bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Explosive gas sensor based on photonic crystal fiber
Authors: Yang Jianchun , Li Xiaobing , Li Xinke , Liu Xiaoyang , Du Xiaoqing , Li Xueming
Published: November 2024

A Mach–Zehnder interferometer gas sensor, in which the photonic crystal fiber (PCF) is coated with an allyl tetraphenylethylene (AL-TPE) film, is proposed. By fusing single-mode fibers to both ends of a PCF coated with an AL-TPE film, a core-mismatch sensor for explosive trinitrotoluene (TNT) detection is formed. The relationship between the effective refractive index of the cladding mode and the refractive index of the sensitive film was simulated by the finite element method. The results indicate that as the refractive index of the sensitive film increases from 1.440 to 1.450, the interference fringes appear blue shift. The correlation coefficient is 0.998 and the sensitivity is 221 nm RIU−1. The experimental study investigated the interferometric spectra of PCF within the range of 10–40 mm interaction lengths. It was found that with longer interaction lengths, the trough shapes became sharper and wavelength shifts became more pronounced. In the case of a 30 mm interaction length PCF sensor, its linearity R
2 = 0.9804, with a sensitivity of 172.67 pm ppb−1 for TNT vapor. The sensor showed good selectivity when tested on non-explosive gases.
Machinability investigation on CNC milling of recycled short carbon fiber reinforced magnesium matrix composites
Authors: Atasoy Şahin , Kandemir Sinan
Published: November 2024

This study investigates the machinability of magnesium matrix composites reinforced with short carbon fibers, which represent novel materials in the field. AZ91 alloy and its composites containing 2.5 and 5 wt% recycled carbon fiber (rCF) reinforcements were used as workpieces. Face milling was conducted using uncoated carbide cutting tools under dry cutting conditions with varied cutting speeds (480–560–640 m min−1) and feed rates (0.65–0.8–0.95 mm min−1). The experimental design was based on the Taguchi L9 (33) orthogonal array. Analysis included cutting forces, surface roughness, wear on cutting inserts, and chip morphology to assess machinability. Taguchi, analysis of variance, and regression methods were employed to analyze cutting force and surface roughness results. Findings indicated satisfactory machinability for AZ91 alloy and comparatively poorer performance for the 5 wt% rCF reinforced composite, with increased reinforcement content correlating with higher cutting force and surface roughness. SEM and EDX analyses revealed significant built-up layer formation on cutting inserts, with predominantly spiral-shaped continuous chips observed in the experiments. Overall, the study affirmed the machinability of the composites and identified suitable cutting parameters for further investigations.
Viscoelastic ordering in microfluidic devices: current knowledge, open questions and challenges
Authors: Del Giudice Francesco , D’Avino Gaetano
Published: November 2024

Objects flowing in microfluidic devices can self-organise in ordered structures thanks to the hydrodynamic interactions mediated by either inertial or viscoelastic forces. Such structures have been found to be crucial to enhancing microfluidic applications such as single encapsulation, co-encapsulation, and material synthesis. However, while inertial ordering has been investigated in more detail, studies on viscoelastic ordering are much more limited. In this perspective, we report the recent advancements in viscoelastic ordering while also discussing the open questions and challenges related to this field. We also include a brief description of both experimental and numerical protocols that can be employed to investigate viscoelastic ordering.
ScE-YOLO: an efficient approach for weld seam detection on workpiece surfaces
Authors: Li Zhiqing , Chen Haomin , Hu Qinghan , Zhou Hongxing , Huang Ziliang , Zhu Haijiang
Published: November 2024

With the rapid development of industrial automation, the research and application of automated weld seam grinding equipment have been receiving increasing attention. These devices not only improve production efficiency but also help ensure consistency in product quality. However, due to adverse factors such as on-site lighting and dust, accurate weld seam localization remains a key challenge for automated grinding processes. In this paper, a specialized weld seam detection network is proposed for industrial environments. A lightweight feature extraction module, G-ELAN, is employed in the backbone to reduce network computing cost while maintaining feature extraction capabilities. Then, A Spatial-Channel Feature Attention Module (SCFAM) is designed to adaptively suppress background interference and enhance detection performance. Experiments on WELD-DET dataset illustrate that our ScE-YOLO achieves the mAP of 81.8%, exceeding other compared models and surpassing the baseline YOLOv8s by 2.1%. It indicates that our network significantly enhances detection performance for weld seam detection in industrial environments. Further experiments on public NEU-DET dataset show an AP50 of 81.3%, surpassing the compared models and demonstrating its generalization capability in similar contexts.
Research on wear of CBN tool in precision machining of AISI M2 hard turning
Authors: Zhou Tianwen , Wu Qingtang , Liu Jiali
Published: November 2024

