bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Accounting for ground motion directionality and building orientations in urban seismic risk analysis
Authors: Poulos Alan , Miranda Eduardo
Published: February 2025

Regional seismic risk analysis methods are used to estimate the loss of a group of buildings subjected to earthquakes. Buildings usually have two perpendicular horizontal principal orientations, which tend to be similar among buildings within the same city due to the grid-like nature of street layouts. Current regional seismic risk analysis methods do not consider these building orientations to estimate losses because they usually consider orientation-independent measures of horizontal ground motion intensity. However, horizontal ground motions present directionality, meaning that their intensities vary with horizontal orientation. Thus, the response of a building depends on its orientation relative to the orientation of the ground motion. This work studies the effect of building orientations and ground motion directionality on groups of buildings within a city. A testbed group of buildings subjected to an example earthquake is used to estimate losses in terms of the aggregate repair cost of the buildings. The variance of these output losses is shown to be maximized when all buildings share the same principal orientations and minimized when these orientations are fully randomized. A variance-based sensitivity analysis is then performed to compare the contribution to the output variance of ground motion directionality with that of some other sources of uncertainty usually considered in regional seismic risk analyses. When buildings share the same principal orientations and the median ground motion intensities from all orientations are fixed, ground motion directionality is found to be an important source of uncertainty, and its importance increases as more buildings are considered in the analysis. These results suggest that considering ground motion directionality and building orientations could be important for future urban seismic risk analyses and that, under the same seismic hazard, the seismic risk of cities with regular orthogonal street arrangements is larger than that of cities with more irregular street layouts.
How I treat patients who are refractory to platelet transfusions
Authors: Nahirniak Susan , Sekaran Nadarajan Veera , Stanworth Simon J
Published: February 2025

Patients with thrombocytopenia requiring on-going platelet transfusion support may develop inadequate platelet count increments, referred to as Platelet Refractoriness (PR), which further complicates their care. The underlying etiologies of PR can be broadly divided into immune and non-immune causes. A high index of suspicion is required to initiate testing for alloimmunization and t leading culprit in immune PR is development of Class I Human Leukocyte Antigens (HLA) antibodies. The approach to diagnosis of immune PR has changed over the recent years with new technologies but questions regarding clinical significance and interpretation of these methods have not been conclusively answered. The provision of HLA-matched platelets requires close and timely co-ordination between transfusion services and clinical teams; however, the true impact of their provision on clinical outcomes is not clear. This paper will review diagnostic and management challenges, appraise the existing data available to support treatment options, and identify research gaps.
Immunoactinopathies revisited: Understanding clinical manifestations and biological pathways
Authors: Hiensch Fleur , Dupre Loic , Salzer Elisabeth
Published: February 2025

Immune cell functionality is highly dependent on the actin cytoskeleton. The actin cytoskeleton is regulated by a complex molecular machinery, involving multiple genes. Mutations in these genes can cause inborn errors of immunity, also termed immunoactinopathies, of which Wiskott Aldrich Syndrome is the best-characterized entity. At present, mutations in 23 genes can be considered causative of immunoactinopathies. Immunoactinopathies are rare disease entities with complex combinations of clinical manifestations, including immunodeficiency, immune dysregulation, malignancies, atopy, thrombocytopenia and bleeding, skin involvement or congenital defects. Prompt diagnosis is of crucial importance, as HSCT in an early phase can offer cure and prevent further complications. This review provides a detailed summary of the clinical experience with immunoactinopathies so far, elaborates on the most distinguishing features among immunoactinopathies by providing a clinical categorization, and links this information to the biological pathways that are involved. This information may be of help for clinicians to diagnose patients and eventually improve patient care.
Viral reactivations and fungal infections in nonresolving acute respiratory distress syndrome
Authors: Maessen Lenn , Boers Leonoor S. , Heylen Jannes , van Someren Gréve Frank , Wauters Joost , Bos Lieuwe D.J. , Feys Simon
Published: February 2025

Acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) is a condition affecting 10% of patients requiring admission to the intensive care unit and results from endothelial dysfunction, alveolar epithelial injury and unbalanced inflammation, leading to exudative pulmonary oedema. A significant portion of these patients experience a lung injury that fails to resolve. Persistent or worsening respiratory failure beyond 5 days after the initiation of mechanical ventilation is referred to as nonresolving ARDS. Viral and fungal pathogens can exploit the hyperinflammatory environment and altered immune landscape in ARDS, perpetuating a cycle of ongoing inflammation and lung injury, thereby contributing to the progression towards and persistence of nonresolving ARDS, even in previously immunocompetent patients. This review discusses the significance, pathophysiology, diagnostic challenges and key knowledge gaps concerning various viral and fungal pathogens in nonresolving ARDS, with a particular focus on influenza-associated and COVID-19-associated pulmonary aspergillosis and pulmonary reactivation ofHerpesviridae, such as cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus. Diagnosing these infections is challenging due to their nonspecific clinical presentation and the inability of current tests to distinguish between fungal colonisation or asymptomatic viral shedding and clinically significant infections or reactivations. A deeper understanding of the complex interplay between these pathogens and the host immune system in the context of ARDS, combined with advances in diagnostic and therapeutic strategies, has the potential to enhance the management and prognosis of patients with nonresolving ARDS.
Gαq/11 aggravates acute lung injury in mice by promoting endoplasmic reticulum stress-mediated NETosis
Authors: Xiang Qian , Tian Yang , Yang Kai , Du Yaqin , Xie Jian
Published: February 2025

Background

Acute lung injury (ALI) is distinguished by exaggerated neutrophil extracellular traps (NETs), elevated clinical mortality rates, and a paucity of targeted therapeutic interventions. The Gαq/11 protein, a member of the G protein subfamily, is an effective intervention target for a variety of diseases, but little is known about its role in ALI.

