bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Unveiling complexities: Examining the role of traumatic loss in shaping the interplay between black maternal mental health and maternal bonding
Authors: Quince Helenia , Walsh Tova , Thomas Alvin , Blackwell Dalvery
Published: January 2025

Black women are more likely to experience traumatic birthing events, more likely to experience perinatal depression, and less likely to receive mental health treatment than women of other racial and ethnic backgrounds, and yet largely overlooked in perinatal mental health research. This pilot study seeks to understand how unacceptable racial disparities and adverse perinatal outcomes influence Black maternal depression and maternal bonding by exploring how prior traumatic loss moderates the relationship between depression and bonding during a subsequent pregnancy among a sample of Black mothers. We use survey data collected from 75 Black mothers as part of the Black Fathers, Equal Partners in Promoting Maternal and Infant Health study, a collaboration between the University of Wisconsin Madison and the African American Breastfeeding Network in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, USA. Study results suggest there is a correlation between maternal depression and bonding; when traumatic loss is included as an interaction variable, it produces a moderating effect, changing the direction of the relationship between bonding and depression. As maternal depression increases, bonding increases when moderated by the variable traumatic loss. This finding has important implications for infant mental health research and practice, disrupting the expectation that depression necessarily poses a risk to maternal–infant bonding.
Entrustable professional activities: a framework for assessment in the curriculum and beyond
Authors: Martinez‐Pereira Yolanda , McIntyre Calum , Rhind Susan
Published: January 2025

This article discusses entrustable professional activities (EPAs), a framework for guiding teaching, assessment and feedback in the workplace, now widely used in medical education. It outlines the benefits of the approach and the challenges that can be encountered when implementing it in the veterinary educational context. The article includes the experiences of two newly graduated veterinary surgeons who trialled two EPAs during their final year and are now using EPAs in the RCVS' Veterinary Graduate Development Programme (VetGDP).
Consumers' sensory assessments of bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) syrup give way to a promising artisan industry
Authors: Colonna Ann E. , Jones Eric T. , Wheiler Kent
Published: January 2025

Background

Most pure maple syrup produced in North America is produced from the sap of sugar maple trees (Acer saccharum). Interest is growing to utilize other maple species in different regions of North America outside the native range of sugar maple. This research assesses a maple syrup produced in one of these regions, bigleaf maple (Acer macrophyllum) from the Pacific Northwest. Two blind‐coded consumer‐sensory evaluations, which took place in May 2022 and 2023, were conducted with 411 participants to assess overall sensory hedonics and descriptors, quality ratings, purchase intent, and perceptions of the syrup category with 13 unique samples of bigleaf maple, sugar maple (A. saccharum), and imitation maple syrup.

Results

Two bigleaf maple syrups were rated highest in overall liking. Of the syrups tested, several of the bigleaf maple syrups were rated as having the most complex flavor profile. When consumers were segmented on overall liking, flavor complexity intensity was positively correlated (p < 0.05) with perceived quality, purchase intent, and overall liking for the larger cluster of consumers (n = 154), though there seems to be an optimum level over which the syrup can then be penalized for being too complex. A correspondence analysis (CA) showed the syrups that were most well‐liked exhibited qualities “maple,” “sweet,” “caramel,” “nutty,” “honey,” “vanilla,” and “fragrant.”

Conclusion

This research demonstrates that quality bigleaf maple syrup is a well‐liked product of interest and has high potential for commercial success.
Cross‐ecosystem trophic structure and benthic–pelagic coupling: Effects of depth, body size, and feeding guild
Authors: Walters Andrea , Kopp Dorothée , Cresson Pierre , Robert Marianne
Published: January 2025

Understanding how energy is transferred within and across ecosystems is essential to better understand drivers and future consequences of shifts in energy pathways. We used stable isotope ratios of 1932 fish individuals belonging to the 11 most abundant fish species collected across 300,000 km2 along the English Channel–Celtic Sea continuum. To examine cross‐ecosystem differences in trophic functioning, we assessed the effects of both extrinsic (depth) and intrinsic factors (body size and feeding guild) on resource use and trophic position of fish consumers. Positive relationships between trophic position and body size were observed for zoobenthivore and piscivore fishes, whereas the relationship was negative for benthivore fishes. Body size is thus an important structuring mechanism in the systems. Trophic position decreased with increasing depth for all levels of biological organization. The amplitude of the change between shallow and deep stations was equivalent to more than one trophic level for generalist planktivores and piscivores. In the shallow English Channel, the food web is marked by stronger coupling of benthic and pelagic habitats via diverse pathways, due to the proximity of benthic and pelagic species, whereas in the Celtic Sea, increasing depth leads to a decoupling of benthic and pelagic pathways. For piscivores, a consistent pattern of increasing dependence on benthic subsidies with increasing size and depth highlights the importance of large consumers coupling energy across food web compartments. This study describes the relationship between production and trophic functioning and provides an empirical ecological explanation for cross‐ecosystem differences in observed trophic structures.
Should We Be Treating Affective Symptoms, Like Anxiety and Depression Which May Be Related to LUTD in Patients With OAB? ICI‐RS 2024
Authors: Van den Ende Mauro , Apostolidis Apostolos , Sinha Sanjay , Kheir George Bou , Mohamed‐Ahmed Rayan , Selai Caroline , Abrams Paul , Vrijens Desiree
Published: January 2025

Aims

To discuss the role of screening and treatment of affective symptoms, like anxiety and depression in patients with LUTD. A review of the literature regarding the bidirectional association and multidisciplinary approaches integrating psychometric assessments with personalized treatment plans to improve diagnostic accuracy and therapeutic outcomes of LUTD.

