bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Family voices from the bedside: National Audit of Care at the End of Life (England and Wales)
Authors: Miller Mary
Published: January 2025

Introduction

The National Audit of Care at the End of Life reports the quality of care provided to people dying in hospital. This paper reports the bereavement (quality) survey data about the families’ view of care provided to the patient and support provided to the family.

Methods

Anonymised summary data were retrieved from ‘Key findings for patients and carers on the quality of end of life care in acute and community hospitals’ reports 2019–2022 and the summary report 2018.

Results

9089 respondents provided feedback about care received. In more than 70% of the cases, care provided to the dying person was described as good, excellent or outstanding. At least 66% of respondents reported that care provided to them was good, excellent or outstanding. At least 76% of respondents felt that staff communicated sensitively, and more than 70% felt they were happy with the level of involvement in decisions about the patient’s care.

Conclusion

The voices of dying patients and those at the bedside are critical in helping understand and improve care at the end of life. Co-ordinating our ask and focusing on agreed key outcomes are important to achieve the pragmatic principle of ‘one death one review’.
Interpretation of subsurface stratigraphic variations from limited boreholes using Dual Bi-LSTM
Authors: Liu Hong-Chi , Zhang Ning , Yin Zhen-Yu , Wang Yu
Published: January 2025

The determination of stratigraphic delineation is the core of geotechnical design, significantly influencing the safety and serviceability of infrastructures. Accurately inferring subsurface stratigraphic variations from sparse borehole data still presents a considerable challenge due to the complicated spatial correlation of soils. In this paper, the Dual Bidirectional Long Short-Term Memory (Bi-LSTM) neural network is developed for accurate stratigraphic delineation by using limited boreholes. Based on a novel cross-shaped sampling system, the Dual Bi-LSTM efficiently captures intricate spatial dependencies. Moreover, numerical and one-hot encoding methods are compared to explore different ways of representing stratigraphic features. The proposed model is validated and implemented in three practical projects collected from Australia, Hong Kong, and the Netherlands, respectively, compared with the Markov random field (MRF) and IC-XGBoost method. Furthermore, the effects of borehole density, neighborhood scale, and sampling scheme are investigated based on a nonlinear and non-homogeneous synthetic case. The proposed model achieves an accuracy of 60.35% in boundary predictions of the Australia case, surpassing the MRF and the IC-XGBoost model by around 6% and 23%, respectively. The proposed Dual Bi-LSTM is highlighted to provide a user-friendly alternative for involving an accurate and reasonable soil profile using sparse site-specific boreholes.
A novel rapid methodology for generating bilayer base-flow solutions involving surface patterning
Authors: Scholle Markus , Gaskell Philip H. , Ismail-Sutton Sara , Mellmann Marcel
Published: January 2025

Two bilayer flow arrangements, involving either (i) shear- or (ii) gravity-driven fluids, are explored in the presence of a periodically repeating surface topography. Key simplifying assumptions are that the flow is considered two-dimensional and inertialess. The solutions are obtained utilising a novel first-integral representation of the Navier–Stokes equations, leading to a highly efficient methodology for generating the accompanying flow structure within the layers in tandem with the disturbance experienced by the internal interface separating them—for configuration (ii) this extends also to the upper layer’s free-surface shape. Representative examples of each flow type, with a change of key parameters, are provided with particular emphasis on (ii).
Periodic Orbits of State-Dependent Delay Differential Equations
Authors: Corbett Noah , Naudot Vincent
Published: January 2025

In this work, we present a method to find periodic orbits for state-dependent delay differential equations. This method is based on the Newton–Kantorovich algorithm and is illustrated in the case of the one-dimensional Cubic Ikeda Map. Though this work is mainly numerical, the techniques developed are aimed to be a posteriori used in the frame of computer-assisted proof.
Medical Image Denoising Using a Novel Multilevel Convolutional Optimized Visual Attention Network in Diverse Dataset
Authors: Swetha Dasari , Jyothi Nutakki
Published: January 2025

Image denoising is essential for medical image analysis due to noise introduced by various acquisition methods and efforts to reduce radiation exposure. Noise in medical imaging from equipment, patient variability and environmental factors requires effective denoising to improve image quality and diagnostics. To address these challenges, a Multilevel Convolutional Neural Network with an optimized Visual Attention Network (MCVAN) is developed specifically for image denoising to enhance the Peak Signal-to-Noise Ratio (PSNR). Leopard Seal Optimization (LSO) is fine-tuning the parameters of the network, enhancing denoising performance. The motivation is to address the critical need for effective image denoising in medical imaging. The innovation of this research lies in the development of a MCVAN, developed for image denoising. The LSO to fine-tune parameters further enhances the denoising performance. This architecture effectively adapts to varying noise levels in input images, aiming to significantly reduce noise in medical images for improved diagnostic accuracy and visual clarity. Experimental results show an average PSNR of 43.79[Formula: see text]dB and a Structural Similarity Index Measure (SSIM) of 0.863 and the MCVAN achieves accuracy (99.9%), precision (99.9%), recall (99.9%) and [Formula: see text]1-score (99.9%). Overall, the MCVAN demonstrates superior effectiveness in image denoising, surpassing existing techniques in both quality and efficiency.
HLN-Tree: A memory-efficient B+-Tree with huge leaf nodes and locality predictors
Authors: Brinkmann André , Salkhordeh Reza , Wiegert Florian , Wang Peng , Xin Yao , Chen Renhai , Keji Huang , Zhang Gong
Published: January 2025

Key-value stores in Cloud environments can contain more than 2
45
unique elements and be larger than 100 PByte. B
+
-Trees are well suited for these larger-than-memory datasets and seamlessly index data stored on thousands of secondary storage devices. Unfortunately, it is often uneconomical to even store all inner tree nodes in memory for these dataset sizes. Therefore, lookup performance is affected by the additional IOs for reading inner nodes.

