bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Community stakeholder perspectives for empowering EJ initiatives through Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS)
Authors: Rice-Boayue Jacelyn , Garo Laurie , Ilboudo Nebie Elisabeth
Published: January 2025

This study explores the use of Public Participation Geographic Information Systems (PPGIS) to support environmental justice (EJ) efforts in Charlotte, North Carolina by incorporating community knowledge and engagement. Through a workshop with representatives from community-based organizations (CBOs), participants learned about PPGIS, NASA remote sensing data, and environmental screening tools. A hands-on web-Geographic Information Science (GIS) demonstration allowed them to identify how PPGIS might address challenges in their EJ efforts. Using a mixed-methods approach, both surveys and focus group discussions were conducted to collect community and individual perspectives on the strategic implications of incorporating PPGIS into current EJ efforts. Thematic analysis of the focus groups revealed key themes of community engagement and representation, challenges with coordination, the power of GIS and data, political and policy advocacy, and holistic and intersectional approaches. Descriptive statistics and comparative insights from survey data revealed nuances in individual CBO representative’s perceived strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, complementing focus group narratives. Assessment of the strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats of current efforts showed that coalition building, community involvement, and local knowledge were key strengths. In contrast, weaknesses included a perceived lack of influence over decision-makers and difficulty securing funding. The study concludes that PPGIS could strategically enhance community mobilization, facilitate collaboration, and advocate for policy change.
Optimization and design for multi-valued quantum comparator circuits
Authors: Zhang Tingyan , Li Yi , Lu Sijun , Ai Jingwen , Bai Mingqiang , Mo Zhiwen , Du Wenbo , Jiang Pengheng , Liu Jiawei
Published: January 2025

Multi-valued quantum systems have more significant advantages in computational performance than binary quantum system, since the circuit design is more compact and efficient in multi-valued quantum systems. Hence, synthesizing multi-valued logic circuits is a better choice for future quantum computing technology. A subcircuit in the Grover’s algorithm is called an oracle, which inputs a set of quantum qudits and gives an output according to the search conditions. Greater-than/less-than/equality comparators are widely used in search conditions. In this paper, the ternary Toffoli gate proposed by Monfared and Haghparast is extended to multi-valued under certain conditions, and the existing optimal quaternary n-qudit comparator is optimized using the multi-valued Toffoli gate. In addition, we design universal multi-valued equality/greater-than/less-than comparators and complementary component, which constitute a comprehensive multi-valued n-qudit comparator. Compared to existing comparator circuits, these comparator circuits are more efficient in terms of quantum cost, garbage output, hardware complexity, and constant input.
Montonen–Olive duality of gauged supergravity?
Authors: Duff M J
Published: January 2025

The vanishing of the SO(N) β-function of gauged N > 4 supergravity has long seemed like an answer looking for a question. Here we conjecture that it is a consequence of a Montonen–Olive style electric/magnetic duality.
On particular integrability for (co)symplectic and (co)contact Hamiltonian systems
Authors: Azuaje R , Escobar-Ruiz A M
Published: January 2025

As a generalization and extension of our previous paper (Escobar-Ruiz and Azuaje 2024 J. Phys. A: Math. Theor.
57 105202), in this work, the notions of particular integral and particular integrability in classical mechanics are extended to the formalisms of cosymplectic, contact and cocontact geometries. This represents a natural framework for studying dissipative systems, enabling a reduction of the equations of motion and, in certain cases, allowing explicit solutions to be found within a subset of the overall dynamics where integrability conditions are met. Specifically, for Hamiltonian systems on cosymplectic, contact and cocontact manifolds, it is demonstrated that the existence of a particular integral allows us to find certain integral curves from a reduced, lower dimensional, set of Hamilton’s equations. In the case of particular integrability, these trajectories can be obtained by quadratures. Notably, for dissipative systems described by contact geometry, a particular integral can be viewed as a generalization of the important concept of dissipated quantity as well.
Relative descriptors for quantum agents
Authors: Möckli David , Perraro Lorenzo Spies
Published: January 2025

We use the Heisenberg picture of Everettian quantum mechanics to work out the relative descriptors for the Frauchiger–Renner thought experiment. While Everettian mechanics reveals no paradox within the thought experiment, the decoherence-free setup offers an instructive branching tree. Traditionally, branching structures derived from the Schrödinger picture suggest that foliations are always sharply defined. However, the Heisenberg picture demonstrates that the tree contains regions with inherently non-sharp foliations, leading to the conclusion that, in Everettian mechanics, quantum agents possess a history with a non-sharp memory registry.
Current methods for halitosis diagnosis and the impact of COVID-19 pandemic: an international survey
Authors: Laleman Isabelle , Dadamio Jesica
Published: January 2025

