bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Some results on vertex separator reconfiguration
Authors: de Castro Mendes Gomes Guilherme , Nogueira Sérgio Henrique , dos Santos Vinicius Fernandes
Published: January 2025

We present the first results on the complexity of the reconfiguration of vertex separators under the three most popular rules: token addition/removal, token jumping (TJ), and token sliding (TS). We show that, aside from some trivially negative instances, the first two rules are equivalent to each other. On the other hand, even if only on a subclass of bipartite graphs, TS is not equivalent to the other two unless NP = PSPACE; we do this by showing a relationship between separators and independent sets in this subclass of bipartite graphs. In terms of polynomial time algorithms, we show that every class with a polynomially bounded number of minimal vertex separators admits an efficient algorithm under token jumping, then turn our attention to two classes that do not meet this condition: {3P1, diamond}-free and series-parallel graphs. For the first, we describe a novel characterization, which we use to show that reconfiguring vertex separators under token jumping is always possible and that, under token sliding, it can be done in polynomial time; for series-parallel graphs, we also prove that reconfiguration is always possible under TJ and exhibit a polynomial time algorithm to construct the reconfiguration sequence.
Strategic autonomy in Turkish foreign policy in an age of multipolarity: lineages and contradictions of an idea
Authors: Aydın-Düzgit Senem , Kutlay Mustafa , Keyman E. Fuat
Published: January 2025

Strategic autonomy has become a guiding principle for several states as the international order moves toward multipolarity. Turkey has also attempted to carve out a more autonomous space from its traditional Western allies by building new ties in the non-Western world, ranging from the Russia–China axis to the Middle East and beyond. This paper explores the idea and practice of strategic autonomy in Turkish foreign policy. We argue that strategic autonomy is not pre-determined or mechanically driven by ‘hedging’ behavior. We conceptualize strategic autonomy with reference to its three fundamental dimensions: structural orientation, political motive, and economic infrastructure. In this context, we highlight two soft spots in Turkish foreign policy since 2011. First, geopolitical imperatives and domestic policy priorities often contradict each other, which prevents the country from effectively implementing autonomy-seeking policies. Second, strategic autonomy is mainly associated with ‘high politics’ without paying proper attention to its geoeconomic dimension in the form of solid political economy fundamentals and economic security.
Discrepancies between subjective and objective sleep assessments revealed by in-home electroencephalography during real-world sleep
Authors: Masaki Minori , Tsumoto Saki , Tani Akihiro , Tominaga Morie , Seol Jaehoon , Chiba Shigeru , Miyanishi Kazuya , Nishida Kei , Kawana Fusae , Amemiya Takashi , Hiei Tetsuro , Kanbayashi Takashi , Yanagisawa Masashi
Published: January 2025

Sleep insufficiency and sleep disorders pose serious health challenges. This study aimed to determine the potential discrepancy between subjective and objective sleep assessments, including the latter made by physicians, by analyzing a 421-participant dataset in Japan comprising multiple nights of in-home sleep electroencephalogram (EEG) data and questionnaire responses on sleep habits or subjective experiences. We employed logistic regression models to examine which subjective and objective sleep parameters physicians are paying attention to when assessing sleep insufficiency, insomnia, sleep quality, and sleep apnea. Questionnaire responses, including subjective sleep assessments, exhibited poor performance predicting physicians’ assessments, whereas objective data demonstrated good predictive performance, indicating a discrepancy between subjective and objective sleep assessments. Although the in-home sleep EEG measurements had minimal first night effects, incorporating measurements over multiple nights can improve the detection of objective insomnia. Moreover, we found that participants with severe sleep insufficiency overestimated their sleep duration, whereas those with subjective insomnia but without objective insomnia underestimated it. Additionally, subjective sleep quality reflected sleep efficiency but not the frequency of short awakenings or objective sleep depth. In particular, the effects of apnea on objective sleep quality were not subjectively perceived. Collectively, our findings suggest that subjective sleep assessments alone are insufficient for evaluating sleep health and that health checkups and advice based on sleep EEG measurements may be useful in improving sleep habits and for early detection of sleep disorders.
The differential impacts of equivalent gating-charge mutations in voltage-gated sodium channels
Authors: Elhanafy Eslam , Akbari Ahangar Amin , Roth Rebecca , Gamal El-Din Tamer M. , Bankston John R. , Li Jing
Published: January 2025

Voltage-gated sodium (Nav) channels are pivotal for cellular signaling, and mutations in Nav channels can lead to excitability disorders in cardiac, muscular, and neural tissues. A major cluster of pathological mutations localizes in the voltage-sensing domains (VSDs), resulting in either gain-of-function, loss-of-function effects, or both. However, the mechanism behind this functional diversity of mutations at equivalent positions remains elusive. Through hotspot analysis, we identified three gating charges (R1, R2, and R3) as major mutational hotspots in VSDs. The same amino acid substitutions at equivalent gating-charge positions in VSDI and VSDII of the cardiac sodium channel Nav1.5 show differential gating property impacts in electrophysiology measurements. We conducted molecular dynamics (MD) simulations on wild-type channels and six mutants to elucidate the structural basis of their differential impacts. Our 120-µs MD simulations with applied external electric fields captured VSD state transitions and revealed the differential structural dynamics between equivalent R-to-Q mutants. Notably, we observed transient leaky conformations in some mutants during structural transitions, offering a detailed structural explanation for gating-pore currents. Our salt-bridge network analysis uncovered VSD-specific and state-dependent interactions among gating charges, countercharges, and lipids. This detailed analysis revealed how mutations disrupt critical electrostatic interactions, thereby altering VSD permeability and modulating gating properties. By demonstrating the crucial importance of considering the specific structural context of each mutation, our study advances our understanding of structure–function relationships in Nav channels. Our work establishes a robust framework for future investigations into the molecular basis of ion channel–related disorders.
Terahertz conductivity of two-dimensional materials: a review
Authors: Mitra Shuva , Avazpour Laleh , Knezevic Irena
Published: January 2025

