bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Emergency care knowledge, utilization, and barriers in Northern Tanzania: A community-based survey
Authors: Shayo Frida , Zaccheus Gregory Goodluck , Sakita Francis , Hernandes Thiago Rocha , Vissoci Joao Ricardo Nickenig , Gordee Alexander , Kuchibhatla Maragatha , Kiremeji Michael , Minja Linda , Mmbaga Blandina T. , Staton Catherine A. , Keating Elizabeth M. , Joiner Anjni P.
Published: January 2025

Background

Emergency care systems are critical to improving care for time-sensitive emergency conditions. The growth and development of these systems in Sub-Saharan Africa is becoming a priority. Layperson knowledge and recognition of emergency symptoms and subsequent care-seeking behavior are key to achieving timely access to care and appropriate treatment. This study aimed to assess community knowledge of emergency conditions as well as barriers to accessing the emergency care system in Northern Tanzania.

Methods

This was a cross-sectional study of households in three districts in Kilimanjaro, Tanzania from June to September 2021. The primary outcome was an inappropriate response to any of five hypothetical emergency conditions. Secondary outcomes were the incidence of household emergencies and delay in care access for those with emergency conditions. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Associations between the outcome of interest and select household characteristics were analyzed using Fisher’s Exact tests for categorical measures and Wilcoxon rank-sum tests for continuous measures.

Results

A total of 539 households were interviewed with 2,274 participants. The majority (46.8%) were from Moshi District Council. 73.7% used cash and/or had no insurance. The mean monthly household income was 226,107.6 Tanzanian Shillings. 76 (14.1%) households reported experiencing an emergency condition in the past year and 225 (41.7%) of respondents had an inappropriate response to at least one hypothetical emergency condition. A higher proportion of those with delayed access to healthcare paid with personal cash and a lower proportion had national health insurance. A higher proportion of those with inappropriate responses to hypothetical emergency conditions lived in rural districts, were uninsured, and had a lower mean income.

Conclusion

Community-dwelling adults in Northern Tanzania have significant gaps in understanding of emergency care conditions and delayed access to care for these conditions. Distance to the healthcare facilities, cost, and lack of insurance may contribute to care delays. Increasing insurance coverage and developing emergency medical services may improve access to care.
Machine learning model to study the rugby head impact in a laboratory setting
Authors: Stitt Danyon , Kabaliuk Natalia , Spriggs Nicole , Henley Stefan , Alexander Keith , Draper Nick
Published: January 2025

The incidence of head impacts in rugby has been a growing concern for player safety. While rugby headgear shows potential to mitigate head impact intensity during laboratory simulations, evaluating its on-field effectiveness is challenging. Current rugby-specific laboratory testing methods may not represent on-field conditions. This study aimed to create a machine-learning model capable of matching head impacts recorded via wearable sensors to the nearest match in a pre-existing library of laboratory-simulated head impacts for further investigation. Separate random forest models were trained, and optimised, on a training dataset of laboratory head impact data to predict the impact location, impact surface angle, neck inclusion, and drop height of a given laboratory head impact. The models achieved hold-out test set accuracies of 0.996, 1.0, 0.998, and 0.96 for the impact location, neck inclusion, impact surface angle, and drop height respectively. When applied to a male and female youth rugby head impact dataset, most impacts were classified as being to the side or rear of the head, with very few at the front of the head. Nearly 80% were more similar to laboratory impacts that included the neck with an impact surface angled at 30 or 45° with just under 20% being aligned with impacts onto a flat impact surface, and most were classified as low drop height impacts (7.5-30cm). Further analysis of the time series kinematics and spatial brain strain resulting from impact is required to align the laboratory head impact testing with the on-field conditions.
Is executive attention affected by environmental lighting conditions?
Authors: Wessolowski Nino , Rahim Raschida Jasmin
Published: January 2025

Bright daylight has various positive influences, such as the long-term synchronization of circadian rhythms and an associated alertness that creates optimal conditions for attentional performance. However, the short-term effects of light on attention have not yet been sufficiently researched. Studies of these short-term effects on selective attention also showed partly contradictory effects. To investigate these short-term effects, 95 participants completed the Attention Network Test, under conditions of bright daylight or warm-white light. The focus of the present study was on executive attention, because this construct comes closest to the ANT short form of selective attention used. A significant enhancement of executive attention was observed under bright daylight conditions. This specifically means a short term effect of bright daylight on executive attention and thus selective attention in young adults.
NMR spectroscopy derived plasma biomarkers of inflammation in human populations: Influences of age, sex and adiposity
Authors: Lodge Samantha , Masuda Reika , Nitschke Philipp , Beilby John P. , Hui Jennie , Hunter Michael , Yeap Bu B. , Millet Oscar , Wist Julien , Nicholson Jeremy K. , Holmes Elaine
Published: January 2025

