bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Genetic associations between obesity and brain cortical thickness: combined genetic correlation, multi-trait meta- analysis and Mendelian randomization
Authors: Chen Jiankun , Pan Simin , Tan Yingfei , Wu Yuan , Huang Taoliang , Huang Bin , Xie Changcai , Cai Shubin , Li Jiqiang , Lu Yue , Chen Yu
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Obesity may lead to cognitive impairment and neuropsychiatric disorders, which are associated with changes in the brain cortical structure, particularly in cortical thickness. However, the exact genetic association between obesity and brain cortical thickness remains inconclusive. We aimed to identify the relationship between obesity-related traits [body mass index (BMI), waist-hip ratio (WHR), and waist-hip ratio adjusted for BMI (WHRadjBMI)] and brain cortical thickness.
Methods: Leveraging summary statistics of large-scale GWAS(s) conducted in European-ancestry populations on BMI(N=806,834), WHR(N=697,734), WHRadjBMI (N=694,649), and brain cortex thickness (N=33,709), we performed GWAS combining genetic correlation, multi-trait meta-analysis and Mendelian randomization analysis.
Results: Our findings revealed a strong genetic correlation between BMI and brain cortical thickness(rg=-0.0542, P=0.0435), and a significant result was also observed for WHR and brain thickness (rg=-0.0744, P=0.009). In addition, we identified three loci between obesity-related traits. MR analysis supported the causal role of BMI (IVW beta=-0.006, 95% CI=-0.011– -3.85E-04；weighted median beta=-0.006, 95% CI=-0.013– -0.002), WHR (IVW beta=-0.011, 95% CI=-0.018– -0.005; weighted median beta=-0.008, 95% CI=-0.018– -0.003) and WHRadjBMI (IVW beta =0.011 95% CI=-0.018– -0.005; weighted median beta=-0.008, 95% CI=-0.018– -0.002) in brain cortical thickness.
Conclusion: This study has shown that genetically predicted obesity-related traits have a causal relationship with reduced cortical thickness. These findings provide genetic evidence for a link between obesity and structural changes in the brain, and suggest that obesity may be associated with neuropsychiatric disorders by affecting brain structure, particularly cortical thickness.
ANCA-assoziierte Vaskulitis: Komplementblockade als Therapieoption auch bei schwerer Lungenbeteiligung
Authors: von Vietinghoff Sibylle , Falahat Peyman
Published: January 2025

Background: Pulmonary haemorrhage with hypoxia caused by anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV) has a high early mortality. Avacopan, an oral C5a receptor antagonist, is an approved treatment for AAV, but patients with pulmonary haemorrhage requiring invasive pulmonary ventilation support were excluded from the Avacopan for the Treatment of ANCA-Associated Vasculitis (ADVOCATE) Trial. Methods: A retrospective, observational, multicentre case series of AAV patients with hypoxic pulmonary haemorrhage, requiring oxygen support or mechanical ventilation, who received avacopan. Results: Eight patients (62.5% female), median age 64 years (range 17–80), seven with kidney involvement, median estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) 11 (range 5–99) mL/min/1.73 m2, were followed for a median of 6 months from presentation. Seven were newly diagnosed (87.5%), five were myeloperoxidase-ANCA and three proteinase 3-ANCA positive. All had hypoxia, four requiring mechanical ventilation (three invasive and one non-invasive). Intensive care unit (ICU) stay for the four patients lasted a median of 9 days (range 6–60). Four received rituximab and cyclophosphamide combination, three rituximab and one cyclophosphamide. Four underwent plasma exchange and one received 2 months of daily extracorporeal membrane oxygenation therapy. Following the initiation of avacopan after a median of 10 days (range 2–40), pulmonary haemorrhage resolved in all patients, even the two who had 1 month of refractory pulmonary haemorrhage prior to avacopan. Additionally, after 1 month, the median prednisolone dose was 5 mg/day (range 0–50), with three patients successfully discontinuing steroid use. Two patients suffered serious infections, two discontinued avacopan, one permanently due to a rash and one temporarily after 3 months due to neutropenia. All patients survived and no re-hospitalization occurred.
How to Choose an Emollient? Pharmaceutical and sensory attributes for product selection
Authors: Huber Petra , Reinau Daphne , Brodard Zoé , Meier Christoph R. , Surber Christian
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Emollients are part of daily body care and have become indispensable therapeutic adjuvants for the treatment of dry skin conditions. Adherence to topical treatments, notably for dry skin conditions, has been reported to be low. The underlying reasons may include insufficient medical and nursing support for product selection, specific product attributes, aspects of product application, and product feel on the skin. Attempts have also been made to portray lipid content, galenic product format, or rheological attributes (pharmaceutical attributes) as adherence-promoting or adherence-preventing properties. In the treatment of dry dermatoses with emollients, there is little information describing and relating to these various features. We explored whether the sensory attributes of selected emollients were associated with common product attributes such as lipid content, viscosity, or galenic product format, and discuss the extent to which this information is useful for product selection.
Methods: Nine trained panellists evaluated ten selected emollients based on a set of 18 predefined sensory attributes according to a standard guide for sensory descriptive analysis. Viscosity was determined using a rotational rheometer.
Results: The emollients had product-specific sensory attributes. Lipid content, viscosity, and galenic product format are not generally indicative of sensory product attributes.
Conclusions: Contrary to popular belief, lipid content and viscosity are not generally indicative of sensory product attributes. This is mainly due to the different physicochemical properties of the lipid phase ingredients, which are product-specific and diverse. As most emollients contain significant amounts of volatile ingredients that evaporate during and after application, their galenic format changes dramatically. Therefore, this is not a viable selection criterion. Because refined information on sensory product attributes, as compiled for this study, is rarely available in everyday life, eliciting individual and subjective patient preferences through dialogue remains crucial. Ideally, patient preferences can be elicited from the sample packs.
Transferrin Saturation, Serum Iron, and Ferritin in Heart Failure: Prognostic Significance and Proteomic Associations
Authors: Gan Sushrima , Azzo Joe David , Zhao Lei , Pourmussa Bianca , Dib Marie Joe , Salman Oday , Erten Ozgun , Ebert Christina , Richards A. Mark , Javaheri Ali , Mann Douglas L. , Rietzschel Ernst , Zamani Payman , van Empel Vanessa , Cappola Thomas P. , Chirinos Julio A.
Published: January 2025