Two-dimensional (2D) van der Waals materials are shaping the landscape of next-generation devices, offering significant technological value thanks to their unique, tunable, and layer-dependent electronic and optoelectronic properties. Time-domain spectroscopic techniques at terahertz (THz) frequencies offer noninvasive, contact-free methods for characterizing the dynamics of carriers in 2D materials. They also pave the path toward the applications of 2D materials in detection, imaging, manufacturing, and communication within the increasingly important THz frequency range. In this paper, we overview the synthesis of 2D materials and the prominent THz spectroscopy techniques: THz time-domain spectroscopy, optical-pump THz-probe technique, and optical pump–probe THz spectroscopy. Through a confluence of experimental findings, numerical simulation, and theoretical analysis, we present the current understanding of the rich ultrafast physics of technologically significant 2D materials: graphene, transition metal dichalcogenides, MXenes, perovskites, topological 2D materials, and 2D heterostructures. Finally, we offer a perspective on the role of THz characterization in guiding future research and in the quest for ideal 2D materials for new applications.
A comparative analysis of image harmonization techniques in mitigating differences in CT acquisition and reconstruction
Authors: Yadav Anil , Welland Spencer , Hoffman John M , Hyun J Kim Grace , Brown Matthew S , Prosper Ashley E , Aberle Denise R , McNitt-Gray Michael F , Hsu William
Published: January 2025

Objective. The study aims to systematically characterize the effect of CT parameter variations on images and lung radiomic and deep features, and to evaluate the ability of different image harmonization methods to mitigate the observed variations. Approach. A retrospective in-house sinogram dataset of 100 low-dose chest CT scans was reconstructed by varying radiation dose (100%, 25%, 10%) and reconstruction kernels (smooth, medium, sharp). A set of image processing, convolutional neural network (CNNs), and generative adversarial network-based (GANs) methods were trained to harmonize all image conditions to a reference condition (100% dose, medium kernel). Harmonized scans were evaluated for image similarity using peak signal-to-noise ratio (PSNR), structural similarity index measure (SSIM), and learned perceptual image patch similarity (LPIPS), and for the reproducibility of radiomic and deep features using concordance correlation coefficient (CCC). Main Results. CNNs consistently yielded higher image similarity metrics amongst others; for Sharp/10%, which exhibited the poorest visual similarity, PSNR increased from a mean ± CI of 17.763 ± 0.492 to 31.925 ± 0.571, SSIM from 0.219 ± 0.009 to 0.754 ± 0.017, and LPIPS decreased from 0.490 ± 0.005 to 0.275 ± 0.016. Texture-based radiomic features exhibited a greater degree of variability across conditions, i.e. a CCC of 0.500 ± 0.332, compared to intensity-based features (0.972 ± 0.045). GANs achieved the highest CCC (0.969 ± 0.009 for radiomic and 0.841 ± 0.070 for deep features) amongst others. CNNs are suitable if downstream applications necessitate visual interpretation of images, whereas GANs are better alternatives for generating reproducible quantitative image features needed for machine learning applications. Significance. Understanding the efficacy of harmonization in addressing multi-parameter variability is crucial for optimizing diagnostic accuracy and a critical step toward building generalizable models suitable for clinical use.
Push-down automata as sequential generators of highly entangled states
Authors: Gopalakrishnan Sarang
Published: January 2025

We exploit the duality between quantum channels and sequentially generated states to construct families of highly entangled states that undergo phase transitions. These highly entangled states can be sequentially generated by collecting the emitted radiation from an open quantum system. In the dual perspective, the open system is regarded as a quantum-state-generating machine. A nontrivial class of such machines are quantum push-down automata, which can be used to create highly entangled states including the Motzkin state parametrically faster than adiabatic evolution. We construct generalizations of the Motzkin state that can be efficiently sequentially generated.
Fractal dimension and the counting rule of the Goldstone modes
Authors: Shi Qian-Qian , Dai Yan-Wei , Zhou Huan-Qiang , McCulloch Ian P
Published: January 2025

It is argued that there are a set of orthonormal basis states, which appear as highly degenerate ground states arising from spontaneous symmetry breaking with a type-B Goldstone mode, and they are scale-invariant, with a salient feature that the entanglement entropy S(n) scales logarithmically with the block size n in the thermodynamic limit. As it turns out, the prefactor is half the number of type-B Goldstone modes

N
B

. This is achieved by performing an exact Schmidt decomposition of the orthonormal basis states, thus unveiling their self-similarities in the real space—the essence of a fractal. Combining with a field-theoretic prediction (Castro-Alvaredo and Doyon 2012 Phys. Rev. Lett.
108 120401), we are led to the identification of the fractal dimension

d
f

with the number of type-B Goldstone modes

N
B

for the orthonormal basis states in quantum many-body systems undergoing spontaneous symmetry breaking.
Validation of Diagnosis Codes for Low Birth Weight and Small-for-Gestational Age in the Medicaid Analytic Extract Database
Authors: Wang Xi , Wang Yehua , Zhu Yanmin , Montoya-Williams Diana , Brown Joshua , Goodin Amie J , Zimmerman Ellen , Winterstein Almut G
Published: January 2025

Background:

The accuracy of low birth weight (LBW) and small for gestational age (SGA) in administrative healthcare records is crucial for perinatal studies but has few validity studies.