Methods

This review summarizes discussions and a narrative review of (recent) literature during an International Consultation on Incontinence‐Research Society 2024 research proposal with respect to the role of screening for anxiety and depression, effect of mental health symptoms on treatment outcomes and future implications.

Results

Consensus recognized the importance to incorporate attention to anxiety and depression in relation to LUTD. The awareness of this association can lead to better outcomes. Future research projects are proposed to evaluate the bidirectional relationship.

Conclusion

The relationship between affective symptoms and LUTD underscores the need for integrated treatment approaches that address both psychological and urological dimensions. Further research is required to identify specific patient subgroups that would benefit most from these interventions, to develop standardized screening tools, and to refine treatment protocols. Multidisciplinary care, incorporating psychological assessment and personalized treatment strategies, could enhance outcomes for LUTD patients.
Multi‐Phase Optimal Control Problems for Efficient Nonlinear Model Predictive Control With acados
Authors: Frey Jonathan , Baumgärtner Katrin , Frison Gianluca , Diehl Moritz
Published: January 2025

Computationally efficient nonlinear model predictive control (NMPC) relies on elaborate discrete‐time optimal control problem (OCP) formulations trading off accuracy with respect to the continuous‐time problem and online computational burden. Such formulations, however, are in general not easy to implement within specialized software frameworks tailored to numerical optimal control. This article introduces a new multi‐phase optimal control problem (MOCP) interface for the open‐source software acados allowing to conveniently formulate such problems and generate fast solvers that can be used for NMPC. While multi‐phase OCP formulations occur naturally in many applications, such as, for example, walking robots, this work focuses on MOCP formulations that can be used to efficiently approximate standard continuous‐time OCPs in the context of NMPC. To this end, the article discusses advanced control parametrizations, such as closed‐loop costing and piecewise polynomials with varying degree, as well as partial tightening and formulations that leverage models of different fidelity. An introductory example is presented to showcase the usability of the new interface. Finally, three numerical experiments demonstrate that NMPC controllers based on multi‐phase formulations can efficiently trade off computation time and control performance.
Investigation of the effect of nano‐SiO2 modified by 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane on biobased polyamide 56 crystallization behavior
Authors: Pei Xiaoyuan , Zhu Yidong , Li Tianjiao , Wang Chunhong , Li H. anyu , Sofiene Mokhtar , Guo Xiaowei
Published: January 2025

Bio‐based polyamide 56 (PA56), a sustainable alternative to petroleum‐based polyamide 66 (PA66), exhibits a slow crystallization rate that poses a significant challenge to its broader application. The modification of SiO2 using 3‐aminopropyltriethoxysilane (APTES) can markedly enhance its dispersion and interfacial compatibility, thereby improving the mechanical interlocking effect of the material. In this study, unmodified nano‐SiO2 (UMS)/PA56 and APTES modified nano‐SiO2 (AMS)/PA56 composite materials were synthesized through melt blending technology. The non‐isothermal and isothermal crystallization kinetics of PA56 composites were analyzed by x‐ray diffraction and differential scanning calorimetry, and the effects of different SiO2 addition ratios on the crystalline properties were investigated. Experimental results indicate that as the proportion of UMS increases, the crystallization behavior of the composite material gradually weaks; conversely, the addition of AMS results in an enhanced crystallization behavior. Notably, at a cooling rate of 10°C/min, the crystallization rate (Zt) of AMS and UMS composites increased by 135% and 122%, respectively, compared to pure PA56, while the semi‐crystallization time (t1/2) decreased by 24.4% and 23.6%, respectively.

Highlights

APTES modifies nano‐SiO2 to improve its dispersion.

The crystallization rate of AMS composite was increased by 135%.

The half‐crystallization time of AMS composite was reduced by 24.4%.
Compatibilization and reinforcement of highly filled wood flour/polyethylene composites via peroxide‐induced grafting and crosslinking
Authors: Li Daoan , Yi Shunmin , Liu Wanyu , Lan Ping , Liu Zhonglin , Cai Liang , Mo Min , Bai Xingjia , Huang Zhimin
Published: January 2025

The industrialized development of biocomposites effectively promotes the high‐value utilization of waste biomass resources, generating substantial economic benefits. However, in highly filled systems (≥50 wt.%), wood flour agglomeration and poor interfacial compatibility between components significantly degrade the performance of the final biocomposites, thus restricting their applications. In this work, we developed a low‐maleic anhydride grafted and microcrosslinking polyethylene matrices specialized for highly filled (50–70 wt.%) biocomposites for enhancing their mechanical properties. The successful grafting of maleic anhydride (MAH) onto polyethylene molecular chains and the formation of a crosslinked structure were evidenced by a characteristic infrared absorption peak at 1792 cm−1 and a new torque peak. Grafting of polyethylene matrix with MAH enhanced the adhesion between wood and matrix, as well as the dispersion of wood within the matrix. Adding a small amount of peroxide (0.09 wt.%) improved the tensile, flexural, and impact strengths of the composites by up to 120%, 125%, and 209%, respectively, compared to unmodified composites. This study proposes a simple and cost‐effective method for low grafting and microcrosslinking modification of the polyethylene matrix, and the innovative application of this method in the highly filled system of wood flour yields significant results and expands their applications in construction materials.

