bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Building resilience against cholera: lessons from the implementation of integrated community strategy for cholera control in Zambia
Authors: Mwale Moses , Chipimo Peter Jay , Kalubula Precious , Hibusu Ladislas , Mulima Stella Mumba Chomba , Kapema Kafusha , Mwangilwa Kelvin , Mbewe Nyuma , Kapaya Fred
Published: January 2025

Cholera has remained a persistent public health challenge in Zambia since the country’s first reported outbreak in 1977. The recent outbreak, which began in October 2023 and is ongoing as of June 2024, is the most severe in Zambia’s history and part of the larger 2022–2024 Southern Africa cholera outbreak, which has affected multiple countries in the region. This article describes the implementation of the integrated community strategy for cholera control (ICSCC) in three districts of the Copperbelt Province during this outbreak. The ICSCC is a comprehensive, community-centric public health approach that integrates surveillance, case management, water, sanitation and hygiene interventions, community engagement and infection prevention measures. The strategy’s implementation involved deploying multidisciplinary technical teams, training community-based volunteers and healthcare workers in the affected communities. This approach led to a rapid reduction in cholera cases and mortality, largely due to enhanced surveillance, community education sessions and improved sanitation practices. The ICSCC also improved stakeholder coordination and enabled rapid communication for early response to cholera hotspots. Key lessons learnt include the importance of robust coordination, early community involvement and context-specific adaptations. The strategy’s emphasis on data-driven decision-making and adaptation to local socio-cultural dynamics was crucial for its effectiveness. These findings underscore the potential of integrated community-based approaches in managing cholera outbreaks, enhancing public health preparedness and building long-term resilience. The ICSCC strategy offers a scalable model for regions facing similar public health challenges, providing valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners on the effectiveness of community involvement in managing public health crises.
Association between nutritional status, daily nutrition delivery and clinical outcomes of critically ill adult patients admitted to the intensive care unit: a protocol for Isfahan multicentre prospective observational cohort ICU study (the Isfahan-ICU study)
Authors: Shokri-Mashhadi Nafiseh , Schlesinger Sabrina , Feizi Awat , Rajaii Somayeh , Nasiri Jounaghani Milad
Published: January 2025

Introduction

There is currently limited information regarding the association between the modified Nutrition Risk in Critically Ill (mNUTRIC) score, nutrition delivery and clinical outcomes in critically ill patients admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) section.

Methods and analysis

The Isfahan-ICU study is a multicentre, prospective observational cohort study that will be conducted on critically ill adults treated in the trauma or medical ICU sections of six hospitals to investigate whether clinical outcomes, including length of ICU stay and 30-day survival, vary by the mNUTRIC score at admission or the 7-day nutrition delivery. This paper outlines the Isfahan-ICU study protocol approved by the ethics committee of Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Iran. Patient confidentiality is ensured, and study results will be shared at conferences and in medical papers.

Ethics and dissemination

This study protocol was reviewed and approved by the ethics committee of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1401.184). The patient’s identity will be considered confidential and will not be revealed or published under any circumstances; all provisions of laws governing personal data protection will be observed. Patient data recorded in the electronic survey will be documented pseudonymously using de-identified patient ID codes, and authorised staff at each participating site will have access to only their identifiable data. Results from the study will be disseminated at national and international conferences and in medical papers.

Trial registration number

Ethics committee of the Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran (IR.MUI.RESEARCH.REC.1401.184).
Improving access to pulmonary rehabilitation for patients with COPD treated for substance misuse in the London Borough of Islington
Authors: Narasimhan Divya , Simpson Jane , Stewart Duncan
Published: January 2025

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a collection of conditions that cause permanent damage to the lungs. Among a range of treatment options, patients can benefit from pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) programmes involving physical exercises and education.

The risk of developing COPD is higher for substance misusers than the general population. Substance misusers with COPD have more severe symptoms and poorer health outcomes than other COPD patients, and experience inequalities in accessing PR services.

This project aimed to work with a local substance misuse service to increase the referrals of patients with COPD with a history of drug and/or alcohol problems to a PR programme in the London Borough of Islington. Quality improvement methods were used to explore barriers to accessing PR and to identify ways of making referral to PR easier. A series of change ideas were implemented and tested sequentially through plan–do–study–act, including updating referral systems, educating staff and improving access to diagnosis.

The primary objective was to achieve 100 eligible referrals during the 14-month project period. In practice, a total of 57 patients were referred to the programme. Sustained engagement with patients was challenging, with significant attrition observed from referral to programme completion. However, there was indicative evidence of clinical improvements in dyspnoea and exercise capacity among PR completers and qualitative feedback of improved health and well-being.

Although referrals numbers were less than expected, we have established an innovative respiratory care pathway for substance misusers, founded on a holistic approach to diagnosis and treatment. There are also clear pointers as to how this approach can be sustained and developed further to maximise the benefits for this cohort of patients.
Twelve barriers to COPD diagnosis in France: a comparative qualitative study
Authors: Roucoux Guillaume , Scanferla Elisabetta , Delorme Mathieu , Fraticelli Laurie , Kiakouama Maleka Lize , Nocent-Ejnaini Cécilia , Ozier Annaig , Patout Maxime , Le Rouzic Olivier , Zysman Maéva
Published: January 2025

Background

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a common treatable disease often diagnosed in patients with risk factors after a prolonged period with suggestive symptoms. Our qualitative study aimed to identify barriers to establishing diagnosis in the natural history of this condition.