In precision machining, tool wear deteriorates the surface quality of the workpiece and affects its surface integrity. Especially in hard turning precision machining, the tool is very prone to wear under the coupling load of large cutting force and high cutting heat. Therefore, tool wear has become one of the obstacles restricting the promotion of hard turning precision machining technology. This study investigates the effect of hard turning parameters on CBN tool wear using a single factor experimental method for dry hard turning AISI M2. The valuable research results are that: (1) The most prominent influence factor of CBN tool wear is cutting speed, and the increase of each processing parameter can aggravate tool wear; (2) The rake face, flank face and cutting edge of CBN tool are all worn, and their manifestations are crater, friction groove and micro chipping respectively; (3) The failure form of CBN tool is tool tip broken, including fatigue fracture caused by the decrease of tool tip strength and sudden fracture caused by large impact load; (4) The wear of CBN tool is resulted from mechanical friction, material adhesion and oxidation reaction, in which mechanical friction takes the main influence.
Use of Camellia sinensis in green synthesis of pure and nickel-doped copper oxide nanoparticles and investigation of their photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial effects
Authors: Parasar Nikhil , Mohanta Bidhan , Das Sandeep , Bora Manoj , Pandey Piyush
Published: November 2024

Green synthesis of metal and metal oxide nanoparticles has been widely studied recently. The cost-effectiveness, as well as the environment-friendly green approach to synthesizing nanoparticles, is a true achievement for the scientific community. In this study, tea (camellia sinensis) leaf extract was used to synthesize pure copper oxide nanoparticles (CuO NPs) and nickel doped copper oxide nanoparticles (Ni/CuO NPs). Synthesized nanoparticles were characterized with UV-visible spectroscopy, PL spectroscopy, PXRD, and FESEM. The optical study of the sample revealed a narrow band gap of 1.60 eV in CuO NPs and 1.98 eV in Ni/CuO NPs. The incorporation of nickel into copper oxide has increased its band gap significantly. FESEM images show a clear picture of spherical shaped CuO and Ni/CuO NPs. PXRD shows that both samples have fine crystalline structure. The photocatalytic degradation effects were tested using methylene blue (MB) dye in the presence of sunlight. Moreover, the antibacterial activities of the samples showed remarkable results against Gram-positive Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) bacteria. It is found that the nickel-doped CuO NPs are more effective in photocatalytic degradation and antibacterial activities than pure CuO NPs.
Tailoring the optical properties of holey Si thin films
Authors: Zayouna Sarah , Kjellberg Mikko Erik , Schröder Stephan , Anand Srinivasan
Published: November 2024

Si thin films with holes are composite materials with interesting optical properties that can be fabricated and modified by state-of-the-art Si process technologies. Adjusting the volumetric air fraction of these films allows control over their effective refractive indices. This work demonstrates a novel scalable method that combines charged sphere colloidal lithography (CSCL) and dry etching to pattern spatially disordered nanoholes in Si thin films. The method can also be adapted to dielectric materials other than silicon. We show controlled tuning of the effective refractive index by lateral dry-etching of the holes. Utilizing this process, a progressive widening of the average hole diameter was obtained, expanding from initial diameters of 60 nm and 100 nm to dimensions reaching 118 nm and 168 nm, respectively. Consequently, the refractive index of the holey films decreased to approximately 2.1 determined via ellipsometry and Bruggeman's model in the near-infrared (NIR) - mid-infrared (MIR) range, in contrast to the unstructured Si refractive index of 3.42. The systematic optical modification was also observed in the reflection spectra of the fabricated films using Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy (FTIR). Dielectric holey thin films can be attractive for potential applications in MIR photonic devices such as filters and waveguides.
Reasonable Disagreement: Mark Tushnet, John Rawls, and a Democratic Point to Constitutionalism
Authors: Michelman Frank I
Published: November 2024

Bringing the thoughts of Mark Tushnet on the service (or disservice) of constitutionalism to democracy into conjunction with those of John Rawls, a striking overlap is found. We also find at least one seeming point of difference. Where Rawls shows no qualms about assignment to a judicial tribunal of a nearer-term decisive say over the constitutional validity of ordinary legislation when challenged as constitutionally noncompliant, Tushnet does. Rawls might limit judicial nay-saying to laws for which no credible defense can be summoned from within a wide space of reasonable disputability among adherents to constitutional democracy (and in that way draw closer to Tushnet), but Tushnet seeks ways to avoid or minimize even that much concession of shorter-term decisive authority away from ordinary democratic-majoritarian resolution. This chapter asks whether that difference necessarily signals some deeper division between the two bodies of thought over the political value or values to be served by constitutionalism in relation to democracy. Adverting then to Tushnet’s evident and persistent pursuit of an interest in weak-form judicial constitutional review—and giving consideration to possible explanations for that pursuit that would still not imply any positive embrace by Tushnet of constitutionalism for a country he would like to live in—the chapter concludes that it probably does not.
The Catholic Beethoven
Authors: Chong Nicholas
Published: November 2024