Methods

In this study, a murine model of ALI induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) was utilized, employing myeloid cell-specific Gna11 knockout mice. The pulmonary pathology of mice was assessed and the lung samples were collected for immunofluorescence staining and RNA-sequencing analysis to elucidate the impact and underlying mechanisms of Gαq/11 in ALI. Mouse bone marrow-derived neutrophils were isolated and cultured for live-cell imaging to investigate the in vitro effects of Gαq/11.

Results

The expression of Gαq/11 was found to be upregulated in the lung tissues of mice with ALI, coinciding with the increased expression of inflammatory genes. Myeloid cell-specific Gna11 deficience attenuated LPS-induced lung injury and the formation of NETs in mice. Mechanistically, Gαq/11 facilitates NETosis by promoting the activation of the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress sensor IRE1α in neutrophils and mediating the production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species (mitoROS). Pharmacological inhibition of Gαq/11 using YM-254,890 was shown to reduce NETs formation and lung injury in mice.

Conclusions

The upregulation of Gαq/11 exacerbates ALI through the promotion of ER stress-mediated NETosis. Consequently, Gαq/11 represents a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of ALI.
Estimation of mosaic loss of Y chromosome cell fraction with genotyping arrays lacking coverage in the pseudoautosomal region
Authors: Zhou Weiyin , Huang Wen-Yi , Freedman Neal D. , Machiela Mitchell
Published: February 2025

Background

Mosaic loss of the Y chromosome (mLOY) in circulating leukocytes is the most frequently detected age-related chromosomal mosaic event in men. Current mLOY detection approaches use genotyping arrays and employ a phase-based approach that identifies B allele frequency (BAF) deviations in the pseudo-autosomal region (PAR) shared between the X and Y chromosome. As some widely used genotyping arrays lack sufficient probe coverage of the PAR, methods for accurately measuring mLOY utilizing the median log2 R ratio across the male-specific region of Y chromosome (mLRR_Y) are needed for detecting mLOY on these platforms.

Results

We derived a formula from mLRR_Y to estimate the cellular fraction (CF) of cells with Y loss and validated the approach, finding high alignment with the CF estimation from female data and lab-generated qPCR data (R2 = 0.98). Additionally, we compared the correlation between phase-based BAF and mLRR_Y methods for CF estimation, achieving a high correlation with R2 > 0.80.

Conclusion

Although mLRR_Y is a noisier metric for mosaic chromosomal alteration detection relative to BAF, we demonstrate mLRR_Y across non-PAR variants can accurately estimate mLOY CF, especially for high CF mLOY.
Gene novelty and gene family expansion in the early evolution of Lepidoptera
Authors: Hoile Asia E. , Holland Peter W. H. , Mulhair Peter O.
Published: February 2025

Background

Almost 10% of all known animal species belong to Lepidoptera: moths and butterflies. To understand how this incredible diversity evolved we assess the role of gene gain in driving early lepidopteran evolution. Here, we compared the complete genomes of 115 insect species, including 99 Lepidoptera, to search for novel genes coincident with the emergence of Lepidoptera.

Results

We find 217 orthogroups or gene families which emerged on the branch leading to Lepidoptera; of these 177 likely arose by gene duplication followed by extensive sequence divergence, 2 are candidates for origin by horizontal gene transfer, and 38 have no known homology outside of Lepidoptera and possibly arose via de novo gene genesis. We focus on two new gene families that are conserved across all lepidopteran species and underwent extensive duplication, suggesting important roles in lepidopteran biology. One encodes a family of sugar and ion transporter molecules, potentially involved in the evolution of diverse feeding behaviours in early Lepidoptera. The second encodes a family of unusual propeller-shaped proteins that likely originated by horizontal gene transfer from Spiroplasma bacteria; we name these the Lepidoptera propellin genes.

Conclusion

We provide the first insights into the role of genetic novelty in the early evolution of Lepidoptera. This gives new insight into the rate of gene gain during the evolution of the order as well as providing context on the likely mechanisms of origin. We describe examples of new genes which were retained and duplicated further in all lepidopteran species, suggesting their importance in Lepidoptera evolution.
Integrative diagnosis of psychiatric conditions using ChatGPT and fMRI data
Authors: Li Runda
Published: February 2025

Background

Traditional diagnostic methods for psychiatric disorders often rely on subjective assessments, leading to inconsistent diagnoses. Integrating advanced natural language processing (NLP) techniques with neuroimaging data may improve diagnostic accuracy.

