bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Keeping the Family Fortune: How Bureaucratic Practices Preserve Elite Multigenerational Wealth
Authors: Shiffer-Sebba Doron
Published: February 2025

How do wealthy families preserve their fortunes across generations? A historic peak in wealth inequality in the United States has inspired research on how economic elites benefit from markets, tax rates, and legal entities. However, the ongoing practices through which families maintain their fortunes across generations are less understood. Using six months of ethnographic observations at a wealth manager for the top 0.1 percent, as well as interviews with the manager’s clients and a wider sample of managers, I argue that wealthy families adopt what I call “bureaucratic practices”—activities like meetings, presentations, and signing documents—to preserve wealth intergenerationally. After erecting legal entities such as corporations, trusts, and foundations, wealth managers help wealthy families implement bureaucratic practices. These practices, which privilege bureaucratic form over substance, constitute a crucial behavioral layer atop the legal infrastructure, facilitating a greater degree of wealth preservation compared with using entities alone. Thus, preserving wealth at the top should be understood not merely as a set of discrete transfers from parents to children, but as an enduring multigenerational process of professional socialization that introduces new behaviors into family life.
Hidden histories of scientific voyeurism: The making of the ‘African woman’ for Czech spectators of the late nineteenth century
Authors: Křížová Markéta
Published: February 2025

The article explores how the ‘African woman’ was constructed in Central Europe (namely, the Czech lands) of the late nineteenth century within the context of the colonialist fantasies that arose around the modernisation processes and nationalist competitions of this period. Case studies of three African women who at some point became entangled with and known within the Czech lands (a young African maidservant, an ethnographic show performer and a native woman as object of anthropological study) open the possibility of analysing the particularities of Czech, and more generally Central European, perceptions and symbolic appropriations of the African continent through the bodies of African women.
Parameters estimation of PV models using a novel hybrid equilibrium optimization algorithm
Authors: Duan Fude , Ali Ali BM , Jasim Dheyaa J , Mikhaylov Alexey , Karpyn Zuleima , Sharma Vikas
Published: February 2025

This study presents a novel algorithm, termed equilibrium optimizer-single candidate optimizer (EO-SCO), which combines the EO and SCO techniques. The objective of this approach is to achieve accurate and reliable parameter estimates for photovoltaic (PV) solar cells and modules. The EO-SCO, as outlined, functions through a two-phase approach. The first phase uses an equilibrium pool of elite particles to traverse the search space and find interesting places using EO, retaining solution diversity. The second phase integrates SCO to lead searching toward better vicinities and achieve a high-quality solution by employing its detecting and pattern movements to increase the proposed method's exploitation potential in the last steps. The described EO-SCO technique accurately determines PV model unknown parameters. The identification of these parameters is denoted as an objective function that must be reduced by reducing the disparities between the estimated and experimental data. The extensive findings and evaluations have confirmed that the proposed EO-SCO exhibits comparable performance to other cutting-edge technologies, particularly in relation to the quality and dependability of the solution. The findings from the simulation demonstrate that the newly proposed optimization methodology yields optimal solutions that outperform earlier techniques in terms of quality across diverse solar cell types, while also achieving the lowest root mean square error.
Perfectionism and Burnout in Parents of Visually Impaired Offspring: The Mediating Role of Parenting Conflict and Resilient Coping
Authors: Mousavi Seyyedeh Fatemeh , Dehshiri Gholamreza , Asghari Maryam , Parastanpoor Maryam
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Exhaustion due to parenting responsibilities, in parents who have children with visual impairments, is an issue that makes it necessary to pay attention to the corresponding risks of burnout, as well as the protective factors that can prevent such exhaustion in parents. This study aims to investigate the mediating roles of parenting conflict and resilient coping in the relationship between perfectionism and parental burnout in Iranian parents.

Methods

The study was conducted on 286 Iranian mothers ( Mage = 43.15) and 207 fathers ( Mage = 46.11). The selected individuals included parents who did not have children with visual impairments (35.5%) and those who had one or more children with visual impairments. They participated in an online survey with four measurement tools including the Brief Resilient Coping Scale, Parental Perfectionism Questionnaire, Parental Burnout Assessment, and Parent Problem Checklist.

Results

The results of structural equation modeling showed that the indirect effect of self-oriented perfectionism on parental burnout was significant through resilient coping and parenting conflict. Also, the gender of parents and the children's vision conditions do not play a moderating role in this model. In the examination of the role of demographic characteristics, the parents’ age and the number of caregivers emerged to be significantly associated with parental burnout in the parents of visually impaired offspring.

Discussion

For parents of visually impaired children, it is necessary to pay attention to the ways of promoting adaptation to caregiving problems, such as co-parenting and resilient coping strategies. In the meantime, the adaptive role of self-oriented perfectionism is significant for creating a sense of conscientiousness and internal motivation for more parental care.

