bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Remapping Relations: Contract Riders, Care, and Indigenous Performance
Authors: Hughes Bethany
Published: January 2025

Abstract: Drawing on Indigenous feminist theories of futurity and care, interviews with Indigenous theatre artists, and a case study on decolonial acts of relational care refused, this article explores how carework in theatre production contracts reveals the labor of Indigenous artists to sustain and expand their communities. It explores the informal challenges Larissa FastHorse issues to producing companies, the contract riders about casting and consultation used by Mary Kathryn Nagle, an accountability rider Madeline Sayet created for the national tour of her solo show, and the conflict between Emily Johnson and her one-time commissioning organization Peak Performances.
Unobscured off-axis three-mirror freeform all-aluminum imaging telescope
Authors: Yu Jiadong , Mao Xianglong , Gao Rong , Li Jinpeng , Wang Peng , Xu Zhichen , Yuan Ying , Wang Fengbiao
Published: January 2025

Freeform optics has emerged as a significant design tool over the past decade. Non-rotationally symmetric optical surfaces enable high-performance imaging systems to achieve a large field of view (FOV), high resolution, low distortion, lightweight construction, and compact structure simultaneously. Advances in single-point diamond-turning fabrication and computer-generated hologram (CGH)-based metrology are gradually making optical imaging with freeform optics more practical. In this paper, we present the development and verification of an unobscured off-axis three-mirror freeform aluminum imaging telescope (FAIT). The design, fabrication, metrology, and assembly processes of the FAIT are discussed in detail. This system achieves an unobscured FOV of 4∘×4∘ with a maximum distortion of less than 1%. The optical modulation transfer function (MTF) across the full FOV exceeds 0.7 at the Nyquist spatial frequency of 90 lp/mm within the wavelength range of 400–900 nm. By integrating aluminum freeform reflectors with mechanical and electronic systems, the final FAIT successfully captures high-resolution photographs both on the ground and in near-Earth orbit. The all-freeform mirrors ensure that the FAIT maintains a compact envelope. Furthermore, the all-aluminum optomechanical structure facilitates effective athermalization while preserving cost-effectiveness and lightweight characteristics. Additionally, its weight of approximately 2.9 kg renders the entire FAIT system highly advantageous for space applications.
Coherence-preserved amplification of spectral peaked optical frequency comb using fiber Raman amplifier
Authors: Nishizawa Norihiko , Ozawa Yui , Kitajima Shotaro
Published: January 2025

Spectral peaking, which converts sharp intensity or phase modulation into an intense spectral peak, is a useful phenomenon for comb mode selection, which is important for highly sensitive spectroscopy. However, the optical power of the selected peak is small, and power scaling is an important technical issue. In this work, we investigated the power scaling of a spectral peaked optical frequency comb at 1.65 μm using a fiber Raman amplifier. A 1 km length of Raman fiber was used as the gain fiber, and the fundamental characteristics of amplification were examined for a CW beam, a spectral peaked comb, and a conventional pulsed comb. Coherence-preserved, low-noise amplification with 22 dB gain was achieved for the spectral peaked comb. Low-noise similariton-like amplification was demonstrated for the comb pulse input both experimentally and numerically. As far as we know, this is the first power scaling of an optical frequency comb using a fiber Raman amplifier. This technique can be applied to a wide wavelength band, and is very useful for spectroscopic applications.
Vibration Area Localization and Event Recognition for Underground Power Optical Cable in Multiple Laying Scenarios Based on PGSD-YOLO and 1DCNN-BiGRU-AFM
Authors: li chunzhen , Jiang Wanchang , Zhang Wenlong , Xie Chunying
Published: January 2025

The current 𝜙-OTDR vibration localization and recognition methods are for bare fiber sensing or simulated experimental environments or single known laying scenario. Most of them either focus on the localization or recognition of events, while even some studies that consider both ignore the improvement of performance to meet real-time requirements, which limits their practical application in multiple laying scenarios. To solve the above problems, we propose a method for vibration area localization and event recognition of the underground power optical cable based on PGSD-YOLO and 1DCNN-BiGRU-AFM. First, with real multiple laying scenarios of buried underground and manholes, using an underground power optical cable as distributed optical fiber vibration sensing, a 𝜙-OTDR system is built to collect signals of vibration events. And then, low-pass and high-pass filters are combined for denoising to improve the signal quality. Secondly, PGSD-YOLO is designed to localize the vibration area and obtain its laying scenario. PGSD-YOLO combines the YOLOv11 with the multi-scale attention of PMSAM to enhance the feature extraction ability. Through the dynamic sampling strategy of DySample, the information loss of signals is reduced, and GSConv and VoVGSCSP are used to optimize feature fusion. Finally, based on the obtained scenario labels and the time-domain signals, 1DCNN-BiGRU-AFM is designed to recognize vibration events. 1DCNN-BiGRU-AFM combines the feature extraction ability of 1DCNN and the timing analysis ability of BiGRU, and optimizes feature fusion through the AFM mechanism. From experimental results, both PGSD-YOLO and 1DCNN-BiGRU-AFM meet the real-time and performance requirements in multiple scenarios.
The ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme UBE2D maintains a youthful proteome and ensures protein quality control during aging by sustaining proteasome activity
Authors: Hunt Liam C. , Curley Michelle , Nyamkondiwa Kudzai , Stephan Anna , Jiao Jianqin , Kavdia Kanisha , Pagala Vishwajeeth R. , Peng Junmin , Demontis Fabio
Published: January 2025

