bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Carbonation of Hydrated Blast Furnace Slag Cement Powder: Characterization and Application as a Cement Substitute
Authors: Mehdizadeh Hamideh , Baghban Mohammad Hajmohammadian , Ling Tung-Chai
Published: January 2025

Over the past decades, ground granulated blast furnace slag (GGBS) has been extensively used as a replacement for cement in concrete production to mitigate cement carbon emissions. Hence, a substantial portion of the hydrated cement paste discarded at the end of a concrete’s lifespan could contain a certain quantity of GGBS. This study aims to investigate the feasibility of using hydrated cement paste containing 30% GGBS (BSCP) in cementitious binders via moisture carbonation treatment. The changes in the microstructure of BSCP before and after carbonation are analyzed using thermogravimetry-differential thermal analysis (TG-DTG), X-ray diffraction (XRD), and Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR) techniques. The carbonated BSCP (CBSCP) is then used to substitute a part of cement (0%, 15%, and 30% by mass), and the flowability and compressive strength of the blended CBSCP-cement paste are examined at 3, 7, and 28 days. The results show that carbonation can significantly alter the microstructure of BSCP by forming calcium carbonate crystals and consuming a significant amount of calcium hydroxide. Consequently, the inclusion of CBSCP in new cement paste results in a reduction in flowability and enhancement of early-age strength. Overall, it can be concluded that carbonated BSCP can be utilized as an emerging binder up to 30% in cement-based materials, without significantly compromising the later-age strength.
Sustainable Service Ecosystems in Positive Energy Districts: A Conceptual Framework to Steer Long-Term Impacts
Authors: Viljakainen Anna , Valkokari Katri , Hukkalainen Mari , Nikunen Tytti
Published: January 2025

Positive energy districts (PEDs) are central in the global transition toward sustainable, decentralized, and self-sufficient energy systems. Energy transformation taking place locally in cities may trigger broader sustainability transitions (STs) toward PED ecosystems at macro level. The work adopts a service ecosystems perspective to tackle the complexity of STs in the energy sector. The work builds a conceptual framework intended to support the transition and renewal of PED service ecosystems at a micro- and meso levels and uses illustrative case examples from a PED located in Espoo, Finland. The framework is intended to map the interdependencies between different actors in commercializing PED service ecosystems, and acts as a transformational tool for the public and private organizations to address change in PEDs. The framework concretizes the value propositions, actor roles, resource integration, and monetization mechanisms, as well as the transformation enablers, challenges, and long-term impacts. Additionally, the goal of the framework is to help municipalities to understand their roles in strengthening the institutional and social enablers for the local energy transformation with clear regulatory frameworks, incentive mechanisms, long-term political commitment, and vision. Overall, the study supports our understanding on the underlying mechanisms in the paradigm change toward sustainable energy systems.
Direktdemokratische und deliberative Bürgerbeteiligung in der Mobilitätspolitik
Authors: Dienel Hans-Liudger , Schröder Sabine
Published: January 2025

Eine konsequent nachhaltigkeitsorientierte kommunale Mobilitätspolitik ist ohne eine aktive Akzeptanz der Bevölkerungsmehrheit in einer Demokratie nicht umsetzbar. Der folgende Beitrag baut auf dieser Erfahrung auf und präsentiert die jüngere Entwicklung sowie aktuelle Erfahrungen mit den deliberativen Bürgerräten und den direktdemokratischen Bürgerbegehren und -entscheiden zur kommunalen Mobilitätspolitik in Deutschland. Der Handbuchbeitrag zeigt, dass diese Verfahren die Möglichkeit bieten, zu kollektiv bindenden Entscheidungen in der kommunalen Mobilitätspolitik zu kommen und damit auch dazu beitragen, der zunehmenden gesellschaftlichen Polarisierung entgegenzuwirken und das Systemvertrauen in demokratische Steuerungssysteme zu stärken.

Bürgerentscheide, die sich in der Vergangenheit oft gegen kommunale Entscheidungen gewandt haben, haben sich in den vergangenen Jahren zu einem demokratischen Instrument gewandelt, welches Zukunftsentscheidungen ermöglicht und nicht bestimmte Entscheidungen verhindert. Dieser Wandel ist voll allem durch eine Kombination der Bürgerentscheide mit zufallsbasierten deliberativen Verfahren möglich geworden. Stakeholderbeteiligungen, so wichtig sie sind, bieten dagegen vor allem Raum für die Artikulation von Einzelinteressen, die sich zumeist gegen einzelne kommunalpolitische Maßnahmen richten.
Public capital investment spike events: the regional dimension in Greece
Authors: Arachovas Charalampos , Christopoulos Dimitris , Rovolis Antonis
Published: January 2025

