bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Construct validity and responsiveness of ASAS Health Index assessed in two longitudinal studies of tumour necrosis factor alpha inhibitor initiation and dose reduction in patients with axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Lorincz Mate , Østergaard Mikkel , Wetterslev Marie , Sørensen Inge Juul , Madsen Ole Rintek , Christiansen Sara Nysom , Hetland Merete Lund , Bakkegaard Mads , Klarlund Mette , Duer Anne , Boesen Mikael , Gosvig Kasper Kjærulf , Pedersen Susanne Juhl
Published: December 2024

Background

The Assessment of SpondyloArthritis international Society Health Index (ASAS HI) is a novel questionnaire of global functioning for patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA).

Objective

The objective was to assess the construct validity, discriminatory ability and responsiveness of ASAS HI in relation to patient-reported outcome measures (PROMs), MRI and radiography.

Methods

Data from two longitudinal studies with tumour necrosis factor inhibitor (TNFi) initiation (novel MRI And biomarkers in Golimumab-treated patients with axial spondyloarthritis (MANGO): n=45) respectively tapering (Dose adjustment of Biological treatment in patients with SpA (DOBIS): n=106) were used. Analyses included a wide panel of PROMs, MRI and radiography scores of the spine and sacroiliac joints (SIJs).

Results

In the MANGO study, 30 (68%) patients were clinical responders at week 16. In the DOBIS study, 105 (99%) patients flared after mean (SD; min–max) 31 (17; 2.7–81) weeks. After initiation of TNF inhibitor in MANGO, ASAS HI significantly decreased from baseline to week 4, 16 and 52. In DOBIS, ASAS significantly increased from baseline to the flare visit and significantly decreased from the flare visit to week 96. In multivariate regression models, ASAS HI was independently associated with Spondyloarthritis Research Consortium of Canada MRI SIJ Inflammation score, Canada-Denmark MRI Spine Inflammation score, EuroQol, Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index, Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Disease Activity Index and Patient Global. Patients stratified according to ASAS HI health status groups (good, moderate, poor) at baseline and change categories (absolute and percentage change) from baseline to week 16/flare showed good discriminatory ability for almost all outcome variables (p≤0.001). ASAS HI had a large responsiveness in MANGO (standardised response mean (SRM)=−1.3, effect size (ES)=−1.7) and moderate responsiveness in DOBIS (SRM=0.7, ES=0.6).

Conclusion

ASAS HI showed good construct validity, discriminatory ability and responsiveness.

Trial registration number

ClinicalTrials.gov:NCT02011386.
Large language models for accurate disease detection in electronic health records: the examples of crystal arthropathies
Authors: Bürgisser Nils , Chalot Etienne , Mehouachi Samia , Buclin Clement P. , Lauper Kim , Courvoisier Delphine S. , Mongin Denis
Published: December 2024

Objectives

We propose and test a framework to detect disease diagnosis using a recent large language model (LLM), Meta’s Llama-3-8B, on French-language electronic health record (EHR) documents. Specifically, it focuses on detecting gout (‘goutte’ in French), a ubiquitous French term that has multiple meanings beyond the disease. The study compares the performance of the LLM-based framework with traditional natural language processing techniques and tests its dependence on the parameter used.

Methods

The framework was developed using a training and testing set of 700 paragraphs assessing ‘gout’ from a random selection of EHR documents from a tertiary university hospital in Geneva, Switzerland. All paragraphs were manually reviewed and classified by two healthcare professionals into disease (true gout) and non-disease (gold standard). The LLM’s accuracy was tested using few-shot and chain-of-thought prompting and compared with a regular expression (regex)-based method, focusing on the effects of model parameters and prompt structure. The framework was further validated on 600 paragraphs assessing ‘Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease (CPPD)’.

Results

The LLM-based algorithm outperformed the regex method, achieving a 92.7% (88.7%–95.4%) positive predictive value, a 96.6% (94.6%–97.8%) negative predictive value and an accuracy of 95.4% (93.6%–96.7%) for gout. In the validation set on CPPD, accuracy was 94.1% (90.2%–97.6%). The LLM framework performed well over a wide range of parameter values.

Conclusion

LLMs accurately detected disease diagnoses from EHRs, even in non-English languages. They could facilitate creating large disease registers in any language, improving disease care assessment and patient recruitment for clinical trials.
Influence of Addition of Gluconic Acid as a Retarding Admixture in Concrete
Authors: Choudhary Garima , Wanjari Swapnil P.
Published: December 2024

Due to the increasing demand for advanced high-performance concrete, research for diverse admixtures is crucial in construction scenarios like long-distance transport, hot climates, and oil well cementing. Gluconic acid (GA) is among the organic additive showing promise as a viable retarder for concrete construction. This paper presents results of a study carried out to assess and evaluate the possibility of utilizing GA as a retarder in concrete. The retarding effect of up to 0.1% GA, by weight of cement, was evaluated with a superplasticizer and compared with sodium gluconate (SG). The effects of GA and SG on the setting time, heat of hydration, adsorption, workability, compressive, flexural and split-tensile strength, and durability were investigated, along with microstructural analysis (XRD and SEM). The results showed that GA has a significant effect in delaying the setting time of cement by calcium chelation which might interfere with the growth of hydration products.
Form factors of $$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+$$ within light-cone QCD sum rules
Authors: Duan Hui-Hui , Liu Yong-Lu , Chang Qin , Huang Ming-Qiu
Published: December 2024