Implications for Practitioners

Considering perfectionism in the context of culture, using the capacity for responsibility hidden in self-oriented perfectionism to reduce parental conflicts and increase resilience in dealing with parenting challenges can be effective during therapeutic interventions with burned-out parents.
Kicking Yourself: Going Against Your Inclinations Leads to Greater Feelings of Control and Culpability
Authors: Woolley Kaitlin , Sah Sunita
Published: February 2025

Despite knowing better, people often follow the opinions of others when making decisions. Although people in joint evaluation mode (i.e., comparing options side-by-side) anticipate feeling less culpable if things go wrong after following someone else’s suggestion, our research shows the opposite effect when they actually experience one of the options. Across multiple studies ( n = 3,200), including four with real monetary consequences, we find that people feel more culpable when they go against their better judgment. This counterintuitive effect occurs because going against one’s better judgment increases thoughts about alternative, better decisions that could have been made, which amplify feelings of control over the situation. This effect occurs regardless of whether the input is solicited or unsolicited and is specific to situations where people go against their better judgment. It does not occur if people reject poor suggestions or follow input that aligns with their judgment.
Molecular Pathology Methods to Characterize Biodistribution and Pharmacodynamics of the Oncolytic Virus VSV-GP in a Nonclinical Tumor Model
Authors: Matter Andrea , Budzik Karol , Mehta Saurin , Hoyt Kathleen , Dambra Richard , Vigil Adam , Ashour Joseph , Raymond Ernest , Clark Elizabeth , Wood Charles
Published: February 2025

Replication-competent oncolytic virus (OV) therapies are a promising new modality for cancer treatment. However, they pose unique challenges for preclinical assessment, due in part to their tumor specificity and ability to self-replicate in vivo. Understanding biodistribution, immune cell responses, and potential effects of intratumoral replication on these outcomes are important aspects of the nonclinical profile for OVs. Herein, a single intravenous dose of vesicular stomatitis virus pseudotyped with the glycoprotein of lymphocytic choriomeningitis virus (VSV-GP), or a cargo-expressing variant (VSV-GP-[cargo]), was examined in both tumor-free and CT26.CL25.IFNAR-/- syngeneic tumor-bearing mouse models. Biodistribution and immune cell responses were characterized using different molecular pathology methods, including a strand-specific in situ hybridization method to differentiate administered viral genomes from replicated or transcribed viral anti-genome RNA. We identified distinct patterns of viral biodistribution and replication across tumor and nontumor sites but no major differences in biodistribution, off-tumor cell tropism, or immune cell responses between tumor-free and tumor-bearing mouse models. Our findings characterize key cellular changes following systemic exposure to VSV-GP, provide a better understanding of a nonclinical permissive tumor model for OV assessment, and demonstrate how current molecular pathology methods can provide a bridge between traditional biodistribution and pathology readouts.
Direct visual servoing based on a new basis set and switching strategy
Authors: Yin Yecan , Li Xiangfei , Zhao Huan , Ning Wenbo , Wang Yiwei , Ding Han
Published: February 2025

Direct visual servoing considers all pixel intensities of the entire image as inputs for robot control. Because of the high dimensionality of the image space, it achieves high convergence accuracy at the cost of low convergence domain. Recent work on the direct visual servoing decomposes the images into different signal spaces. Although a large convergence domain can be obtained, their other performance, such as convergence rate, convergence accuracy, and robustness under illumination variations, have been reduced. In other words, there exists an inevitable trade-off between the convergence domain and the other performance. To mitigate the trade-off, by constructing a new basis set with spatial-frequency properties and considering their numerical relationship during switching process, this article proposes a new and effective direct visual servoing approach. First of all, a new set of bases is specially constructed for the visual servoing rather than leveraging existing bases or transformations, and the analytical relationship between the original loss function and the transformed one is derived for the first time. Then, considering that different bases have different convergence properties, an effective switching control strategy is designed to select an appropriate basis at different states. Ultimately, a series of simulations and experiments are carried out, and the results demonstrate that the proposed servoing approach significantly outperforms the state-of-the-art approaches in terms of convergence domain, convergence rate, convergence accuracy, robustness under illumination variations, robustness under partial occlusions, and some three-dimensional scenes. In addition, the proposed approach can adapt well to different camera parameters.
Adolescent–Parent Career Congruence and Career Adaptability in High School Students: Learning Factors’ Mediation
Authors: Chen Wanyu , Yang Lejin , Li Longji , Shao Kaixu , Wang Wei , Wang Feng
Published: February 2025

