bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
RORγt inverse agonists demonstrating a margin between inhibition of IL-17A and thymocyte apoptosis
Authors: Collins Mia , Pehrson Rikard , Grindebacke Hanna , Leffler Agnes , Ramnegård Marie , Rannikmäe Helena , Krutrök Nina , Yrlid Linda , Pollard Charlotte , Dainty Ian , Narjes Frank , von Berg Stefan , Llinas Antonio , Malmberg Anna , McPheat Jane , Hansson Eva , Bäck Elisabeth , Bernström Jenny , Hansson Thomas G. , Keeling David , Jirholt Johan
Published: January 2025

Multiple genetic associations suggest a causative relationship between Th17-related genes coding for proteins, such as IL-17A, IL-23 and STAT3, and psoriasis. Further support for this link comes from the findings that neutralizing antibodies directed against IL-17A, IL-17RA and IL-23 are efficacious in diseases like psoriasis, psoriatic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. RORγt is a centrally positioned transcription factor driving Th17 polarization and cytokine secretion and modulation of RORγt may thus provide additional benefit to patients. However, RORγt also plays a role in the normal development of T cells in the thymus and genetic disruption of RORγt in the mouse leads to the development of lymphoma originating in the thymus. Whilst it is not established that down-regulation of RORγt activity would lead to the same consequence in humans, further understanding of the thymus effects is desirable to support progress of this target as a potential treatment of Th17-driven disease. Herein we present the characterisation of recently disclosed RORγt inverse agonists demonstrating target engagement and efficacy in vitro and in vivo against Th17 endpoints but requiring higher concentrations in vitro to affect thymocyte apoptosis.
Investigating dosage effects of ovulation inhibitors on oocyte maturation in assisted reproductive technology: A retrospective study among patients with normal ovarian reserve
Authors: Handa Mika , Takiuchi Tsuyoshi , Kawaguchi Sumika , Ohara Yasuhiro , Doshida Masakazu , Takeuchi Takumi , Matsubayashi Hidehiko , Ishikawa Tomomoto , Komukai Sho , Kitamura Tetsuhisa , Kimura Tadashi
Published: January 2025

The judicious selection of ovulation inhibitors in ovarian stimulation protocols is crucial for the success of assisted reproductive technology (ART). Herein, we investigate the dose-dependent effects of chlormadinone acetate (CMA) and cetrorelix, two distinct ovulation inhibitors, on oocyte maturation in patients with normal ovarian reserve, using univariable and multivariable Poisson regression analyses. Patients undergoing progestin-primed ovarian stimulation (PPOS) with CMA (n = 299) or gonadotropin-releasing hormone antagonist (GnRH-ant) with cetrorelix (n = 605) during their initial in vitro fertilization cycle were enrolled at our center from March 2018 to October 2020 (N = 904). The primary and secondary outcomes were the oocyte maturation and fertilization rates, respectively. After adjusting for several covariates including age, anti-Müllerian hormone levels, total gonadotropin dose, and type of trigger, we calculated the dose-dependent adjusted relative risk (aRR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) for 1 mg of CMA or 0.25 mg of cetrorelix. In the PPOS group, the median age was 34.0 years, and the median total CMA dosage was 22 mg (interquartile range [IQR]: 18.0–32.0). In the GnRH-ant group, the median age was 35.0 years, and the median total cetrorelix dosage was 0.5 mg (IQR 0.5–0.5). The aRR of the maturation rate was 1.003 (95% CI: 0.999–1.007) with PPOS (p = 0.194) and 1.009 (95% CI: 0.962–1.059) with GnRH-ant (p = 0.717). The aRR of the fertilization rate was 1.002 (95% CI: 0.985–1.020) with PPOS (p = 0.783) and 1.022 (95% CI: 0.839–1.246) with GnRH-ant (p = 0.829). Collectively, these findings indicate that within the applied dosages, ovulation inhibitors do not significantly impact oocyte maturation or fertilization rates in patients with normal ovarian reserve. These valuable insights can be applied when designing ART protocols and may guide clinicians in optimizing infertility treatments.
Quality of life identification by unsupervised cluster analysis: A new approach to modelling the burden of endometriosis
Authors: Vallée Alexandre , Arutkin Maxence , Ceccaldi Pierre-François , Ayoubi Jean-Marc
Published: January 2025

Background

Symptoms frequently associated with endometriosis affect quality of life (QoL). Our aim investigated the hypothesis that cluster analysis can be used to identify homogeneous phenotyping subgroups of women according to the burden of the endometriosis for their QoL, and then to investigate the phenotype differences observed between these subgroups.

Methods

We developed an anonymous online survey, which received responses from 1,586 French women with endometriosis. K‐means, a major clustering algorithm, was performed to show structure in data and divide women into groups based on the burden of endometriosis. This was defined using 9 dimensions. Multivariable logistic regression was performed to highlight the association between QoL and several factors. Covariables were age, BMI, smoking, education, children, marital status and surgery.