Methods

An inductive thematic analysis was performed on structured interviews with patients, general practitioners (GPs) and pulmonologists in France. Inclusion depended on criteria to generate two purposive samples (patients and physicians). Recruitment occurred online. Data collection proceeded until 15 patients and 15 physicians (eight pulmonologists, seven GPs) were interviewed. Data saturation was checked and achieved. The interviews were transcribed and coded in NVivo and triangulated between two researchers. The article respects the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative research guidelines.

Results

Three phases in the patients’ clinical pathway to diagnosis and 12 barriers were found: Phase 1 (symptoms before consultation; n=4), lack of COPD knowledge, symptom denial, fear of lung cancer, and delayed general practice consultations; Phase 2 (primary care; n=3), letting bronchitis become chronic, priority to diseases with similar symptoms and/or more serious diseases, lack of COPD screening devices, time and curative treatments; Phase 3 (specialised medicine; n=5), treatment before diagnosis, late referral to pulmonologists, difficulty in accessing specialists and examination results, patient’s reluctance to undergo further examinations, and need for additional tests to confirm a diagnosis.

Conclusion

People unaware of their COPD condition can encounter up to 12 barriers, which may combine before obtaining a formal diagnosis. Patients, GPs, pulmonologists and the state health authorities share responsibility for addressing these barriers and enhancing the care pathway.
New motivation for injury prevention in the face of dramatic demographic changes in China
Authors: Ye Wanbao , Yu Shuxian , Yang Zhaojing , Li Liping
Published: January 2025

Our manuscript reviewed the enormous number of deaths caused by different types of injuries in China and around the world and proposed a new motivation for injury prevention to address sharp demographic changes and promote constant economic growth when China faces ageing, fewer children and industrial upgrading.
Hierarchical relationship of nonlocal correlations in Schwarzschild-de Sitter spacetime
Authors: Yao Huimin , Zhang Li , Wen Cuihong , Wang Jieci
Published: January 2025

We investigate the hierarchy of nonlocal correlations for Dirac fields in the Schwarzschild de Sitter (SdS) spacetime. We find that the hierarchical relationship between the nonlocal advantage of quantum coherence (NAQC) and Bell nonlocality remains in the multi-event horizon curved spacetime. It is demonstrated that the NAQC and Bell nonlocality provide a more rigorous characterization of physically inaccessible quantum properties than coherence, as classical information cannot be transmitted across the thermally opaque membrane. Furthermore, when considering an effective equilibrium temperature, an enhancement in quantum nonlocality with increasing temperature is observed, which challenges the conventional understanding that the Hawking effect solely diminishes quantum nonlocality. This study contributes to integrating quantum resource theory within the context of multi-event horizon black holes.
Publicly Available, Transparent, and Explicit: An Analysis of Academic Publishing Policy and Procedure Documents
Authors: Stevens Hannah L.
Published: January 2025

This article forwards a document analysis of the University Press of Colorado's publicly available academic and scholarly publishing policies and procedure materials. This analysis utilizes the online heuristic "Anti-Racist Scholarly Reviewing Practices: A Heuristic for Editors, Reviewers, and Authors," (ARRH) and a framework developed by the author that works to pinpoint places within publishing policy and process documents that may allow for discriminatory and oppressive practice. To conclude, this article forwards tangible changes to academic publishing process documents to ensure that inclusion remains an important consideration in the drafting of publishing policy and guideline documents.
Developing Asynchronous Workshop Models for Professional Development
Authors: Tetu Imari Cheyne , Kelly Shannon , Fu Jun , Kirby Caitlin K. , Schopieray Scott , Thomas Stephen
Published: January 2025

Asynchronous workshops have potential as a flexible and accessible tool for instructor professional development. Translating synchronous workshops into asynchronous versions represents an opportunity to expand access to training materials, but translating across modalities is a challenge. As facilitators of the Colleges Online Learning Academy summer fellowship program, we outline our process for developing asynchronous workshops focused on pedagogy and digital learning for graduate student instructors. We evaluated participant engagement and accessibility based on survey responses (n=10) and workshop artifacts. Our four asynchronous workshops consisted of multimodal modules with video clips from the synchronous sessions and engagement opportunities on Jamboard. We found low Jamboard engagement from asynchronous participants, but high engagement in multimodal modules. Potential barriers to access included mental health, Wi-Fi access, English language comprehension, and a lack of discussion, but many participants (4 of 9) reported no access barriers. We provide recommendations for developing engaging, accessible, and content-rich asynchronous workshops from synchronous workshop materials.
Introducing the Method of Exhibit-Based Research
Authors: Eccles Kathryn , Herman Laura , Moruzzi Caterina , Mustaklem Maggie
Published: January 2025

