bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Training of English prosody with acoustically modified voices
Authors: Skarnitzl Radek , Bořil Tomáš
Published: February 2025

Prosodic aspects of speech are crucial for the comprehensibility of L2 speakers, but prosody is rarely targeted in
English language lessons. This paper describes an innovative training of English phrasal prosody using participants’ own speech as
models in a modified listen-and-repeat paradigm, with their melodic and rhythmic patterns manipulated by means of PSOLA. The
two-hour training was delivered individually to twelve intermediate native speakers of Czech. The comparison of a baseline
recording of a read text before the training and two texts read six weeks after the training shows that using one’s own
PSOLA-modified voice for prosody training is beneficial: the participants were perceived as sounding significantly more competent
in the after-training recordings, their phrasing corresponded more to text-based predictions, and their melodic variability was
significantly greater. The contribution of targeted prosody modifications in the teaching of L2 pronunciation are discussed.
Engineering flux-controlled flat bands and topological states in a Stagome lattice
Authors: Pal Biplab , Bouzerar Georges
Published: February 2025

We present the Stagome lattice, a variant of the Kagome lattice, where one can make any of the bands completely flat by tuning an externally controllable magnetic flux. This systematically allows the energy of the flat band to coincide with the Fermi level. We have analytically calculated the compact localized states associated to each of these flat bands appearing at different values of the magnetic flux. We also show that, this model features nontrivial topological properties with distinct integer values of the Chern numbers as a function of the magnetic flux. We argue that this mechanism for making any of the bands exactly flat could be of interest to address the flat-band superconductivity in such a system. Additionally, we show that our results are robust even in the presence of a small amount of disorder. Furthermore, we believe that the phenomenon of photonic flat band localization could be studied in the Stagome lattice structure, designed for instance using femtosecond laser induced single-mode waveguide arrays.
Evaluation of the direction-dependent mechanical properties of ideal single crystal metals: a comparative ab initio study
Authors: ElHalawani Jaylan A , Youssef Mostafa
Published: February 2025

The anisotropy of crystal structures mandates the direction dependence of materials’ mechanical properties. Key properties of interest are the Young’s modulus and Poisson ratio in the small strain limit, and the ideal tensile strength in the large strain regime. To date, atomistic computations of these properties have been conducted using two approaches. The first approach explicitly calculates the stress–strain response using computational tensile test experiments. The second approach computes the single crystal elastic constants then derives the mechanical properties using analytical equations. The two approaches have been used interchangeably and their equivalence not assessed. This work systematically computes the mechanical properties of 13 BCC and 12 face centered cubic (FCC) metals via the two approaches using first principles density functional theory calculations and hypothesize the robustness of the first approach. Analysis of the results has revealed the shortcomings of the elastic constants method in detecting instabilities in the structures captured by the first principles computational tensile test approach. Large discrepancies in calculations of Young’s moduli using the latter approach are herein reported, as well as auxetic repossess and large Poisson ratio for some metals. Beyond the small strain results, we systematically examined the lateral strain response up to 0.5 applied strain in 3 crystallographic directions and reported large changes in slopes and peculiarities around the Bain transformation strain. From the computational stress–strain results, we validated empirical equations in the literature relating the ideal strength to the direction-dependent Young’s modulus and the Bain strain along [001] in BCC and [110] in FCC but also presented further relations for other crystallographic directions. In conclusion, we believe that the elastic constants approach, while computationally efficient, has to be used with caution and should be validated against the computational tensile tests. In addition, we highlight the importance of examining different crystallographic directions with possibly desirable properties.
Diverse approaches to modeling ambient temperature in Newton’s law of cooling, supported by temperature sensors
Authors: Moreira Pablo E , Azcué Rodrigo , Salinas Sanchez Jesus , Ortega Othón
Published: February 2025

Our primary objective was to assess the significance of unconventional ambient temperature models in validating Newton’s law of cooling. To accomplish this, we employed temperature sensors and selected different time spans for the duration of our experiments. The findings of this study will offer valuable insights into the applicability of Newton’s law in scenarios characterized by fluctuating environmental conditions. This research aims to broaden the range of applications for the law and enhance the accuracy of temperature predictions.
Full radius integrated modelling of ohmic ramp-up at TCV including self consistent density prediction
Authors: Marin M. , Camenen Y. , Bourdelle C. , Casson F.J. , Coosemans R. , Garzotti L. , Maget P. , Manas P. , Najlaoui A. , Sauter O. ,   the TCV Team
Published: February 2025