Understanding the distribution and variation in inflammatory markers is crucial for advancing our knowledge of inflammatory processes and evaluating their clinical utility in diagnosing and monitoring acute and chronic disease. 1H NMR spectroscopy of blood plasma and serum was applied to measure a composite panel of inflammatory markers based on acute phase glycoprotein signals (GlycA and GlycB) and sub-regions of the lipoprotein derived Supramolecular Phospholipid Composite signals (SPC1, SPC2 and SPC3) to establish normal ranges in two healthy, predominantly white cohorts from Australia (n = 398) and Spain (n = 80; ages 20–70 years). GlycA, GlycB, SPC1 and SPC3 were not significantly impacted by age or sex, but SPC2 (an HDL-related biomarker) was significantly higher in women across all age ranges by an average of 33.7%. A free-living Australian population cohort (n = 3945) was used to explore the relationship of BMI with the panel of inflammatory markers. The glycoprotein signals were directly associated with BMI with GlycB levels being significantly higher for women in all BMI classes. Conversely, SPC2 was found to be inversely associated with BMI and differed significantly between the sexes at each BMI category (normal weight p = 3.46x10-43, overweight p = 3.33x10-79, obese p = 2.15x10-64). SPC1 and SPC3 were markedly less affected by BMI changes. Given the significant association between SPC2 and sex, these data suggest that men and women should be modelled independently for NMR-determined inflammatory biomarkers, or that data should be corrected for sex.
Factors associated with trunk skeletal muscle thickness and echo intensity in young Japanese men and women
Authors: Kitagawa Funa , Akima Hiroshi , Ishiguro-Tanaka Noriko
Published: January 2025

The present study examined factors associated with trunk skeletal muscle thickness (MT, an index for the amount of skeletal muscle) and echo intensity (EI, an index for the content of non-contractile tissue, such as intramuscular adipose tissue) in young Japanese men and women in consideration of habitual dietary intake. Healthy men (n = 26) and women (n = 24) aged 20 to 26 were enrolled. Trunk MT and EI were evaluated using ultrasound imaging at the height of the 3rd lumbar vertebra. In addition to morphological variables, brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and blood properties (e.g., triglycerides, total cholesterol, and fasting blood glucose) were measured. Habitual dietary intake was also evaluated by a self-administered diet history questionnaire. The results obtained for young men revealed significant correlations between trunk MT/body mass1/3 and the percentages of energy from polyunsaturated fatty acids (rs = 0.476, p <0.05) and carbohydrates (rs = -0.402, p <0.05). Trunk EI significantly and positively correlated with the percentage of energy from saturated fatty acids (rs = 0.397, p <0.05). In young women, trunk EI showed a significant and positive correlation with baPWV (rs = 0.504, p <0.05). These results suggest that the effects of habitual dietary intake on trunk skeletal muscle differ between young men and women.
Effect of power training on function and body composition in older women with probable sarcopenia. A study protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Polo-Ferrero Luis , Sáez-Gutiérrez Susana , Dávila-Marcos Arturo , Barbero-Iglesias Fausto J. , Sánchez-Sánchez María C. , Puente-González Ana Silvia , Méndez-Sánchez Roberto
Published: January 2025

Background

Sarcopenia is a clinical syndrome characterized by the loss of muscle mass and strength. Hormonal changes that occur early in women may influence protein synthesis and promote muscle atrophy, leading to probable sarcopenia, defined as a loss of muscle strength without an obvious decrease in muscle mass. Various types of exercise have already proven effective in treating sarcopenia. Power training (PT), a subtype of resistance training performed at high speed, has not yet been studied in this population group.

Methods

A randomized controlled trial will be conducted with three parallel groups: a PT group, a multicomponent training (MT) group, and a no-exercise group. The inclusion criteria will be women over 65 years of age who meet the diagnostic criteria for probable sarcopenia (Hand grip test less than 16 kg and Five Times Sit to Stand Test more than 15 s) according to the European Working Group on Sarcopenia in Older People (EWGSOP2). Two assessments will be conducted at the beginning and at the end of the 32 weeks of intervention, in which variables of body composition (muscle, fat and weight) and functionality (strength and physical performance) will be collected. There will be 3 sessions of 50 minutes per week in each intervention group. The masking strategy will be double-blind. The analysis of intergroup differences will be conducted using multivariate and univariate analysis of variance (MANOVA and ANOVA), as well as pairwise comparisons (Bonferroni corrections). Changes in the degree of sarcopenia and how many women eliminate the risk of sarcopenia (no probable sarcopenia) after the different interventions will be tested.

Discussion

The study aims to investigate the impact of PT in older women at risk of sarcopenia. The expected results are that PT will significantly improve functionality and body composition compared to other forms of exercise (MT) and no physical activity. The results may represent a significant advance in understanding and addressing sarcopenia before it becomes established, providing preventive treatment and new tools whose clinical applicability has been studied.

Trial registration

The clinical trial was prospectively registered at ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05870046.
Cost-effectiveness of the SMILE intervention compared with usual care for people with severe mental illness: A randomized clinical trial
Authors: El Alili Mohamed , van Meijel Berno , van Tulder Maurits W. , Adriaanse Marcel
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Only studying effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for people with severe mental illness (SMI) is insufficient for policy making. As budgets for healthcare are limited, policy makers face the problem of allocating scarce healthcare resources. Cost-effectiveness studies are needed, but currently cost-effectiveness studies of lifestyle interventions for people with SMI delivered in ambulatory care are limited. The aim of this current study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of a lifestyle intervention for people with SMI living in the Dutch community in comparison with usual care.