Methods

We propose a novel approach that uses ChatGPT to conduct interactive patient interviews, capturing nuanced emotional and psychological data. By analyzing these dialogues using NLP, we generate a comprehensive feature matrix. This matrix, combined with 4D fMRI data, is input into a neural network to predict psychiatric diagnoses. We conducted comparative analysis with survey-based and app-based methods, providing detailed statistical validation.

Results

Our model achieved an accuracy of 85.7%, significantly outperforming traditional methods. Statistical analysis confirmed the superiority of the ChatGPT-based approach in capturing nuanced patient information, with p-values indicating significant improvements over baseline models.

Conclusions

Integrating NLP-driven patient interactions with fMRI data offers a promising approach to psychiatric diagnosis, enhancing precision and reliability. This method could advance clinical practice by providing a more objective and comprehensive diagnostic tool, although more research is needed to generalize these findings.
Development of a predictive model for post-surgical chronic pain: a retrospective analysis of calcaneal fracture patients
Authors: Zhai Shibo , Zhang Shuo , Ma Xinzhe , Gong Yongchao , Hou Zhiyong , Chen Wei , Ma Lijie
Published: February 2025

Background

Chronic pain following calcaneal fracture surgery substantially diminishes patients' quality of life, yet effective risk prediction tools remain scarce. This study aimed to develop and validate a reliable predictive model for assessing the risk of chronic pain development after calcaneal fracture surgery.

Methods

This retrospective analysis examined 398 patients who underwent calcaneal fracture surgery between January 2022 and July 2023. Patients were randomly allocated into model development (n = 280) and validation (n = 118) cohorts. Independent risk factors were identified through multivariate logistic regression analysis to construct the prediction model. Model performance was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, calibration plots, and decision curve analysis.

Results

The study identified several independent predictors of postoperative chronic pain: body mass index (BMI) (OR:1.10, 95%CI:1.02–1.19, P = 0.014), operative duration (OR:1.01, 95%CI:1.00–1.02, P = 0.019), surgical approach, and Böhler angle (OR:1.03, 95%CI:1.00–1.06, P = 0.025). The predictive model demonstrated good discriminative ability in both development and validation cohorts, with AUC values of 0.691 (95%CI:0.63–0.75) and 0.655 (95%CI:0.56–0.77), respectively. Calibration plots showed strong agreement between predicted probabilities and observed outcomes.

Conclusion

Our newly developed predictive model, incorporating BMI, operative duration, surgical approach, and Böhler angle, effectively predicts the risk of chronic pain following calcaneal fracture surgery. This tool provides valuable guidance for clinicians in conducting individualized risk assessments and implementing targeted preventive strategies.
EIT guided evaluation of regional ventilation distributions in neonatal and pediatric ARDS: a prospective feasibility study
Authors: Soltész Leon , Leyens Judith , Vogel Marieke , Muders Thomas , Putensen Christian , Kipfmueller Florian , Dresbach Till , Mueller Andreas , Schroeder Lukas
Published: February 2025

Background

Despite international guidelines for lung protective ventilation in neonatal or pediatric acute respiratory distress syndrome (nARDS/ pARDS), prospective data on bedside monitoring tools for regional ventilation distribution and lung mechanics are still rare. As a bedside and radiation-free procedure, electrical impedance tomography (EIT) offers a practical and safe approach for analyzing regional ventilation distributions. Recent trials in adults have shown the efficacy of an individualized EIT guided strategy for the improvement of ventilator induced lung injury (VILI).

Methods

We performed a single-center prospective feasibility study from November/2021 to December/2023 in the department of neonatal and pediatric intensive care medicine at the University Children´s Hospital in Bonn. All patients with diagnosis of nARDS (or history of perinatal lung disease-PLD)/ pARDS were screened for study inclusion. In all patients a decremental PEEP (positive end-expiratory pressure) trial was performed with a continuous EIT monitoring for an individual analysis of the EIT guided pixel compliance (CEIT) and PEEP finding (EIT-PEEP). In the offline analysis, further EIT derived indices, such as global inhomogeneity index (GI), and center of ventilation (CoV), were calculated.

Results

Overall, 40 EIT measurements were performed in 26 neonatal and pediatric patients (nARDS/PLD, n = 6; and pARDS, n = 20) within a predefined decremental PEEP trial. Thirteen patients were classified as having severe nARDS (PLD)/ pARDS with an Oxygen Saturation Index (OSI) > 12 or Oxygenation Index (OI) > 16. In-hospital mortality rate was 27% in the overall cohort. The median EIT-PEEP (11mbar) was calculated as lowest, as compared to the clinically set PEEP (11.5mbar, p < 0.001), and the ARDSnetwork PEEP table recommendation (ARDSnet-PEEP, 14mbar, p = 0.018). In patients with nARDS/PLD, the EIT-PEEP was calculated 3mbar below the clinically set PEEP (p = 0.058) and 11 mbar below the ARDSnet-PEEP (p = 0.01). In the linear regression analysis, EIT-PEEP and the dynamic compliance (CDYN) at -2mbar presented a significant correlation with a Cohen´s R2 of 0.265 (β: 0.886, p = 0.005).

Conclusion

EIT is feasible and can be performed safely in patients with diagnosis of nARDS/PLD and pARDS, even during ongoing extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) support. An individualized PEEP finding strategy according to the EIT compliance might optimize regional ventilation distribution in these patients and can potentially decrease VILI.