The ramp-up is a critical phase in the operations of a Tokamak, during which engineering and physics aspects must be taken into account to ensure stability, minimize flux consumption and avoid disruptions. Predicting ramp-up phases faces challenges such as nonlinearity, uncertainty on boundary and initial conditions and changes in the magnetic equilibrium. Our work uses the High-Fidelity Pulse Simulator (HFPS), a Python workflow based on JINTRAC. The input and output are in machine and code generic IMAS data format. The HFPS predicts the evolution of the current, temperature, main ion density and impurity density up to the separatrix. The self-consistent prediction of the density during the ramp-up represents the main element of novelty in this work. To this end, a closed feedback loop is set to match experimental line averaged density. QuaLiKiz (Citrin et al 2017 Plasma Phys. Control. Fusion
59 124005), TGLF (Staebler et al 2016 Phys. Plasmas
23 062518) and FRANTIC (Tamor 1981 J. Comput. Phys.
40 104119) are used to calculate turbulent fluxes and the source of neutrals respectively. QuaLiKiz and TGLF predict a transition from Trapped Electron Mode early in the discharge to Ion Temperature Gradient dominated turbulence. The results are compared to higher fidelity simulations with GKW, which show qualitative agreement. Good general agreement is reached between integrated modelling and experimental data, quantified by proposed measures of agreement. A large set of sensitivities to modelling choices and initial and boundary conditions is performed on four different discharges, to assess the robustness of the approach.
Current progress of in vitro vascular models on microfluidic chips
Authors: Wang Ran , Zhang Hangyu , Li Shijun , Yan Peishi , Shao Shuai , Liu Bo , Li Na
Published: February 2025

The vascular tissue, as an integral component of the human circulatory system, plays a crucial role in retaining normal physiological functions within the body. Pathologies associated with the vasculature, whether direct or indirect, also constitute significant public health concerns that afflict humanity, leading to the wide studies on vascular physiology and pathophysiology. Given the precious nature of human derived vascular tissue, substantial efforts have been dedicated to the construction of vascular models. Due to the high cost associated with animal experimentation and the inability to directly translate results to human, there is an increasing emphasis on the use of primary human cells for the development of in vitro vascular models. For instance, obtaining an ApoE-/- mouse model for atherosclerosis research typically requires feeding a high-fat diet for over 10 weeks, whereas in vitro vascular models can usually be formed within 2 weeks. With advancements in microfluidic technology, in vitro vascular models capable of precisely emulating the hemodynamic environment within human vessels are becoming increasingly sophisticated. Microfluidic vascular models are primarily constructed through two approaches: (1) directly constructing the vascular models based on the three-layer structure of the vascular wall; (2) co-culture of endothelial cells and supporting cells within hydrogels. The former is effective to replicate vascular tissue structure mimicking vascular wall, while the latter has the capacity to establish microvascular networks. This review predominantly presents and discusses recent advancements in template design, construction methods, and potential applications of microfluidic vascular models based on polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) soft lithography. Additionally, some refined methodologies addressing the limitations of conventional PDMS-based soft lithography techniques are also elaborated, which might hold profound importance in the field of vascular tissue engineering on microfluidic chips.
A novel heuristic technique implemented with FOPI controller for dynamic power management in hybrid energy storage systems
Authors: Kumar Amitesh , Kumar Rahul
Published: February 2025

This paper introduces a power management strategy (PMS) for photovoltaic (PV) and hybrid electrical energy storage (HEES) systems, combining batteries and supercapacitors (SCs). The proposed strategy employs a fractional-order proportional-integral (FOPI) controller, optimised using a novel African Vultures Optimization Algorithm (AVOA), Hybrid Particle Swarm Optimization-Grey Wolf Optimizer (HPSO-GWO), and Grey Wolf Optimizer (GWO). The controller optimised with the new AVOA and HPSO-GWO features shows more effective and improved robustness than conventional algorithms. These findings demonstrate the performance of the PMS and the advantages of AVOA and HPSO-GWO-based tuning strategies for HEES system control. The system’s robustness and efficiency were validated through simulations under various solar irradiance, resistive load conditions, fixed temperature, and pulsed loads in real-time, demonstrating improved transient response and extended battery life. The optimised PMS effectively balances energy distribution, reduces battery stress, and enhances system stability, proving superior to traditional methods in dynamic and complex environments. Furthermore, the effectiveness of the suggested strategy is demonstrated by the decrease in settling time, even with fluctuations in resistive load, fixed temperature, pulsed load, and irradiation.
Utility in Forensic Practice
Authors: Sellbom Martin
Published: February 2025

The main purpose of this chapter is to elaborate on the forensic utility of ICD-11 personality disorder (PD). In particular, the chapter discusses implications of ICD-11 PD in terms of general utility as well as addressing specific psychological questions, and makes the point that the assessment of response bias is critical in these contexts. ICD-11 PD will likely not be critical in most jurisdictions for the insanity defense, though severe PD could become important in some contexts. ICD-11 PD will likely have greater implications for sentencing evaluations and various forms of risk assessment, particularly as the latter often consider PD. In noncriminal litigation, such as personal injury and family court evaluations, ICD-11 PD could be helpful in clinical formulations to understand the person’s underlying pathology and behavioral manifestations. More generally, ICD-11 PD is likely better suited for forensic formulations compared to their traditional counterparts, but direct scientific evaluation is necessary.
Pūrākau as Philosophy
Authors: Watene Krushil
Published: February 2025