Methods and findings

An economic evaluation was performed using a societal perspective alongside the Severe Mental Illness Lifestyle Evaluation (SMILE) pragmatic cluster randomized controlled trial. The SMILE lifestyle intervention is a one-year, group-based intervention delivered by trained mental healthcare workers. Costs, body weight change and quality of life were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months. Mixed models were used to estimate incremental costs and effects between the treatment group and the usual care group. Overall, the SMILE intervention resulted in lower total costs compared to the usual care group (-€719, 95% CI -7133; 3897). The effect difference between the intervention and usual care groups was -3.76 (95% CI -6.30; -1.23) kilograms for body weight and -0.037 (95% CI -0.083; 0.010) for QALYs.

Conclusions

Overall, the SMILE intervention resulted in lower total costs compared to the usual care group and was cost-effective for body weight change. However, the SMILE intervention does not seem cost-effective with regards to QALYs. More cost-effectiveness studies in other countries and other settings are needed to gain further insight into the cost-effectiveness of lifestyle interventions for people with SMI.
Age-related variations in physical activity, happiness, and psychological well-being: Evidence from Iran
Authors: VaezMousavi Mohammad , Carneiro Lara , Shams Amir , Abbasi Hamed , Dehkordi Parvaneh Shamsipour , Bayati Mahdi , Nobari Hadi
Published: January 2025

Background

Physical activity (PA) is associated with higher levels of PWB and happiness. The high prevalence of physical inactivity among the Iranian population is concerning. Moreover, according to the Happiness Report 2024, Iran is ranked 100th out of 143 countries. Thus, this research aimed to study the PWB, happiness, and PA in Iranian age groups.

Methods

The study sampled 1,050 participants, equally divided into young, middle-aged, and elderly groups, using randomized cluster sampling from urban areas across five geographic regions in Iran. The study utilized four questionnaires: a Demographic Information Questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), Ryff’s Scales of PWB (18-item form), and the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire (OHQ). Descriptive statistics were used for summarizing data, and inferential analyses included Pearson’s correlation coefficient, one-way ANOVA, the Bonferroni test, and multivariate regression, all with a significance level set at P<0.05.

Results

Middle-aged individuals had the highest PA (1015.69±730.63 MET-minutes per week) and reported the highest happiness (111.97±24.08) and PWB (63.75±11.17) levels. The elderly had the lowest levels of PA (677.78±592.50 MET-minutes per week), happiness (107.63±24.01), and PWB (60.05±10.02). Statistical tests showed significant differences in PA, happiness, and PWB between the age groups (P<0.05), with no significant difference between young and elderly in PA (P>0.05). Physical activity positively correlated with happiness and PWB, especially in the elderly. Multivariate regression revealed that PA significantly predicts happiness (F = 30.993, t = 6.96, B = 0.211) and PWB (F = 86.85, t = 9.32, B = 0.004), explaining 4.4% and 8.0% of their variances, respectively.

Conclusions

The study concludes that increasing PA enhances happiness and PWB. Practical applications include promoting PA to improve mental health and PWB. Future research should investigate the effects of specific types of PA and explore longitudinal impacts on PWB to provide a deeper understanding of these relationships.
Bifurcation analysis of an influenza A (H1N1) model with treatment and vaccination
Authors: Mohammad Kazi Mehedi , Akhi Asma Akter , Kamrujjaman Md.
Published: January 2025

This research uses numerical simulations and mathematical theories to simulate and analyze the spread of the influenza virus. The existence, uniqueness, positivity, and boundedness of the solution are established. We investigate the fundamental reproduction number guaranteeing the asymptotic stability of equilibrium points that are endemic and disease-free. We also examine the qualitative behavior of the models. Using the Lyapunov method, Routh-Hurwitz, and other criteria, we explore the local and global stability of these states and present our findings graphically. Our research assesses control policies and proposes alternatives, performing bifurcation analyses to establish prevention strategies. We investigate transcritical, Hopf, and backward bifurcations analytically and numerically to demonstrate disease transmission dynamics, which is novel to our study. Contour plots, box plots, and phase portraits highlight key characteristics for controlling epidemics. The disease’s persistence depends on its fundamental reproduction quantity. To validate our outcomes, we fit the model to clinical data from influenza cases in Mexico and Colombia (October 1, 2020, to March 31, 2023), aiming to analyze trends, identify critical factors, and forecast influenza trajectories at national levels. Additionally, we assess the efficacy of implemented control policies.
Chlorogenic acid inhibits NLRP3 inflammasome activation through Nrf2 activation in diabetic nephropathy
Authors: Bao Liping , Gong Yuhan , Xu Wenji , Dao Jun , Rao Jinjin , Yang Haihui
Published: January 2025