BACKGROUND:

Iron deficiency (ID) is currently defined as a serum ferritin level <100 or 100 to 299 ng/mL with transferrin saturation (TSAT) <20%. Serum ferritin and TSAT are currently used to define absolute and functional ID. However, individual markers of iron metabolism may be more informative than current arbitrary definitions of ID.

METHODS:

We assessed prognostic associations of ferritin, serum iron, and TSAT among 2050 participants with heart failure (HF) with reduced/mid-range (n=1821) or preserved (n=229) left ventricular ejection fraction enrolled in the PHFS (Penn HF Study), a prospective cohort study. We measured 4928 plasma proteins using an aptamer-based assay (SOMAScanv4) and assessed prognostic and proteomic associations of markers of iron metabolism.

RESULTS:

Ferritin concentrations were not associated with outcomes, whereas low TSAT and serum iron were associated with the risk of all-cause death (TSAT: standardized hazard ratio, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.76–0.93];
P
=0.001; serum iron: standardized hazard ratio, 0.87 [95% CI, 0.79–0.96];
P
=0.007). Similarly, TSAT was associated with the risk of death or HF-related admission (standardized hazard ratio, 0.89 [95% CI, 0.83–0.95];
P
=0.0006). Significant interactions between TSAT and HF with preserved ejection fraction status were found such that TSAT was more strongly associated with the risk of death and death or HF-related admission in HF with preserved ejection fraction. We identified 359 proteins associated with TSAT, including TFRC (transferrin receptor protein; β, −0.455;
P
<0.0001) and CRP (C-reactive protein; β, −0.355;
P
<0.0001). Pathway analyses demonstrated associations with lipid metabolism, complement activation, and inflammation. In contrast to the robust associations between TSAT and outcomes, ID and absolute ID defined by current criteria were not associated with death or death or HF-related admission. TSAT was associated with outcomes regardless of the presence of functional versus absolute ID.

CONCLUSIONS:

Low TSAT, but not ferritin concentrations, is significantly associated with adverse outcomes in HF. Low TSAT is more strongly associated with outcomes in HF with preserved ejection fraction. Pathways related to inflammation and lipid metabolism are associated with low TSAT in HF.
Morphology and multigene phylogeny unveil Waltergamsia xishuangbannaensis sp. nov. (Bionectriaceae, Hypocreales), associated with Pará rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) from Yunnan Province, China
Authors: LIU RUI-MENG , XU RUI-FANG , ELGORBAN ABDALLAH M. , XU JIANCHU , DAI DONG-QIN , SUWANNARACH NAKARIN , KARUNARATHNA SAMANTHA C. , TIBPROMMA SAOWALUCK
Published: January 2025

During a survey of fungi associated with Pará rubber (Hevea brasiliensis) in Xishuangbanna, Yunnan Province, fungal masses that grew on old rubber latex were collected and isolated. Based on DNA sequences of the internal transcribed spacer ribosomal RNA locus (ITS), the nuclear ribosomal large subunit (LSU), partial translation elongation factor 1-alpha (tef1-α), and RNA polymerase II subunit 2 (rpb2) genes, coupled with morphological characteristics, the isolated fungal strains were identified as a novel fungal species, Waltergamsia xishuangbannaensis. A description, illustrations, and phylogenetic analysis results of the new species are presented. In addition, the new species is compared with closely related taxa.
Lectotypification of Gastrodia dyeriana King & Pantl. (Orchidaceae), its threat status assessment as per IUCN guidelines and notes on its first authentic voucher specimen from Arunachal Pradesh, India
Authors: CHAKRABORTY SAYAK , SENGUPTA SANCHAYITA , CHAKRABORTY OINDRILA , AGRAWALA DINESH KUMAR , BHATTACHARJEE AVISHEK , MAITY DEBABRATA
Published: January 2025