In this work, we calculated the form factors of the weak decay process

$$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+$$

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

, where the final charm baryon represents an excited state with spin-parity

$$\frac{1}{2}^-$$

1
2

-

. Utilizing the light-cone QCD sum rules approach, we incorporated the contributions of the lowest two charm baryon states: the ground state

$$\varLambda _c$$

Λ
c

with

$$J^P=\frac{1}{2}^+$$

J
P

=

1
2

+

and the excited state

$$\varLambda _c(2595)^+$$

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

with

$$J^P=\frac{1}{2}^-$$

J
P

=

1
2

-

in the hadronic representation of the

$$\varLambda _b \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+$$

Λ
b

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

transition correlation function. This approach allows us to extract the form factors of the

$$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+$$

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

from

$$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c^+$$

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c
+

transition. During the light-cone QCD sum rules procedure, we employed the light-cone distribution amplitudes (LCDAs) of the

$$\varLambda _b$$

Λ
b

baryon. Furthermore, by combining these form factors with the helicity amplitudes of the bottom baryon transition matrix elements, we calculated the differential decay widths for the processes

$$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+\ell ^-\bar{\nu }_\ell $$

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

ℓ
-

ν

¯

ℓ

and provided the optimal choice of the interpolating current for

$$\varLambda _c$$

Λ
c

in this process. Additionally, within the lifetime of

$$\varLambda _b^0$$

Λ
b
0

, we obtained the absolute branching fractions for the semileptonic decays

$$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+ \ell ^- \bar{\nu }_\ell $$

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

ℓ
-

ν

¯

ℓ

. With the branching fractions of

$$\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+ \ell ^- \bar{\nu }_\ell $$

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

ℓ
-

ν

¯

ℓ

calculated in this work, we also determined the parameter

$$\mathcal {R}(\varLambda _c(2595)^+)$$

R
(

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

)

which tests the lepton flavor universality. This parameter is defined as the ratio of branching fractions

$$\mathcal {B}r(\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+\tau ^-\bar{\nu }_\tau )$$

B
r
(

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

τ
-

ν

¯

τ

)

and

$$\mathcal {B}r(\varLambda _b^0 \rightarrow \varLambda _c(2595)^+\mu ^-\bar{\nu }_\mu )$$

B
r
(

Λ
b
0

→

Λ
c

(
2595
)

+

μ
-

ν

¯

μ

)

. Our results provide a valuable theoretical test for these decay channels and offer insights into the LCDAs of bottom baryons, paving the way for further in-depth investigations.
Geometrical deformation of brane matter field within f(R, Q, P) gravity
Authors: Belchior Fernando M. , Maluf Roberto V. , Petrov Albert Yu. , Porfírio Paulo J.
Published: December 2024

In the context of braneworld scenarios, the real scalar field plays a crucial role by providing thickness for brane. In this work, we investigate a codimension-one thick brane within the framework of f(R, Q, P) gravity, where R represents the curvature scalar, while

$$Q=R_{\mu \nu }R^{\mu \nu }$$

Q
=

R

μ
ν

R

μ
ν

and

$$P=R_{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }R^{\mu \nu \alpha \beta }$$

P
=

R

μ
ν
α
β

R

μ
ν
α
β

are quadratic geometric invariants. Our interest is to investigate the influence of these invariants on the scalar field solution and the energy density of the brane. Furthermore, we analyze the localization of spin 1/2 fermions and the gravitino by employing a Yukawa-like coupling with the scalar field background. Such a coupling is able to produce a normalizable zero-mode for both fields.
Building Robust and Trustworthy HGNN Models: A Learnable Threshold Approach for Node Classification
Authors: Ma Li , Liu Yongchao , Gao Xiaofeng , Zhang Peng , Hong Chuntao
Published: December 2024

Message passing scheme is a general idea for Graph Neural Networks (GNNs) to learn node representations. During message passing, given a target node, we transform and aggregate the feature vectors of its neighbors and generate a representation vector for the target node. However, real-world graph data is usually constructed from complicated scenarios based on manually pre-defined rules; it is often the case that noisy information gets involved in message passing, thereby resulting in sub-optimal performance for GNNs and also impacting their trustworthiness and reliability. In this study, we present an effective learnable threshold technique that explicitly optimizes heterogeneous graph structure with the goal to maximize performance improvement of GNNs for downstream tasks. We give an explanation about the design of the learnable threshold and show the ability that our model can be applied to large-scale graphs. Experiments on seven datasets show that our model has a powerful ability to deal with homogeneous graphs with low homophily ratio and dense graphs. With the verification of robustness analysis, our model can resist the noisy information, which proves the robustness of our model.
Video-based Intake Gesture Recognition using Meal-length Context
Authors: Tang Zeyu , Hoover Adam
Published: December 2024