This paper introduces a method, Exhibit Based Research (EBR), in which we deploy standalone gallery exhibits as a central component of our research program. We adopt this method to distill complex visual research problems and problematize technological affordances. In the two case studies outlined in this paper, we deploy this method to articulate the role played by algorithms in processes of inspiration, design, and curation. EBR includes a practice-based component, the co-design of an exhibit, a participant engagement component, and interactive, multimodal data collection. The EBR approach creates a dynamic engagement between the public, academia, and creatives, increasing the relevancy of findings across audiences and advancing public understandings. This methodological paper aims to encourage other researchers in the community to consider EBR as an inclusive, immediate, and effective means of revealing opaque concepts and mechanisms via exhibition design.
The Post-Digital Life of Transnational Activists: Develop a Tactical Technological Literacy
Authors: Chen Chen
Published: January 2025

This article examines the technological literacies reflected by participants in the transnational "White Paper Movement"/"A4 Revolution" in the Chinese diaspora, against the Chinese government's stringent "dynamic zero-COVID" policy. The analysis reveals how protestors engaged with the technological literacy framework of Hovde and Renguette (2017): functional and conceptual; critical and evaluative, in layered and interconnected ways. But these literacy skills are also extended tactically where they must not only know how to use technologies well, but also understand how a technology works enough in order to use it subversively. Thus, this article proposes a tactical technological literacy to contribute to the theorization of a "post-digital" life-especially in transnational activism contexts-where not only do people have to consider how (not) to use technologies (in the broadest sense) in both online and offline spaces but also how technologies may impose constraints and oppression on their daily life. The article ends with some pedagogical implications on how to foster a tactical technological literacy in TPC classrooms.
UX Pedagogy: Stories and Practices from the Technical and Professional Communication Classroom
Authors: Rose Emma J. , Turner Heather Noel
Published: January 2025

In the introduction, we describe the exigence for the special issue and discuss how technical and professional communication (TPC) instructors teach user experience (UX) in ways that are unique, divergent, and innovative. Given the interdisciplinary nature of UX, sharing teaching stories as we do in this special issue demonstrates the multivocality of UX pedagogy and highlights the unique perspectives TPC instructors have to offer.
Balancing Methodological Openness and Control in TPC-UX Pedagogy
Authors: Hunter Paul Thompson
Published: January 2025

This experience report describes a six-week unit at the intersection of technical and professional communication and user experience design (TPC-UX). Drawing on the work of Patricia Sullivan and Thomas Kent, it argues for a paralogic hermeneutic approach to TPC-UX pedagogy and illustrates how the Double Diamond design process can be used to scaffold assignments and create methodological balance. It also describes how commonplace TPC assignments---such as the technology tutorial---can be reframed according to user experience methods. Details about readings and deliverables are included.
Expert Knowledge in Democracies: Promises, Limits, and Conflict
Authors: Dargent Bocanegra Eduardo , Spanghero Lotta Gabriela
Published: January 2025

The article reviews recent literature on bureaucratic experts as political actors in democracies, with a focus on their complex, sometimes conflictive relationships with politicians. First, we present the central promises of expertise for democratic governance: its alleged objectivity, responsiveness to the common good, and effectiveness. Then, we look into two criticisms of this optimistic and apolitical view: Expertise is neither as unbiased nor as effective as claimed. Departing from a more political understanding of experts’ power in democracies, we then discuss two topics that illustrate experts’ relationships with politicians: (a) the conditions and political dynamics that cause changes in technical policy areas’ influence, preferences, and institutional arrangements (or even experts’ demise) and (b) how challenging experts’ power is for democracy and elected politicians. We conclude with suggestions for future research and a call to find more common ground between the literatures focusing on experts and politics.
Imaging Findings, Complications, and Mimics after Common and Advanced Dental Procedures
Authors: Ito Kotaro , Kuno Hirofumi , Otsuka Kohei , Andreu-Arasa V. Carlota , Sakai Osamu , Kaneda Takashi
Published: January 2025

Radiologists often encounter evidence of dental treatment in the maxillofacial region at head and neck imaging and should be familiar with dental treatment methods, treatment materials, and any posttreatment changes to identify complications and evaluate for recurrent disease.
Big Vents: Causes of Hydrocephalus
Authors: Wayer Daniel R. , Parsons Matthew S.
Published: January 2025

Hydrocephalus is a disorder of flow, formation, or resorption of cerebrospinal fluid, and by recognizing its various causes with use of a pressure-based classification approach, radiologists can confidently approach this disorder.
State of Health Estimation of Lithium-Ion Batteries Based on Hybrid Neural Networks with Residual Connections
Authors: Zhang Xugang , Wang Ze , Gong Qingshan , Wang Yan
Published: January 2025

Accurately estimating the state of health (SOH) of lithium-ion batteries is essential for ensuring the stability and safety of the battery. Although the hybrid neural network model demonstrates strong performance in estimating the SOH, network degradation becomes a significant issue as the depth of the neural network increases, potentially undermining the accuracy of the estimation. This paper presents a hybrid neural network estimation model with residual connections to address the issue of network degradation. First, the model utilizes a combination of convolutional neural networks and an attention mechanism to automatically extract feature information highly correlated with SOH from the partial charging data of lithium-ion batteries. Subsequently, a multi-layer gated recurrent unit (GRU) is employed to capture temporal information within the extracted features. To address the issue of network degradation that arises from stacking multiple layers of neural networks, residual connections are incorporated into the multi-layer GRUs, mitigating the accumulation of errors within deep networks. Finally, three distinct datasets are employed to validate the proposed model. The experimental results demonstrate that the model exhibits an average mean absolute error and root mean square error of less than 1.8% on both of these datasets.
Current Progress in Black Phosphorus Nanomaterials: Exploring Electrochemical, Biomedical, and Biosensor Applications
Authors: Mukherjea Nilabha , Ranjan Ruhi , Li Wenxuan (Evelyn) , Darar Sandeep , Makmur Samantha , Basak Rishika , Mukherjee Ranjini , Chadha Utkarsh , SELVARAJ SENTHIL KUMARAN , Bhardwaj Preetam
Published: January 2025