Clinical trial registration

The study was registered at the German Clinical Trials Register (GCT; trial number: DRKS 00034905, Registration Date 15.08.2024). The registration was performed retrospectively after inclusion of the last patient.
Cullin-RING ligase BioE3 reveals molecular-glue-induced neosubstrates and rewiring of the endogenous Cereblon ubiquitome
Authors: Merino-Cacho Laura , Barroso-Gomila Orhi , Pozo-Rodríguez Mónica , Muratore Veronica , Guinea-Pérez Claudia , Serrano Álvaro , Pérez Coralia , Cano-López Sandra , Urcullu Ainhoa , Azkargorta Mikel , Iloro Ibon , Galdeano Carles , Juárez-Jiménez Jordi , Mayor Ugo , Elortza Felix , Barrio Rosa , Sutherland James D.
Published: February 2025

Background

The specificity of the ubiquitination process is mediated by the E3 ligases. Discriminating genuine substrates of E3s from mere interacting proteins is one of the major challenges in the field. We previously developed BioE3, a biotin-based approach that uses BirA-E3 fusions together with ubiquitin fused to a low-affinity AviTag to obtain a site-specific and proximity-dependent biotinylation of the substrates. We proved the suitability of BioE3 to identify targets of RING and HECT-type E3 ligases.

Methods

BioE3 experiments were performed in HEK293FT and U2OS stable cell lines expressing TRIPZ-bioGEFUb transiently transfected with BirA-cereblon (CRBN). Cells were seeded using biotin-free media, followed later by a short-biotin pulse. We evaluated the applicability of the BioE3 system to CRBN and molecular glues by Western blot and confocal microscopy, blocking the proteasome with bortezomib, inhibiting NEDDylation with MLN4924 and treating the cells with pomalidomide. For the identification of endogenous substrates and neosubstrates we analyzed the eluates of streptavidin pull-downs of BioE3 experiments by LC–MS/MS. Analysis of targets for which ubiquitination changes significantly upon treatment was done using two-sided Student’s t-test. Orthogonal validations were performed by histidine pull-down, GFP-trap and computational modelling.

Results

Here we demonstrate that BioE3 is suitable for the multi-protein complex Cullin-RING E3s ligases (CRLs), the most utilized E3-type for targeted protein degradation (TPD) strategies. Using CRBN as proof of concept, one of the substrate receptors of CRL4 E3 ligase, we identified both endogenous substrates and novel neosubstrates upon pomalidomide treatment, including CSDE1 which contains a G-loop motif potentially involved in the binding to CRBN in presence of pomalidomide. Importantly, we observed a major rearrangement of the endogenous ubiquitination landscape upon treatment with this molecular glue.

Conclusions

The ability of BioE3 to detect and compare both substrates and neosubstrates, as well as how substrates change in response to treatments, will facilitate both on-target and off-target identifications and offer a broader characterization and validation of TPD compounds, like molecular glues and PROTACs.
Parent-adolescent sexual and reproductive health information communication in Ghana
Authors: Agyei Frank Bediako , Kaura Doreen K. , Bell Janet D.
Published: February 2025

Background

A culturally sensitive sexual and reproductive health (SRH) information communication intervention which is effective can improve SRH information communication (IC) between parents and their adolescents. This facilitates adolescents’ informed SRH decisions to optimise positive SRH outcomes.

Aim

The aim of this article was to integrate the findings from a systematic review and a qualitative study on sexual and reproductive health information communication and the considerations to make in adapting an effective parent-adolescent SRH information communication intervention from the systematic review findings.

Methods

Explanatory sequential Mixed Methods Research was used; first, a quantitative Systematic Review was conducted in lower-and-middle-income countries, utilising Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) software for reviews. The systematic review findings were then explained, utilizing an exploratory qualitative design in the second phase of the study. A purposive sample of ten parent-adolescent pairs was selected from Asante Akyem North Municipality of Ghana and all participants were interviewed individually. The sample was based on the demographics highlighted in the systematic review. A semi-structured interview guide was developed from the findings of the systematic review.

Results

The results confirmed that effective SRH information communication interventions are associated with parent-adolescent SRH information communication skills. SRH communication is also influenced by the SRH information parents and adolescents have and the personal and social motivation to communicate the information. The method of intervention delivery, the experts involved, and the place of delivery were also identified as important issues to consider in adapting and implementing an intervention.