This article explores video analysis methods for monitoring eating behaviors, a critical factor in approximately 70% of global deaths due to illnesses like cancer, diabetes, and heart disease. Automated monitoring quantifies aspects such as meal duration, food types, and intake gestures (bite and drink gestures). Previous deep-learning methods segment videos into short clips (e.g., 16 frames at 8 Hz) for analysis, but this approach overlooks common meal-length patterns in gesture distribution across different individuals and sessions, which can enhance detection accuracy. Our study introduces a novel pipeline that analyzes the entire meal context (5–40 minutes). We propose a framework allowing a global detector to learn meal-length patterns with manageable computational demands. Additionally, we introduced a new augmentation technique to generate hundreds of meal-length feature samples per video, facilitating effective training of a global detector with limited video availability. Experimental results on two datasets (Clemson Cafeteria and EatSense) demonstrate that our pipeline significantly enhances the performance of state-of-the-art window-based networks, particularly in reducing false positives in gesture detection. On the Clemson Cafeteria dataset of 486 meal videos (the largest dataset to date), our method achieves F1 scores of 0.93 for bite gestures and 0.88 for drink gestures, substantially outperforming existing methodologies.
Sustainable Software Engineering: Concepts, Challenges, and Vision
Authors: König Christoph , Lang Daniel J. , Schaefer Ina
Published: December 2024

Information and communication technology (ICT) offers promising opportunities to address global sustainability challenges such as climate change and social inequality by enabling energy savings and social innovations. At the same time, ICT threatens to exacerbate these crises, as evident in the increasing consumption of resources and widening digital inequalities. As one of the enablers of ICT, software engineering plays a key role to tackle the problems and explore the potentials of ICT for sustainability. However, sustainability in software engineering is still a niche topic, with little structure, a limited understanding of sustainability and few comprehensive strategies. In this paper, we introduce the main concepts of sustainable software engineering, critically review the state of research and identify seven future research challenges across all research areas. We further present our research vision – sustainability-driven software engineering and transdisciplinary research formats – and outline a research roadmap with the key steps to be achieved by 2030.
FatigueSense: Multi-Device and Multimodal Wearable Sensing for Detecting Mental Fatigue
Authors: Kodikara Chalindu , Wijekoon Sapumal , Meegahapola Lakmal
Published: December 2024

Mental fatigue is a crucial aspect that has gained attention across various disciplines due to its impact on overall well-being. While previous research has explored the use of wearable devices for detecting mental fatigue, limited investigation has been conducted into the effectiveness of these devices in different body positions or in multi-device setups. To address this, our study utilizes a unique public dataset containing over 13 hours of sensor data collected across 36 sessions, with four wearable devices (Earable, Chestband, Wristband, and Headband). We propose several machine learning-based approaches to assess both psychological and physiological mental fatigue levels in a multimodal and multi-device environment. Specifically, we introduce device type-specific approaches (trained and tested on a single device) and multi-device approaches (trained and tested on multiple devices) for mental fatigue inference tasks. Our findings show that device type-specific models perform well, with AUC scores ranging from 0.63 to 0.69 for psychological and from 0.74 to 0.80 for physiological mental fatigue. The multi-device approach shows improved performance for psychological mental fatigue (AUC of 0.69 to 0.74) and physiological mental fatigue (AUC of 0.81 to 0.88). Hence, this study presents a unique and in-depth analysis of detecting mental fatigue with wearables, demonstrating the potential of machine learning-based approaches in multi-device and multimodal setups that are prevalent in today’s emerging lifestyles.
MedInsight
: A Multi-Source Context Augmentation Framework for Generating Patient-Centric Medical Responses using Large Language Models
Authors: Neupane Subash , Mitra Shaswata , Mittal Sudip , Gaur Manas , Golilarz Noorbakhsh Amiri , Rahimi Shahram , Amirlatifi Amin
Published: December 2024

Providing contextual and comprehensive medical information tailored to individual patients is critical for enabling effective care in the healthcare domain. However, existing approaches often struggle to deliver personalized responses due to the distributed nature of medical data across multiple sources such as patient records, medical literature, and online resources. To address this challenge, we present
MedInsight
, a multi-source context augmentation framework that leverages Large Language Models (LLMs) and Retrieval-Augmented Generation (RAG) techniques to augment patient-specific information from medical transcripts with trusted knowledge from textbooks and web resources to generate personalized and contextually relevant responses. Our framework consists of three phases: patient context retrieval, medical knowledge retrieval, and response generation. By augmenting patient context with relevant external knowledge,
MedInsight
generates contextually relevant responses, empowering patients and caregivers with actionable insights. Experiments on the MTSamples dataset validate
MedInsight
’s effectiveness in generating contextually appropriate medical responses, using a comprehensive set of metrics including RAGAs, TruLens, ROUGE, and BertScore. Additionally, qualitative evaluations by Subject-Matter Experts (SMEs) further confirm the relevance and factual correctness of the generated responses.
Evaluation of Energy Utilisation Efficiencies of Digestible Macronutrients in Juvenile Malabar Snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) Reveals High Protein Requirement for Optimal Growth Using Both Factorial and Multifactorial Approaches
Authors: Ngoh Si Yan , Shen Xueyan , Nankervis Leo , Hua Katheline
Published: December 2024