Interest in Indigenous philosophies within the academic discipline of philosophy has been on the rise. For quite some time longer, albeit outside of and largely without the support of the academic discipline of philosophy, Indigenous scholars, activists, and communities have been working to revitalize, reclaim, and regenerate their philosophies. This chapter explores the role of pūrākau (stories and storytelling) for Māori philosophy. The chapter contends that pūrākau are repositories of accumulated knowledge that not only contain Māori philosophy but also enable its critical engagement and cultivation. Practices of storytelling are, then, vital to the creation and transformation of Māori concepts and ideas, and vital to understanding Māori practices of philosophical inquiry. In laying this out, this chapter details some of the ways in which Māori and other Indigenous methods reimagine philosophy—not least in ways that include the needs and aspirations of the communities in which these philosophies are experienced and lived.
Ubuntu and Social Justice
Authors: Molefe Motsamai
Published: February 2025

This chapter considers the question of social justice or a good society in light of Ubuntu ethics. It considers the question of social justice in the context of the extant and continued global economic and environmental inequalities. The chapter construes Ubuntu ethics as a secular, dignity, and virtue-based moral perspective. Given the historical injustices associated with colonialism and apartheid in South Africa, the chapter reflects on what Ubuntu would recommend as a remedy to ensure dignified and flourishing lives in postcolonial and democratic South Africa. The chapter also considers what Ubuntu would recommend to resolve the environmental challenges facing our communities and the world. The chapter will argue that a good society creates suitable conditions for human flourishing by providing for citizens’ basic needs.
Buen Vivir and Extractivism
Authors: Valverde Facundo García
Published: February 2025

This chapter is devoted to showing how the intensive use of extractive practices in the Global South not only reinforces but also creates new patterns of inequality. It will be shown that Buen Vivir, a framework of biocentric conceptions that advocates decommodified relations with Nature, can have an empowering potential for Indigenous communities that have been deeply harmed by extractivism. This potential is based on two important contributions. First, it is capable of a relational (and not only a distributive) assessment of the inequalities caused by extractivism, taking into account ecological, epistemic, and political effects. Second, since it offers a viable interpretation of Indigenous resistance to colonialism and neo-liberalism, it can empower Indigenous people, first, by contextually justifying their claims about the disproportionate impact that extractive practices have on their fundamental interests and, second, by proposing an alternative to a linear conception of development.
The Metaphysical Is Political
Authors: Khader Serene
Published: February 2025

This chapter argues (a) that decolonizing philosophy would require departicularizing historically excluded practitioners and traditions and (b) that reading this volume as offering insights about how social ontology shapes normative political philosophy can contribute to this project. Contributors to this volume introduce social entities that Western political philosophy neglects, such as nature and internal minorities who are victims of historical injustice, and it also thematizes relations among entities, such as relations among generations and states. Their carving of the social space provides occasion to reflect on the way that the outputs of political philosophy have been biased by the discipline’s parochial assumptions about social ontology. The chapter also examines departicularization of ‘other’ traditions through a reflection on Audre Lorde’s work. Departicularization involves refusing to read ‘other’ traditions as offering only insights specific to their situations, and also devoting epistemic resources to questions that historically excluded practitioners and traditions themselves prioritize.
The Revival of Classical Theatres as Lieux de Mémoire
Authors: Balaskas Vasileios
Published: February 2025

The first chapter identifies the revival of classical drama in Europe as a product of the idea of the nation-state in the late nineteenth century. It provides a brief critical discussion on how Graeco-Roman antiquity became an integral part of European modernity and prompted the emergence of the discipline of archaeology. The discussion engages with the social context of the first productions of classical drama at Graeco-Roman venues and the relationship between tourism and antiquity. It argues that this relationship was fundamental to the formation of the idea of national heritage.
Theatrical Revival as Socio-political Statement in the Inter-war Period
Authors: Balaskas Vasileios
Published: February 2025

Chapter 2 shifts focus to the local perception of ancient drama performances. It looks at landmark productions that operated as sociopolitical enterprises during the inter-war period. It is suggested that local community participation in these productions shaped the dynamics of the cultural reception of inter-war performance, as they reflect distinctive dimensions of the clash between community-led and institutional archaeology, which dominated the national discourse on authenticity and identity. This chapter also highlights the political nature of these events and traces the sustained links that were forged among European intellectuals who were involved with performances of ancient drama. It is argued that the Delphic Festivals, the National Theatre of Greece, and the Festival of Merida created a powerful ideological identification with classical theatre in the model of the Festival of Syracuse.
Saturation and the Reinvention of Classical Drama Festivals
Authors: Balaskas Vasileios
Published: February 2025