Conclusion

The study has provided information on the components of a culturally sensitive SRH information communication intervention. The contextual information gathered, which explained the systematic review findings, will be helpful in the adaptation of SRH information communication intervention.
Gottfried Benn´s “brains” novella from 1916: implications for the philosophy of mind
Authors: Wolf Gunter
Published: February 2025

Gottfried Benn (1886–1956) was a major 20th-century German physician-poet and essayist. He successfully completed his medical studies and worked across several hospitals and disciplines, including pathology, performing many autopsies. Later in life, Benn ran his own practice to treat skin and venereal diseases in Berlin for many years. Benn is not well-known in English-speaking countries and only a few of his poems have been translated into English so far. One possible reason for this may have been his initial enthusiasm for National Socialism (as documented in essays, see below), which led to a break with other authors of his generation who had to emigrate. His novella collection "Gehirne" (Brains), published in 1918, was a significant contribution to expressionist short prose. In this work, Dr. Rönne (Benn's alter ego) searches in vain for the soul and personality in the brain matter. This leads to increasing psychological instability and depression, and Rönne can no longer carry out his medical work. The purpose of this article is to familiarize the interested reader with Benn's biography and to analyze the novella in more detail, especially in terms of the concepts of the mind’s philosophy.
Illness cognition, illness perception and related factors in patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis
Authors: Huang Liting , Yang Lulu , Ouyang Ruoyun , Ren Siying
Published: February 2025

Purpose

To explore the self-perceived illness cognition and perception status, as well as the relevant factors among lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients.

Methods

A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted in September 2023. A total of 121 LAM patients participated (including 16 patients with TSC-LAM), and the survey collected general demographic information, responses to a disease cognition questionnaire, and a simplified disease perception questionnaire.

Results

LAM patients have a higher level of negative illness cognition and a lower level of positive illness cognition, specifically characterized by helplessness (15.74 ± 4.68 points), acceptance (16.00 ± 3.28 points), and perceived benefits (16.92 ± 3.86 points). Single-factor analysis of variance found significant correlations between cultural level, age, family average monthly income, use of rapamycin, use of home oxygen therapy, hospitalization frequency, disease duration, severity of respiratory distress, activity limitation, and the helplessness score of LAM patients (p ≤ 0.05); the number of children was significantly associated with acceptance scores of LAM patients (p ≤ 0.05); and whether surgery had been performed was significantly associated with acceptance and perceived benefits scores of LAM patients (p ≤ 0.05). Disease duration and activity limitation entered the regression equation for helplessness dimension, while whether surgery had been performed entered the regression equation for perceived benefits dimension, but no factor entered the regression equation for acceptance dimension. Applying the same analysis to disease perception, we found that the average score of the Illness Perception Questionnaire was 45.43 ± 8.97, with lower scores in the reverse-scored items of individual control, treatment, and understanding.

Conclusions

LAM patients exhibit higher levels of helplessness, particularly among those with longer disease duration and greater activity limitations, leading to a more negative perception of the disease. Additionally, patients who have undergone surgical procedures tend to perceive fewer benefits. Furthermore, there is a significant correlation between illness perception and factors such as rapamycin usage, home oxygen therapy, disease duration and activity limitations caused by LAM. This indicates that clinical healthcare providers should pay more attention to LAM patients and their associated groups, providing both informational and psychological support.
Radiofrequency ablation for peribiliary hepatocellular carcinoma: propensity score matching analysis
Authors: Cui Jin , Sui Xinzi , Liu Kaiwen , Huang Min , Zheng Yuanwen , Zhao Xinya , Wang Gongzheng , Wang Ximing
Published: February 2025

Objectives

At present, there are no established clinical guidelines for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of peribiliary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare the long-term outcomes of RFA for peribiliary vs. non-peribiliary HCC.

Methods

This retrospective study included 282 patients with peribiliary HCC (n = 109) or non-peribiliary HCC (n = 173) who received RFA between February 2013 and May 2021. Local tumor progression (LTP), overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and complications were compared before and after propensity score matching (PSM).

Results

Before PSM, there were no significant differences in 5-year LTP rates (26.3% vs. 23.6%, p = 0.602), OS rates (56.6% vs. 68.0%, p = 0.586), or DFS rates (22.9% vs. 25.7%, p = 0.239) between the peribiliary and non-peribiliary groups. After PSM, there were no significant differences in the 1-, 3-, and 5-year LTP rates (13.0%, 23.1%, and 26.3% vs. 12.1%, 25.1%, and 28.2%, respectively, p = 0.857), OS rates (97.2%, 73.5%, and 56.6% vs. 95.3%, 79.5%, and 70.6%, p = 0.727), or DFS rates (59.4%, 29.4%, and 22.9% vs. 64.2%, 33.1%, and 23.8%, p = 0.568) between the peribiliary non-peribiliary groups. Peribiliary location was not a significant prognostic factor for LTP (p = 0.622) or OS (p = 0.587). In addition, mild intrahepatic bile duct dilatation was more frequent in the peribiliary group (9.2% vs. 2.8%, p = 0.045).

Conclusion

Long-term outcomes of RFA were similar for peribiliary and non-peribiliary HCC. RFA is a viable alternative for treatment of peribiliary HCC.

Critical relevance statement

The local tumor progression (LTP), overall survival (OS), and disease-free survival (DFS) rates after radiofrequency ablation (RFA) were similar for peribiliary and non-peribiliary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Key Points

There are currently no clinical guidelines for radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of peribiliary hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).

Local tumor progression, overall survival, and disease-free survival after RFA were similar for peribiliary and non-peribiliary HCC.

RFA is a viable alternative for the treatment of peribiliary HCC.