Results

K‐means clustering was implemented with 8 clusters (optimal CCC value of 17.2162). In one cluster, women presented a high level of QoL and represented 234 women for 60% of women with a high level of QoL, and another with 410 women for 34% of women with worse QoL. Independent factors determining high QoL were age (over 45 years compared to below 25 years, OR = 0.17 [0.07–0.46], p<0.001), BMI (high vs low, OR = 0.47 [0.28–0.80], p = 0.005), having children (OR = 0.30 [0.18–0.48], p<0.001), having surgery for endometriosis (OR = 0.55 [0.32–0.94], p = 0.029), and education (high vs low, OR = 2.75 [1.75–4.31], p<0.001)

Conclusion

Cluster analysis identifies homogeneous women phenotypes for QoL with endometriosis. Implementing new methodological approaches improves QoL of endometriosis women and allows appropriate preventive strategies.
Protective effects of Lactobacillus plantarum strain against protein malnutrition-induced muscle atrophy and bone loss in juvenile mice
Authors: Park Hyerim , Kim Sung-Hee , Lee Kyung-Ah
Published: January 2025

Early-life malnutrition adversely affects nearly all organ systems, resulting in multiple physiological adaptations, including growth restriction and muscle and bone loss. Although there is growing evidence that probiotics effectively improve systemic growth under malnourished conditions in different animal models, our knowledge of the beneficial effects of probiotics on various organs is limited. Here, we show that Lactobacillus plantarum strain WJL (LpWJL) can mitigate skeletal muscle and bone loss in protein-malnourished juvenile mice. Mice on prenatal day 21 were fed a protein-malnourished (P-MAL) diet with or without LpWJL supplementation for six weeks. Compared to mice on the P-MAL diet alone, LpWJL supplementation significantly increased muscle mass and size, resulting in enhanced muscle strength and endurance capacity. Furthermore, LpWJL supplementation induced the expression of the key growth factor IGF-1 while decreasing muscle atrophy markers such as Atrogin-1 and MuRF-1, indicating potential mechanisms by which protein malnutrition-induced muscle wasting is counteracted. Additionally, LpWJL supplementation alleviated the reduction in cortical bone thickness and the deterioration of trabecular bone microstructure in the femur. Taken together, these results indicate that LpWJL can protect against skeletal muscle atrophy and compromised bone microarchitecture caused by protein malnutrition, providing novel insights into the potential therapeutic applications of probiotics for treating malnutrition-related disorders.
Improving reading competence in aphasia with combined aerobic exercise and phono-motor treatment: Protocol for a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Boukrina Olga , Madden Elizabeth B. , Sandroff Brian M. , Cui Xiangqin , Yamin Abubakar , Kong Yekyung , Graves William W.
Published: January 2025

Aphasia, a communication disorder caused primarily by left-hemisphere stroke, affects millions of individuals worldwide, with up to 70% experiencing significant reading impairments. These deficits negatively impact independence and quality of life, highlighting the need for effective treatments that target the cognitive and neural processes essential to reading recovery. This Randomized Clinical Trial (RCT) aims to test the efficacy of a combined intervention incorporating aerobic exercise training (AET) and phono-motor treatment (PMT) to enhance reading recovery in individuals with post-stroke aphasia. AET, known for its positive impact on cerebral blood flow (CBF) and oxygenation, is hypothesized to facilitate neuroplasticity when administered before PMT, an intensive therapy aimed at strengthening phonological processing. While most existing treatments focus on spoken language production, this study builds on evidence that PMT can also improve reading skills. The study is structured as a Phase I/II clinical trial and compares the effects of AET plus PMT to a control condition of stretching plus PMT on reading and other language outcomes including naming, auditory comprehension, and spontaneous speech. Additionally, it investigates the immediate and sustained impacts of the intervention on CBF, functional connectivity, and task-evoked brain activity. The central hypothesis posits that AET will increase CBF and, when combined with PMT, will lead to enhanced reading recovery, supporting treatment-induced plasticity. This trial represents one of the first large-scale interventions targeting post-stroke reading impairments and provides critical insights into the potential of combining AET with cognitive rehabilitation to improve language recovery in aphasia.
Development of a broad-spectrum epitope-based vaccine against Streptococcus pneumoniae
Authors: Nahian Md. , Shahab Muhammad , Khan Md. Rasel , Akash Shopnil , Banu Tanjina Akhtar , Sarkar Murshed Hasan , Goswami Barna , Chowdhury Sanjana Fatema , Islam Mohammad Ariful , Abu Rus’d Ahmed , Begum Shamima , Habib Ahashan , Shaikh Aftab Ali , Oliveira Jonas Ivan Nobre , Akter Shahina
Published: January 2025

Streptococcus pneumoniae (SPN) is a significant pathogen causing pneumonia and meningitis, particularly in vulnerable populations like children and the elderly. Available pneumonia vaccines have limitations since they only cover particular serotypes and have high production costs. The emergence of antibiotic-resistant SPN strains further underscores the need for a new, cost-effective, broad-spectrum vaccine. Two potential vaccine candidates, CbpA and PspA, were identified, and their B-cell, CTL, and HTL epitopes were predicted and connected with suitable linkers, adjivant and PADRE sequence. The vaccine construct was found to be antigenic, non-toxic, non-allergenic, and soluble. The three-dimensional structure of the vaccine candidate was built and validated. Docking analysis of the vaccine candidate by ClusPro demonstrated robust and stable binding interactions between the MEV and toll-like receptor 4 in both humans and animals. The iMOD server and Amber v.22 tool has verified the stability of the docking complexes. GenScript server confirmed the high efficiency of cloning for the construct and in-silico cloning into the pET28a (+) vector using SnapGene, demonstrating successful translation of the epitope region. Immunological responses were shown to be enhanced by the C-IMMSIM server. This study introduced a strong peptide vaccine candidate that has the potential to contribute to the development of a rapid and cost-effective solution for combating SPN. However, experimental verification is necessary to evaluate the vaccine’s effectiveness.
Gaussian barebone mechanism and wormhole strategy enhanced moth flame optimization for global optimization and medical diagnostics
Authors: Ma Jingjing , Zhao Zhifang , Zhang Lin
Published: January 2025