Halitosis specialists can be found all over the world, but very little is known about how they approach patients with halitosis complaints. Therefore, this web-based questionnaire study tried to reach as many of them to gain insight in their methods and tools used to diagnose the condition. Since this study was carried out in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic, its impact was also examined. This survey encompassed 19 questions interrogating the responders’ profile; their diagnostic process in general; the methods and tools used to examine the breath; and the impact of COVID-19 on them. It was accessible online from May till October 2022. Eighty halitosis professionals from 19 different countries replied. Their answers showed that the community behind the field of halitosis seems to be largely driven by oral health professionals. The respondents had been active in this niche for on average 12 years in consultations (41%), research (23%) or a combination (36%). To achieve a diagnosis 96% believed a thorough history is a must and 94% felt that a breath odor examination (instrumental and/or organoleptically) was necessary. The Halimeter® was the most common instrument used for breath odor analysis. There was a large variation in the organoleptic examination regarding the calibration and number of judges and the specific odors sources that were assessed (i.e. mouth odor versus nose odor). Less variation was noted on the rating scale used: 87% made use of the 6-point odor strength scale. For those that performed organoleptic examinations COVID-19 forced them to modify their examination (20%) or to stop performing it (67%). This international survey showed that there is not a consensus between specialists on how the diagnosis of halitosis should be carried out. However, a common thread can be noted: thoroughly interviewing the patients and examining the breath odor are of upmost importance.
Bibliometrics and altmetrics on halitosis: exploring the top 100 most-cited papers
Authors: Carvalho Ana Paula , Viana Karolina Skarlet Silva , Costa Fernando Oliveira , Lima Rafael Paschoal Esteves , Martins-Júnior Paulo Antônio , Cota Luís Otávio Miranda
Published: January 2025

Halitosis has a multifactorial etiology being of interest by different health areas. The aim of this study was to perform a bibliometric and altmetric analyzes of the top 100 most-cited papers on halitosis to provide a comprehensive view of their scientific and alternative metrics. This would give perspectives on citation dynamics and online attention of the research outputs. A search strategy was designed, tested and applied in the Web of Science database on August 1st, 2023. The 100 most-cited papers were selected by two reviewers. Data on title, year of publication, number of citations, authorship, journal title, study design, halitosis etiology and subject/field of the study or pathogenesis of halitosis were extracted from each paper. Altmetric attention score (AAS) for each paper was registered. Papers were published between 1972 and 2019. Most cited papers were non-systematic reviews (28%). USA was the country with the greatest number of publications (20%). Journals with the greater number of citations were related to dentistry. The altmetric analysis did not show correlation with the citation count but showed a few papers with elevated AAS and a good diffusion in social media. The level of evidence of the study design did not influence the citation number. This can indicate the need for citing studies with more robust designs in order to provide better scientific evidence of citations in epidemiology, etiology, diagnosis and treatment. Databases showed positive correlation among citation counts, but no correlation with the online attention.
Improving the electrical conductivity and photo-conductivity of the photo-active layer P3HT:PCBM doped by Schiffbase for organic photo-sensor applications
Authors: Al-Saymari Furat A , Fakher Sundes J , Tuma Fadhil A , Alharis Raed A , Alshawi Jasim M S , Mahdi M A , Al-Saidi Imad Al-Deen H A , Hassan Qusay M A
Published: January 2025

A Schiff-base material was synthesized and characterized by the 1H- and 13C-NMR, FTIR, Mass, and UV-visible spectroscopy. A thin layer of pure P3HT:PCBM and P3HT:PCBM:Schiffbase with two concentrations 2 mM and 4 mM are prepared using spin coating method. At room temperature, doping of P3HT:PCBM active-layer by Schiff-base material at concentration of 4 mM led to enhance the electrical current and conductivity by a factor of 24x under dark conditions and by a factor of 27x under white-light illumination (Io = 50 mW cm−2). The electrical current, conductivity, and resistivity are measured as a function of time under illumination for three different wavelengths, white, green, and red, proving that the photo-sensors based on P3HT:PCBM:schiffbase thin films exhibit a good reproducibility, fast-response time, and high optical-sensitivity. It was also found that the photo-electrical characterization of the photo-sensors are wavelength dependent, where, under red-light, the samples exhibit the lowest optical-response while the highest value was obtained under white-light. The study revealed that the photo-responsivity and quantum efficiency of the P3HT:PCBM:Schiffbase(4 mM) based photo-sensors exposed by white light are higher than those the corresponding values of the photo-sensors based on P3HT:PCBM by a factor of ∼31x. Moreover, the performance of the photo-sensors were improved due to depositing an ultra-thin film of carbon on top of the active-layer, exhibiting a significant enhancement in the electrical and photo-electrical properties. The photo-sensors based on P3HT:PCBM:Schiffbase/carbon-nano-sheet show a superior quantum efficiency (∼6%) with photo-responsivity of ∼24 mA W−1, confirming that the doped P3HT:PCBM active-layer are very interesting for organic optical sensors and photovoltaic devices.
Impact of surface roughness on the antimicrobial efficacy and cytotoxicity of SiO-ZnO coatings on mechanically abraded PET surfaces
Authors: Shao Nengqi , Wang Yulei , Wu Yipeng , Xu Wenhao , Feng Fanzhe , Yu Zhongzheng , Liang Jinlong , Cai Zhijun , He Xiaoqing , Zhou Hongkang , Cui Yi , Xu Yongqing
Published: January 2025