Gastrodia dyeriana King & Pantling [Orchidaceae-Epidendroideae-Gastrodieae], earlier known as an endemic species in India, was first reported from Sikkim. As part of the ongoing revisionary work on the genus Gastrodia Brown, it has been found that the name G. dyeriana is not typified. Therefore, a lectotype has been selected for the name. Moreover, the species was reported from Arunachal Pradesh earlier, which lacked citation of any authentic voucher specimen. During a recent field survey in Arunachal Pradesh, the species was collected from a different location. A detailed description along with photographic illustration, data on phenology, habitat and updated distribution is provided for easy identification. Conservation status of the species has also been assessed during the present study following the IUCN guidelines.
A new species of Lycodon Fitzinger, 1826 from the Northern part of the Truong Son Mountains, Central Vietnam (Reptilia, Squamata, Colubridae)
Authors: NGUYEN TAN VAN , VOGEL GERNOT
Published: January 2025

A new species of the genus Lycodon is described based on four specimens collected from the Phong Nha-Ke Bang National Park and Dong Chau-Khe Nuoc Trong Nature Reserve, Quang Binh Province, Central Vietnam. Lycodon poyarkovi sp. nov. is superficially similar to L. paucifasciatus Rendahl in Smith, but can be distinguished from the latter by the following characters: higher number of ventral scales in males, higher number of subcaudal scales in females, higher number of crossbands on body and tail, by having a lower number of ventral scales before the first crossband starts, and by having lower numbers of vertebrals covered by the first crossband. The new species seems to be endemic to the northern part of Truong Son Mountains, the Ben Hai River, which is considered an important biogeographic barrier between Lycodon poyarkovi sp. nov. and L. paucifasciatus. We suggest that the new species should be considered as Least Concerned (LC) following the IUCN’s Red List categories. Further studies reassessing the taxonomic status of Lycodon anakradaya and L. cardamomensis are required.
Contributions to the knowledge of Olixon Cameron, 1887 (Hymenoptera, Rhopalosomatidae): a new species and new records of the genus for northeastern Brazil
Authors: CELANTE GABRIEL LUIZ , CARVALHO ADHAN GABRIEL , MARTINS ANDRÉ LUIS , BULBOL MAYARA MEDEIROS , BRITO AMAURY SOARES DE , TEODORO ADENIR VIEIRA , JAHYNY BENOIT JEAN BERNARD
Published: January 2025

The genus of solitary wasps Olixon Cameron, 1887 is currently represented by 29 species, distributed across the African, Australian and American continents where it is present from southeastern Canada to central-eastern Argentina for the latter. Its presence in India is also attested. Despite the many genus records published for the Neotropical region, northeastern Brazil is still one of the least represented regions for the genus. Here we describe and illustrate Olixon caju Celante, Martins & Bulbol, sp. nov., based on specimens of both sexes collected in a Restinga vegetation located in the coastline of the state of Sergipe, Brazil. In this work the description was carried out based on a male, with, additionally, the description and illustration of the genitalia. We provide an updated identification key for the seven New World species and present a distribution map for the three known species that occur in Brazil including new distribution records for Olixon testaceum Cameron, 1887 in northeastern Brazil.
Review of the genus Rhyparus Westwood, 1845 (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae: Aphodiinae) in the Solomon Islands with description of two new species
Authors: MINKINA ŁUKASZ , SKELLEY PAUL , JÁKL STANISLAV , KRÁL DAVID , LI XIAO–FENG
Published: January 2025

A review of the genus Rhyparus Westwood, 1845 from the Solomon Islands is presented. First Solomon Islands records are presented for Rhyparus breviceps Paulian, 1984, and R. helophoroides Fairmaire, 1893. In addition, descriptions of two new species with illustrations are provided: Rhyparus guadalcanalensis Minkina, Skelley, Jákl, Král & Li, new species and Rhyparus malaitaensis Minkina, Skelley, Jákl, Král & Li, new species. A key to species of Rhyparus from the Solomon Islands is proposed.
Quantifying the Ozone Radiative Feedback on Planetary-Wave and Zonal-Mean Variability during the Southern Hemisphere Stratospheric Polar Vortex Breakdown
Authors: Anil Meryl C. , Hegglin Michaela I. , Shepherd Theodore G. , Polichtchouk Inna , Stockdale Timothy N.
Published: January 2025