This number of inner nodes can be reduced by increasing the size of leaf nodes. We propose HLN-Trees, which support huge leaf nodes without increasing the IO sizes for individual index operations. They partition leaf nodes in arrays of independent subnodes and combine ideas from BD-trees with rebalancing, learning key deviations, and storing locality predictors. HLN-Trees have been initially designed for uniform random key distributions and support arbitrary key distributions through an additional layer of hashing in leaf nodes. HLN-Trees decrease the number of inner nodes by up to 256× for uniform random key distributions and by 16× to 64× for arbitrary ones compared to B
+
-Trees, while keeping their performance at the same level even at high concurrency levels. We show analytically and through real-world and synthetic benchmarks that HLN-Trees also outperform state-of-the-art learned indexes for secondary storage.
MRI of the Rectum: A Decade into DISTANCE, Moving to DISTANCED
Authors: Nougaret Stephanie , Gormly Kirsten , Lambregts Doenja M.J. , Reinhold Caroline , Goh Vicky , Korngold Elena , Denost Quentin , Brown Gina
Published: January 2025

Radiologists play a vital role in rectal cancer decision-making, and updating the DISTANCE mnemonic to the MRI-based DISTANCED offers comprehensive diagnostic insights and emphasizes its importance for informed decision-making for patients.
Surveillance Breast MRI in Women with a History of Breast Cancer: Association with Occurrence of Advanced Second Breast Cancer
Authors: Yoon Jiyoung , Han Kyunghwa , Nahm Seungchan , Kim Min Jung , Yoon Jung Hyun , Rho Miribi , Park Vivian Youngjean
Published: January 2025

In women with a personal history of breast cancer, postoperative surveillance breast MRI was associated with lower odds of advanced second breast cancer before and after propensity score matching.
An ITO Coated Bent Optical Fiber Sensor for Real-Time Monitoring Fe(CN)6
3− Redox Reaction on Electrode Surface
Authors: Tao Shiquan , Qadri Hammad
Published: January 2025

In this work, the authors integrated electrochemistry and optical fiber spectrometry into one single fiber opto-electrode in developing a new chemical sensor technique: electrochemistry-assisted optical fiber chemical sensor (ECA-OFCS). The ECA-OFCS transducer of this work is a bent optical fiber probe (BOFP) coated with an electrically conductive and optically transparent (EC/OT) indium/tin oxide (ITO) membrane. In such an ECA-OFCS, an electrical potential can be applied to the ITO membrane electrode to induce redox reactions. These reactions can be used to eliminate interference species from solution in the Nernst diffusion layer adjacent to EC/OT membrane, or to convert an optically not-sensitive analyte in the Nernst layer to an optically sensitive species which can be detected with OFCS. Optical fiber evanescent wave spectroscopy is an ideal technique to monitor the chemical composition in the Nernst layer of EC/OT electrode coated on the surface of an BOFP. The authors report in this paper the method for coating an ITO membrane on surface of a BOFP, and observing electrochemically driving Fe(CN)6
3− redox reaction on ITO membrane surface using BOFP evanescent wave absorption spectrometry.
Fabrication of NiO Nanosheet/NiFe2O4 Nanoparticle Sensor through One-Step Hydrothermal Method for Acetone Detection
Authors: Sun Yu-Hang , Huang Qi-Teng , Liu Yu-Feng , Gu Zi-Qi , Bo Liang-Bo , Zheng Xiao-Hong
Published: January 2025

Developing high-performance, low-temperature heterostructure gas sensors via simple, rapid methods is a hot research topic in chemical sensors. Here, we report the successful fabrication of NiO/NiFe2O4 nanocomposites via a one-step hydrothermal process. These composites, characterized by their intricate microstructure and morphology, consist of NiO nanoplates interspersed with nanoscale NiFe2O4 particles, forming a distinct heterojunction architecture. The response of NiO/NiFe2O4 heterojunction to acetone gas was measured using a resistance gas sensor. The experimental results show that the response value to 50 ppm acetone at the optimal working temperature (170 °C) is 45. Compared with pure NiFe2O4, the operating temperature is reduced by 70 °C, and the response value is increased 4.7 times. The sensor exhibited exceptional repeatability, long-term stability, and high selectivity towards acetone. The enhanced gas sensing performance was attributed to the unique morphology of the composites and the synergistic interactions between NiO and NiFe2O4. The sensing mechanism, involving surface adsorption, charge transfer, and their interplay within the heterojunction, was thoroughly investigated, providing crucial insights for the future development of acetone gas sensors with superior performance.
Investigation of Capacitance Degradation in Activated Carbon Supercapacitors Subjected to Cryogenic Conditions
Authors: Limsukhon Apichanont , Sangsanit Thitiphum , Tejangkura Worapol , Tuantranont Adisorn , Sawangphruk Montree
Published: January 2025