Methods:

Using 1999–2010 MAX linked to birth certificates (BC), we identified mother-infant dyads (≥30 days enrollment after delivery, with valid gestational age (GA) and birth weight (BW)). LBW and SGA were identified based on ICD-9-CM codes. Infants with BW <10% of the U.S. reference were flagged as SGA. For LBW group diagnoses, we imputed birthweight using median, mean BW from BCs, and ICD code boundaries of infants in the same LBW group. We calculated the sensitivity, specificity, and positive/negative predictive values to assess performance.

Results:

We identified 1,536,272 live births. All LBW groups had low SEs, high SPs, and NPVs, whereas PPVs varied. Among infants with SGA diagnoses based on GA/BW from the BC, SE of the SGA codes was 13.36%; SP 99.01%; PPV 67.37%. Combining imputation with LBW codes increased SE up to 22.09% (lower boundary) but decreased PPV to 41.53% (lower boundary).

Conclusions:

ICD-9-CM codes from administrative healthcare records had low SE but high SP. Imputation based on GA and BW did not add much value to SGA identification.
Population Attributable Fraction of Non-Vaccination and Under-Vaccination of COVID-19 Due to Vaccine Hesitancy, 2022
Authors: Nguyen Kimberly H , Chung E Lisa , Bednarczyk Robert A , Vasudevan Lavanya
Published: January 2025

Non-vaccination and under-vaccination with the COVID-19 vaccine may be attributed to multifaceted barriers including hesitancy and access issues. Using data from the CDC’s Research and Development Survey, a nationally representative survey fielded from November 3, 2022 - December 12, 2022 (n=6,821), we examined the adjusted population attribution fraction (PAF) of COVID-19 non-vaccination and under-vaccination attributed to vaccine hesitancy by sociodemographic characteristics. Overall, the adjusted PAF of non-vaccination attributed to vaccine hesitancy was 84.8%, and the adjusted PAF of under-vaccination attributed to vaccine hesitancy decreased with increasing COVID-19 vaccine doses (76.0%, 41.0%, and 16.9% for ≥2, ≥3, and ≥4 doses, respectively). The proportion of adults who considered the social benefit of the vaccine, risk of contracting COVID-19, and information received from a medical provider increased with greater number of COVID-19 vaccine doses received. In contrast, the proportion of adults who were concerned about long-term impacts, speed of vaccine development and personal risk of getting vaccinated decreased with greater number of COVID-19 vaccine doses received. Understanding the PAF estimates from the acute phase of the pandemic serves as an important comparison for post-pandemic vaccination estimates, and is needed for messaging as COVID-19 cases, hospitalizations, and deaths resurge in the fall of 2024.
From algorithms to awards: exploring the technological and legal boundaries of AI’s contributions to the work of arbitrators
Authors: Stefer Dominik , Fricke Victoria
Published: January 2025

In this article, we describe how arbitrators can use artificial intelligence (AI) during commercial arbitration proceedings today. In particular, we analyse whether tribunals can make use of AI for the purposes of selecting the presiding arbitrator, assisting with case management, analysing written evidence, managing oral hearings, and facilitating the tribunal’s deliberations, as well as for making settlement proposals, for legal decision-making and for drafting the final award. For each area of use, we give examples of how AI can assist arbitrators in their tasks, describe the current legal framework and flag both technological and legal risks that come with the use of AI. We conclude by providing arbitrators with a summary that categorizes the use of AI into green, orange, and red lists.
Understanding the environmental and social risks from the international trade in ornamental plants
Authors: Hinsley Amy , Hughes Alice C , van Valkenburg Johan , Stark Tariq , van Delft Jeroen , Sutherland William , Petrovan Silviu O
Published: January 2025

The multibillion dollar ornamental plant trade benefits economies worldwide, but shifting and rapidly expanding globalized supply chains have exacerbated complex environmental, sustainability, and biosecurity risks. We review the environmental and social risks of this international trade, complementing it with analyses of illegal trade seizures and plant contaminant interception data from the Netherlands and the United Kingdom. We show global increases in ornamental plant trade, with supply expansions in East Africa and South America, and highlight risks and impacts including biodiversity loss, aquifer depletion, pollution, undermined access and benefit sharing, and food security. Despite risk mitigation efforts, the interception data showed considerable volumes of contaminants in ornamental plant shipments, but taxonomic identification was not always possible, highlighting uncertainties in assessing biosecurity risks. With high-volume and fast-moving transit of ornamental plants around the world, it is essential that production standards are improved and that data on specific risks from trade are collected and shared to allow for mitigation.
Safety and efficiency of trainees performing bilateral internal thoracic artery coronary bypass grafting using the T-graft technique
Authors: Kletzer Joseph , Fagu Albi , Eschenhagen Matthias , Micek Laurin , Siepe Matthias , Czerny Martin , Kreibich Maximilian , Berger Tim
Published: January 2025

OBJECTIVES

The aim of this study was to assess safety and efficiency of multiarterial coronary bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in T-graft technique performed by trainees.