Surface topographical roughness plays a crucial role in enhancing biological activities by providing biomechanical stability, optimal osseointegration, and torsion resistance. However, the surface roughness impacting on the antibacterial and cytotoxicity performances are still challenges to implant applications. This study investigates the effect of surface roughening on polyethylene terephthalate (PET) using sandpaper prior to applying a SiO-ZnO nanocomposite coating. Results show that surface roughness increased from approximately 100 nm on untreated PET to 1.8 micrometers with 60-grit sandpaper, directly correlating with the grit size used. Efficacy against E. coli varied with surface roughness, with higher roughness surfaces showing only 27% efficacy, while lower roughness surfaces achieved over 95% efficacy. In contrast, antimicrobial efficacy against S. aureus was consistently high, reaching up to 99% regardless of surface roughness. Cytotoxicity tests using CCK-8 with MC3T3-E1 cells indicated increased toxicity over time, with only surfaces treated with 180-grit sandpaper exhibiting mild toxicity combined with excellent antibacterial efficacy after 7 days of culture. Excessive surface roughness (e.g. above Ra 1.8 μm) resulted in a rapid increase in cell death. Additionally, increased PET roughness improved the mechanical performance of the coating due to enhanced contact area between the coating and PET, facilitated by chemical bonding. This study demonstrates that excessive surface roughness can compromise antimicrobial performance or even lead to failure, highlighting the need to optimize surface roughness to ensure effectiveness.
An LJDRNN-based efficient energy intensity prediction in carbon fiber composite material manufacturing process
Authors: Nikhil Rangaswamy , A G Karthikeyan , Loganathan Prabhu , Khan Tabrej , Sebaey Tamer A
Published: January 2025

Carbon Fibers (CFs) are usually derived from a polyacrylonitrile precursor during composite fiber production. Due to high-temperature needs, the CF composite manufacturing process is considerably energy-consuming and costly. Hence, energy intensity prediction is required. Energy intensity is predicted by the prevailing research techniques; however, it is not predicted accurately. Thus, a Limit Jordan Deep Recurrent Neural Network (LJDRNN)-centric energy intensity prediction was proposed for accurately predicting the energy intensity. Primarily, the material values and processes are detected. Next, for the determined values, pre-processing is done; in addition, the components are extracted from the input values. Then, by employing the Linear Interpolated Honey Badger Optimization (LIHBO), the optimal components are selected. Next, LJDRNN predicts the energy intensity by deploying the optimal components. The proposed LJDRNN achieved an accuracy of 98.32%, outperforming the JRNN (92.10%), RNN (87%), ANN (78%), and CNN (86%), thus demonstrating its superiority in energy intensity prediction. Grounded on the performance measures, the proposed technique’s performance is weighed against the prevailing research techniques where the proposed system attained enhanced performance when analogized to the prevailing methodologies. This study is of high significance to CF producers, offering a robust tool to predict and manage energy consumption effectively. By enabling more precise energy intensity forecasting, the proposed method supports producers in optimizing their manufacturing processes, reducing energy costs, and aligning with sustainable production goals, ultimately driving greater operational efficiency and competitiveness in the CF industry.
TinySpiking: a lightweight and efficient python framework for unsupervised learning spiking neural networks
Authors: Liu Xin , Mo Lingfei , Tang Mengting
Published: January 2025

Neural computation frameworks are essential for advancing computational neuroscience and artificial intelligence, offering a robust platform for simulating intricate brain-like processes and fostering the growth of intelligent systems. This study presents TinySpiking, a novel, lightweight, and energy-efficient Python framework designed for the simulation and learning of Spiking Neural Networks (SNNs). Unlike traditional frameworks, TinySpiking does not depend on third-party libraries, thereby reducing computational overhead and energy consumption. The framework's innovation is that it implements unsupervised learning through Spike-Time Dependent Plasticity (STDP), a biologically inspired learning rule that adjusts synaptic weights based on the precise timing of neuronal spikes. This mechanism is crucial for constructing complex neural architectures and effectively processing spatio-temporal data, which is vital for the dynamic and intricate demands of real-world data analysis. Demonstrating the practical utility of TinySpiking, we applied it to image reconstruction tasks using the MNIST and landmark datasets. The results not only validate the network's ability to autonomously identify and enhance key visual features without external supervision but also highlight its efficiency in learning from data, mirroring the adaptability of biological neural systems. In conclusion, TinySpiking's innovative, lightweight design and its proven effectiveness in unsupervised learning tasks make it a standout computational tool for the fields of computational neuroscience and machine learning. Its low time consumption, biological plausibility, and independence from third-party libraries position it as a compelling platform for future research and applications, promising to drive advancements in unsupervised learning and intelligent system development.
Resonant frequency reduction of piezoelectric vibration energy harvester by spring boundary condition
Authors: Huang Yu-Hsi , Ong Zhi Chao , Chou Sheng-Lun , Siow Pei Yi
Published: January 2025