Highlights

Matrix grafting enhances wood flour dispersion and interfacial compatibility.

Initiator‐induced crosslinking structure promotes matrix plastic deformation.

Grafting and crosslinking enhances mechanical properties of composites.

Fine wood flour particles enhance the absorption of impact energy in composites.
Unraveling the Molecular Architecture of Mosquito D1‐Like Dopamine Receptors: Insights Into Ligand Binding and Structural Dynamics for Insecticide Development
Authors: Dasgupta Subrata , Bhaumik Prasenjit
Published: January 2025

Vector‐borne diseases pose a severe threat to human life, contributing significantly to global mortality. Understanding the structure–function relationship of the vector proteins is pivotal for effective insecticide development due to their involvement in drug resistance and disease transmission. This study reports the structural and dynamic features of D1‐like dopamine receptors (DARs) in disease‐causing mosquito species, such as Aedes aegypti, Culex quinquefasciatus, Anopheles gambiae, and Anopheles stephensi. Through molecular modeling and simulations, we describe the common structural fold of mosquito DARs within the G‐protein–coupled receptor family, highlighting the importance of an orthosteric and enlarged binding pocket. The orthosteric binding pocket, resembling a cage‐like structure, is situated ~15 Å deep within the protein, with two serine residues forming the roof and an aspartate residue, along with two conserved water molecules (W1 and W2), forming the floor. The side walls are composed of two phenylalanine residues on one side and a valine residue on the other. The antagonist binding site, an enlarged binding pocket (EBP) near the entrance cavity, can accommodate ligands of varying sizes. The binding energy of dopamine is observed to be ~2–3 kcal/mol higher than that of the antagonist molecules amitriptyline, asenapine, and flupenthixol in mosquito DARs. These antagonist molecules bind to EBP, which obstructs dopamine movement toward the active site, thereby inhibiting signal transduction. Our findings elucidate the molecular architecture of the binding pockets and the versatility of DARs in accommodating diverse ligands, providing a foundational framework for future drug and insecticide development.
7‐(Het)aryl‐6‐benzyloxycarbonyl Substituted Dihydro(azolo)Pyrimidines Exhibiting Activity Against Influenza A/H1N1 Virus
Authors: Filatova Elena S. , Fedorova Olga V. , Slepukhin Pavel A. , Bormotov Nikolay I. , Serova Olga A. , Skarnovich Maxim O. , Shishkina Larisa N. , Rusinov Gennady L. , Charushin Valerij N.
Published: January 2025

A series of 7‐(het)aryl‐6‐benzyloxycarbonyl‐substituted dihydro(azolo)pyrimidines were synthesized by exploiting the multicomponent Biginelli reaction between benzyl acetoacetate, various aldehydes, aminoazoles (3‐aminopyrazole, 5‐aminotetrazole, and 3‐amino‐1,2,4‐triazole) or urea. The compounds obtained were assessed for their cytotoxicity and the antiviral activity in MDCK cell culture against the influenza virus strain A/California/04/2009 (H1N1)v (subtype A/H1N1pdm09) in comparison with the known anti‐influenza drugs rimantadine, oseltamivir, and triazide. In addition, using molecular docking, the free energies for binding of the polymerase proteins PA (polymerase acidic) and PB2 (polymerase basic) of the internal ribonucleoprotein (RNP) of influenza virus (IV) A/California/04/2009 (H1N1)v with dihydro(azolo)pyrimidines. Compounds 1a and 11 were found to be the most active against this strain of influenza virus, but the value of binding free energies of the PB2 protein for compound 11 was higher (12.55 µg/mL).
In Silico Investigation and MD Simulation Approaches of Newly Designed Quercetin–Imidazole Analogs for Anticancer and Antifungal Efficacy
Authors: Mahapatra Monalisa , Das Rohit Pritam , Pakeeraiah Kakarla , Mal Suvadeep , Panda Preetesh Kumar , Mekap Suman Kumar , Paidesetty Sudhir Kumar
Published: January 2025