METHODS

Patients from January 2005 to February 2023 who had undergone multiarterial coronary bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in T-graft technique were analysed. Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the primary surgeon: consultant and trainees. The primary composite outcome measure was all-cause mortality and coronary reintervention after 5 years. Safety and efficiency were assessed using cumulative sum analysis.

RESULTS

A total of 1764 patients were identified, 1114 patients (63.2%) were operated on by consultants, 650 patients (37.8%) by trainees. Mortality rates did not differ (0.8% vs 1.0%, P = 0.4). Consultants performed more distal anastomoses [3.38 (0.96) vs 3.06 (0.76); P < 0.001] and achieved more complete revascularization [n = 895 (92%)] than trainees [n = 460 (80%); P < 0.001]. In the cumulative sum analysis, safety of teaching procedures remains within the acceptable range. There was no increase in the expectation/frequency of the composite outcome measure; instead, the expected frequency decreases up to 150 operations. Duration of the operation averages decrease until the 125th operation. Performed distal anastomoses increased with the rising number of operations.

CONCLUSIONS

Our study demonstrates that training operations multiarterial coronary bypass grafting using bilateral internal thoracic arteries in T-graft technique are equally safe regardless of whether they are performed by consultants or trainees. Each trainee experiences an individual learning curve that falls within acceptable error rates and, therefore, the procedure can be safely learned directly
Effects of cheliped autotomy on female reproductive performance in the porcellanid crab Petrolisthes japonicus (De Haan, 1849) (Decapoda: Anomura: Porcellanidae) under laboratory conditions
Authors: Hamasaki Katsuyuki , Su Zhe , Dan Shigeki
Published: January 2025

Limb autotomy is a common phenomenon among decapod crustaceans, with chelipeds being the appendages most frequently lost. The loss of chelipeds can reduce mating success in males, as they play a crucial role in mate competition. Little is known, however, about the effects of cheliped autotomy on the reproductive performance of female decapods. This laboratory study investigated the number of spawns, as well as the number and body size of newly hatched larvae, in females subjected to different cheliped autotomy conditions in the porcellanid crab Petrolisthes japonicus (De Haan, 1849). Porcellanids are primarily suspension feeders that use their maxillipeds; thus, the effects of cheliped loss can be evaluated in terms of energy expenditure related solely to the regeneration of lost appendages. Females were reared throughout the breeding season under three different autotomy conditions: both chelipeds intact (control), one cheliped autotomized (OCA), and both chelipeds autotomized (BCA). Females produced eggs and molted in all the groups. The incidence of molting prior to the first spawning differed between the groups, with females in the BCA group molting rather than spawning following the autotomy treatment. Larval body size was unaffected by the autotomy condition, whereas both the number of spawns and the number of larvae were significantly reduced in the BCA group compared to the control group. These findings underscore the negative impact of cheliped autotomy on reproductive performance and demonstrate the trade-off between energy allocation for reproduction and molting (i.e., regeneration) in P. japonicus females, depending on the number of chelipeds lost.
Design of a Comprehensive Test Bench for Acoustic Logging Tool Based on FPGA
Authors: Qin Zhenyu , Lu Junqiang , Men Baiyong , Che Xiaohua
Published: January 2025

In the current stage, acoustic logging tool test benches are almost specifically designed for individual logging tools. In order to improve the universality, scalability, and inheritability of the acoustic logging tool testing bench, this paper designs a comprehensive test bench for acoustic logging tools based on Field-Programmable Gate Array (FPGA). It breaks through the traditional architecture of the acoustic logging tool testing bench and is developed based on an embedded bench, with FPGA as the control core and the business communication core. Multiple interface modules are developed, including Ethernet, Secure Digital Input and Output (SDIO) interface, and RapidIO interface. The Ethernet interface is mainly used to connect with PC software for command transmission and data uploading, the SDIO interface is mainly used for downhole data storage, and the RapidIO interface is mainly used for high-speed acoustic imaging logging. Experimental results show that the transmission speed of the comprehensive testing bench is up to 1.25 Gbps and the bit error rate as low as 10−4. The pressure testing effect is good. The results indicate that the comprehensive testing platform meets the debugging requirements of the acoustic logging tool, saves costs, and achieves high-speed and stable data transmission.
Laparoscopic surgery for synchronous double colorectal cancer with obstruction, plus small B cell lymphoma: a case report
Authors: Tian Shunhua , Wu Feng , Yang Fan , Min Guilin , Chen Hongliu
Published: January 2025

