bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Focus groups on digital cognitive assessment in the context of Alzheimer's disease
Authors: van der Landen Sophie M , van den Berg Rosanne L , Keijzer Matthijs J , van Liere Mariska N , de Boer Casper , Visser Leonie N C , van der Flier Wiesje M , Rhodius-Meester Hanneke F M , Sikkes Sietske A M
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Digital cognitive assessments (DCAs) may facilitate early recognition of cognitive decline in the context of Alzheimer's disease (AD). While DCAs are increasingly emerging, they are often not used in practice. We assessed facilitators and barriers of using DCAs according to older individuals and patients.

Methods

In five focus groups, we presented three different DCAs to older individuals with unimpaired cognition ( n = 14), subjective cognitive decline ( n = 11) and mild cognitive impairment with biomarker-confirmed AD ( n = 4) and their caregivers ( n = 2). Participants discussed facilitators and barriers that could influence the use of DCAs. Focus groups were recorded, and transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.

Results

Three main themes were identified: (1) test motivation (‘Do I want to know my brain health?’), facilitated by early disease recognition, while impeded by fear of dementia; (2) digital test suitability (‘Do I want to use a digital test?’), enabling at-home testing, while lacking personal contact; and (3) digital test characteristics (‘What makes a digital test a good test for me?’), where user-friendliness was emphasized as a key facilitator to overcome digital incompetence.

Discussion

Participants recognized the added value of DCAs, and multiple factors were identified as facilitators and barriers for their use. Similar factors could be a barrier for one, yet facilitated others, underlining the need for a personalized approach. Strategies to minimize barriers and exploit facilitators would ultimately foster implementation.
Fostering Students’ Posttraumatic Growth: A Multitiered Approach for School Counselors
Authors: Kitching Emily , Poandl Margaret M.
Published: February 2025

By leveraging their unique position within the educational environment, school counselors can play a central role not only in identifying and supporting students who have experienced trauma, but also in facilitating their posttraumatic growth. Through a multitiered approach, school counselors can design comprehensive programs that foster posttraumatic growth at universal, targeted, and individualized levels. School counselors’ prevention and intervention efforts are essential in ensuring that students not only recover from trauma, but emerge with increased personal strength, improved abilities to relate to others, appreciation for the possibilities in life, more gratitude, and renewed meaning and purpose. We provide associated implications for practice, training, and research.
Leveraging Digital Spaces for Rural Women Artisans and Handicraft Enterprises in the Desert of Rajasthan, India
Authors: Ibrahim Mishab , Ojha Jaya Kritika
Published: February 2025

The handicraft industry in Western Rajasthan’s Thar Desert region holds immense socio-economic significance, showcasing a diverse range of traditional craftsmanship and cultural heritage. However, rural women artisans and handicraft enterprises in this area face challenges in reaching a global audi‚‚‚ence, expanding their markets, and promoting their unique products. The limited digital expertise and knowledge among artisans hinder them from harnessing the potential of digital marketing tools and platforms, which can serve as effective means to break geographical barriers and explore new opportunities. The study employs a digital intervention design with a focus on enhancing market access of women artisans and sustainability in Thar Desert handicrafts. It focuses on leveraging social media channels like Facebook, Instagram, and WhatsApp to enable artisans to create compelling content, engage with their target audience, and effectively market their products. Mixed method research was used with surveys, interviews, focus group discussions, and observations for a better understanding of the issues around the empowerment processes for women artisans. The study underscores the vital role of digital empowerment in transforming rural handicraft enterprises by enhancing the digital marketing capabilities of women artisans and bridging the digital divide in the handicraft sector by empowering artisans for broader market access and economic growth.
Ventral Pontine Syndrome Presenting with Distressing Tinnitus Responding to Pregabalin
Authors: Saibaba Jayaram , Gomathy Saranya B. , Sugumaran Ramkumar , Manyem Manoj , Pazhani Pushkar , Narayan Sunil K.
Published: February 2025

Brainstem is commonly involved in spontaneous intracerebral hemorrhage (sICH). We report a 54-year-old man with accelerated hypertension presenting with ventral pontine hemorrhage. He had right sixth- and seventh-nerve palsy with left-sided hemiparesis. During the hospital stay, he developed disabling tinnitus in the right ear. Tinnitus is associated with the disruption of the central auditory pathway. He was given pregabalin for tinnitus and reported a significant improvement.
Cross-platform complementarity: Assessing the data quality and availability of Google Street View and Baidu Street View
Authors: Wang Lei , Zhang Tianlin , He Jie , Kada Martin
Published: February 2025