Ubiquitin-conjugating enzymes (E2s) are key for protein turnover and quality control via ubiquitination. Some E2s also physically interact with the proteasome, but it remains undetermined which E2s maintain proteostasis during aging. Here, we find that E2s have diverse roles in handling a model aggregation-prone protein (huntingtin-polyQ) in the Drosophila retina: while some E2s mediate aggregate assembly, UBE2D/effete (eff) and other E2s are required for huntingtin-polyQ degradation. UBE2D/eff is key for proteostasis also in skeletal muscle: eff protein levels decline with aging, and muscle-specific eff knockdown causes an accelerated buildup in insoluble poly-ubiquitinated proteins (which progressively accumulate with aging) and shortens lifespan. Mechanistically, UBE2D/eff is necessary to maintain optimal proteasome function: UBE2D/eff knockdown reduces the proteolytic activity of the proteasome, and this is rescued by transgenic expression of human UBE2D2, an eff homolog. Likewise, human UBE2D2 partially rescues the lifespan and proteostasis deficits caused by muscle-specific effRNAi and re-establishes the physiological levels of effRNAi-regulated proteins. Interestingly, UBE2D/eff knockdown in young age reproduces part of the proteomic changes that normally occur in old muscles, suggesting that the decrease in UBE2D/eff protein levels that occurs with aging contributes to reshaping the composition of the muscle proteome. However, some of the proteins that are concertedly up-regulated by aging and effRNAi are proteostasis regulators (e.g., chaperones and Pomp) that are transcriptionally induced presumably as part of an adaptive stress response to the loss of proteostasis. Altogether, these findings indicate that UBE2D/eff is a key E2 ubiquitin-conjugating enzyme that ensures protein quality control and helps maintain a youthful proteome composition during aging.
DNA spontaneously wrapping around a histone core prefers negative supercoiling: A Brownian dynamics study
Authors: Long Chunhong , Liang Hongqiong , Wan Biao
Published: January 2025

In eukaryotes, DNA achieves a highly compact structure primarily due to its winding around the histone cores. The nature wrapping of DNA around histone core form a 1.7 left-handed superhelical turns, contributing to negative supercoiling in chromatin. During transcription, negative supercoils generated behind the polymerase during transcription may play a role in triggering nucleosome reassembly. To elucidate how supercoils influence the dynamics of wrapping of DNA around the histone cores, we developed a novel model to simulate the intricate interplay between DNA and histone. Our simulations reveal that both positively and negatively supercoiled DNAs are capable of wrapping around histone cores to adopt the nucleosome conformation. Notably, our findings confirm a strong preference for negative supercoiled DNA during nucleosome wrapping, and reveal that the both of the negative writhe and twist are beneficial to the formation of the DNA wrapping around histone. Additionally, the simulations of the multiple nucleosomes on the same DNA template indicate that the nucleosome tends to assemble in proximity to the original nucleosome. This advancement in understanding the spontaneous formation of nucleosomes may offer insights into the complex dynamics of chromatin assembly and the fundamental mechanisms governing the structure and function of chromatin.
Specialty-specific Evaluation of Virtual care Outcomes: A retrospective QUality and safety analysis (S-EVOQUe)
Authors: Mondoux Shawn , Battaglia Frank , Gayowsky Anastasia , Clayton Natasha , Langmann Cailin , Miller Paul , Pardhan Alim , Mathews Julie , Drossos Alex , Grewal Keerat
Published: January 2025

The objective was to compare specialty-specific 7- and 30-day outcomes between virtual care visits and in-person visits which occurred during the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic. Using administrative data from provincial databases in Ontario, ambulatory care visits occurring virtually and in-person during specific timeframes within the pandemic were analyzed. Virtual care visits were matched with corresponding in-person visits based on multiple baseline patient characteristics. We assessed short-term patient outcomes at 7 and 30 days, including subsequent visits, hospital and ICU admissions, surgeries, and mortality and compared them using multivariate logistic regression. Odds ratios were calculated as measures of association between populations. For statistical significance, we used 99% confidence intervals to account for the increased likelihood of chance findings due to the multiple comparisons conducted. Overall, 9,340,519 visits were compared between populations using a 1:1 match on a 20% random sample of the available eligible visits. Over 70% of patients included were seen by a General Practitioner. With few exceptions and across almost all specialties, revisits, ED visits, admissions, ICU and OR use, and mortality were found to be more frequent for patients seen in person. When using the administrative data available to policy makers, there is no evidence to suggest that, in the short-term, virtual care is less safe than in person care. The causes for worse in-person outcomes are not yet clear although are likely related to the streaming of more acutely unwell patients towards in-person care.
Investigating Pb2 CAP-binding domain inhibitors from marine bacteria for targeting the influenza A H5N1
Authors: Kumosani Taha A. , Abbas Aymn T. , Basheer Balogun , Hassan Ahmed M. , Yaghmoor Soonham S. , Alyahiby Areej H. , Asseri Amer H. , Dwivedi Vivek Dhar , Azhar Esam I.
Published: January 2025