Synchronous colorectal cancer is a rare disease. It remains challenging for diagnosis and treatment. This paper reports a case of a 75-year-old Chinese male patient presenting with intestinal obstruction, alongside primary thrombocytopenia and a diagnosis of small B-cell lymphoma. Computed tomography scans revealed space-occupying lesions in both the sigmoid colon and ascending colon. The patient initially underwent a transverse colostomy procedure to alleviate the intestinal obstruction and then underwent laparoscopic radical tumor resection. The patient exhibited favorable prognosis and maintained satisfactory bowel function at the nearly 8 months’ postoperative follow-up. Multiple colonoscopies are crucial in the management of synchronous colorectal cancer, and radical surgical resection remains the sole curative option when surgical intervention is deemed tolerable. A thorough preoperative examination and evaluation are crucial for successful surgery. The selection of surgical procedures for synchronous colorectal cancer should be based on the patient’s medical condition.
Examination of Gallbladders at Military Treatment Facilities: Is Histologic Analysis Necessary?
Authors: Berman Andrew J , Schandler Gregory T , Walton Douglas B
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Gallbladder specimens from cholecystectomy procedures are a common specimen evaluated by military pathologists. These are often removed for inflammatory causes. Previous studies show that the incidence of gallbladder carcinoma (GBC) is around 3%. Incidentally identified GBC is even less common at 0.36%. Incidentally found GBCs are of little clinical consequence as most are treated by cholecystectomy alone. We hypothesize that a selective approach to histologic evaluation of gallbladders could save time for pathologists to focus on more complex cancer cases and save money for the Defense Health Agency. We propose that for patients under 50 years of age with no clinical or macroscopic concern for neoplasia, histologic evaluation may be omitted with negligible risk of missing a clinically relevant diagnosis.

Materials and Methods

This protocol was determined to be institutional review board exempt. All pathology reports from cholecystectomies from January 1, 1998, to August 11, 2023 were pulled. Key data from these reports were extracted. These data include age, gender, and if there was a clinical or macroscopic concern for neoplasia, macroscopic findings, and histologic findings. Additionally, the patient’s active duty status was pulled from Military Health Systems Genesis and the Joint Longitudinal Viewer and included for demographic data.

Results

Of 9,774 cases pulled, 2,063 of these reports underwent data extraction. In total, 63 cases were excluded, and 2,000 cases were sent to the 59th Medical Wing biostatistics department for analysis. In this dataset, there were 8 instances of malignancy, 5 of which were GBC (1 of these 5 arose from an intracholecystic papillary neoplasm), 2 of which were metastatic disease, and 1 a neuroendocrine tumor. The incidence of GBC in our dataset is 0.20%, lower than that of other studies. The sensitivity of a clinical/macroscopic concern to identify malignancy in a patient aged under 50 years is 66.67%. In the 187 cases from the active duty population, there were zero instances of dysplasia or malignancy.

Conclusions

The sensitivity of a clinical/macroscopic concern for neoplasia in a patient aged under 50 years is low, identifying only 2 of 3 malignancies in our dataset. However, the case that would have been missed under our proposed guidelines was from metastatic disease of a previously known metastatic malignancy. We consider that if a selective histologic evaluation is established, a history of malignancy should be a qualifier for evaluation regardless of any other factors. A selective approach to histologic evaluation of gallbladders could save our institution $4,716 to $5,240 annually. Additional studies, incorporating prior malignancy as a qualifier, are warranted to further evaluate the potential for harm in patients aged under 50 years and a number needed to harm should be established prior to any changes in practice.
Stellar population synthesis models with a physically varying IMF
Authors: Zonoozi Akram Hasani , Haghi Hosein , Kroupa Pavel
Published: January 2025

Interpreting galactic luminosity requires assumptions about the galaxy-wide initial mass function (gwIMF), often assumed invariant in most stellar population synthesis (SPS) models. If stars form in clusters with metallicity- and density-dependent stellar IMFs, the integrated galaxy-wide IMF (IGIMF) can be calculated, with its shape depending on the star formation rate (SFR) and metallicity. The shape of the IGIMF thus depends on the SFR and metallicity. We develop the SPS-VarIMF code which enables us for the first time to compute the spectra, luminosities, and remnant populations of galaxies in the context of the varying gwIMF with time, SFR, and an assumed metallicity. Using the SPS-VarIMF code one can calculate how the interpretation from the integrated galactic light may change if the underlying galaxy-wide IMF is assumed to be environmentally dependent instead of being invariant. In particular, we compare the time evolution of the galaxy colour and the stellar mass-to-light ratio in different bands for the IGIMF and invariant canonical gwIMF assuming constant and delayed-$\tau$ star formation histories. We show that the underlying gwIMF can be determined by examining the colours and luminosities of late-type galaxies in ultraviolet and optical bands. On the other hand, for early-type galaxies, it is difficult to distinguish which gwIMF is valid since adopting the different gwIMFs yields almost identical colours. However, their gwIMF-dependent mass-to-light ($M/L$) ratios differ by up to an order of magnitude. Massive present-day elliptical galaxies would have been $10^4$ times as bright as at present when they were forming.
Precipitation possible: turbulence-driven thermal instability with constrained entropy profiles
Authors: Wibking Benjamin D , Voit G Mark , O’Shea Brian W
Published: January 2025