Stratospheric ozone has been shown to impact stratospheric variability and subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) prediction via its strong radiative properties. Previous research investigating the impact of interactive ozone in atmospheric models, compared with the use of a prescribed climatology, has focused largely on the zonal-mean impacts. Here, we employ a process-based diagnostic to quantify the impact of interactive ozone on high-latitude stratospheric variability in the Southern Hemisphere during the vortex breakdown period using two seasonal hindcast ensembles (one with and one without interactive ozone) initialized on 1 October over a period of 29 years. We focus on the amplitudes of waves (i.e., the longitudinal deviations from the zonal mean) and of zonal-mean deviations from the ensemble mean, for both temperatures and zonal winds. The effect is quantified as a function of day of year, considering the strong nonstationarity during this season, and we focus on the lower stratosphere, a region crucial for stratosphere–troposphere coupling. For both the waves and the zonal mean, we show that interactive ozone provides a positive radiative feedback on the variability. This increases the variances of both the waves and the zonal-mean deviations. Also, the ozone–temperature correlations are strengthened. The feedback acts most strongly on zonal wavenumbers 1 and 2. Interactive ozone is found to increase the predictable signal of the final warming date, bringing it closer to reanalysis, even though the anomaly correlation coefficient is reduced. This reflects the limitations of the anomaly correlation coefficient as a metric of skill in the presence of a signal deficit.

Significance Statement

The stratosphere is known to impact the troposphere during periods of high variability through stratosphere–troposphere coupling. This coupling has been shown to impact weather prediction on the subseasonal-to-seasonal (S2S) time scales (2 weeks to a season), important for decision-making in sectors including water, food, and energy. Our study analyzes the importance of stratospheric ozone, specifically its radiative feedback, in impacting the stratospheric variability (focusing on the variability of temperature and zonal winds) on S2S time scales by comparing model results that include and omit this feedback. We show that the ozone radiative feedback increases both temperature and zonal wind variability and thus increases the range of possibilities explored by the model, which can potentially lead to impacts on S2S prediction.
Carlo Levi and Piero Gobetti
Authors: Ward David
Published: January 2025

The article examines the friendship between two anti-fascists, both born and raised in Turin: Piero Gobetti and Carlo Levi. Starting from the influence that Gobetti exercised on the development of Levi's anti-fascism, from the common search for sources of political dynamism and energy that they both thought were lacking in the ruling classes of Italy in the first decades of the 20th century, the article goes on to indicate how and where Levi's thought and practice overcome Gobetti's initial influence and take on less elitist contours.
Extrusion foaming of semi-conductive poly (lactic acid)/carbon nanotube nanocomposites: Processing and foam microstructure correlations
Authors: Estaji Sara , Jafari Aidin , Farahani Saba , Saeidi Ardeshir , Nobre Marcos A. L. , Hemmati Farkhondeh , Khonakdar Hossein Ali
Published: January 2025

In this study, semiconductive poly (lactic acid) (PLA)/carbon nanotube (CNT) nanocomposites have been simultaneously subjected to melt-compounding and foaming using a continuous and single-step extrusion foaming process. The extrusion foaming process with the ability to be developed on an industrial scale is a complex process for a biopolymer in the presence of nanoparticles, chemical foaming agent, and chain extender, and to control it, knowledge about the phenomena occurring during the process and the structural properties of the foam is required. Although the extrusion foaming of PLA has been studied before, the simultaneous effects of chain extender content and nanoparticle loading on the microstructure and phenomena during the PLA extrusion foaming process have not been thoroughly investigated. The results of this study show that the two investigated variables have a strong interaction with each other. Increasing the chain extender content has led to a change in the rheological properties of the melt, as a result, it has been significantly effective in the nanoparticle dispersion state. Besides, the loading of nanoparticles has a powerful effect on the intensity of the chain extension reaction of PLA chains by the chain extender additive. The lightest extruded foams (with a void fraction of 0.52) with the highest cell density (5 × 106 cells/cm3), the smallest cell size (about 50 and 200 µm for number- and volume-average cell diameters), and the most uniform cell size distribution have been obtained in the middle values of the chain extender content (5 phr) and the lowest values of the nanoparticle loading (0.25 phr).
Tailoring the message: A new dataset on the dyadic nature of NGO shaming in the media
Authors: Brathwaite Robert , Lian Shanshan , Murdie Amanda , Park Baekkwan
Published: January 2025

In the last decade, international relations scholarship on shaming by non-governmental organizations has grown dramatically, providing us with many insights into how country-level improvement occurs in the areas of human rights and the environment, among other issues. Using machine learning techniques, this project built an updated dataset on NGO shaming from almost 1.5 million articles in the media from 2001 to 2020. The dataset covers a wide set of organizations with goals outside of the traditional focus on human rights. Our approach will allow researchers to explicitly examine shaming as a dyadic event, occurring from a specific NGO sender to a specific country target. Using our new dataset, we first validated existing research on shaming in the current populist era and then examined how the nature of the NGO and the nature of the country jointly facilitated shaming. Our approach and dataset will be useful to both academics and to the policy community.
Automated discovery of candidate simulation models for steering behavior simulation
Authors: Le Hai , Hu Xiaolin
Published: January 2025