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the single largest cause of end-stage renal disease (ESRD). Inflammation reaction mediated by NLRP3 inflammasome and Nrf2-related oxidative stress have been considered to play a very important role in the progress of diabetic nephropathy (DN). Effective drugs for the treatment of diabetic nephropathy still need to be explored. Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a kind of polyphenol with a Nrf2 activation property widely existed in nature. The aims of this study were to evaluate the renoprotective effect of CGA and to elucidate the anti-inflammation mechanisms involved. In the present study, we established a diabetic rat model to investigate the renoprotective effect of CGA in vivo. The results show that the level of serum creatinine (Scr), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), and urinary protein excretion in diabetic rats were significantly decreased after CGA intervention. CGA administration can active the Nrf2 pathway and inhibit NLRP3 inflammasome activation. Notably, Nrf2 siRNA transfection nullified the inhibitory effects of CGA on NLRP3 inflammasome activation in vitro. To summarize, our present study provided evidence that chlorogenic acid can slow the progression of diabetic nephropathy progression, and the effect is associated with suppression of NLRP3 inflammasome activation via through modulation of the Nrf2 pathway, suggesting its therapeutic implications for diabetic nephropathy.
Using deep learning to shorten the acquisition time of brain MRI in acute ischemic stroke: Synthetic T2W images generated from b0 images
Authors: Peng Yun , Wu Chunmiao , Sun Ke , Li Zihao , Xiong Liangxia , Sun Xiaoyu , Wan Min , Gong Lianggeng
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aimed to assess the feasibility of the deep learning in generating T2 weighted (T2W) images from diffusion-weighted imaging b0 images.

Materials and methods

This retrospective study included 53 patients who underwent head magnetic resonance imaging between September 1 and September 4, 2023. Each b0 image was matched with a corresponding T2-weighted image. A total of 954 pairs of images were divided into a training set with 763 pairs and a test set with 191 pairs. The Hybrid-Fusion Network (Hi-Net) and pix2pix algorithms were employed to synthesize T2W (sT2W) images from b0 images. The quality of the sT2W images was evaluated using three quantitative indicators: Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR), Structural Similarity (SSIM), and Normalized Mean Squared Error (NMSE). Subsequently, two radiologists were required to determine the authenticity of (s)T2W images and further scored the visual quality of sT2W images in the test set using a five-point Likert scale. The overall quality score, anatomical sharpness, tissue contrast and homogeneity were used to reflect the quality of the images at the level of overall and focal parts.

Results

The indicators of pix2pix algorithm in test set were as follows: PSNR, 20.549±1.916; SSIM, 0.702±0.0864; NMSE, 0.239±0.150. The indicators of Hi-Net algorithm were as follows: PSNR, 20.646 ± 2.194; SSIM, 0.722 ± 0.0955; NMSE, 0.469 ± 0.124. Hi-Net performs better than pix2pix, so the sT2W images obtained by Hi-Net were used for radiologist assessment. The two readers accurately identified the nature of the images at rates of 69.90% and 71.20%, respectively. The synthetic images were falsely identified as real at rates of 57.6% and 57.1%, respectively. The overall quality score, sharpness, tissue contrast, and image homogeneity of the sT2Ws images ranged between 1.63 ± 0.79 and 4.45 ± 0.88. Specifically, the quality of the brain parenchyma, skull and scalp, and middle ear region was superior, while the quality of the orbit and paranasal sinus region was not good enough.

Conclusion

The Hi-Net is able to generate sT2WIs from low-resolution b0 images, with a better performance than pix2pix. It can therefore help identify incidental lesion through providing additional information, and demonstrates the potential to shorten the acquisition time of brain MRI during acute ischemic stroke imaging.
Chronotherapy with Cinacalcet has a striking effect on inhibition of parathyroid gland proliferation in rats with secondary hyperparathyroidism
Authors: Egstrand Søren , Mace Maria Lerche , Morevati Marya , Engelholm Lars Henning , Thomsen Jesper Skovhus , Brüel Annemarie , Olgaard Klaus , Lewin Ewa
Published: January 2025

Secondary hyperparathyroidism (sHPT) is a significant clinical complication of CKD leading to bone abnormalities and cardiovascular disease. Current treatment based on activating the parathyroid calcium-sensing receptor (CaSR) using calcimimetics such as Cinacalcet, aims to decrease plasma PTH levels and inhibit the progression of parathyroid hyperplasia. In the present study, we found significant diurnal rhythmicity of Casr, encoding the Cinacalcet drug target in hyperplastic parathyroid glands (p = 0.006). In rats with sHPT, Cinacalcet treatment timed prior to the acrophase of Casr expression (chronotherapy: Cina1) was compared with the usual timing of treatment early in the active phase (conventional: Cina2). Without Cinacalcet treatment, induction of sHPT resulted in a significant increase in parathyroid proliferation in terms of Ki-67+ cells compared to that of control rats (p = 0.001). Conventional Cinacalcet treatment (Cina2) did not significantly reduce Ki-67 index compared to untreated rats with sHPT (p = 0.09). In contrast, chronotherapy treatment (Cina1) resulted in a marked inhibition of parathyroid proliferation by Ki-67+ cells compared to untreated rats with sHPT (p = 0.0001). We found significantly reduced parathyroid Ki-67 index using chronotherapy compared to conventional timing of Cinacalcet (Cina1 vs. Cina2: 0.92±0.14% vs. 2.46±0.37%, p = 0.006). Transcriptomic analysis showed that the reduced proliferation of Cina1 was associated with downregulation of genes involved in mitotic activity, together with an increased adaptive response of energy metabolism, as evident from upregulated pathways of Oxidative phosphorylation and TCA cycle compared to the untreated uremic group. Conclusively, it is shown that the inhibitory effect of Cinacalcet on parathyroid cell proliferation is markedly impacted by the timing of administration, suggesting a possible benefit of using chronotherapy in Cinacalcet treatment of sHPT.
Insufficient LGBTQ+ education across disciplines suggested by national survey of health professionals in training
Authors: Wille Lexie , Jewell Tess , Wolfe Atticus , Peterson Emily , Shaughnessy Aileen , Roblee Cole , Strader Alex
Published: January 2025