Precipitation of cold gas due to thermal instability in both galaxy clusters and the circumgalactic medium may regulate active galactic nucleus feedback. We investigate thermal instability in idealized simulations of the circumgalactic medium with a parameter study of over 600 three-dimensional hydrodynamic simulations of stratified turbulence with cooling, each evolved for 10 Gyr. The entropy profiles are maintained in a steady state via an idealized ‘thermostat’ process, consistent with galaxy cluster entropy profiles. In the presence of external turbulent driving, we find cold gas precipitates, with a strong dependence whether the turbulent driving mechanism is solenoidal, compressive, or purely vertical. In the purely vertical turbulent driving regime, we find that significant cold gas may form when the cooling time to free-fall time $t_{\rm cool} / t_{\text{ff}} \lesssim 5$. Our simulations with a ratio of $t_{\rm cool} / t_{\text{ff}} \sim 10$ do not precipitate under any circumstances, perhaps because the thermostat mechanism we use maintains a significant non-zero entropy gradient.
Association between the timing of intravenous immunoglobulin treatment and severity of Kawasaki disease
Authors: Iwasa Mitsuji , Aoki Gaku , Inukai Sachiko
Published: January 2025

Objectives

The early administration of immunoglobulin in Kawasaki disease occasionally results in treatment failure. However, whether this is because severe cases are diagnosed and treated early or due to other factors remains unclear. In this study, we examined the timing of initial immunoglobulin administration and immunoglobulin resistance in cases classified by severity of illness.

Methods

This study was a single-hospital, retrospective cohort study of 608 patients who received immunoglobulin within 4 (Early-treatment group, n = 225) or between 5 and 7 days (Late-treatment group, n = 383) following treatment onset. Cases were classified into four groups: high (n = 55), moderate (n = 96), low (n = 197), and very-low (n = 260) risk, based on the Kobayashi score, modified to exclude the day of illness factor. Within each risk group, immunoglobulin resistance was compared between the early- and late-treatment groups.

Results

The early-treatment group showed greater immunoglobulin resistance than the late-treatment group. After severity classification, the cases of high-risk and moderate-risk in the early-treatment group were more immunoglobulin-resistant than those in late-treatment group, with odds ratios (95% confidence interval) of 6.7 (1.6–28) and 3.7 (1.6–8.5), respectively. There was no difference in the low-risk and very-low-risk groups.

Conclusion

Earlier illness day was a risk factor of immunoglobulin resistance in severe cases.
Variation in habitat selection by male Strix nebulosa (Great Gray Owls) across the diel cycle
Authors: Gura Katherine B , Bedrosian Bryan , Patla Susan , Chalfoun Anna D
Published: January 2025

Despite the long-standing recognition that animals partition activities, for example, across different periods of the day, understanding of how habitat selection varies according to specific temporal periods or behavioral activities remains limited for most species. For example, although much of the animal kingdom is nocturnally active, studies that characterize nocturnal behavior remain relatively rare, which precludes a thorough understanding of key habitats. We used Global Positioning System tracking and remotely-sensed environmental data to evaluate whether breeding-season habitat selection by adult male Strix nebulosa (Great Gray Owls) (n = 19) varied across diel periods (dawn, day, dusk, and night). We focused on male owls because their habitat selection remains largely unknown despite the critical role they play as food provisioners. To address knowledge gaps related to nocturnal habitat, we also evaluated finer-scale, microhabitat selection by male owls at night. Owls were more active during dusk through dawn, suggesting that owls forage during crepuscular and nighttime periods and roost during the day. Owls avoided herbaceous wetlands during the day but strongly selected them at dawn, dusk, and night, indicating time-dependent habitat selection. Moreover, owls avoided dry meadows at all times of the day, suggesting that wet rather than xeric meadows are important for foraging. Owls also selected nighttime microhabitats that facilitated foraging, such as those with the presence of primary prey and open understories. During the daytime, owls chose areas with closed canopies and increased soil moisture, which likely provided suitable roosting habitat. Owls avoided development but selected areas closer to roads, particularly containing preferred habitats. Understanding of habitat selection across activity periods, temporal windows, and other contexts can improve the conservation of critical habitat for wildlife. Our work contributes to understanding of how animals balance resources related to food provisioning versus safety, both of which are critical for individual fitness and population persistence.
Medical Doctors, Depopulation and the Plantation Economy of German New Guinea
Authors: Thomas Emma
Published: January 2025

This article examines how the colonial state of German New Guinea sought to manage Indigenous people’s reproductive labour in the decade prior to World War I amidst growing colonial anxieties about depopulation and fertility decline. As a plantation colony whose economy depended overwhelmingly on the availability of Indigenous, indentured labourers, concerns about health and medicine were thoroughly entangled with concerns about labour and the plantation economy. The colonial state sought to combat and, ideally, reverse low birth rates among Indigenous peoples through labour reforms and medical research. Examining discourses produced by administrators and medical experts working for the colonial state, this article argues that in the early twentieth century, New Guinean women assumed novel importance as objects of colonial government policy and medical-ethnographic enquiries, which worked to pathologise Indigenous women while rendering them responsible for the biosocial reproduction and economic subsidisation of the colonial labour force.
Comprehensive evaluation of the toxicological effects of commonly encountered synthetic cathinones using in silico methods
Authors: Yalçın Can Özgür , Sarıaltın Sezen Yılmaz , Raitano Giuseppa , Benfenati Emilio
Published: January 2025