Simulation of mobile agents’ steering behavior is needed in many simulation applications. Developing steering behavior simulation models is a complex task because the resulting behaviors need to be realistic, robust, and satisfy specific requirements. This article presents an approach of automated discovery of candidate simulation models for steering behavior simulation. The developed approach includes a model space specification, based on which candidate models can be constructed, and a search method. We apply this approach to a set of steering behavior simulation scenarios, covering basic behavior such as leader-following, personal space, mobile obstacle avoidance, and more complex behaviors that are composed from basic behaviors. The discovered models and their performance are analyzed and evaluated.
Deconstructing Deception: Exploring Misleading Practices in Tourism Marketing
Authors: Shahidul Islam Mohammad
Published: January 2025

This qualitative study examines the ethical challenges and authenticity issues in tourism marketing, focusing on the prevalence and impact of misleading practices. Through semi-structured interviews and focus groups with industry experts, marketers, and tourists, alongside content analysis of marketing materials, the research reveals significant emotional, financial, and social repercussions of deceptive marketing. Tourists report feelings of betrayal, long-term skepticism, and economic exploitation. The study’s theoretical implications integrate deontological, utilitarian, and virtue ethics to propose a comprehensive framework for ethical tourism marketing. Practically, it underscores the crucial role of transparency in restoring consumer trust, local community engagement, and authentic visual content. The findings suggest implementing ethical guidelines and regulatory oversight to enhance the credibility and sustainability of tourism marketing. Future research should explore the long-term impacts of misleading practices across different cultural contexts and the ethical use of advanced technologies in marketing.
Vulnerable Care: Temporality in collective action during the Covid-19 crisis
Authors: Kateb Sanaz , Kroon David P. , van Burg Elco , Ruehle Rebecca C.
Published: January 2025

Collective action is essential during times of crisis. Yet, while some actors are able to use the momentum to initiate new collective action, others struggle to maintain existing collective action due to differences in immediate crisis responses. Thus, to act collectively in a crisis, it is a key challenge to understand what influences the emergence and interruption of collective action. We offer a temporal perspective to address this challenge. By conducting a longitudinal, inductive study based on qualitative data sources, including 80 interviews, we explore the emergence, continuation and interruption of collective action by actors providing social care to vulnerable people during the Covid-19 pandemic. Our study highlights interactions between Eigenzeiten, the unique temporal structures that entities or groups develop. Particularly, we find that the interaction between temporal structures at crisis, collective and organizational levels lead to the unfolding of two distinct patterns, ‘from coordinating to covering’ and ‘from covering to coordinating’, which depend on whether the starting point is new or existing collective action. We explain the key differences for the progression of collective action in a crisis by attending to the interactions between underlying temporal structures, including their pace and temporal depth, and changes in these structures.
Integration of Chromogenic RNAscope In Situ Hybridization for Target Validation in Drug Discovery
Authors: Win Rosanna , Minto Wesley , Mah In Kyoung , Boyd Kelli
Published: January 2025

Characterizing the expression of novel targets in normal and diseased tissues is a fundamental component of a target validation data package. Often these targets are presented to the pathology team for assessment with bulk or single-cell RNAseq data and limited to no spatial tissue expression data. In situ hybridization to detect mRNA (RNAscope) is a valuable tool to (1) identify cells that may express the target protein and to corroborate protein expression during immunohistochemical (IHC) assay development or (2) to use as surrogate for single-cell expression IHC when antibodies are not available. Chromogenic RNAscope in situ hybridization (CISH) can be performed on frozen or formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded (FFPE) tissues. This CISH workflow starts with RNA qualification of the tissue (to assess RNA integrity) by measuring the expression of housekeeping genes. RNA-qualified tissues then undergo CISH for the target in question, and positive CISH signals are quantified in VisioPharm by a combination of color deconvolution, size gating, and dot density thresholding. This RNA workflow can complement IHC or standalone in target validation for spatial characterization of novel targets.
MLH1 promoter hypermethylation and Lynch Syndrome: When to test for constitutional epimutations of MLH1 gene?
Authors: Cazzaniga Laura , Zanzottera Cristina , Mannucci Sara , Fava Francesca , Marabelli Monica , Calvello Mariarosaria , Feroce Irene , Risti Matilde , Del Fiol Manna Eliza , Bertario Lucio , Serrano Davide , Bonanni Bernardo
Published: January 2025

Lynch syndrome is a genetic condition predisposing to cancer, particularly colorectal cancer and endometrial cancer, due to germline mutations in MisMatch Repair genes. More rarely, Lynch syndrome is the result of a constitutional MLH1 promoter methylation. This review summarizes the current knowledge about the role of this epigenetic mechanism in the Lynch syndrome. Universal Tumor Screening, performed on tumoral specimens to identify features suggestive of Lynch syndrome, shows the same features both in the case of sporadic cancers and Lynch syndrome-cancers due to a constitutional MLH1 methylation: microsatellite instability, deficiency of MisMatch Repair proteins, and methylation of MLH1 gene. Over the last few years, identifying methylation of MLH1 promoter on tumors was used to discern sporadic tumors from Lynch syndrome tumors: the methylation of the MLH1 promoter was usually explained as a somatic event and this could lead to a missed diagnosis of some Lynch syndrome cases. Therefore, establishing criteria to decide when to test patients for constitutional MLH1 methylation is urgent. In the case of microsatellite instability/deficiency of MisMatch Repair tumors with MLH1 methylation, a germline genetic test could be requested for all colorectal cancer patients aged 55 years or younger and all endometrial cancer patients younger than 50 years old, independently from family history. The prevalence of germline MLH1 epimutations is not precisely known and possibly underestimated. The associated cancer risk could be similar to that due to a MLH1 sequence variant. MLH1 epimutations could be secondary to other genetic defects and follow an autosomal dominant inheritance. On the contrary, primary epimutations are often “ de novo” events, and their transmission does not follow Mendelian rules.
Is Ashrae/Ies Standard 90. Ip Being Followed?
Authors: Nadel Steven M. , Davis Fred
Published: January 2025