Google Street View (GSV) and Baidu Street View (BSV) cover most of the world’s cities. However, their combined use and research application still lack a unified standard. We selected Hong Kong Special Administrative Regions of China (SAR), a region where both types of street view image (SVI) are available, as the study area. In this study, we developed an SVI collection method based on a search-oriented approach. Using an SQLite database to manage over 700,000 SVIs, we conducted comparative experiments. Deep learning methods were employed to process the data and extract visual elements from both types of SVI. We performed a comprehensive comparison of the data quality and usability of the two SVIs in terms of temporal coverage, data acquisition efficiency, acquisition repeatability, and visual element similarity. The findings indicate that BSV outperforms GSV in terms of acquisition efficiency and repeatability, while GSV shows better temporal coverage. The results also confirmed high correlations between GSV and BSV in visual elements related to buildings, greenery, and sky, with correlation coefficients (R) of 0.781, 0.664, and 0.653, respectively. The comparative framework proposed in this study provides theoretical support for geoinformation researchers utilizing SVI data for global-scale studies.
Discovery, structural characteristics and evolutionary analyses of functional domains in Acinetobacter baumannii phage tail fiber/spike proteins
Authors: Liu Shenshen , Lei Tao , Tan Yujing , Huang Xiaoyi , Zhao Wenxin , Zou Huanhuan , Su Jianhui , Zeng Ji , Zeng Haiyan
Published: February 2025

Background

The global rise in multidrug-resistant Acinetobacter baumannii infections poses a significant healthcare challenge. Bacteriophage offer a promising alternative to antibiotics for treating A. baumannii infections. Phage tail fiber and spike proteins are essential for host recognition, with some exhibiting depolymerase activity that aids in degrading the bacterial cell wall, facilitating infection. Detailed studies of the functional domains responsible for depolymerase activity and receptor-binding in phage tail fiber/spike proteins are a crucial step toward developing effective phage treatments.

Results

A total of 32 functional domains were identified across 313 tail fiber and spike proteins from 204 publicly available Acinetobacter baumannii phages using InterPro and AlphaFold3. Domains associated with depolymerase function were Pectin lyase-like domain (PLD), phage_tailspike_middle domain (PTMD), Transglycosidases domain (TGD), and SGNH hydrolase domain (SHD). These domains were primarily found in phages from the Autographiviridae family, specifically within the Friunavirus genus. The predominant PLD domain displayed high variability, with its sequence conserved only in a 25-amino-acid region among two closely related fiber/spike protein lineages. All enzymatic domains exhibit high sequence diversity yet retain structural stability, which is essential for enzymatic function. As for receptor-binding domains, four types of pyocin_knob domains (PKD) were initially identified, characterized by unique β-sheet and α-helix configurations. Each type of PKD exhibited distinct potential receptor-binding sites, primarily located within the α-helix region, and was closely associated with the Obolenskvirus genus, as well as the Autographiviridae and Straboviridae families. The G3DSA:2.60.40.3940 domain, exhibiting minor structural variations, was predominantly found in phages of the Obolenskvirus genus. Additionally, a novel Obo-β-sandwich structure, identified as a potential receptor-binding domain, was discovered within Obolenskvirus genus cluster. The structural diversity of these receptor-binding domains accounts for their interactions with various receptors.

Conclusions

This research deepens the understanding of the relationship between A. baumannii phage genera and the functional domains within their tail fiber/spike proteins, emphasizing the compatibility between structural characteristics and functional roles. The data obtained could serve as a reference for the targeted modification of phages or their tail fiber/spike proteins, enhancing their therapeutic applications.
Estimated contributions and future mitigation strategies for HIV risk around funeral practices in western Kenya: a mathematical modeling study
Authors: Mwalili Samuel M. , Gathungu Duncan K. , Chemutai Josiline , Musyoka Evalyne , Bridenbecker Daniel , Kirkman Clark , Kaftan David , Kim Hae-Young , Platais Ingrida , Bershteyn Anna
Published: February 2025

Background

A disco matanga, or “disco funeral,” is a celebration of a decedent’s life that is culturally important in parts Africa, often involving overnight travel and alcohol consumption. These are known risk factors for HIV, which is prevalent in many areas where disco matanga is practiced. However, the contribution of disco matanga to HIV transmission is not well-understood. We used agent-based network modeling to estimate how disco matanga impacted HIV transmission, and to explore the impact of relevant biomedical, biobehavioral, and structural interventions to reduce HIV risk.

Methods

We adapted EMOD-HIV, a previously validated network-based model of HIV in the Nyanza region of Kenya, to incorporate disco matanga assumptions informed by literature review. Occurrence of disco matanga was modeled to occur following any death in the population. We compared past HIV incidence (1980–2024) with and without incorporating disco matanga, and future HIV incidence (2025–2050) with different interventions for disco matanga attendees: (1) biomedical (HIV prophylaxis), (2) biobehavioral (reduction in condomless sex partners), (3) structural (female empowerment to avoid unwanted sex). We estimated HIV infections and deaths averted in the overall population, with sensitivity analysis around intervention uptake.

Results

Over 1980–2024, disco matanga contributed 7.8% (95% CI: 5.5–9.3%) of all HIV infections, an effect that peaked at 9.9% (95% CI: 6.4–12.0%) in the year 2004, coinciding with a peak in all-cause mortality due to HIV/AIDS. Biomedical prevention at disco matanga could avert up to 9.7% (95% CI: 8.9–10.5%) of adult HIV infections and 2.3% (95% CI: 1.9–2.6%) of deaths; biobehavioral 2.9% (95% CI: 2.1–3.6%) of infections and 0.9% (95% CI: 0.6–1.2%) of deaths; and structural 1.2% (95% CI: 0.5–1.8%) of infections and 0.5% (95% CI: 0.2–0.7%) of deaths. Results were highly sensitive to intervention uptake.