This study examined the electrochemical performance of 18650 cylindrical supercapacitors subjected to a cryogenic temperature at −196 °C. Cylindrical supercapacitor cells, utilizing 1 M tetraethylammonium tetrafluoroborate (TEABF4) in acetonitrile as the electrolyte, were immersed in liquid nitrogen. Results indicated a 6.4% decrease in capacitance following exposure. To identify the cause of this reduction, we analyzed the surface chemistry of the electrodes and electrolyte degradation using X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and proton nuclear magnetic resonance (¹H NMR), respectively. No significant changes were detected in either the surface chemistry or electrolyte. Instead, the capacitance reduction was linked to the higher activation energy required for electric double-layer adsorption/desorption, as described by the Arrhenius equation. This effect is attributed to the deformation of the styrene-butadiene rubber (SBR) binder because −196 °C is much lower than its glass transition temperature of −50 °C. At −196 °C, the SBR transitions from a flexible, rubbery state to a brittle, glassy state can cause the SBR to crack or shatter, thereby reducing the adhesive contact between the current collector and the active materials. These findings highlight the importance of polymer binders in ensuring long-term stability, especially for supercapacitors intended for low-temperature environments.
A novel method for the measurement of cardiovascular responses to lower body negative pressure in the awake instrumented rat
Authors: Nieman Michelle L. , Lorenz Samuel R. , Lorenz John N.
Published: January 2025

Orthostatic hypotension or intolerance is a common but often underappreciated disorder that is associated with a variety of neurological comorbidities. LBNP studies provide a valuable tool to study these conditions, but heretofore could only be used in human subjects, since animal subjects needed to be anesthetized or sedated, which blunts or eliminates neurocardiovascular reflexes. This novel method allowing LBNP studies in awake rats will provide a valuable preclinical model for studying these disorders.
How does orientation-tuned normalization spread across the visual field?
Authors: Klímová Michaela , Bloem Ilona M. , Ling Sam
Published: January 2025

Visuocortical responses are underpinned by gain control mechanisms. In surround suppression, it has been shown that suppression strength is affected by the orientation similarity between the center and surround stimuli. In this study, we examine the impact of orientation-tuned suppression on population contrast responses in early visual cortex and its spread across the visual field. Results show stronger suppression in parallel stimulus configurations, with suppression largely isolated to voxels near the center-surround boundary.
Lip Melanosis Postdermal Filler Injection: Second Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Altariqi Abdulrahman Abdullah , Bin Mubayrik Azizah Fahad
Published: January 2025

Oral pigmentation can arise from various factors, including physiological and pathological, or as a manifestation of an underlying systemic disease. We present an atypical case of dermal filler–related complication, in which clinical lip pigmentation was observed. This condition can pose a diagnostic challenge in accurately identifying its cause.
A Case of Fournier’s Gangrene Secondary to Varicella Zoster Virus in a 7‐Year‐Old Boy
Authors: Phoenix Eimear , O’Broin Eoin
Published: January 2025

A rare case of Fournier’s gangrene (FG) secondary to varicella‐zoster virus (VZV) affecting the penis and scrotum of a 7‐year‐old boy is presented. To the authors’ knowledge, there are four cases of FG in children as a result of VZV reported to date. Our patient underwent a total of four surgical debridements and was reconstructed using a split‐thickness skin graft (SSG). At 1‐year post‐reconstruction, his graft is robust, and he has no functional issues.
Biological Agents for Psoriasis Management in HIV‐Positive Patients: A Literature Review
Authors: Qiu Miaoqi , Feng Bo , Zhu Chengyao , Liu Lunfei
Published: January 2025

The management of HIV‐positive psoriasis patients places a heavy burden on the healthcare system, as there are no standard treatment regimens for these patients and the use of biologics has only been reported sporadically. Here, we conducted a systematic review over the past six years and identified 22 articles containing 34 patients treated with inhibitors against tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α), interleukin (IL)‐12/23, IL‐17, or IL‐23. Our analysis focuses on the effectiveness and safety profile of biological agents, highlighting IL‐23 inhibitor’s superior clinical response and tolerability for plaque psoriasis in concomitant HIV‐positive patients. Therefore, we suggest IL‐23 inhibitor as a promising treatment option for moderate‐to‐severe psoriasis in HIV‐positive patients.
Isolation and Characterization of Lactic Acid Bacteria From “Trites” Having the Ability to Produce α‐Glucosidase Inhibitors
Authors: Fachrial Edy , Ismawati  , Jati Afif Pranaya , Nugroho Titania Tjandrawati , Saryono
Published: January 2025

Alpha‐glucosidase inhibitors are one of the therapies used for treating type 2 diabetes by inhibiting the absorption of carbohydrates in the gastrointestinal tract. In addition to antimicrobial activity, some probiotic species show α‐glucosidase inhibitor activity, making them potential alternative therapies for type 2 diabetes. This study aimed to characterize probiotics from “trites,” a traditional food from North Sumatra, Indonesia, that exhibit α‐glucosidase inhibition, potentially useful for type 2 diabetes treatment. The probiotic potential of the isolates was evaluated through antagonistic activity, acid tolerance, bile tolerance, and susceptibility to antimicrobial agents. α‐Glucosidase inhibition was tested with acarbose as a control. The best‐performing isolate, LBSU8, was identified as Pediococcus acidilactici through 16S rRNA gene sequencing. Gene analysis using genome sequencing for LBSU8 revealed antimicrobial secondary metabolites, including RiPPs, polyketide, and NRP, while capsular polysaccharide might contribute to its antidiabetic activity. Though no specific α‐glucosidase inhibitory secondary metabolites were identified, enzymes like dTDP‐glucose 4,6‐dehydratase, transketolase, and glucose‐1‐phosphate thymidylyltransferase may contribute to this activity. P. acidilactici LBSU8 shows potential as an alternative diabetes therapy in the food and drug industries. Further studies are needed to elucidate the exact mechanism behind its α‐glucosidase inhibitory activity and to explore its efficacy in clinical settings.
Conventional and Advanced Methods Used for the Diagnosis of Fascioliosis, a Food‐Borne Zoonotic Disease
Authors: Ali Md Haydar , Hossain Md. Shahadat , Labony Sharmin Shahid , Dey Anita Rani , Paul Joydeep , Khan Md. Abu Hadi Noor Ali , Alim Md. Abdul , Anisuzzaman
Published: January 2025