Graphical Abstract
Tidal correlation of deep tectonic tremors increases during long-term slow slip events in the Bungo Channel, southwest Japan
Authors: Hirose Fuyuki , Kobayashi Akio
Published: February 2025

In the Bungo Channel along the Nankai Trough, southwest Japan, long-term slow slip events (LSSEs) of about

$${M}_{\text{w}}$$

M
w

6–7 and lasting 6–12 months occur at several-year intervals at the base of the seismogenic zone. In sync with these LSSEs, deep tectonic tremors are activated at the base of the LSSE zone. The tidal response of tectonic tremors during short-term slow slip events lasting several days has been extensively investigated, but variations of the tidal correlation of tectonic tremors over periods on the order of years remain poorly understood. Here, we investigated long-term temporal changes in the correlation between deep tectonic tremors and tides in the Bungo Channel. We found that tectonic tremors along the base of the LSSE region (region Ba) are strongly correlated with tidal shear stress and/or Coulomb failure stress under a very small apparent friction coefficient, and that these tremors are more likely to occur when the tidal stress acting in the direction promoting fault slip is large. We also found that tidal sensitivity is relatively high during LSSE periods and low during other periods. Because the LSSE region largely includes region Ba, fault coupling in region Ba during LSSE periods is undoubtedly smaller than during other periods. As a result of this low friction state, even tidal stresses much smaller than the lithostatic stress can affect the generation of deep tectonic tremor, and tidal sensitivity during LSSE periods seems to be higher than during other periods.

Graphical abstract
BOLD and DW- MRI metrics in predicting bladder urothelial carcinoma histologic grade and muscle invasion: a prospective study
Authors: Ezz Eldin Omnia , Nouh Mohamed Ragab , Refaai Khaled , Abdou Marwa Shawky , Gouda Heba Refaat , Altarawy Dina , Samir Ahmed
Published: February 2025

Background

The preoperative evaluation of bladder cancer (BC) pathological grade and muscle invasion is crucial for effective management outcomes. MRI is noninvasive and has no radiation exposure. MRI sequences enable anatomical and functional assessment with the capability of using functional quantitative parameters as biomarkers to analyze tissue characteristics. This study aimed to investigate the utility of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) and apparent transverse relaxation rate (R2*) in predicting preoperative histopathological grade and detrusor muscle invasion in bladder cancer (BC).

Results

This ethically approved prospective clinical study included 53 patients with suspected bladder tumors (mean age 62.85 years ± 10.02 [SD]; 49 males). Two independent readers had strong concordance in measuring ADC and R2* values (ICC > 0.9), with significantly negative correlation observed between R2* and ADC (p < 0.001). ADC cutoff value of (0.79 × 10–3 mm2/s) predicted high-grade and muscle invasive bladder cancers with diagnostic accuracies of (90.57%) and (84.9%); respectively. R2* cutoff values of (17.8/s) and (18.1/s) predicted high-grade and muscle invasive bladder cancers with diagnostic accuracies of (88.68%) and (83.02%); respectively. The conjugate R2* and ADC exhibited high diagnostic accuracies that were more impressive for predicting the histologic grade (94.2%) than for muscle invasiveness (82.7%).

Conclusions

ADC and R2* deployment for preoperative bladder cancer evaluation has excellent potential to predict tumor grades and detrusor muscle invasion, aiding in management planning.
Translational lessons from the balanced immune system in bats
Authors: Ng Wei Lun , Wang Lin-Fa
Published: February 2025

Bats are a natural reservoir for a wide variety of notorious viruses that are deadly to humans and other mammals but cause no or minimal clinical damage in bats. The co-evolution of bats and viruses for more than sixty million years has established unique and balanced immune defenses within bats against a number of viruses. With the COVID-19 pandemic, bats have gained greater attention as a likely reservoir of the SARS-CoV-2 ancestor virus. The coupling of omics technology and bat research opens an exciting new field to understand and translate discoveries from bats to humans, in the context of infectious disease and beyond. Here, we focus on the mechanism of immunity balance in bats, the application of omics and how this might lead to improvement of human health.
Η αρχή της αναλογικότητας στο σύγχρονο (εσωτερικό και ενωσιακό) φορολογικό δίκαιο
Authors: Παρχαρίδης Κωνσταντίνος
Published: February 2025

Στην παρούσα διδακτορική διατριβή ερευνήθηκε η αρχή της αναλογικότητας στο σύγχρονο εσωτερικό και ενωσιακό Φορολογικό Δίκαιο, η οποία απορρέει από την αρχή του κράτους δικαίου και καταλαμβάνει το συνολικό πεδίο του Φορολογικού Δικαίου. Σκοπός της διατριβής ήταν η ανάδειξη της λειτουργίας της αρχής και του εξισορροποιητικού ρόλου της στο πεδίο επιβολής των φορολογικών βαρών και των φορολογικών κυρώσεων. Ειδικότερα, εξετάστηκε η λειτουργία της lato sensu αναλογικότητας κατά την επιβολή των φόρων και η αλληλεπίδρασή της με τις λοιπές αρχές του κράτους δικαίου (Πρώτο Μέρος) και η εφαρμογή της αρχής ως «περιορισμός των περιορισμών» των ατομικών δικαιωμάτων και των ενωσιακών ελευθεριών του φορολογουμένου (Δεύτερο Μέρος). Ακολούθως, αναδείχθηκε ο προβληματισμός της εφαρμογής της stricto sensu αναλογικότητας στο πεδίο των φορολογικών κυρώσεων (Τρίτο Μέρος). Από τη διατριβή προέκυψε το πολυσήμαντο και πολυδύναμο της αρχής της αναλογικότητας στο Φορολογικό Δίκαιο, η οποία διαδραματίζει σημαντικό ρόλο ιδιαίτερα στην εποχή μας, λόγω της αυξανόμενης βαρύτητας που προσδίδεται διεθνώς στη σύγχρονη φορολογική διαφάνεια.
Blockchain-enhanced electoral integrity: a robust model for secure digital voting systems in Oman
Authors: Shaikh Abdul , Adhikari Naresh , Nazir Amril , Shah Abdul Salam , Baig Saranjam , Al Shihi Hafedh
Published: February 2025