Deviating from the standard practice of linking public infrastructure and regional output expansion through a linear long-run equilibrium relationship, we consider the case where public investments follow a ‘bumpy’ path instead. According to the political business cycles theory, we argue that public infrastructure investments occur in a lumpy manner at the beginning of the electoral period, with reduced activity between spikes. In this framework, we propose a novel methodology applied in a different context to identify the role of investment spikes on the performance of Greek regions from 1995 to 2015. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first research focusing on the relationship between spikes in public investments and their impact on regional development. To address the research question, we utilize a difference-in-differences (Diff in Diff) model. However, it is important to note that this approach is susceptible to endogeneity concerns, particularly it might suffer from omitted variable bias, a form of endogeneity. The analysis shows a strong increase in regional labor productivity, peaking three years after the shock.
Generic solutions of equations involving the modular j function
Authors: Eterović Sebastian
Published: January 2025

Assuming a modular version of Schanuel’s conjecture and the modular Zilber–Pink conjecture, we show that the existence of generic solutions of certain families of equations involving the modular j function can be reduced to the problem of finding a Zariski dense set of solutions. By imposing some conditions on the field of definition of the variety, we are also able to obtain versions of this result without relying on these conjectures, and even a result including the derivatives of j.
Coumarin contents of tonka (Dipteryx odorata) products
Authors: Toma Andreea Claudia , Stegmüller Simone , Richling Elke
Published: January 2025

Tonka (Dipteryx odorata) is a plant native in tropical Africa. The tonka fruits contain a kernel, commercialized as tonka beans. These kernels are known to contain coumarin, a natural flavoring compound widely used in foods and pastries, beverages, and cosmetics. Coumarin is known to be liver toxic and therefore authorities have regulated its contents in foods and alcoholic beverages. The purpose of this study was to quantify the concentration of coumarin in different foods and beverages that contain tonka beans or were prepared thereof. The tonka beans itself or the products thereof were extracted with methanol and these extracts were analyzed using a HPLC-UV/Vis method. We have extracted and measured 20.4 ± 0.4 to 43.4 ± 0.9 mg coumarin per gram in six samples of tonka beans. In sugars aromatized with tonka (n = 3) 0.2 ± 0.0 mg/g of coumarin were observed and in two pastes produced from tonka 0.6 ± 0.0 mg/g were determined. A handcrafted ‘Tonka Gin’ was containing 2.2 ± 0.0 mg/L. Based on the non-observed-adverse-effect level (NOAEL) for hepatotoxicity in animal experiments, the Scientific Panel on Food Additives Flavorings, Processing Aids and Materials in Contact with Food (AFC) established a Tolerable Daily Intake (TDI) of 0.1 mg/kg bw (body weight) coumarin. We suggest to critically evaluate whether the TDI could be exceeded by consuming the products tested containing coumarin.
AMPed up immunity: 418 whole genomes reveal intraspecific diversity of koala antimicrobial peptides
Authors: Petrohilos Cleopatra , Peel Emma , Silver Luke W. , Belov Katherine , Hogg Carolyn J.
Published: January 2025

Characterising functional diversity is a vital element to understanding a species’ immune function, yet many immunogenetic studies in non-model organisms tend to focus on only one or two gene families such as the major histocompatibility complex (MHC) or toll-like receptors (TLR). Another interesting component of the eukaryotic innate immune system is the antimicrobial peptides (AMPs). The two major groups of mammalian AMPs are cathelicidins and defensins, with the former having undergone species-specific expansions in marsupials. Here, we utilised data from 418 koala whole genomes to undertake the first comprehensive analysis of AMP diversity across a mammalian wildlife species’ range. Overall, allelic diversity was lower than other immune gene families such as MHC, suggesting that AMPs are more conserved, although balancing selection was observed in PhciDEFB12. Some non-synonymous SNPs in the active peptide are predicted to change AMP function through stop gains, change in structure, and increase in peptide charge. Copy number variants (CNVs) were observed in two defensins and one cathelicidin. Interestingly, the most common CNV was the duplication of PhciCATH5, a cathelicidin with activity against chlamydia, which was more common in the southern part of the species range than the north. AMP copy number is correlated with expression levels, so we hypothesise that there is a selective pressure from chlamydia for duplications in PhciCATH5. Future studies should use phenotypic metadata to assess the functional impacts of this gene duplication.
Dynamic region of interest generation for maritime horizon line detection using time series analysis
Authors: Agaoglu Ahmet , Topaloglu Nezih
Published: January 2025

