bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
From Nanking to Hiroshima to Seoul: (Post-)Transitional Justice, Juridical Forms and the Construction of Wartime Memory
Authors: Zachmann Urs Matthias
Published: January 2025

History still looms large in the politics of East Asia. Rather than settling into a modicum of consensus, debates on how to understand and commemorate the Second World War even seem to gain in intensity and emotionality with the passage of time. Nowhere is this more apparent than in the debates on landmark cases of (post-) transitional justice, particularly the Tokyo Trial of 1946–1948 and later, more recent trials. This article seeks to point out the role which jurists and juridical forms play in shaping the historical narratives of the trials and in proliferating their contentiousness. Thus, the perspective of Japanese jurists at the Tokyo Trial betrays an ingrained scepticism towards international law as an absolute standard and the agnostic rejection of any higher juridical authority to establish historical truth. As a consequence, jurists at the Atomic Bombing Trial of 1963 tried to regain autonomy by creating an alternative narrative against a hegemonic, but absent party (the US). This practice has become a standard procedure in East Asia, as can be seen in the Comfort Women decision of 2011 and related cases in Korea and the Philippines. Common to all these cases is their inherently adversarial structure. This juridical form has a number of consequences for understanding the role of the involved parties, the legal and epistemic limitations of the truth they establish and the equally limited function of trials to act as substitute for genuine reconciliation.
Andexanet alfa in patients with factor Xa inhibitor-associated intracranial hemorrhage: The prospective observational multicenter ASTRO-DE study
Authors: Diener Hans-Christoph , Kuklik Nils , Hüsing Anika , Alonso Angelika , Nabavi Darius G , Poli Sven , Gabriel Maria M , Maier Ilko L , Grans Julia
Published: January 2025

Background:

Hematoma expansion after intracranial hemorrhage (ICH) in anticoagulated patients significantly influences clinical outcomes and mortality, emphasizing the need for effective reversal agents. Andexanet alfa is a specific reversal agent for factor Xa-associated major bleeding.

Aims:

The Andexanet alfa: non-interventional study at STROke centers in Germany (Deutschland, DE) (ASTRO-DE) study collected real-world evidence on the effect of andexanet alfa on mitigating hematoma expansion and altering prognosis in rivaroxaban- or apixaban-treated patients with ICH.

Methods:

ASTRO-DE was a prospective non-interventional cohort study conducted at 25 certified stroke centers in Germany. The primary outcome was the hematoma volume change and the proportion of patients with hematoma growth ⩽33% within 12–72 h or until first control imaging. Secondary endpoints included in-hospital thromboembolic events and mortality up to 90 days.

Results:

A total of 137 patients (47.4% male, mean age = 80.0 years) with ICH (92.6% spontaneous, 87.4% intracerebral), mean National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) on admission of 11.2 points, and mean initial hematoma volume of 26.5 mL (median = 14.1 mL) were analyzed. Ninety patients (65.7%) suffered ICH while treated with apixaban and 47 (34.3%) with rivaroxaban. The median time between symptom onset and application of andexanet alfa was 3.3 h, door-to-needle time was 1.1 h. The mean change in hematoma volume until the first control imaging, conducted after a median of 15.6 h, was 2.3 mL (95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.4–4.2), while the change within 12–72 h was 1.8 mL (95% CI = 0.4–3.2). Hematoma growth ⩽33% was achieved in 90.3% of the 93 evaluable patients based on first control imaging and in 90.5% of the 63 evaluable patients, considering only imaging performed within the 12–72 h window. During hospitalization, death occurred in 30/137 patients (21.9%) and 17 thromboembolic events in 11/137 (8.0%) patients. The 90-day mortality was 47/128 (36.7%).

Conclusion:

ASTRO-DE is the first prospective observational study systematically collecting standardized clinical routine data with andexanet alfa treatment. The study demonstrated favorable hemostasis and minimal mean hematoma volume growth in patients with ICH associated with apixaban or rivaroxaban treatment.

Data access statement:

Data are available upon reasonable request by contacting the corresponding author.
Highway to Hell: Participation in youth National Basketball teams and senior performance
Authors: García-Rubio Javier , Lozano-Tejada Nicolás , López-Sierra Pablo , Martínez-Sánchez Almudena , Campos-Redondo Amalia
Published: January 2025

The development of sporting talent in team sports has traditionally been based on talent identification programmes focused on the individualisation of the athlete in a single sport from childhood. These models have often been unsuccessful due to their lack of scientific evidence, as well as not taking into account factors such as the Relative Age Effect or the role of coaches in the early stages of training. The aim of the present research is to analyse whether the Relative Age Effect exists in Spain and to associate the debut in non-competitive national teams and the attainment of the status of high performance player. A total of 358 national players were analysed taking into account variables related to month of birth and debut in professional leagues or national teams. The results reveal that there is a relative effect of age in all national teams in Spain, essentially affecting professional status. Only early specialization from 18 years onwards predicts performance in professional leagues and national teams. Diversification in the early sporting stages improves the long-term development of the athlete.
Determinantes sociales del testeo de VIH en Chile: Resultados a partir de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud, Sexualidad y Género 2022–2023
Authors: Olivera Mauro P. , De la Hoz y Solange
Published: January 2025