Chapter 5 examines the renovation that the festivals of classical drama implemented when public enthusiasm for classical repertoire began to decline in the 1960s. This final phase analyses the artistic response to the stereotyped performances that leading companies put on in the 1950s and early 1960s. Under discussion are the emergence of new companies and the shift towards music and alternative repertoire. This chapter considers the roles and meanings of classical theatre during the dictatorial regimes in Greece and Spain in the 1960s and 1970s by discussing their authoritarian intervention in the production of classical drama. This chapter concludes with the end of these dictatorships in Greece and Spain in the mid-1970s, which marked the beginning of a more democratic, reluctantly pluralist, and decentralized perception of classical theatre.
Trajectory Inference with Cell–Cell Interactions (TICCI): intercellular communication improves the accuracy of trajectory inference methods
Authors: Fu Yifeng , Qu Hong , Qu Dacheng , Zhao Min
Published: February 2025

Motivation

Understanding cell differentiation and development dynamics is key for single-cell transcriptome analysis. Current cell differentiation trajectory inference algorithms face challenges such as high dimensionality, noise, and a need for users to possess certain biological information about the datasets to effectively utilize the algorithms. Here, we introduce Trajectory Inference with Cell–Cell Interaction (TICCI), a novel way to address these challenges by integrating intercellular communication information. In recognizing crucial intercellular communication during development, TICCI proposes Cell–Cell Interactions (CCI) at single-cell resolution. We posit that cells exhibiting higher gene expression similarity patterns are more likely to exchange information via biomolecular mediators.

Results

TICCI is initiated by constructing a cell-neighborhood matrix using edge weights composed of intercellular similarity and CCI information. Louvain partitioning identifies trajectory branches, attenuating noise, while single-cell entropy (scEntropy) is used to assess differentiation status. The Chu–Liu algorithm constructs a directed least-square model to identify trajectory branches, and an improved diffusion fitted time algorithm computes cell-fitted time in nonconnected topologies. TICCI validation on single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets confirms the accuracy of cell trajectories, aligning with genealogical branching and gene markers. Verification using extrinsic information labels demonstrates CCI information utility in enhancing accurate trajectory inference. A comparative analysis establishes TICCI proficiency in accurate temporal ordering.

Availability and implementation

Source code and binaries freely available for download at https://github.com/mine41/TICCI, implemented in R (version 4.32) and Python (version 3.7.16) and supported on MS Windows. Authors ensure that the software is available for a full two years following publication.
ParaSurf: a surface-based deep learning approach for paratope–antigen interaction prediction
Authors: Papadopoulos Angelos-Michael , Axenopoulos Apostolos , Iatrou Anastasia , Stamatopoulos Kostas , Alvarez Federico , Daras Petros
Published: February 2025

Motivation

Identifying antibody binding sites, is crucial for developing vaccines and therapeutic antibodies, processes that are time-consuming and costly. Accurate prediction of the paratope’s binding site can speed up the development by improving our understanding of antibody–antigen interactions.

Results

We present ParaSurf, a deep learning model that significantly enhances paratope prediction by incorporating both surface geometric and non-geometric factors. Trained and tested on three prominent antibody–antigen benchmarks, ParaSurf achieves state-of-the-art results across nearly all metrics. Unlike models restricted to the variable region, ParaSurf demonstrates the ability to accurately predict binding scores across the entire Fab region of the antibody. Additionally, we conducted an extensive analysis using the largest of the three datasets employed, focusing on three key components: (i) a detailed evaluation of paratope prediction for each complementarity-determining region loop, (ii) the performance of models trained exclusively on the heavy chain, and (iii) the results of training models solely on the light chain without incorporating data from the heavy chain.

Availability and implementation

Source code for ParaSurf, along with the datasets used, preprocessing pipeline, and trained model weights, are freely available at https://github.com/aggelos-michael-papadopoulos/ParaSurf.
Dental microwear of extant Lutrinae
Authors: Beatty Brian Lee , Bao Alvin
Published: February 2025

Few living mammals are as exemplary of a semiaquatic lifestyle as otters, exhibiting a diverse array of ways that an animal can use water and land resources similar to the way other clades, such as cetaceans or pinnipeds, may have used their habitats during the transition from terrestrial to aquatic life. Otters (subfamily Lutrinae of the Mustelidae) are known to differ greatly in their diets between species and even within individuals depending on seasons, often differing largely in proportions of fishes versus crabs and echinoderms. Such diets including or excluding hard objects like these should result in differences in tooth wear, including dental microwear. In this study, 46 specimens of eight species of extant otters were sampled for dental microwear with the aim of developing an understanding of how their dental microwear reflects these dietary differences. Dental microwear surfaces were obtained using an optical scanner, resulting in the collection of 13 scale-sensitive fractal analysis parameters, as well as 61 ISO-25718-2 areal roughness parameters for each tooth. Among these, the greatest numbers of significant variables were found between dietary categories, particularly when Pteroneura brasiliensis and Hydrictis macullicolis were classified as durophages. When compared independently as species, Enhydra lutris is found to have the greatest numbers of variables significantly different from other species.
Expanding the historical baseline: using pre-modern archives to inform conservation from ecological and human perspectives
Authors: Turvey Samuel T , McClune Kate
Published: February 2025