Maritime horizon line detection is critical in applications such as marine navigation and ocean surveillance. This study introduces a novel system that leverages dynamic region of interest (ROI) generation and time series analysis to improve both accuracy and computational efficiency. By employing parallelogram-shaped ROIs with dynamically controlled heights, the system minimizes processing time while maintaining high detection accuracy. It incorporates a control system to correct inaccurate ROIs and mechanisms to detect the presence or absence of the horizon line. Evaluated on the Buoy Dataset (BD) and Singapore Maritime Dataset (SMD), the system demonstrates superior performance over state-of-the-art algorithms, indicating its suitability for real-time applications in dynamic maritime environments. The proposed system achieves median positional and angular errors of 0.83 pixels and 0.08 degrees, respectively, on the SMD, and 0.91 pixels and 0.12 degrees, respectively, on the BD. Additionally, the mean ROI size corresponds to 3% of the video frame size, enabling the system to achieve 20 frames per second for SMD and 33.3 frames per second for BD. The source code and associated datasets utilized in this study are publicly available and can be accessed through https://github.com/Ahmet-Agaoglu/HL-Detection-using-TSA, ensuring reproducibility and facilitating further research. Additionally, the result videos, which showcase the outcomes of this research, are available at https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13768637.
Management of hidradenitis suppurativa in the inpatient setting: a clinical guide
Authors: Maskan Bermudez Narges , Elman Scott A. , Kirsner Robert S. , Lev-Tov Hadar
Published: January 2025

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a chronic inflammatory disease that affects the axilla, inframammary folds, buttocks, inner thighs, and anogenital regions. Patients with moderate to severe HS often seek care in the emergency department and may require hospitalization; however, the lack of clear admission criteria and management guidelines presents significant challenges. To address these issues, we conducted a clinical review aimed at hospitalists and consulting dermatologists considering hospital admission for patients experiencing severe HS flares. Admission offers a unique opportunity to optimize care through specialized consultations, pain management, rescue therapy, and surgical planning. Furthermore, multimodal treatments, particularly biologics, are needed to achieve clinical remission in severe disease. Streamlining care during hospitalization for the early initiation of these therapies can significantly improve flare management and overall clinical outcomes for HS patients. This review aims to improve care for HS by providing clear and comprehensive guidance on its management in the inpatient setting.
Identification of Quantitative Trait Loci (QTLs) and candidate genes for trichome development in Brassica villosa using genetic, genomic, and transcriptomic approaches
Authors: Bergmann Thomas , Ye Wanzhi , Rietz Steffen , Cai Daguang
Published: January 2025

Brassica villosa is characterized by its dense hairiness and high resistance against the fungal pathogen Sclerotinia sclerotiorum. Information on the genetic and molecular mechanisms governing trichome development in B. villosa is rare. Here, we analyzed an F2 population, derived from a cross between B. villosa and the glabrous B. oleracea by QTL mapping and transcriptomic analyses. As a result, the phenotyping of 171 F2 progenies revealed a wide range of variation in trichome development. Subsequent genotyping with the 15-k Illumina SNP array resulted in a genetic map with 970 markers and a total length of 812 cM. Four QTLs were identified, which explained phenotypic variation from 3.2% to 40.3%. Interestingly, one of these was partially co-localized with the major QTL for Sclerotinia-resistance previously detected in the same F2 population. However, only a moderate correlation between trichomes and Sclerotinia-resistance was observed. In total, 133 differentially expressed genes (DEGs) associated with trichome development were identified, from which only BoTRY, an orthologue of Arabidopsis TRY encoding a MYB transcription factor negatively regulating trichome development, was located within the major QTL. Expression of BoTRY was tissue-specific and highly variable between the hairy and glabrous species, suggesting that BoTRY may also act as a master-switch regulator of trichome development in B. villosa. This study provides valuable data for further understanding the genetic architecture of trichome development and identifying related genes and mechanisms in Brassica species. Molecular markers can be developed to facilitate the introgression and selection of this trait in oilseed rape breeding.
When and how are complications suspected after shunt surgery in patients with normal pressure hydrocephalus?
Authors: Virhammar Johan , Fasth Oskar , Vedung Fredrik
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The follow-up routine for patients with idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) after shunt surgery differs across medical centers. Shunt surgery is not without risks, with complications emerging at various times after the procedure. The aim was to explore the timing and methods of detecting complications following ventriculoperitoneal shunt surgery for iNPH.

Methods

This retrospective study examined patients who underwent shunt surgery for iNPH at Uppsala University Hospital between 2011 and 2018. The cohort comprised 491 patients. Postoperative complications within the first 12 months were recorded from medical records. Complications were classified by type, and the method or event that first indicated the complication was documented.

Results

Of the 491 patients, 102 (20.8%) experienced complications during the one-year follow-up period, with a shunt revision rate of 15.5% (76 patients requiring reoperation). Subdural hematomas/hygromas were the most common complications, with 27 cases; only three required surgical intervention. Most complications were identified through additional appointments triggered by patient-reported symptoms (31.4%), while the planned follow-up routine with CT scans and planned follow-up visits together accounted for 56% of the detections. The 3-month and 12-month follow-up visits detected similar proportions of complications (12.7% and 11.8%, respectively).