Fascioliosis is a food‐borne zoonotic helminth infection caused by flatworms belonging to the family Fasciolidae, primarily affecting ruminants. The chronic form of fascioliosis is the most prevalent and is characterized by anemia, weight loss, cirrhosis, and liver dysfunction, along with atrophy, jaundice, and bottle jaw. In humans, infection results in fever, nausea, skin rashes, and severe abdominal pain. Climate changes and human‐driven environmental alterations have contributed to an increasing incidence of fascioliosis in various regions. Fasciola species are widely distributed and have a high occurrence in tropical countries. Approximately 2.4–17 million humans are afflicted by fascioliosis in tropical and subtropical areas, with an additional 180 million facing the risk of infection. Fascioliosis poses a notable threat to ruminants; over 700 million production animals are at risk, and global annual financial losses surpass $3.2 billion. Conventional coprological methods and advanced molecular techniques are employed to diagnose fascioliosis in animals and humans. Within endemic areas, timely and accurate diagnosis is critical for successful prevention and treatment. Molecular approaches such as various PCR techniques and serological methods are extensively utilized to diagnose fascioliosis. In this review, we describe various conventional coprological and advanced DNA‐based PCR techniques along with serological methods used for the screening, monitoring, and specific diagnosis of clinical and subclinical fascioliosis in humans and animals. The information accumulated in this review will be helpful for the diagnosis of fascioliosis in the field and research laboratories.
Comparison of the Effect of and Compliance With Cyclosporine 0.1% After Various Pretreatments in Dry Eye Disease
Authors: Jee Donghyun , Han Su Yeon , Kim Hyun Seung , Kim Eun Chul
Published: January 2025

Purpose: We sought to compare the effect of cyclosporine 0.1% after various pretreatments in patients with dry eye disease.

Methods: Two hundred seventy‐four eyes of 137 patients diagnosed with dry eye disease were retrospectively enrolled. Thirty patients (Group 1, 60 eyes) were not pretreated, while 68 patients (Group 2, 136 eyes) were pretreated with fluorometholone 0.1%, and 39 patients (Group 3, 78 eyes) were pretreated with cyclosporine 0.05% before treatment with cyclosporine 0.1%. The Ocular Surface Disease Index Questionnaire (OSDI) score, Schirmer I test result, noninvasive tear film break‐up time (NItBUT), corneal staining score, matrix metalloproteinase‐9 (MMP‐9) grade, meibography result, meibum quality and expressibility scores, and tear meniscus height were examined before treatment and at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment.

Results: All dry eye signs and symptoms of all Groups at 1, 2, and 3 months were significantly improved compared to those before treatment with cyclosporine 0.1% (p < 0.05). Notably, the OSDI score, Schirmer I test result, NItBUT, corneal and conjunctival fluorescein score, and MMP‐9 grade in Group 3 were significantly improved compared to those in Groups 1 and 2 at 1, 2, and 3 months after treatment with cyclosporine 0.1% (p < 0.05). The percentages of cases with treatment discontinuation in Groups 1, 2, and 3 were 20.0%, 7.4%, and 10.0%, respectively.

Conclusion: Pretreatment with cyclosporine 0.05% can augment the anti‐inflammatory effect of cyclosporine 0.1%. Pretreatment with a steroid or a lower concentration of cyclosporine can increase compliance in patients using a cyclosporine 0.1% eye drop.
Comparative Evaluation of Deciduous and Permanent Coronal Caries Using Polarizing Light Microscopy and Scanning Electron Microscopy
Authors: Thomas Nithya Annie , T. Sreena , Thimmaiah Charisma , Varghese Pinky , Sabu Nimmy , Prince P. Pretty , Sasi Athira Kattachirakunnel
Published: January 2025

Background: Dental caries causes mineral loss and organic damage to teeth. Understanding caries and dentin pulp reactions is crucial for effective caries management strategies. There is a lack of knowledge regarding the microscopic and ultramicroscopic changes that occur during caries destruction and reactive changes. This study used polarizing and scanning electron microscopy to compare deciduous and permanent coronal caries.

Materials and Methods: The study included 30 teeth, comprising 15 primary and permanent teeth, all with coronal caries. They were also compared with 10 (5 each) noncarious primary and permanent teeth. The teeth were examined using polarizing and scanning electron microscopy to study enamel and dentin destruction, reactive dentin formation, peritubular dentin destruction, and bacterial colonization.

Results: Deciduous teeth had more enamel and dentin destruction for coronal caries than permanent teeth in our study. The permanent teeth had more reactive dentin formation than primary teeth. Peritubular dentine alteration was increased in deciduous teeth, and bacterial presence on dentin was higher in permanent teeth under scanning electron microscope.