Dado el aumento constante en la tasa de incidencia del VIH en Chile, se han impulsado estrategias de prevención conjunta, con la promoción del testeo de VIH como uno de sus pilares fundamentales. El presente estudio se propuso identificar los determinantes sociales del testeo de VIH en la población chilena a partir de datos secundarios provenientes de la Encuesta Nacional de Salud, Sexualidad y Género 2022–2023. Se contó con un diseño transversal y una muestra representativa de 20392 adultos chilenos residentes en sectores urbanos. La variable dependiente fue la realización del test de VIH en los últimos 12 meses, mientras que las variables independientes fueron los determinantes estructurales (edad, género, macrozona de residencia, pertenencia a pueblos originarios y nivel educacional) e intermediarios (previsión de salud, religión, orientación sexual, situación de pareja, educación sexual, calidad de vida, salud percibida). Se llevaron a cabo modelos de regresión logística binomial múltiple, con estimaciones de datos basadas en encuestas para diseños de estudios complejos. De acuerdo con el modelo estimado, las personas de 40 años o más, de género masculino, con nivel educacional primario, orientación heterosexual, que no tenían pareja y con una mayor percepción de salud, tenían una menor probabilidad de haberse realizado un test de VIH en el último año. Es crucial identificar los determinantes sociales del testeo de VIH, con el fin de desarrollar políticas públicas e intervenciones de promoción efectivas. Los resultados presentados permiten identificar grupos de población que tienen un menor acceso a servicios de testeo, hacia los cuales orientar los esfuerzos para la promoción de la detección oportuna.
Assessment of upper extremity functional capacity in following osteosynthesis for upper limb fractures using a novel method for determining total reachable workspace
Authors: Serenza Felipe de Souza , Rizzato Marília Manuella Simões Augusto , Vieira Fernando , McQuade Kevin James , de Oliveira Anamaria Siriani
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study aimed to assess reachable workspace (RWS) in patients post-osteosynthesis of shoulder, elbow, or wrist fractures and explore correlations with self-reported function and kinesiophobia.

Design

An observational case-control study compared patients with fractures to a control group, utilizing questionnaires and 3D kinematic data.

Participants

The sample included 66 individuals who had undergone osteosynthesis: 21 with shoulder fractures, 10 with elbow fractures, and 22 with wrist fractures. A control group of 23 participants without upper limb pathologies was also established. Inclusion criteria were ages 18–80 and recent surgery; exclusions were previous upper limb surgeries, cervical pathologies, systemic diseases or nerve injuries.

Main outcome measure

RWS, the three-dimensional volume the hand can reach, was measured with participants standing. Kinesiophobia was assessed using the Tampa Scale of Kinesiophobia (TKS), and physical disability and pain were measured using the DASH questionnaire and the Numeric Pain Rating Scale (NPRS).

Results

Fracture groups exhibited significant RWS reductions (62–85%) compared to the control group, with no significant differences among the fracture types. RWS showed a high correlation with TKS (R = 0.77) and a moderate correlation with DASH (R = 0.52).

Conclusion

RWS is a promising biomechanical parameter for assessing upper limb function post-fracture, aiding in refining rehabilitation protocols.
Comparison of Chemical Composition and Antimicrobial Activity of Dalbergia odorifera Essential Oils Obtained by Hydrodistillation and Supercritical Carbon Dioxide Extraction Methods
Authors: Wang YingYi , Ma GuangQiang , Huang XiaoYing , Li XiaoMan , Shao Feng
Published: January 2025

Objective: The comparison of chemical composition and antimicrobial activity of Dalbergia odorifera essential oils, obtained by hydrodistillation and supercritical carbon dioxide extraction methods. Methods: Their compositions and antimicrobial activity were investigated using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) and microdilution methods, respectively. Results: Hydro-distilled essential oil (HD-EO) consisted of 8 components, accounting for 98.67%, whereas supercritical carbon dioxide extracted essential oil (SC-EO) consisted of 13 components, accounting for 87.90%. The significant differences between the compositions of these essential oils were nerolidol oxide Ⅰ (23.69% for HD-EO and 16.10% for SC-EO), nerolidol oxide Ⅱ (43.40% for HD-EO and 34.52% for SC-EO), and nerolidol oxide Ⅲ (3.61% for HD-EO and 7.27% for SC-EO). S. epidermidis and S. pneumoniae were more sensitive to HD-EO than to SC-EO. Moreover, HD-EO possessed anti- B. cereus and anti- S. dysenteriae activities, with minimal inhibitory concentration (MIC) values of 13.6 mg/mL. SC-EO exhibited anti- C. albicans activity with an MIC value of 2.9 mg/mL. Moreover, the essential oils were tested but found inactive against E. aerogenes, E. faecalis, K. pneumonia, P. vulgaris, S. typhi, S. typhimurium, or V. parahaemolyticus. Conclusion: These results support for the rational utilization and further development of D. odorifera essential oils.
From belief to speech and back again
Authors: Paz-Fuchs Amir
Published: January 2025