The ongoing increase in the prevalence and mutation rate of the influenza virus remains a critical global health issue. A promising strategy for antiviral drug development involves targeting the RNA-dependent RNA polymerase, specifically the PB2-cap binding domain of Influenza A H5N1. This study employs an in-silico approach to inhibit this domain, crucial for viral replication, using potential inhibitors derived from marine bacterial compounds. Utilizing the MTi-OpenScreen web server, we screened a library of compounds to assess their molecular interactions with the target. This process identified four potential inhibitors: CMNPD25830, CMNPD18675, CMNPD18676, and CMNPD27216. Subsequent molecular dynamics simulations, conducted using the Amber software suite, evaluated their binding affinities and dynamic interactions with the PB2 protein. Notably, CMNPD25830 and CMNPD27216 emerged as the most promising candidates, exhibiting higher binding affinities and more favourable interaction profiles compared to the control molecule. Additional analyses, including post-simulation free energy calculations and free energy landscape analysis, strengthened the potential of these compounds as effective PB2-cap binding domain inhibitors. This comprehensive computational investigation identifies CMNPD27216 and CMNPD25830 as standout candidates due to their superior binding energies and dynamic stability, suggesting their strong potential as therapeutic agents against influenza. This research sets the stage for further in vitro validation and optimization of these lead compounds, potentially supporting the development of more effective influenza treatments.
Prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and suicide tendency among individual with long-COVID and determinants: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Bidhendi-Yarandi Razieh , Biglarian Akbar , Karlstad Jannike Lie , Moe Cathrine Fredriksen , Bakhshi Enayatollah , Khodaei-Ardakani Mohammad-Reza , Behboudi-Gandevani Samira
Published: January 2025

Background

While mental health alterations during active COVID-19 infection have been documented, the prevalence of long-term mental health consequences remains unclear. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of mental health symptoms—depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal tendencies—and to identify their trends and associated risk factors in individuals with long-COVID.

Methods

We conducted a systematic literature search of databases including PubMed, EMBASE, Scopus, CINAHL, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsycINFO up to August 2024, targeting observational studies published in English. Study quality was assessed using structured standard tools. The primary outcome was the pooled prevalence of depression, anxiety, stress, and suicidal tendencies in individuals with long-COVID. Secondary outcomes included trends in these mental health problems over time and identification of associated determinants.

Results

A total of 94 eligible studies were included in the analysis. The pooled prevalence estimates, regardless of follow up times duration, were as follows: depression, 25% (95%CI:22–28%; PI:1–59%); anxiety (adjusted via trim and fill method), 23%(95%CI:21–25%;PI:2–35%); composite outcomes of depression and/or anxiety, 25% (95%CI:23–27%;PI:2–51%); stress, 26%(95%CI:13–39%;PI:1–69%); and suicidality, 19%(95%CI:15–22%;PI:13–25%). The results of meta-regression analyses revealed a statistically significant trend showing a gradual decrease in the prevalence of the composite outcome of anxiety and/or depression over time (RD = -0.004,P = 0.022). Meta-regression results indicated that being female and younger age were significantly associated with a higher prevalence of mental health symptoms. Study design and study setting did not contribute to heterogeneity.

Conclusion

One-fourth of individual with long-COVID experience mental health symptoms, including depression, anxiety, and stress, which remain prevalent even two years post-infection despite a slight decreasing trend. Factors such as female gender and younger age were linked to higher rates of anxiety and depression. These findings indicate the need for ongoing mental health screening and early interventions to mitigate long-term psychological distress in long-COVID patients.
Improving paraffin precipitate inhibition using glycine and Palm-based Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES) eco-friendly inhibitors
Authors: Surpina Nazliah Binti , Mohyaldinn Mysara Eissa , Abduljabbar Abdullah , Ayoub Mohammed Abdalla
Published: January 2025

Oil fields located in cold environments and deep-sea locations often face challenges with paraffin wax buildup in pipelines during long-distance crude oil transportation. Various strategies have been employed to address this issue, with chemical methods being the most effective and economical. However, traditional chemical inhibitors present problems due to their high toxicity and low biodegradability, leading to increased operational costs and environmental concerns. This study focuses on developing an eco-friendly paraffin inhibitor system using three different concentrations of Glycine and Palm-based Methyl Ester Sulfonate (MES). Experiments were conducted on crude oil samples from the Dulang Oilfield. The experimental measurements include wax appearance temperature (WAT), pour point temperature (PPT), and rheological tests in the absence and presence of the proposed inhibitors. The results revealed that both Glycine and MES can effectively reduce WAT, viscosity, and yield point. Specifically, 10% Glycine was the best inhibitor, reducing WAT by 23.3%. However, MES (1%, 5%, and 10%) demonstrated greater overall effectiveness, with an average WAT reduction of 13.76% compared to Glycine’s 10.85%. MES also shows a better performance in reducing viscosity and yield stress. While PPT results were insignificant, MES is recommended as a flow improver rather than a pour point depressant. The successful development of these newly formulated chemical inhibitors promises an environmentally sustainable and economically efficient approach to maximizing oil production from mature fields while mitigating paraffin precipitation.
A dual-stream model based on PRNU and quaternion RGB for detecting fake faces
Authors: Hua Mohan , Li Shuangliang , Wang Jinwei
Published: January 2025