Conservation practitioners are increasingly aware of historical biodiversity change and the importance of environmental archives, which include both specimen-based and document-based materials spanning a range of resolutions and contexts. The incorporation of written records into conservation planning typically involves documents with a biological focus from the modern and early modern periods (sixteenth century onward, and mainly the nineteenth and twentieth centuries). Extensive older pre-modern document-based archives are not traditionally used as conservation evidence. However, this data type can provide unique insights into past human–environment interactions, including biotic states and change, cultural interactions with nature, and human dimensions of social–ecological systems that involved rural communities closely dependent on biodiversity. Multicentury archives can also track the long-term consequences of human activities. Incorporation of pre-modern baselines into conservation is hindered by conceptual and logistical barriers, and increased interdisciplinary collaboration between environmental sciences and the humanities is needed to promote awareness and use of conservation-relevant insights.
Decolonizing social work education: Examples and reflections on inclusionary and exclusionary processes
Authors: Das Chaitali , Paschalidou Anastasia
Published: February 2025

This article considers issues of coloniality in social work education in Germany. As Quijano (2000) and Mignolo (2009) have identified, even though we are largely in a post-colonial context, ideas of coloniality are deeply embedded in everyday structures, institutions, and practices throughout the globe. Coloniality ensures that particular structures of power remain stable. We examine these power structures in the context of social work education in our university in Germany to exemplify and highlight some of the issues of power and inequalities that exist in the German context. We examine two social work programs at our university and use two examples to illustrate the inclusionary and exclusionary systems in place that maintain coloniality. The first example highlights how innovative educational programs and processes often end up excluding or limiting access for students from ‘non-traditional’ backgrounds. The second example highlights how the calls for widening participation in existing programs fail to open possibilities for ‘non-traditional’ students. We argue that addressing coloniality embedded in capitalistic, neo-liberal systems requires deconstructing ‘normality’ in systems, thereby identifying and disrupting paradoxes that limit widening participation and inclusion.
Right atrial thrombus in a neonate with Aspergillus colonization secondary to central venous catheter: a case report
Authors: El-Shirbiny Hassan , Ramadan Mohamed , Gomaa Mahmoud
Published: February 2025

Background

Central venous catheter-related thrombosis (CRT) is a recognized complication, particularly in patients with underlying hypercoagulable states. This condition can precipitate several complications, including secondary infections, necessitating immediate and effective diagnosis and management.

Case summary

In this report, we present a case of a 13-day-old neonate admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit with severe respiratory distress, necessitating the insertion of a central venous catheter for optimal nutrition and treatment. Persistent fever and worsening general condition prompted further investigations, including echocardiography, which revealed a sizeable right atrial mass. Surgical removal of the mass was performed, and subsequent analysis identified thrombosis complicated by Aspergillus colonization. Postoperative management included anticoagulation and antifungal therapy, which were continued for 3 weeks until the patient’s condition improved, leading to discharge.

Discussion

This case highlights the importance of accurate differential diagnosis of cardiac masses, early recognition and management of CRT in neonates, and the need for timely treatment of opportunistic infections like invasive Aspergillosis for optimal outcomes.
Mapping Uncharted Territory in Later Life Disablement Trajectories: A Closer Look at Progressive Disease
Authors: Johnson Samantha , Lampe Nik M , H. Nowakowski Alexandra C
Published: February 2025

Aging research has conceptualized disablement via two primary frameworks. Paradigms of successful aging frame substantial disablement in aging as universally abnormal. These models have often been challenged as narrow and ableist, leaving out common experiences among people with chronic conditions. By contrast, steady decline paradigms frame substantial disablement in aging as universally normal. These models have invited challenges due to ageism inherent in automatically conflating older age and disability. Both frameworks juxtapose monolithic and rigid ideas of normalcy—and thus limit our understanding of dynamic possibilities in later life health and functioning. Given that people with progressive conditions often experience wide variability in daily status and inconsistency in long-term outcomes, current later-life disablement models may overlook such experiences. We thus propose additional nuance in later-life disablement modeling that brings innovative stochastic frameworks of daily health and functioning to longitudinal trajectory concepts. Using an “aging with progressive disease perspective,” we outline gaps and opportunities in the current landscape of later-life disablement modeling. We then engage our standpoints from lived experience with progressive conditions to recommend new directions in conceptualizing relationships between aging and disability. Including such conditions in later-life disablement models can improve health care and supportive services for affected individuals.
Sudden cardiac death, arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy and intercalated disc pathology due to reduced filamin C protein levels: a matter of life and death
Authors: Holtzhausen Christian , Heil Lorena , Klingel Karin , Fox Henrik , Gummert Jan , Gärtner Anna , Schmidt Andreas , Krüger Marcus , Kirfel Gregor , van der Ven Peter F M , Milting Hendrik , Clemen Christoph S , Schröder Rolf , Fürst Dieter O , Tiesmeier Jens
Published: February 2025