Over the past two decades, there has been a growing interest in the impact of human rights discourse on the employment relationship and employment rights. In particular, in light of the increased opportunity, or risk, of the public exposure of an individual's life outside of work, more attention has been drawn to the implications of employees’ private life to their place of employment. The purpose of this article is to highlight, advocate for, and insist on a number of principles and issues that seem to be a matter of consensus in general, and amongst lawyers in particular, but which get diluted and even ignored within the context of freedom of expression in the employment realm. Principally, these include, first, a reminder of the strong importance awarded to political speech, or to speech on live issues of public importance; second, that the right to freedom of belief that does not have concrete, objectionable manifestations is a rare right that enjoys absolute, unqualified protection; third, that the distinction between the protection of expression of belief and that of speech is muddled, to an extent inherently, but clearly divisions may be drawn; fourth, that provisions that restrict freedom of speech in employment contracts and handbooks should be viewed critically; fifth, and finally, the possible practical limits of the above principles, by reference to concrete situations, such as close, or even hierarchical, relationships; positions of authority and responsibility (e.g., on probation or promotion committees); and true reputational damage to the institution.
Frequency of Tommy John Surgery in NCAA Division I College Pitchers Versus Weather Conditions
Authors: Pescatore Sabrina M. , DeShazo Sterling J. , Weiss William M.
Published: January 2025

Background:

Ulnar collateral ligament reconstruction (UCLR) is a common elbow procedure in baseball pitchers. Previous studies of Major League Baseball pitchers identified the weather as a potential risk factor, as warmer climates enable more annual playing time and increase overuse injury risks.

Purpose:

To determine whether weather conditions play a role in UCLR rates and timing for National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I (D1) collegiate pitchers in the United States.

Study Design:

Cross-sectional study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

A total of 320 NCAA D1 college baseball pitchers who underwent UCLR surgery between July 1, 2015, and June 30, 2022, were analyzed. Pitcher college climates were categorized as warm or cold based on their location relative to the 33rd parallel line in North America. A 2-sample independent t test was used to compare the mean UCLR rate for pitchers in warm versus cold climates. The incidence rate difference and incidence rate ratios by state and pitcher year were calculated and evaluated. The chi-square test and Poisson Regression were used to evaluate associations between pitcher year and high school pitching climate.

Results:

Among 320 total UCLRs, warm-state pitchers had a higher mean UCLR rate compared with cold-state pitchers ( P = .0001). The highest number of UCLRs in warm states occurred during the sophomore year (n = 57), while the highest number of UCLRs in cold states occurred during the junior year (n = 63). Freshmen, sophomore, and senior warm state pitchers had significantly higher (incidence rate ratios [IRR] and incidence rate difference [IRD]) rates and likelihood of UCLR than their cold state counterparts (freshmen PIRD = .0025, PIRR = .0032; sophomore: PIRD = .0002, PIRR = .0003, senior: PIRD = .0123, PIRR = .0159). Underclassmen (freshmen and sophomores) pitchers who threw in warm high school climates had a 1.4 times higher rate of UCLRs than underclassmen pitchers from cold high school climates ( P = .041).

Conclusion:

NCAA D1 college baseball pitchers who play in warm climates undergo UCLR surgery significantly more often and significantly earlier in their collegiate careers than pitchers playing in cold climates.
Exploring the Communicative Effectiveness of Visual and Text Elements in Short Videos
Authors: Oltra Itziar , Camarero Carmen , San José Rebeca
Published: January 2025

Given the prioritization of video format in social networks, the interest of scholars and managers in the elements that determine their effectiveness has increased. This article analyzes image type (product vs. people) and written text’s role in message reinforcement. Three studies are carried out combining conscious and unconscious responses. We contribute to visual rhetoric literature, affirming image-based videos are more liked and shared versus short videos that are based on written text. Specifically, the images related to the content of the message are more liked than the image of a person that explains the content, although attention is greater when a person appears. As for the overwritten text, it favors the willingness to share short videos, but reduces likeability in videos with images related to content. Additionally, the unconscious response through electrodermal activity shows that short videos with persons and overwritten text achieve more emotional activation and avoid that attention wanes. These findings aid in designing effective short video content for brands and individuals that use social media to communicate.
Same-Day Access for Head and Neck Cancer: Effect on Patient Outcome and Quality-Related Benchmarks
Authors: Chen Allen M.
Published: January 2025

Delays in cancer treatment are detrimental across nearly every disease site in oncology including head and neck cancer. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of same-day access for patients with newly diagnosed head and neck cancer referred for radiation therapy consultation. From March 2021 to March 2023, a total of 50 consecutive patients who completed curative treatment were matched to a control subject who did not use the same-day initiative based on age, gender, histology, performance status, primary tumor site, stage, p16 status, treatment, and smoking history. With a median follow up of 30 months, there were no differences in 3-year overall survival, progression-free survival, or local-regional control between the 2 cohorts ( P > .05, for all). However, the same-day access initiative was associated with significant reductions in time from diagnosis to first day of radiation (49 days vs 71 days, P < .001); time from diagnosis to completion of diagnostic work-up (32 days vs 43 days, P = .01); and time from diagnosis to completion of all treatment (91 days vs 111 days, P < .001).The same-day access initiative was associated with significant reductions in time from diagnosis to first day of radiation (49 days vs 71 days, P < .001); time from diagnosis to completion of diagnostic work-up (32 days vs 43 days, P = .01); and time from diagnosis to completion of all treatment (91 days vs 111 days, P < .001). The same-day access initiative thus enhanced multidisciplinary coordination and expedited treatment for patients with head and neck cancer.
A systematic review of current national hospital-based stroke registries monitoring access to evidence-based care and patient outcomes
Authors: Leigh Chloe , Gill Jodie , Razak Zainab , Shreyan Shirsho , Cadilhac Dominique A , Kim Joosup , Lannin Natasha A , Dennis Martin , Kapral Moira , Pandian Jeyaraj , Hardianto Yudi , Lin Beilei , Meretoja Atte , Aziz Noor Azah Abd , Schwamm Lee , Norrving Bo , Thapa Lekhjung , Dozier Marshall , Kelavkar Shyam , Mead Gillian
Published: January 2025