Recent years have shown increased interest in improving the efficiency of piezoelectric vibration-based energy harvesters (PVEH). The most common boundary condition of a PVEH is the clamped-end or cantilever with rigid supports, making it to perform efficiently at the resonant frequencies of the first two bending modes that are usually at a higher frequency range. The generated output voltage and power is also limited to the deformation from the bending modes of the cantilever PVEH. Thus, to lower the resonant frequencies for practicality in real ambient vibrations and to further increase the generated energy output, this paper proposed a spring boundary condition cantilever PVEH, where the rigid support of a cantilever PVEH was replaced with springs. A clamped-end cantilever PVEH was used as the benchmark for comparison. The springs were computationally modelled as a combination of a tension and a torsional spring to investigate the effect of tension and torsional spring stiffness in reducing the resonant frequencies of the cantilever PVEH using computational methods. To validate the proposed boundary conditions in reducing the resonant frequencies and increasing the generated voltage and power output of a cantilever PVEH, the vibration characteristics of the spring-based cantilever PVEH were extracted numerically and experimentally using amplitude-fluctuation electronic speckle pattern interferometry (AF-ESPI), laser Doppler vibrometer (LDV), and impedance analysis, and were compared with the clamped-end cantilever PVEH. Results showed that the spring boundary condition can effectively reduce the resonant frequencies and increase the maximum voltage and power output of the cantilever PVEH due to the increased displacement from the spring supports in the bending modes. The first three resonant frequencies of the cantilever PVEH were reduced from 73 Hz, 284 Hz, and 452 Hz to 15 Hz, 127 Hz, and 439 Hz. The maximum voltage output was increased from 3.1 V to 9.3 V, and the maximum power was increased from 0.093 mW to 8.316 mW, thus making it more practical to be used at a lower or ambient frequency range.
Enhanced dynamic hand gesture recognition for finger disabilities using deep learning and an optimized Otsu threshold method
Authors: Kadhim Malik Kareem , Der Chen Soong , Chai Phing Chen
Published: January 2025

Hand gestures serve as a powerful means of communication, capable of conveying extensive information across various public health domains, including medicine and education. The process of hand gesture recognition involves the use of mathematical algorithms to identify human gestures and finds applications in areas such as communication for the deaf, human-computer interaction, intelligent driving, and virtual reality. This study introduces a robust method aimed at recognizing dynamic hand gestures, particularly for individuals with finger disabilities. The approach begins with segmenting hand gestures from intricate backgrounds using an advanced Otsu segmentation algorithm, while also integrating motion data from RGB video sequences. Hand gestures are transformed into texture and contour features, which are utilized as input for a hybrid model that merges a convolutional neural network (CNN) with a recurrent neural network (RNN). The model employs Inception-v3 for feature extraction complemented by an LSTM layer for classification. The focus of the study is on recognizing six dynamic gestures, with particular emphasis on ‘scroll right’ and ‘scroll down’ due to their high accuracy in recognition. The model demonstrated an average precision of 84.34% across all gestures, achieving 87.57% for gestures involving finger impairments. These results highlight the model’s effectiveness in practical applications for dynamic hand gesture recognition.
Greenhouse gas offsets distort the effect of clean energy tax credits in the United States
Authors: Grubert Emily , Ricks Wilson , Cullenward Danny
Published: January 2025

Prominent clean energy tax credits in the United States (U.S.) could drive large expenditures that materially increase greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions if their implementing regulations assign negative values to avoided GHG emissions and allow projects to offset other supply chain emissions on this basis. Most notably, we find that assigning negative GHG intensities to biogenic- and fossil-origin methane feedstocks and allowing such feedstocks to be blended with natural gas could support about 35 million metric tonnes of gray hydrogen production per year under the Section 45V tax credit. These practices would come at a taxpayer cost of ∼$1 trillion over 10 years of tax credit eligibility and cause excess emissions of ∼3 billion tonnes carbon dioxide-equivalent (CO2e) above scenarios that impose strict methane controls. Both the clean hydrogen (Section 45V) and clean electricity (Section 45Y) production tax credits use life cycle emissions criteria to direct potentially trillions of dollars in federal tax expenditures. Life cycle analysis is a decision support tool that is increasingly prominent in energy and environmental policies, but it is not an objective, quantitative calculator. Seemingly minor choices about life cycle system boundaries and baseline assumptions, such as whether unabated methane emissions are assumed to continue indefinitely, have gigatonne-scale effects on expected GHG outcomes. We find that risks are more significant for hydrogen than clean electricity due both to the scale of feedstock availability relative to market size and tax credit value relative to commodity prices. Methane feedstocks that are inappropriately assigned negative emissions intensity could dominate U.S. hydrogen production via conventional steam methane reformation, preventing the innovation-oriented 45V tax credit from encouraging development of higher-cost electrolysis technology. For both tax credits, if eligibility rules qualify emitting technologies based on offsets, long-lived facilities would have no incentive to continue offsetting once tax credit incentives end, risking lock-in of methane-based infrastructure.
Retributivism and the ‘Black Boxes’ of Imprisonment
Authors: Dagan Netanel , Cole David P
Published: January 2025