Conclusion: Our findings suggest that caries destruction is more prevalent in deciduous teeth, and reactive response is more effective in permanent teeth affected by caries. These findings reflect the structural durability of the mineralized tissues and prompt reactive response of the dentin pulp complex of permanent teeth compared to deciduous teeth. Our research highlights the importance of identifying and treating decay in primary teeth at an early stage.
Estereotipos de género en el liderazgo femenino contable. Reflexión sobre el entorno laboral
Authors: Durán Arriagada Pamela Carolina
Published: January 2025

Este trabajo de investigación examina la influencia del empoderamiento femenino en el liderazgo en la carrera de contabilidad a través de la identificación de los estereotipos que se originan en el entorno laboral que afectan a las mujeres contadoras públicas y auditoras en puestos de liderazgo, para ello, se realizará una revisión exhaustiva de la literatura científica existente, abordando los asuntos que sobresalen en esta para relacionarlo con el problema de investigación. El estudio se fundamenta en teorías de género como el “techo de cristal” y el “laberinto”, que contextualizan los obstáculos que las mujeres han enfrentado en su desarrollo profesional. La revisión de literatura ha permitido profundizar en los desafíos que enfrentan las mujeres en la profesión contable, donde los estereotipos de género y la feminización han configurado un entorno laboral que limita su avance hacia posiciones de liderazgo. Asimismo, la carga asociada a la maternidad y las expectativas familiares siguen condicionando sus trayectorias profesionales.
Dimensiones de sostenibilidad en el Sector de Servicios en Chile
Authors: Muñoz Armijo Leonardo
Published: January 2025

Este artículo exploró la manera en que las organizaciones han integrado la sostenibilidad mediante distintas metas y prácticas en el sector de servicios en Chile. El diseño metodológico se basó en un enfoque cualitativo con alcance tipo descriptivo y exploratorio, desde el cual se realizó una caracterización conceptual de todos aquellos elementos relacionados con la sostenibilidad, y a través de entrevistas semiestructuradas a representantes de distintas organizaciones del sector servicios se evidenciaron las prácticas implementadas hasta el momento. La reflexión final de la investigación es que la gestión del desarrollo sostenible en las organizaciones debe estar orientado a establecer una gestión estratégica basada en la protección del medio ambiente, el desarrollo de la sociedad y el desarrollo económico, compatibilizando estos elementos con la generación de las utilidades. Pues, al implementar la sostenibilidad, el aumento del rendimiento económico es cuestión de tiempo.
Phase II Pilot Trial of Tislelizumab plus Low-Dose Nab-Paclitaxel for Extensive Very High–Risk Non–Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer
Authors: Qie Yunkai , Huang Shiwang , Shen Chong , Wu Zhouliang , Da La , Jia Kaipeng , Zhang Zhe , Zhao Gangjian , Wang Lili , Xu Guoping , Zhao Yang , Liang Rui , Guo Jianing , Li Changping , Dong Hua , Li Man , Li Hongjun , Chen Houyuan , Tian Dawei , Wu Changli , Zhang Wei , An Zesheng , Wang Haitao , Niu Yuanjie , Hu Hailong
Published: January 2025

Purpose:

Combinations of immune checkpoint inhibitors and nab-paclitaxel have improved outcomes in advanced urothelial carcinoma and muscle-invasive bladder cancer. This study evaluates the safety and efficacy of tislelizumab combined with low-dose nab-paclitaxel in extensive very high–risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer.

Patients and Methods:

TRUCE-02 was a single-arm phase II trial that included 63 patients with visually incomplete resection and/or high-volume high-grade T1 tumors (with or without carcinoma in situ) who were ineligible for or declined radical cystectomy. Patients received intravenous tislelizumab (200 mg on day 1) and nab-paclitaxel (200 mg on day 2) every 3 weeks, with assessment approximately 3 months after initial administration. The primary endpoint was the complete response (CR) rate of high-risk disease. Main secondary endpoints included safety and duration of CR.

Results:

The safety analysis included all 63 patients, and the efficacy analysis included 59 patients. Thirty-seven patients (62.7%; 95% confidence interval, 49.1%–75.0%) achieved a CR of high-risk disease, with a 24-month sustained response rate of 96.3% (95% confidence interval, 89.4%–100.0%). Grade 3 to 4 treatment-related adverse events occurred in nine patients (14%), with no fatal events reported.

Conclusions:

Tislelizumab plus low-dose nab-paclitaxel was well tolerated and showed promising antitumor activity, making it a potential alternative for patients with extensive very high–risk non–muscle-invasive bladder cancer who are ineligible for or decline radical cystectomy.
Supplementary Figure 3 from Claudin-4 Stabilizes the Genome via Nuclear and Cell-Cycle Remodeling to Support Ovarian Cancer Cell Survival
Authors: Villagomez Fabian R. , Lang Julie , Nunez-Avellaneda Daniel , Behbakht Kian , Dimmick Hannah L. , Webb Patricia G. , Nephew Kenneth P. , Neville Margaret , Woodruff Elizabeth R. , Bitler Benjamin G.
Published: January 2025

Gating strategy for hypertetraploid aneuploidy in epithelial ovarian cancer cells.
Figure 2 from Claudin-4 Stabilizes the Genome via Nuclear and Cell-Cycle Remodeling to Support Ovarian Cancer Cell Survival
Authors: Villagomez Fabian R. , Lang Julie , Nunez-Avellaneda Daniel , Behbakht Kian , Dimmick Hannah L. , Webb Patricia G. , Nephew Kenneth P. , Neville Margaret , Woodruff Elizabeth R. , Bitler Benjamin G.
Published: January 2025