The forensic examination of AIGC(Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) faces poses a contemporary challenge within the realm of color image forensics. A myriad of artificially generated faces by AIGC encompasses both global and local manipulations. While there has been noteworthy progress in the forensic scrutiny of fake faces, current research primarily focuses on the isolated detection of globally and locally manipulated fake faces, thus lacking a universally effective detection methodology. To address this limitation, we propose a sophisticated forensic model that incorporates a dual-stream framework comprising quaternion RGB and PRNU(Photo Response Non-Uniformity). The PRNU stream extracts the “camera fingerprint” feature by discerning the non-uniform response of the image sensor under varying lighting conditions, thereby encapsulating the overall distribution characteristics of globally manipulated faces. The quaternion RGB stream leverages the inherent nonlinear properties of quaternions and their informative representation capabilities to accurately describe changes in image color, background, and spatial structure, facilitating the meticulous capture of nuanced local distinctions between locally manipulated faces and real faces. Ultimately, we integrate the two streams to establish the exchange of feature information between PRNU and quaternion RGB streams. This strategic integration fully exploits the complementarity between two streams to amalgamate local and global features effectively. Experimental results obtained from diverse datasets underscore the advantages of our method in terms of accuracy, achieving a detection accuracy of 96.81%.
Use of evidence-based health professions education: Attitudes and practices of academic leaders
Authors: Nawabi Shazia , Waseem Rida Fatima , Binrayes AbdulAziz , Abulhamael Ayman Moaz , Ahmad Zaina , Khan Kiran Imtiaz , Habib Syed Rashid , Javed Muhammad Qasim
Published: January 2025

Purpose

The objective of this study was to explore the attitudes, practices, supports, and barriers of academic leaders regarding the use of Evidence-Based Health Professional Education (EBHPE).

Methods

A cross-sectional survey was conducted on 79 faculty members in leadership positions, from four different undergraduate colleges at Qassim University. A pre-validated questionnaire was distributed electronically. The e-questionnaire was comprised of 38 questions regarding participants’ demographics, attitudes, practices, and perceived barriers/supports towards EBHPE. Data was analyzed using SPSS. Descriptive statistics were calculated for demographic characteristics and responses to survey items. The frequency distribution of the subjects was analyzed, and the median and means were calculated. Kruskall-Wallis and Mann-Whitney U tests were used for comparison of the means between the demographic groups. Spearman correlation was utilized to determine any relationships between the questionnaire’s three sections.

Results

Of the 79 participants, 24 were Department Heads and 48 were female. The mean±SD values for Attitude, Practices and Support/Barriers were found to be 3.47±0.40, 2.72±0.84 and 3.34±0.43, respectively. The mean value of Attitude Score was > 3.41, therefore, it was interpreted that respondents had positive attitude towards EBHPE. Conversely, the values for Practices and Support/Barriers were interpreted as neutral (range = 2.61–3.40), neither good nor bad. The correlation coefficients between ’attitudes’ and ’supports and barriers’ (0.388) and ‘practices’ and ‘supports and barriers’ (0.388) indicated the weak association between these factors. The Cronbach’s α value for questionnaire was found to be 0.887 indicating its reliability.

Conclusions

This study concludes that the respondents had positive attitude towards EBHPE. However, this positive attitude was not reflected in their practices. Healthcare professionals should be committed to educational excellence, and endeavour to rely on evidence-based literature regarding the planning and review of learning, teaching, and assessment strategies.
Fipronil in sub-lethal doses leads to immuno-toxicological effects in broiler birds
Authors: Gul Shafia Tehseen , Tahir Muhammad Zergham , Ahmad Latif , Khatoon Aisha , Saleemi Muhammad Kashif , Ataya Farid Shokry , Hussain Riaz , Maqbool Bakhtawar , Fouad Dalia , Khan Ahrar
Published: January 2025