This chapter explores how common law and continental systems tackle the ‘black boxes’ that evolve during the administration of the punishment (in-prison rehabilitative progress, (un)expected excessive prison suffering, and conditional release), with a focus on judicial decision makers. The chapter suggests that addressing the ‘black boxes’ of punishment is important for making retributivists more attuned to the ‘realpolitik’ of incarceration and for ensuring that judicial moral authority is more closely connected to responsibility for the punishment and for the practical consequences of their actions. We argue that a ‘Robertsian’ approach to sentencing requires the conceptualization of sentencing as a complex, holistic, and ongoing process rather than as a simple, one-time, and unidimensional act. Such an approach requires more serious thinking about the ‘black boxes’ of imprisonment and their meaning for penal theory and policy and for promoting consistency, fairness, and justice.
Guiding Sentencers
Authors: Bois-Pedain Antje du
Published: January 2025

Julian V Roberts has long promoted well-designed sentencing guidelines. In England and Wales, sentencing guidelines are expected to give greater structure to the exercise of discretion without suppressing the evaluative components of sentencing decisions. For the English system, the crucial question is how effectively the guidelines support appropriate sentence individualization—the inverse of the objective that drove the first phase of guideline development in the United States, that comparable sentences should be given for comparable crimes, irrespective of the personal situation of the offender. This chapter revisits the historical development and current format of the English guidelines and then addresses whether these guidelines provide adequate individualized decision-making support to sentencers. It shows that while the English guideline system in principle allows sentencers sufficient flexibility to reach properly individualized sentence outcomes, it needs to acknowledge more explicitly the limitations of its design as regards the impact of mitigation.
When is a Sentence a Miscarriage of Justice?
Authors: Roach Kent
Published: January 2025

The first part of this chapter examines how disproportionate sentencing discounts have contributed to guilty plea wrongful convictions that form a significant number of remedied wrongful convictions in the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada. Attempts to regulate such discounts have been unable to stop such miscarriages of justice in part because of charge bargaining. The second part of the chapter examines how Criminal Cases Review Commissions (CCRCs) in England and Wales, Scotland, and New Zealand have exercised their jurisdiction to refer sentences back to appeal courts. The exclusion of sentencing from the jurisdiction of a commission in North Carolina and in Canada’s proposed commission is related to Julian V Roberts’ diagnosis of penal populism and its particular strength in North America. CCRCs refer sentences based on investigations that discover new facts and factual and legal errors that influenced sentencing. They could also serve as an alternative means by which to challenge parole decisions and introduce new facts to sentencing, including those related to offender disadvantage. Many sentencing referrals in England and Wales, however, relate to technical and legal errors in calculating sentences that could be avoided by simpler laws and better education of trial judges about sentencing. The chapter confirms Julian V Roberts’ important claim that sentencing is central to the criminal process by demonstrating how sentences can lead to wrongful convictions and how sentences based on legal and factual errors can themselves be characterized as miscarriages of justice.
Beyond the Dreaming Spires
Authors: Freiberg Arie
Published: January 2025

Policy entrepreneurs are people who, by their publications, intellectual authority, public presentations, and networking skills, act as promoters or champions of an idea or institution. They spread policy ideas, or the theoretical, conceptual, or intellectual underpinnings of policies which ultimately influence reform in the form of new laws or the establishment of new institutions. In the area of sentencing guidance and sentencing commissions, Julian V Roberts has been both a pioneer and champion of structured sentencing guidance through sentencing guidelines and sentencing commissions or councils. Adopting the theoretical framework of ‘policy transfer’, also called policy diffusion, this chapter identifies Roberts’ role and influence in promoting structured sentencing regimes in England and Wales and beyond. It identifies not only his mastery of sentencing theory and practice but his advocacy for the cause through his widely cited publications, teaching, editorship of books and journals, conference curation, joint authorship, graduate supervisions, membership of sentencing councils, visiting professorships, and personal visits and presentations at national and international conferences. It recognizes Roberts’ commitment, energy, tenacity, credibility, sociability, networking skills, and ability to engage with multiple audiences, all of which have made him one of the most respected and influential sentencing academics of his time.
Nicaragua
Authors: Altamirano Rayo Giorleny
Published: January 2025

This chapter describes the temporal and spatial patterns of communal land titling to Indigenous and Afro-descendent peoples in Nicaragua. Based on primary evidence collected during fieldwork, this chapter shows that the interests of political elites in guaranteeing internal order played a crucial role in shaping Indigenous land titling. The chapter shows that the patterns observed in Nicaragua reflect the central government’s need to quickly pacify the population in the remote east region, where Indigenous peoples had waged a war for self-determination against the Sandinista in the 1980s. In places like the west that lack a history of ethnic resistance, the state largely ignored Indigenous land claims.
Outreach acute care for nursing homes: an observational study on the quality and cost-effectiveness of the Mobile Hospital
Authors: Perttu Kontunen , Roope Leppänen , Miika Linna , Maaret Castrén , Paulus Torkki
Published: January 2025

Background

The global trend of emergency department (ED) crowding can be mitigated with outreach care. The Mobile Hospital is an outreach acute care service in Espoo, Finland. This study describes the results of the Mobile Hospital intervention to nursing homes in a pre–post study setting with benchmarking validation data.