Background Ensuring the security and trustworthiness of a digitized and automated electoral process remains a significant challenge in democratic systems. As digital voting systems are increasingly being investigated around the world, ensuring the integrity of the process using robust security measures is of great importance. This paper presents a simplified model to enhance electoral integrity by leveraging Blockchain technology in the context of Oman’s digital voting system. The model uses Blockchain technology to create a secure and trustworthy voting environment, addressing key vulnerabilities in digital electoral systems. Methods The research utilized a quantitative approach, employing an experimental design methodology using open-source software to simulate voting systems. Synthetic population data is utilized for operating these systems, while advanced biometric authentication technologies are used to verify voter identities. Blockchain technology is leveraged to ensure secure vote recording, with smart contracts used to authenticate voters and securely record votes. Additionally, synchronous transactions are executed for both voter registration and voting processes, enhancing the overall security and efficiency of the system. Results The experimental results shows that Blockchain enhances electoral integrity and security in Oman voting system, improves transparency and reliability in elections. The performance evaluation of the model focuses on efficiency, reliability, and scalability metrics. Asynchronous transactions are utilized to improve processing time for voter registration and voting. Election administrators can manage, monitor, and certify election results, while Ethereum nodes ensure decentralized verification and transparency in the voting process. Conclusion This research offers insights for policymakers to consider Blockchain for electoral reforms, addressing issues like data integrity, fraud prevention, and transparency to boost voter trust. A strong regulatory framework and public awareness are crucial for successful implementation. Pilot projects are needed to assess Blockchain’s practical impact. Oman could lead global innovation in electoral technology, though infrastructure and public resistance challenges must be managed.
The genome sequence of the Yellow Horned moth, Achlya flavicornis (Linnaeus, 1758)
Authors: Crowley Liam M. , Phillips Dominic ,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life programme,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: DNA Pipelines collective,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from an individual male Achlya flavicornis (the Yellow Horned; Arthropoda; Insecta; Lepidoptera; Drepanidae). The genome sequence is 444.6 megabases in span. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 30 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the Z sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 15.34 kilobases in length. Gene annotation of this assembly on Ensembl identified 17,588 protein coding genes.
The genome sequence of the false flower beetle, Anaspis regimbarti Schilsky, 1895
Authors: Barclay Maxwell V. L. , Telnov Dmitry ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Anaspis regimbarti (the false flower beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Scraptiidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 457.61 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.89%) is scaffolded into 8 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X sex chromosome. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.39 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the two-banded mould beetle, Cartodere (Aridius) bifasciata (Reitter, 1877)
Authors: Barclay Maxwell V. L. , Telnov Dmitry , Crowley Liam M. , McCulloch James ,   Natural History Museum Genome Acquisition Lab,   University of Oxford and Wytham Woods Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from a female specimen of Cartodere bifasciata (two-banded mould beetle; Arthropoda; Insecta; Coleoptera; Latridiidae). The genome sequence has a total length of 178.08 megabases. Most of the assembly (99.54%) is scaffolded into 10 chromosomal pseudomolecules, including the X and Y sex chromosomes. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 21.54 kilobases in length.
The genome sequence of the butterfly blenny, Blennius ocellaris Linnaeus, 1758
Authors: Adkins Patrick , Brittain Rachel , Modepalli Vengamanaidu ,   Marine Biological Association Genome Acquisition Lab,   Darwin Tree of Life Barcoding collective,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Management, Samples and Laboratory team,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Scientific Operations: Sequencing Operations,   Wellcome Sanger Institute Tree of Life Core Informatics team,   Tree of Life Core Informatics collective,   Darwin Tree of Life Consortium
Published: February 2025

We present a genome assembly from a specimen of Blennius ocellaris (the butterfly blenny; Chordata; Actinopteri; Blenniiformes; Blenniidae). The genome sequence spans 728.70 megabases. Most of the assembly is scaffolded into 24 chromosomal pseudomolecules. The mitochondrial genome has also been assembled and is 16.5 kilobases in length.
Partition and Prosper: Design and Pricing of Single Bundle
Authors: Sun Hailong , Li Xiaobo , Teo Chung-Piaw
Published: February 2025