Pesticides, including fipronil, are used mainly in agriculture; however, in veterinary and animal husbandry, their potential use is to control the pests responsible for vector-borne diseases. Their residues in agriculture products and direct use on farms are responsible for potentially harming livestock and poultry. So, this study was designed to evaluate the toxico-pathological effects of fipronil on the immune system of poultry birds. One hundred a-day-old chicks were purchased from a local hatchery, and standard housing conditions were provided from brooding till the end of the trail. The temperature at brooding was kept at 33°C; later on, it was maintained at 26–28°C, and the humidity was at 60–70%. Clean water and a basal diet were provided ad libitum. After three days of acclimatization, birds were divided into five experimental groups (A to E), each containing 20 birds. Group A was kept as a control group. Fipronil was administered orally through crop tubing @ 1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and 4.5 mg/kg to groups B-E, respectively. Birds were euthanized humanely on the 15th, 30th, and 45th days of the experiment. Immunological parameters were evaluated, i.e., antibody titers against NDV and SRBCs, phagocytic activity to clear carbon particles, avian incompetence to avian tuberculin, and histopathological alterations in the lymphoid organs. The SAS® University Edition software was used for data analysis. The results indicated decreased antibody titers against NDV in the treatment groups compared to the control. Similarly, antibody response to SRBCs, phagocytic activity in clearing the carbon particles, and sensitivity to avian tuberculin in the treatment groups were also decreased. Results also revealed that the bursa of Fabricius thymus and spleen were also affected due to the toxic effect of fipronil, even at sub-lethal doses.
“Without a man’s decision, nothing works”: Building resilience to Rift Valley fever in pastoralist communities in Isiolo Kenya
Authors: Mutambo Irene N. , Bett Bernard , Bukachi Salome A.
Published: January 2025

Rift Valley Fever (RVF) is a zoonotic disease that affects both livestock and humans. Men and women in pastoralist communities are vulnerable to RVF risk exposure because of their different roles and reliance on livestock products. This study sought to understand how ownership and decision-making in pastoralist male and female-headed households influence coping mechanisms and resilience to Rift Valley fever (RVF), using the three resilience capacities of absorptive, adaptive, and transformative. This study was conducted in two sub-counties (Garbatulla) and Merti), Isiolo County, Kenya. Data were collected through 16 focus group discussions and 13 key informant interviews with pastoralists and animal and human health stakeholders. The findings indicate that traditionally, men have the final say on decisions related to livestock ownership and make overall household decisions. Pastoralist men and women employ different approaches, including hygiene practices and mosquito nets, community knowledge dissemination, establishment of new businesses, utilization of healthcare, and indigenous medicines, to reduce the effects of RVF in both humans and livestock. They also collaborated with community disease surveillance initiatives to strengthen disease surveillance networks and gain access to county government support. This process fosters resilience, community empowerment, and transformative and sustainable adaptation responses to RVF.
Pooled prevalence and associated factors of traditional uvulectom among children in Africa: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Demis Kebede Solomon , Agmas Kindu , Kefale Demewoz , Kassaw Amare , Aytenew Tigabu Munye
Published: January 2025

Background

Traditional childhood uvulectomy (TCU) is an unregulated cultural practice associated with significant health risks, including infections, anemia, aspiration, and oral or pharyngeal injuries. The reuse of unsafe tools such as blades, needles, or thread loops exacerbates the spread of infectious diseases like HIV and hepatitis B. Despite its clinical significance, the pooled prevalence and associated factors of TCU have not been adequately examined through systematic reviews or meta-analyses.

Objective

This review and meta-analysis aimed to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated factors of TCU in some African countries.

Methods

This systematic review and meta-analysis adhered to the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. A comprehensive search was performed across multiple databases, including MEDLINE, ScienceDirect, Google Scholar, and African Journals Online, to identify relevant studies. A weighted inverse-variance random-effects model was employed to estimate the pooled prevalence and associated predictors of TCU. Heterogeneity among the included studies was assessed using a forest plot, I2 statistics, and Egger’s test, ensuring the robustness and reliability of the findings. Missing data was handled by random effect model and sensitivity analysis. Data extraction was conducted fromNovember 6 to December 23, 2023.

Eligibility criteria

Included studies focused on children aged birth to under 15 years, examining TCU defined as the partial or complete removal of the uvula by traditional healers.

Participants

Eleven primary studies comprising 7,231 children from some countries in Africa were included.

Results

Pooled estimate of TCU in some African countries was 40.98% (95% CI: 25.04–56.92; I2 = 99.61, P = 0.001). Mothers residing in rural areas were 2.45 times more likely to have a child experienced TCU compared to those in urban areas (AOR = 2.45; 95% CI: 1.59–3.32). Similarly, Mothers with a history of having a previous child who undergo TCU were 8.44 times more likely to seek the procedure for their other children compared to mothers without such a history (AOR = 8.44; 95% CI: 6.27–10.61). However, caution is warranted when interpreting these findings due to the significant heterogeneity reported across the included studies, which may influence the generalizability of the results.

Conclusions

Nearly two-fifths of children in some African countries experienced TCU, which was influenced by maternal history and rural residency. While most procedures did not result in hospitalization, significant health risks remain. These findings underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions within maternal and child health programs to address TCU and mitigate its associated morbidity in the affected countries across Africa.

Prospero I.D.

CRD42024498699.
The impact of anticoagulant-related bleeding on quality of life: Development of a novel measure based on perspectives from older adults
Authors: Parks Anna L. , Slager Stacey L. , Cizik Amy M. , Fang Margaret C. , Supiano Mark A. , Katz Patti P. , Witt Daniel M.
Published: January 2025

Background

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) and atrial fibrillation (AF) disproportionately affect older adults, who are at increased risk of bleeding from treatment with anticoagulant therapy. The impact of bleeding on older adults’ quality of life (QoL) is poorly understood due to the lack of a validated measure of their experience. This study’s purpose is to describe the first evidence-based steps in developing a new condition-specific patient-reported outcome measure (PROM) for the effect of anticoagulant-related bleeding on older adults’ QoL.