Methods

We compared Emergency Medical Services (EMS) missions, ED visits, hospitalisations and their estimated costs from two 6-month periods in 2018–2019 (1325 nursing home beds). Benchmarking control data for ED visits were obtained from health records of the 10 largest Finnish cities.

Results

The number of EMS missions to nursing homes decreased by 16% (720 vs 604), ED visits decreased by 22% (801 vs 622), there was no significant difference in specialised inpatient episodes (178 vs 162) and primary hospital inpatient episodes were fewer (285 vs 178, decreased 38%). Annual estimated savings per resident were 686 euros (decreased 14%). Annual estimated total savings were 934 908 euros. In the benchmarking analysis, the number of ED visits and acute hospitalisations amongst the older population decreased in Espoo, while in the other cities it increased.

Conclusions

The Mobile Hospital seems to reduce nursing home residents’ ED visits, hospitalisations and overall costs. Advance care planning and on-call physician telephone consultations may be useful components of the service.

Implications to practice: This study adds to the growing evidence that outreach care to nursing homes is cost-effective in suburban areas with universal healthcare funding, at least as part of other developments in the acute care pathway.
Comparison of Telehealth Versus Face-to-Face Administration of the Oral Trail Making Test in Older Adults with and without Cognitive Impairment: A Brief Report
Authors: Fatima Hudaisa , Helphrey Jessica , Ahmed Danyah , Tamez Ingrid , Cullum C Munro
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To examine the performance reliability of the Oral Trail Making Test (OTMT) in face-to-face (FTF) and teleneuropsychology (TeleNP) conditions among older individuals with and without cognitive impairment.

Methods

Two hundred participants (with [n = 81], and without cognitive impairment [n = 119]) completed the OTMT in both conditions, in a counterbalanced design. Paired sample t-tests compared OTMT scores and intra-class correlation coefficients examined the degree of agreement between the two testing conditions for both diagnostic groups.

Results

For both groups, mean scores were similar across test conditions, with small yet statistically significant differences for OTMT-A (p < .001), though OTMT-B scores did not significantly differ (p-values: .702–.749). Despite substantial variability in OTMT scores, there was a strong agreement between testing formats for OTMT-A (α values = 0.845–0.939) and moderate to strong agreement for OTMT-B scores (α-values = 0.657–0.837).

Conclusions

OTMT administration may be feasible and reliable for TeleNP, though caution is advised for clinicians when interpreting overall test performances given large score variability.
Improving generalizability of drug–target binding prediction by pre-trained multi-view molecular representations
Authors: Ouyang Xike , Feng Yannuo , Cui Chen , Li Yunhe , Zhang Li , Wang Han
Published: January 2025

Motivation

Most drugs start on their journey inside the body by binding the right target proteins. This is the reason that numerous efforts have been devoted to predicting the drug–target binding during drug development. However, the inherent diversity among molecular properties, coupled with limited training data availability, poses challenges to the accuracy and generalizability of these methods beyond their training domain.

Results

In this work, we proposed a neural networks construction for high accurate and generalizable drug–target binding prediction, named Pre-trained Multi-view Molecular Representations (PMMR). The method uses pre-trained models to transfer representations of target proteins and drugs to the domain of drug–target binding prediction, mitigating the issue of poor generalizability stemming from limited data. Then, two typical representations of drug molecules, Graphs and SMILES strings, are learned respectively by a Graph Neural Network and a Transformer to achieve complementarity between local and global features. PMMR was evaluated on drug–target affinity and interaction benchmark datasets, and it derived preponderant performance contrast to peer methods, especially generalizability in cold-start scenarios. Furthermore, our state-of-the-art method was indicated to have the potential for drug discovery by a case study of cyclin-dependent kinase 2.