Conclusions

We conducted the first modeling study, to our knowledge, simulating the interactions between disco matanga, HIV/AIDS, and intervention options. We found that biomedical, biobehavioral, or structural interventions implemented during disco matanga could substantially reduce HIV transmission and mortality in the Nyanza region. Research is needed to understand the feasibility and acceptability of HIV interventions tailored to local cultural practices.
Organoid, organ-on-a-chip and traditional Chinese medicine
Authors: Yang Jiayue , Jiang Yu , Li Mingxing , Wu Ke , Wei Shulin , Zhao Yueshui , Shen Jing , Du Fukuan , Chen Yu , Deng Shuai , Xiao Zhangang , Yuan Wen , Wu Xu
Published: February 2025

In the past few years, the emergence of organoids and organ-on-a-chip (OOAC) technologies, which are complementary to animal models and two-dimensional cell culture methods and can better simulate the internal environment of the human body, provides a new platform for traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) studies. Organoids and OOAC techniques have been increasingly applied in the fields of drug screening, drug assessment and development, personalized therapies, and developmental biology, and there have been some application cases in the TCM studies. In this review, we summarized the current status of using organoid and OOAC technologies in TCM research and provide key insights for future study. It is believed that organoid and OOAC technologies will play more and more important roles in research and make greater contributions to the innovative development of TCM.
Transitional lumbosacral vertebrae in black Norwegian elkhound and Brittany dogs: Clinical findings and its association with degenerative lumbosacral stenosis
Authors: Berg Jon Andre , Saevik Bente Kristin , Lingaas Frode , Trangerud Cathrine
Published: February 2025

Background

Lumbosacral transitional vertebra (LTV) is a congenital anomaly in dogs and have been proposed to be associated with cauda equina syndrome (CES) in German Shepherd dogs. This prospective study, including 32 dogs from two breeds, aims to investigate if LTV is associated with lower back pain in dogs. The study compared owners’ assessment of their dogs’ well-being and clinical evaluation with advanced diagnostic imaging to identify changes that might explain clinical findings.

Results

Dogs with LTV type 2 (57.0%) and with LTV type 3 (70.0%) exhibited mild lower back pain, which was significantly more frequent (P = 0.012) compared to dogs with LTV type 0 and LTV type 1. Advanced diagnostic imaging identified a plausible cause for this pain. Dogs diagnosed with LTV types 2 and 3 with lower back pain tended to be lighter (median 14.50 kg) and younger (median 4.10 years) than breeds typically reported for degenerative lumbosacral stenosis (DLSS). Based on the owners’ assessment of their dogs, they considered them pain-free.

Conclusions

The study identified a correlation between LTV types 2 and 3 and lower back pain in these dog breeds. Advanced diagnostic imaging findings confirmed that dogs with these LTV types were more likely to exhibit pathological changes associated with DLSS.
Deep neural network modeling attacks on arbiter-PUF-based designs
Authors: Wang Huanwei , Hao Weining , Tang Yonghe , Zhu Bing , Dong Weiyu , Liu Wei
Published: February 2025

Physical Unclonable Functions (PUFs) are novel circuit structures that provide hardware security solutions in application areas such as chip design and IoT, due to characteristics of their lightweight, key-free and tamper-resistant. PUFs are not immune to threats like machine learning modeling attacks and side channel modeling attacks. Strong PUFs are susceptible to classical machine learning attacks, however, machine learning’s effectiveness in attacking complex structured strong PUFs is limited, and its efficiency is relatively low. Side-channel modeling attacks, on the other hand, incur high implementation costs. Hence, employing deep learning for modeling attacks becomes an effective and cost-efficient choice when attacking complex structured PUFs. In this paper, we introduce a method that employs deep neural network to assess the modeling resilience of combination logic operation-based PUFs with APUFs as components for the first time. We employed a 4-layer DNN model to investigate the security resilience of PUF models involving any combination of OR AND and XOR logical operations. We explored the security regular patterns of modeling resilience. We have demonstrated for the first time that bias in PUF responses can reduce or destroy the security of PUFs. OR or AND logic operations do not provide any security benefit in PUF design, while XOR operations enhance the security of PUFs.
Severe subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord resulting from nitrous oxide (N2O) abuse: a case series
Authors: Adam Lucas C. , Grobelny Anuschka , Hahn Katrin , Audebert Heinrich J. , Krause Patricia , Franke Christiana , Ruprecht Klemens
Published: February 2025

Objective

To describe the demographic, clinical, laboratory, and radiological findings, and the clinical course of seven patients with severe N2O-induced subacute combined degeneration of the spinal cord (SACD).

Methods

Retrospective study with prospective follow-up of patients with SACD associated with N2O abuse presenting at a single center between 2014 and 2024.

Results

The median age (range) of the seven patients (one woman, six men) was 24 (18–33) years. Prior to disease onset, patients had consumed N2O daily over a median (range) of 12 (3-20) weeks, with a mean (SD; range) inhalation dosage of 2376.7 (2872.7; 160–9000) g of N2O per day. Clinical presentations included paresthesia and paresis in the legs and gait disturbances. All patients exhibited characteristic signal alterations in the posterior columns spanning from C1 to T10 on T2-weighted spinal MRIs. Electrophysiology demonstrated polyneuropathies in all but one patient. Vitamin B12 levels were decreased in four, but normal in three patients. Methylmalonic acid levels were elevated in all patients. Although the median (interquartile range [IQR]) modified Rankin Scale score improved from 3.0 (3.0–4.0) at baseline to 1.0 (1.0–2.0; p < 0.05, Wilcoxon matched-pairs signed-rank test) at follow-up after the start of vitamin B12 supplementation, all five patients who could be examined on follow-up exhibited persistent deficits on the last follow-up assessment at a median (range) of 5 (3-116) months after disease onset.