Molecules with potency and low toxicity are the leading army in the battlefield of multidrug resistance. Quercetin is found in abundance in the nature as a potent flavonoid and bears the tag of flavonoid paradox due to the poor bioavailability, however, it still possess distinct systemic actions, and this marks curiosity in the research field. The present study elaborates targeted in silico and simulation approaches of newly designed quercetin analogs toward their anticancer and antifungal properties by screening against human epidermal growth factor receptor and lanosterol C14‐alpha demethylase receptors. The molecules were investigated pharmacokinetically via drug‐likeness, toxicity prediction (lethal dose, LD50), PASS prediction, molecular docking, molecular dynamics simulation, and their quantum mechanics have been measured using molecular orbital calculations through highest occupied molecular orbital (HOMO) and the lowest unoccupied molecular orbital (LUMO) calculations. The prediction from Pa > Pi scores displayed its potential for squalene epoxide inhibitors, antimycobacterial, and antineoplastic activities and also showed prospectively better molecular docking scores against the selected targeted enzymes. Among the series, QIz II stood out as a compelling inhibitor; showcasing highest binding affinity with fungal protein by impressive docking score of −10.7 kcal/mol. Compound QIz XX demonstrated the highest binding affinity of −9.31 kcal/mol with the anticancer protein.
Facile Synthesis of Indolin‐2,3‐Acetonide Derivatives as Indoxyl Precursors and Protected Compounds of Indoles
Authors: Tsubogo Tetsu , Furube Tatsuya , Sato Karen , Yamada Koji
Published: January 2025

A one‐pot method for the synthesis of the indoxyl derivatives starting from protected indole via indolin‐2,3‐acetonide derivatives as indoxyl precursors is described. The indolin‐2,3‐acetonide derivatives are easy to handle, bench stable, and work as the indolin‐2,3‐diol surrogates. Substitution of the benzene ring of the indolin‐2,3‐acetonide derivatives to give bromo‐, iodo‐, cyano‐, aryl‐, and carbonyl‐derivatives is also described. The indolin‐2,3‐acetonide derivatives can be transformed into the indoxyl derivatives by acid hydrolysis. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the modified indolin‐2,3‐acetonide derivatives can act as protected indole compounds because they can be converted into the parent indoles either via the indoxyl derivatives or by the direct reduction.
Organic Spacers Modulated Low Dose X‐Ray Detection in Hybrid Halide 2D Perovskites: Unveiling Exciton Dynamics
Authors: Choudhary Shivani , Ghosh Joydip , Pathak Shantanu , Saini Saurabh K. , Tailor Naveen Kumar , Sellin Paul , Bhattacharya Saswata , Satapathi Soumitra
Published: January 2025

In this study, we investigate how modulating organic spacers in perovskites influences their X‐ray detection performance and reveal the mechanism of low‐dose detection with high sensitivity using femtosecond‐transient absorption spectroscopy (fs‐TAS). Particularly, we employ N,N,N′,N′‐tetramethyl‐1,4‐phenylenediammonium (TMPDA) and N,N‐dimethylphenylene‐p‐diammonium (DPDA) as organic spacers to synthesize 2D perovskite single crystals (SCs). We find that DPDA‐based SCs exhibit reduced interplanar spacing between inorganic layers, leading to increased lattice packing. Density functional theory (DFT) results indicate the reduced effective mass and lower lattice distortion in (DPDA)PbBr4 suppressing the formation of self‐trapped exciton (STEs) and electron‐phonon coupling and enhancing carrier delocalization in these SCs. Further, X‐ray detection measurements reveal that (DPDA)PbBr4 demonstrates higher sensitivity than (TMPDA)PbBr4, attributed to its enhanced carrier delocalization, and higher mobility‐lifetime product. The limit of detection (LoD) for (DPDA)PbBr4 is determined to be 13 nGy/s, significantly lower than both commercial detectors and state‐of‐the‐art perovskite‐based X‐ray detectors. Furthermore, fs‐TAS study reveals that (DPDA)PbBr4 crystals exhibit prolonged hot STE cooling and decay lifetimes, which directly correlate with their higher sensitivity. This study highlights the impact of organic spacers on X‐ray detection performance, providing a framework for designing ultra‐low LoD detectors essential for health and security applications.
Molecular Modification of A–π–D–π–A‐Type Small‐Molecule Donors for High‐Performance Photovoltaics
Authors: Hu Yuzhi , Zhang Qi , Arramel Arramel , Yuan Yuehao , Chen Shanshan , Zheng Yujie , Sun Kuan
Published: January 2025

Molecular engineering serves as a prevalent strategy in solar cells architecture toward robust, reliable, and highly efficient light‐electricity conversion devices. Specifically, two well‐known strategies, i.e., halogen substitution and π‐spacer modification, are extensively introduced. However, the underlying photovoltaics mechanism on benzodithiophene terthiophene rhodamine (BTR) remains lacking. Herein, a combined approach of density functional theory (DFT) and time‐dependent DFT calculations is systematically introduced to unravel the implication in terms of structure–property relationships. The results suggest that halogen substitution on BTR molecular backbone can effectively reduce the frontier molecular orbital energy levels of molecule. Moreover, extending the π‐spacer can increase the conjugation length of the molecular backbone, which results in improving the photoelectric properties of small molecules. B3, i.e., the addition of a pair of thiophene rings to the π‐spacer of the BTR, with the lowest energy gap and reorganization energy, relatively small exciton binding energy, and the strongest light absorption spectra, is a promising candidate for the donor molecule. In addition, by combining these two modification strategies (i.e., chlorinated B3), the overall performance of the new B3‐Cl molecule can be further improved compared to B3. The findings provide a theoretical guidance for the rational design of novel A–π–D–π–A‐type small molecules.
‘The end user takes the final decision’
Authors: Aal Erik B. W.
Published: January 2025