Background:

National stroke clinical quality registries/audits support improvements in stroke care. In a 2016 systematic review, 28 registries were identified. Since 2016 there have been important advances in stroke care, including the development of thrombectomy services. Therefore, we sought to understand whether registries have evolved with these advances in care. The aim of this systematic review was to identify current, hospital-based national stroke registries/audits and describe variables (processes, outcome), methods, funding and governance).

Methods:

We searched four databases (21st May 2015 to 1st February 2024), grey literature and stroke organisations’ websites. Initially two reviewers screened each citation; when agreement was satisfactory, one of four reviewers screened each citation. The same process was applied to full texts. If there were no new publications from registries identified in the original 2016 review, we contacted the registry leads. We extracted data using predefined categories on country (including income level), clinical/process variables, methods, funding and governance.

Results:

We found 37 registries from 31 countries (28 high income, four upper-middle income, five lower-middle income) of which 16 had been identified in 2016 and 21 were new. Twenty-two of the same variables were collected by >50% of registries/audits (mostly acute care, including thrombectomy, and secondary prevention), compared with only four variables in 2016. Descriptions of funding, management, methods of consent and data privacy, follow-up, feedback to hospitals, linkage to other datasets and alignment of variables with guidelines were variably reported. Reasons for apparent termination of some registries was unclear.

Conclusions:

The total number of stroke registries has increased since 2016, and the number of variables collected has increased, reflecting advances in stroke care. However, some registries appeared to have ceased; the reasons are unclear.
Design charts for the prediction of overbreak in circular excavations in bedded or foliated rocks
Authors: Seedsman Ross
Published: January 2025

A simple method is outlined for the assessment of overbreak in raise bores and other circular excavations that specifically includes consideration of the spacing of discontinuities. The two-dimensional method is based on considerations of stress anisotropy implemented with a transversely isotropic continuum rather than by strength anisotropy; in fact, the rock strength is modelled as isotropic. The shear stiffness of discontinuities is stress dependent and this means that the method is statically indeterminate. A work-around is presented based on defining design sectors based on the orientation of the excavation faces relative to the orientation of the discontinuity set. When faces are parallel to the discontinuity set the rock mass is modelled as being transversely isotropic and for faces normal to the discontinuity the rock mass is modelled as isotropic. A brittle failure criterion incorporating damage initiation and a spalling limit allows the production of design charts that can be used as a complement to existing methods to identify potential hazards before excavation.
A graph neural network approach for hierarchical mapping of breast cancer protein communities
Authors: Zhang Xiao , Liu Qian
Published: January 2025

Background

Comprehensively mapping the hierarchical structure of breast cancer protein communities and identifying potential biomarkers from them is a promising way for breast cancer research. Existing approaches are subjective and fail to take information from protein sequences into consideration. Deep learning can automatically learn features from protein sequences and protein–protein interactions for hierarchical clustering.

Results

Using a large amount of publicly available proteomics data, we created a hierarchical tree for breast cancer protein communities using a novel hierarchical graph neural network, with the supervision of gene ontology terms and assistance of a pre-trained deep contextual language model. Then, a group-lasso algorithm was applied to identify protein communities that are under both mutation burden and survival burden, undergo significant alterations when targeted by specific drug molecules, and show cancer-dependent perturbations. The resulting hierarchical map of protein communities shows how gene-level mutations and survival information converge on protein communities at different scales. Internal validity of the model was established through the convergence on BRCA2 as a breast cancer hotspot. Further overlaps with breast cancer cell dependencies revealed SUPT6H and RAD21, along with their respective protein systems, HOST:37 and HOST:861, as potential biomarkers. Using gene-level perturbation data of the HOST:37 and HOST:861 gene sets, three FDA-approved drugs with high therapeutic value were selected as potential treatments to be further evaluated. These drugs include mercaptopurine, pioglitazone, and colchicine.