Conclusions

N2O abuse over a few weeks can lead to severe SACD. The diagnosis is supported by characteristic findings on spinal MRI and elevated methylmalonic acid levels, while normal vitamin B12 levels do not rule out N2O-induced SACD. Although there was some clinical improvement upon cessation of N2O abuse and vitamin B12 supplementation, residual deficits persisted.
Piero Sraffa and Counterfactuals: A View from Sraffa's Unpublished Papers in the Late 1920s
Authors: Kurz Heinz D. , Salvadori Neri , Signorino Rodolfo
Published: February 2025

This article reconstructs Sraffa's position with regard to counterfactual reasoning in the second half of the 1920s as documented by his up until now unpublished papers. While Sraffa did not use the term “counterfactual,” it is precisely this concept he had in mind when examining certain non-purely-observational propositions and discussing responses to “what if?” questions. He did so with respect to different contexts, but his attention focused primarily on the marginal theory of value and distribution. At an early time he showed with regard to the latter that any simple analysis of single causation in terms of counterfactuals is difficult to sustain. Sraffa's method of inquiry can be interpreted as an instance of abductive reasoning. The article confirms Sen's interpretation that Sraffa met counterfactual reasoning with suspicion, since it might easily lead to highly misleading propositions. But Sraffa's manuscripts do not support the extreme view (not entertained by Sen) that any counterfactual reasoning ought to be rejected.
One Man a Committee Does Not Make: Henry Manne, the AEA-AALS Joint Committee, and the Struggle to Institutionalize Law and Economics
Authors: Gindis David , Medema Steven G.
Published: February 2025

In 1965, Henry Manne convinced the Association of American Law Schools and the American Economic Association to establish an ad hoc joint committee to explore the possibilities of collaborative efforts between economists and legal scholars. This article examines the origins and activities of the joint committee and reveals that its work was far less about promoting increased interaction between economists and legal scholars than about a conscious attempt to use this committee to help fashion a particular form of law and economics that would reshape legal analysis in a way consistent with Manne's vision. Though the committee's effective life was very short and its direct influence negligible, the lessons learned informed Manne's subsequent efforts to institutionalize law and economics within the legal academy.
Acting with the World
Authors: Pickering Andrew
Published: February 2025

In the Anthropocene our actions are coming home to roost. Global warming, species extinctions, and environmental disasters are the dark side of our mastery of nature. In Acting with the World, Andrew Pickering identifies a different pattern of being and doing that can evade this dark side, a pattern which he calls acting-with the world. In contrast to our usual practice of acting on the world, acting-with foregrounds nonhuman or more-than-human agency and aims to attune our practices to the propensities of nature. Pickering explores examples of acting-with from around the globe, including flood control on the Mississippi River, ecosystem restoration on the Colorado River, the Room for the River project and rewilding in the Netherlands, natural farming in Japan, Aboriginal fire techniques in Australia, and Amazonian shamanism. Pickering argues that acting-with intimately and gracefully plugs us into nature, undercuts the Anthropocene from below, and offers a constructive approach to addressing otherwise intractable wicked problems.
Dynamic Assessment of Local Abdominal Tissue Concentrations of Cisplatin During a HIPEC Procedure: Insights from a Porcine Model
Authors: Harlev Christina , Bue Mats , Petersen Elisabeth Krogsgaard , Jørgensen Andrea René , Bibby Bo Martin , Hanberg Pelle , Schmedes Anne Vibeke , Petersen Lone Kjeld , Stilling Maiken
Published: February 2025

Background

This study aimed to establish a feasible large porcine model for dynamic assessment of cisplatin concentrations in carcinomatosis-relevant abdominal tissues using microdialysis during and after HIPEC combined with cytoreductive surgery.

Methods

In total, eight pigs underwent open abdominal cytoreductive surgery followed by HIPEC. Microdialysis was employed for dynamic cisplatin concentration sampling in abdominal organs and tissue. Cisplatin dialysate concentrations were analyzed using the UPLC-MS/MS method. STATA (version 18.0) was used to perform a two-compartment model with a zero-order distribution to analyze pharmacokinetic parameters.

Results

Detectable cisplatin concentrations in the evaluated target tissues persisted for at least 6 h post-HIPEC. Higher concentrations were found in superficial tissues; however, the difference was not statistically significant. The cisplatin concentrations were comparable for the stomach, rectum, and liver but higher in the peritoneal lining of the abdominal wall, with the lowest median average peak concentration (C
max) in the rectum (0.50 µg/mL) and the highest median C
max in the peritoneum (2.80 µg/mL). No statistically significant differences in cisplatin area under the curve from time zero to the time of the last sample collection (AUC0–last) were found between any of the abdominal compartments except the peritoneal lining of the abdominal wall, which was significantly higher compared with most of the other abdominal tissues {smallest difference; peritoneum 1/liver 2; 1.96 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.90; 4.26, P = 0.09] and largest difference; peritoneum 3/rectum profound; 4.60 [95% CI 1.94; 10.90, P = 0.001]}.