Moth Flame Optimization (MFO) is a swarm intelligence algorithm inspired by the nocturnal flight mode of moths, and it has been widely used in various fields due to its simple structure and high optimization efficiency. Nonetheless, a notable limitation is its susceptibility to local optimality because of the absence of a well-balanced exploitation and exploration phase. Hence, this paper introduces a novel enhanced MFO algorithm (BWEMFO) designed to improve algorithmic performance. This improvement is achieved by incorporating a Gaussian barebone mechanism, a wormhole strategy, and an elimination strategy into the MFO. To assess the effectiveness of BWEMFO, a series of comparison experiments is conducted, comparing it against conventional metaheuristic algorithms, advanced metaheuristic algorithms, and various MFO variants. The experimental results reveal a significant enhancement in both the convergence speed and the capability to escape local optima with the implementation of BWEMFO. The scalability of the algorithm is confirmed through benchmark functions. Employing BWEMFO, we optimize the kernel parameters of the kernel-limit learning machine, thereby crafting the BWEMFO-KELM methodology for medical diagnosis and prediction. Subsequently, BWEMFO-KELM undergoes diagnostic and predictive experimentation on three distinct medical datasets: the breast cancer dataset, colorectal cancer datasets, and mammographic dataset. Through comparative analysis against five alternative machine learning methodologies across four evaluation metrics, our experimental findings evince the superior diagnostic accuracy and reliability of the proposed BWEMFO-KELM model.
Therapeutic blockade of CCL17 in obesity-exacerbated osteoarthritic pain and disease
Authors: Lee Kevin Ming-Chin , Lupancu Tanya , Keenan Stacey N. , Bing Georgina , Achuthan Adrian A. , Biondo Mark , Lieu Kim Gia , Watt Matthew J. , Maraskovsky Eugene , Kingwell Bronwyn A. , Hamilton John A.
Published: January 2025

Objectives

We previously reported that CCL17 gene-deficient mice are protected from developing pain-like behaviour and exhibit less disease in destabilization of medial meniscus (DMM)-induced OA, as well as in high-fat diet (HFD)-exacerbated DMM-induced OA. Here, we explored if therapeutic neutralization of CCL17, using increasing doses of a neutralizing monoclonal antibody (mAb), would lead to a dose-dependent benefit in these two models.

Design

DMM-induced OA was initiated in male mice either fed with a control diet (7% fat) or 8 weeks of a 60% HFD, followed by therapeutic intraperitoneal administration (i.e. when pain is evident) of an anti-CCL17 mAb (B293, 25mg/kg, 5mg/kg or 1mg/kg) or isotype control (BM4; 25mg/kg). Pain-like behaviour and arthritis were assessed by relative static weight distribution and histology, respectively. The effects of B293 (25mg/kg) on HFD-induced metabolic changes, namely oral glucose tolerance test, insulin tolerance test and liver triglyceride levels, were examined.

Results

Therapeutic administration of B293 results in a dramatic amelioration of DMM-induced OA pain-like behaviour and the inhibition of disease progression, compared to BM4 (isotype control) treatment. A similar therapeutic effect was observed in HFD-exacerbated OA pain-like behaviour and disease. B293 treatment did not alter the measured HFD-induced metabolic changes.

Conclusions

Based on the data presented, CCL17 could be a therapeutic target in OA patients with joint injury alone or with obesity.
Household food insecurity, living conditions, and individual sense of security: A cross-sectional survey among Burkina Faso refugees in Ghana
Authors: Inusah Abdul-Wahab , Brackstone Ken , Ahmed Tahiru Issahaku , Nartey David Tetteh , Boxall Jessica L. , Heinson Ashley I. , Head Michael , Ziblim Shamsu-Deen
Published: January 2025

Food insecurity and achieving adequate nutrition is a major global challenge, especially in vulnerable groups such as refugee communities. In West Africa, thousands of Burkina Faso refugees have crossed the border into northern Ghana due to conflict and instability in their home country. We conducted a one-off cross-sectional survey to assess household food insecurity, living conditions, and sense of security among Burkina Faso refugees currently residing in the Upper East region of Ghana. Study data was collected over 14–21 October 2022 from 498 refugee households, via registered refugee households who were contacted with the help of the community refugee focal persons. We used the validated USAID household food insecurity questionnaire, analysed using Rasch modelling, with descriptive statistics, and linear regression analyses (with significance at p < 0.05) to assess food insecurity. Results revealed that 100% of households experienced food insecurity, with 95.2% defined as moderate or severe, and 70.4% as experiencing severe food insecurity. Refugees from rural areas were less insecure compared to urban refugees (β = -4.25 [CI: -5.79 –-2.71], p < .001). Refugees residing in host communities experienced lower food insecurity than those in designated refugee camps (β = -1.56 [CI: -2.74 –-0.39,] p = .009). Further, refugees who were dissatisfied with their accommodation size were more likely to experience food insecurity (β = 2.96 [CI: -0.06–2.47], p = .060). Most refugees (73.5%) felt safe and welcomed by host communities. Our results highlight the extremely high prevalence of moderate and severe food insecurity in this vulnerable refugee population. We provide evidence to support the need to improve food distribution logistics, prioritising suitable accommodation, and facilitating access to healthcare. Follow-up research, such as repeated community surveys, can track this evolving situation to continuously inform decision-making for refugee support.
Association between age at first birth and risk of rheumatoid arthritis in women: Evidence from NHANES 2011–2020
Authors: Cui Hang , Huang Chenyang , Ye Yuntian , Guo Tianci , Yu Weijie , Niu Puyu , Gao Kuiliang , Liu Jiajin , Liu Aifeng
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study focused on investigating the relation of age at first birth (AFB) with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) risk in women based on the 2011–2020 NHANES (National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey) data.