Drawing on the career construction theory model, this study explores how adolescents’ career adaptability is shaped by their ongoing interactions with social experiences and family, particularly parents. A questionnaire was administered to 1200 Chinese senior high school students to test the hypotheses. The results showed that the level of perceived career congruence with parents positively associated with students’ career adaptability. Learning commitment and learning autonomy partially mediated the relationship between perceived career congruence with parents and career adaptability, with mediating effect values of 0.116 and 0.033, respectively. Learning commitment and learning autonomy sequentially played a mediating role in the relationship between perceived career congruence with parents and career adaptability, with a serial mediating effect value of 0.031. The study underscores the significance of both environmental factors (parent–child congruence) and individual factors (learning commitment and learning autonomy) in relating to career adaptability among Chinese adolescents.
Experimental investigation of natural convection heat transfer from functionally graded annular fins on an inclined cylinder
Authors: Safak Ibrahim , Dogmaz Mehmet Alp , Gunes Sibel
Published: February 2025

Annular fins, commonly used in various engineering applications from heat exchangers to electrical equipment, are typically made from highly conductive homogeneous materials. However, these materials, such as aluminum, do not achieve ideal uniform temperature distribution along the fins’ length. Recognizing the potential of Functionally Graded Materials (FGMs) to enhance thermal performance by combining two distinct materials with a gradual transition, this study proposes their use as fin materials to achieve optimal performance. The study encompasses three primary components: (1) finite element analysis to determine the optimal FG annular fin design, (2) fabrication of aluminum and FG fins using powder metallurgy and hot pressing techniques, and (3) experiments to evaluate the thermal performance of FG and aluminum fin arrays by attaching them to a cylinder under natural convection. This study distinguishes itself by elucidating the effects of tilt angle, fin number, and material on natural convection heat transfer. It is also the first experimental study to assess the performance of FG fins on a cylinder with inclinations ranging from 0 to 75 degrees. In these experiments, the thermal performance of fin arrays is evaluated for heat inputs ranging from 25 to 50 W, different fin numbers, and cylinder inclinations. The results clearly indicate that the thermal performance of fin arrays depends on tilt angle, fin material, and spacing. FG fin arrays outperform aluminum fin arrays for all configurations, demonstrating an 18% improvement in heat transfer, and the optimal performance is achieved with fin arrays containing seven fins. Additionally, increasing tilt angle deteriorates natural convective heat transfer, regardless of fin material.
Evaluating large language models as a supplementary patient information resource on antimalarial use in systemic lupus erythematosus
Authors: Munguía-Realpozo Pamela , Mendoza-Pinto Claudia , Etchegaray-Morales Ivet , Ramírez-Lara Edith , Solis-Poblano Juan Carlos , Méndez-Martínez Socorro , Serrano Vertiz Laura , Ayón-Aguilar Jorge
Published: February 2025

Objective

To assess the accuracy, completeness, and reproducibility of Large Language Models (LLMs) (Copilot, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4) on antimalarial use in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE).

Materials and Methods

We utilized 13 questions derived from patient surveys and common inquiries from the National Health Service. Two independent rheumatologists assessed responses from the LLMs using predefined Likert scales for accuracy, completeness, and reproducibility.

Results

The GPT models and Copilot achieved high scores in accuracy. However, the completeness of outputs was rated at 38.5%, 55.9%, and 92.3% for Copilot, GPT-3.5, and GPT-4. When questions related to “mechanism of action” and “lifestyle”, were analyzed for completeness ( n = 8), ChatGPT-4 scored significantly higher (100%) compared to Copilot (37.5%). In contrast, questions related to “side-effects” ( n = 5) scored higher for ChatGPT models than Copilot, and the differences were not statistically significant. All three LLMs demonstrated high reproducibility, with rates ranging from 84.6% to 92.3%.

Conclusions

Advanced LLMs like GPT -4 offer significant promise in enhancing patients’ understanding of antimalarial therapy in SLE. Although chatbots’ capability can potentially bridge the information gap patients face, the performance and limitations of such tools need further exploration to optimize their use in clinical settings.
Federated ensemble learning on long-tailed data with prototypes
Authors: Li Yang , Liu Xin , Li Kan
Published: February 2025

Federated learning enables multiple participants to train models without sharing their raw data. However, long-tailed data with imbalanced sample sizes among clients deteriorates the model’s performance in federated learning. Additionally, existing studies on class prototypes are less effective for federated long-tailed issues, as the difference in class prototype representation between the head classes and tail classes exacerbates global model updates and instability among clients. Therefore, we propose a Federated Ensemble Prototypes Learning (FedEP) approach that employs ensemble class prototypes instead of local class prototypes to alleviate class representation bias. Specifically, each client partitions its local dataset into multiple subsets to derive subset class prototypes and filters biased subset class prototypes using a threshold to obtain ensemble class prototypes. The server then aggregates these ensemble prototypes to develop novel global ones, which guide local training without extra data. Concurrently, we track category probability differences to assess the degree of deviation among class prototypes during the iterative process. Furthermore, our method has proven effective and outperforms baseline approaches on long-tailed data across various experimental settings.
Performance of linear solvers in tensor-train format on current multicore architectures
Authors: Röhrig-Zöllner Melven , Becklas Manuel , Thies Jonas , Basermann Achim
Published: February 2025