Conclusion

The proposed graph neural network approach to analyzing breast cancer protein communities in a hierarchical structure provides a novel perspective on breast cancer prognosis and treatment. By targeting entire gene sets, we were able to evaluate the prognostic and therapeutic value of genes (or gene sets) at different levels, from gene-level to system-level biology. Cancer-specific gene dependencies provide additional context for pinpointing cancer-related systems and drug-induced alterations can highlight potential therapeutic targets. These identified protein communities, in conjunction with other protein communities under strong mutation and survival burdens, can potentially be used as clinical biomarkers for breast cancer.
Machine learning models for dementia screening to classify brain amyloid positivity on positron emission tomography using blood markers and demographic characteristics: a retrospective observational study
Authors: Kimura Noriyuki , Sasaki Kotaro , Masuda Teruaki , Ataka Takuya , Matsumoto Mariko , Kitamura Mika , Nakamura Yosuke , Matsubara Etsuro
Published: January 2025

Background

Intracerebral amyloid β (Aβ) accumulation is considered the initial observable event in the pathological process of Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Efficient screening for amyloid pathology is critical for identifying patients for early treatment. This study developed machine learning models to classify positron emission tomography (PET) Aβ-positivity in participants with preclinical and prodromal AD using data accessible to primary care physicians.

Methods

This retrospective observational study assessed the classification performance of combinations of demographic characteristics, routine blood test results, and cognitive test scores to classify PET Aβ-positivity using machine learning. Participants with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) or normal cognitive function who visited Oita University Hospital or had participated in the USUKI study and met the study eligibility criteria were included. The primary endpoint was assessment of the classification performance of the presence or absence of intracerebral Aβ accumulation using five machine learning models (i.e., five combinations of variables), each constructed with three classification algorithms, resulting in a total of 15 patterns. L2-regularized logistic regression, and kernel Support Vector Machine (SVM) and Elastic Net algorithms were used to construct the classification models using 34 pre-selected variables (12 demographic characteristics, 11 blood test results, 11 cognitive test results).

Results

Data from 262 records (260 unique participants) were analyzed. The mean (standard deviation [SD]) participant age was 73.8 (7.8) years. Using L2-regularized logistic regression, the mean receiver operating characteristic (ROC) area under the curve (AUC) (SD) in Model 0 (basic demographic characteristics) was 0.67 (0.01). Classification performance was similar in Model 1 (basic demographic characteristics and Mini Mental State Examination [MMSE] subscores) and Model 2 (demographic characteristics and blood test results) with a cross-validated mean ROC AUC (SD) of 0.70 (0.01) for both. Model 3 (demographic characteristics, blood test results, MMSE subscores) and Model 4 (Model 3 and ApoE4 phenotype) showed improved performance with a mean ROC AUC (SD) of 0.73 (0.01) and 0.76 (0.01), respectively. In models using blood test results, thyroid-stimulating hormone and mean corpuscular volume tended to be the largest contributors to classification. Classification performances were similar using the SVM and Elastic Net algorithms.

Conclusions

The machine learning models used in this study were useful for classifying PET Aβ-positivity using data from routine physician visits.

Trial registration

UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000051776, registered on 31/08/2023).
Seismicity of a relic slab: space–time cluster analysis in the Vrancea Seismic Zone
Authors: Petrescu Laura , Enescu Bogdan
Published: January 2025

The Vrancea Seismic Zone (VSZ) is an atypical intermediate-depth earthquake nest located in the South-East Carpathians in Romania, often regarded as a relic slab sinking into the mantle. The origin of the slab and the earthquakes it produces are debated because brittle failure is unlikely to occur at mantle depths. Cluster types and statistical properties of seismicity can vary with deformation regime, fluid content and temperature. Here we investigate the spatial–temporal properties of earthquakes recorded in the VSZ from a high-quality local catalogue, identify and classify earthquake clusters, placing constraints on the debated nature of the Vrancea slab, its coupling with the overlying crust, and its potential for triggering crustal earthquakes. We use the nearest-neighbour distance to estimate the correlation between pairs of earthquakes, considering the origin time, magnitude, b-value and fractal dimension of the observed seismicity with M

w
 ≥ 2.5 from the 1977–2023 period. With this approach, we find a small percentage of clustered seismicity (8%), suggesting that background seismicity dominates. We identified 12 conventional mainshock-dominated sequences and 17 swarms with relatively small (0.92) and large (1.73) b-values, respectively, that may reflect differences in stress or the presence of fluids in the crustal volume. The aftershock decays—p-values of 0.99 for the large-event clusters and 1.42 for the swarms—may reflect typical and, respectively, fast stress relaxations. Swarm clusters are predominantly localised within the crust, whereas conventional mainshock sequences lack foreshocks and prevail in the subcrustal domain, occasionally triggering aftershocks at shallower depths. This partitioning suggests higher heat flow and fluid-modulated seismicity in the crust, as opposed to brittle failure conditions, triggered by slab dynamics in the mantle, including abrupt stress release without preceding signals. The spread of aftershocks from subcrustal large mainshocks to shallower depths indicate a stress transfer process where the descending Vrancea slab influences seismic activity in the overlying crust.

Graphical Abstract
Anti-ribosomal P2: could it be a useful new criterion for patients with systemic lupus erythematosus?
Authors: Hemdan Menna N. , Khedr Tayseer , Goma Samar H. , Mohammed Fatma Mohammed Helbawi , Abdelrahman Maha S. I.
Published: January 2025

Background

Systemic lupus erythematosus is a multisystem autoimmune disorder that displays numerous autoantibodies such as anti-nuclear, anti-Smith, anti-double-stranded DNA, and anti-ribosomal antibodies. Anti-ribosomal antibodies are detected in 15 to 40% of systemic lupus erythematosus patients. We aimed to study anti-ribosomal P2 to find its diagnostic utility and determine how it could be associated with different clinical manifestations.