Health professionals often feel underprepared to treat patients who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and/or queer (LGBTQ+). Additionally, lack of access to professionals who are knowledgeable about LGBTQ+ inclusive care contributes to the myriad of health disparities experienced by LGBTQ+ communities. This cross-sectional survey study explores the preparedness of healthcare profession trainees for caring for LGBTQ+ patients by quantifying the hours and quality of training health profession trainees receive in LGBTQ+ education across disciplines. We surveyed US-based health professionals in training (HPiT) across disciplines (N = 155) on their training programs’ LGBTQ+-specific curricula and educational opportunities. Ordered logistic regression analysis assessed the relationship between the number of hours of LGBTQ+-specific education and other discipline, organization, and individual factors. Respondents reported an average of 4.75 (SD = 3.04) hours devoted to LGBTQ+-specific education. Physician assistant trainees reported receiving the highest number of hours of LGBTQ+-specific education (M = 6.63, SD = 1.98), followed by psychology (M = 5.30, SD = 3.54), medical (M = 5.12, SD = 3.38), nursing (M = 4.17, SD = 3.28), and trainees in other health fields (M = 3.88, SD = 2.47). Across all disciplines, trainees rated their LGBTQ+-specific education on average as “good”. Despite rising awareness, the quantity and quality of dedicated LGBTQ+-specific education remains concerningly low across all measured disciplines and US regions. Future research must investigate strategies to overcome common barriers to increasing LGBTQ+ education in health professions training by maximizing the impact of limited hours through integrating LGBTQ+ content into existing materials, supporting trainee leadership, and implementing institutional support for educators teaching LGBTQ+ content. Regulatory bodies must reconsider the current guidance for LGBTQ+ education quantity and quality to advise institutions on best-practice guidelines to prepare trainees for LGBTQ+ patient care.
A retrospective comparative study of the clinical and radiological outcomes of intertrochanteric fractures treated with proximal femoral nail antirotation (PFN-A) and INTERTAN nail
Authors: Varmış Hasan Orkun , Gökmen Mehmet Yiğit , Tan İsmet
Published: January 2025

Background

This study aimed to analyze the files of patients treated using PFN-A or INTERTAN intramedullary nails to reveal additional superiorities or disadvantageous factors for selecting the better intramedullary fixation method in patients presenting with intertrochanteric femur fractures.

Methods

In this retrospective study, the files of the patients who were operated on for intertrochanteric femur fractures using intramedullary fixation methods between September 2010 and June 2015 in the Orthopedics and Traumatology Clinic, Çukurova University Faculty of Medicine, were reviewed. The data including age, gender, chronic diseases, causes of fractures, fracture classification based on Arbeitsgemeinschaft für Osteosynthesefragen (AO), the nail type (long or short), the interval between trauma and surgery, duration of anesthesia and surgery, hospitalization duration, amount of blood transfusion, the Tip-Apex Distance (TAD) in postoperative radiographs, functional outcomes according to Harris Hip Score (HHS) and Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), postoperative complications, need for revision, and mortality was noted.

The data of the follow-up visits included physical examination findings in addition to the radiological assessment findings obtained using X-ray imaging involving the evaluation of the union in terms of the presence of infection, loss of reduction, implant failure, avascular necrosis, additional signs related to poor union formation, and the position data of the lag screw placement point according to Cleveland and Bosworth Quadrants.

Results

The records showed that 194 files were available for analysis. The mean age of the patients included in the study was 70.9±16.4 years; 100 patients (51.5%) were male, and 94 (48.5%) were female. There were 76 patients (39%) in the PFN-A group and 118 patients (61%) in the INTERTAN group. Analysis of the mean Harris Hip Scores in both nail groups showed that only the mean scores at the 1st follow-up were statistically significantly different (P = 0.025).