Conclusions

Our investigation revealed comparable cisplatin concentrations across abdominal organ surfaces, except higher concentrations in the peritoneal lining of the abdominal wall than in the stomach, rectum, and liver. This model holds promise for future research into HIPEC interventions and anticancer effectiveness.
Performance and Physiological Effects of Race Pace-Based versus Heart Rate Variability-Guided Training Prescription in Runners
Authors: Ranieri Luis Eduardo , Casada Arturo , Martin Diana , Trujillo-Colmena Daniel , Gil-Arias Alexander , Kenneally Mark , Jiménez Alfonso
Published: February 2025

Purpose

The aim of the present study was to compare performance and physiological effects, and inter-individual response variation in performance and its physiological determinants between heart rate-based (HR), race pace-based (RP) and heart rate variability-based (HRV) training prescription approaches in recreational distance runners.

Methods

Twenty-eight participants completed a 6-week endurance training intervention after being randomly assigned to three groups: HR (n = 9), RP (n = 9), and HRV (n = 10) training prescription approaches.

Results

No interaction effects between groups were observed. Main time effects were found for absolute and relative V̇O2max, running economy (RE), speeds associated to the first (sVT1) and second ventilatory thresholds (sVT2) and 7 km time trial performance (TT) (p < 0.001, 0.88 ≤ d ≤ 2.67). The RP group improved TT (p < 0.05, ES = 1.07), showing greater effectiveness in enhancing maximal aerobic speed and fat mass reduction, but did not consistently improve physiological parameters like sVT2 or RE. The HRV method increased sVT2 (p < 0.01, ES = 1.34) and was more successful in boosting sVT1 and V̇O2max, although it resulted in an increase in fat mass. Training load was similar between groups (p > 0.05), and a pyramidal training intensity distribution model was found in all groups. The lowest inter-individual response variation in TT was found in the RP group (coefficient of variation [CV] = 0.82), whereas the HRV group demonstrated a lower variation in relative V̇O2max (CV = 0.75) and sVT2 (CV = 0.79).

Conclusions

The RP approach is an effective and useful training prescription method for optimising performance in recreational runners, while the HRV method proves valuable for enhancing key physiological markers.
Feasibility, Acceptability, and Effectiveness of Physically Active Lessons in Secondary Education: ACTIVE CLASS Pilot Study
Authors: Ruiz-Hermosa Abel , Sánchez-Oliva David , Grao-Cruces Alberto , Medrano María , González-Pérez María , Martín-Acosta Fátima , Camiletti-Moirón Daniel
Published: February 2025

Introduction

The aim of this study was to test the feasibility, acceptability, and effectiveness of a physically active learning (PAL) intervention (ACTIVE CLASS pilot study) to improve physical health and cognitive and academic performance, increase physical activity (PA) levels, and reduce sedentary time (ST) in adolescents, and to analyze the distribution of activity intensity during a PAL lesson and assess differences with physical education lessons.

Methods

A quasi-experimental study was conducted including 77 students aged 12–14 yr from two Spanish secondary schools. The ACTIVE CLASS pilot program consisted of integrating a weekly PAL lesson into mathematics lessons for 4 wk. Changes in body composition (body mass index and waist circumference), physical fitness (cardiorespiratory and muscular fitness), executive functions (inhibition, working memory, and cognitive flexibility), and mathematical fluency were measured. Accelerometer-based ST and PA were measured in the intervention group. The feasibility and acceptability of the intervention were assessed using self-reported questionnaires for teachers and students. Repeated-measures analyses of variance were used to test the effects of the intervention.

Results

There were no significant improvements in body composition, fitness, and cognitive and academic performance when comparing the intervention and control groups. The inclusion of the PAL intervention significantly increased average PA levels and reduced ST during the school day, and no significant differences were found in accelerometer-based variables between physical education and PAL lessons. In fact, PAL lessons could provide up to 17 min of moderate/vigorous PA. In addition, teachers and students reported good feasibility and acceptability of the PAL intervention.

Conclusion

The findings support further research with a longer-term intervention and a larger sample size to determine the true potential of PAL for adolescents’ physical health, cognition, and academic performance.
Trophic assessment and isotopic niches of two congeneric pipefishes in a wetland of the Aegean Sea
Authors: GURKAN SULE , ARAGONESES PAULA , INNAL DENIZ , MENDOZA-SEGURA CLARA , PLANAS MIQUEL
Published: February 2025