While social sciences are brimming with attention for the transformations brought about by AI and digital technology, the aspect of communication has received remarkably little attention. Niklas Luhmann's social system theory, which conceives social systems as constituted through ongoing communication, is particularly well equipped to make a relevant contribution. This paper investigates the Impact of AI on organisations as systems of decision‐communications, along the lines of four distinctions: decision premise–decision, system memory–environment, organisation system–interaction system and structural coupling–loose coupling. The deployment of AI is a reaction to the growing societal differentiation and the resulting future‐related contingency, and as such contributes to the viability of organisations as systems. Nevertheless, social systems theory explains how certain impacts of AI we witness, some of them potentially harmful to the viability of the organisation, are neither incidental nor temporal but are structurally related to the basic operations of organisations. A proposal is made how reflection loops can be introduced to counter some of these consequences.
Analytical Technique Advances for Recently Approved Fixed‐Dose Combination of Dapagliflozin and Teneligliptin Hydrobromide Hydrate
Authors: Acharya Himani , Kotadiya Rajendra
Published: January 2025

Most people with diabetes mellitus type 2 require more than one antihyperglycemic medication to achieve glycemic control. Products comprising one or more active components are utilized for certain indications. Several benefits, including impending therapeutic efficacy, fewer adverse drug effects, pharmacokinetic advantages, and a reduction in the dose of individual medications, justify their acceptance. To treat type 2 diabetic mellitus, a fixed‐dose tablet containing Teneligliptin (20 mg) and Dapagliflozin (DAPA) (10 or 5 mg) has recently been approved for phase III clinical trials. This review gathered and summarized the information on the stated analytical methods and physicochemical and biological characteristics of the fixed‐dose tablet formulations. The writers reviewed several credible scientific journals to achieve their goals and offered streamlined material. The published methods for Teneligliptin and DAPA include spectroscopy (42.8% and 20.7%), high performance thin layer chromatography (HPTLC) (11.4% and 9.4%), high performance liquid chromatography (37.1% and 47.1%), and hyphenated techniques (8.5% and 22.6%). The recently authorized fixed‐dose formulation would benefit from the analysts' use of such comprehensive data in their analytical methodology.
Enacting Colonial and Neoliberal Governmentalities through American ELT Programs in Pakistan
Authors: Shah Waqar Ali
Published: January 2025

Several scholars have examined the increasing influence of neoliberalism in TESOL/ELT, including pedagogy, curricula, and policy discourses. These neoliberal rationalities are, however, not detached from coloniality in Global Southern countries. Taking Pakistan as a case study, the present study examines how neoliberal subjectivities intersect with colonial logics in US‐funded ELT programs in Pakistan. Since the 9/11 attacks, these programs have been implemented in many Muslim and South Asian countries, including Pakistan in an attempt to secularize as well as de‐radicalize their academic and social spaces. Two data sources were used in this study: (a) online teaching materials and (b) local teachers' perspectives gathered through open‐ended Google survey and semi‐structured interviews. The study draws on neoliberal and colonial governmentalities as theoretical lens to suggest how the US‐financed ELT programs for students from humble backgrounds attempt to fabricate entrepreneurial “selves” through discourses of linguistic entrepreneurship and instrumentalism in addition to propagating American linguistic imperialism and a cognitive as well as aesthetic feudalism. It appears that these governmentalities are in conflict with the local cultural, religious, and linguistic resources of the teachers and learners. Thus, this study joins decolonial discourse in order to crumble the colonial wall built around the abyssal thinking surrounding the nexus of neoliberalism and coloniality. The abyssal thinking in ELT has implications for several contexts, where these U.S.‐sponsored programs are implemented as they tend to silence, exclude, and peripheralize diverse pedagogical and cultural resources as well as subaltern epistemologies.
Asymptotic Dynamics of Generalized Kantorovich Operators
Authors: Bartoszek Krzysztof , Bartoszek Wojciech
Published: January 2025

We characterize the family of continuous functions

$$f\in C([0,1])$$

f
∈
C
(
[
0
,
1
]
)

such that the iterates

$$\widehat{T}_i^kf$$

T
^

i
k

f

converge uniformly on [0, 1], where

$$\widehat{T}_i$$

T
^

i

is a generalized Kantorovich operator. This gives an affirmative answer to the problem raised in 2021 by Acu and Rasa.
An open source convolutional neural network to detect and localize distal radius fractures on plain radiographs
Authors: Oude Nijhuis Koen D. , Barvelink Britt , Prijs Jasper , Zhao Yang , Liao Zhibin , Jaarsma Ruurd L. , IJpma Frank F. A. , Colaris Joost W. , Doornberg Job N. , Wijffels Mathieu M. E. ,   On behalf of the Machine Learning Consortium, van Luit Hans , Canta Olga , Hoeksema Sanne , Laane Charlotte L.E. , Aksakal Kaan , Mhmud Haras , Jutte Paul , Gordon Max , Mallee Wouter , Duckworth Andrew , Schep Niels , Hendrickx Ran , Bulstra Anne-Eva , Dankelman Lente , Reijman Max
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Distal radius fractures (DRFs) are often initially assessed by junior doctors under time constraints, with limited supervision, risking significant consequences if missed. Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) can aid in diagnosing fractures. This study aims to internally and externally validate an open source algorithm for the detection and localization of DRFs.