Conclusion

The majority of the complications were detected at a planned visit or investigation. Given the cognitive impairments in iNPH patients and that signs of shunt dysfunction can be subtle, a structured follow-up routine is important for timely detection of complications. The findings suggest that both CT scans and planned follow-up visits are critical components of effective postoperative monitoring.
Strange features are no better than no features: predator recognition by untrained birds
Authors: Fišer Ondřej , Strnadová Irena , Veselý Petr , Syrová Michaela , Němec Michal , Kamišová Barbora , Šalom Josef , Fuchs Roman
Published: January 2025

Predator recognition is essential for prey survival, allowing for appropriate antipredator strategies. Some bird species, such as the red-backed shrike (Lanius collurio), distinguish not only between predators and non-threatening species but also between different predator species. Earlier studies have identified general predator “key features”, especially beak shape and talons, as critical for predator recognition. The question, though, still remains of whether exchanging predator key features with those of nonpredatory species or, alternatively, completely removing them, have different or equal impact on recognition. Here we tested to ascertain whether the presence of the “incorrect key features” of a harmless pigeon (Columba livia) placed on a common kestrel (Falco tinnunculus) body impairs predator recognition more efficiently than the absence of any key features. We presented an unmodified kestrel dummy and two modified kestrel dummies (one with pigeon key features, the other lacking key features) to wild red-backed shrikes defending their nest. The shrikes attacked the unmodified dummy kestrel more intensively than both kestrel modifications when defending the nest. However, shrikes did not show different responses to the kestrel with pigeon key features and the featureless kestrel. Our findings show that the absence and exchange of key features have the same effect in this case. These results are discussed in the context of recognition of a specific predator species and predators as a category in general.
Three-stage robotic STEM program ignites secondary school students’ interest in STEM career and attitudes toward science
Authors: Dökme İlbilge , Hancıoğlu Zümrüt Şengüler
Published: January 2025

The electricity-related topics in the secondary school science curriculum are near-universal standards across countries. We prepared a three-stage robotic STEM program incorporating coding, robotic integrated science (in the topic of electricity), STEM engineering processes, and their educational structures. We investigated the impact of the three-stage robotic STEM program on attitudes toward science and STEM career interests, which are the most important psychological triggers of learning. We conducted our research using a comparative quasi-experimental design with pretest-posttest experimental and control groups with 73 students in 7th grade in a public secondary school. While the experimental group students completed their performances by building and running the circuits in the activities of the three-stage robotics-STEM program, the control group students completed their performances by building and running the without-coding version of the circuits in these activities. Our research findings unveil an exciting prospect: by integrating block-based coding, robotics, and STEM engineering processes into electricity topics, we can significantly enhance and diversify student activities on electricity. Moreover, our finding reveals that the robotics-STEM program applied in the experimental group positively affects students’ STEM career interests and attitudes toward science compared to the control group. By showcasing the benefits of a thorough three-stage robotic STEM program with about fifty activities, this study has the potential to advance science education by skillfully integrating several disciplines, including science (such as understanding sensors and electrical circuits), technology, and engineering (such as creating robotic designs and assembling hardware components), and mathematics (using algorithms and data analysis).
The challenge of preventing gastric cancer in patients under surveillance for familial adenomatous polyposis
Authors: Bouchiba Hicham , Aelvoet Arthur S. , van Grieken Nicole C. T. , Brosens Lodewijk A. A. , Bastiaansen Barbara A. J. , Dekker Evelien
Published: January 2025

Several extra-colonic manifestations, including duodenal polyposis and desmoid tumors, are well-described manifestations in familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP). More recently, an increase in gastric cancer diagnoses has been observed in FAP. This case series presents nine patients with FAP who were diagnosed with gastric cancer at our FAP expertise center, of whom eight were diagnosed between 2017 and 2023, while before 2017 the only diagnosis of gastric cancer was in 2001. Among the nine cases of gastric cancer, seven were located in the proximal stomach amidst carpeting fundic gland polyposis and two were located in the distal stomach. Despite ongoing advances in endoscopic technology, all patients were diagnosed during regular endoscopic surveillance, and six of the nine patients died within two years. We aim to raise awareness on gastric cancer risk in FAP patients and stress the urgent need of improved gastric surveillance strategies with timely detection of gastric cancer precursors.
Graduates’ career choices: an empirically derived process model
Authors: Yates Julia
Published: January 2025

Career decision-making models, devised to help career decision-makers to make better choices, are not well-used in practice in higher education (HE), perhaps because they are too far removed from natural decision-making approaches. This study examines the career decision-making processes of 30 employed recent UK graduates. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and analyzed with a reflexive thematic analysis. The findings identified three processes: generating an idea, exploring in-depth, and choosing. The discussion identifies differences between this model and existing prescriptive models: ideas are identified and analyzed singly, self-exploration takes place after idea generation, and chance plays a significant part throughout.
Development of an Instrument to Assess Perceived Territorial Capital (PerTerCapSc): Reliability and Validation of a Scale Based on Inhabitants’ Beliefs
Authors: Djamen Raoul
Published: January 2025