Availability and implementation

https://github.com/NENUBioCompute/PMMR.
Trauma-induced Koebner phenomenon in pemphigus erythematosus
Authors: Zheng Junyou , Gan Lu
Published: January 2025

We report the first case of trauma-induced Koebner phenomenon in pemphigus erythematosus, indicating the importance of preventing trauma in patients with pemphigus erythematosus.
Incidence of noninfectious uveitis among patients with hidradenitis suppurativa
Authors: Ayodele Temitope , Midgette Bria , Strunk Andrew , Sabat Robert , Wolk Kerstin , Garg Amit
Published: January 2025

Inflammatory skin diseases, particularly those associated with spondyloarthropathies, have been linked to noninfectious uveitis (NIU), but limited data exist on the association of NIU with hidradenitis suppurativa (HS). In this retrospective cohort study, incidence of NIU was higher in patients with HS than in those without the condition, and HS was associated with NIU independently of shared comorbid risk factors.
Grover disease shows type 2 immune activation and improves with dupilumab
Authors: Murphy Michael J , Junejo Muhammad H , Rufin Okeroghene , Cohen Jeffrey M , Nelson Caroline A , Damsky William
Published: January 2025

Molecular profiling on biopsies from 31 patients with Grover disease (GD) shows increased expression of interleukin 13 (a T helper 2 cell cytokine) to be a hallmark of GD. In a supportive retrospective series of nine patients with treatment-refractory GD, all improved with dupilumab. This work helps establish GD as a type 2 immune disorder.
Annelated vs. non-annelated hopping sites in periodically twisted molecular wires
Authors: Asakawa Ryo , Yokoyama Soichi , Yamada Ryo , Ohto Tatsuhiko , Tada Hirokazu , Ie Yutaka
Published: January 2025

To realize efficient intramolecular hopping transport, molecular wires must possess both a small reorganization energy (λ) at the hopping site and a minimal energy difference (ΔEhs) between them. While we showed that periodically twisted molecular wires using an annelated unit (TBID) as a hopping site improves hopping transport, the influence of the chemical structure of the hopping site remains unclear. Here, to investigate the impact of the annelated structure on hopping transport, we designed a non-annelated unit (BPB) and developed molecular wires based on periodically twisted BPB. Physical properties of BPB were compared with those of TBID. Molecular wires based on BPB showed lower single-molecule conductance than those based on TBID. Theoretical calculations indicate that BPB has a larger λ, ΔEhs, as well as a higher injection barrier compared to TBID. These results demonstrate the importance of the annelated structure at the hopping site for achieving efficient hopping transport.
Paediatrics and Genetics
Authors: Li Grace X , Sebaratnam Deshan F
Published: January 2025

A 5.5-month-old male, exclusively breastfed and born prematurely at 26 weeks, presented with a progressive facial and scrotal rash, unresponsive to general skin care, topical mupirocin and corticosteroids. On examination, the facial rash was well-demarcated and papulosquamous with a periorificial distribution. The scrotal rash was well-demarcated and erythematous with a conspicuous hyperpigmented margin.
Delineating specific structural and functional patterns for neurophysiological biotypes of childhood maltreatment
Authors: Zhang Jiang , Qin Tianwei , Sun Hui , Zhao Tianyu , Pan Jun , Bi Bin , Chen Kexuan , Chen Meiling
Published: January 2025

Childhood maltreatment (CM) is a major risk factor for numerous mental disorders. The long-term consequences of CM on brain structural and functional plasticity have been well documented. However, the neurophysiological biotypes of CM remain unclear although the childhood trauma questionnaire uses different dimensions to assess trauma types. Here, we investigated neurophysiological biotypes of CM using spectral clustering and further evaluated the neurobiological heterogeneities with multimodal magnetic resonance imaging. Moreover, we established the molecular basis for each biotype of CM using brain-wide transcriptome-neuroimaging spatial association analyses. Three neurophysiological biotypes of CM with distinct structural and functional characteristics were found. The specific structural pattern for each CM subtype was found to be associated with genes primarily mediating synapse development and neuron projection. Taken together, our findings provide the initial neurophysiological and molecular evidence that CM has different biotypes, which may facilitate early precise prevention for CM and better to links this high risk factor with different psychiatric disorders.
Durable remission after ileocolic resection for Crohn’s disease is achievable in selected patients. Long-term results of a prospective multicentric cohort study of the GETAID Chirurgie
Authors: Abdalla Solafah , Benoist Stéphane , Maggiori Léon , Lefèvre Jérémie H , Denost Quentin , Cotte Eddy , Germain Adeline , Beyer-Berjot Laura , Desfourneaux Véronique , Rahili Amine , Duffas Jean-Pierre , Pautrat Karine , Denet Christine , Bridoux Valérie , Meurette Guillaume , Faucheron Jean-Luc , Loriau Jérôme , Souche François-Régis , Corte Hélène , Vicaut Éric , Zerbib Philippe , Panis Yves , Brouquet Antoine
Published: January 2025

Background and aims

Postoperative recurrence requiring medical treatment intensification or redo surgery is common after ileocolic resection (ICR) for Crohn’s disease (CD). This study aimed to identify a subgroup of CD patients for whom ICR could achieve durable remission.

Methods

This retrospective follow-up study analyzed 592 CD patients who underwent ICR (2013-2015) in a nationwide prospective cohort. Patients with >36 months follow-up were included. Primary outcome was durable remission, defined as the absence of endoscopic recurrence and/or medical treatment intensification. Uni- and multivariate analyses identified predictive factors for durable remission.