Since the middle of the nineteenth century, most accounts of Beethoven’s religious attitudes have assumed that, as a child of the Enlightenment, the composer was estranged from the Catholicism into which he was born, adhering instead to an idiosyncratic and unorthodox religious outlook that was suspicious of dogma and tradition. This long-standing narrative has often resulted in the critical marginalization of Beethoven’s religious music, with the notable exception of the Missa solemnis, which is usually included among his most important compositions only by being understood as a humanist or universalist work transcending its superficial identity as a setting of the Catholic Mass. The Catholic Beethoven challenges the conventional wisdom concerning Beethoven’s religious views by demonstrating that both the composer and his religious pieces were influenced by the German Catholicism of his era to a greater extent than has been thought. It uses new historical perspectives on the role of religion in the Enlightenment to reinterpret existing biographical evidence, as well as the composer’s sacred works—not just the Missa solemnis, but also the Mass in C, Christus am Ölberge, and the Gellert Lieder. Beethoven’s outlook was primarily shaped by ideas associated with the German Catholic Enlightenment, a movement that sought to reconcile traditional Catholic beliefs with certain elements of the Enlightenment in its more familiar secular strands. At the same time, he also had some sympathy for what would have been construed at the time as more “conservative” approaches to Catholicism that were in tension with this Catholic Enlightenment.
German Catholicism in Beethoven’s Time
Authors: Chong Nicholas
Published: November 2024

This chapter provides an overview of the history of the Catholic Church in the German-speaking lands during Beethoven’s era, including the way this history intersected with contemporaneous sociopolitical events and intellectual trends outside the Church, especially the secular Enlightenment. At the center of this account is the Catholic Enlightenment, a movement that sought to reconcile Catholic beliefs with ideas from the secular Enlightenment, and to reform the German Church based on those ideas. “Josephinism,” a program of ecclesiastical reforms ordered by the Holy Roman Emperor Joseph II in the 1780s, constituted the most successful real-world implementation of Catholic Enlightenment ideas. The Catholic Enlightenment began in large part as a reaction to the Baroque Catholicism that preceded it. The French Revolution and the military conflicts that followed it in the German lands then prompted the “Catholic Restoration,” a reaction against the Catholic Enlightenment that revived many aspects of Baroque Catholicism.
Beethoven and the Catholic Enlightenment in Bonn
Authors: Chong Nicholas
Published: November 2024

This chapter focuses on the religious aspects of Beethoven’s upbringing in Bonn. Many accounts of the composer’s youth have emphasized Bonn’s progressive and enlightened environment but have overlooked the central role of the Catholic Enlightenment in this situation. Beethoven was exposed to Catholic Enlightenment ideas through his training as a church musician and his interactions with various intellectual and artistic figures, including those sympathetic to Freemasonry, which was often considered compatible with Catholic belief. His Bonn works Der freie Mann and the Joseph Cantata also reflect Catholic Enlightenment concerns. In addition, the only copy of the Bible he is known to have owned can be tied indirectly to the Catholic Enlightenment. The chapter concludes by considering the possibility that during the first decade after he moved from Bonn to Vienna, Beethoven’s outlook may have become open to more conservative ideas in reaction to the upheavals caused by war and revolution.
The Quiet Death of Broughtonism
Authors: Macfarlane Kirsten
Published: November 2024

With the return of Pynchon and others to England, the community they had established in New England lost its momentum. Although Pynchon and Holyoke’s books circulated for several generations, the ideals that motivated them ceased to have significance for North American religious life. And yet there was one surprising legacy of Broughtonism in the figure of the renowned Hebraist John Lightfoot. Lightfoot was inspired to learn Hebrew due to his contact with old members of the London Broughtonians, and his 1662 edition of Broughton’s works marked simultaneously the ossification of their community and their most enduring scholarly contribution. As well as surveying the quiet death of Broughtonism, this chapter highlights the importance of this book’s findings for our understanding of the intellectual dimensions of puritanism, and particularly the dynamic, mutually renewing interactions between the elite world of neo-Latin scholarship and the vernacular religious culture of lay men and women.
Francis Johnson’s Letter to William Pynchon, 16 September 1615
Authors: Macfarlane Kirsten
Published: November 2024

Appendix 2 offers an annotated semi-diplomatic edition of a letter sent in 1615 from Francis Johnson, pastor of the Ancient Separatist Church at Amsterdam, to a young William Pynchon. The letter, preserved in Harvard University Archives, sets out Johnson’s interpretation of Matthew 18:17 in light of the fierce controversies over excommunication that were then rocking the English exile churches in the Netherlands.
Machine learning–assisted literature screening for a medication-use process–related systematic review
Authors: Cawley Michelle , Carlson Rebecca , Vest Tyler A , Eckel Stephen F
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This article summarizes a novel methodology of applying machine learning (ML) algorithms trained with external training data to assist with article screening for 2 annual review series related to the medication-use process (MUP) generally and the MUP in ambulatory care settings (ACMUP) specifically. As the literature review for these 2 series grew over time, it became essential for the authors to develop methods to be efficient while still capturing most of the relevant literature. The ML model can be used to predict whether search results are likely to be relevant or not relevant. Results least likely to be relevant can then be excluded without manual screening, allowing research teams to save time that would otherwise be spent reviewing a portion of the search results for inclusion. ML models require a large training dataset typically derived from the unclassified corpus. In this study, the authors demonstrate the efficacy of training the ML model using external training data, which is possible in scenarios such as a systematic review update or ongoing review series such as those for the MUP and ACMUP.

