical properties such as hardness and tensile strength. The findings on fatigue indicate that the fatigue resistance of the weld with insert is significantly high, which can be attributed to the increased grain boundaries and development of strong intermetallic compounds, which hindered the crack propagation. Fractographic analysis of the fracture surfaces indicated the presence of striation marks in the weld with the insert, which slowed crack propagation and prolonged fatigue life. The findings suggest real-world applications in industries, where improving the fatigue life and structural reliability of welded aluminum components is critical.
Integrated design and performance study of microwave absorption and load bearing for an embedded honeycomb superstructure
Authors: Wu Runxin , Li Fang , Liang Hao , Zhang Haiyu , Kong Xiangshao
Published: February 2025

Compared with coated absorbing materials, honeycomb absorbing structural have raised widespread attention due to their better impedance matching, ability to provide multiple reflections and serve as mechanical structures. However, traditional honeycomb structure still has a huge space for improvement under the traction of wide and strong absorption performance, as well as the consideration of thin and light structural design. This article takes the developed multi-walled carbon nanotubes/carbonyl iron/epoxy resin composite material(MWCNT/CI/EP) as the absorbing material, and then embeds it into the traditional honeycomb absorbing structure through a special multi-scale superstructure design to acquire a new type of honeycomb superstructure that combines excellent absorbing performance and mechanical properties. The influencing factors such as structural parameters, incident angles, and polarization modes on the absorption performance of this superstructure was studied through simulation analyses. Research has shown that the designed embedded honeycomb superstructure can achieve full frequency coverage of less than −10 dB within 2-18 GHz, with a minimum of −39 dB, a maximum of −10.4 dB and an average level of −18 dB. The embedded honeycomb superstructure designed in this article has made breakthroughs in terms of absorption and mechanical properties compared to honeycomb structures with the same areal density, providing a certain inspiration for the research of structural and functional composite design.
Mothering (un)belonging: Politics of care in the new wave of Turkish outmigration
Authors: Ikizoglu Erensu Asli
Published: February 2025

A new wave of migrants has been leaving Turkey in increasing numbers. This wave has multiple, intersecting master narratives: brain drain, flight, and lifestyle migration. A less visible characteristic is that many migrant women have been coming together under the banner of motherhood on social media. Based on semi-structured interviews with 36 migrant mothers, this article illustrates how this new wave of migrants also needs to be viewed in light of the contemporary politics of the family in the country. I examine how women’s socially determined reproductive responsibilities inform their migration motivations as well as experiences. Migration leads to a re-distribution of care responsibilities between the state, the market and the family, which transforms women’s experience of reproductive in/security. However, achieving the actual promise of reproductive security requires new struggles against the threat of ethnicization and transformations in class identity in destination countries. This article focuses on education as an area of state-family relations, where the re-distribution of care responsibilities most impacted women’s sense of reproductive security and belonging. Such a reading of the new wave of migrants highlights how care relations constitute a site of intersectional belonging at both ends of the migration journey and thus contributes to the growing literature on migrant mothering.
Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS): A brief psychometrically robust metric of patient-reported cognitive difficulty
Authors: Sumowski James F , Sandry Joshua
Published: February 2025

Background:

Existing metrics of patient-reported cognitive difficulties in multiple sclerosis (MS) are lengthy, lack psychometric rigor, and/or fail to query prevalent expressive language deficits.

Objective:

Develop a brief psychometrically robust metric of patient-reported cognitive deficits that includes language items; the Multiple Sclerosis Cognitive Scale (MSCS).

Method:

Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) was conducted on 20 Perceived Deficits Questionnaire (PDQ) items plus five newly developed language questions in a large MS sample and matched respondents without neurologic disease. Independent confirmatory principal components analysis (PCA) assessed EFA factor structure. Reliability of the new scale and subscales, and relationships with objective cognitive impairment and cognitive change, were assessed.

Results:

EFA in patients ( n = 502) and controls ( n = 350), item analyses, and confirmatory PCA in an independent sample ( n = 361 patients; 150 controls) supported construction of an eight-item scale with four two-item subscales: Executive/Speed, Working Memory, Expressive Language, and Episodic Memory. Internal consistency and test–retest reliability were excellent for the total MSCS ( α = 0.93, ICC = 0.95) and good for each subscale ( α’s:0.83–0.87; ICCs: 0.86–0.92). MSCS showed medium-size links to cross-sectional objective cognitive impairment ( η2 = .06) and cognitive change over time ( η2 = .07); the traditional PDQ did not ( η2s = 0.01 and 0.02).