Pre-code construction is studied for efficiency
An Enquiry Concerning Administrative Discretion in Indigenous Consultations
Authors: Pimenova Oxana
Published: January 2025

Statutory legislation endows a government agency with administrative discretion in structuring evidence exchanges in Indigenous consultations over resource projects. Those projects are contentious issues, and evidence shall be evaluated impartially on both sides to make a balanced decision. In ordering the evidence submissions and evaluations, an agency imposes mandatory requirements that burden the reasoning capacity of Indigenous arguers to challenge a project. The diminished reasoning capacity to disagree makes it easy for an agency to produce motivated responses toward outstanding concerns. The article aims not to challenge the validity of administrative discretion but to reveal how burdens originating from statutory discretion can be a “legal source” of authoritative criticism and fallacious reasoning in a state-led adjudication.
Machine Learning and Political Events: Application of a Semi-supervised Approach to Produce a Dataset on Presidential Cabinets
Authors: González-Bustamante Bastián
Published: January 2025

This paper describes the creation of a novel dataset on ministerial turnover and resignation calls in 12 presidential cabinets in Latin America from the mid-1970s to the early 2020s. The indicators on resignation calls and reallocations of cabinet members are entirely novel. Both constitute a relevant empirical contribution not only to the study of political dynamics in presidential systems and cabinet politics but also to public opinion and public policy topics. We focus on the creation of the dataset using optical recognition algorithms on press report archives together with machine learning models. The models permitted the training of ensemble semi-supervised classifiers over a period of almost 50 years. Subsequently, we provide a number of measurement validity checks to cross-validate the dataset by comparing it with similar existing data and an exploratory analysis.
Surface functionalization of born nitride and its effect on physicomechanical properties of polyaryletherketone composites
Authors: J Dharanish , D C Madaiah , A Anand , J Maniraj , Arockiasamy Felix Sahayaraj , Fatehmulla Amanullah
Published: January 2025

This paper examines the impact of hexagonal boron nitride (h-bn) microparticles on the physico-mechanical properties of polyaryletherketone (PAEK) composites. A silane coupling agent is applied to the h-bn particles to enhance interfacial adhesion to the PAEK matrix. Extrusion and injection molding are used to produce the composites. The tensile modulus of h-bn/PAEK composites increased up to 12 wt%, after which the mechanical properties of the composite decreased with increasing weight percentages. The mechanical properties of h-bn/PAEK composites demonstrated a regular trend of increasing hardness, tensile strength, flexural strength, and impact strength with varying weight percentages until 8 wt. Moreover, the addition of 8 wt% h-bn increased the PAEK composite's tensile, flexural, and impact strengths by 7.9%, 11%, and 40.8%, respectively. Besides, 12 wt% and 8 wt% h-bn reinforced composites show improvements in tensile modulus and flexural modulus of 35.2% and 12.4%, respectively. The impact strength of h-bn/PAEK composites depends on the crack propagation mechanism in addition to filler loading and polymer filler interface strength, it showed a more complex response. The PAEK composites with 8 wt% h-bn particles are the most advantageous for enhancing mechanical properties.
Conceptualising the Role of State in Digital Ecosystems in India: A Case Study on ONDC
Authors: Kunduru Sunil Reddy
Published: January 2025

This study presents a framework to investigate the role of the state in the emerging digital ecosystems in India. It tests the framework on the Open Network for Digital Commerce (ONDC), the hub of a state-sponsored emerging digital ecosystem. Building on the concepts of ecosystems and institutional voids, the study develops a theoretical framework based on a two-part argument. The first part of the argument, which is synthesised from the literature, states that ecosystems fill institutional voids. The second part of the argument states that in emerging economies the state can orchestrate digital ecosystems to fill institutional voids. To test the theoretical framework, the study takes ONDC, a state-backed open protocol for digital commerce implemented in India, as the empirical context. A novel method called natural-language-processing-augmented discourse analysis is proposed and used to examine the policy discourse around ONDC, including official blogs and press releases. The discourse analysis revealed that there is optimism about ONDC’s ability to overcome the limitations of private digital commerce platforms. These results when seen in conjunction with the fact that the state finances ONDC lend support to the proposition that the Indian state intends to orchestrate digital ecosystems that have the potential to strengthen markets. The implications of these findings to theory, method and practice are discussed.
Economic Determinants of Suicide Trends and Gender Impacts: Comparative Assessment of South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Asian Region
Authors: Ramanayake Sanika Sulochani , Santhalal P. D. T. N.
Published: January 2025