This article contributes to the existing literature on attractiveness and impact tools, by developing and validating a tool for measuring territorial capital based on the beliefs and perceptions of target populations, in this case young people. The tool was developed from 26 items selected through 5 non-directive interviews and 20 semi-structured interviews, enriched by a literature review. The results of psychometric tests (exploratory factor analysis and confirmatory factor analysis), based on a survey of 400 young people living in rural area of Cameroon, led to the selection of a factor structure with 18 items corresponding to 6 components of perceived territorial capital. These are social and cultural capital, anthropic capital, institutional capital, environmental capital, cognitive capital, and economic capital. This research can be a valuable aid in enhancing the effectiveness of policies aimed at improving rural attractiveness.
Negative teacher feedback toward students decreases the probability of empathic classmates making a sociometric choice
Authors: Spilles Markus , Nicolay Philipp , Hank Corinna , Plutz Raphael , Huber Christian
Published: January 2025

Numerous studies in recent decades have shown that teacher feedback significantly influences the sociometric choices of students by their classmates. Most of these studies refer to social referencing theory, which suggests that the teacher’s emotional communication expressing sympathy or antipathy toward the feedback-receiving student influences the perceptions of the feedback-observing classmates. Therefore, the classmates’ emotional competencies could moderate the relationship between teacher feedback and sociometric choices. This study investigates the correlation between teacher feedback, affective empathy, and sociometric choices, taking specific student dyads into account. The research questions are: (1) Is a classmate’s perception of teacher feedback related to their sociometric choice of the feedback-receiving student? (2) Is a classmate’s affective empathy related to their sociometric choices? (3) Does a classmate’s affective empathy moderate the relationship between their perception of teacher feedback and their sociometric choice of the feedback-receiving student? 826 primary school students from 41 classes (49% female, Mage = 9.15) participated in a cross-sectional study. Multilevel models indicate that a classmate’s perception of positive and negative teacher feedback toward a feedback-receiving student and a classmate’s affective empathy are both predictors of their sociometric choices. Furthermore, a classmate’s affective empathy moderates the relationship between negative teacher feedback and their sociometric choices, but not between positive teacher feedback and their sociometric choices. The results suggest that empathic classmates generally seem to make more sociometric choices. However, if a student receives a lot of negative feedback, they are also less likely to get a sociometric choice by an empathic classmate.
Measuring the Impact of Healthcare Provider Availability on Quality of Care and Disease Burden in Ohio: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Borgemenke Samuel , Newsom D’Nair , Leftwich Halie , Gideon Lucille , Beverly Elizabeth A.
Published: January 2025

Background

Chronic lower respiratory disease, heart disease, and diabetes have a higher prevalence in rural areas. Previous studies raise concerns that a lower supply of physicians is associated with negative outcomes.

Objective

To assess disease burden across the 88 counties in Ohio, including Appalachian and non-Appalachian counties, and examine associations with the number of healthcare providers.

Methods

We utilized data sourced from the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) and the Mapping Medicare Disparities tool. We conducted ANOVA to compare the mean number of primary care physicians (PCP), specialty physicians, advanced practice providers (APP), and other healthcare providers for Ohio counties. We calculated mean prevalence, principal cost, and prevention quality indicator (PQI) by health condition. We analyzed the relationship between healthcare providers and the PQI across counties, and examined differences in healthcare providers and disease burden between Appalachian and non-Appalachian regions.

Results

The mean number of providers per 100,000 people significantly differed between PCP, specialty physicians, APP, and other healthcare providers (F = 13.9, P < 0.001). The prevalence of hypertension (mean = 67.0, SD = 2.2) and diabetes (mean = 27.1, SD = 2.4) was the highest of the selected conditions. The number of preventable hospitalizations from chronic conditions (mean = 2024.9, SD = 526.8) was significantly higher (P < 0.001) than the number of preventable hospitalizations from acute conditions (mean = 851.6, SD = 262.2). The multivariate mixed effects model of PCP*Specialist*APP*Other was the best predictive model for all health conditions (P < 0.001). COPD (mean = 17.4, SD = 2.8) and diabetes (mean = 28.4, SD = 2.3) in Appalachian counties were significantly higher (P < 0.001) than COPD (mean = 13.7, SD = 1.9) and diabetes (mean = 26.2, SD = 2.1) in non-Appalachian counties.

Conclusion

This study found higher PQI scores for chronic conditions than acute conditions, indicating the need for higher-quality outpatient care to prevent avoidable hospital admissions. Further, Appalachian counties had fewer other healthcare providers and many counties lacked specialist physicians, highlighting significant disparities in healthcare access in Appalachian Ohio.
Debate: Lipid-lowering Therapies and Diabetes Development
Authors: Brandts Julia , Müller-Wieland Dirk
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

This review explores the relationship between lipid-lowering therapies, particularly statins, and the risk of new-onset diabetes (NOD). It examines the underlying mechanisms and evaluates whether other lipid-lowering agents present similar risks.

Recent Findings

Recent meta-analyses further underscore a dose-dependent increase in NOD risk with statin therapy, particularly with high-intensity statins. In contrast to other LDL-cholesterol lowering drugs and their impact on lipid metabolism in the liver, genetic and experimental studies indicate that statins may impair insulin secretion through various mechanisms, including alterations in small G protein function, calcium signaling, and cholesterol homeostasis in pancreatic beta cells. This might contribute to the increased risk of NOD.