Mutations in the human FLNC gene encoding filamin C (FLNc) cause a broad spectrum of sporadic and familial cardiomyopathies and myopathies. We report on the genetic, clinical, morphological and biochemical findings in a German family harboring an FLNC variant that leads to severe cardiac disease comprising sudden cardiac death and arrhythmogenic cardiomyopathy. Genetic analysis identified a novel heterozygous FLNC variant in exon 16 (NM_001458.4:c.2495_2498delAGTA, het; p.K832TfsX45) in i) the index patient suffering from dilated cardiomyopathy necessitating heart transplantation, ii) a son, who died from sudden cardiac death, iii) a second son, who survived an episode of sudden cardiac arrest and iv) a third son affected by isolated skeletal muscle myopathy. FLNc protein levels were markedly reduced in cardiac tissue obtained from the index patient, implying that the p.K832TfsX45 FLNc variant most probably caused nonsense-mediated decay of the corresponding mRNA. Morphological analysis of the diseased cardiac tissue revealed extensive fibrotic remodeling, and marked degenerative changes of the contractile apparatus of cardiomyocytes and severe structural alterations of intercalated discs. Connexin-43 signal intensity at intercalated discs was diminished and FLNc labelling of myofibrils was attenuated or even absent. Proteome analyses demonstrated complex alterations of extracellular matrix and intercalated disc proteins. Our findings demonstrate that this novel, truncating FLNC mutation likely leads to haploinsufficiency, thereby causing a deleterious sequence of degenerative changes of cardiac tissue with extensive fibrotic remodeling and intercalated disc pathology as the structural basis for FLNC-related cardiomyopathy with life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias.
Almost Finiteness and Groups of Dynamical Origin
Authors: Naryshkin Petr , Petrakos Spyridon
Published: February 2025

We introduce the property of having good subgroups for actions of countable discrete groups on compact metrizable spaces and show that it implies comparison when the acting group is amenable. As a consequence, free actions on finite-dimensional spaces of many notable amenable groups of dynamical origin are almost finite. For instance, this applies to topological full groups of Cantor minimal systems and the Basilica group. In particular, minimal such actions give rise to classifiable crossed products.
Amino acid substitutions in PBP3 in Haemophilus influenzae strains, their phenotypic detection and impact on resistance to β-lactams
Authors: Jakubu Vladislav , Cechova Marketa , Musilek Martin , Malisova Lucia , Zapletalova Barbora , Zemlickova Helena
Published: February 2025

Background

Data from surveillance on antibiotic resistance have shown an increasing prevalence of non-enzymatic resistance (β-lactamase-negative ampicillin-resistant) to β-lactam antibiotics among H. influenzae strains in the Czech Republic. Aminopenicillins are recommended agents for non-invasive Haemophilus influenzae infections. The phenomenon of non-enzymatic resistance to β-lactams is complicated by the fact that the phenotypic detection of PBP3 with specific amino acid substitutions (rPBP3) is challenging, since rPBP3 isolates have repeatedly been demonstrated to be split by the epidemiological cut-off values (ECOFF) for aminopenicillins defined by EUCAST.

Objectives

We sought to determine whether the penicillin disc has sufficient detection ability to predict the non-enzymatic mechanism; whether other antibiotics can be used for detection; and what is the agreement between the broth microdilution and disc diffusion methods.

Methods

We undertook susceptibility testing of selected antibiotics according to EUCAST of 153 rPBP3 strains, and sequencing of the ftsI gene to determination amino acid substitutions.

Results

For a selected set of rPBP strains: (i) the detection capability for penicillin, ampicillin, cefuroxime and amoxicillin/clavulanate was found to be 91.5%, 94.4%, 89.5% and 70.6%, respectively; (ii) the categorical agreement between the disc diffusion method and the MIC for ampicillin and cefuroxime was 71.1% and 83.8%, respectively.