South Korea has the highest suicide rate in the world, while Bangladesh, China, Hong Kong, Japan, Sri Lanka and Taiwan also report relatively high suicide rates. The reasons behind the higher suicide rates in these countries remain a complex issue. Conversely, Muslim countries such as Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia and Turkey had relatively lower suicide rates in the world. This study aims to identify the key reasons behind the high suicide rates. Therefore, analysis revealed that there are gender impacts and economic factors that cause suicide trends mainly in South Korea, Japan, Sri Lanka and Asia. Using quantitative methodology and secondary data, the study first performed a comparative analysis of suicide rates in three selected countries, identifying trends and underlying reasons. Next, the study performed an econometric analysis using time series panel data from 2000 to 2019, focusing on a sample of 12 Asian countries. This analysis utilized pooled ordinary least-squares estimation, panel fixed effects and random effects estimation, accompanied by the Hausman test. Key findings indicate that there is an increasing trend in the suicide rate in South Korea, while there are decreasing trends in Japan and Sri Lanka. Remarkably, the study observed that the female suicide rate is higher than the male suicide rate in South Korea, while in Japan and Sri Lanka, it is the opposite. Moreover, the empirical results show that unemployment, inflation and remittances are significant economic factors influencing the suicide rate in Asia. Specifically, remittances have a significantly negative impact on suicide rates, whereas unemployment and inflation have a significantly positive effect.
Simulated Patient as a Learner: Medical Volunteers Gain Knowledge by Participating in a Wilderness Medicine Training Session
Authors: Comp Geoffrey , Foggia Michael , Blentlinger Cody , Bhattarai Bikash , Popescu Cornel , Ferrari Andrea
Published: January 2025

Introduction

—A multifaceted approach to wilderness medicine education and training is necessary to provide a high-quality learning experience, often requiring innovative instructional techniques. Using volunteers to act as patients in medical education is a well-established practice that helps teach crucial skills. However, more is needed to know if there is potential knowledge acquisition through participation. This study examined the educational benefits for medical students serving as a simulated patient (SP), hypothesizing that these individuals will improve self-assessed knowledge and confidence and demonstrate improved performance of injury-management skills while participating in a medical education course.

Methods

—A descriptive feasibility pilot study was conducted with 10 SPs to assess knowledge and skill acquisition. Study participants were evaluated before and after participating as an SP in 2 scenarios involving hemorrhage control and wrist injury assessment and management, with a subjective confidence survey and an objective skill and knowledge demonstration, as measured by a critical action checklist.

Results

—The subjects all reported self-assessed knowledge improvement from the pre- to postintervention survey, with an average increase of 17 points. They also demonstrated improved objective skill and knowledge demonstration, with an average increase of 4.6 points for the wrist injury scenario and 2.5 points for the hemorrhage control scenario.

Conclusions

—This study demonstrated that volunteer medical students acting as SPs in a medical training course passively acquire knowledge and improve their medical skills and self-perceived confidence. The findings contribute to a broader understanding of medical education, suggesting that participating as SPs offers educational benefits. The results encourage consideration of simulated patient roles as a valuable adjunct to medical education, warranting further scholarly exploration to substantiate and expand on these preliminary findings.
Using Equivalence-Based Instruction to Improve Expression and Comprehension of Emotional Metaphors for Children on the Autism Spectrum
Authors: Hu Xiaoyi , Qu Kezheng , Lee Gabrielle T. , Luke Nicole , Wang Chongying
Published: January 2025

Metaphors are frequently used in daily life. Many children on the autism spectrum have difficulties in comprehending and generating metaphors. The purpose of this study was to evaluate an equivalence-based instruction (EBI) procedure aimed at improving comprehension and expression of emotions in metaphors. Four Chinese boys on the spectrum participated in this multiple probe design across emotions (i.e., angry, sad, happy, anxious, and fear) study. In this procedure, first, the instructor presented a picture of an emotion (A) with its commonly understood features (B) (e.g., facial expression—smile, nonverbal gestures—bouncing up and down). The child was taught the A→B relation by labeling the emotion and its corresponding features. Next, the instructor presented a picture of the stimulus used in a metaphor (C) sharing a similar feature (B) with the corresponding emotion. The child was taught the C→B relation by labeling the stimulus and its corresponding feature. After completion of the training, the untaught A→C (metaphorical expression, e.g., “What is happy like?”) and C→A (metaphorical comprehension, e.g., “If I say, “She is like a bouncing ball. How does she feel?”) relations were tested. Results indicated that the EBI procedure was functionally related to improved performance for metaphorical expression in three children and for metaphorical comprehension in two children. The use of EBI to facilitate the acquisition of metaphorical expression and comprehension for children on the spectrum is discussed.
Low rates of dislocation and reoperation following robotic-assisted total hip arthroplasty for femoral neck fracture
Authors: O’Donnell Jeffrey A , Buchalter Daniel B , Borsinger Tracy M , Chandi Sonia K , Neitzke Colin C , Westrich Geoffrey H , Gausden Elizabeth B
Published: January 2025

Introduction:

Total hip arthroplasty (THA) is widely used for active, elderly patients with femoral neck fractures (FNF). Compared to THA for osteoarthritis, THA for FNF is associated with a higher incidence of dislocation and reoperation. Robotic assistance may improve component positioning and leg-length restoration in THA, but its use in FNF has not been described. The objective of this study was to assess the feasibility and perioperative outcomes of robotic-assisted THA (rTHA) for FNF.