Black phosphorus nanomaterials (BPN), including 2D phosphorene, 1D nanoribbons, and 0D BP quantum dots (BPQDs) exhibit superior electronic performance, remarkable biocompatibility, and tunable bandgap energy. They present immense potential in a variety of fields involving electronics, energy storage, biosensing, and biomedical applications. Despite these favorable characteristics, there are some significant obstacles impeding the widespread adoption of BPN, which includes their degradation in moisture, light, and oxygen-rich environments, difficulties in achieving scalable, high-quality BPN production and instability in electrocatalysis further limit their practical applications. Future work will revolve around optimizing BPN synthesis, thoroughly examining the degradation mechanisms, maintaining BPN stability, and comprehending the biosafety of BP analogues and polymers. In particular, the review suggests exploring BP-metal/metal oxide nanostructure composites, as well as conducting additional research on BPQD-based nanocomposites for biological imaging and drug delivery. Development of efficient anti-degradation strategies, advancement of synthesis techniques, and a deeper understanding of the characteristics and potential applications of BPN will unlock their immense potential across various fields.
Exploring Second-Order Nonlinear Optical Properties of 10-(3, 5-dinitrophenyl)-9-(4-nitrophenyl)-8, 9-dihydro-1H-pyreno [4, 5-d] imidazole Chromophore: Insights from a DFT Study
Authors: Waddar Balachandar , Gandi Suman , Parne Saidi Reddy , Swamy Shashi Kumar Kumara , Prasanth Gurusiddappa R.
Published: January 2025

Finding effective nonlinear optical (NLO) materials for potential use in electro-optic applications is crucial. Among the limitations in high-speed data transmission, efficient signal transmission is a key problem. Organic materials furnish tunable nonlinear properties, ease of fabrication, and the ability to exhibit high second-order nonlinearities, making it crucial to address improvements in efficiency, speed, and reliability by introducing new organic materials to the evolving demand for cutting-edge technologies in photonics. Here we report a new novel D-π-A type chromophore 10-(3, 5-dinitrophenyl)-9-(4-nitrophenyl)-8, 9-dihydro-1H-pyreno [4, 5-d] imidazole chromophore and investigation of its second order nonlinear optical properties using density functional theory. The main target is to analyse nonlinear optical properties of the molecule and estimate NLO properties by ωB97XD/6311++G (d, p) method. Hyperpolarizability (β) is reported as 368.02 × 10−31 esu which is 98 times higher than standard urea β value (3.728 × 10–31 e.s.u) also dipole moment (μ), linear polarizability (α). UV Visible spectra shows optical behaviour of the materials, while HOMO-LUMO and MEP gives insight into intermolecular charge transfer. In addition, natural bond orbital analysis was carried out to confirm the interactions and charge transfer within the molecule. These findings emphasize utilization of the organic molecule for potential applications in photonics.
Supplementary Table S7 from Phosphocreatine Promotes Epigenetic Reprogramming to Facilitate Glioblastoma Growth Through Stabilizing BRD2
Authors: Chen Lishu , Qi Qinghui , Jiang Xiaoqing , Wu Jin , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Zhaodan , Cai Yan , Ran Haowen , Zhang Songyang , Zhang Cheng , Wu Huiran , Cao Shuailiang , Mi Lanjuan , Xiao Dake , Huang Haohao , Jiang Shuai , Wu Jiaqi , Li Bohan , Xie Jiong , Qi Ji , Li Fangye , Liang Panpan , Han Qiuying , Wu Min , Zhou Wenchao , Wang Chenhui , Zhang Weina , Jiang Xin , Zhang Kun , Li Huiyan , Zhang Xuemin , Li Ailing , Zhou Tao , Man Jianghong
Published: January 2025

Supplementary Table S7 shows the primer sequences used for Real-Time PCR.
Supplementary Table S1 from Phosphocreatine Promotes Epigenetic Reprogramming to Facilitate Glioblastoma Growth Through Stabilizing BRD2
Authors: Chen Lishu , Qi Qinghui , Jiang Xiaoqing , Wu Jin , Li Yuanyuan , Liu Zhaodan , Cai Yan , Ran Haowen , Zhang Songyang , Zhang Cheng , Wu Huiran , Cao Shuailiang , Mi Lanjuan , Xiao Dake , Huang Haohao , Jiang Shuai , Wu Jiaqi , Li Bohan , Xie Jiong , Qi Ji , Li Fangye , Liang Panpan , Han Qiuying , Wu Min , Zhou Wenchao , Wang Chenhui , Zhang Weina , Jiang Xin , Zhang Kun , Li Huiyan , Zhang Xuemin , Li Ailing , Zhou Tao , Man Jianghong
Published: January 2025