Results

This observational case control study included 50 lupus patients and 35 healthy controls with a mean age of 32.92 ± 8.66 versus 35.43 ± 10.19 years, respectively. We observed that 10 cases out of 50 (20.0%) had positive anti-ribosomal P2 versus two healthy subjects (5.7%) (P = 0.111). The anti-ribosomal P2 biomarker had a sensitivity of 20.0% and a specificity of 94.3% for systemic lupus erythematosus detection. Neuropsychiatric manifestations were observed in 5 out of 10 cases with positive biomarker compared to 6 out of 40 cases with negative anti-ribosomal P2 antibody (P = 0.030).

Conclusion

The anti-ribosomal P2 antibody has high specificity and low sensitivity for systemic lupus erythematosus. It is closely linked to the pathogenesis of neuropsychiatric lupus. Further studies are required to assess anti-ribosomal antibody subunits’ diagnostic and clinical value.
The association between recent stressful life events and brain structure: a UK Biobank longitudinal MRI study
Authors: See Cheryl R.Z. , Tan Annabel X. , Valmaggia Lucia R. , Kempton Matthew J.
Published: January 2025

Background

Recent stressful life events (SLEs) are an established risk factor for a range of psychiatric disorders. Animal studies have shown evidence of gray matter (GM) reductions associated with stress, and previous work has found similar associations in humans. However longitudinal studies investigating the association between stress and changes in brain structure are limited.

Methods

The current study uses longitudinal data from the UK Biobank and comprises 4,543 participants with structural neuroimaging and recent SLE data (mean age = 61.5 years). We analyzed the association between recent SLEs and changes in brain structure, determined using the longitudinal FreeSurfer pipeline, focusing on total GM volume and five a priori brain regions: the hippocampus, amygdala, anterior cingulate cortex, orbitofrontal cortex, and insula. We also examined if depression and childhood adversity moderated the relationship between SLEs and brain structure.

Results

Individuals who had experienced recent SLEs exhibited a slower rate of hippocampal decrease over time compared to individuals who did not report any SLEs. Individuals with depression exhibited smaller GM volumes when exposed to recent SLEs. There was no effect of childhood adversity on the relationship between SLEs and brain structure.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest recent SLEs are not directly associated with an accelerated decline in brain volumes in a population sample of older adults, but instead may alter brain structure via affective disorder psychopathology. Further work is needed to investigate the effects of stress in younger populations who may be more vulnerable to stress-induced changes, and may yet pinpoint brain regions linked to stress-related disorders.
Precision and accuracy of the dynamic endocast method for measuring volume changes in XROMM studies
Authors: Kaczmarek Elska B. , Li Ellen Y. , Capano John G. , Falkingham Peter L. , Gatesy Stephen M. , Brainerd Elizabeth L. , Camp Ariel L.
Published: January 2025

The X-ray Reconstruction of Moving Morphology (XROMM) workflow enables precise and accurate measurement of the 3D skeletal kinematics underlying animal behaviors. The dynamic endocast method built upon that workflow to measure the rate of volume change within a bounded region of interest. We measured the precision and accuracy of the dynamic endocast method, using a fish oropharyngeal cavity as a case study. Despite overestimating instantaneous absolute volume, the endocast method was found to measure the rate of volume change with high accuracy. Importantly, it underestimated the rate of volume change, indicating that these measurements are conservative. We tested how variables such as alpha value and locator number impacted the accuracy of the endocast method. While the appropriate values for these variables are likely different for each application of the endocast method, we believe that our conclusion that the dynamic endocast method underestimates change in volume is generalizable.
Current Rehabilitation Practices of Physiotherapists in Intensive Care Units in the UAE: A National Survey
Authors: Ashraf Megahed Monia , Alaparthi Gopala Krishna , Aboelnasr Emad A. , Hassan Bekhet Amira , Bairapareddy Kalyana Chakravarthy , Hijazi Heba , Al-Sharman Alham , Hegazy Fatma A.
Published: January 2025

Abstract* Background Intensive care units (ICUs) are essential for patient recovery, but prolonged stays often result in complications like reduced mobility and muscle weakness. Aims This study examines current ICU rehabilitation practices in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) through a web-based cross-sectional survey involving 80 physiotherapists from both public and private sectors. Methods The questionnaire, validated by experts with a Cronbach’s alpha of 0.84, explored various rehabilitation strategies. Most participants held bachelor’s degrees and had 2-5 years of experience. Results Over 96% required physician referrals for ICU physiotherapy sessions, and 75% noted that hospitals provided development programs to enhance skills. Respiratory therapy, joint mobilization, and electrical stimulation were the most commonly used interventions, while massage, continuous passive motion machines, and taping were less frequently applied. Among neonatal ICU patients, 85.7% of physiotherapists regularly performed passive range of motion exercises, and 69% consistently involved parents in the treatment plan. The results indicate a variety of practices among ICU physiotherapists in the UAE, with no clear adherence to standardized protocols. This lack of consistency may negatively affect patient care quality. Conclusion The study underscores the importance of implementing standardized rehabilitation protocols and enhancing patient education to improve outcomes in ICU settings.
Identification of coxsackievirus A24 variant during an acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis outbreak in coastal Kenya, 2024
Authors: Lambisia Arnold W. , Mwita Morobe John , Moraa Edidah , Mwarumba Salim , K.N. Korir Fredrick , Seif Athman Raila , Kiptui Rebecca , Mbee Micheal , Mugo Nelly , Amoth Patrick , Muange Penny , J. Houldcroft Charlotte , Barasa Edwine , Mwangangi Joseph , Githinji George , C. Holmes Edward , Isabella Ochola-Oyier Lynette , N. Agoti Charles
Published: January 2025