Claudin-4’s association with various forms of genome instability. Ovarian tumor cells were cultured for 24, 48, and 96 hours. Afterward, cells were PI-stained to quantify aneuploidy, a type of genomic instability in vitro. Likewise, another type of genomic instability (chromosomic amplifications) was quantified in human tumor samples [TCGA; accession number PHS000178; 2.32% (95% CI, 2.28–2.36) vs. 5.00% (95% CI, 4.93–5.08); P < 0.0001]. A, Percentages of hypertetraploid (% of variation relative to hypertetraploid observed in WT cells), a form of aneuploidy, during claudin-4 overexpression in OVCAR8 or its downregulation in OVCA429 (B) and OVCAR3 cells (C), respectively. D, Correlation of genomic instability (indicated as % of altered chromosomic copy numbers) in human ovarian tumors associated with levels of claudin-4 expression (four independent experiments, and three independent experiments for OVCAR3 at 96 hours; two-tailed unpaired t test; significance P < 0.05). Graphs show the mean and SEM. KD, knockdown; PI, propidium iodide.
Ultra-Widefield OCT Images of Proliferative Vitreoretinopathy under Silicone Oil
Authors: Kinoshita Masaki , Sakimoto Susumu , Suzue Masaki , Kanai Masanori , Shiraki Nobuhiko , Nishida Kohji
Published: January 2025

Introduction: Proliferative vitreoretinopathy (PVR) is a condition in which proliferation forms after rhegmatogenous retinal detachment (RRD) surgery or old RRD, and sometimes, PVR can occur under silicone oil (SO). Here, we report 2 cases of PVR in which we evaluated preoperative B-scan images of proliferation under SO using ultra-widefield swept-source OCT (UWF-SS-OCT). Case Presentation: The first case was a 61-year-old male who presented with PVR under SO tamponade after multiple pars plana vitrectomies (PPVs) at the previous hospital, and the second case was a 23-year-old man patient who was diagnosed with Coats disease in childhood and presented with PVR under SO after PPV for total RRD at our hospital. B-scan images of UWF-SS-OCT provided findings of epiretinal two-layered proliferation or emulsified SO in the peripheral area. Conclusion: UWF-SS-OCT is useful for preoperative assessment of the proliferation of PVR before SO removal. In addition, peculiar proliferation may occur in the eye under SO.
Reliability of triggering the stop process is related to prefrontal-subthalamic hyperdirect pathway recruitment
Authors: Sebastian Alexandra , Forstmann Birte U. , Matzke Dora
Published: January 2025

The estimated latency of the unobservable stop response, the so-called stop-signal reaction time (SSRT), has been the established measure of performance in the stop-signal task. While it is currently debated whether SSRT is a suitable marker of inhibition performance, other markers such as the reliability of triggering the stop process (“stop trigger failures”) are coming into focus. In the present study, we elucidated the mechanisms associated with trigger failures using a model-based neuroscience approach by means of functional magnetic resonance imaging for the first time. To this end, we used a large, open-access fMRI data set to investigate the relationship between the probability of trigger failures and fMRI signal change in a stop-signal task in healthy adults (n = 113). Stop trigger failures were associated with less activity in the substantia nigra during unsuccessful stopping and with less activity in the subthalamic nucleus (STN) region during successful inhibition. Although stop trigger failures strongly correlated with SSRT, we found only little evidence for a correlation between SSRT and stopping-related fMRI signal. Thus, in particular, the reliability of the stop process and not its estimated latency depends on the recruitment of key nodes within the prefrontal-subthalamic hyperdirect pathway. More specifically, stop trigger failures may be linked to inadequate substantia nigra innervation at the neural network level. As current evidence suggests that the hyperdirect pathway is engaged by the processing of salient stimuli, deficiencies in assessing the relevance of the stop signal may represent a phenotype associated with a propensity to trigger the stop process unreliably.
Hartmut Leppin: The Early Christians: From the Beginnings to Constantine
Authors: Petersen Anders Klostergaard
Published: January 2025

A milestone book in German on the development of Christ-religion during the formative period from its beginning to Constantine is now available in English translation. The focus is on the era during which the religious movement underwent development from a Judaic type of religion into an incipiently semi-autonomous form of religion with respect to other Judaic forms. Given the importance of the book – the first in many years by a civil historian on the formation of early Christ-religion – I give a lengthy and critical presentation of the argument. In the second half of the review I turn to some key points that I think need further discussion. Ultimately, Leppin’s book is a must-read for scholars of early Christ-religion and for historians of religions interested in the overarching question of depictions of religions from their emergence to the period of their gaining institutionalized foothold.
Antisemitic Charisma: A Critique of Max Weber’s Interpretations of Paul, Jews, and Charisma and Their Enduring Legacy in Religious Studies
Authors: Boleslawsky Lara-Sophie , Keddie Tony
Published: January 2025

Celebrated for developing objective, secular methods for social analysis of religion, Max Weber has come under increasing scrutiny for his nationalist politics, Protestant assumptions, racism, and antisemitism. Building on this critical scholarship, the present article exposes Weber’s theory of charisma as shaped by his German liberal nationalism, especially his assimilationist resolution to the Jewish Question. Through close analysis of Weber’s publications in light of his private letters, political associations, and intellectual debates, it demonstrates that Weber’s conceptualization of charisma as a quality of leadership that advances a release from tradition reinscribes the antisemitic logic of Protestant biblical interpretation – namely, the exaltation of Pauline Christianity as emancipation from Jewish law, ritual, and self-segregation. Further metacritical investigation of influential social-scientific studies of early Christianity demonstrates that the Weberian theory of charisma continues to prime scholars toward Christian triumphalism. A historically untenable vehicle for Weber’s nationalism, charisma should be retired as a sociological tool.
A Space for Kinship in City Diplomacy: Re-imagining Sister Cities amid Global Migration
Authors: Fortunoff Willoughby , Martens Cheryl , Méndez Jenny Albarracín
Published: January 2025