Design and Pricing of a Single Bundle

Product bundling is a widely used selling strategy among multiproduct firms, yet designing and pricing bundles optimally remain a complex challenge. In “Partition and Prosper: Design and Pricing of a Single Bundle,” Sun, Li, and Teo show that the selection and pricing of a single bundle from a range of products under multivariate normal valuations is polynomial-time solvable, provided that the associated covariance matrix can be decomposed into a positive diagonal matrix minus a positive semidefinite matrix of (small) fixed rank. Interestingly, they also show that if the individual product prices are predetermined, the optimization problem becomes NP hard even if customer valuations are independent. The authors use a Bayesian optimization algorithm combined with a novel conic integer programming reformulation to solve the problem under general valuation distributions and demonstrate the superior numerical performance of the algorithm via extensive simulations.
Impact of AI on Consumers’ Purchase Intention Towards Online Grocery Shopping in India
Authors: Bhatt Pankaj , Singh Ashish Kumar
Published: February 2025

In recent years, the rapid advancement of technology, specifically in Artificial Intelligence (AI), has considerably impacted consumer satisfaction in the e-retailing sector. The time-saving benefits and convenience of shopping in the comfort of their home with AI induce people to adopt digital technologies, reflecting a change in consumer behaviour. While existing studies have focused on examining TAM (technology acceptance model) components’ influence on technology acceptance, there is a lack of India-specific focus in studies and limited consideration of AI technologies like voice search or chatbots’ impact on purchase intention. This study extends the application of TAM components to the Indian online grocery sector.
This study bridges a critical research gap by revealing the interplay between AI technologies and consumer behavior in India’s INR 760.2billion online grocery market. Using India’s grocery sector, the contribution of the study is in the recommendation of developing a technology-based consumer experience enhancement framework for online grocery platforms to effectively target consumers, particularly in regions with similar socio-economic characteristics.
This study utilises the PLS-SEM (partial least squares structural equation modelling) model on 231 samples to analyse data and examine the impact of AI-driven technology on consumers’ online grocery shopping behaviour. PLS-SEM is instrumental in handling complex models with multiple constructs. This method is considered ideal for handling complex models with multiple constructs and primary research with smaller sample size. The application of this method also validated the conceptual framework by confirming strong construct reliability and validity. The analysis revealed that AI features like personalized recommendations, chatbots, and voice assistants improved the shopping experience by making it more efficient and easier. This enhanced user experience led to increased purchase intentions. This could be seen by the significant moderating role of AI technology and TAM components interaction on attitude towards AI.
Threshold-Based Recovery in Queue Theory: Addressing Server Breakdowns, Catastrophic Events, and Customer Reneging
Authors: Kumar Neeraj , Savita
Published: February 2025

In this research article, we present a comprehensive analysis of a repairable M/M/1/K queueing system that incorporates a threshold-based recovery policy to address server breakdowns, catastrophic events, and customer behaviors such as reneging and balking. In this model, the server fails only when at least one customer is present, and recovery is initiated once the number of customers in the queue reaches a specified threshold T (1≤T<K). We derive closed-form expressions for the system’s steady-state solutions using successive over-relaxation. The study develops critical system characteristics, including the number of customers in the system, the probability of the server being busy, the effective arrival rate, and the expected waiting time. We formulate a cost model to determine the optimal threshold value, system capacity, and service rate that minimize the total cost, which includes repair costs, downtime expenses, and revenue loss. Optimization is performed using Newton-Quasi method. The findings offer valuable insights into queue system design and management, aiding decision-makers in optimizing cost-effectiveness and enhancing overall system performance.
La revelació anònima Vae mundo in centum annis: edició i estudi
Authors: Mensa i Valls Jaume , Cabré Duran Maria
Published: February 2025

Aquest estudi presenta la profecia medieval coneguda com a Vae mundo in centum annis, molt influent en la configuració de l’imaginari religiós i polític de la Corona d’Aragó i més enllà de les seves fronteres. La profecia prediu calamitats i canvis polítics a diverses regions, amb simbolismes que els autors medievals i moderns van interpretar de diverses maneres. Arnau de Vilanova fou el transmissor de la profecia, tot i que no n’és l’autor, i la va incorporar a la seva obra De mysterio cymbalorum ecclesiae. L’estudi proposa, en primer lloc, una edició crítica i autònoma de la profecia i, en segon lloc, una anàlisi del seu contingut i de la seva relació amb el pensament d’Arnau de Vilanova.
INTEGRACIÓN DE LA INTELIGENCIA ARTIFICIAL DENTRO DE LA COMPETENCIA INSTRUMENTAL DEL TRADUCTOR: ASPECTOS FORMATIVOS Y PROFESIONALES
Authors: Rodríguez-Faneca Cristina
Published: February 2025

El presente trabajo pretende indagar acerca de la incorporación de la Inteligencia Artificial (IA) dentro la competencia instrumental del traductor. Concretamente, en este trabajo se presenta, por un lado, un compendio de herramientas basadas en IA que puedan resultar de utilidad para la práctica profesional de la traducción. Por otro, se presentan distintas herramientas basadas en IA de en el ámbito de la formación de traductores e intérpretes. Junto con dicho compendio se muestran, además, ejemplos de interacción con herramientas de IA para aportar ideas sobre cómo integrar su uso en los contextos señalados. En última instancia, se reflexiona acerca de las distintas posibilidades que ofrece la Inteligencia Artificial Generativa en ambos contextos.