Conclusions

We observed better recognition of rPBP3 strains by the ampicillin disc than by the penicillin disc. There is frequently a discrepancy in the interpretation of susceptibility results between the methods used.
Comparison of lung disorders following intratracheal instillation of polystyrene microplastics with different surface functional groups
Authors: Tomonaga Taisuke , Higashi Hidenori , Izumi Hiroto , Nishida Chinatsu , Sato Kazuma , Nakamura Yuiko , Morimoto Toshiki , Higashi Yasuyuki , Kojima Takuma , Sakurai Kazuo , Yatera Kazuhiro , Morimoto Yasuo
Published: February 2025

Objectives: Microplastics have been detected in the atmosphere, raising concerns about their impact on the lungs. There have been reports on the effects of surface functional groups in evaluating the physicochemical properties of microplastics, but no reports have evaluated their chronic effects. We performed intratracheal installation in rats to evaluate the acute and chronic effects of microplastics with different surface functional groups on the lungs.

Methods: Unmodified, NH2-modified, and COOH-modified polystyrene particles with a particle size of 1 μm were intratracheally instilled into the lungs of rats. Rats were dissected at 3 days, 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after exposure to analyze inflammatory cells and lung injury factors in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) and to observe histopathological findings in the lungs.

Results: A significant increase in the number of inflammatory cells in BALF was observed up to 1 week after exposure to the NH2-based modified polystyrene compared to the negative control group. A significant increase was observed 3 days after exposure, and histopathological findings in the lungs also showed an influx of inflammatory cells into the alveolar space in the acute phase, but not in the chronic phase. In in vitro studies using RAW cell lines, NH2-based modified polystyrene also induced the highest oxidative stress compared to unmodified and COOH-based modified polystyrene. Conclusions: These results suggest that these polystyrenes do not have high pulmonary toxicity, although there are differences in toxicity due to differences in surface functional groups only in the acute phase.
Workplace loneliness and job turnover: A 6-month prospective study
Authors: Sasaki Natsu , Tsuno Kanami , Kuroda Reiko , Imamura Kotaro , Eguchi Hisashi , Shimazu Akihito , Kawakami Norito
Published: February 2025

Objectives: This longitudinal study examined the associations of workplace loneliness with job turnover at 6-month follow-up among Japanese full-time employees.

Methods: This study employed a 6-month prospective design as part of the Employee Cohort Study in Japan (E-COCO-J). Data from wave 15 (February 2024; baseline, T1) and wave 16 (August 2024; follow-up, T2) were used. Only participants who were employed at baseline and completed the follow-up survey were included in the analysis. Workplace loneliness at T1 was measured using three scales: the Loneliness at Work Scale (LAWS), a single-item workplace loneliness scale, and a 3-item scale developed by modifying the short UCLA Loneliness Scale for workplace loneliness. Job turnover at T2 was defined based on responses indicating either leaving a job or moving to a different company within the preceding six months. Multivariable logistic regression analysis assessed the association between workplace loneliness and job turnover, adjusting for sociodemographic variables.

Results: In total, 706 employees who were employed at baseline were included in the analysis. Turnover at follow-up was observed n=47 (6.7%). Participants who experienced turnover had significantly higher baseline scores for LAWS and the 3-item scale (p=0.044 and p=0.012, respectively). In the multivariable logistic regression, all three workplace loneliness scales demonstrated similar and significant associations with turnover at follow-up.

Conclusion: Workplace loneliness leads to job turnover. Further research is needed to address the generalization and explore mechanisms of the present findings.
Validation of Amharic versions of medication adherence tools among outpatients with cardiovascular diseases: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Tegegn Henok Getachew , Wark Stuart , Tursan d'Espaignet Édouard , Spark M Joy
Published: February 2025

Objectives

This study aims to validate the Amharic version of the Adherence to Refills and Medication Scale (ARMS-Am) and Morisky Green Levine Scale (MGLS-Am) and compare their psychometric properties among outpatients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) in Ethiopia.

Methods

Outpatients with CVD attending an Ethiopian general hospital were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) on split samples, internal consistency (IC), convergent validity, known group validity (KGV), and clinical validity using area under the curve (AUC curve) based on blood pressure (BP) control were evaluated.

Key findings

There were 613 participants with a mean age of 57.6 ± 14.1; 56.6% were female. A stepwise-EFA and first-order CFA yielded a 9-item ARMS with a 3-factor solution (explaining 50% of total variance). Second-order CFA confirmed ARMS-9Am is unidimensional (overall IC, α = 0.74). There was a strong correlation (ρ = 0.74) between ARMS-9Am and MGLS-Am scores. Pill count had moderate correlation with ARMS-9Am (ρ = −0.42) and MGLS-Am (ρ = −0.32). Both tools had good KGV for discriminating between groups based on control of BP, lipids, and heart failure symptoms. Based on BP control MGLS-Am (AUC = 0.74) had lower discriminatory power than ARMS-9Am (AUC = 0.81). ARMS-9Am had good clinical validity with 87.8% specificity and 70.4% sensitivity for a score of less than 10.