Conclusion

In conclusion, comparing the two nail types in terms of complication rates and clinical data, neither nail has proven superior to the other. Moreover, the temporary difference in the first follow-up HHS scores should not be considered an indicator of the overall functional outcome because long-term follow-up HHS scores did not differ.
Agent-based simulation of trust networks and opportunistic behaviours of hydraulic infrastructure project participants
Authors: Lv Jiaqi , Wang Xiang , Chen Yaoyao
Published: January 2025

Opportunistic behaviour has become a research hotspot in hydraulic infrastructure project management owing to its serious damage to the cooperation efficiency of all participants in a project. The trust networks formed by each participant can restrain opportunistic behaviour, but due to the dynamic evolution of the networks, its research should adopt a dynamic paradigm. The structure and evolution of trust networks can be simulated using computer simulations and modelling. This study explores the influence mechanism of the structural characteristics of trust networks on the diffusion of opportunistic behaviour. The results show that trust network density has a positive effect on inhibiting the implementation tendency of opportunistic behaviour. However, the centralisation of trust networks has a negative correlation with the degree of inhibition of opportunistic behaviour.
Unveiling endothelial cell border heterogeneity: VE-cadherin adherens junction stratification by deep convolutional neural networks
Authors: Postma Rudmer J. , Fischer Susan E. , Bijkerk Roel , van Zonneveld Anton Jan
Published: January 2025

Background

Systemic diseases are often associated with endothelial cell (EC) dysfunction. A key function of ECs is to maintain the barrier between the blood and the interstitial space. The integrity of the endothelial cell barrier is maintained by VE-Cadherin homophilic interactions between adjacent cells. The morphology of these borders is highly dynamic and can be actively remodeled by numerous drivers in a (patho)physiologic context specific fashion.

Objectives

High-content screening of the impact of circulatory factors on the morphology of VE-Cadherin borders in endothelial monolayers in vitro will enable the assessment of the progression of systemic vascular disease. We therefore aimed to create an image analysis pipeline, capable of automatically analyzing images from large scale screenings, both capturing all VE-cadherin phenotypes present in a sample while preserving the higher-level 2D structure. Our pipeline is aimed at creating 1D tensor representations of the VE-cadherin adherence junction structure and negate the need for normalization.

Method

An image analysis pipeline, with at the center a convolution neural network was developed. The deep neural network was trained using examples of distinct VE-Cadherin morphologies from many experiments. The generalizability of the model was extensively tested in independent experiments, before further validation using ECs exposed ex vivo to plasma from patients with liver cirrhosis and proven vascular complications.

Results

Our workflow was able to detect and stratify many of the different VE-Cadherin morphologies present within the datasets and produced similar results within independent experiments, proving the generality of the model. Finally, by EC-cell border morphology profiling, our pipeline enabled the stratification of liver cirrhosis patients and associated patient-specific morphological cell border changes to responses elicited by known inflammatory factors.

Conclusion

We developed an image analysis pipeline, capable of intuitively and robustly stratifying all VE-Cadherin morphologies within a sample. Subsequent VE-Cadherin morphological profiles can be used to compare between stimuli, small molecule screenings, or assess disease progression.
Data transmission delay compensation algorithm for interactive communication network of offshore oil field operation scene in bad weather
Authors: Xiang Jing , Du Xin
Published: January 2025

A data transmission delay compensation algorithm for an interactive communication network of an offshore oil field operation scene in severe weather is proposed. To solve the problem of unstable microwave signals and a large amount of noise in the communication network caused by bad weather, the communication network signal denoising method based on Lagrange multiplier symplectic singular value mode decomposition is adopted, and the communication network data denoising process is realized through five steps; phase space reconstruction, symplectic geometric similarity transformation, grouping, diagonal averaging, and adaptive reconstruction. Simultaneously, the weak communication signal is compensated after being captured, that is, the characteristics of the weak signal are enhanced. On this basis, the communication network signals are collected to obtain delay information, and the data transmission delay of the communication network is predicted using the neural network algorithm based on long-term and short-term memory; Based on the prediction result of transmission delay, the PID controller is used to calculate the transmission delay compensation amount of the communication network, and the calculation result of the compensation amount is input into the delay compensator to realize transmission delay compensation. The experimental results show that the algorithm can effectively improve the quality of data transmission in the communication network and has a good delay compensation effect to ensure real-time communication.
ESG rating disagreement and bank loan availability: Evidence from China
Authors: Qin Jidong , Wang Meijia
Published: January 2025

Environmental, social, and governance (ESG) ratings are receiving increasing attention in credit markets. However, ESG rating disagreement erects obstacles for companies in obtaining capital resources. This study investigates the impact of ESG rating disagreement on bank loan availability uses data of Chinese listed firms from 2014 to 2022, and employs models with multiple regression analyses and fixed effects. We find that greater ESG rating disagreement leads to a decrease in newly obtained bank loans. The mechanism analysis confirms that ESG rating disagreement amplifies information asymmetry and increases operational uncertainty, thereby raising the information and credit risks faced by banks, leading to a decrease in bank loan availability. Heterogeneity analysis reveals that the negative effect of ESG rating disagreement on bank loan availability is more pronounced in firms with poor financing capabilities, poor information environments, and fierce competitive macro environments. Our findings contribute to the literature on ESG rating disagreement from credit markets, which are important for a more comprehensive and objective understanding of ESG rating disagreement.
(Re)Inventing the Past: The Metamorphosis of a Palace (Qasr) in Modern Tehran
Authors: Soltani Zohreh
Published: January 2025