Tensor networks are a class of algorithms aimed at reducing the computational complexity of high-dimensional problems. They are used in an increasing number of applications, from quantum simulations to machine learning. Exploiting data parallelism in these algorithms is key to using modern hardware. However, there are several ways to map required tensor operations onto linear algebra routines (“building blocks”). Optimizing this mapping impacts the numerical behavior, so computational and numerical aspects must be considered hand-in-hand. In this paper we discuss the performance of solvers for low-rank linear systems in the tensor-train format (also known as matrix-product states). We consider three popular algorithms: TT-GMRES, MALS, and AMEn. We illustrate their computational complexity based on the example of discretizing a simple high-dimensional PDE in, for example, 5010 grid points. This shows that the projection to smaller sub-problems for MALS and AMEn reduces the number of floating-point operations by orders of magnitude. We suggest optimizations regarding orthogonalization steps, singular value decompositions, and tensor contractions. In addition, we propose a generic preconditioner based on a TT-rank-1 approximation of the linear operator. Overall, we obtain roughly a 5× speedup over the reference algorithm for the fastest method (AMEn) on a current multicore CPU.
Severe coxsackie virus B5 encephalitis mimics autoimmune limbic encephalitis in a young woman under long-term B-cell depletion with ocrelizumab: A case report
Authors: Stögbauer Jakob , Schegerer Victoria , Berger Fabian K , Schulz-Schaeffer Walter , Fassbender Klaus , Naumann Jasmin , Smola Sigrun , Eisenbeis Janina , Bewarder Moritz , Rosar Florian , Kettner Michael , Gilcher Thomas , Diedrich Sabine , Fousse Mathias
Published: February 2025

Background:

B-cell-depleting therapies are increasingly being used to treat autoimmune diseases. Although thousands of patients are and have been treated with these agents, the data are not yet strong enough to identify rare side effects with certainty.

Methods:

We report the case of a patient undergoing ocrelizumab therapy for relapsing multiple sclerosis who developed a severe limbic syndrome.

Results:

Autoimmune pathogenesis was initially suspected, with worsening on immunosuppressive therapy. Later, after diagnosis of an enterovirus infection, treatment with ribavirin and favipiravir in combination with intravenous immunoglobulins was initiated. After 4 weeks of therapy, the patient’s clinical condition had stabilized with residual cognitive deficits.

Conclusion:

Diagnosis and treatment of enterovirus infections remain challenging, especially in patients receiving immunosuppressive therapy.
Parental expectation, social capital and school choice: Voices from a mixed-community village in tribal areas of Odisha, India
Authors: Mahapatra Sukanta Kumar
Published: February 2025

Based on the qualitative interview data from children and parents in a mixed-community village in tribal areas of Odisha, one of the eastern state of India, the paper examines how the parental perceptions and the context of their decision-making process, shape the choice for private schooling even they have limited income and government run schools have the existence in their walking distance. The paper also seeks to explain kind of mechanisms adopted by the parents, those who find difficulties to send their children for studying in private schools. The findings of the study report that some Mahanta and Sounti parents, who have better income, prefer to send their children to private schools. Some of the Mahanta and Sounti parents manage to provide private tuition and home-based learning environment as a result of their wider access to social capital. On the other hand, families belong to low socio-economic bracket particularly belong to tribal community keep sending their children to the government schools due to their limited income and incapacity to provide them any alternative schooling. Thus, educational choice practices seem to reproduce social inequality and reinforce social exclusion in the educational processes of school and the children belong to poor socio-economic status less gain from the schooling processes. While the study acknowledges the importance of social networks in school choice, the study also suggests to look at the context of structural factors, cultural contexts and parental practices when it comes to studying school choice in a multi-community field site.
Review on activation of small molecules (dihydrogen, carbon dioxide, and dinitrogen) by various transition metal complexes
Authors: Melese Aklilu , Wubet Walelign , Hussen Abdu , Temesgen Ayalew , Mulate Kenaegzer
Published: February 2025

Small molecules such as dihydrogen (H2), carbon dioxide (CO2), and dinitrogen (N2) are ubiquitous in nature and have important industrial and environmental applications. This review article discusses the activation of these small molecules utilizing transition metal complexes because the activation and transformation of these molecules into value added products is a topic of current research due to economic importance. The review also discusses the interesting interaction between small molecules and metal complexes with their important activation mechanisms, such as the formation of hydride complexes for H2, formate complexes for CO2, and ammonia production from N2. The activation of these compounds using metal complexes recently considered as a more affordable method of synthesizing new organic molecules through catalytic processes. Therefore, this article aspires to provide insights into boosting metal complex design for improved reactivity and greater practicality in industrial and environmental situations by combining the most recent knowledge.
Translating Political Allusions in Jane Austen’s Mansfield Park
Authors: Li Qi , Li Saihong , Hope William
Published: February 2025