Methods

Women were analyzed using National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) data from 2011 to 2020 in the US. Both AFB and RA diagnoses were obtained through self-reported questionnaires. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were determined using logistic regression models.

Results

Among the 7,449 women included in this study, 552 (7%) were diagnosed with RA. In comparison with women who had an AFB of 30–32 years (reference group), those who had an AFB < 18, 18–20, 21–23, 24–26, and > 35 years had the fully adjusted ORs and 95% CIs of 4.00 (95% CI 1.70, 9.40), 2.90 (95% CI 1.25, 6.73), 3.00 (95% CI 1.32, 6.80), 3.18 (95% CI 1.36–7.42), and 3.36 (95% CI 1.04–10.7), respectively. Due to the limitations inherent in cross-sectional studies, we have not observed significant differences in the risk of RA between women aged 27–29 and 33–35 at the AFB. Further research is warranted to refine these findings.

Conclusion

Women with an AFB < 26, or > 35 years have a higher risk of developing RA later in life. Policymakers may consider focusing more on women in these AFB age ranges in screening RA and making preventive measures.
Reasons for declining to participate in a trial of online cognitive behavioural therapy following orthopaedic trauma: A mixed methods study
Authors: Sprague Sheila , Gallant Jodi L. , Fleming Natalie , Bzovsky Sofia , MacRae Sarah , Lyons Mavis , De Maria Prieto Jose Manuel , Johal Herman , McKay Paula , Busse Jason W. ,   on behalf of the COPE Investigators
Published: January 2025

The timely enrollment of study participants is critical to the success of clinical trials. Understanding factors that contribute to patients’ decision to participate in trials involving online cognitive behavioural therapy for pain management should prove helpful to optimize the design of study protocols. Fracture patients from an orthopaedic clinic who declined to participate in the Cognitive behavioural therapy to Optimize Post-operative rEcovery (COPE) trial were asked to complete a Research Participation Questionnaire that asked them about their previous experiences with clinical research and mental health therapy and their reasons for declining to participate in the COPE trial. At the end of the questionnaire, a subset of participants was offered the opportunity to participate in a telephone interview to further discuss why they declined to participate in the COPE trial. Sixty-four patients who declined to participate in the COPE trial completed the questionnaire and twenty of these participants agreed to take part in a telephone interview (31%). Twenty-two participants (34%) had previous experience with clinical research and six participants (9%) had received cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) in the past. Excessive time commitment (41%) was the most commonly selected reason for not participating in the COPE trial, followed by a disinclination to participate in clinical research (19%). Four themes emerged from the interviews with participants: 1) belief that they could overcome mental health challenges after their fracture without external help; 2) belief that CBT might be helpful for some fracture patients, but not for themselves; 3) preference for online or in-person CBT; and 4) concerns regarding time commitment. To maximize enrollment, trials exploring the role of psychotherapy in recovery from orthopedic trauma should optimize time commitment of psychotherapy. Providing information in the patient consent process regarding evidence for psychotherapy and recovery from orthopedic trauma may also prove helpful in promoting patient enrollment.
Mucosal injuries from indwelling catheters: A scoping review
Authors: Göransson Katarina E. , von Vogelsang Ann-Christin , Engström Gabriella
Published: January 2025

There is currently a lack of clarity concerning the types and frequency of mucosa injuries occurring in urine bladders among patients with indwelling urine catheters that are of modern design and material. The aim of the study was to identify and present the available information regarding mucosa injuries in urine bladders among adult patients with indwelling urine catheters. The research question was: What is known about mucosa injuries in urine bladders among patients with indwelling urine catheters? A scoping review applying the patient, exposure, and outcome framework. A preliminary search was made to identify the keywords, and the selection process followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis flow diagram. The final search across five databases retrieved a total of 8,883 records. Eight studies from three countries were included and the studies used two main methods for collecting data. Eleven concepts to describe the injuries were identified, with a range from one to five studies using the same concept. Mucosa injuries, of which polypoid cystitis was most frequently reported, occurred in all studies, and ranged from 41% to 100% per study. The size of injured area varied between 0.5 to 2.5 cm. The posterior wall of the bladder was the most common area where injuries were found. This scoping review sheds light on the limited understanding of mucosal injuries in urine bladders among adult patients with indwelling urinary catheters. Moving forward, concerted efforts are warranted to bridge existing knowledge gaps to enhance our understanding of mucosal injuries and improve clinical outcomes for adult patients with indwelling urinary catheters. The lack of a robust scientific base for the impact of indwelling urine catheters on the urine bladder mucosa warrants future studies.
Comparative evaluation of TNM staging systems (eighth vs. ninth edition) for the non-surgical treatment of localized and locally advanced anal squamous cell carcinoma: Prognostic significance of T classification and lymph node status
Authors: Zheng Aihong , Xu Hong’en , Tao Yiming , Chen Bingchen , Ding Jieni , Song Tao , Lu Yanwei
Published: January 2025