The authors ran 3 simulations using screening decisions from previous publications and in-process manuscripts for the MUP and ACMUP review series to test the efficacy of the approach. The simulations were compared to actual manual screening decisions made by the research teams to include or exclude articles using title and abstract text. For each simulation, the authors developed a training dataset using a sample of screening decisions from previous years to predict article relevance in an “unclassified” corpus. In this case, the screening decisions for the unclassified corpus were actually known, allowing us to calculate recall (percent of relevant articles captured) and time saved using the number of articles that would be excluded without manual review. Combined, the ML approach correctly labeled 187 of 192 relevant studies. The 3 simulations included 17,227 unique studies, and using ML the authors demonstrated that 13,201 studies could have been excluded without manual screening while still maintaining recall of relevant articles of 95% or greater.

Conclusion

This novel approach is applicable to systematic reviews and ongoing review series, including those for the MUP and ACMUP. Pharmacists have a duty to review and incorporate best practices into their organizations to improve the efficiency and cost of care, optimally utilize technology, and reduce the potential for medication errors. This methodology will allow evidence syntheses for the MUP and other disciplines in pharmacy practice to be published more expeditiously by saving significant time during the article screening step.
Bridging the continuity: Practice-enhancing publications about the ambulatory care medication-use process in 2021
Authors: Gazda Nicholas P , Vest Tyler A , Peek Grayson K , Eckel Stephen F
Published: November 2024

Purpose

This article identifies, prioritizes, and summarizes published literature on the ambulatory care medication-use process (ACMUP) from calendar year 2021 that can impact ambulatory pharmacy practice. The MUP is the foundational system that provides the framework for safe medication utilization within the healthcare environment and was reimagined to focus on new innovations and advancements in ambulatory pharmacy practice. The ACMUP is defined in this article as having the following components: transitions of care, prescribing and collaborative practice, accessing care, adherence, and monitoring and quality. Articles evaluating at least one step of the ACMUP were assessed for their usefulness toward practice improvement.

A PubMed search was conducted in January 2022 for the year 2021 using targeted Medical Subject Headings keywords and the tables of contents of selected pharmacy journals were also searched, providing a total of 6,026 articles. A thorough review identified 86 potentially practice-enhancing articles: 10 for transitions of care, 9 for prescribing and collaborative practice, 20 for adherence, 17 for accessing care, 18 for monitoring and quality, and 12 for monitoring and medication therapy management. Ranking of the articles for importance by peers led to the selection of key articles from each category. The highest ranked articles are briefly summarized, with a mention of why each article is important. The other articles are listed for further review and evaluation.

Conclusion

It is important to routinely review the published literature and to incorporate significant findings into daily practice. This article continues a series of articles defining and evaluating the currently published literature around the ACMUP. As healthcare continues to advance and care shifts to ambulatory settings, the ACMUP will continue to be a crucial process to evaluate.
Challenge of validation in whole-cell spike-in amplicon sequencing to comprehensively quantify food lactic acid bacteriota
Authors: Oshiro Mugihito , Nakamura Keisuke , Tashiro Yukihiro
Published: November 2024

Lactic acid bacteria (LAB) shape diverse communities in fermented foods. Developing comprehensive quantification methods for community structure will revolutionize our understanding of food LAB microbiome. For this purpose, 16S rRNA gene amplicon-based quantification, using spiked exogenous bacterial cells as an internal standard, shows potential for comprehensiveness and accuracy. We validated cell spike-in amplicon sequencing for quantifying LAB communities in food. Low efficiency of LAB DNA extraction underscores the importance of compensating for DNA loss by spiking internal standard cells. Quantitative equations generated using 15 selected LAB mock species showed positive relationships between the ratio of MiSeq read counts and the expected 16S rRNA gene copy numbers, with coefficients of determination (R2) ≥ 0.6823. The fold differences between observed and expected 16S copy numbers were within the range of 1/3 to 3-fold. Our validation highlights that accurate preparation of the LAB mock community is crucial for cell spike-in amplicon sequencing accuracy.
Androgens suppress the sialyltransferases ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL4 and modulate mucin 10 glycosylation in the submandibular gland, related to sex differences in commensal microbiota composition in mice
Authors: Deminami Mana , Hashimoto Miku , Takahashi Hiroki , Harada Naoki , Minami Yukari , Kitakaze Tomoya , Masuda Wataru , Takenaka Shigeo , Inui Hiroshi , Yamaji Ryoichi
Published: November 2024