Methods

Patients from a level 1 trauma center from Adelaide, Australia that presented between 2016 and 2020 with wrist trauma were retrospectively included. Radiographs were reviewed confirming the presence or absence of a fracture, as well as annotating radius, ulna, and fracture location. An internal validation dataset from the same hospital was created. An external validation set was created with two other level 1 trauma centers, from Groningen and Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Three surgeons reviewed both sets for DRFs.

Results

The algorithm was trained on 659 radiographs. The internal validation set included 190 patients, showing an accuracy of 87% and an AUC of 0.93 for DRF detection. The external validation set consisted of 188 patients, with an accuracy and AUC were 82% and 0.88 respectively. Radial and ulnar bone segmentation on the internal validation was excellent with an AP50 of 99 and 98, but moderate for fracture segmentation with an AP50 of 29. For external validation the AP50 was 92, 89 and 25 for radius, ulna, and fracture respectively.

Conclusion

This open-source algorithm effectively detects DRFs with high accuracy and localizes them with moderate accuracy. It can assist clinicians in diagnosing suspected DRFs and is the first radiograph-based CNN externally validated on patients from multiple hospitals.
CT imaging findings in symptomatic patients with and without revision surgery after reverse shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Goller Sophia S. , Falkowski Anna L. , Egli Rainer J. , Feuerriegel Georg C. , Bouaicha Samy , Sutter Reto
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To evaluate CT imaging findings in symptomatic patients with and without revision surgery (RS) after reverse shoulder arthroplasty (RSA).

Materials and methods

In this retrospective study, two radiologists assessed CT imaging findings in symptomatic patients with RSA over 5 years, including material fracture and loosening of the peg, baseplate, screws, and humeral stem, screw positioning, prosthesis dislocation, glenoid notching, fractures, and deltoid muscle quality. The primary outcome parameter was RS. Patients were assigned Group 1 (RS) or Group 2 (No RS).

Results

Ninety-nine patients (mean age 70.4 ± 10.3 years, 61 females) met the inclusion criteria. Fifty-two patients (29 females) received RS after 34.0 ± 38.3 months. The only CT imaging finding significantly associated with RS was prosthesis dislocation (P = .007, odds ratio (OR) 10.95, 95% CI 1.34–89.24). All other evaluated CT imaging findings were not associated with RS. Yet, loosening of the peg (30% vs. 16%), baseplate (15% vs. 6%), and superior screw (18% vs. 7%) and periprosthetic humeral fractures (29% vs. 13%)—as common reasons for RS—were more frequent in patients with RS than in those without, however not reaching significance (P ≥ .11). The large majority of patients had glenoid notching (79% vs. 94%), irrespective of RS.

Conclusion

In this cohort of symptomatic patients after RSA, prosthesis dislocation was the only CT imaging finding associated with RS. Besides, there was a trend with higher numbers of loosening of the peg, baseplate, and superior screw, as well as periprosthetic humeral fractures in patients with RS, though not reaching significance.
Anatomical investigation of safety determining factors for keyhole drilling trajectories for robotic cochlear implant surgery
Authors: Adanır Saliha Seda , Kervancıoğlu Piraye , Bahşi İlhan , Al Saadi Mohammad , Van de Heyning Paul , Topsakal Vedat
Published: January 2025

Purpose

Cochlear implants (CI) are the most successful bioprosthesis in medicine probably due to the tonotopic anatomy of the auditory pathway and of course the brain plasticity. Correct placement of the CI arrays, respecting the inner ear anatomy are therefore important. The ideal trajectory to insert a cochlear implant array is defined by an entrance through the round window membrane and continues as long as possible parallel to the basal turn of the cochlea. Image-guided surgery can directly drill with a robotic arm through the mastoid and execute an exact drilling of this precalculated most ideal trajectory. Here, we aim to identify critical anatomical structures determining the safest keyhole drilling trajectory by comparing easy and difficult CI surgeries performed with the HEARO Procedure: a robotic tool for image-guided surgery.

Methods

Cone-beam computed tomography images of patients who underwent robot-assisted cochlear implantation surgery (RACIS) were included. Three of 25 cases had to be converted to conventional surgery because of the current safety mitigations based on anatomical distance. Radiological images in DICOM format were transferred to dedicated software (OTOPLAN® Cascination GMHB Bern Switzerland) for analyses. Surgical segmentation and previously planned trajectories were analyzed for these 25 cases by comparing cochlear sizes, facial recess sizes, round window sizes, and trajectory angles. In addition, facial recess angle, and cochlear orientation angles were measured with RadiAnt DICOM Viewer (Medixant, Pozan, Poland).

Results

Facial recess size, facial recess angle, and distance between the facial nerve and safe trajectory were smaller in patient who converted from robotic surgery to conventional. A significant positive correlation existed between basal turn angle and in-plane angle (p = 0.001, r = 0.859). In addition, there was a significant negative correlation between the basal turn length and the last electrode insertion depth degree (p = 0.007, r = 0.545).