Conclusion:

The brief MSCS is a psychometrically robust, reliable, and valid metric of patient-reported cognitive deficits in MS that holds promise for improving assessment of MS cognitive dysfunction.
Unveiling the link between APOE ε4, environmental factors, and Alzheimer's disease in North Lebanon: A case-control study
Authors: Khaled Mohamed , Al-Jamal Hadi , Matar Dana , Ibrahim Antonia , Tajer Layla , Issa Nicole , El-Mir Reem , Hantour Joudi
Published: February 2025

Background

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial and progressive neurodegenerative disorder influenced by a variety of genetic and environmental factors. The apolipoprotein E ( APOE) gene is known to have a pivotal impact on disease onset, yet clinical studies on its impact on AD remain scarce in Lebanon.

Objective

This study investigates the interplay between environmental risk factors, the APOE gene, and AD in North Lebanon.

Methods

A case-control study was conducted with 136 individuals, including 57 AD patients and 79 normal individuals, among which 55 individuals were verified to be cognitively normal via the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE). A comprehensive survey was used to collect data on lifestyle factors, medical history, and other possible diseases and deficiencies. Blood samples were collected from all participants, then their DNA was isolated and stored. Real-time PCR was adopted for genotyping.

Results

The total APOE ε4 allele prevalence was reduced from 19.1% to 16.1% after MMSE adjustment. Based on the univariate analysis, factors like age, illiteracy, vitamin and iron deficiencies, blood pressure, and chronic diseases were identified as prominent risk factors, while the allele showed no significant correlation with AD. However, in the multivariable analysis, this allele emerged as a key risk factor (p = 0.04). Factors like age ≥ 65, vitamin deficiency, iron deficiency, blood pressure, and other chronic diseases were consistently significant.

Conclusions

Our results provide significant evidence that the influence of APOE ε4 on AD is governed by several environmental factors such as age, vitamin and iron deficiencies, high blood pressure, and chronic diseases.
MicroRNA-based recent research developments in Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Ramirez-Gomez Jaime , Dalal Sarthak , Devara Davin , Sharma Bhupender , Rodarte Daniela , Kumar Subodh
Published: February 2025

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a chronic neurodegenerative disorder that is characterized by memory and physical impairment in aged individuals. microRNAs (miRNAs) are small, single-stranded noncoding RNAs that induce translational repression by binding to the 3’ UTR of a target mRNA. miRNAs play a crucial role in neurological activity by mediating cellular proliferation, synaptic plasticity, apoptosis and more. Ongoing research in patents and clinical trials have called attention to promising miRNAs as biomarkers and therapeutics in AD. Recent research has shown that miRNAs are aberrantly expressed in AD brain, blood, cerebrospinal fluid and serum. Attenuated miRNA expressions have diagnostic potential in AD by interacting with amyloid-β synthesis, phosphorylated tau, and neurofibrillary tangles. In this study, miRNA-29a, miRNA-125b, miRNA-34a, miRNA-146a, and miRNA-155 have shown promise as potential biomarker candidates for AD. Improving cognitive symptoms can be traced to restoring the endogenous miRNA activity by synthesizing miRNA mimics and miRNA antisense oligonucleotides. miRNA-483-5p, miRNA-188-5p, miRNA-219, miRNA135a/5p, miRNA-23/23b-3p, miRNA-124, and miRNA-455-3p are growing therapeutics for AD. However, miRNA-based therapeutics struggle outside of preclinical testing. miRNA-107, miRNA-206, miRNA-30/7, and miRNA-142-3p face bottlenecks in clinical trials due to a lack of experimental design, transparency and volunteer size. Patenting recent miRNA-based developments demonstrates the commitment in identifying a new biomarker and/or therapeutic for AD.
Maximizing participation while preserving the normative order of the service: The autonomy and porosity of service encounters
Authors: Mondada Lorenza
Published: February 2025