This study aims to compare the survival discrimination of the Tumor-Node-Metastasis (TNM) eighth and ninth editions for patients with localized and locally advanced (LLA) anal squamous cell carcinoma (ASCC) treated non-surgically and to evaluate the prognostic impact of T classification and lymph node (LN) status with data from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. We retrospectively included 6,876 patients in the comparison. We observed the inversion of survival outcomes for stages IIB and IIIA diseases in the TNM eighth edition [median overall survival (OS): 112 months for stage IIB vs. not reached for stage IIIA]. By contrast, it demonstrated improvement in the TNM ninth edition (median OS: not reached for IIB disease vs. 120 months for IIIA disease, P<0.001). In the correlation analysis, we observed an increased correlation between T classification and TNM staging systems (r value increased from 0.78 to 0.93) and a decreased correlation for the LN status (r value decreased from 0.83 to 0.59). For OS, variable importance analysis demonstrated more weight of importance for the T classification than the LN status (0.0871 vs. 0.0048). Additionally, decision curve analysis and time-dependent receiver operating characteristic analysis confirmed the prognostic accuracy of T classification rather than the LN status. In conclusion, TNM ninth edition is a better prognostic indicator than the eighth edition for patients with LLA ASCC treated non-surgically. T classification plays a more important prognostic role than the LN status and warrants further validation.
PENERAPAN PRESIDENTIAL THRESHOLD SEBAGAI KEBIJAKAN HUKUM TERBUKA DALAM PEMILIHAN UMUM DI INDONESIA
Authors: Nufus Ahmad Fahriza Ilun , Herawati Ratna , Diamantina Amalia
Published: January 2025

Kebijakan yang dibuat oleh DPR mengenai presidential threshold yang merupakan salah satu bentuk dari open legal policy, oleh MK seharusnya dapat diubah, akan tetapi oleh MK ketentuan tersebut tidak diubah dan masih menjadi problematika dalam Pemilu di Indonesia. Tujuan penulisan ini untuk menganalisis kriteria pembentukan kebijakan hukum terbuka dalam Pemilu di Indonesia, serta menganalisis kesesuaian penerapan presidential threshold dengan kriteria kebijakan hukum terbuka dalam Pemilu di Indonesia. Jenis penulisan ini deskriptif analitis dengan pendekatan hukum normatif. Hasil dalam penulisan ini yaitu berdasarkan putusan MK No. 86/PUU-X/2012 bahwa pembentuk UU dalam menggunakan open legal policy tidak dapat dijalankan sebebas-bebasnya dan harus memenuhi beberapa kriteria dalam membuat kebijakan hukum terbuka. Selain itu dalam Pasal 222 UU No. 7 Tahun 2017 tentang Pemilu bukan merupakan suatu kebijakan hukum terbuka karena dianggap tidak sesuai dengan norma dasar yang menambahkan pembatasan baru yang tidak ada dalam rumusan Pasal 6A ayat (2) UUD NRI 1945.
Johann Böhm (1895–1952). Předpoklady, zvraty a úskalí kariéry českoněmeckého chemika v proměnách politických režimů
Authors: Pešek Jiří
Published: January 2025

Johann (Jan) Böhm (1895–1952) was a Czech German chemist specialising in x-ray analysis of crystals. After gathering experience at elite institutions in Berlin and Freiburg im Breisgau, he was in 1935 appointed the head of the department of physical chemistry at the Faculty of Natural Sciences of the German University in Prague. During the war, Böhm was in charge of three merged institutes of physical chemistry (at the German University and the German Technical University). He was active in photochemistry and photography, and, through ‘guests’ – including the famous Czech polarography inventor Heyrovský – participated in war research. After the war, Böhm redefined (with the help of both Czech and Austrian friends) his war activities and acquired the status of an anti-fascist fighter and resistance movement member, meaning that he was not forcefully resettled to Germany. He became active in industrial research, working in Rybitví near Pardubice, and died shortly before he was supposed to transfer into the new Czechoslovak Academy of Sciences. Based on a critical archive research, this study aims at identifying the post-war intentional misinformation and later myths about Böhm’s activities. In conclusion, he is presented as a subjectively non-political technocrat and manager who managed to function with fast-changing regimes without feeling any need for a deeper reflection.
Die Schreibkalender der Frühen Neuzeit und die Handschriften in ihnen. Tagung des Wolfenbütteler Arbeitskreis für Bibliotheks-, Buch- und Mediengeschichte, 13.–15. března 2024, Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel
Authors: Ďurčanský Marek
Published: January 2025

Conference report
Pierre Monnet, Karel IV. Evropský císař, Praha 2023
Authors: Boukal Jan
Published: January 2025

Book review on Pierre Monnet, Karel IV. Evropský císař, Karolinum, Praha 2023, 301 stran, ISBN: 978-80-246-5709-7
Tomáš Velička, Archivnictví v meziválečném Československu (1918–1939): středoevropské kontexty – politika – profesionalizace, Ústí nad Labem 2023
Authors: Boukal Jan
Published: January 2025

Book review on Tomáš Velička, Archivnictví v meziválečném Československu (1918–1939): středoevropské kontexty – politika – profesionalizace, Univerzita J. E. Purkyně v Ústí nad Labem, Filozofická fakulta, Ústí nad Labem 2023, 588 stran, ISBN 978-80-7561-441-4
Evaluating the Sustainability of the Productive Effects of a Universal Cash Transfer in Rural Uganda: Do Impacts on Savings, Investment, Production and Labour Persist After Program end?
Authors: Grisolia Filippo , Holvoet Nathalie , Dewachter Sara
Published: January 2025