Supplementary Table S1 shows PCr IHC staining score in human glioma microarray.
Table 2 from Clinical Proteomics Reveals Vulnerabilities in Noninvasive Breast Ductal Carcinoma and Drives Personalized Treatment Strategies
Authors: Mitsa Georgia , Florianova Livia , Lafleur Josiane , Aguilar-Mahecha Adriana , Zahedi Rene P. , del Rincon Sonia V. , Basik Mark , Borchers Christoph H. , Batist Gerald
Published: January 2025

List of putative metabolic biomarkers identified by artificial intelligence–based metabolic profiling (inferred from proteomics data) of DCIS and IDC specimens from the same patient
Supplementary Data Table T4 from Clinical Proteomics Reveals Vulnerabilities in Noninvasive Breast Ductal Carcinoma and Drives Personalized Treatment Strategies
Authors: Mitsa Georgia , Florianova Livia , Lafleur Josiane , Aguilar-Mahecha Adriana , Zahedi Rene P. , del Rincon Sonia V. , Basik Mark , Borchers Christoph H. , Batist Gerald
Published: January 2025

LFQ data DCIS paired vs IDC paired
Supplementary Data Table T2 from Clinical Proteomics Reveals Vulnerabilities in Noninvasive Breast Ductal Carcinoma and Drives Personalized Treatment Strategies
Authors: Mitsa Georgia , Florianova Livia , Lafleur Josiane , Aguilar-Mahecha Adriana , Zahedi Rene P. , del Rincon Sonia V. , Basik Mark , Borchers Christoph H. , Batist Gerald
Published: January 2025

LFQ data DCIS vs IDC
Data from Clinical Proteomics Reveals Vulnerabilities in Noninvasive Breast Ductal Carcinoma and Drives Personalized Treatment Strategies
Authors: Mitsa Georgia , Florianova Livia , Lafleur Josiane , Aguilar-Mahecha Adriana , Zahedi Rene P. , del Rincon Sonia V. , Basik Mark , Borchers Christoph H. , Batist Gerald
Published: January 2025

Abstract
Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) is the most common type (80%) of noninvasive breast lesions in women. The lack of validated prognostic markers, limited patient numbers, and variable tissue quality have a significant impact on the diagnosis, risk stratification, patient enrollment, and results of clinical studies. In this study, we performed label-free quantitative proteomics on 50 clinical formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded biopsies, validating 22 putative biomarkers from independent genetic studies. Our comprehensive proteomic phenotyping reveals more than 380 differentially expressed proteins and metabolic vulnerabilities, which can inform new therapeutic strategies for DCIS and invasive ductal carcinoma. Due to the readily druggable nature of proteins and metabolic enzymes or metabolism inhibitors, this study is of high interest for clinical research and the pharmaceutical industry. To further evaluate our findings, and to promote the clinical translation of our study, we developed a highly multiplexed targeted proteomics assay for 90 proteins associated with cancer metabolism, RNA regulation, and signature cancer pathways, such as PI3K/AKT/mTOR and EGFR/RAS/RAF.
Significance:
This study provides real-world evidence for DCIS, a disease for which currently no molecular tools or biomarkers exist, and gives an unbiased, comprehensive, and deep proteomic profile, identifying >380 actionable targets.
Lungenfibrose bei systemischer Sklerose: to treat or not to treat
Authors: Xanthouli Panagiota
Published: January 2025

Background: Interstitial lung disease (ILD) is the leading cause of death in systemic sclerosis (SSc). According to expert statements, not all SSc-ILD patients require pharmacological therapy. Objectives: To describe disease characteristics and disease course in untreated SSc-ILD patients in two well characterised SSc-ILD cohorts. Methods: Patients were classified as treated if they had received a potential ILD-modifying drug. ILD progression in untreated patients was defined as (1) decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) from baseline of ≥ 10% or (2) decline in FVC of 5%–9% associated with a decline in diffusing capacity for carbon monoxide (DLCO) ≥ 15% over 12 ± 3 months or (3) start of any ILD-modifying treatment or (4) increase in the ILD extent during follow-up. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to identify factors associated with non-prescription of ILD-modifying treatment at baseline. Prognostic factors for progression in untreated patients were tested by multivariate Cox regression. Results: Of 386 SSc-ILD included patients, 287 (74%) were untreated at baseline. Anticentromere antibodies (OR: 6.75 (2.16–21.14), p = 0.001), limited extent of ILD (OR: 2.39 (1.19–4.82), p = 0.015), longer disease duration (OR: 1.04 (1.00–1.08), p = 0.038) and a higher DLCO (OR: 1.02 (1.01–1.04), p = 0.005) were independently associated with no ILD-modifying treatment at baseline. Among 234 untreated patients, the 3 year cumulative incidence of progression was 39.9% (32.9–46.2). Diffuse cutaneous SSc and extensive lung fibrosis independently predicted ILD progression in untreated patients.
Endomyocardial Biopsy: short- and long-term safety in myocarditis patients
Authors: Li Ze-Ping , Li Guang-Ling , Wang Ruo-Nan , Yang Hong , Wang Lu-Yun , Cui Guang-Lin , Miao Kun , Jiang Jian-Gang
Published: January 2025