While Conversation Analysis has mostly focused on single autonomous episodes of social interaction, characterized by their overall structural organization delimited by openings and closings, alternative forms of organization have also, although more rarely, been pinpointed, involving several interactions intersecting together. This paper explores the systematic practical and normative way in which participants orient to the autonomy of encounters while at the same time dealing with their porosity, that is, with emerging intersecting actions impinging on the current course of interaction. The empirical analysis focuses on service encounters at the market, in France, in which several customers assemble at the counter, waiting to be served. The paper analyzes how the salesperson manages the encounter with a current customer, while addressing new customers, by initiating intersecting sequences of actions. it also show what whereas some intersecting actions are treated as unproblematic, others are normatively oriented to as violating the order of the service. These observations enable us to analyze the autonomy versus porosity of the encounter as a members’ concern and study how they deal with these alternative organizations while maintaining a normative sense of the order of service.
Exploring the burden of treatment in patients’ experiences of chronic condition management: A mixed-method study in Mendoza, Argentina
Authors: Roberti Javier , Belizán María , Ini Natali , Alonso Juan P , Mazzoni Agustina , Guglielmino Marina , Mazzaresi Yanina , Falaschi Andrea , Gómez-Portillo Juan Manuel , Masier Gabriela , Baigorria Federico , Nadal Ana María , García-Elorrio Ezequiel
Published: February 2025

Objective

This study investigated how patients managed their chronic diseases, focusing on burden of treatment, within the primary care level in Mendoza Province, Argentina.

Method

The study used a mixed-methods approach, including a qualitative component with a purposive sampling of patients with diabetes, hypertension, or depression using primary care services, and a quantitative component with secondary analysis of databases from public and social security. Ten focus group sessions were conducted at primary healthcare centers in urban and rural areas. The Burden of Treatment theory was used to frame the analysis.

Results

The study found that accessing care was difficult due to appointment difficulties and long waiting times, and obtaining medication and laboratory tests at secondary centers was also problematic. Non-emergency hospital care required primary care referrals, and users in rural areas faced access problems. Financial constraints were significant, with co-payments in social security sector, transportation costs, and lost work revenue. Strategies employed included networking, emergency service use, careful planning, and taking loans.

Conclusion

This study underscores the complex implications of chronic disease management in a subnational healthcare system and provides insights for policymakers and healthcare providers.
Advanced imaging techniques in crystal arthritis
Authors: Laurent Victor , Filippou Georgios , Sirotti Silvia , Pascart Tristan
Published: February 2025

Gout and calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) disease are the most common causes of crystal arthritis. Identifying the pathogenic crystal deposition is the cornerstone of the diagnosis, but also prognosis and monitoring of the diseases. Conventional radiography has been for decades the only imaging technique used, with its very restricted sensitivity in both diseases. Advanced techniques, namely ultrasound and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT), are being increasingly used in the diagnosis and management of gout and CPPD diseases, and their role is now well recognized in classification criteria and in recommendations for the diagnosis and management. In gout, ultrasound elementary lesions of monosodium urate deposition are well defined and have been shown to be sensitive to change and can be monitored, while direct quantification of these deposits can be performed with DECT. In CPPD disease, the definition of elementary lesions and their scoring has been well established for ultrasound, while the proof of concept that DECT can help discriminate calcium pyrophosphate crystal deposits among other calcium-containing structures has been shown. The aim of this narrative review is to provide an overview of the use of advanced imaging techniques in crystal-induced arthropathies.
Digital hospital evaluation scale: A scale-development research study
Authors: Gokkaya Durmuş , Karaman Mesut , Purkuloglu Esengül
Published: February 2025

Aim: To conduct and report on psychometric tests for a valid and reliable measurement tool for evaluating digital hospitals by healthcare professionals. Method: This psychometric study took place in a public digital hospital in Turkey. It was carried out with the participation of 355 healthcare professionals. Data were collected between September and October 2023 using an online survey and non-probability convenience sampling method. Statistical Package for Social Science Version (SPSS) 26.0 and analysis of moment structures version 24.0 were used to analyse the data. It was used for the psychometric properties and analyses of the scale (item analysis, explanatory factor analysis, confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), convergent and divergent validity statistics, Cronbach Alpha internal consistency coefficient, dependent sample t-test, and intraclass correlation). Results: The content validity index of the scale is 0.92. As a result of exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and CFA in separate samples, a total of 30 items and four sub-factors were obtained. Cronbach Alpha value of the scale is over 0.90 for both samples. In the four-factor structure, 82.64% of the total variance was explained. The 30-item and four-factor structure obtained in EFA was confirmed in CFA, and convergent and divergent validity statistics were provided. Test–retest results showed that the scale has high reliability. Conclusion: The digital hospital evaluation scale is valid and reliable for healthcare professionals to evaluate digital hospitals.