The productive impacts of cash transfer (CT) programs have not been widely studied, though interest in this area is growing, with existing evidence generally pointing to rather positive findings. Notably, one key takeaway from the (limited) available research is the debunking of a common criticism drawn against cash transfers and social assistance, more in general – namely, the assumption that social programs disincentivize or discourage work. Even less is known about the sustainability of CT impacts, as these interventions are typically designed as short-term programs. To address this gap, we conducted a quasi-experimental study of a universal unconditional cash transfer initiative in rural Uganda. Our study examined whether effects on savings, debt, investment, incomes, assets and labour allocation (if any) persisted after the end of the transfer. Despite the concurrent outbreak of COVID-19, our findings revealed several sustained impacts, particularly on savings, (agricultural) incomes and business ownership.
Decision making, symmetry and structure: Justifying causal interventions
Authors: Johnston David O. , Ong Cheng Soon , Williamson Robert C.
Published: January 2025

We can use structural causal models (SCMs) to help us evaluate the consequences of actions given data. SCMs identify actions with structural interventions. A careful decision maker may wonder whether this identification is justified. We seek such a justification. We begin with decision models, which map actions to distributions over outcomes but avoid additional causal assumptions. We then examine assumptions that could justify causal interventions, with a focus on symmetry. First, we introduce conditionally independent and identical responses (CIIR), a generalisation of the IID assumption to decision models. CIIR justifies identifying actions with interventions, but is often an implausible assumption. We consider an alternative: precedent is the assumption that “what I can do has been done before, and its consequences observed,” and is generally more plausible than CIIR. We show that precedent together with independence of causal mechanisms (ICM) and an observed conditional independence can justify identifying actions with causal interventions. ICM has been proposed as an alternative foundation for causal modelling, but this work suggests that it may in fact justify the interventional interpretation of causal models.
Quantum super-resolution imaging: a review and perspective
Authors: Yue Xiaoran , Wu Hui , Wang Jizhou , He Zhe
Published: January 2025

Quantum super-resolution imaging provides a nonlabeling method to surpass the diffraction limit of imaging systems. This technique relies on measurement of the second-order correlation function and usually employs spatially entangled photon sources. We introduce recent methods that achieve spatial resolution enhancement through quantum approaches, particularly the imaging techniques utilizing biphoton states. The fundamental mechanisms are discussed in detail to explain why biphoton states enable super-resolution. Additionally, we introduce multiple algorithms that extract the correlation function from the readings of two-dimensional detectors. Several cases are reviewed to evaluate the advantages and prospects of quantum imaging, along with a discussion of practical developments and potential applications.
A scoping review of the effectiveness of underwater treadmill exercise in clinical trials of chronic pain
Authors: Miglietta Michael , Maunder Larah , Rooke Piera , Gorchinsky Erin , Keshavari Sonia , Douglas Griffin , Held Nicholas
Published: January 2025

Objective

The objective of this scoping review was to investigate the available literature on physical and quality of life (QoL) outcomes of underwater treadmill exercise trials in clinical chronic pain samples.

Methods

A scoping search of studies of the effectiveness of underwater treadmill exercise trials from 1947 to 2024 was conducted using the following databases: EMBASE, MEDLINE, SPORTDiscus, CINAHL, and Cochrane Reviews. To be included, studies were required to have included adult participants living with chronic pain (defined as pain lasting for 3 months or longer) who participated in an active underwater treadmill exercise intervention. No restrictions on pain diagnosis were applied. All clinical trials, including but not limited to randomized controlled trials (RCTs), feasibility trials, and pilot studies, were included in the search. Two independent reviewers determined whether studies met inclusion criteria, and a third reviewer resolved any disagreement on study inclusion.

Results

The initial search identified 2,209 studies: 314 articles were removed for duplications, 1,781 were removed because they did not meet inclusion criteria, and 113 were retained for full-text review. The full-text review yielded nine studies, all of which included samples consisting of participants with osteoarthritis. The following variables were investigated in the included studies to varying degrees: pain, QoL, mobility, balance, strength, and changes in gait kinematics. Multiple studies identified significant differences between control groups or pre-intervention groups and underwater treadmill groups or post-intervention groups in chronic pain, balance, mobility, strength, and QoL.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that underwater treadmill exercise leads to positive changes in chronic pain, balance, mobility, strength, and QoL. However, more studies, particularly RCTs with larger samples that include individuals with chronic pain conditions other than osteoarthritis, are warranted.
Branched-chain anionic surfactants with same hydrophobic tail architecture: effects of hydrophilic headgroups
Authors: Song Xuejiao , Bi Zexiang , Wei Zimeng , Li Xu , Dong Jinxiang
Published: January 2025

The branching of the hydrophobic tail has a significant impact on the performance of branched-chain surfactants, while the influence of hydrophilic headgroups on the surface properties of branched-chain anionic surfactants is rarely reported. In this work, three branched-chain anionic surfactants with the same carbon number and hydrophobic tail architecture but different hydrophilic groups, C8 sodium branched-chain alkylsulfonate (C8 SBCAS), C8 sodium branched-chain alkylphosphonate (C8 SBCAP), C8 sodium Guerbet alcohol sulfate (C8 SGAS) with sulfonate, phosphonate and sulfate groups, respectively, were synthesized. Their surfactant properties, including equilibrium surface tension, dynamic surface tension, wetting ability and foaming property, were thoroughly investigated. The order of the critical micelle concentration (CMC) is C8 SGAS < C8 SBCAP < C8 SBCAS, and the equilibrium surface tension (γ
CMC) follows the order C8 SBCAP < C8 SBCAS < C8 SGAS. These results indicated that increasing the polarity of the hydrophilic headgroups and weakening the charge effect could reduce the hydrophobicity of surfactants, thereby improving their wetting ability and foaming properties. This study provides new insights into the influence of hydrophilic headgroups on the properties of branched-chain anionic surfactants to meet the specific needs of different sectors.
Matthias Joseph Scheeben and Czech Catholic Theology 1861–2023
Authors: Řeháková Veronika
Published: January 2025