In an era of escalating urbanisation and global migration, this research investigates the potential of sister city relationships in forging long-term and community-driven international ties. Are these city-to-city agreements outdated, or do they still offer contemporary benefits? The study is grounded in eight months of field research on relationships between US cities and the Ecuadorian cities of Cuenca and Quito during Ecuador’s 2024 state of emergency. A sequential mixed-methods approach includes semi-structured interviews with cultural, diplomatic and economic stakeholders, and quantitative survey data, to identify broader trends in perceptions of sister city relations. Ethnographic observations in municipal offices in Cuenca and Quito anchor the research in practical governance challenges. The study contributes to international relations and paradiplomacy discourse by proposing an interdisciplinary theoretical framework that blends ideas of social power, kinship and peripheral realism to analyse sister city partnerships as tools of agency and identity in the context of global diplomacy and displacement.
Notes on Quercus salicifolia and description of a new species of Quercus section Lobatae (Fagaceae) from Mexico
Authors: VALENCIA-A SUSANA , SOTO-ARELLANO OSCAR JAVIER
Published: January 2025

The synonymy of Quercus salicifolia is reviewed and an amended description that allows its recognition is presented. The main characteristics that separate Q. salicifolia from species that have been recently proposed as its synonyms are presented. Additionally, Q. salasiae is proposed as a new species of the section Lobatae. It is compared with Q. salicifolia and Q. nixoniana, with which it presents morphological similarity.
Alternaria macrocephalae sp. nov. (Ascomycota: Pleosporaceae) associated with Atractylodes macrocephala in China
Authors: AUNG SEIN LAI LAI , GUO ZHUAN JUN , HUANG JIA HUI , NWE ZIN MAR , YU ZHI HE , DENG JIAN XIN
Published: January 2025

The medicinal plant Atractylodes macrocephala Koidz. (AM) is a common herb in China. In this study, a novel species within the Alternaria genus was isolated from AM plants showing typical Alternaria symptoms in Hefeng County, Enshi Tujia and Miao Autonomous Prefecture of Hubei Province, China. Multi-locus phylogenetic analysis using concatenated sequences of the internal transcribed spacer of the rDNA region (ITS), glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH), Alternaria major allergen gene (Alt a 1), translation elongation factor 1 alpha (TEF1), and RNA polymerase second largest subunit (RPB2) genes provided further evidence supporting the placement in Alternaria sect. Porri. Although the newly isolated strains clustered closely with A. guilanica and A. dichondrae, analyses revealed that they belonged to a distinct lineage supporting the establishment of a new species. Based on conidial size, septa, beak morphology, and conidiophore appearance, the isolated strains were differentiated from A. guilanica and A. dichondrae. On the basis of those molecular and morphological characteristics, the fungus is identified as a new species named Alternaria macrocephale.
Identification key to the species of genus Thrips (Thysanoptera, Thripidae) from India with three new species and one new record
Authors: TYAGI KAOMUD , PAL SHASH , SARMA MADHURIMA , KUMAR VIKAS
Published: January 2025

A revised key to 52 species of the genus Thrips recorded from India is provided, including two species from Nepal [Thrips meridionalis (Priesner) and Thrips tectus (zur Strassen)] and three new species: Thrips apricus sp. nov. from West Bengal, Thrips hemkundensis sp. nov. from Uttarakhand, and Thrips roseae sp. nov. from Himachal Pradesh. Thrips safrus Mound & Masumoto is first time reported from Punjab, India. We studied the type specimens of 19 species, and non-type specimens of 26 species, but 7 species are included in the key based on the original descriptions.
Two new species of Thlaspidula Spaeth, 1901 (Coleoptera: Chrysomelidae: Cassidinae) from Sulawesi
Authors: BUDI ANANG SETYO , ŚWIĘTOJAŃSKA JOLANTA
Published: January 2025

Two new for science species of the genus Thlaspidula Spaeth, 1901 are described and illustrated from Sulawesi, Indonesia. Thlaspidula gandangdewata, sp. nov. is described based on specimens collected from Mount Gandangdewata whereas Thlaspidula sarinoi, sp. nov. on material from Mount Torompupu. Photographs of the habitus and illustrations of diagnostic characters are presented. Key to all members of the genus Thlaspidula is given.
Investigation of a Calibration Change in the Ocean Surface Wind Measurements from the TAO Buoy Array
Authors: Ricciardulli Lucrezia , Manaster Andrew , Lindsley Richard
Published: January 2025

During routine analyses of the calibration stability of ocean surface wind retrievals from satellites, we identified a significant bias between satellite measurements and wind observations from the Tropical Atmosphere Ocean (TAO) buoy array, starting in mid-2020 until the present. After extensive investigation, we determined that the bias did not arise from anomalies in the satellites’ calibration or coding errors, as it appeared regardless of which satellite these buoys were compared to. A sudden increase of about 10% (0.5–0.8 m s−1) in wind speed observations was first identified in over 40 TAO buoys that were serviced between March and September 2020. Our concerns were shared with scientists at the National Data Buoy Center (NDBC), who confirmed our estimates. The exact source of this sudden change is still under investigation, but it appears to be related to changes in the calibration of buoy anemometers installed during recent service trips. By 2024, all currently operating TAO buoys under NDBC management have been serviced since 2020, and they all manifest a sudden wind speed increase postservice in the public-facing buoy data. This change is a source of concern because the stability of the integrated satellite–buoy system is vital for international ocean observation programs. The aim of this paper is to inform the research community about this spurious wind signal in the TAO array, discuss the impact it could have on the research community, and prevent it from being misinterpreted as climate variability, impacting the calibration of other observing systems, or affecting derived data products such as ocean surface fluxes.
Assessing the Impact of Radar-Rainfall Uncertainty on Streamflow Simulation
Authors: Velásquez Nicolás , Krajewski Witold F. , Seo Bong-Chul
Published: January 2025