Historically, in China, Jane Austen’s works have been long undervalued due to perceptions of limited political relevance. Despite a wide recognition in Anglophone scholarship of their political commentary and social critique, this acknowledgment remains limited within Chinese contexts. This study focuses on Mansfield Park, a work known for its heightened political awareness. By integrating House’s TQA framework with diachronic comparative analysis, this study stands as a pioneering effort to assess how Austen’s political allusions in the novel have been translated and perceived within Chinese contexts over an extended period of time across different points in Chinese history. Originally published in 1814, Mansfield Park was the last of Austen’s novels to be introduced into China, with its first translation published in 1984. To carry out this research, we have compiled a diachronic translation corpus of Mansfield Park, encompassing all available Chinese renditions from 1984 onward. Through an exploration of three facets of political themes—luxury, imperialism, and colonialism—this study uncovers translation challenges, choices, and strategies adopted by different translators over time, as well as recurring weaknesses. It reveals a chronological progression in translating political allusions, particularly reflected in evolving footnotes, which indicates a growing commitment to contextual accuracy. Chinese translators display a preference for overt translation strategies when addressing historical events or figures, while covert translations prevail for allusions with French connotations like “menus plaisirs.” This research emphasizes how translators have endeavored to bridge the temporal and cultural divide between Regency England and modern China, shedding light on how Austen’s political nuances are reimagined for new audiences over time.
Do Perceived Insider Status Influence Intent to Stay Among Nurses: The Mediating Role of Psychological Ownership
Authors: Nnadozie Ebele E. , Ike Obinna O. , Ugwu Leonard I.
Published: February 2025

Intent to stay is a phenomenon that has remained one of the recipes for an efficient and vibrant organization, which is pivotal to organizational success and continuity in Nigerian organizations. However, more knowledge of the influencing factors and mechanisms must be gained. Based on the theory of planned behavior, this present study, adopting a two-wave design, conducted a cross-sectional survey of 515 nurses of federal government-owned hospitals in Southeast Nigeria to investigate the mediating role of psychological ownership (PO) in the relationship between perceived insider status (PIS) and intent to stay (ITS) using convenience sampling. The results revealed that PIS and PO had a significant positive relationship with intent to stay. In addition, PO significantly mediated the relationship between perceived insider status and intent to stay. The study findings highlight that enhancing perceived insider status and fostering psychological ownership are critical strategies for improving nurse retention. Healthcare organizations prioritizing these factors will likely see increased job satisfaction, reduced turnover, and better patient care outcomes. Organizations can create a more stable and committed nursing workforce by understanding and addressing nurses’ psychological and emotional needs.
Analysis of the Impact of the Transition to Online Education During the COVID-19 Pandemic on the Future Academic Performance of University Students
Authors: Rishko Yury , Boboshko Diana , Eliseeva Evgeniya , Malkin Aleksandr , Treistar Dmitrii
Published: February 2025

Discussion of the effectiveness of distance learning as a means of delivering higher education programs at classical universities has been ongoing for the past decade. The article presents the findings of a study of changes in academic performance of university students, covering the period from fall 2018 to fall 2023. This period included a rapid switch to online learning at Russian universities. Our study is based on a large dataset generated through the erp system of the national university of science and technology misis (nust misis). The dataset contains over 600,000 students’ academic performance entries covering every subject and practical class, including the final assessments. In addition to the abovementioned dataset, the study also used a database of students’ unified state examination (use) results. The results of use exams (taken during the final year of high school) determine the applicant’s eligibility for admission to university programs. We evaluate the impact of an individual student’s use results on their future academic performance at the undergraduate level. The study also analyzes the overall readiness of a university for distance learning at the time of the covid-19 pandemic outbreak. Excel pivot tables were used as a statistical analysis tool; shewhart charts were employed to analyze the academic performance trends. Our analysis confirmed the initial hypothesis—that there exists a potential negative impact of online learning on the academic performance of university students. The use of big data in learning analytics enhances the reliability of the results to the greatest extent possible.
Pioneering Social Sustainability Through the use of Virtual Influencers (VI): The Case of Archipelago Eco Resorts
Authors: Singh Smita , Bauman Matthew J.
Published: February 2025

The case study examines Archipelago Eco Resorts, a leader in luxury ecohospitality, known for weaving sustainability into every aspect of its operations and guest interactions. As Archipelago explores the novel concept of employing virtual influencers in its marketing campaigns, it faces a multifaceted challenge that balances technological innovation, authenticity, and ethical considerations. The resort’s initiative to use virtual influencers aims to amplify its branding and draw attention to its social sustainability efforts. However, this approach raises critical questions about the authenticity of digital personalities promoting realworld values and the ethical implications of using virtual influencers in place of human influencers. This scenario presents an opportunity to critically assess how emerging digital technologies can be harmonized with the core values of transparency, ethical responsibility, and alignment with social sustainability that are central to the brand’s identity.
Surface Characterization of Methyltrimethoxysilane-Treated Alumina Particles
Authors: Chen Xiaoyun , Vlasak Paul , Hutchins Paul , Kaushik Monu , Beebe Jeremy , Krzysik Kelly , Kellogg Kevin
Published: February 2025