Sex differences exist in the commensal microbiota that impact on multiple physiological processes in the host. Here, we examined the mechanism by which the sex differences are formed. In addition to the epithelial ductal cell, the acinar cell mass in the submandibular gland was associated with androgen–androgen receptor (AR) signaling. Sex differences in the formation of submandibular mucin 10 (MUC10) were identified using SDS-PAGE. Neuraminidase treatment, which hydrolyzes terminal sialic acid, influenced the mobility shift of MUC10. Androgen–AR signaling negatively regulated ST3 β-galactoside α-2,3-sialyltransferase 1 (St3gal1) and St3gal4 in the submandibular gland. There was a trend and significant sex differences in α-diversity (Shannon, P = .09) and β-diversity (unweighted UniFrac) in oral microbiota composition, respectively. Some female-preferring bacteria including Akkermansia muciniphila can assimilate mucin by degrading terminal sialic acids. Our results indicate that androgen–AR signaling suppresses ST3GAL1 and ST3GAL4, which can influence sex differences in commensal microbiota composition.
LncLSTA: a versatile predictor unveiling subcellular localization of lncRNAs through long-short term attention
Authors: Wang Kai , Hu Yueming , Li Sida , Chen Ming , Li Zhong
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Much evidence suggests that the subcellular localization of long-stranded noncoding RNAs (LncRNAs) provides key insights for the study of their biological function.

Results

This study proposes a novel deep learning framework, LncLSTA, designed for predicting the subcellular localization of LncRNAs. It firstly exploits LncRNA sequence, electron-ion interaction pseudopotentials, and nucleotide chemical property as feature inputs. Departing from conventional k-mer approaches, this model uses a set of 1D convolutional and maxpooling operations for dynamical feature aggregation. Furthermore, LncLSTA integrates a long-short term attention module with a bidirectional long and short term memory network to comprehensively extract sequence information. In addition, it incorporates a TextCNN module to enhance accuracy and robustness in subcellular localization tasks. Experimental results demonstrate the efficacy of LncLSTA, showcasing its superior performance compared to other state-of-the-art methods. Notably, LncLSTA exhibits the transfer learning capability, extending its utility to predict the subcellular localization prediction of mRNAs, while maintaining consistently satisfactory prediction results. This research contributes valuable insights into understanding the biological functions of LncRNAs through subcellular localization, emphasizing the potential of deep learning approaches in advancing RNA-related studies.

Availability and implementation

The source code is publicly available at https://bis.zju.edu.cn/LncLSTA.
ICoN: integration using co-attention across biological networks
Authors: Tasnina Nure , Murali T M
Published: November 2024

Motivation

Molecular interaction networks are powerful tools for studying cellular functions. Integrating diverse types of networks enhances performance in downstream tasks such as gene module detection and protein function prediction. The challenge lies in extracting meaningful protein feature representations due to varying levels of sparsity and noise across these heterogeneous networks.

Results

We propose ICoN, a novel unsupervised graph neural network model that takes multiple protein–protein association networks as inputs and generates a feature representation for each protein that integrates the topological information from all the networks. A key contribution of ICoN is exploiting a mechanism called “co-attention” that enables cross-network communication during training. The model also incorporates a denoising training technique, introducing perturbations to each input network and training the model to reconstruct the original network from its corrupted version. Our experimental results demonstrate that ICoN surpasses individual networks across three downstream tasks: gene module detection, gene coannotation prediction, and protein function prediction. Compared to existing unsupervised network integration models, ICoN exhibits superior performance across the majority of downstream tasks and shows enhanced robustness against noise. This work introduces a promising approach for effectively integrating diverse protein–protein association networks, aiming to achieve a biologically meaningful representation of proteins.

Availability and implementation

The ICoN software is available under the GNU Public License v3 at https://github.com/Murali-group/ICoN.
Sensitivity analysis for studies transporting prediction models
Authors: Steingrimsson Jon A , Robertson Sarah E , Voter Sarah , Dahabreh Issa J
Published: November 2024

We consider estimation of measures of model performance in a target population when covariate and outcome data are available from a source population and covariate data, but not outcome data, are available from the target population. In this setting, identification of measures of model performance is possible under an untestable assumption that the outcome and population (source or target) are independent conditional on covariates. In practice, this assumption is uncertain and, in some cases, controversial. Therefore, sensitivity analysis may be useful for examining the impact of assumption violations on inferences about model performance. Here, we propose an exponential tilt sensitivity analysis model and develop statistical methods to determine how measures of model performance are affected by violations of the assumption of conditional independence between outcome and population. We provide identification results and estimators for the risk in the target population under the sensitivity analysis model, examine the large-sample properties of the estimators, and apply them to data on lung cancer screening.
Taxonomic adjustments in Mimoseae (Fabaceae): new genera described to accommodate Zygia/Inga inundata and Zygia sabatieri, and a recombination of Marmaroxylon ocumarense
Authors: Ferm Julia , Rydin Catarina
Published: November 2024