Introduction: To assess the short-term and long-term outcomes of percutaneous endomyocardial biopsy (EMB) in patients with myocarditis and to identify the risk factors for EMB-related complications in this patient population.
Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on 294 hospitalized patients with clinically suspected myocarditis at Tongji Hospital from October 2019 to October 2023, with a median follow-up duration of 18 months. Patients were divided into an EMB group (n = 151) and a non-EMB group (n = 143) based on whether they underwent EMB procedure. The incidence of endpoints was compared between the two groups, and the Kaplan-Meier survival curve was used to assess the survival rate without endpoints. Endpoints included major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE), ventricular enlargement, and decline in cardiac function. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was employed to evaluate the risk factors for EMB-related complications.
Results: The incidence of major short-term complications following EMB was 2.0% (3/151), while the incidence of minor complications was 9.3% (14/151). Multivariate risk regression analysis revealed that operative duration (OR: 1.101, 95% CI: 1.02-1.079, p < 0.05) and BNP levels (OR: 1.083, 95% CI: 0.931-1.26, p < 0.05) were associated with short-term complications following EMB. Compared to the non-EMB group, the EMB group had no significant increase in hospital stay (10 [8, 15] vs. 9 [7, 16], p = 0.27) and no significant decline in cardiac function. Long-term follow-up results showed that 8 patients (5.3%) in the EMB group experienced MACE, 14 patients (9.3%) had left ventricular enlargement, and 18 patients (11.9%) had a decline in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) after discharge; in the non-EMB group, 12 patients (8.4%) experienced MACE, 30 patients (19.9%) had left ventricular enlargement, and 18 patients (11.9%) had a decline in LVEF after discharge. The Kaplan-Meier curve revealed a lower incidence of endpoint events in the EMB group (p < 0.05).
Conclusions: In patients with myocarditis, EMB is associated with a risk of short-term complications, with higher levels of BNP and operative duration being independent risk factors for EMB-related complications. However, EMB does not adversely affect cardiac function or hospital stay during the inpatient period and may contribute to the improvement of long-term outcomes in patients with myocarditis.
Hepatic Abnormal Secretion of Apolipoprotein C3 Promotes Inflammation in Aortic Dissection
Authors: Zhuang Xinghui , Zarif Mohammad , Shen Yue , Zhang Zhaofeng , He Jian , Xie Linfeng , Wu Qingsong , Lin Xinfan , Chen Keyuan , Tian Yue , Lin Yong , Zhang Yuling , Cai Ziwen , Qiu Zhihuang , Chen Liangwan
Published: January 2025

Background

Apolipoprotein C3 (apo C3) is primarily secreted by the liver and is involved in promoting sterile inflammation and organ damage under pathological conditions. Previous studies have shown that apo C3 is abundant in the plasma exosomes of patients with aortic dissection (AD), but its specific role in AD remains unclear.

Methods and Results

In vivo, adeno‐associated virus was used to knock down hepatic apo C3 expression in an AD mouse model to assess the impact of liver‐derived apo C3 on the development of AD. In vitro, recombinant apo C3 protein was added to the culture medium of J774A.1 macrophages to evaluate its effect on macrophage polarization and to identify the underlying mechanisms. Additionally, the effect of apo C3 on the function of aortic endothelial and smooth muscle cells was explored. Apo C3 in the aortas of AD mice was found to originate from abnormal hepatic secretion, which enters the bloodstream and subsequently deposits in the aorta. Adeno‐associated virus–mediated hepatic apo C3 knockdown significantly reduced AD incidence (
P
=0.0036), macrophage infiltration (
P
=0.0004), and collagen deposition in the aorta (
P
=0.0016). Similarly, inhibiting the apo C3 receptor Toll‐like receptor 2 significantly lowered AD incidence (
P
=0.0352). In vitro, recombinant apo C3 protein promoted M1 polarization and matrix metalloproteinase secretion in macrophages by activating the Toll‐like receptor 2/NLR family pyrin domain containing 3 pathway. Additionally, apo C3 increased adhesion molecule expression in endothelial cells and induced inflammation, chemotaxis, and apoptosis in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Conclusions

Our findings highlight the role of abnormally secreted hepatic apo C3 in promoting aortic inflammation.
Notes on Baudelaire's Parisian Tableaux (1939)
Authors: Benjamin Walter
Published: January 2025

Walter Benjamin's largely forgotten paper “Notes on Baudelaire's Parisian Tableaux,” written originally in French and translated into English for the first time here, was delivered at the Abbaye de Pontigny in May of 1939. It is a probable candidate for what he would have presented to the College of Sociology, organized by Georges Bataille and Roger Caillois in Paris, if the war had not cut things short. In this essay, Benjamin slightly diverges from his other work on Charles Baudelaire's poetry, focusing on allusions to the big city and its ethical, political, and social effects on modern subjectivity, as distilled by the Parisian Tableaux cycle in The Flowers of Evil and the Little Poems in Prose and Flares. He considers most notably how the writer's social role is called into question once the work ethic of bourgeois society establishes hegemony. If Baudelaire becomes the emblem of the modern writer who is deprived of identity and condemned to solitude, “désœuvré,” or “out of work,” as Benjamin puts it in a turn of phrase that resonates with Bataille and later Maurice Blanchot, then it is because he draws the material of his verse from this experience of social isolation and abandonment as a flaneur in the midst of the crowd. Benjamin proposes that Baudelaire's images of the crowd, in showing how the modern city dweller is subjected to cruel and dehumanizing mechanisms of homogenization under capitalism, anticipate the governmental management, formation, and control of mass populations by dictators and fascist regimes leading up to the Second World War.
Creation and Decreation in Tacita Dean's Antigone
Authors: Trodd Tamara
Published: January 2025