Methods

Adults aged 65 years and older with VTE or AF at the University of Utah who were eligible for anticoagulation were recruited. We purposely sampled by age, sex, race/ethnicity, diagnosis, bleeding history and anticoagulant. In accordance with evidence-based guidelines for PROM development, focus groups were conducted to refine a hypothesized conceptual model of bleeding-related QoL and analyzed according to hybrid inductive and deductive thematic analysis methods. Focus group results were used to write a draft PROM. Semi-structured qualitative interviews were conducted to revise items on the draft PROM and were analyzed using thematic analysis to generate a final bleeding-related QoL PROM.

Results

Twenty individuals participated in interviews, and nine in two focus groups. Median age was 81 (range 69–95), 52% were women and 69% were White (10% Asian, 10% Hispanic, 7% Black, 3% Native Hawaiian/Pacific Islander). Through inductive and deductive thematic analysis of focus groups, we identified 19 themes (e.g., specific bleeding symptoms, adaptations in relationships, fatigue) that fell into 5 domains: 1) bleeding symptoms, 2) healthcare experiences, 3) social function, 4) emotional function, 5) physical function. These 19 themes and 5 domains formed the basis of the draft PROM. We conducted semi-structured cognitive interviews, and we performed thematic analysis to revise the drafted measure for clarity and relevance. The data resulted in a new PROM for bleeding-related QoL in older adults.

Conclusion

Employing evidence-based methods for PROM development, we found that bleeding can have a marked impact on everyday activities, emotional wellbeing and interpersonal relations for older adults. We incorporated these distinct aspects of wellbeing and function into a novel PROM for bleeding-related QoL that can inform clinical care and research after subsequent psychometric validation.
Towards automated recipe genre classification using semi-supervised learning
Authors: Sakib Nazmus , Shahariar G. M. , Kabir Md. Mohsinul , Hasan Md. Kamrul , Mahmud Hasan
Published: January 2025

Sharing cooking recipes is a great way to exchange culinary ideas and provide instructions for food preparation. However, categorizing raw recipes found online into appropriate food genres can be challenging due to a lack of adequate labeled data. In this study, we present a dataset named the “Assorted, Archetypal, and Annotated Two Million Extended (3A2M+) Cooking Recipe Dataset” that contains two million culinary recipes labeled in respective categories with extended named entities extracted from recipe descriptions. This collection of data includes various features such as title, NER, directions, and extended NER, as well as nine different labels representing genres including bakery, drinks, non-veg, vegetables, fast food, cereals, meals, sides, and fusions. The proposed pipeline named 3A2M+ extends the size of the Named Entity Recognition (NER) list to address missing named entities like heat, time or process from the recipe directions using two NER extraction tools. 3A2M+ dataset provides a comprehensive solution to the various challenging recipe-related tasks, including classification, named entity recognition, and recipe generation. Furthermore, we have demonstrated traditional machine learning, deep learning and pre-trained language models to classify the recipes into their corresponding genre and achieved an overall accuracy of 98.6%. Our investigation indicates that the title feature played a more significant role in classifying the genre.
Changeover method for biosafety cabinets using ozone gas
Authors: Mizuno Mitsuru , Suda Daisuke , Matsumura Chima , Sekiya Ichiro
Published: January 2025

This study evaluated the effectiveness of a biosafety cabinet equipped with an ozone generator, particularly during the transition periods between the production of cell products. As living cell products cannot undergo sterilization, maintaining an aseptic manufacturing environment is paramount. Raw materials, often derived from human tissues, are frequently contaminated with various resident bacteria, necessitating environmental resets after each process. The utility of this device against bacteria, including endotoxins, endospores, and fungi endemic to human tissues, could facilitate safe and reproducible production changeovers through a simplified, one-button operation. This study focused on bacteria resistant to conventional cleaning protocols, specifically targeting endospore-forming bacteria with robust resistance to disinfectants, spore-forming fungi, and included analyses of endotoxins. The effects of ozone exposure on Pseudomonas aeruginosa (an endotoxin-producing bacterium), Bacillus subtilis (an endospore-forming bacterium), and Aspergillus brasiliensis (a spore-forming fungus) were assessed. In the dedicated biosafety cabinet equipped with an ozone generator, the treatment group exposed to ozone showed a significant reduction in both colony-forming units and endotoxin levels in Pseudomonas aeruginosa at 1.0 × 104 colony-forming units (CFUs) compared to the control group. Moreover, the ozone treatment markedly decreased the colony formation of Bacillus subtilis endospores and Aspergillus brasiliensis spores. Given its effectiveness against endospores and endotoxins—among the most challenging bacterial derivatives to eliminate—the device demonstrates potential for enhanced bacterial control in Grade A biosafety cabinets within cell product manufacturing facilities. The system may substantially reduce operator stress by ensuring product safety through straightforward operational procedures and high reproducibility, although further validation is required.
The role of extra-familial factors in adolescence for the association between out-of-home care and adult psychiatric disorders–A birth cohort study
Authors: Bornscheuer Lisa , Landstedt Evelina , B. Almquist Ylva
Published: January 2025

Background

Psychiatric disorders are a substantial public health concern, and childhood adversity a well-known risk factor for it. Investigating gender differences in vulnerability and resilience processes following out-of-home care (OHC) as proxy for childhood adversity can help map opportunities for the prevention of psychiatric disorders.