Pipefishes (family: Syngnathidae) are representative fishes in many European coastal areas associated with vegetal assemblages and other shallow habitats. The polyandrous pipefishes Syngnathus abaster and Syngnathus acus co-occur in Metruk Tuzla (Bargilya Tuzla coastal Wetland - BTW, Aegean Sea, Türkiye ‒a protected but threatened wetland due to anthropogenic disturbances. Both species were sampled to assess the growth and temporal changes on their trophic features using stable isotope (δ13C and δ15N) and gut content analyses. Both species exhibited positive allometric growth with similar length–weight relationships. The isotopic approach revealed that both species occupied similar trophic niches, as evidenced by comparable δ13C and δ15N values (-17.0‰ ± 1.2‰ and 13.2‰ ± 0.6‰, respectively in S. abaster; -17.3‰ ± 1.2‰ and 13.3‰ ± 0.7‰ respectively in S. acus). The niche area for all sex types (undifferentiated specimens, males and females) in S. acus was slightly broader than that in S. abaster. Simulation analysis of the trophic position in both species agreed with the isotopic assessment (trophic position = 3.67 ± 0.61 in S. abaster and 3.46 ± 0.66 in S. acus). Although the trophic positions were consistent with the isotopic assessment, gut content analysis disclosed a notable contribution of copepods, especially Calanipeda aquaedulcis, to the dietary regime in both species. Notably, the diet in S. abaster was nearly monospecific, whereas cladocerans were crucial in S. acus. This study suggests the plausible occurrence of interspecific competition regarding dietary resources. However, we hypothesise that such competition could be mitigated by the occupation of discrete microhabitats in both species. To validate this hypothesis, rigorous investigation and empirical analysis are necessary.
Temperature Effects on Growth Rates and Predation Loss of Bacterial Groups in Marine Ecosystems
Authors: ŠESTANOVIĆ STEFANIJA , VRDOLJAK TOMAŠ ANA , ŠOLIĆ MLADEN , ŠANTIĆ DANIJELA , BOJANIĆ NATALIA
Published: February 2025

This study investigated the effects of experimental warming on the major bacterial phylogenetic groups in the marine environment, focusing on their growth and grazing rates, phylogenetic community composition and grazing preferences. A series of growth and grazing experiments were performed in microcosms at a temperature increase of 3°C. The growth rates of all bacterial groups were enhanced by temperature increase. SAR11 and Roseobacter were particularly sensitive to temperature changes, while Gammaproteobacteria were the least affected. Protozoan grazing mainly affected fast-growing groups such as Roseobacter and Gammaproteobacteria, while slower-growing groups such as SAR11 were less affected. In most cases, the growth rates of the bacteria increased more with temperature than the grazing rates of predators. This indicates that temperature has a stronger influence on bacterial growth than on predator activity. At higher temperatures the grazing pressure of nanoflagellates (NF) on Roseobacter and Bacteroidetes increased while Gammaproteobacteria were almost exclusively grazed by ciliates (CIL). As a result, the dominant predator of certain groups and the composition of prey changed with temperature increase. The changes in bacterial community composition at higher temperatures were caused both by the direct effect of temperature on bacterial growth and by shifts in predator grazing preferences. Furthermore, our results suggest that bacterial growth and grazing behaviour of bacterial predators do not necessarily occur simultaneously at higher temperatures and highlight the importance of considering bacterial phylogenetic composition when predicting bacterial response to warming.
New records of the spotfin burrfish Chilomycterus reticulatus (Linnaeus, 1758) along the Italian coasts
Authors: FALAUTANO MANUELA , LIVI SILVIA , TIRALONGO FRANCESCO , AZZURRO ERNESTO , GRECH DANIELE , MASALA CLAUDIO , CASTRIOTA LUCA
Published: February 2025

Here we report two new records of the spotfin burrfish, Chilomycterus reticulatus, in the Mediterranean Sea, detected through a public awareness campaign designed to inform citizens about the presence of hazardous alien fish species. The first specimen was recorded by a professional fisherman in January 2023, stranded along the coast of Lazio, central Tyrrhenian Sea, Italy. The specimen was collected and identified through morphological and molecular methods as C. reticulatus. Moreover, its gut content was analyzed showing mollusc fragments, some of which belonged to Bolinus brandaris. A second specimen of C. cf. reticulatus was observed and filmed in Sardinia on 29 June 2024 in the framework of another citizen science initiative.
Lost in translation? Jáchym Topol’s The Devil’s Workshop and its local and transnational reader
Authors: Ščasná Bernadette
Published: February 2025

Jáchym Topol, who is a Czech writer and poet, has several times emphasized that he does not care about his readers, especially foreign ones who get to read translated versions of his work, as it is not his job to be understood. With the rise of transnational WWII-related literature in the Czech Republic in the last two decades, I explore how his novel The Devil’s Workshop has become an important work in the realm of transnational literature, despite Topol’s peculiar writing style and stance towards his international readers. In my analysis, I explore Topol’s writing style, the novel’s socio-historical context through the concept of difficult heritage and the juxtaposition of Czech and Belarusian WWII narratives, as well as the novel’s local and international reception.
Animal-Assisted Interventions: A Literature Review on Diverse Applications of Animal-Assisted Interventions in selected medical entities in different age groups
Authors: Najdek Agnieszka , Szewczyk Dorota , Nowak Julia , Woźniak Aleksandra , Cioch Michał Jakub , Mycyk Marcin , Kaczmarska Urszula , Oleksy Daria , Doman Katarzyna , Hermanowicz Kamil , Komada Dawid
Published: February 2025