Malabar snapper (Lutjanus malabaricus) is an economically important marine fish throughout the Indo‐Pacific, with an emerging aquaculture industry. Although generic marine feeds are available for production, these are not optimised for this species. Understanding energy utilisation and balance can provide insight into suitable macronutrient profiles for new species to provide a baseline for future development. This study, therefore, evaluated the effect of dietary macronutrient composition (i.e., protein, fat, and carbohydrate) on the utilisation efficiencies of digestible energy (DE) in juvenile Malabar snapper using two isonitrogenous diets (high fat: HF and low fat: LF) with contrasting fat and carbohydrate content. Each diet was fed at four feeding levels (100%, 75%, 50%, and 25% apparent satiation) for 56 days, creating a 2 by 4 factorial design. The maintenance energy requirement of Malabar snapper was estimated to be 76.7 kJ kg−0.8 day−1, while the utilisation efficiencies of digestible protein (DP) and fat were 73.6% and 68.3%, respectively. Fish fed with LF, which has lower dietary fat and higher dietary carbohydrate levels, had significantly reduced energy utilisation efficiency for growth and significantly higher partial energy utilisation efficiency of digestible fat (DF) (p  < 0.05). Since body moisture is usually proportional to body fat content in fish, this implies that the energy from carbohydrates preferentially enters lipogenesis rather than being available for somatic growth, and adiposity does not directly result in weight gain. Malabar snapper utilises DF in preference to protein for metabolism, demonstrating a protein‐sparing effect from lipids at DE intake levels below the maintenance requirement. Conversely, given the higher efficiency of fat retention than protein retention, protein is likely used before fat when energy intake is above maintenance. These findings suggest that Malabar snapper requires high levels of DP in its diet to support growth and that energy from dietary carbohydrates is diverted towards adiposity, consequently reducing growth.
A Novel Bispecific Anti‐IL17/VEGF Fusion Trap Exhibits Potent and Long‐Lasting Inhibitory Effects on the Development of Age‐Related Macular Degeneration
Authors: Deng Lan , Wang Lihua , Meng Yun , Zheng Jidai , Dong Xia , Chen Ying , Huang Haomin
Published: December 2024

Age‐related macular degeneration (AMD) is a severe eye disease in people aged 60 years and older. Although anti‐VEGF therapies are effective in treating neovascular AMD (NvAMD) in the clinic, up to 60% of patients do not completely respond to the therapies. Recent studies have shown that blood‐derived macrophages and their associated proinflammatory cytokines may play important roles in the development of persistent disease and resistance to anti‐VEGF therapy. To address this issue, we constructed an antibody‐based bispecific fusion protein that can simultaneously inhibit IL‐17‐induced inflammation and VEGF‐mediated neovascularization. As a result, the bispecific fusion protein 17V05 effectively inhibited multiple proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines, as well as laser‐induced choroidal neovascularization (CNV). More importantly, 17V05 also exhibited stronger and longer inhibitory effects than conbercept in vivo. Thus, we provide a novel and promising strategy for treating AMD patients who are not sensitive to anti‐VEGF therapies.
Background Color Influences Consumer Evaluations: Is There a Product Contagion Effect?
Authors: Shih Li-Chin , Lin Hung-Chou
Published: December 2024

The present study focuses on how the contagion effect between food products placed on different color backgrounds influences consumer evaluations, through a series of three experiments. The color characteristics are discussed, and contagion theory is used to explicate the underlying process. Across the three studies, color feature plays an important role in a consumer context. Study 1 indicates that consumers feel stronger contagion effects when a source is placed on an expansive color rather than a contractive one. In addition, colors also show their mobile, dynamic, and diverse features. Study 2 shows that the transfer of a product’s quality might be reduced when the source is on a heavy color and the target is on a light color, resulting in stronger contagion effects for consumers. Moreover, Study 3 finds that bright colors lead to stronger positive contagion effects, while dark colors intensify negative contagion effects. The findings of this research suggest that practitioners should not only use contagious stimuli to elicit consumers’ perceptions but they should also place products on different background colors to capture the attention of consumers.
The Antioxidant and Anti‐Inflammatory Impacts of Purple and White Eggplants on Fertility and Expression of Fertility‐Related Genes in Rats Treated With Aluminum Chloride
Authors: Elmoslemany Amira M. , Rehan Medhat , Safhi Fatmah Ahmed , Zeima Neveen M. , El-Hassnin Marwa Fawzy , Elnaggar Sabry Ali , Almami Ibtesam S. , Zedan Amina
Published: December 2024

The environmental xenobiotic aluminum chloride (AlCl3) destroys reproduction via free radicals. The present study aimed at evaluating the impact of purple and white eggplant on rat fertility when exposed to AlCl3. A total of 36 male albino rats were divided into six groups: a negative control, the second given AlCl3 (17 mg/kg b.w.) for 28 days, the third and fourth given a basal diet with 5% and 10% white eggplant powder, and the fifth and sixth given a basal diet with 5% and 10% purple eggplant powder. AlCl3 reduced follicular‐stimulating hormone (FSH), plasma testosterone, sperm count, motility, and viability, luteinizing hormone (LH), glutathione peroxidase (GPx), superoxide dismutase (SOD), and catalase (CAT) activities. On the contrary, malondialdehyde (MDA) and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF‐α) disclosed considerable increases. Besides, reproductive hormones, antioxidant enzymes, and sperm quality were significantly enhanced in the treated groups with eggplants. A downregulation in the expression of Fkbp6, Ccna1, and Cyp19A1 was detected, and normal expression was restored after treatment with high dose from eggplant (10%) without significant differences, whereas Msh4 and Cdk2 genes continued in their down expression and measured decrease up to 60% in Msh4 and 40% in Cdk2 in their mRNA levels after treatment with high dosage from eggplant, respectively. Alternatively, rats treated with eggplant at high dose (10%) gained more body weight (33%) and much bigger testicles (1.30 ± 0.05 g) when compared to AlCl3‐treated rats (gained only 16% more body weight and 1.04 ± 0.06 g testis weight) after 28 days, subsequently, the eggplant reduced the side effect of AlCl3‐induced toxicity. AlCl3 induced broad cytotoxic effects in seminiferous tubules, and the antioxidant and anti‐inflammatory activities of eggplant minimized the histological alteration in rat testes.
Propidium Monoazide Integrated With qPCR Enables Rapid and Universal Detection of Infectious Porcine Reproductive and Respiratory Syndrome Viruses
Authors: Qi Wenhao , Qiu Yuejia , Zhao Dashi , Qiu Ming , Lin Hong , Cui Meng , Yang Shuai , Zheng Wanglong , Zhu Jianzhong , Chen Nanhua
Published: December 2024