The compatibility of filler particles with polymer strongly influences composite structure. By altering the surface chemistry of the filler using treating agents such as fatty acids or silane filler–polymer compatibility can be controlled. In this study, we employed a myriad of analytical characterization methods to systematically investigate the surface chemistry of alumina fillers after ex situ treatment with methyltrimethoxysilane (MTM) to confirm the success of treatment. Each technique provides insights from different perspectives and demonstrates that a higher treatment level was achieved as a higher amount of MTM was used, and the resultant treatment formed a uniform layer on the filler surface. Such surface treatment led to a decrease in both dispersive and polar surface energy, which plays a critical role in the control of filler–matrix interactions, and in turn the performance of final products made with such fillers. Despite the use of chemically sensitive spectroscopy tools such as secondary ion mass spectrometry and dynamic nuclear polarization nuclear magnetic resonance, the exact nature of bonding of the treating agent and alumina surface remains elusive without convincing evidence to conclude the formation of the Al–O–Si bond.
Effect of continuous positive airway pressure on blood pressure in normotensive individuals with obstructive sleep apnoea: a randomised trial
Authors: Targa Adriano D. S. , Torres Gerard , Benítez Iván D. , Henríquez-Beltrán Mario , Vaca Rafaela , Pascual Arnó Lidia , Minguez Olga , Aguilà Maria , Martínez Dolores , Pinilla Lucía , Galan Gonzalez Anna , Balsells Garriga Sergi , Sánchez-de-la-Torre Manuel , Barbé Ferran
Published: February 2025

The use of continuous positive airway pressure prevents an increase in blood pressure in normotensive subjects with a dipping blood pressure pattern and severe obstructive sleep apnoea.

Background

: The effects of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on blood pressure (BP) in normotensive subjects, particularly among those with a dipping BP pattern, remain uncertain, raising questions about its indication for this group of patients. We assessed the impact of CPAP on BP in normotensive subjects with a dipping BP pattern and severe obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA).

Methods

: Randomised, parallel, prospective, controlled trial. Inclusion criteria were an apnoea-hypopnea index ≥30 events/hour, mean 24-hour BP <130/80 mmHg, and daytime-to-nighttime BP reduction ≥10%. Patients were randomly assigned to receive either CPAP treatment or usual care for 12 weeks. The primary outcome was the change in ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM) parameters from baseline to the three-month follow-up.

Results

: The 60 patients who completed the follow-up had a mean age of 52.2 years (sd10.8), and 40 of them (66.7%) were male. The intention-to-treat analysis showed no significant changes with CPAP, whereas the usual care group experienced increases in ABPM parameters. This resulted in a mean difference of −3.4 mmHg (95% CI: −6.124 to −0.676; p=0.015) in nighttime diastolic BP between the groups. The per-protocol analysis indicated significant differences between the CPAP and usual care groups for all primary endpoints, except for daytime systolic BP. For nighttime systolic BP, the difference was −6.052 mmHg (95% CI: −10.895 to −1.208; p=0.016).

Conclusion

: These findings suggest a protective effect of CPAP, highlighting the importance of CPAP prescription for this population to control potential increases in blood pressure and possibly prevent the onset of hypertension.
Therapeutic effect of long-interval repeated subcutaneous administration of canine amniotic membrane-derived mesenchymal stem cells in atopic dermatitis mouse model
Authors: Kim Minsoo , Kong Dasom , Kim Nam Gyo , Kim Min-Ji , Kim Hee-Yeong , Choi Jung-Ju , Choi Yu-Seung , Lee Ha-Eun , Farzaneh Khaligh Seyedeh , Kwon Dohyung , Lee Seunghee , Kang Kyung-Sun
Published: February 2025

Atopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic and inflammatory disease. According to a recent study, administration of canine MSCs is a potential therapy for immunological diseases. However, most related studies involve short-term experiments and acute atopic dermatitis animal models. Thus, studies of repeated subcutaneous injection of canine MSCs for ameliorating long-term inflammatory skin disorders have not yet been established. In this study, we evaluated the effects of long-term canine amniotic mesenchymal stem cells (cAM-MSCs) and calcineurin inhibitors (CNIs) treatments in mouse AD model for up to 8 weeks and compared the differences in therapeutic effect through canine peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs). Using a mouse model, we validated the therapeutic impact of cAM-MSCs in comparison to pimecrolimus (Pime), the most widely used CNIs, as a therapy for canine AD. Based on our results, we verified that the cAM-MSC treatment group exhibited substantially lower scores for tissue pathologic alterations, inflammatory cytokines, and dermatologic symptoms than the PBS control group. Importantly, compared with Pime, cAM-MSCs were more effective at preventing wound dysfunction and regulating mast cell activity. Additionally, we confirmed that immune modulation proteins (TGF-β1, IDO1, and COX-2) were increased in the cAM-MSCs treatment group. Furthermore, we examined the immunoregulatory effect of cAM-MSCs through the proliferation of T lymphocytes from activated canine PBMCs. As a result, cAM-MSCs suppressed the proliferative capacity of effector T cells from canine PBMCs more effectively than Pime. In conclusion, this study suggested that the cAM-MSCS could be an effective canine treatment for long-term canine AD through regeneration and immunomodulation.
Guidelines for the content of statistical analysis plans in clinical trials: protocol for an extension to cluster randomized trials
Authors: Hemming Karla , Thompson Jacqueline Y. , Hooper Richard L. , Ukoumunne Obioha C. , Li Fan , Caille Agnes , Kahan Brennan C. , Leyrat Clemence , Grayling Michael J. , Mohammed Nuredin I. , Thompson Jennifer A. , Giraudeau Bruno , Turner Elizabeth L. , Watson Samuel I. , Goulão Beatriz , Kasza Jessica , Forbes Andrew B. , Copas Andrew J. , Taljaard Monica
Published: February 2025