This literature review examines the therapeutic role of Animal-Assisted Interventions (AAIs) in promoting physical and mental well-being for diverse populations. AAIs have shown positive impacts on children and adults, benefiting individuals with neurodevelopmental disorders as well as ex-military personnel. The review emphasizes the growing support for AAIs, extending beyond traditional therapy and reaching diverse groups. Numerous studies back up the favorable effects of animal-assisted treatments on children's social connections, academic progress, and emotional and physical health.
Measuring Career Well-Being on Working Mothers: Adaptation of Well-Being at Work Scale
Authors: Anwar Hilwa , Suhariadi Fendy , Fajrianthi Fajrianthi
Published: February 2025

AbstractÂ This research aimed to conduct the adaptation and validation of the Well-Being at Work Scale (WBWS) in order to ready it for implementation as the instrument to measure career well-being on working mothers as respondents in Indonesia. The career well-being approach was based on the concept of general well-being which included affective and cognitive components. The respondents were mothers working full-time in the formal sector and had fulfilled the requirement of several pre-determined criteria. The collected research data was analyzed with the confirmatory factor analysis in order to obtain instrument reliability and validity. Based on the analysis, results were obtained that the WBWS model adaptated had fulfilled the goodness-of-fit criteria, meaning that there was compatibility between the developed model and the empirical data. Furthermore, this research was hoped to provide contribution in the measurement and development of research of career well-being on working mothers.Â
Wheel life
Authors: Davolls James
Published: February 2025

With a little imagination, wheels can give us countless cross-curricular activity ideas, says James Davolls in an edited extract from 50 fantastic ideas for bikes, trikes and scooters
Between patriotic elation and political calculation
Authors: Guzek Mariusz
Published: February 2025

The war of 1914–1918, called the Great War
and later World War I, was the first globally
filmed conflict in human history. In the Polish
lands, deprived of statehood and placed under
the administration of the occupiers, private
cinematic entrepreneurs (such as the pioneer of
national cinema Aleksander Hertz) took the initiative.
One of the results of their activities was
the production of documentaries. This article focuses
on those non-fiction films that revealed the
public emotions associated with the visualization
of death and destruction. It discusses their reception,
as well as the broader context of community
experience (professed values, authority, a
fulfilled life) that could be read from the screen
representations.
Comparative Frameworks for a Human Rights-Based Approach to Psychedelics
Authors: Sharp Dustin N.
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT: It has in recent years become unremarkable to say that a human rights-based approach to drug policy should be taken. However, despite some pioneering work on the topic, it remains unclear what this should mean in practice. In this article, I focus on the particular case of one class of internationally controlled substances, psychedelics, and examine potential groundings (and tensions) within international human rights law for their regulation and use. I outline four broad frameworks of thinking and discourse about human rights and controlled substances such as psychedelics: (1) the thin human rights framework, (2) the thick human rights framework, (3) the social justice framework, and (4) the public health framework. Each framework comes with its own assumptions, value hierarchies, and implications for what a rights-based approach to psychedelics would ultimately mean. I argue that bringing these frameworks to the surface with an eye toward an examination of the tradeoffs between them will prove useful as cities, states, and nations consider whether and how to roll back the prohibition of psychedelics.
Uncertainty quantification in diffraction gratings: reliability analysis using a reduced basis method
Authors: Aylwin Rubén , Pinto José , Silva-Oelker Gerardo
Published: February 2025

We implement an efficient approach, based on the reduced basis and boundary element methods, for the computation of statistical information in the context of scattering from periodic structures with uncertain geometries, which are assumed to come from imperfections in the manufacturing process and/or wear and tear. We focus on the computation of failure probabilities (the probability that specific diffraction efficiencies fall outside of a given acceptance region) through Monte Carlo sampling. The proposed approach shows significant speed-ups without relevant loss of accuracy. This allows for the computation of statistical information in practical time frames with limited computational resources, enabling its use in realistic environments.
The recombination landscape of introgression in yeast
Authors: Schwarzkopf Enrique J. , Brandt Nathan , Smukowski Heil Caiti
Published: February 2025

Meiotic recombination is an evolutionary force that acts by breaking up genomic linkage, increasing the efficacy of selection. Recombination is initiated with a double-strand break which is resolved via a crossover, which involves the reciprocal exchange of genetic material between homologous chromosomes, or a non-crossover, which results in small tracts of non-reciprocal exchange of genetic material. Crossover and non-crossover rates vary between species, populations, individuals, and across the genome. In recent years, recombination rate has been associated with the distribution of ancestry derived from past interspecific hybridization (introgression) in a variety of species. We explore this interaction of recombination and introgression by sequencing spores and detecting crossovers and non-crossovers from two crosses of the yeast Saccharomyces uvarum. One cross is between strains which each contain introgression from their sister species, S. eubayanus, while the other cross has no introgression present. We find that the recombination landscape is significantly different between S. uvarum crosses, and that some of these differences can be explained by the presence of introgression in one cross. Crossovers are significantly reduced in heterozygous introgression compared to syntenic regions in the cross without introgression. This translates to reduced allele shuffling within introgressed regions, and an overall reduction of shuffling on most chromosomes with introgression compared to the syntenic regions and chromosomes without introgression. Our results suggest that hybridization can significantly influence the recombination landscape, and that the reduction in allele shuffling contributes to the initial purging of introgression in the generations following a hybridization event.
Starve a cold or feed a fever? Identifying cellular metabolic changes following infection and exposure to SARS-CoV-2
Authors: Loveday Emma K. , Welhaven Hope , Erdogan Ayten Ebru , Hain Kyle S. , Domanico Luke F. , Chang Connie B. , June Ronald K. , Taylor Matthew P.
Published: February 2025