Synthetic cathinones (SCs), a group of new psychoactive substances (NPS), are designer molecules with hallucinogenic and psychostimulatory effects. Although the structural similarities of SCs to amphetamines suggest that they may have similar toxicity profiles to those of amphetamine congeners, little is known about SCs from a toxicological point of view. In the present study, the toxicity profiles of commonly encountered SCs (n = 65), listed in the 2020 Report of the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC), were evaluated using in silico methods. We aimed to gain a deeper understanding of key toxicological endpoints: acute oral toxicity (LD50), mutagenicity, genotoxicity, and carcinogenicity prediction using EPA TEST (v.5.1.2 and 4.2.1), VEGA (v.1.2.3), and ProTox (v.3.0). Physicochemical and pharmacokinetic (ADME) properties were estimated using SwissADME and pkCSM. 2,3-MDMC (41) was predicted to be the most lethal SC by the VEGA KNN and the EPA TEST v.5.1.2 with an oral rat LD50 value of 105.17 and 117.77 mg/kg, respectively. 4-BEC (2) was the only molecule with a consensus score of positive prediction greater than 0.90 in both TEST mutagenicity models. 2,3-MDMC (41) and methylone (52) were predicted as carcinogenic by VEGA carcinogenicity CAESAR, ISS, IRFMN-ISSCAN-CGX, oral classification, and ProTox models. These two SCs were predicted to be active by VEGA chromosomal aberration (CORAL) and in vitro micronuclei-inducing activity (IRFMN-VERMEER) models. Our results concluded that given the prolonged exposure duration and age range, the genotoxic and carcinogenic potential of SCs should be considered, among other known toxic effects.
Quantifying liver-toxic responses from dose-dependent chemical exposures using a rat genome-scale metabolic model
Authors: Pannala Venkat R , Hari Archana , AbdulHameed Mohamed Diwan M , Balik-Meisner Michele R , Mav Deepak , Phadke Dhiral P , Scholl Elizabeth H , Shah Ruchir R , Auerbach Scott S , Wallqvist Anders
Published: January 2025

Because the liver plays a vital role in the clearance of exogenous chemical compounds, it is susceptible to chemical-induced toxicity. Animal-based testing is routinely used to assess the hepatotoxic potential of chemicals. Although large-scale high-throughput sequencing data can indicate the genes affected by chemical exposures, we need system-level approaches to interpret these changes. To this end, we developed an updated rat genome-scale metabolic model to integrate large-scale transcriptomics data and utilized a chemical structure similarity-based ToxProfiler tool to identify chemicals that bind to specific toxicity targets to understand the mechanisms of toxicity. We used high-throughput transcriptomics data from a 5-day in vivo study where rats were exposed to different non-toxic and hepatotoxic chemicals at increasing concentrations and investigated how liver metabolism was differentially altered between the non-toxic and hepatotoxic chemical exposures. Our analysis indicated that the genes identified via toxicity target analysis and those mapped to the metabolic model showed a distinct gene expression pattern, with the majority showing upregulation for hepatotoxicants compared with non-toxic chemicals. Similarly, when we mapped the metabolic genes at the pathway level, we identified several pathways in carbohydrate, amino acid, and lipid metabolism that were significantly upregulated for hepatotoxic chemicals. Furthermore, using our system-level integration of gene expression data with the rat metabolic model, we could differentiate metabolites in these pathways that were systematically elevated or suppressed due to hepatotoxic versus non-toxic chemicals. Thus, using our combined approach, we were able to identify a set of potential gene signatures that clearly differentiated liver toxic responses from non-toxic chemicals, which helped us identify potential metabolic pathways and metabolites that are systematically associated with the toxicant exposure.
Pharmacokinetics of Generic Pediatric Abacavir/Lamivudine Dispersible Tablets in Thai Young Children Living With HIV Weighing Below Twenty Kilograms
Authors: Wacharachaisurapol Noppadol , Rungsapphaiboon Athiporn , Anugulruengkitt Suvaporn , Sirikutt Pugpen , Songtaweesin Wipaporn Natalie , Tawon Yardpiroon , Phasomsap Chayapa , Tawan Monta , Na Nakorn Yossawadee , Cressey Tim R. , Puthanakit Thanyawee
Published: January 2025

We investigated the steady-state pharmacokinetics of generic abacavir (ABC)/lamivudine (3TC) dispersible tablets (DTs) in young children living with HIV aged 3 months to <7 years, weighing 6 to <20 kg. Twenty-eight Thai children were enrolled and received ABC/3TC-DT plus pediatric dolutegravir-DT once daily. ABC/3TC was administered using WHO weight band (WB) doses: 180/90 mg, 240/120 mg and 300/150 mg for children weighing 6 to <10 kg (WB 1, n = 7), 10 to <14 kg (WB2, n = 9) and 14 to <20 kg (WB3, n = 12), respectively. ABC geometric mean (GM) AUC0–24 h (CV%) was 14.2 (50.5%), 15.6 (32.6%) and 20.7 (28.3%) mg.h/L, respectively, and 3TC GM AUC0–24 h was 14.8 (44.1%), 18.2 (28.0%) and 19.9 (26.2%) mg.h/L, respectively. ABC and 3TC exposures were within target ranges across WBs. These data supported current ABC/3TC-DT WHO-weight band dosing guidance for young children in Thailand.
The Relationship Between the Positive Drain Tip Cultures and the Incidence of Surgical Site Infection After Pediatric Cardiovascular Surgery
Authors: Shimizu Akihiko , Shimoyama Shinya , Ikeda Kentaro , Oka Norihiko
Published: January 2025

Background:

Surgical site infection (SSI) is a significant complication following pediatric cardiovascular surgery. Although drain tip cultures (DTC) are sometimes used postoperatively to predict SSIs, their diagnostic value in pediatric cardiovascular surgery remains unclear. This study aimed to assess the diagnostic utility of DTC for predicting SSIs in pediatric cardiovascular surgery patients.