Statins effectively reduce cardiovascular events but increase the risk of NOD, potentially via intracellular pathways affecting liver and beta-cell function. Despite the cardiovascular benefits of statins, personalized treatment strategies and alternative lipid-lowering therapies may offer safer options for patients at risk of diabetes, potentially shaping future clinical guidelines and therapeutic approaches.
Learnings from Implementation Strategies to Improve Lipid Management
Authors: Lan Nick S. R. , Chen Ruofei Trophy , Dwivedi Girish , Watts Gerald F. , Nicholls Stephen J. , Nelson Adam J.
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

Lowering low-density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol reduces cardiovascular risk. International lipid management guidelines recommend LDL-cholesterol goals or thresholds for initiating lipid-lowering therapy. However, contemporary real-world studies have shown that many high- and very high-risk patients are not attaining LDL-cholesterol goals and are not receiving intensive lipid-lowering therapies. In this review, recent examples of implementation strategies for optimising lipid management are discussed.

Recent Findings

Implementation studies are heterogenous in their strategies and design. At the clinician level, multidisciplinary team-based care (including multidisciplinary lipid clinics), pharmacist- or nurse-led interventions, decision-support algorithms or protocols, and educational initiatives have shown potential to improve lipid management. Various strategies to improve patient adherence to lipid-lowering therapies have demonstrated at least short-term efficacy, including education, shared decision-making, behavioural support and nudges. Electronic health records can be leveraged at low cost to identify patients requiring initiation or intensification of lipid-lowering therapies, but the optimal method of integrating automated alerts or nudges to influence decision-making requires further research. Moreover, telehealth and remote care delivery models can improve access to healthcare and facilitate lipid-lowering.

Multifaceted strategies with a systematic approach to targeting clinician, patient and system related factors can be successful in improving lipid management. Future implementation research should evaluate longer-term outcomes and follow implementation science theories, models and/or frameworks at all stages. By doing so, ongoing implementation studies will help researchers better understand the impact, sustainability and scalability of strategies, and where barriers and facilitators to lipid management may exist in other contexts.
Diagnosis and Management of Mild Traumatic Brain Injury (mTBI): A Comprehensive, Patient-centered Approach
Authors: Sergeyenko Yevgeniya , Andreae Mollie E. , Segal Miriam
Published: January 2025

Purpose of Review

The purpose of this review is to provide an update regarding recent research and recommendations in the care of mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).

Recent Findings

New diagnostic criteria for mTBI have recently been developed by the American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine through the Delphi method and this will help to standardize assessment, diagnosis, and treatment.

Symptoms of mTBI are diverse and can sometimes become persistent. Treatment of mTBI should be patient-centered and may require subspeciality referral and coordinated, inter-disciplinary, or multi-disciplinary treatment.
Management Strategies for the Anti-nutrient Oxalic Acid in Foods: A Comprehensive Overview of Its Dietary Sources, Roles, Metabolism, and Processing
Authors: Zayed Ahmed , Adly Ghada M. , Farag Mohamed A.
Published: January 2025

Oxalic acid is among the most abundant organic acids found in different biospheres, including plants, as an end product of metabolism. It forms either soluble or insoluble salts with monovalent or divalent cations, respectively. Then, consumption of oxalic acid-rich foods in human diets, particularly leafy vegetables (e.g., spinach, tea, and rhubarb), affects minerals absorption such as calcium. Meanwhile, its high level in blood is associated with many diseases such as hyperoxaluria systemic oxalosis and is thus classified among potential anti-nutrients. Various factors have affected oxalic acid levels in foods, including agricultural traits and consumption practices. Hence, the current review aimed at rediscovering oxalic acid dietary sources, metabolism, and the various processes employed to reduce its content in foods, and consequently, health harmful effects. Among them are physical/cooking, chemical, fermentation, and biotechnological processing. Recent biotechnological approaches have been attempted to produce transgenic crops remodeling oxalate metabolism, particularly its degradation. The soluble form of oxalate seems to be better absorbed and more harmful than insoluble salts in foods aiding in kidney stones formation. Cooking (e.g., boiling, microwaving, and steaming) appears as a useful management strategy to reduce soluble oxalate and, therefore, lowering oxaluria. The present review provides new perspectives on different processing methods to lower oxalate in essential vegetables highlighting their advantages or any limitations to aid improve these foods nutritional value and consumption.
Residual non-specific and disease-specific inflammatory markers in successfully treated young psoriasis patients: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Merzel Šabović Eva Klara , Kraner Šumenjak Tadeja , Božič Mijovski Mojca , Janić Miodrag
Published: January 2025