Viral infections induce major shifts in cellular metabolism elicited by active viral replication and antiviral responses. For the virus, harnessing cellular metabolism and evading changes that limit replication are essential for productive viral replication. In contrast, the cellular response to infection disrupts metabolic pathways to prevent viral replication and promote an antiviral state in the host cell and neighboring bystander cells. This competition between the virus and cell results in measurable shifts in cellular metabolism that differ depending on the virus, cell type, and extracellular environment. The resulting metabolic shifts can be observed and analyzed using global metabolic profiling techniques to identify pathways that are critical for either viral replication or cellular defense. SARS-CoV-2 is a respiratory virus that can exhibit broad tissue tropism and diverse, yet inconsistent, symptomatology. While the factors that determine the presentation and severity of SARS-CoV-2 infection remain unclear, metabolic syndromes are associated with more severe manifestations of SARS-CoV-2 disease. Despite these observations a critical knowledge gap remains between cellular metabolic responses and SARS-CoV-2 infection. Using a well-established untargeted metabolomics analysis workflow, we compared SARS-CoV-2 infection of human lung carcinoma cells. We identified significant changes in metabolic pathways that correlate with either productive or non-productive viral infection. This information is critical for characterizing the factors that contribute to SARS-CoV-2 replication that could be targeted for therapeutic interventions to limit viral disease.
Predictors of survival in pediatric intensive care unit in a low-income country: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Ebrahim Mohamedawel Mohamedniguss , Mohamed Abdikarin Ahmed , Mohammedamin Mohammed Mustefa
Published: February 2025

Background

The goal of a pediatric intensive care unit is to treat life-threatening illnesses. Yet, there is a lack of data on survival rates and factors influencing survival in pediatric intensive care units (PICUs) in low-income countries like Ethiopia.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to evaluate survival and its predictors in the pediatric intensive care unit of Ayder Comprehensive Specialized Hospital, Tigray, Ethiopia.

Method

A retrospective cohort study was implemented on a total of 223 patients admitted to the PICU from September 2019 to August 2020. Using a checklist, trained healthcare workers gathered secondary data from patient charts. The dependent variable was time-to-death. EpiData 4.6 and STATA 16 were used for data entry and data analysis, respectively. Descriptive statistics, cumulative incidence, incidence density, median survival time, and adjusted hazard ratio were calculated to describe variables, estimate mortality rate and risk, and identify factors associated with survival. P<0.05 was used to declare a statistically significant relationship.

Result

A total of 46 (20.6%) deaths were recorded in this study. The cumulative incidence of death was higher in patients transferred from the ward to the intensive care unit (34.7%). The death rate was higher in patients with cardiac problems (40.0%), followed by oncological diseases (35.0%) and infectious diseases (27.9%). The adjusted risk of death was 3.3 times higher in pediatric patients with heart problems than in patients without heart problems. Again, the adjusted risk of death in children with a Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) of 9 to 14 and a GCS below 9 was 2.2 and 2.5 times higher, respectively, than in children with a GCS of 15. Finally, children with endotracheal tubes were about five times more likely to die than children without endotracheal tubes.

Conclusion

It’s critical to diagnose and treat cardiac issues in pediatric patients as early as possible. Patients with low GCS scores require careful observation. Alternative strategies should be taken into consideration in order to lessen the need for endotracheal tubes and enhance results.
A novel framework for modeling quarantinable disease transmission
Authors: Liu Wenchen , Liu Chang , Wang Dehui , She Yiyuan
Published: February 2025

The COVID-19 pandemic has significantly challenged traditional epidemiological models due to factors such as delayed diagnosis, asymptomatic transmission, isolation-induced contact changes, and underreported mortality. In response to these complexities, this paper introduces a novel CURNDS model prioritizing compartments and transmissions based on contact levels, rather than merely on symptomatic severity or hospitalization status. The framework surpasses conventional uniform mixing and static rate assumptions by incorporating adaptive power laws, dynamic transmission rates, and spline-based smoothing techniques. The CURNDS model provides accurate estimates of undetected infections and undocumented deaths from COVID-19 data, uncovering the pandemic’s true impact. Our analysis challenges the assumption of homogeneous mixing between infected and non-infected individuals in traditional epidemiological models. By capturing the nuanced transmission dynamics of infection and confirmation, our model offers new insights into the spread of different COVID-19 strains. Overall, CURNDS provides a robust framework for understanding the complex transmission patterns of highly contagious, quarantinable diseases.
Naratuximab emtansine (IMGN529; Debo 1562) Drug Description
Authors:   Sunvalley Communication, LLC / ADC Review, Hofland Peter
Published: February 2025

Naratuximab emtansine, also known as IMGN529 and Debio 1562 is an antibody-drug conjugate (ADC) or immunoconjugate that consists of a humanized IgG1 antibody K7153A against the cell-surface antigen CD37, a member of the tetraspanin superfamily of cell surface antigens found on B-cell malignancies, that is covalently linked via the uncleavable, maleimide-derived thioether-based linker SMCC to the maytansinoid DM1, with potential pro-apoptotic and cytotoxic activities.