Infectious porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome virus (PRRSV) causes PRRS, but noninfectious PRRSV cannot. PCR and ELISA are commonly used for PRRSV detection but they cannot discriminate PRRSV infectivity. Virus isolation is a gold standard to determine virus infectivity. However, it is time‐consuming. Therefore, we developed a propidium monoazide (PMA) qPCR assay for rapid and universal detection of infectious PRRSV in this study. After comparing the inactivation efficacies of distinct disinfectants, ultraviolet (UV) light, and heat, heat at 72°C for 15 min was determined as an effective strategy for PRRSV inactivation, which was confirmed by virus isolation and immunofluorescence assay (IFA) detection. In addition, PMA pretreatment parameters were optimized, including PMA concentration (5 μM), PMA binding time (25 min), PMA binding temperature (37°C), and photolysis time (25 min). The optimal concentration of primers and probes adapted from our previous study was redetermined. The optimized PMA‐qPCR assay exhibited satisfied specificity, sensitivity, and reproducibility. Furthermore, the new PMA‐qPCR was applied on the detection of 270 clinical samples (including 57 environmental feces, 177 lungs, 33 lymph nodes [LN], and 3 sera) and compared with previously developed qPCR. Eighty samples were qPCR positive, while only 63 samples were PMA‐qPCR positive. No virus could be isolated in the 17 qPCR‐positive but PMA‐qPCR‐negative clinical samples; meanwhile, PRRSV could be isolated in representative PMA‐qPCR‐positive samples, supporting that only live PRRSV isolates in distinct samples could be detected by this PMA‐qPCR assay. In conclusion, this study provides the first PMA‐qPCR assay for rapid and universal detection of infectious PRRSV, offering an alternative and effective method for PRRSV diagnosis, prevention, and control.
The Forearm’s Subcutaneous Venous Network to Accelerate Maturation of Native Arteriovenous Fistula: A Case Report
Authors: Gołębiowski Maciej , Chumadevska Mariia , Kusztal Mariusz , Banasik Mirosław , Gołębiowski Tomasz
Published: December 2024

Introduction: A common complication of arteriovenous fistula (AVF) is thrombosis in the venous segment, which can impair vascular access unless a successful thrombectomy is performed. Case Presentation: In this manuscript, we describe the case of a diabetic patient who had primary AVF in a snuff-box with subsequent superficialization of the medial vein of the forearm. Unfortunately, this section of the vein was occluded, although the fistula was patent through the cephalic vein (CV). Due to insufficient flow, this vascular access was unsuitable for hemodialysis. Using a vein from the subcutaneous venous network (SVN), additional AVF was performed. Our goal was to accelerate maturation by doubling arteriovenous flow, which then increased the size of the CV in the arm. After maturation, a second superficialization was performed on the arm, which allowed for successful cannulation. Conclusion: SNV may be considered for the creation of a new AVF to improve the maturation of the primary fistula.
EpiSignature utility for variant of uncertain significance reclassification in an apparently atypical presentation of HNRNPU-related neurodevelopmental disorder: A case report
Authors: Zuelke Andrella , Li Rachel , Taylor Connie , Gilkerson Cartney , Platt Dylan
Published: December 2024

Introduction: Current guidelines recommend broad sequencing as a first-tier test for epilepsy; identifying a genetic etiology in 40% of cases. Sequencing subsequently increases the number of patients identified with variants of uncertain significance (VUS). Clinicians desire additional investigatory methods to better classify these VUS.

Case Presentation: The HNRNPU gene (MIM #602869) is associated with a neurodevelopmental condition characterized by intellectual disability and developmental delay, epilepsy, and characteristic facial features. To date, only de novo variants with complete penetrance have been described. We present a 7-year-old female with HNRNPU variant c.669_691dup; p.Gly231Valfs*116, classified as both pathogenic (Laboratory A) and as a VUS (Laboratory B). This patient exhibits an isolated seizure phenotype, and familial studies revealed the proband’s father (asymptomatic), paternal uncle (epilepsy), and paternal grandmother (asymptomatic) all carry this variant. Laboratory B theorized the potential for alternative splicing, reducing concerns for pathogenicity.

Methylation studies were pursued for more accurate classification and are conclusively negative for the HNRNPU-episignature. This, in the context of the variant not segregating with the familial epilepsy phenotype, indicates a benign classification for the c.669_691dup; p.Gly231Valfs*116 variant.