Psoriasis is a chronic, immune-mediated disease. The systemic inflammation triggered by psoriasis contributes significantly to increased cardiovascular risk. While various treatments completely clear the skin, the associated effects on systemic inflammation are not yet clear. We investigated residual systemic inflammation in successfully treated patients. Circulating disease-specific and non-specific inflammatory markers were measured and compared in 80 psoriasis patients (aged 30–45 years) successfully treated with topical therapy, methotrexate, adalimumab, secukinumab or guselkumab, and in 20 healthy controls. Non-specific inflammatory markers (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), complete blood count (CBC) parameters, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR), mean platelet volume-to-platelet ratio (MPR), and red blood cell distribution width-to-platelet ratio (RPR)) and disease-specific inflammatory markers (interferon-γ (IFN-γ), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-12p70, IL-17, and IL-23) were measured and compared between groups. Disease-specific cytokines (IFN-γ, TNF, IL-1β, IL-12p70, and IL-17, but not IL-23), were significantly elevated in patients compared to controls, while non-specific inflammatory markers showed no differences compared to controls. The residual disease-specific cytokines were similarly elevated in all five treated groups. In addition, they correlated significantly with body mass index (BMI) and waist circumference. Our results suggest that psoriasis patients have elevated residual disease-specific cytokines despite successful treatment, while the non-specific inflammatory markers are similar to those in control subjects. Residual disease-specific inflammatory markers correlated with BMI and waist circumference. A possible beneficial effect of body weight control in psoriasis patients merits further investigation. The study was registered at http://clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT05957120) on July 24, 2023.
Replication Crisis in Psychology, Second-Order Cybernetics, and Transactional Causality: from Experimental Psychology to Applied Psychological Practice
Authors: Brailas Alexios
Published: January 2025

This article aims to reconceptualize the replication crisis as not merely a problem of flawed methods, lack of scientific rigor, or questionable researcher conduct, but as a fundamentally epistemological and philosophical issue. While improved methodologies and scientific practices are necessary, they must be considered through the lens of the underlying epistemologies. Toward this end, a new paradigm for psychological research and practice, grounded in second-order cybernetics and transactional causality, is proposed as instrumental. Second-order cybernetics, as introduced by Heinz von Foerster, challenges traditional scientific methodologies that assume a strict separation between the observer and the observed. The core idea is that the observer, through the very act of observing, inevitably becomes part of the system they study, leading to a shift from linear to transactional causality. This epistemological shift has profound implications for the research practice and the responsibility of the psychology practitioner. Foerster’s ethical imperative –act always so as to increase the number of choices– combined with the aesthetic imperative –If you desire to see, learn how to act– illuminates an alternative methodological landscape for the clinical practice. The replication crisis in psychology is examined in light of these theoretical shifts, allowing for a new constructive vision which integrates basic research with applied psychological practice. Second-order cybernetics encourages a participatory approach to research, emphasizing the catalyzing role of the observing practitioner. The article concludes by advocating for an epistemological superposition, where psychologists navigate multiple perspectives to enhance the integrity and applicability of their findings in the real world.
Transforming managers with mindfulness-based training: a journey towards humanistic management principles
Authors: Yavuz Sercekman Meltem , Akca Meltem
Published: January 2025

This study examines the transformative impact of a 6-week mindfulness-based training program on managers within the framework of humanistic management principles. Implemented as a randomized controlled trial (RCT), the research involved 97 managers from the R&D department of a technology development company in Turkiye. Participants were allocated to either an intervention group (N = 47) or a waitlist control group (N = 50), with assessments conducted at three time points: pre-test, post-test, and a 16-week follow-up. The findings reveal significant improvements in empathy, mindfulness, and wisdom among managers who completed the program, compared to those who did not. While the impact on inclusive leadership was less pronounced, the results indicate potential benefits for organizational culture as a whole. This study provides empirical evidence supporting the efficacy of mindfulness-based interventions in fostering key elements of humanistic management—such as empathy, mindfulness, and wisdom—and underscores their broader implications for cultivating a more humanistically oriented workplace.
A qualitative Exploration of Contextual Factors Within Schools Impacting the Introduction of the New Statutory ‘Framework on Embedding a Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing’ in Wales
Authors: Brown Rachel , Anthony Rebecca , Eyre Olga , Lennon Jessica , Powell Vicky , Haslam Zoe , Rowe Abbey , Moore Graham
Published: January 2025

In 2021, the Welsh Government introduced new statutory guidance for schools titled ‘Framework Guidance on Embedding a Whole School Approach to Emotional and Mental Wellbeing’. This document outlined new responsibilities for educational settings to work towards incorporating a whole school approach, with regard to the Framework in action planning, service delivery and policy in relation to the mental and emotional wellbeing of learners and staff. While there is growing evidence to suggest that whole school approaches can be beneficial to social and emotional wellbeing for pupils, evidence on effective implementation is limited. This paper reports on findings from qualitative group interviews with staff in schools in Wales, conducted as part of a wider, mixed-methods evaluation of the Framework. It focuses on factors in the school context which impacted initial implementation. A number of school level factors were identified as barriers to implementation and staff engagement with the Framework. School staff reported higher levels of pupil mental health challenges stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic and an absence of capacity in in-house and external support services to address this. Poor staff wellbeing and significant workload pressures were also reported, driven in part by concurrent implementation of the new Curriculum For Wales. This led staff to feel ill-prepared for the more complex issues being faced, exacerbated by a lack of access to relevant training to be able to support pupil and colleague mental health. This paper concludes with recommendations for policy-makers to support Framework implementation.
Energy-Efficient Synthesis of Copper Terephthalate Metal–Organic Frameworks Using Sorbitol and Choline Chloride-Based Deep Eutectic Solvents for Methylene Blue Removal
Authors: Yılmaz Mertsoy Esra
Published: January 2025