Conclusion

ARMS-9Am with a cut-off point of < 10 for adherence is a valid tool for measuring medication adherence for people living with CVD and had more robust psychometric properties than MGLS-Am.
Effects of Endotracheal Weight-Based Epinephrine on Pharmacokinetics and Survival in Swine With a Cardiac Arrest
Authors: Johnson Don , Blouin Dawn , Brocklehurst Karen , O’Sullivan Joseph
Published: February 2025

Background

The aims of this study were to compare concentration maximum (Cmax), time to Cmax, area under the curve, mean concentration over 4 minutes, and frequency and time to return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) by group.

Methods

This was a prospective, experimental study using swine. In total, 40 pigs (n = 8 per group) were assigned as follows: 0.1 mg/kg endotracheal (ET) tube, 1 mg intravenous (IV), 2 mg ET, Cardio Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR) + defibrillation (CPR + defib), and CPR-Only. Pigs were placed in arrest for 2 minutes, CPR was then initiated for 2 minutes, and epinephrine was then administered and repeated every 4 minutes or until ROSC. Blood samples were collected over 4 minutes. Defibrillation was initiated at 3 minutes and continued every 2 minutes for 30 minutes or until ROSC. CPR + defib and CPR-Only Groups served as controls. The CPR + defib Group had defibrillations but did not receive epinephrine. The CPR-Only Group did not receive defibrillations or epinephrine.

Results and Conclusions

The Cmax and area under the curve were significantly higher in the IV Group compared to the 0.1 mg/kg ET Group (P < .05). The time to Cmax was significantly longer in the 0.1 mg/kg Group than the 1 mg IV Group (P = .03). The mean concentration of the 1 mg IV Group was higher than the 0.1 mg/kg ET Group until 180 and 240 seconds. There was no significant difference between the groups relative to time to ROSC (P > .05). Return of spontaneous circulation frequencies were: 0.1 mg/kg ET Group (7 of 8); 1 mg IV Group (5 of 8); and 2 mg ET Group (1 of 8), and both CPR + defib and CPR-Only (0 out of 8). This study challenges the current guidelines relative to ET epinephrine administration. Based on our ROSC data, the 0.1 mg/kg dose of epinephrine by ET should be used as a first-line intervention.
paraCell: a novel software tool for the interactive analysis and visualization of standard and dual host–parasite single-cell RNA-seq data
Authors: Agboraw Edward , Haese-Hill William , Hentzschel Franziska , Briggs Emma , Aghabi Dana , Heawood Anna , Harding Clare R , Shiels Brian , Crouch Kathryn , Somma Domenico , Otto Thomas D
Published: February 2025

Advances in sequencing technology have led to a dramatic increase in the number of single-cell transcriptomic datasets. In the field of parasitology, these datasets typically describe the gene expression patterns of a given parasite species at the single-cell level under experimental conditions, in specific hosts or tissues, or at different life cycle stages. However, while this wealth of available data represents a significant resource, analysing these datasets often requires expert computational skills, preventing a considerable proportion of the parasitology community from meaningfully integrating existing single-cell data into their work. Here, we present paraCell, a novel software tool that allows the user to visualize and analyse pre-loaded single-cell data without requiring any programming ability. The source code is free to allow remote installation. On our web server, we demonstrated how to visualize and re-analyse published Plasmodium and Trypanosoma datasets. We have also generated Toxoplasma–mouse and Theileria–cow scRNA-seq datasets to highlight the functionality of paraCell for pathogen–host interaction. The analysis of the data highlights the impact of the host interferon-γ response and gene expression profiles associated with disease susceptibility by these intracellular parasites, respectively.
Molecular subtypes of adamantinomatous craniopharyngiomas
Authors: An Wenhao , Li Shouwei , An Yihua , Lin Zhixiong
Published: February 2025

Adamantinomatous craniopharyngioma (ACP) is the most common benign tumor in the sellar region of children and originates from embryonic remnants. Owing to its unique location and frequent tight adhesion to and invasion of surrounding structures, the ACP poses significant challenges for neurosurgical treatment. Traditionally, the core treatment for ACPs has been surgical resection supplemented with radiotherapy in cases of residual or recurrent tumors. As a result, ACP classification has been based primarily on the tumor's relationship with surrounding anatomical and histological structures, guiding the selection of surgical approaches and the prevention of complications. Moreover, efforts to explore pharmacological treatments for ACP have yielded varying results across different cases, creating confusion among researchers. This variability also suggests the possibility of different molecular subtypes within ACPs, despite being driven by a single gene mutation. With advancements in molecular biological studies, such as ACP RNA sequencing, whole-exome sequencing, and methylation analysis, along with the discovery of interactions between different molecular pathways within ACP, researchers have been continuously exploring the molecular subtyping of ACP and predicting the efficacy of targeted therapies on the basis of these subtypes. This review focuses on summarizing and synthesizing the molecular mechanisms and potential subtypes of ACP, aiming to provide theoretical support for future research on the molecular subtyping of ACP.