Background

Guidance exists to inform the content of statistical analysis plans in clinical trials. Though not explicitly stated, this guidance is generally focused on clinical trials in which the randomization units are individual patients and not groups of patients. There are critical considerations for the analysis of cluster randomized trials, such as accounting for clustering, the risk of imbalances between the arms due to post-randomization recruitment, and the need to use small sample corrections when the number of clusters is small.

Methods

This paper outlines the protocol for the development of a set of reporting guidelines for the content of statistical analysis plans for cluster randomized trials (including variations such as the stepped wedge cluster randomized trial and other cluster cross-over designs) by extending the minimum reporting analysis requirements as previously defined for individually randomized trials to cluster randomized trials. The guideline will be developed using a consensus-based approach, modifying existing reporting items from the guideline for individually randomized trials and extending to include new items.

Discussion

The guideline will be developed so it can be used independently of the guideline for individually randomized designs. The consensus guidelines will be published in an open-access journal, including key guidance as well as exploration and elaboration.
Orthodontically induced root resorption in endodontically treated and vital teeth: a cone beam computer tomographic study
Authors: Liu Ziang , Ouyang Yuqing , Lou Yiting , Han Yineng , Lu Mengting , Yu Mengfei , Wang Huiming , Ding Wanghui
Published: February 2025

Background

Orthodontically induced root resorption (OIRR) is a common side effect of orthodontic treatment. This study compares the degree of OIRR between root-filled teeth (RFT) and vital pulp teeth (VPT), and analyzes relevant study variables.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective study on 69 patients who had undergone orthodontic treatment. Using Cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT), we measured changes of root length before and after treatment through a unique method involving three-dimensional (3D) image registration and superimposition. Factors related to the OIRR such as gender, type of treatment, tooth type, age, duration of treatment and distance of root movement were considered.

Results

The sample included 55 females and 14 males aged 27.19 ± 6.08 years. On the basis that there was no significant difference in the root movement distance between RFT and VPT, RFT showed significantly less OIRR than VPT (P < 0.05). Gender did not significantly impact on OIRR for either RFT or VPT group (P > 0.05). In women specifically, RFT displayed less resorption than VPT (P < 0.05). For treatment type, extraction cases demonstrated a lower degree of OIRR in RFT than VPT (P < 0.05), and notable greater OIRR in with-extraction group compared to no-extractions group was found in RFT (P < 0.05), but not in VPT (P > 0.05). Tooth type did not yield significant differences in OIRR overall; however, upper teeth and premolars experienced lower resorption in RFT than in VPT (P < 0.05). Cases treated with fixed appliance had higher OIRR in both RFT and VPT than those with clear aligners (P < 0.05). Age did not correlate significantly with OIRR for either group (P > 0.05). And duration of treatment positively correlated with OIRR for both types (RFT: r = 0.5506, P < 0.0001; VPT: r = 0.4371, P = 0.0002), so did root movement distance (RFT: r = 0.2955, P = 0.0140; VPT: r = 0.2790, P = 0.0206).

Conclusions

RFT exhibit significantly less OIRR than VPT after orthodontic treatment. Treatment type, appliance type, duration of treatment and root movement distance are significant factors influencing OIRR. Personalized orthodontic treatment plans and vigilant monitoring are crucial to mitigate OIRR risks.
A pilot study on the effect of time and acidic/basic conditions on the development of intent fingermarks using silica-copper oxide (SiO2/CuO) nanocomposite
Authors: Grover Aseem , Bumbrah Gurvinder Singh , Das Anirban
Published: February 2025

Background

Fingerprints are the most reliable means of identification. It is widely accepted physical evidence usually found on various items recovered from the crime scenes. It can be used to ascertain the identity of a person or to provide a direct link of suspect to weapon or scene of crime. Various methods have been used to detect the latent fingermarks on porous and nonporous surfaces.