Hydrological models and quantitative precipitation estimation (QPE) are critical elements of flood forecasting systems. Both are subject to considerable uncertainties. Quantifying their relative contribution to the forecasted streamflow and flood uncertainty has remained challenging. Past work documented in the literature focused on one of these elements separately from the other. With this in mind, we present a systematic approach to assess the impact of QPE uncertainty in streamflow forecasting. Our approach explores the operational Iowa Flood Center (IFC) hydrological model performance after altering two radar-based QPE products. We ran the Hillslope Link Model (HLM) for Iowa between 2015 and 2020, altering the Multi-Radar/Multi-Sensor (MRMS) system and the specific attenuation-based (IFCA) IFC radar-derived product with a multiplicative error term. We assessed the forecasting system performance at 112 USGS streamflow gauges using the altered QPE products. Our results suggest that addressing rainfall uncertainty has the potential for much-improved flood forecasting spatially and seasonally. We identified spatial patterns linking prediction improvements to the radar’s location and the magnitude of rainfall. Also, we observed seasonal trends suggesting underestimations during the cold season (October–April). The patterns for different radar products are generally similar but also show some differences, implying that the QPE algorithm plays a role. This study’s results are a step toward separating modeling and QPE uncertainties. Future work involving larger areas and different hydrological and error models is essential to improve our understanding of the impact of QPE uncertainty.

Significance Statement

This study investigates the impact of radar rainfall on flood forecasting uncertainty. Previous research focused on rainfall–runoff models, ignoring the errors in rainfall estimation. We used a systematic approach to adjust two radar-rainfall products, forcing a simple hydrological model. Results show the potential improvement in streamflow prediction by correcting basinwide bias in rainfall. The optimal correction varies with basin size, location, season, and rainfall amount.
Retained Surgical Sponge Expelled Through a Rectal Fistula With Spontaneous Passage Per Rectum
Authors: Aydın Seyit Murat , Barlas Aziz Mutlu , Bayraktar Tayfun
Published: January 2025

Gossypiboma is a condition that occurs as a result of leaving sterile gauze, surgical sponges, or similar materials inadvertently retained in the body following surgery. The most common localization of gossypibomas is the intraabdominal cavity. Patients with gossypiboma can remain asymptomatic for years. Clinical manifestations and complications vary widely. Gossypibomas can result in significant complications based on the affected organ and its anatomical location. It is difficult to determine the exact incidence due to medicolegal issues. While prevention remains the most effective strategy for protecting against gossypiboma, the preferred treatment for abdominal gossypiboma is typically surgical intervention. This case aims to present a giant 25 × 25 cm textiloma that led to significant fistulization secondary to intraluminal migration and was expelled via the rectum, a phenomenon not previously reported in the literature.
Democracy-Reinforcing Hardball: Can Breaking Democratic Norms Preserve Democratic Values?
Authors: Bateman David A.
Published: January 2025

The threat of democratic backsliding has prompted growing interest in “hardball,” the pursuit of legal and constitutional changes with the intended purpose of biasing outcomes in favor of one party over others. Such actions can be allowed under existing constitutional and legal rules, but are in tension with norms that these rules ought to be insulated from the contest for power. This paper provides a new definition of what I call democracy-reinforcing hardball, and a framework for thinking about when it might be successful. I show how the averting-backsliding literature’s injunction against hardball limits the feasibility of its suggested reforms. I categorize various hardball scenarios, highlighting conditions under which it might be democracy-reinforcing, and describe three cases in terms of this concept. I conclude by arguing that future research should study the conditions under which hardball might help stabilize a democratic political order over the long-term.
How are the Attitudes Towards Aging and Aging and Death Anxiety in Individuals Over 65 Years of Age With Chronic Diseases?: A Cross-Sectional and Analytical Study
Authors: Doğan Nurhan , Hacıköylü Kerime
Published: January 2025

This study examined the relationship between attitudes toward aging and death anxiety in individuals aged 65 and older with chronic diseases. The study involved 169 participants. Data were collected using Personal Information Form, Turkish Death Anxiety Scale (TDAS), and Attitudes toward Ageing and Elderliness Scale (ATAES). The results showed that overall, attitudes toward aging were moderately positive (139.05 ± 24.35), while death anxiety levels were high (49.04 ± 16.62). Women, illiterate individuals, those without children, and rural residents had higher ATAES scores ( p < .05). Higher death anxiety scores were found among women, non-working individuals, and those in poor health ( p < .05). A significant positive correlation was found between attitudes toward aging and death anxiety (r = 0.547, p = .000). Additionally, a one-unit increase in negative attitudes toward aging led to a 37.3% increase in death anxiety (R = 0.546, R2 = 0.298, p = .000). These findings highlight the influence of sociodemographic factors on aging attitudes and death anxiety, with negative attitudes toward aging contributing to greater death anxiety.