Conclusion: The number of epilepsy patients with non-diagnostic genetic results requires additional modes of investigation. Reclassification often takes years due to the novelty of variants identified. This case highlights the importance of laboratory scrutiny when multiple variants are detected, the need for greater data sharing between laboratories to reduce inconsistent classifications, and the utility of ancillary testing, such as methylation studies, to aid in VUS reclassification.
Sentiments Towards Heritage Languages and Their Speakers
Authors: Fridman Clara , Özsoy Onur
Published: December 2024

Research on heritage languages has grown in both volume and scale over the last 30 years. More recently, researchers have begun observing shifts in the ways in which heritage languages and their speakers are being portrayed within the field, newly emphasizing more positive characterizations. In the present meta-analysis, we combine two methodologies to test the extent to which these positive trends in sentiment are reflected in the field of heritage language research: an automated sentiment analysis of 1,034 abstracts of relevant publications and a survey of 80 researchers in the field. Our findings show that while researchers report multiple positive trends in the field, the sentiments reflected in articles have always been consistently positive. Additionally, we provide novel metadata regarding the languages, subfields, and countries most represented within the field of heritage linguistics and discuss implications for future work.
Child Marriage in Morocco: Laws, Rights and Society, Who Against Whom?
Authors: Haddad Abderrahmane
Published: December 2024

The marriage of minors, especially girls, is an alarming social phenomenon in Morocco. Despite legislative reforms setting the marriageable age at 18, child marriage persists in Morocco, taking advantage of an exception provided for in current legislation allowing family judges to authorise such unions on an exceptional basis. The exception has become the rule, and the judicial practice is rather lax when it comes to dealing with this issue, and is far from protecting children’s rights. But it seems that this laxity is merely a reflection of a societal position that is still conservative. The conclusion is that the issue of child marriage, and beyond its harmful consequences, is now the point of political discord between conservatives and modernists in Morocco. For some it is much more a religious issue than a social one. Religion is also source of legitimacy for the Moroccan political regime. Any reform of the rules of the family law, and even more of the marriage of minors, should consider these red lines.
Child Marriage in Ghana and National Responses to Curb the Practice
Authors: Kyei-Gyamfi Sylvester , Abutima Theophilus , Kyei-Arthur Frank
Published: December 2024

This study examined the trends in prevalence of child marriage and its causes and consequences in Ghana. It also examined the efficacy of government’s responses in curbing the practice. Three waves (2006, 2011 and 20217) of Ghana’s Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey were analysed using spss, while interviews with staff of government and non-government organisations and female victims of child marriage were analysed thematically. The study found that child marriage before age 18 has marginally declined by 1.4 per cent between 2006 and 2017. Fear of becoming pregnant before marriage, poverty and cultural expectations emerged as the main reasons for continuing the practice of child marriage. Inadequate funding, enforcement of laws on child marriage, and human and material resources, affected the efficacy of national responses to curb the practice. To help curb child marriage, there is a need for a range of measures, including enhancing family finances and awareness creation on children’s rights.
Ascribed Agency, Denied Influence
Authors: Yin Mark
Published: December 2024

Following McMellon and Tisdall’s (2020) literature review on children’s participation rights, as embodied in the Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 12, this narrative review considers how access to these rights is affected by children’s involvement in the criminal justice system. Based on 30 papers relating to youth participation in youth justice, it is argued that adult-driven narratives of criminalised children as “risky”, “self-interested” or “vulnerable” variously undermine their right to be heard, while children’s narratives about themselves are often neglected. This suggests that the “perennial” implementation solutions identified by McMellon and Tisdall belie more fundamental questions about the very idea of childhood – as exemplified by children in conflict with the law – which warrant their own analysis.
Digital Access, Resources, and Literacy: Mapping the Digital Divide and ICT Learning Challenges among Undergraduate Students in Bangladesh
Authors: Aziz Abdul , Hossain Tareq
Published: December 2024

Although Bangladesh has adopted many digital initiatives, it continues to grapple with widespread digital disparity and social inequality. Through semi-structured interviews, this study explores the dynamics of the digital divide and the perceptions and experiences of undergraduate students in Bangladesh in ICT education and learning. The findings indicate that, despite the significant impact of the digital divide, caused by multifaceted socioeconomic inequality, ICT education has largely failed to provide students with essential digital skills. This article emphasizes the need for an effective learning environment that prioritizes three interconnected dimensions: equal access, resources, and digital literacy. By examining the interplay between digital divides and the imperative of integrating e-learning into pedagogical strategies, this study contributes to the field of educational policy and technology. Ultimately, this article advocates a digitally inclusive and student-centred digital learning environment in the technology-poor setting of higher education in Bangladesh.
A Few Remarks on the Name Rozafa of the Castle of Shkodra and Its Connection with the Topic of Immured Woman
Authors: Halili Rigels
Published: December 2024

A Few Remarks on the Name Rozafa of the Castle of Shkodra and Its Connection with the Topic of Immured Woman
The article discusses the question of the origin of the name Rozafa, which is used primarily to name the fortress in Shkodra but also functions as an object name and proper name in Albania, Kosovo and the Albanian diaspora elsewhere. The article shows the different turns of the transformation of this name over the centuries; it draws attention to the difference between written discourse and oral transmission and shows how this name functions in Albanian culture today. Without arriving at a conclusive conclusion, the article opens up room for further reflection on the subject.
 