“Creation and Decreation in Tacita Dean's Antigone” explores Dean's major film of 2018, Antigone, in relation to themes of world-making and “decreation.” Situating Antigone as a companion piece to Dean's Event for a Stage (2015), the essay also examines the theme of solar eclipse in the work in relation to the artist's wider oeuvre in terms of a career-long pursuit of the sun and her development of a photological aesthetics. Through examination of treatments of the Antigone material in the work of authors including George Steiner, Anne Carson, Judith Butler, and Virginia Woolf, the essay explores the political significance of the Antigone myth in terms of the individual's relationship to others and to the state, as well as to arguments concerning queer kinship structures, and shows the ways in which Dean develops these implications in her film.
Performing Moral Authority
Authors: Weber Charlotte
Published: January 2025

The Evangelical Lutheran Church in Tanzania (ELCT) has repeatedly positioned itself against homosexuality in the past, declaring it to be ‘un-Biblical’ and ‘un-African’. In this paper I investigate how the Church’s relationship to the Tanzanian government has motivated it to politicize the topic of homosexuality. It is the Church’s concern with its own moral authority that emerges as the key factor here. At times, the ELCT has been driven by fear of being identified as infiltrating society with immoral acts, possibly losing political privileges in the process. At other times it has capitalized on the societal resentment of homosexuality to bolster its moral capital vis-à-vis the government. I will show in this paper that the politicization of homosexuality pressures both the Church and the government into repeatedly performing their moral authority. This in turn contributes to the ongoing demonization of homosexuality in the country—a circle of politicized homophobia.
Rip Van Winkle in the Rainforest
Authors: Price Richard , Price Sally
Published: January 2025

This article reports on a several-week-long visit to Upper River Saamaka by two anthropologists who had been absent from the area for 45 years. They witnessed significant changes in transportation, communication, village layout, education, clothing, agriculture, ritual life, and sex roles. They also report on central government encroachment, illegal logging, Saamaka political resistance, and depopulation due to migration to the capital and to neighboring French Guiana.
Africa's Emergent Tech Sector: Characteristics and Development Implications
Authors: Lay Jann , Tafese Tevin
Published: January 2025

This study examines the characteristics of Africa's tech sector and its implications for development. Using a database of technology firms in Africa, we show that start-ups are increasingly attracting funding across Africa, especially in underdeveloped sectors such as finance, retail, and transportation. We then illustrate that African start-ups’ digital technologies are often tailored to local contexts to attract, connect, and retain customers. Finally, we discuss transmission channels and review the existing evidence on the impact of digital technologies, particularly platforms, in Africa. We conclude that digital platforms hold significant development potential by addressing key market and government failures, as documented for the expansion of mobile money, but that the impact of other platforms, such as e-commerce, may be more ambiguous than expected. Consequently, there is an urgent need for more evidence on the impact of emerging digital technologies on African individuals, firms, and farms to guide effective policy responses.
Outcomes of Cochlear Implantation in Adolescents With Auditory Neuropathy Spectrum Disorder: Scoping Review and Case Report
Authors: Kowkuntla Sandeep , Cathers Phillip , Chisolm Paul , Geng Xue , Jones Laura , Hoa Michael
Published: January 2025

Objective:

To assess outcomes of CI in adolescent patients with ANSD, a population which has not yet been comprehensively reviewed through a scoping review.

Methods:

A scoping review in accordance with Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. A comprehensive search of MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane DSR, Cochrane CENTRAL, CINAHL, and Web of Science was performed. Cohort and case studies evaluating outcomes of CI in adolescents with ANSD were selected. A case report of an adolescent ANSD patient who underwent CI from our tertiary care academic hospital setting is also reported.

Results:

Our search identified a total of 17 articles after screening 488 articles. Among the 24 patients isolated from the selected articles, the vast majority showed some level of improvement in their hearing ability (n = 21, 87.5%). Additionally, of the 20 individuals whose hearing outcomes had a comparison cohort of subjects under 10 years old, nearly half showed better or similar levels of hearing improvement (n = 9, 45%).