Methods

We followed a large birth cohort for psychiatric disorders (anxiety, depression, and self-harm, and substance misuse) between age 25–62 years, comparing individuals with and without OHC experience. We investigated different extra-familial risk and resources factors following OHC via gender-stratified mediation and moderation analyses to approximate risk accumulation (vulnerability processes) and buffers of risk (resilience processes).

Results

OHC is prospectively associated with psychiatric disorders in adulthood. Lower school grades, delinquency, and early parenthood are mediators of the association, with the exception of education in girls in relation to anxiety, depression, and self-harm, and early parenthood in boys in relation to substance misuse. Number of best friends moderates OHC experience in boys, and there is a trend for higher educational achievement to also act as buffer, even though this trend was not statistically significant. Leisure time activities did not act as buffer.

Conclusion

Vulnerability and resilience processes after childhood adversity are gendered: Risk accumulation runs via delinquency and poorer educational outcomes in boys more than in girls, while early parenthood is a more dominant risk factor in girls. Having more best friends and higher grades may act as buffer, especially in boys.
A clinical study exploring the prediction of microvascular invasion in hepatocellular carcinoma through the use of combined enhanced CT and MRI radiomics
Authors: Li Jiangfa , Song Wenxiang , Li Jixue , Cai Lv , Jiang Zhao , Wei Mengxiao , Nong Boming , Lai Meiyu , Jiang Yiyi , Zhao Erbo , Lei Liping
Published: January 2025

Objective

To develop a predictive model for microvascular invasion (MVI) in hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) through radiomics analysis, integrating data from both enhanced computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Methods

A retrospective analysis was conducted on 93 HCC patients who underwent partial hepatectomy. The gold standard for MVI was based on the histopathological diagnosis of the tissue. The 93 patients were randomly divided into training and validation groups in 7:3 ratio. The imaging data of patients, including CT and MRI, were collected and processed using 3D Slicer to delineate the region of interest (ROI) for each tumor. Radiomics features were extracted from CT and MRI of patients using Python. Lasso regression analysis was used to select optimal radiomics features for MVI in the training group. The optimal radiomics features of CT and MRI were selected to establish the prediction model. The predictive performance of the model was evaluated using the receiver operator characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

After univariate and multivariate analyses, it was found that tumor diameter was significantly different between the MVI positive and negative groups. After extracting 2153 imaging phenotyping features from the CT and MRI images of the 93 patients using Python, ten standardized coefficient non-zero imaging phenotyping features were finally determined by Lasso regression analysis in the CT and MRI images. A comprehensive predictive model with clinical variable and optimal radiomics features was established. The area under the curve (AUC) of the training group was 0.916 (95%CI: 0.843–1.000), sensitivity: 95.2%, specificity: 79.2%. In the validation group, the predictive model diagnosed MVI with AUC = 0.816 (95%CI: 0.642–0.990), sensitivity: 84.2%, and specificity: 75.0%.

Conclusion

The joint model that integrated the optimal radiomics features with clinical variables has good diagnostic performance for MVI of HCC and specific clinical applicability.
A novel approach for the router nodes placement in wireless mesh networks using phasing with approximation optimization algorithms
Authors: Binh Le Huu , T. Duong Thuy-Van , M. Ngo Vuong
Published: January 2025

Optimal router node placement (RNP) is an effective method for improving the performance of wireless mesh networks (WMN). However, solving the RNP problem in WMN is difficult because it is NP-hard. As a result, this problem can only be solved using approximate optimization algorithms such as heuristics and meta-heuristics. In this study, we propose a new and effective method for solving the RNP problem. The idea behind this method is to solve the RNP problem in two stages using an optimal algorithm with fewer variables than the original RNP problem. In stage 1, we build an RNP sub problem using 15% to 20% of the number of routers, with the objective function of minimizing coverage overlap between routers to form a core network. Stage 2 is built into another RNP sub problem with the remaining number of routers, and the objective function is to maximize the network connectivity. Each sub problem was solved using an approximate optimal algorithm. The experimental results demonstrate that, in terms of client coverage and network connectivity, our proposed method outperforms widely used RNP problem-solving methods.
Drawing in circles: Feminized labour in autobiographical comics and cartoons on Instagram
Authors: Fabricius Charlotte J.
Published: January 2025