The study aims to clarify how widespread and to what depth Scheeben’s dogmatic-theological legacy affected Czech Catholic theologians from 1861 to the present day. The research indicates that there was a widespread awareness of both the person and the work of the German professor among clergy as well as laity from 1861 till 1948. The most accentuated themes were the Holy Spirit and grace, Mariology and the Eucharist. Czech theologians highly appreciated Scheeben’s linking dogmatics and spirituality, e. g. Christians’ life as a participation in the Trinitarian life. From 1948 on, the knowledge of Scheeben’s work diminished due to restrictions on the theological reflection during the Communist regime (till 1989), even though some Czech authors who lived and published in exile considered the Cologne professor in certain aspects as a predecessor of Vatican II. In the recent decades, Scheeben’s legacy has been highlighted only by a few Czech authors and is becoming known more through translations of foreign publications.
Before religious socialism: Tillich and social democracy in Wilhelmine Germany
Authors: Shearn Samuel
Published: January 2025

Dieser Aufsatz ist eine stark kontextualisierte Studie von Paul Tillichs Verhältnis zur Sozialdemokratie vor dem ersten Weltkrieg. Entgegen seiner Behauptung, seine Generation sei vor dem Krieg politisch indifferent gewesen, zeichne ich das Bild einer Generation von Theologen, die sich mit Leidenschaft der zentralen politischen Herausforderung ihrer Generation widmeten: der sozialen Frage. Tillichs autobiographische Tendenz ist, den Krieg als sein alleiniges Moment der Offenbarung gesellschaftlicher und politischer Zusammenhänge zu charakterisieren. Die Quellen zeigen aber, dass er schon als Student und junger Pastor seine politische Meinung bildete und zum Ausdruck brachte. Schon vor dem Krieg vollzog Tillich eine erhebliche Entfernung von den konservativen Positionen seines Vaters. Er konnte mindestens zeitweise eine erstaunliche theologische Würdigung der Sozialdemokratie bieten, auch wenn reale Begegnungen mit den Arbeitern im industriellen Berlin ihn dann zu einer kritischeren Position bewegten. Damit wird aber deutlich, dass Tillichs späterer religiöser Sozialismus nicht als bloße Folge des Kriegs gedacht werden soll, sondern immer auch als teilweise Anknüpfung an frühere Spannungen seines werdenden politischen Denkens.
Theodosius Harnack in Italien. Eine Romreise 1871
Authors: Graf Friedrich Wilhelm
Published: January 2025

Theodosius Harnack, a practical theologian who taught in Dorpat and Erlangen, was born in St. Petersburg. Strongly influenced by the Moravian Brethren and the Catholic revivalist movement in his youth, as a professor of theology in Dorpat he became a leading representative of a confessionalist renewal of the German-speaking Lutheran Church in the Russian Empire. Dorpat was the only Protestant theological faculty in Russia and was held in high esteem by Lutherans in the German Empire. In 1871, Theodosius Harnack, who had already travelled to Italy after completing his studies, travelled to Rome for the first time in his life. The fragment of a letter that has been preserved in the possession of the von Harnack family and is now published here for the first time provides information about this trip.
New evidence for sealing in the Pre-Pottery Neolithic from Tol-e Sangi, Iran
Authors: Khanipour Morteza , Yeganeh Sepideh Jamshidi
Published: January 2025

During the excavation of Tol-e Sangi in southern Iran, tokens and a sealing were discovered in Pre-Pottery Neolithic (PPN, c. 7050–6900 BC) layers. As the oldest sealing found in Iran, this artefact suggests that storage and sealing practices were used during the PPN period in South-west Asia.
Non-invasive brain stimulation over the Frontopolar Cortex promotes willingness to exert cognitive effort in a foraging-like sequential choice task
Authors: Bogdanov Mario , Bustamante Laura A. , Devine Sean , Sheldon Signy , Otto A. Ross
Published: January 2025

Individuals avoid spending cognitive effort unless expected rewards offset the perceived costs. Recent work employing tasks that provide explicit information about demands and incentives, suggests causal involvement of the Frontopolar Cortex (FPC) in effort-based decision-making. Using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), we examined whether the FPC’s role in motivating effort generalizes to sequential choice problems in which task demand and reward rates vary indirectly and as a function of experience. In a double-blind, within-subject design, 46 participants (36 female, 8 male, 1 ‘neither/other’) received anodal (i.e., excitatory) or sham stimulation over the right FPC during an Effort Foraging Task, which required choosing between harvesting patches for successively decreasing resources or traveling to replenished patches by performing a cognitive task with environment-specific difficulty. As expected, participants exited patches later (i.e., exhibited lower exit thresholds) when travelling required greater (versus less) effort, indicating increased travel costs in high-effort environments. Under anodal tDCS, the difference in exit thresholds between environments was significantly smaller relative to sham. Finally, individual differences analyses hint that participants with lower self-reported motivation to exert effort exhibited greater travel cost reductions following tDCS. Together, these findings support the theorized causal role of the FPC in motivating cognitively effortful behavior, expand its role to more ecologically valid serial decisions and highlight the potential for tDCS as a tool to increase motivation with potential clinical applications.