Conclusions:

Adolescents with ANSD receiving CI have notable improvements in hearing outcomes, but to a lesser degree than younger cohorts with ANSD. As such, CI should be considered as a valid treatment option for adolescents with ANSD. However, the benefit of such intervention has a wide variability, presumably based on the different pathologies that can cause their hearing loss and not necessarily the age at implantation.
A Comparison of the Next Eigenvalue Sufficiency Test to Other Stopping Rules for the Number of Factors in Factor Analysis
Authors: Caron Pier-Olivier
Published: January 2025

A plethora of techniques exist to determine the number of factors to retain in exploratory factor analysis. A recent and promising technique is the Next Eigenvalue Sufficiency Test (NEST), but has not been systematically compared with well-established stopping rules. The present study proposes a simulation with synthetic factor structures to compare NEST, parallel analysis, sequential [Formula: see text] test, Hull method, and the empirical Kaiser criterion. The structures were based on 24 variables containing one to eight factors, loadings ranged from .40 to .80, inter-factor correlations ranged from .00 to .30, and three sample sizes were used. In total, 360 scenarios were replicated 1,000 times. Performance was evaluated in terms of accuracy (correct identification of dimensionality) and bias (tendency to over- or underestimate dimensionality). Overall, NEST showed the best overall performances, especially in hard conditions where it had to detect small but meaningful factors. It had a tendency to underextract, but to a lesser extent than other methods. The second best method was parallel analysis by being more liberal in harder cases. The three other stopping rules had pitfalls: sequential [Formula: see text] test and Hull method even in some easy conditions; the empirical Kaiser criterion in hard conditions.
The advisory body on animal ethics of a global pharmaceutical company: A global organization to address ethical and societal concerns about animal use
Authors: Schmitt-Lemaître Juliette , Dudoignon Nicolas , Stuyven Edith , Decelle Thierry
Published: January 2025

How do you promote ethical principles on a global scale regarding the use of animals for scientific purposes within a global pharmaceutical company like Sanofi? In 2017, the Advisory Body on Animal Ethics (ABAE) was created to harmonize animal ethics across all Sanofi sites. As an advisory body to the Bioethics Committee, the ABAE addresses societal concerns related to the use of animals and develops corporate policies on critical topics. Its composition, objectives and operating processes are described, along with the results achieved. Emphasis is placed on responsibilities, training and the promotion of a culture of care. The existence of an advisory body such as the ABAE can be replicated in other institutions to demonstrate commitment to an ethical approach to the use of animals worldwide.
First, Do No Harm (to the One You Train)
Authors: Brewer Eberly J. , Frush Benjamin W.
Published: January 2025

Primum non nocere or “first, do no harm” is perhaps the most well-known aphorism in the culture of medical education. While its application to patients is well known, the injunction can also be read with medical trainees in mind. Teaching physicians have an obligation to recognize their role as moral teachers and coaches, who must consider “first, do no harm” not only when considering their patients but also when weighing the moral formation of their trainees, especially in a season in which medical educators are attempting to clarify the “harms” of medical training. This multi-valent vision of “first, do no harm” offers an alternative way to frame the contemporary difficulties of medical education while inviting a more candid, nuanced discourse between teachers and learners about the experiences of medical training, in which it can be difficult to discern between that which is truly harm and that which is merely “hard.” For those situations in which it is unclear—or indeed when harm is unavoidable—it may be through communal practices of reharmonization, reincorporation, and “reharm” that master educators might learn to tell the story of good medicine with their trainees anew, fostering moral articulacy for the trainees to whom they must also “first, do no harm.”

Primum non nocere or “first, do no harm” is among the most well-known proverbs in medical education. While its application to patients is well known, the injunction can also be read with medical trainees in mind. Teaching physicians might consider “first, do no harm” not only when considering their patients but also when considering the moral formation of their trainees. In a season when medical educators are attempting to clarify the “harms” of medical training, this reading can invite a more candid, nuanced discourse between teachers and learners about the experiences of medical training.
Unilateral Market Power in Financial Transmission Rights Auctions
Authors: O’Keefe Matthew
Published: January 2025

This paper explores market participants’ incentives to exercise unilateral market power in financial transmission rights (FTR) auctions. I present a model of strategic bidding in FTR auctions that illustrates how the standard market clearing mechanism for FTR auctions facilitates cross-path competition, limiting the profitability of demand reduction. Simulation evidence suggests that this force can dramatically reduce rents from unilateral market power relative to other sources of auction revenue shortfalls, highlighting potential adverse effects from proposed market reforms such as decentralized FTR sales and bidding-path restrictions that may weaken cross-path competition.

JEL Classification: D44, D47, Q49
High school music teachers’ attitudes and practices regarding culturally responsive teaching in musical theatre production
Authors: Chaiwanichsiri Apinporn
Published: January 2025

Cultural awareness is crucial in fostering inclusive and authentically representative musical theatre productions in today’s diverse educational landscape. I designed this study to examine U.S. music teachers’ attitudes, perspectives, and the integration of strategies related to culturally responsive teaching (CRT) into their high school musical theatre productions, including the challenges they encounter and their suggestions. Analysis of responses to the electronic survey ( N = 119) indicated a strong emphasis on integrating cultural awareness across various stages of musical production, aligning with Gay’s five essential elements for CRT implementation. Teachers prioritized selecting culturally valid musicals that were responsive to students’ skills and diverse backgrounds while fostering cultural appreciation. Despite challenges such as finding culture bearers and accessing some culturally diverse materials, they did curate culturally accurate and relevant materials to deepen students’ cultural understanding, guiding them in interpreting and performing musical songs using appropriate diverse vocal styles in a healthy manner. Establishing a safe space where students felt acknowledged and could freely discuss, share, lead, and collaborate was integral to these efforts. Ultimately, these practices aimed to cultivate students’ respect for their own and other cultures, promote diversity, inclusivity, and enhance the overall quality of the musical presentation.