In recent phylogenetic studies of legumes the species Zygia/Ingainundata and Zygiasabatieri have been shown to not belong in neither Inga nor Zygia. Inga inundata was originally placed in the genus Inga based on morphological characters such as having pinnate leaves, but was transferred to the genus Zygia when the pod was discovered. The species was placed in its own section in Zygia, Zygia sect. Ingopsis, due to the similarity in leaf morphology to the species in Inga. Zygia sabatieri is another species placed in its own section in Zygia, Zygia sect. Pseudocojoba, due to similarity in flower morphology to the legume genus Cojoba. The genus Marmaroxylon has been synonymized under Zygia but the species Marmaroxylonocumarense has been shown to be closer related to species of the genus Macrosamanea and is not resolved within Zygia. In this study these results are compared and discussed. Zygia/Ingainundata and Zygiasabatieri are morphologically distinct from Inga and Zygia, and from each other, and taxonomic adjustments are made. Two new genera are described, Ingopsis gen. nov. to accommodate Zygia/Inga inundata and Pseudocojoba gen. nov. to accommodate Zygia sabatieri. In addition, Marmaroxylon ocumarense is transferred to the genus Macrosamanea where it fits phylogenetically and morphologically.
Cerebral amyloid angiopathy impacts neurofibrillary tangle burden and cognition
Authors: Godrich Dana , Pasteris Jeremy , Martin Eden R , Rundek Tatjana , Schellenberg Gerard , Foroud Tatiana , Vance Jeffery M , Pericak-Vance Margaret A , Cuccaro Michael L , Scott William K , Kukull Walter , Montine Thomas J , Beecham Gary W
Published: November 2024

Cerebral amyloid angiopathy commonly co-occurs with amyloid β plaques and neurofibrillary degeneration and is proposed to contribute to cognitive impairment. However, the interplay among these pathologic changes of Alzheimer disease is not well understood. Here we replicate and extend findings of a recent study that suggested the association of cerebral amyloid angiopathy and cognitive impairment is mediated by neurofibrillary degeneration. We employed similar approaches but in a larger, clinical-based (as opposed to community-based) set of 4915 autopsied National Alzheimer’s Coordinating Center participants (60% with dementia). Neuropathologic lesions were measured ordinally; longitudinal change in cognition was used to measure cognitive impairment. Statistical analyses included ordinal logistic regression, mediation analyses and extension of models to include presence of APOE e4. We show a statistical interaction between cerebral amyloid angiopathy and neuritic plaques that impacts the burden of neurofibrillary tangles. Mediation analyses show that cerebral amyloid angiopathy is associated with cognitive impairment, but only by modifying the impact of neurofibrillary tangles on cognition. We expanded the mediation analysis to include APOE e4 and show similar results. Findings indicate that cerebral amyloid angiopathy plays an important role in the burden and impact of neurofibrillary degeneration contributing to cognitive impairment.
The future of dermatological research: ethical implications of artificial intelligence integration for medical students
Authors: Kashyap Alisha , Black Troy Austin , McQuitty Emelie N , Ali Amna , Nambiar Nayna , Rashid Rashid M
Published: November 2024

This letter examines the increasing reliance on artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT among medical students in dermatology research, driven by the competitive nature of residency matching. While AI can significantly boost research productivity, it also introduces ethical concerns, including risks of academic dishonesty, data privacy issues, and potential over-reliance on technology that may undermine students’ critical thinking and intellectual development. Balancing the benefits of AI with a commitment to ethical standards is crucial to preserving the integrity and quality of medical research.
GLP-1 receptor agonists in patients with chronic kidney disease and either overweight or obesity
Authors: Abasheva Daria , Ortiz Alberto , Fernandez-Fernandez Beatriz
Published: November 2024

Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists (GLP-1 RAs) have emerged as game-changers across the cardiovascular–kidney–metabolic (CKM) spectrum: overweight/obesity, type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and associated chronic kidney disease (CKD) and cardiovascular disease (CVD). Liraglutide, semaglutide and tirzepatide are European Medicines Agency approved to improve metabolic control in T2DM and to decrease weight in persons with obesity [body mass index (BMI) ≥30 kg/m2] or with overweight (BMI ≥27 kg/m2) associated with weight-related comorbidities such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia, CVD and others. Additionally, liraglutide and semaglutide are approved to reduce CVD risk in patients with CVD and T2DM. Semaglutide is also approved to reduce CVD risk in patients with CVD and either obesity or overweight and in phase 3 clinical trials showed kidney and cardiovascular protection in patients with T2DM and albuminuric CKD (FLOW trial) as well as in persons without diabetes that had CVD and overweight/obesity (SELECT trial). Thus, nephrologists should consider prescribing GLP-1 RAs to improve metabolic control, reduce CVD risk or improve kidney outcomes in three scenarios: patients with overweight and a related comorbid condition such as hypertension, dyslipidaemia or CVD, patients with obesity and patients with T2DM. This review addresses the promising landscape of GLP-1 RAs to treat persons with overweight or obesity, with or without T2DM, within the context of CKD, assessing their safety and impact on weight, metabolic control, blood pressure and kidney and cardiovascular outcomes, as part of a holistic patient-centred approach to preserve CKM health.
A pair of two atrial myxomas mimic thrombus in left atrial appendage and cause ischemic stroke in a young adult: a case report
Authors: Shahverdi Ehsan , Bolte Hendrik , Schneider Carsten , Lange Mathias
Published: November 2024

Background

Stroke is one of the leading causes of mortality and disability and can be rarely caused by cardiac myxoma.