Methods:

A retrospective review identified 93 patients undergoing 94 THAs for FNF from 2016 to 2023. 18 patients treated with MAKOplasty rTHA were compared to 76 non-rTHA. There were 69 (73%) women, the mean age was 71 years, and the mean follow-up was 3 years.

Results:

There was no significant difference in operative time between rTHA and non-rTHA cohorts (100 vs. 108 minutes, p = 0.19), and sub-analysis of acute FNFs (< 6 weeks), showed no difference in the meantime from presentation to surgery (18 vs. 25 hours, p = 0.24). There was no significant difference in mean leg-length discrepancy (LLD) ( p = 0.19), number of outliers for acetabular anteversion ( p = 0.80), or inclination ( p = 0.55). There were no postoperative dislocations or reoperations in the rTHA cohort, compared to 4 dislocations (5%) and 6 reoperations (8%) in the non-rTHA cohort ( p = 1.00 and 0.59, respectively).

Conclusions:

In this series of THA for FNF, robotic assistance did not significantly delay the time to surgery or increase the operative time compared to non-rTHA. At a mean follow-up of 3 years, there were no postoperative dislocations or reoperations in the rTHA cohort.
An accurate approximate analysis of the large-amplitude asymmetric vibrations of a dielectric elastomer balloon
Authors: Big-Alabo Akuro , Abah Chukwuebuka Francis , Briggs Tobinson Alaso
Published: January 2025

The vibration model of the neo-Hookean DEB has a negative index nonlinearity which poses a solution problem for perturbative methods and most non-perturbative methods. In this paper, an accurate solution of the large-amplitude asymmetric vibrations of a dielectric elastomer balloon (DEB) made up of neo-Hookean material was derived using the continuous piecewise linearization method (CPLM), which was shown to handle the negative index nonlinearity smoothly. The accuracy of the CPLM was verified using published analytical results which showed that the CPLM was significantly more accurate than the published analytical results. The CPLM solution was used to conduct parametric analysis of the large-amplitude vibration of the DEB. The results revealed that increasing either of the applied voltage or static internal pressure results to lesser stiffness response, lower frequency of vibration, lower maximum kinetic energy and shorter range of initial stretch values for stable vibrations. Hence, the applied voltage and static internal pressure can be used as design parameters for neo-Hookean DEBs capable of stable large-amplitude vibrations.
Group coaching integrated into national school leadership programs for professional development of school leaders: A similar, yet different approach at a Norwegian and Swedish university
Authors: Leo Ulf , Vennebo Kirsten Foshaug , Aas Marit
Published: January 2025

A growing body of research has emphasized coaching as a key approach to the professional development of school leaders. In many countries, coaching in one form or another is integrated into national school leadership programs. This article reports on a study exploring a specific form of coaching, group coaching, integrated into two national school leadership training programs in Norway and Sweden. The study aims to contribute extended knowledge about how group coaching integrated into such programs can support school leaders’ professional development by examining how a similar yet different group coaching approach, might impact the challenges school leaders bring forth for coaching and how school leaders experience the significance of group coaching in dealing with the challenges in their daily practices. A qualitative collective case study design was adopted, and data was collected through observations, interviews, and questionnaires. Qualitative reflexive thematic analysis was performed. The study shows differences in the type of challenges the school leaders participating in the Norwegian and the Swedish programs brought forth for group coaching and how they experienced the group coaching process to support them in reflecting, understanding, and acting on the challenges in new ways.
‘So, we have occupied TikTok’: Ukrainian women in #ParticipativeWar
Authors: Kalnes Øyvind , Bjørge Nina M.
Published: January 2025

This study discusses the use of TikTok during the war that began with the Russian attack on Ukraine in February 2022. TikTok has been the fastest growing social media channel and is known for its young user base. Although associated with lifestyle and light entertainment, it also become an important arena in the war. Young people abroad used TikTok to obtain information about the conflict and to comment on or share it. This article presents a case study of five young Ukrainian women who captured the attention and sympathy of international audiences via TikTok. The authors study how the women succeeded as influencers and the variety of roles they took on in their performances. For the latter, they suggest a classification scheme for war influencer roles. In addition, they analyse data on the reactions from their audiences, as they appeared in the comments field. In a longer discussion section, the article goes deeper into the gender dimension of war and social media, as well as the possibilities of cosmopolitanism or affective publics. Finally, the authors suggest directions for future research.