Kilka uwag na temat nazwy zamku w Szkodrze – Rozafa i jej związku z toposem wmurowanej kobiety
W artykule została omówiona kwestia pochodzenia nazwy Rozafa, stosowanej przede wszystkim na określenie twierdzy w Szkodrze, ale która funkcjonuje również jako nazwa własna obiektów i osób w Albanii, Kosowie oraz wśród albańskiej diaspory. Autor pokazuje różne punkty zwrotne w zmianach tej nazwy na przestrzeni wieków, zwraca uwagę na różnicę między dyskursem pisanym a przekazem ustnym i pokazuje, jak nazwa ta funkcjonuje dziś w kulturze albańskiej. Nie dochodząc do ostatecznych wniosków, otwiera pole do dalszej refleksji na ten temat.
Storytelling as Law: Balkan Legal Culture in the 14th to 18th Centuries
Authors: Naydenova Desislava
Published: December 2024

Storytelling as Law: Balkan Legal Culture in the 14th to 18th Centuries
The study argues that the Byzantine – and, correspondingly, the Slavonic – legal system should be considered as a unit of legal texts: narrative and legal, translated and original. From the viewpoint of legal history, legal anthropology and legal theory, the study focuses on two canon law collections of which numerous Bulgarian, Serbian, Moldavian, Wallachian, East Slavic and Ruthenian copies emerged in a vast time frame from the 14th to the 19th century: the Pseudozonar Nomocanon (the most probable Byzantine prototype of which was the so called Nomocanon Cotelerii) and Nomokanon pri Velikiya Trebnik (Nomocanon to the Great Euchologion).
 
Opowiadanie jako prawo. Bałkańska kultura prawna od XIV do XVIII wieku
W artykule zostało pokazane, że bizantyjski – i odpowiednio słowiański – system prawny powinien być traktowany jako zespół tekstów prawnych: narracyjnych i prawnych, przetłumaczonych i oryginalnych. Sytuując się w perspektywie historii prawa, antropologii prawa i teorii prawa, autorka koncentruje się na dwóch zbiorach prawa kanonicznego, które funkcjonowały w wielu bułgarskich, serbskich, mołdawskich, wołoskich, wschodniosłowiańskich i ruskich kopiach w okresie od XIV do XIX wieku: Nomokanon Pseudo-Zonarasa (którego najbardziej prawdopodobnym prototypem bizantyjskim był tzw. Nomocanon Cotelerii) i Nomokanon pri Velikiya Trebnik.
Leveraging Livestreaming to Enrich Influencer Marketing
Authors: Buckley Oliver , Ashman Rachel , Haenlein Michael
Published: December 2024

This article investigates how livestreaming content can be integrated into influencer marketing to effectively engage Generation Z—a demographic increasingly wary of traditional marketing techniques. Livestreaming is an interactive marketing channel that enhances influencer credibility, audience engagement, and brand authenticity. Through a conceptual model, this article explores the core dynamics of livestream influencer marketing and introduces a framework to provide actionable managerial insights. The analysis highlights how livestreaming can revitalize the influencer marketing landscape by offering a more authentic and interactive avenue for brand promotion.
Family Caregiver Knowledge in the Outpatient Management of Pediatric Tracheostomy-Related Emergencies
Authors: Truitt Brittany A. , Ghosh Radhika N. , Price Eric W. , Du Chenxi , Bai Shasha , Greene Devon , Simon Dawn M. , Reeder Walter , Kasi Ajay S.
Published: December 2024

Tracheostomy-related emergencies (TREs) contribute significantly to preventable mortality. The retention of caregiver knowledge and skills acquired through simulation-based training (SBT) is unknown. This study aimed to assess the management of TREs by caregivers who did and did not receive SBT. A questionnaire containing 3 TRE scenarios and frequency of outpatient TREs was administered to 52 caregivers of children with tracheostomies; 34 caregivers had completed SBT. Most caregivers (80%) reported ≥1 TRE since discharge. Only 46% of caregivers answered all 3 TRE questions correctly. No differences were observed in correct responses for accidental decannulation ( p = .16), oxygen desaturation ( p = .84), and mucus plugging ( p = .16) based on the completion of SBT. There were no differences between duration since SBT completion and correct responses for all 3 TRE questions. Caregivers showed knowledge deficiencies in TRE management regardless of SBT completion or duration since SBT. Periodic reassessment of knowledge may create targeted re-education opportunities for TRE management.
The Healthy Oral Microbiome: A Changing Ecosystem throughout the Human Lifespan
Authors: Corrêa J.D. , Carlos P.P.S. , Faria G.A. , Pacheco L.C.R. , da Costa V.S. , Mendes I.R.R. , de Oliveira A.B. , Colombo A.P.V.
Published: December 2024