Materials and methodology

In this present study, the novel SiO2/CuO nanocomposites have been synthesized and characterized using the PXRD, FE-SEM, TEM, and FT-IR. First copper oxide nanoparticles were synthesized by precipitation method, and silica nanospheres were separately synthesized by Stober method. Thereafter, as-synthesized copper oxide nanoparticles were coated on the silica spheres. This SiO2/CuO nanocomposites were used to develop fingermarks exposed to various environmental conditions as described in the title.

Results

By using the Debye–Scherrer equation, the average crystalline size of SiO2/CuO nanocomposites was calculated to be 33.68 nm. By SEM analysis, the silica were spherical in shape, and CuO had a rodlike structure. The synthesized nanocomposite develops sharp and clear fingerprints on a wide range of dry, smooth, and nonporous surfaces, i.e., aluminum foil, bakelite sheet, CD back side, CD front side, glass slide, and black ceramic tile which may be discerned in natural light. Further, the synthesized nanocomposite was used to develop latent fingerprints treated with acid and base.

Conclusion

This developed SiO2/CuO nanocomposites are useful in detecting and developing weak and fragmented chance prints from scenes of crime. The synthesized SiO2/CuO nanocomposites are non-hazardous and cost effective.
Long COVID – a critical disruption of cholinergic neurotransmission?
Authors: Leitzke Marco , Roach Donald Troy , Hesse Swen , Schönknecht Peter , Becker Georg-Alexander , Rullmann Michael , Sattler Bernhardt , Sabri Osama
Published: February 2025

Background

Following the COVID-19 pandemic, there are many chronically ill Long COVID (LC) patients with different symptoms of varying degrees of severity. The pathological pathways of LC remain unclear until recently and make identification of path mechanisms and exploration of therapeutic options an urgent challenge. There is an apparent relationship between LC symptoms and impaired cholinergic neurotransmission.

Methods

This paper reviews the current literature on the effects of blocked nicotinic acetylcholine receptors (nAChRs) on the main affected organ and cell systems and contrasts this with the unblocking effects of the alkaloid nicotine. In addition, mechanisms are presented that could explain the previously unexplained phenomenon of post-vaccination syndrome (PVS). The fact that not only SARS-CoV-2 but numerous other viruses can bind to nAChRs is discussed under the assumption that numerous other post-viral diseases and autoimmune diseases (ADs) may also be due to impaired cholinergic transmission. We also present a case report that demonstrates changes in cholinergic transmission, specifically, the availability of α4β2 nAChRs by using (-)-[18F]Flubatine whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) imaging of cholinergic dysfunction in a LC patient along with a significant neurological improvement before and after low-dose transcutaneous nicotine (LDTN) administration. Lastly, a descriptive analysis and evaluation were conducted on the results of a survey involving 231 users of LDTN.

Results

A substantial body of research has emerged that offers a compelling explanation for the phenomenon of LC, suggesting that it can be plausibly explained because of impaired nAChR function in the human body. Following a ten-day course of transcutaneous nicotine administration, no enduring neuropathological manifestations were observed in the patient. This observation was accompanied by a significant increase in the number of free ligand binding sites (LBS) of nAChRs, as determined by (-)-[18F]Flubatine PET imaging. The analysis of the survey shows that the majority of patients (73.5%) report a significant improvement in the symptoms of their LC/MEF/CFS disease as a result of LDTN.

Conclusions

In conclusion, based on current knowledge, LDTN appears to be a promising and safe procedure to relieve LC symptoms with no expected long-term harm.
Re-delimiting oversummering regions of Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici in China
Authors: Zhang Jiguang , Li Yuxiang , Liu Di , Zhang Junjie , Zhang Zhibo , Yao Qiang , Xu Xiangming , Hu Xiaoping
Published: February 2025

Stripe rust, caused by Puccinia striiformis f. sp. tritici (Pst), is one of the most important diseases on wheat, causing severe yield losses. The pathogen can only survive the summer in the cooler areas of northern and western regions in China. Compared to the main wheat-growing region, the oversummering region is relatively small. Therefore, managing stripe rust in the oversummering region is crucial for controlling the disease nationwide. In this study, we conducted experiments to determine the survival of the predominant Pst races in China under high temperatures and used the data to predict potential Pst oversummering regions. The predominant races (CYR32, CYR33, and CYR34) were able to survive and reproduce at an average temperature of up to 27 °C. Disease incidence and the number of uredinia decreased with increasing temperatures of 24–27 °C during incubation. The results from re-delimiting oversummering regions suggested that Pst is able to oversummer in the east of Gansu province and the south of Shanxi province, which were previously considered unsuitable for Pst oversummering. Based on the present study, the east of Inner Mongolia and north of Heilongjiang could provide the oversummering condition for Pst. Three major oversummering regions, the Liupan Mountain range, the highlands in the south of Gansu province, and the east of Qinghai province were identified. The results should be useful for adjusting strategies to manage stripe rust in China.