Metal–organic frameworks (MOFs) are considered promising candidates for organic pollutant remediation due to their adaptable topology, large surface area, porous structure and unsaturated metal sites. This study presents a novel, safe, environmentally friendly and energy-efficient method for synthesizing copper terephthalate metal–organic frameworks (Cu-BDC). The synthesis utilizes choline chloride/sorbitol deep eutectic solvent (DES), a green solvent, which allows for milder synthesis conditions. The use of DES in Cu-BDC synthesis was calculated to provide up to 99% energy savings compared to traditional method, showcasing the energy efficiency of this approach. Methylene blue (MB) adsorption using the synthesized samples was investigated. MB was selected as a model molecule because of its toxicity and persistence in the aquatic environment. Compared to Cu-BDC, Cu-BDC-D (synthesized form in DES) showed greater effectiveness in adsorption of MB with 98.7% removal at 10 g/L catalyst dosage, pH 7, 100 mg/L MB initial concentration and at 25 °C. The effects of various parameters, including adsorbent dosage, pH and temperature, on adsorption capacity were examined. The kinetic data were analyzed using both pseudo-first-order and pseudo-second-order kinetic models. The results indicated that the adsorption kinetics followed the pseudo-second-order model, and the Weber and Morris intraparticle diffusion model and Chrastil diffusion models were employed to further investigate the diffusion processes involved in adsorption. Additionally, the Langmuir, Freundlich and Sips isotherm models were analyzed, with the Langmuir isotherm providing the best fit. Desorption experiments demonstrated that the adsorbent could be reused up to three times. This study highlights the potential of MOF obtained in DES as an effective and sustainable adsorbent for dye removal in water treatment applications.
Elastic Residual Strain Measurements of 3D Additively Manufactured Builds of Nickel Alloy 718 AM Bench 2022 Artifacts Using Energy Dispersive Synchrotron X-ray Diffraction
Authors: Phan Thien , Șeren Hazar , Das Amlan , Ko Peter , Nygren Kelly , Levine Lyle
Published: January 2025

Residual elastic strains and the resulting stresses are key aspects of most metal additive manufacturing (AM) approaches and strongly affect both the build process and part performance. Computational modeling of these stresses allows the manufacturer to compensate for the distortions that occur during the build process and to predict where part failures may occur. Such simulations must be validated against rigorous measurement datasets. Here, energy dispersive synchrotron X-ray diffraction is used to characterize the location-specific elastic strains within additively manufactured laser powder bed fusion (PBF-LB) nickel Alloy 718 test artifacts. Elastic strains are measured along two orthogonal directions from 2248 measurement locations and the measurement uncertainties are assessed. Comparisons are made between the measurement results and modeling predictions submitted by the AM modeling community. These measurements are part of the Additive Manufacturing Benchmark Test Series (AM Bench), a broad effort to produce measurement datasets for validating AM computer simulations across the range of processing, structure, and properties, for many AM build methods and material classes. All the measurement data are available online with download links at www.nist.gov/ambench.
Bioethanol production from concentration fruit wastes juice using bakery yeast
Authors: Mtashobya Lewis Atugonza , Mgeni Shedrack Thomas , Emmanuel Jovine Kamuhabwa
Published: January 2025

Appropriate and effective management of fruit wastes is fundamental for promoting sustainability, minimizing environmental impacts, and safeguarding human health. This underscores the necessity for sustainable waste management practices including transforming them into valuable products to mitigate their adverse effects. This study focuses on the production of bioethanol from pineapple, mango, watermelon, and pawpaw fruit wastes juice through yeast fermentation and controlled distillation. The juice from a mixture of fruit wastes was enriched with 200 g of bakery yeast to facilitate the fermentation process. Results show that bioethanol from fruit waste juice mixture with bakery yeast produced bioethanol with alcohol content of 30%, while the fruit waste juice mixture without yeast had 20%. The bioethanol from the initial distillation was combined and re-distilled to improve the quality of bioethanol from 12 to 30% to an impressive alcohol content of 88%. The bioethanol production from fruit wastes, achieved through bakery yeast fermentation and distillation, demonstrated promising outcomes and potential use as bioenergy and its contribution to environmental conservation. Future research may focus on enhancing yeast-fruit waste juice ratio and utilizing enzymes to expedite carbohydrate breakdown.