Conclusion

In our robotic surgery cases, we demonstrate that the limiting factors of anatomical relationships are constituted by the dimensions of the facial recess and the cochlear orientation. The findings of this study are considered to be a reference for future studies in achieving collision-free trajectory planning in robotic-assisted cochlear implant surgery.
Enhancing financial time series forecasting through topological data analysis
Authors: de Jesus Luiz Carlos , Fernández-Navarro Francisco , Carbonero-Ruz Mariano
Published: January 2025

Topological data analysis (TDA) is increasingly acknowledged within financial markets for its capacity to manage complexity and discern nuanced patterns and structures. It has been applied effectively to uncover intricate relationships and capture non-linear dependencies inherent in market data. This manuscript presents a groundbreaking study that delves into integrating features derived from TDA to improve the performance of forecasting models for univariate time series prediction. The research specifically examines whether incorporating features extracted from TDA-such as entropy, amplitude, and the number of points obtained from persistent diagrams can provide valuable supplementary information to the baseline forecasting model. Thus, the aim is to determine if these TDA-derived features can boost forecasting accuracy by offering additional insights that existing models might overlook. The model serves as the baseline forecasting model due to its robust generalization capabilities and flexibility in incorporating additional features into the model. The proposed methodology is compared against a univariate model without additional features and other strategies incorporating supplementary features such as temporal decomposition and time delay embeddings. The evaluation includes forecasting for six cryptocurrencies across four distinct time scenarios and four traditional financial instruments across two scenarios each, resulting in 32 datasets. The results obtained were promising, as the proposed method,

$$\texttt {N-BEATS}_\mathrm {+TDA}$$

N
-

BEATS

+
TDA

, achieved the best results in mean performance and mean ranking for the three metrics considered (MAPE, MAE, and RMSE). Significant differences were observed with the rest of the proposed methods using a significance level of

$$\alpha = 0.10$$

α
=
0.10

, highlighting the effectiveness of integrating TDA features to enhance forecasting models.
Conserving saproxylic flagship species by complementing 150 years of natural history with citizen science data—the case of the stag beetles (Lucanidae, Coleoptera) of Portugal
Authors: Soutinho João Gonçalo , Carvalho João , Matos Milene , Grosso-Silva José Manuel , Moreira-Pinhal Tatiana C. , Rego Carla , Ferreira Sónia , Abreu João Gonçalo , Gonçalves Ana Rita , Ceia Helena , Fonseca Carlos , Rufino Cristina , Müller Jörg , Vierling Kerri T. , Vierling Lee A. , Gonçalves João
Published: January 2025

The use of flagship species in conservation, such as the European Stag Beetle (Lucanus cervus), can positively affect the conservation of other taxonomic or functionally related species. This is especially true for taxonomic groups where the knowledge regarding their distribution and ecology is generally limited, as is the case of insects. This work represents the most accurate and up-to-date publication on the distribution, ecology and environmental niche of the four lucanids found in Portugal. Moreover, it unravels how citizen science initiatives can positively impact conservation planning for flagship species and their taxonomic and functionally related species. Compared to non-citizen science sources, citizen science data increased the known distribution area for all four species (1.6 to 7.2 fold) and confirmed most of the current known species distribution (50.0% to 95.5%). It also expanded the known environmental niche breadth for all species (1.1 to 4.2 fold) and the species suitable modelled habitat (1.1 to 2.1 fold) with very good model performances (AUC > 0.8 and TSS > 0.6). Our results suggest that to improve the conservation of these species, it is paramount to value native forests in Portugal. Management actions to accomplish this might include preserving current native forests and small natural features (such as large old trees) throughout the landscape while simultaneously increasing native forest development. In addition, climate change will affect the species' distribution since all are highly susceptible to specific (bio-)climatic conditions that are expected to change in the next decades. These findings not only enhance our understanding of these species' current distribution but also pave the way for targeted and integrative conservation efforts throughout the country, especially in areas where the (now assessed) ecological niche requirements and habitat availability (either in terms of landscape composition or structure) are met. Guidelines and priorities are discussed on how to implement conservation measures in Portugal following the recently approved European Nature Restoration Law.
Photocatalytic removal of synthetic dyes using Bi2O3–TiO2 nanocomposites obtained by simple hydrothermal route
Authors: Ruiz-Santoyo V. , García-Carvajal S. , Arenas-Arrocena M. C.
Published: January 2025

This study describes the preparation of TiO2-modified Bi2O3 photocatalysts with different TiO2 contents, synthesized via an in situ hydrothermal method. The powder samples were characterized by XRD, SEM, TEM, FTIR–ATR, UV–Vis, XPS, and N₂ physisorption analysis. The photocatalytic activity of the TiO2-modified Bi2O3 was studied for the removal of methyl orange (MO) and methylene blue (MB) under different reaction conditions. The TiO2-modified Bi2O3 photocatalysts exhibited superior photocatalytic activity compared to the pristine samples of TiO2 and Bi2O3. The BiT16 sample achieved degradation rates of approximately 93.9% and 98.2% for MO and MB, respectively, within 120 min of reaction at 30 ppm. These results are attributed to the band gap values, differences in textural features, TiO2 content, and the reduction in the recombination process of e⁻/h⁺ pairs in the Bi2O3–TiO2 composites. Reaction kinetics were determined using the Langmuir–Hinshelwood mechanism, and during the third photoreaction cycle, the TiO2-modified Bi2O3 (BiT16) achieved photocatalytic degradation rates of 65.6% for MO and 70.5% for MB.
Everybody hurts: a survey on mental health in academia
Authors: Parra Saiani Paolo , Di Stefano Lucia , Ivaldi Enrico
Published: January 2025