In this article, I examine the monumentalization of the Pahlavi regime’s sites of political imprisonment and torture in contemporary Tehran, with a focus on the Qasr Garden Museum. The Qasr (palace) edifice was initially constructed as a summer palace under Qajar rule in 1790. The abandoned Qajar palace was then transformed into a prison by the Pahlavi state in 1929, and ironically named the Qasr Prison (Palace Prison). The latest metamorphosis of the old palace occurred in 2012, when the ruined Prison was opened as a museum under the Islamic Republic of Iran. This article addresses the various re-inventions of this historical site by the Pahlavis and the Islamic Republic, and aims to evaluate its role as a trans-functional monumental space and a cultural instrument for both states. The monumental site in this sense is produced through the re-invention of the past, first as a modern disciplinary and then as a cultural instrument.
The Umayyad Mosque of Damascus: Art, Faith and Empire in Early Islam, Alain George, Edited by Melanie Gibson (2020)
Authors: Williams Joseph C.
Published: January 2025

Review of: The Umayyad Mosque of Damascus: Art, Faith and Empire in Early Islam, Alain George, Edited by Melanie Gibson (2020)

London: Gingko, 264 pp., 150 colour illus.,

ISBN: 9781909942455, $85 (hardback)
Architecture as Freedom, District Architecture Center, Washington, DC, October 18, 2023–January 9, 2024
Authors: Morris Sarah Rogers
Published: January 2025

Review of: Architecture as Freedom, District Architecture Center, Washington, DC, October 18, 2023–January 9, 2024
Identification and Elimination of Waste Activities in The Gray Yarn Processing Company
Authors: Arifa Dhinar Elma , Widodo Imam Djati , Fausa Erlangga
Published: January 2025

This study aims to identify the types of waste and recommend improvements to minimize waste that occurs in the gray yarn processing company. Value Stream Mapping (VSM) is used to analyze the flow of materials and information throughout the production process. The main objective is to identify and eliminate waste, thereby improving efficiency and productivity in manufacturing operations. The biggest types of waste in the grey yarn processing production process of the preparation department are Unnecessary motion and Overprocessing waste types at 30% each, Unnecessary Inventory at 20%, and transportation at 20%. The recommendations given can reduce the overall leadtime from 58967 seconds to 58771 seconds.
Halal Tourism Preferences: The Role of Brand Awareness, Attitudes, and Social Norms Among Muslim and Non-Muslim Travelers
Authors: Setyaningsih Ira , Kurniatanty Isma , Ovianti Dita , Intan Maharani Novia
Published: January 2025

This research focuses on the influence of brand awareness, attitudes, and social norms on the intentions of Muslim and non-Muslim tourists to visit Lombok as a Halal tourism destination. Lombok has been designated by the Indonesian government as a center for Islamic tourism, providing a complementary option to Bali’s Hindu cultural tourism. The study utilized the Theory of Planned Behavior and gathered data via an online survey involving 123 participants, 56 non-Muslims and 67 Muslims. The results indicated that Halal brand awareness and social norms did not significantly impact non-Muslim tourists' intentions to visit Lombok. At the same time, brand awareness also did not affect Muslim tourists. Attitudes were identified as the main factor influencing their willingness to visit. Interestingly, the R-squared values differed notably between the two groups, with the variables accounting for 58.1% of non-Muslim tourists' decisions but only 39.9% for Muslim tourists. This research offers new insights into Halal tourism from both Muslim and non-Muslim perspectives.
Free Cash, Mergers, and Capital Spillage
Authors: Medlen Craig
Published: January 2025

Craig Medlen draws on decades of data to reveal how the creeping stagnation of the past half-century has led to the increasing consolidation of corporate monopoly power and concentration of firms by way of mergers and, importantly, the free cash that funds them. This stunning rise in free cash, fueled in part by government deficits, starkly reveals how the ruling class continues to enrich themselves and strengthen their position on the top of the economic heap.
An Ecological Civilization Will Have to Be Socialist
Authors: Angus Ian , Antunes Claudia
Published: January 2025

In this interview with Claudia Antunes of Brazilian magazine Sumaúma, Ian Angus takes stock of our current planetary crisis, from its origins in Marx's ecological thought and the present debate over its designation to the future of human civilization as we know it. "The key question is," he concludes, "Are we going to see large number of people moving for change?"
The Delusions of Liberal Democracy
Authors: Sajjad Akhtar Aasim
Published: January 2025

Against a backdrop of political turmoil and a popular uprising, Aasim Sajjad Akhtar examines how the contradictions of liberal democracy have played out in Pakistan. Exploring the dynamic between the U.S.-backed, militarized Pakistani political elite and the rise of reactionary politician Imran Khan, Akhtar shows how Khan has employed empty anti-imperialist rhetoric to mobilize a discontented populace—and how this could be counteracted with a genuine anti-imperialist movement.
Role of nano fertilizers on improving drought tolerance of maize
Authors: Vaishnavi Sonam , Perumal Kathirvelan , Manivannan V , Djanaguiraman M , Thiyageshwari S
Published: January 2025