Results

Among 268 included patients, 59% had B2 phenotype, 70% had a first ICR, and 66% had postoperative medical treatment. After a median follow-up of 85 (36-104) months, 52 patients (19%) experienced durable remission, of whom 24 (46%) didn’t require medical treatment and 28 (54%) maintained the same postoperative treatment, including anti-tumor necrosis factor in 15/28 patients (54%). Surgery could stabilize the disease course in 112 patients (41.7%), including 22.4% endoscopic recurrence that didn’t require CD treatment initiation or intensification. Durable remission rate was significantly increased in B1 phenotype vs B2/B3 (n = 7/18;39% vs n = 45/250;18%, P = .030) and in first ICR vs redo ICR (n = 43/184;23% vs n = 9/80;11%, P = .023). In multivariate analysis, B1 phenotype was the only independent predictive factor for durable remission (odds ratio = 3.59, IC 95%, 1.13-11.37, P = .030).

Conclusions

Surgery for CD achieved durable remission in 20%, rising to 40% in those with a B1 phenotype. These results support surgery as a viable alternative to medical treatment, offering treatment-free durable remission and preserving medical treatment options.
Robustify and tighten the lee bounds: A sample selection model under stochastic monotonicity and symmetry assumptions
Authors: Okamoto Yuta
Published: January 2025

In the presence of sample selection, Lee’s (2009) nonparametric bounds are a popular tool for estimating a treatment effect. However, the Lee bounds rely on the monotonicity assumption, whose empirical validity is sometimes unclear. Furthermore, the bounds are often regarded to be wide and less informative even under monotonicity. To address these issues, this study introduces a stochastic version of the monotonicity assumption alongside a nonparametric distributional shape constraint. The former enhances the robustness of the Lee bounds with respect to monotonicity, while the latter helps tighten these bounds. The obtained bounds do not rely on the exclusion restriction and can be root-n consistently estimable, making them practically viable. The potential usefulness of the proposed methods is illustrated by their application to experimental data from the after-school instruction programme studied by Muralidharan, Singh, and Ganimian (2019).
Atrial fibrillation screening and clinical outcomes: a meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Nyaga Ulrich Flore , Kamtchum-Tatuene Joseph , Nouthe Brice , Nkoke Clovis , Noubiap Jean Jacques
Published: January 2025

Background

Recommendations on atrial fibrillation (AF) screening by various scientific societies are inconsistent due to uncertainty about its benefit. This study aimed to summarize data from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) on the impact of AF screening on thromboembolism, major bleeding, and mortality.

Methods and results

We searched PubMed/MEDLINE and Embase to identify studies providing relevant data through 5 September 2024. Risk ratios (RRs) for each reported outcome of interest were pooled through a meta-analysis with random effects models. We included six RCTs reporting data from 74 145 individuals. AF screening was associated with higher AF detection compared with no intervention [RR 2.54, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.57–4.11, P < 0.001], and more common initiation of oral anticoagulation (RR 2.19, 1.51–3.18, P < 0.001). Incident ischaemic stroke (RR 0.93, 0.87–1.00, P = 0.048) and thromboembolism including ischaemic stroke, transient ischaemic attack, or systemic embolism (0.93, 95% CI: 0.87–0.99, P = 0.026) were less frequent in individuals who underwent AF screening vs. controls. There was no difference for major bleeding, (RR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.93–1.06, P = 0.830), haemorrhagic stroke (RR 0.94, 95% CI: 0.80–1.11, P = 0.497) and all-cause mortality (RR 0.99, 95% CI: 0.95–1.02, P = 0.411).

Conclusion

AF screening might be beneficial, especially in reducing thromboembolic events.
Parental exposure of the freshwater snail Planorbella pilsbryi to copper results in transgenerational effects in offspring
Authors: Osborne Rebecca K , Gillis Patricia L , Prosser Ryan S
Published: January 2025

Although not assessed in standard ecotoxicological tests, exposure to a toxicant that does not result in an observable adverse effect in the parents may lead to transgenerational effects. These are adverse effects observed in unexposed offspring as a result of their parents’ exposure to a toxicant. The goal of this study was to investigate whether transgenerational effects are observed in freshwater snails exposed to a toxicant. Using copper (Cu) as a reference toxicant, this study investigated whether the magnitude of exposure to the parents of the freshwater snail Planorbella pilsbryi resulted in a change in sensitivity of juvenile snails to a subsequent aqueous exposure of Cu. This study also investigated whether transgenerational effects observed in juvenile snails born to exposed parents would change if the parents laid eggs after being given time to recover from their exposure to Cu. Juvenile snails born to parents that were exposed to Cu without being given time to recover had no change in their sensitivity to Cu exposure or in some cases they became less sensitive. This study also observed that when parents were given time to recover from the Cu exposure, juvenile snails tended to be more sensitive to a subsequent Cu exposure, that is, decrease in median lethal concentrations for juveniles with an increase adult exposure. This study demonstrates that exposure of parent snails to a toxicant does not necessarily result in a consistent and significant change in sensitivity of the offspring to the same toxicant.