Microorganisms have co-evolved with a variety of plants and animals, developing complex symbiotic relationships with their hosts and the environment. The diversity of symbionts acquired over time help their hosts to adapt, survive, and evolve more rapidly and efficiently, improving fitness across the lifespan. Understanding these synergistic relationships between humans and their endogenous microbiota may provide valuable information on human physiology and on potential mechanisms associated with the onset of diseases. This review summarizes current data on the composition and functionality of the predominant taxa of the healthy oral microbiome across different ages and habitats within the oral cavity, critically pointing out the inconsistency of methodologies for microbiological analysis and what still needs to be validated. We discuss how early acquisition and establishment of the oral microbiome are influenced by factors such as delivery type and feeding practices, and how adolescence marks a phase of significant shifts in the oral taxa due to hormonal and behavioral transitions. During adulthood, the healthy oral microbiome may acquire multistable signatures, shaped by genetic and environmental factors, while minor changes in core microorganisms are observed in the healthy aging populations. Overall, evidence shows that the oral microbiome is a complex ecosystem, continuously modulated by several factors, since its early acquisition through adulthood and into old age. Fluctuations do happen, but a resilient core community will persist over time in most humans to maintain homeostasis. Future challenges of microbiome research will rely on our ability to define multiple age-related healthy oral microbiomes across populations, so that oral dysbiosis can be detected and managed in advance. In this context, standardization of data acquisition and analysis, as well as improvements in multidisciplinary clinical diagnosis of oral health, must be pursued for a better comprehension of the balanced host–microbiome interaction.
The Existential-Humanistic Institute: Formalizing Training for Hungering Professionals of Today and Tomorrow
Authors: Schneider Kirk J.
Published: December 2024

This article describes the formation, history, and current mission of the Existential-Humanistic Institute (EHI) located in the San Francisco Bay Area. Created at the behest of pioneering existential-humanistic psychologist James F.T. Bugental to provide a “home” for trainees specializing in the existential-humanistic approach to psychotherapy, EHI is now a flagship center for that domain of practice. It was also recently granted the Karl and Charlotte Buhler Award for organizations that have made an outstanding contribution to humanistic psychology by the Society for Humanistic Psychology of the American Psychological Association, and it is a beacon for the increasing number of students and professionals who hunger for a deeper and more intimate perspective than that typically offered by conventional training institutions.
The Individuals With Disabilities Education Act: Clarifying the Relationship Between Free Appropriate Public Education and Least Restrictive Environment
Authors: Yell Mitchell Louis , Bradley M. Renee
Published: December 2024

In 2025, the Individuals with Disabilities Education (IDEA) will have been the primary law driving the field of special education for 50 years. A contentious area of disagreement has been the relationship between two primary mandates of the law: the obligation of schools to provide a free appropriate public education (FAPE) to eligible students with disabilities and the obligation to place these students in the least restrictive environment (LRE) appropriate to each student’s individual needs. The conflict over LRE can be traced throughout the history of IDEA, in debates referenced as “mainstreaming,” “regular education initiative,” “inclusion,” and “full inclusion.” In this case, we draw on (a) Congressional intent as shown in the writings of a co-sponsor of the law, (b) the language of the law and regulations, (c) special education rulings of the U.S. Supreme Court and other U.S. Courts of Appeals addressing FAPE and LRE, and (d) policy guidance from the U.S. Department of Education. We argue that there is no basis for believing that FAPE and LRE are in conflict. Rather, the FAPE requirement of the IDEA is the primary obligation of school districts, and it sets the parameters for determining the LRE. To believe otherwise represents a fundamental misunderstanding of the law. We describe how for students eligible under the category of learning disabilities, this perceived conflict has been especially challenging. Historically, the IDEA has made a distinction between high-incidence disabilities, those that occur more frequently, and low-incidence disabilities, those that occur less frequently. At some point, these distinctions morphed into a belief that high-incidence disabilities required less-intensive interventions and were more suited to regular class placement than those students with low-incidence disabilities. This distinction is incorrect. For each student identified as eligible for special education services, the determination of LRE should be an individualized decision based on student needs and where those needs can be best met. This discussion is a critical one for students with learning disabilities and all students with disabilities who may require intensive individualized supports, regardless of prior conceptions of low- and high-disability categories.
Application comparison of paediatric myocardial protection procedures in arterial switch surgery
Authors: Münch Frank , Kohl Matthias , Kwapil Nicola , Dewald Oliver , Cuomo Michela , Purbojo Ariawan
Published: December 2024

Background

Reliable myocardial protection is essential for a good outcome after arterial switch operation.

Patients and Methods

We evaluated 56 neonates with arterial switch operation in this retrospective study. Three types of cardioplegia were used: antegrade Custodiol® (CCC) n = 22, antegrade Custodiol® plus paediatric microplegia (mix) n = 14, and antegrade plus retrograde intermittently paediatric microplegia (blood) n = 20. We evaluated the extent of myocardial injury using troponin I, Creatine kinase (CK), CK-MB (CK in myocardial cells) and vasoactive inotrope score (VIS), immediately- and the first postoperative day, as well as outcome parameters. A statistical analysis was conducted using multiple linear regression, with adjustments made for the RACHS score and ischemia time, at a significance level of 5%.

Results

Preoperative data were comparable between the three groups. Aortic cross clamp time was significantly different between the three groups (CCC: 115 ± 26 min: mix: 162 ± 35 min: blood: 153 ± 31 min). We found significantly lower troponin I release in the blood group 14 ng/mL [CI95 10; 18] versus CCC group 36 ng/mL [CI95 27; 48] and versus mix group 27 ng/mL [CI95 19; 38]; troponin I 24 h blood group 8 ng/mL [CI95 6; 11] versus CCC group 14 ng/mL [CI95 10; 19]. No significant differences were found in CK, CK-MB, VIS, as well as in outcome parameters 30-day mortality, ventilation time, hospital stay or ECMO implantation.

Conclusions

Intermittent paediatric microplegia led to a significantly lower release of troponin I, despite significantly longer ischemia times than after application of Custodiol®. Paediatric microplegia can be safely performed in neonates and also offers the advantage of miniaturization of the Cardiopulmonary bypass setup.