Maize is a versatile crop that is primarily used as human food and animal feed. It is also a fundamental raw material utilized in various industrial products owing to its nutritional value. One of the most harmful abiotic stresses in maize cultivation is drought. A water shortage caused by drought limits crop development and yield because there is less available moisture. Water shortage stress causes restricted stomatal opening, enhanced photorespiration and accelerated photoreduction of oxygen in the chloroplast. Eventually, this causes oxidative damage in maize owing to ROS accumulation. Plants respond to drought stress by producing the phytohormone abscisic acid, closing their stomata, changing gene expression and preserving their osmotic balance. Nano micro fertilizers are a phenomenal tool for drought tolerance when combined with deficit soil moisture in maize. When it is paired with deficit soil moisture, nano micro fertilizers are an incredible weapon for drought tolerance under changing climatic conditions. It aids in keeping maize's green characteristics. The greater advantages of using nano micro fertilizers in maize are retention of chlorophyll, regulation of stomatal openings, the activities of antioxidant enzymes, the proliferation of roots and higher grain filling, which resulted in higher productivity. The development of stay-green character and drought resistance in maize is positively influenced by nano micro fertilizer with suitable form and dose. Under drought conditions, nanomicronutrients play a critical role in controlling physiological processes, reducing oxidative stress and preserving cellular homeostasis. Additionally, every micronutrient acts differently and produces a different physiological response related to drought tolerance.
Smallholder farmer’s preferences for sustained participation in high-value markets for black pepper in Kerala, India
Authors: Smija P K , Neetha Rose C D , Stephen R , Sreekala G S , Gopinath P P , Chadar Y
Published: January 2025

The sustainability concerns of the developed world together with increased tourism activities and migration have stimulated the growth and expansion of domestic and international High Value Markets (HVMs) of black pepper. This study is an attempt to identify the transactional attributes and farmer capabilities that influence the smallholder farmers’ willingness to participate in black pepper HVMs and to examine the novel vertical integration mechanisms that connect them to HVMs. The study is based on primary data from randomly selected 198 smallholder farmers from eight prominent black pepper growing Agro-ecological Units (AEUs) in Kerala. The factors influencing the smallholder farmers’ willingness to participate in black pepper HVMs were analysed in logistic regression framework. The trend analysis revealed the growth in black pepper cultivation area as well as export at national level, while a stagnation trend in area was observed at state level. A negative trend was observed in production as well as productivity at national and state levels. The results shows that 32.83 per cent of smallholder farmers were willing to participate in black pepper HVMs. The farmer capabilities such as number of international linkages and digital literacy and transactional attributes such as asset specificity and number of verticals integrated were found to be significantly influencing smallholder farmers’ willingness to participate in HVMs. The study suggest that change agents may implement interventions to enhance the existing co-ordination mechanisms by exploiting the possibilities of digitisation and digital transformation. Also, efficient measures are required to protect farmers’ rights on the asset specific resources and to mitigate unfavourable agroecological transformations that hinder the production of site-specific assets that ensures sustainable value chain for black pepper high value products.
A review of the roles importance and threats of Apis florea
Authors: Premika R , Suresh K , Usharani B , Asokan R , Nalini R , Arul P A
Published: January 2025

Apis florea and its closely related sister species, Apis andreniformis, within the subgenus Micrapis, represent one of the most evolutionarily primitive lineages in the genus Apis. Unique features of A. florea include the elongated "thumb" on the drones' bifurcated basitarsus, smooth abdominal tergites with reddish pigmentation, and behaviours such as wax salvage, prolonged foraging, aggressive territoriality, and high genetic diversity attributed to its polygamous queens. A. florea nests are typically more giant and are often located on exposed surfaces such as trees, walls, and buildings, with preferred nesting plants including Pongamia pinnata, Mangifera indica, and Bougainvillea species. While A. florea can accept queens of A. andreniformis. A. florea dominates in various horticultural settings due to its resilience and significant role in pollinating crops like bitter gourd, carrot, moringa, coriander, and phalsa. The queen chamber of A. florea measures 1.41 ± 0.15 cm in depth and 0.47 ± 0.09 cm in diameter, while the worker bee cells measure 0.29 ± 0.15 cm in diameter and 0.93 ± 0.07 cm in depth. The dimensions of A. florea hives are generally larger. The bees gathered pollen and nectar from the same sources or in successive foraging visits from all the plant species except Spathodea campanulate. In India, domestication trials for A. florea have been attempted, though with limited yield, as honey is valued more for its medicinal properties than quantity. A. florea honey, rich in dextrins, levulose, and antioxidants such as proline and phenols, demonstrates high therapeutic potential. Due to the critical role of A. florea in natural and horticultural ecosystems and its distinct ecological adaptations, further research is encouraged to explore this species' impact in greater depth. Despite their phylogenetic similarity, A. florea stands out due to specific morphological and behavioural characteristics, which have not received substantial scientific attention. This review aims to consolidate information on A. florea, detailing its morphology, nesting habits, and ecological contributions, particularly in pollination and horticultural systems.