Methods:

This retrospective, single-center cohort study was conducted at a tertiary children’s hospital in Japan. We analyzed DTC and SSI data from pediatric patients who underwent cardiovascular surgery between December 2014 and August 2018. Demographic and clinical information was collected, and the incidence of SSIs was compared between patients with positive and negative DTC results.

Results:

A total of 555 samples from 254 patients were analyzed. DTC was positive in 70 samples (12.6%), and 27 patients (10.6%) had at least 1 positive DTC. The most frequently isolated organism was Staphylococcus epidermidis (n = 44), followed by Candida parapsilosis (n = 8), Staphylococcus lugdunensis (n = 4) and Staphylococcus aureus (n = 3). Twenty patients (7.9%) developed SSIs. The SSI rate was not significantly higher in patients with positive DTC compared with those with negative DTC (14.8% vs. 6.6%, P = 0.13). Only 2 cases showed concordance between the organisms detected in DTC and those responsible for SSIs.

Conclusions:

The study found that positive DTC was not significantly associated with SSI occurrence after pediatric cardiovascular surgery. Therefore, routine culture of drainage tube tips may not be necessary unless there are clinical signs of infection. Further research is needed to evaluate the role of DTC in specific high-risk scenarios.
High-Intensity End-of-Life Care Among Young and Middle-Aged Hispanic Adults With Cancer in Puerto Rico
Authors: Velazquez Jessica , Castañeda-Avila Maira A. , Gierbolini-Bermúdez Axel , Ramos-Fernández María R. , Ortiz-Ortiz Karen J.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Timely palliative and hospice care, along with advanced care planning, can reduce avoidable high-intensity care and improve quality of life at the end of life (EoL).

Objective:

We examined patterns of care at EoL and evaluated predictors of high-intensity care at EoL among adults aged 18–64 with cancer.

Methods:

Using data from the Puerto Rico Central Cancer Registry-Health Insurance Linkage Database, we examined 1359 patients diagnosed with cancer in 2010–2019, who died of cancer between 2017 and 2019 at 64 years and younger, and who were enrolled in Medicaid or private health insurance in last 30 days before death. We used composite measures for high-intensity and recommended EoL care using claims-based indicators in the last 30 days before death. Multivariable logistic regression was used to examine predictors associated with high-intensity EoL care.

Results:

About 70.3% of young and middle-aged Hispanic cancer patients received high-intensity EoL care, whereas only 20.6% received recommended EoL care. Patients without recommended EoL care were more likely to receive high-intensity EoL care (aOR=4.23; 95% CI=3.18–5.61). High-intensity EoL care was more likely in female patients (aOR=1.43; 95% CI=1.11–1.85) and patients with hematologic cancers (aOR=1.91; 95% CI=1.13–3.20) and less likely in patients who survived >12 months after cancer diagnosis (aOR=0.55; 95% CI=0.43–0.71).

Conclusions:

A high proportion of Hispanic adults with cancer in Puerto Rico receive high-intensity EoL care and have unmet needs at EoL. Tailored interventions can reduce high-intensity EoL care and increase recommended EoL care. Recommended EoL care can ease pain, reduce distress, honor personal preferences, and cut unnecessary medical costs.
Spatial capture-recapture reveals resource use and declining skipper numbers in Baltic Sea salmon trolling fisheries
Authors: Karlsson Konrad
Published: January 2025

Many populations of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar) native to the Baltic Sea are endangered. A significant group targeting salmon in this region is the recreational trolling fisheries. Due to frequent changes in fisheries regulations and conditions, both the conservation of the species and the fishers are impacted. This study aims to enhance our understanding of the spatial extent and population dynamics of salmon trolling boat skippers in the Baltic Sea by estimating their population size and resource utilization. The study utilizes participation lists of skippers from recreational fishing tournaments and Automatic Identification System (AIS) data to track their movements. These lists are formatted as encounter histories for spatial capture-recapture models, while AIS data are integrated as telemetry data to estimate resource selection. The results reveal a 51% decrease in the number of skippers from two time periods: years 2014-2020 and 2021-2023, with the count dropping from 5,343 individuals (95% CI: 4,622-6,178) to 2,604 individuals (95% CI: 2,273-2,983). The decline may be attributed in part to heavy regulations imposed on recreational salmon fisheries in 2022. Furthermore, the resource selection analysis indicates that these skippers target various species also outside of the Baltic Sea, such as Bluefin tuna (Thunnus thynnus) in Skagerrak, and endangered salmon stocks elsewhere, such as in Lake Vänern. The results of this study suggests that regulations and changes in the Baltic Sea salmon trolling fishery may have broader impacts on seemingly unrelated species and ecosystems.