Instagram, a social media platform initially designed for sharing mobile photography, is increasingly populated by cartoonists and comics artists who use it as their primary publication platform for diary comics and reflections of their everyday (work)lives. As drawing their lives becomes paid work, whether through direct patronage models or derived print publications, the practices and themes of work life become entangled in the Instagram posts and surrounding communities. In doing so, these artists are reshaping comics and cartoons to fit the affordances of Instagram, as well as of the rhythms and experiences of precarious, feminized labour. This article examines the ways that the single-panel cartoon and the traditional comic strip are reconfigured on Instagram and how this play with form emerges alongside gendered experiences of work, creativity, care and precarity. Through the lens of feminist critique, the article departs from the example of US cartoonist Lucy Knisley, tracing how changes in her working conditions and care responsibilities have material and formal effects on her cartooning. Expanding the argument from this initial example, the article analyses work by a variety of comics artists on Instagram to explore the aesthetics and affects of drawing feminized, precarized work lives.
The pregnant body in Polish comics: Reading Agata Nowicka’s Projekt: Człowiek (‘Project: A human being’) and Olga Wróbel’s Ciemna Strona Księżyca (‘The dark side of the moon’)
Authors: Olsza Małgorzata
Published: January 2025

This article examines fascinating, yet not widely researched, forms of graphic storytelling located at the intersection of comics studies, feminism, autobiography and the medical humanities, namely comics devoted to pregnancy, childbirth and motherhood. I focus on two contemporary Polish autobiographical comic books, Agata Nowicka’s Projekt: Człowiek (‘Project: A human being’) (2006) and Olga Wróbel’s Ciemna Strona Księżyca (‘The dark side of the moon’) (2014). Torn between their roles as ‘bodies’ and their personal and professional aspirations and needs, both authors visually conceptualize their pregnant selves as unstable, multiple and serial. They document and reflect on their state, trying to negotiate their subjectivity in and through the medium of comics. Nowicka conceptualizes her pregnancy as a ‘project’, something she will complete within a specified period of time. The metaphor of the project is bittersweet. On the one hand, it points to the excitement associated with completing a creative task – something that reinforces her role as a creator. On the other hand, it also points to the insecurities and fears associated with being a freelance artist (i.e. lack of social and financial security during and after pregnancy). Respectively, Wróbel attempts to draw ‘the dark side of the moon’, the dark side of her pregnancy, including weight gain, haemorrhoids, skin problems, anxiety and depression. Indirectly, both comics also engage in sociopolitical critique, commenting on/representing the experience of childbirth in Poland.
Scary monsters and super creeps: An interview with Emil Ferris
Authors: Connerty Michael
Published: January 2025

In this interview, Michael Connerty speaks with Emil Ferris about the creative process, the healing power of art and comics’ facility for dealing with trauma and horror. The interview took place shortly before the publication of Ferris’s My Favorite Thing Is Monsters, Book Two, a book that encompasses a wide range of themes, including gender and sexuality, familial dynamics and intersectional politics.
Shadow education e desigualdades sociais: Uma revisão integrativa da literatura sobre o fenômeno das explicações/cursinhos pagos com base na teoria da reprodução cultural e social
Authors: Moreira Elisabete Vaz , Neto-Mendes António
Published: January 2025

A natureza estratificada do sistema educacional e das oportunidades pós-acadêmicas tem promovido o desenvolvimento generalizado do fenômeno Shadow Education (SE) – explicações/cursinhos/educação paralela. Este fenômeno educacional, permeado por um ethos competitivo – particularmente no ensino secundário/médio – favorece alunos com mais condições prévias de sucesso escolar seja na participação no ensino regular seja no acesso/aquisição de “capital simbólico”.  Este quadro macrossocial coloca-nos na presença de novos herdeiros de que nos falam Bourdieu e Passeron no âmbito da Teoria da Reprodução Cultural e Social. Por meio de uma revisão da literatura de tipo integrativo de artigos científicos publicados entre 2012 e 2022, foram identificadas, num corpus de análise constituído por 10 artigos, perspetivas teóricas sobre a SE e suas ressonâncias na reprodução de desigualdades sociais. Não obstante os resultados denunciarem uma abordagem emergente do ponto de vista teórico-conceptual da perspetiva sociológica bourdieusiana, subjaz a percepção de que a educação sombra aproxima a relação entre classe social, capital cultural e econômico familiar e resultados educacionais. Sem preocupações com a generalização das conclusões, os resultados desta pesquisa contribuem para o aprofundamento da discussão e análise deste fenômeno e da sua amplitude ao nível da reprodução social das desigualdades no campo educacional em geral.
Contextualizing education reform: How urban school districts design equity-focused leadership pathways
Authors: Peters April , Childs Joshua , Grooms Ain , Martinez Jr. Eligio
Published: January 2025

This paper explores the evolving landscape of K-12 education in the aftermath of the 2020 COVID-19 pandemic and the “racial awakening” following George Floyd's murder. Despite the return to in-person learning, persistent pre-pandemic barriers hinder academic opportunities, particularly for minoritized students. The study focuses on equitable educator practices and leadership models to address educational and opportunity gaps. Three large urban school districts in the United States serve as a case study, investigating how they design and implement equity-centered leadership pathways post-COVID-19. Exploring how the sociopolitical and cultural contexts' influence leadership pathway development and the experiences of principals of color are also examined. The paper uses organizational culture as a framework to analyze how leadership pathways function as levers for educational improvement. The findings underscore the importance of continued investment in initiatives that promote equity to combat persistent inequalities in education.