Background In early 2024, a surge in acute hemorrhagic conjunctivitis (AHC), also referred as “red eye” disease, was observed in coastal Kenya, prompting the Ministry of Health to issue an outbreak alert. Herein, we investigated the etiology of this outbreak. Methods Ocular swabs were obtained from 13 individuals presenting with AHC at a Mombasa clinic in early February 2024. Ten of these were analyzed using bacterial cultures, and all 13 using a pan-adenovirus quantitative PCR (qPCR) and metagenomic sequencing. Potential viral etiology was confirmed by a specific qPCR, amplicon sequencing and phylogenetic analysis. Results Bacterial cultures yielded no growth except in three samples where non-pathogenic bacteria were detected. All 13 samples were adenovirus qPCR negative. Metagenomic sequencing detected coxsackievirus A24 variant (CA24v) in three of the 13 samples. CA24v detections were confirmed by both CA24v specific qPCR and amplicon sequencing of an approximately 450 nucleotide long VP4/2 junction genomic region. Phylogenetic analysis of the VP4/2 sequences showed that they were closely related to CA24v genotype IV. Conclusion The AHC epidemic in coastal Kenya in early 2024 was likely caused by CA24v. Metagenomic sequencing is a powerful tool for identifying potential causative agents of new disease outbreaks.
Galectin-3 as a possible link between periodontitis and chronic kidney disease: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Marimuthu Sri Vidhya , Arul Devi , Santhanakrishnan Muthukumar , Elumalai Ramprasad , Suresh Sandhya , Selvarajan Sathya , Dhulipalla Ravindranath , Boyapati Ramanarayana
Published: January 2025

Background: Chronic periodontitis is associated with various systemic inflammatory diseases; however, research on its association with chronic kidney disease (CKD) is relatively limited. Because both conditions share common risk factors, systemic inflammation plays a key role in the progression of these diseases. Galectin-3 (Gal-3) is a proinflammatory cytokine that plays an important role in chronic inflammatory diseases and is a potential biomarker. This study aimed to measure salivary Gal-3 levels in patients with periodontitis and CKD to better understand their association and evaluate Gal-3 as a diagnostic biomarker for these conditions.Methods: Seventy-five patients were categorized into three groups: Group I, patients with CKD and periodontitis (n=25); Group II, patients with chronic periodontitis who were systemically healthy (n=25); and Group III, patients with CKD without chronic periodontitis (n=25). Demographic characteristics and periodontal and renal parameters were recorded for each patient. Saliva samples were collected to evaluate Gal-3 levels using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay.Results: Patients with chronic periodontitis and CKD and those with chronic periodontitis alone (Groups I and II, respectively) showed significantly higher salivary Gal-3 levels than patients with CKD alone (Group III) (p<0.001). Bivariate correlation analysis indicated a strong relationship between clinical parameters and Gal-3 levels across all three groups.Conclusion: Salivary Gal-3 level is a valuable early diagnostic marker of chronic periodontitis and CKD.
Zoom lens design with fixed front and back focal planes for structured illumination microscopy
Authors: Siew Ronian
Published: January 2025

It is shown how the concept of a mechanically compensated “zoom lens with fixed
distance between focal points” [introduced by Mikš et al. Opt. Lett.
37, 2187 (2012)OPLEDP0146-959210.1364/OL.37.002187] may
be applied to microscope systems for the purpose of varying the size
of projected digital patterns during structured illumination. A brief
tutorial is presented, describing an approach to design a basic “zoom
collimating lens,” which produces constant collimation of rays from a
DMD chip toward an infinity-corrected objective lens in the
illumination path of a microscope system. A full optical prescription
is listed in a table. Supplementary material is provided in the form
of an Ansys Zemax OpticStudio lens file, inclusive of the merit
function and variables.
Optimizing low-resolution spectral demodulation for long-period fiber gratings using residual convolutional neural networks
Authors: Wang Guanjun , Liu Jianxun , Chen Shengchao , Ren Sufen
Published: January 2025