Significance statementUncovering the neural mechanisms regulating engagement in effortful behavior is crucial, as it will improve our understanding and treatment of conditions characterized by reduced motivation, e.g., apathy and anhedonia. The Frontopolar Cortex (FPC) has been implicated in increasing effort exertion in settings that provide explicit information about effort demand and reward. Using transcranial direct current stimulation (tDCS), we investigated whether the FPC retains its motivating capacity in sequential choice problems that vary effort and reward indirectly. We demonstrate that FPC stimulation decreases cognitive effort-based travel costs in an Effort Foraging Task, indicating a causal and general involvement of the FPC in motivating effortful behavior, highlighting the potential of tDCS as a new avenue for increasing motivation with potential clinical applications.
Praćenje i uklanjanje pesticida iz otpadnih voda – pregled
Authors: Babić Visković Bruna , Morović Silvia , Ašperger Danijela , Košutić Krešimir
Published: January 2025

Pesticidi igraju ključnu ulogu u modernoj poljoprivredi za kontrolu štetočina, povećanje prinosa usjeva i osiguranje sigurnosti hrane. Međutim, njihova široka uporaba izaziva zabrinutost za okoliš zbog njihove postojanosti i mogućih štetnih učinaka na ekosustav.

Analitičke metode za detekciju pesticida razvile su se da bi odgovorile na izazove koje postavlja širok raspon tih kemijskih spojeva. Tehnike kao što su plinska kromatografija, tekućinska kromatografija, spektrometrija masa nude osjetljivu i selektivnu detekciju, omogućujući učinkovito praćenje razine pesticida u uzorcima iz okoliša.

Pesticidi mogu onečistiti vodeni okoliš otjecanjem s poljoprivrednih polja, što je prijetnja kvaliteti vode i životu u vodi. Da bi se ublažili ti utjecaji na okoliš, primjenjuju se različite metode za uklanjanje pesticida iz vode. Napredni procesi oksidacije, tehnike adsorpcije pomoću aktivnog ugljena ili nanomaterijala i membranski postupci ubrajaju se u najvažnije strategije koje se primjenjuju za učinkovito uklanjanje pesticida iz voda.

Razumijevanje prisutnosti pesticida u okolišu, primjena robusnih analitičkih metoda za njihovo otkrivanje i razvoj učinkovitih strategija uklanjanja ključni su koraci u ublažavanju potencijalnih rizika za okoliš i zdravlje ljudi povezanih s onečišćenjem pesticidima. Ovaj pregled naglašava važnost interdisciplinarnog istraživanja za rješavanje složenih izazova koje predstavljaju pesticidi u vodenim ekosustavima i naglašava potrebu za održivim poljoprivrednim praksama i regulatornim mjerama za smanjenje njihova utjecaja na okoliš.
Izvan izvornog konteksta
Authors: Sirovica Filomena , Tkalčec Tatjana , Buća Eva
Published: January 2025

Keramički materijal uobičajena je i često najzastupljenija vrsta nalaza na arheološkim nalazištima te su od mlađega kamenog doba brojni nalazi ulomaka lončarije tipičan rezultat arheoloških iskopavanja. Ipak, od srednjeg vijeka lončarija postaje izniman nalaz na grobljima oko crkava, a zbog često intenzivnog ukopavanja pokojnika obično je lišena izvornih konteksta. Unatoč tomu, moguće je pretpostaviti da kontinuirano ukopavanje neće nužno rezultirati premještanjem materijala na veće udaljenosti te da koncentracija ulomaka keramike na određenom prostoru može biti naznaka područja, intenziteta i vrste aktivnosti tijekom određenog razdoblja. Time njezina pojava, specifične tehnološke, tipološke i kronološke značajke te učestalost i distribucija mogu proširiti uvid u načine korištenja istraživanog prostora. Iz tog je razloga ovaj rad posvećen razmatranju informativnog potencijala keramičkih nalaza nađenih većinom izvan izvornih konteksta, najčešće u zapunama brojnih grobova ukopanih oko crkve Uznesenja Blažene Djevice Marije u mjestu Gori, smještenom oko osam kilometara jugozapadno od Petrinje. Na temelju analize značajki tehnike izrade te očuvanih tipoloških karakteristika, prikupljeni keramički materijal tipološko-kronološki je determiniran. U skladu s definiranim vremenskim opredjeljenjem, u GIS okruženju provedena je analiza obrazaca njegove pojave, učestalosti i distribucije na nalazištu. Time je otvorena mogućnost izvođenja određenih pretpostavki i donošenja pojedinih zaključaka o obrascima korištenja ovog prostora tijekom različitih vremenskih perioda.
Footnotes in a scientific text. Methodological recommendations
Authors:   Publishing House Akademperiodyka of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine: Kyiv, Yalovnycha I.L. , Kanishcheva V.M. ,   Publishing House Akademperiodyka of the National Academy of Science of Ukraine: Kyiv
Published: January 2025

The methodological recommendations provide a detailed description of how to cite bibliographic references in a scientific text in accordance with DSTU 8302:2015, APA, and Chicago standards. Different styles of footnoting and their types according to their location in the text, connection with the main text, repetition, and unification are considered. In addition, the author describes the peculiarities of footnotes with references to specific electronic sources and archival documents. The text is supplemented with examples mainly from the publications of the National Academy of Sciences of Ukraine.