Case Summary

Here, we report about a 56-year-old man who suffered from a stroke presented with acute dysarthria and left hemiparesis. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the brain revealed an acute stroke. Atrial fibrillation (AF) was assumed the cause of stroke. Because of contraindication to anticoagulation due to previous cerebral haemorrhage with rivaroxaban the patient was admitted to interventional occlusion of left atrial appendage. Echocardiography revealed two left atrial masses suggestive of atrial myxomas. The patient was transferred to remove the two myxomas operatively with simultaneous resection of left atrial appendage.

Discussion

Atrial myxomas should be considered as a possible differential diagnosis of cardioembolic stroke. They should be managed early to prevent recurrent strokes.
Transcatheter aortic valve implantation in patient with combined aortic and subaortic membrane stenosis: a case report
Authors: Tayel Hesham , Elhakim Abdelrahman , Elsoudi Mohamed , Nour Amira , Saad Mohammed
Published: November 2024

Background

The combination of symptomatic aortic stenosis (AS) and subaortic membrane (SAM) is rare, and the haemodynamic consequences of this combination are challenging to diagnose and manage.

Case summary

We present the case of a 78-year-old male who presented with symptomatic AS and chronic heart failure. On echocardiography, the combination of AS and SAM was diagnosed. Transoesophageal echocardiography (TOE) was performed to confirm the presence and severity of AS and SAM. Based on the patient’s clinical profile and the high risk of surgical repair, a self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve implantation (TAVI) was performed. Three-month follow-up was uneventful. In addition, we discuss the assessment and management strategy challenges for SAM in patients with aortic regurgitation or AS.

Discussion

As transcatheter valve implantation expands its indications for more complex anatomy and patient’s comorbidity. Self-expandable TAVI-prosthesis under TOE guidance is feasible for the treatment of symptomatic AS and SAM, especially in patients with high surgical risk.
Optimizing nurse staffing in thoracic surgery: the imperative of Enhanced Recovery Programs—a statement of the European Society of Thoracic Surgeons Nursing & Allied Health Professionals Working Group
Authors: Fehlmann Florian , Moons Johnny , Missel Malene
Published: November 2024

Enhanced Recovery Programs (ERPs) have revolutionized thoracic surgery by reducing hospital stays and fostering quicker patient recoveries through minimally invasive procedures. However, the perception that patients in ERPs are less complex and require fewer nursing resources is misleading. Despite shorter hospital stays, the complexity of postoperative care remains high, with patients often needing vigilant monitoring and timely interventions. This article challenges the assumption of reduced nursing needs in ERPs, arguing that the fast-paced nature of these programmes intensifies the demand for skilled nursing care. The European Society of Thoracic Surgeons (ESTS) Nurses & Allied Health Professionals Working Group emphasizes that nurse staffing levels must be maintained or even increased to ensure quality care in ERPs. Adequate staffing is crucial for supporting not only the technical aspects of care but also the patient’s experience of illness and recovery. Failure to recognize this complexity could compromise patient outcomes, eroding the benefits of ERPs. This paper advocates for a comprehensive approach that balances efficiency with sufficient nursing support to optimize outcomes in thoracic surgery ERPs. It calls for a reassessment of staffing models to meet the evolving demands of these programmes, ensuring that the advantages of shorter recovery times are not undermined by insufficient care.
ProtPipe: A Multifunctional Data Analysis Pipeline for Proteomics and Peptidomics
Authors: Li Ziyi , Weller Cory A , Shah Syed , Johnson Nicholas L , Hao Ying , Jarreau Paige B , Roberts Jessica , Guha Deyaan , Bereda Colleen , Klaisner Sydney , Machado Pedro , Zanovello Matteo , Prudencio Mercedes , Oskarsson Björn , Staff Nathan P , Dickson Dennis W , Fratta Pietro , Petrucelli Leonard , Narayan Priyanka , Cookson Mark R , Ward Michael E , Singleton Andrew B , Nalls Mike A , Qi Yue A
Published: November 2024

Mass spectrometry (MS) is a technique widely employed for the identification and characterization of proteins, with personalized medicine, systems biology, and biomedical applications. The application of MS-based proteomics advances our understanding of protein function, cellular signaling, and complex biological systems. MS data analysis is a critical process that includes identifying and quantifying proteins and peptides and then exploring their biological functions in downstream analyses. To address the complexities associated with MS data analysis, we developed ProtPipe to streamline and automate the processing and analysis of high-throughput proteomics and peptidomics datasets with DIA-NN preinstalled. The pipeline facilitates data quality control, sample filtering, and normalization, ensuring robust and reliable downstream analyses. ProtPipe provides downstream analyses, including protein and peptide differential abundance identification, pathway enrichment analysis, protein–protein interaction analysis, and major histocompatibility complex (MHC)–peptide binding affinity analysis. ProtPipe generates annotated tables and visualizations by performing statistical post-processing and calculating fold changes between predefined pairwise conditions in an experimental design. It is an open-source, well-documented tool available at https://github.com/NIH-CARD/ProtPipe, with a user-friendly web interface.
What is the relationship between hospital management practices and quality of care? A systematic review of the global evidence
Authors: Ward Charlotte , Phiri Elias Rejoice Maynard , Goodman Catherine , Nyondo-Mipando Alinane Linda , Malata Monica , Manda Wanangwa Chimwaza , Mwapasa Victor , Powell-Jackson Timothy
Published: November 2024