The impacts of the pandemic were multiple: health, social, economic, political, on quality of life and well-being. The aim of this project is to attempt to study the mental health status, the problems of which are constantly increasing, of Italian academic social scientists experiencing difficulties during the pandemic period, as they play a relevant role within society, trying to construct an index identifying their level of malaise using exploratory factor analysis and logistic regression.
Pre-service mathematics teachers’ experiences and insights into the benefits and challenges of using explanatory videos in flipped modelling education
Authors: Cevikbas Mustafa , Mießeler Denise , Kaiser Gabriele
Published: January 2025

Explanatory videos play an important role in the flipped classroom (FC) approach, which has become highly important especially since the COVID-19 crisis. In this qualitative study, we explore the potential of using explanatory videos (EVs) in mathematical modelling education as important component of FC and assess its merits and deficiencies. We focus on the perspectives and experiences of 44 preservice mathematics teachers (PSTs) attending a German university in their master phase. Considering EVs in an interactive FC context, we employed a multifaceted approach to data collection that included interviews, online surveys with open-ended questions, EVs generated by the PSTs, and written documents resulting from collaborative group activities. The findings show that the EVs used in FCs in modelling can enhance understanding and simplifying modelling content and real-world situations. Moreover, PSTs report that using EVs in flipped modelling seminars can offer personalized learning, optimize teaching hours, decrease anxiety, and increase learners’ attention. PSTs also improved their skills in developing EVs on modelling and evaluating their quality in terms of structure, content, and focus. The experienced challenges include time-consuming content development, workload, technical hurdles, and feasibility of FC implementations. Although these challenges are important, they are not content-specific issues, and we conclude that the notable benefits of using EVs in FCs have the potential to promote technology-enhanced modelling education.
Laryngeal Abscess: A 34-Year Review
Authors: Veiga-alonso Aida , Cobo-Díaz Ramón , Salvatierra-Vicario Belén , Corriols-Noval Patricia , Morales-Angulo Carmelo
Published: January 2025

This study aimed to investigate the frequency, clinical-epidemiological characteristics, and management of laryngeal abscesses in our hospital setting. We included all patients treated for primary laryngeal abscesses in the Otorhinolaryngology Department of a tertiary hospital over a 34-year period. Patients with abscesses believed to have originated from adjacent regions were excluded. Thirteen patients with laryngeal abscesses were identified, with epiglottitis being the most common etiology (61%). Three patients were immunosuppressed. Four patients required urgent tracheotomy, and one underwent cricothyrotomy due to upper airway obstruction. All cases were drained under general anesthesia via a transoral route. Five patients required admission to the intensive care unit, and two experienced severe complications. There were no fatalities. Laryngeal abscesses are rare, with epiglottitis being the predominant cause. These cases pose a high risk of upper airway obstruction, highlighting the importance of early diagnosis and prompt treatment by a multidisciplinary team to prevent complications.
Optimising geotrail planning by leveraging least-cost path for sustainable geotourism development: a case study on a Tasmanian west coast post-mining landscape
Authors: Williams Mark A. , Rolls Stephen , McHenry Melinda T.
Published: January 2025

Geotrails serve as educational journeys that highlight significant geodiversity and cultural heritage, offering recreational and interpretive experiences in a range of constructed and natural environments. There is a growing need for objective methods to support decision-making in geotrail design. The Least-Cost Path (LCP) method, a resistance-based model, is effective for identifying routes suitable for geotrail development. Stakeholder-led design ensures the geotrail aligns with user needs. To date, there has not been a study in which a combination of LCP methods used in GIS trail design have been used in association with user persona profiles to design putative geotrails. We present a geotrail assessment methodology using LCP combined with the Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) that could enable geotourism practitioners to tailor trails to specific requirements, such as best practice requirements, or for various user personas. In-field validation via GNSS survey refined our LCP approach and enabled geotrail revision for similar or reduced cost after revised priorities and ranking of field criteria were incorporated. A case study on the West Coast of Tasmania, a mostly mountainous, wild landscape with mining operations of (geo)heritage significance, was conducted. Three putative geotrails were designed and field-validated, targeting users interested in mining heritage, natural values, and wilderness adventure experiences. Results showed that the validated LCP model closely adhered to trail best practices, making it suitable for planners and geotourism practitioners. Field validation decreased the overall cost of geotrails, improved accessibility, compliance with environmental and maintenance standards, safety considerations, and user experience. Additionally, a Python toolbox was created to ensure replicability of the workflow, accessible to geotourism practitioners globally. This approach to geotrail planning supports optimal routes, educational value, and sustainable development in post-mining landscapes and other geotourism areas.