Extracting valid information from low-resolution spectra is challenging and often compromised in many application scenarios due to the high costs associated with acquiring high-resolution spectra, which typically necessitates more sophisticated equipment. To address this challenge, this paper proposes a well-designed novel residual convolutional neural network (ResNet) to enhance spectral resolution for long-period fiber gratings (LPFG) under large stress measurement conditions. This method captures transmission spectra using a low-resolution interrogator (0.15 nm) and employs a CNN with a residual block to augment sample points. The model rapidly acquires high-resolution spectra without requiring preprocessing, thereby improving resonant wavelength detection accuracy. Additionally, an arrayed waveguide grating (AWG) extracts features from the transmission spectrum shifts, which are then processed by a multilayer perceptron (MLP) to model the nonlinear relationship between channel intensity and resonant wavelength. Using this trained model, minor shifts in the resonant wavelength can be accurately predicted. Experimental validation of this demodulation method under various LPFG stress conditions demonstrated a coefficient of determination (R2) of 99.87% and a mean squared error (MSE) of 0.065, significantly surpassing the capabilities of traditional low-resolution interrogators and enabling high-precision resonant wavelength demodulation.
Heterogeneous zonal impacts of climate change on a wide hyperendemic area of human and animal fascioliasis assessed within a One Health action for prevention and control
Authors: Cuervo Pablo Fernando , Bargues María Dolores , Artigas Patricio , Buchon Paola , Angles Rene , Mas-Coma Santiago
Published: January 2025

The Northern Bolivian Altiplano is the fascioliasis endemic area where the highest prevalences and intensities in humans have been recorded. In this hyperendemic area of human fascioliasis, the disease is caused only by Fasciola hepatica and transmitted by Galba truncatula, the sole lymnaeid species present in the area. When analysing the link between global warning and the recently reported geographical spread of lymnaeid populations to out-border localities, a marked heterogeneous climatic change was found throughout the endemic area. The aim of the present study was to analyse the physiographical heterogeneity of the fascioliasis hyperendemic area in the Northern Bolivian Altiplano, in order to assess its repercussions in the implementation of a One Health action. We applied multivariate linear mixed models to analyse the influence of a number of physiographical features on the long-term variation of climate and of the risk of transmission. Despite its apparent physiographic homogeneity, the findings of this study revealed markedly heterogeneous climate characteristics throughout the endemic area. This irregular pattern is influenced by physiographical features such as altitude, inner hills, closeness to Lake Titicaca, and El Niño–Southern Oscillation. This is the broadest study ever performed in a human fascioliasis endemic area about the influence of physiography on climate. It highlights the importance of considering physiographical features, an aspect usually not considered in studies dealing with the influences of climate and climate change on human and animal fascioliasis. Moreover, it shows that an endemic area may climatically evolve differently in its various inner zones and emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring to assess whether control measures should be modified accordingly.
Assessing bnAb potency in the context of HIV-1 envelope conformational plasticity
Authors: Foulkes Caio , Friedrich Nikolas , Ivan Branislav , Stiegeler Emanuel , Magnus Carsten , Schmidt Daniel , Karakus Umut , Weber Jacqueline , Günthard Huldrych F. , Pasin Chloé , Rusert Peter , Trkola Alexandra
Published: January 2025

For use in prevention and treatment, HIV-1 broadly neutralizing antibodies (bnAbs) have to overcome Env conformational heterogeneity of viral quasispecies and neutralize with constant high potency. Comparative analysis of neutralization data from the CATNAP database revealed a nuanced relationship between bnAb activity and Env conformational flexibility, with substantial epitope-specific variation of bnAb potency ranging from increased to decreased activity against open, neutralization-sensitive Env. To systematically investigate the impact of variability in Env conformation on bnAb potency we screened 126 JR-CSF point mutants for generalized neutralization sensitivity to weakly neutralizing antibodies (weak-nAbs) depending on trimer opening and plasma from people with chronic HIV-1 infection. 23 mutations resulted in a highly neutralization sensitive phenotype, which was associated with de-stabilization of the closed, prefusion conformation. Including 19 of these mutants into a Sensitivity Env mutant panel (SENSE-19), we classified bnAbs according to potency variations in response to trimer opening. To verify that these sensitivity patterns are independent of the in vitro assay system, replication-competent SENSE-19 mutant viruses were tested on primary CD4 T cells. While loss of potency on SENSE-19 was registered for bnAbs from several classes recognizing quaternary epitopes on pre-triggered Env, structural destabilization benefitted MPER bnAbs and other inhibitors known to have post-CD4 attachment neutralization activity. Importantly, for a subset of CD4bs bnAbs, and the interface bnAb PGT151, particularly low potency variation was noted, suggesting that Env conformational tolerance can be achieved but is not the rule. In summary, SENSE-19 screens revealed distinct tolerance levels to Env conformational intermediates between bnAbs that provide mechanistic insights in their function and broaden current neutralization breadth assessments.
Problémaalapú oktatás és interdiszciplinaritás a fizika és
földrajz tantárgyakban
Authors: Darabos Kata , Nógrádi Zsófia
Published: January 2025

Mindennapi életünk része, hogy problémákat oldunk meg,
ahogy mindennapi életünk részévé vált a környezetvédelem és az
arról való gondolkodás is. Vajon a köznevelés hogyan tud
hozzájárulni ahhoz, hogy a tanulók mindkét területen
fejlődhessenek? Mennyiben tudja segíteni a fejlődést, ha nem csak
tantárgyakban, hanem témakörökben, interdiszciplinárisan
gondolkodnak? Erre keresi a választ ez a tanulmány is.