There is a widely held view that good management improves organizational performance. However, hospitals are complex organizations, and the relationship between management practices and health service delivery is not straightforward. We conducted a global, systematic literature review of the quantitative evidence on the link between the adoption of management practices and quality of care in hospitals. We searched in PubMed, EMBASE, EconLit, Global Health, and Web of Science on 16 October 2024, without language or country restrictions. We included empirical studies from 1 January 2000 onwards, examining the quantitative association between hospital management practices and quality of care. Outcomes included structural quality (availability of resources such as drugs and equipment), clinical quality (adherence to guidelines), health outcomes, and patient satisfaction or experience with care. In every study, each tested association was categorized as significantly positive (at the 5% level), null, or significantly negative. The study was registered with PROSPERO (CRD42022301462). Of 11 731 articles, 25 studies met the inclusion criteria and had an acceptable risk of bias. Studies were equally distributed between high-income and low- and middle-income countries, with 22 cross-sectional and three intervention studies. Of 111 associations, 55 (49.5%) were significantly positive, one (1%) was significantly negative, and 55 (49.5%) were null. Among the associations tested, the majority were significantly positive for structural quality (79%), clinical quality (60%), and health outcomes (57%), while most associations between hospital management and patient satisfaction (80%) were null. The findings are mixed, with a similar proportion of positive and null associations between management practices and quality of care across studies. The evidence is limited by the risk of bias introduced by nonrandomized study designs. Evidence of positive associations in some settings warrants further investigation of the association through intervention studies or natural experiments. This could leverage methodological developments in quantitatively measuring management, highlighted by this review.
Australian parents’ perceptions of the risks posed by harmful products to the health of children
Authors: Pitt Hannah , McCarthy Simone , Hume Emily , Arnot Grace , Thomas Samantha
Published: November 2024

Cigarettes, alcohol, vaping and gambling products can cause significant harm to children and young people. The industries that make these products employ a range of tactics that aim to normalize their products and resist policy and regulatory reform. This includes ‘responsibility’ framing, in which parents are often held responsible for educating their children about the risks of these products. However, there has been very little research, which has investigated parents’ perceptions of these industries. A qualitatively led online panel survey was conducted with n = 455 Australian parents who had at least one child aged between 11 and 17 years. Participants were asked questions relating to concerns about harmful products; what they talked about with their children; other potential sources of risk information; and who were responsible for protecting young people from these industries. Four themes were constructed. (i) Parents identified that parental influence, peer pressure, social media and advertising influenced children’s attitudes towards these products. (ii) They had concerns about the short- and long-term consequences of these products. (iii) Parents actively engaged in educating their children about these products but recognized that it was difficult to counter industry messages. (iv) Parents emphasized the need for a collective approach, advocating for increased information and government regulations, particularly relating to marketing. This study demonstrates that parents are concerned about these industries and do their best to protect their children from harm but recognize that they need more support. Evidence-based education and comprehensive regulations particularly around marketing are needed to de-normalize products and protect young people.
Health and Economic Impacts of Introducing Vaccae and Enhanced Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis Management Strategies in China
Authors: Zhai Pei-Yao , Zang Xiao , Jiang Ting , Feng Jian , Zhang Bin , Zhang Lei , Chen Zhi-Xian , Zhao Yan-Lin , Qin Gang
Published: November 2024

Background

China faces high burden of multidrug-resistant or rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (MDR/RR-TB). We aimed to evaluate the impacts of Vaccae vaccination and enhanced drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) management strategies.

Methods

Using a compartmental model calibrated with national TB data, we evaluated 9 interventions: enhanced DR-TB management (S1); Vaccae vaccination for those with latent TB infection, targeting specific age groups (S2: adolescents, S3: adolescents and young adults, S4: working-age adults, S5: elderly); and combined strategies S6-S9. Vaccae's efficacy was 0.547 for the first 5 years, then waning annually. Costs were US$28/dose for Vaccae, US$87/test for Xpert MTB/RIF, and US$13 818/course for BPaLM.

Results

Strategy S1 is projected to reduce MDR/RR-TB incidence and mortality by 21% (95% UI, 8%–46%) and 54% (38%–67%), respectively, by 2050. Strategy S9 (S5+S1) is more effective, reducing the incidence by 44% (35%–61%) and mortality by 68% (52%–78%), with an ICER of US$7222 (4460–10 779) per DALY averted compared with S1. Additionally, S9 could prevent 24.2 (13.5–32.9) million patient-months of second-line treatment from 2025 to 2050.

Conclusions

Prioritizing Vaccae vaccination for the elderly and enhancing DR-TB management offer a promising and cost-effective opportunity for China. The findings may have policy implications for other low- and middle-income countries with high MDR/RR-TB burden.