bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Compression terms: Defining terminology of compression therapy - An international compression club consensus document
Authors: Mosti Giovanni , Benigni Jean P. , Bohbot Serge , Devoogdt Nele , Forner-Cordero Isabel , da Matta Eduardo , Rastel Didier , Roes Claas , Thomis Sara
Published: February 2025

Background

The terminology in compression therapy is not always consistent. Confusion arises from layers, components, materials, whether elastic or inelastic, stiff or not stiff, compression class, and other terms. The aim of this paper is to define a standard terminology for compression therapy.

Method

the International Compression Club (ICC) board members prepared a draft consensus paper, which was circulated among the ICC members and refined by GM according to the comments and suggestions received.

Results

All the terms used in compression therapy, from the definition to the materials, compression kits or systems, their physical properties, compression pressure, compression characteristics, and components and layers, were considered and agreed upon.

Conclusions

The given definitions allow for consistent classification of compression materials or devices. The International Compression Club hopes that the proposed terminology will be widely accepted and that papers and congress presentations on compression will use precise terminology.
Hypocapnia, eucapnia, and hypercapnia during “Where’s Waldo” search paradigms: Neurovascular coupling across the cardiac cycle and biological sexes
Authors: Johnson Nathan E , Burma Joel S , Neill Matthew G , Burkart Joshua J , Fletcher Elizabeth KS , Smirl Jonathan D
Published: February 2025

This investigation explored the impact of partial pressure of end-tidal carbon dioxide (PETCO2) alterations on temporal neurovascular coupling (NVC) responses across the cardiac cycle and the influence of biological sex via a complex visual scene-search task (“ Where’s Waldo?”). 10 females and 10 males completed five puzzles, each with 40 seconds of eyes open and 20 seconds of eyes closed, under PETCO2 clamped at ∼40 mmHg (eucapnia), ∼55 mmHg (hypercapnia), and ∼25 mmHg (hypocapnia). Cerebral blood velocity (CBv) in the middle and posterior cerebral arteries (MCAv, PCAv) were measured via Transcranial Doppler ultrasound. Linear mixed-effects models with participants as a random effect analyzed NVC metrics, including baseline and peak CBv, relative increase, and area-under-the-curve (AUC30). During hypercapnic trials, reductions in PCAv and MCAv AUC30 were noted across the cardiac cycle (all p < 0.001). Hypocapnic PCAv AUC30 was reduced (all p < 0.012), as was systolic MCAv AUC30 ( p = 0.003). Females displayed greater baseline PCA diastole ( p = 0.048). No other biological sex differences were observed across conditions in baseline (all p > 0.050), peak (all p >  0.054), relative increase (all p > 0.511), and AUC30 metrics (all p > 0.514). Despite differences in responses to hypercapnic and hypocapnic stimuli, NVC responses to complex visual tasks remain robust, across the physiological CO2 range.
Eco-friendly free-size paper models: Integrating additive manufacturing with laser cutting for educational applications
Authors: Khalilpourazary Saman , Kafili Farshid
Published: February 2025

Designing and fabricating real models is increasingly popular for enhancing the education of engineers, designers, surgeons, doctors, and students. Additive manufacturing supports this trend but is constrained by part size, raw materials, machine type, orientation of layers, and production time. This study introduces an innovative method combining additive manufacturing with a laser-cutting process to address some of these limitations. First, a 3D model of a pair of similar elliptical gears was designed using engineering software to manufacture paper models. Subsequently, a rectangular paper block was prepared by stacking layers of paper bonded with eco-friendly double-sided tape, mimicking the layer-by-layer approach of additive manufacturing. The desired external geometry of the elliptical gears was achieved via a laser-cutting process to cut the paper block. The simplicity of the fabrication method, environmental compatibility, non-toxicity of raw materials, availability, production of free-size models, and low cost of manufactured parts indicate that this technique can be used as an efficient method for manufacturing physical prototypes. These prototypes make it much easier for students to understand complex mechanical engineering concepts, improving their educational experience. Additionally, The produced samples demonstrated high dimensional accuracy within ±0.01 mm, suitable surface quality, and tensile strength.
Experiences of Australian anaesthetists and anaesthetic trainees of working whilst pregnant: Results of a national survey
Authors: Zacher Rosmarin , Cooper Isabelle L , Pietzsch Anna F , Webb Lachlan , Pelecanos Anita M , Eley Victoria A
Published: February 2025

Changing medical workforce demographics emphasise the need to understand and effectively manage pregnancy in the workplace. An Australian survey exploring pregnancy experiences of specialists and trainees working in anaesthesia received 242 responses describing 549 pregnancies. One hundred and sixty-two (67%) of these respondents were aged 31–40 years, 185 (76%) were specialists and 159 (66%) reported one or two pregnancies. Reported pregnancy complication rates were similar to national averages. Potentially harmful exposures included working >40 h per week ( n = 298, 55%), ionising radiation and unscavenged gases. Other than ergonomic hazards and stress, exposures were not associated with an increase in self-reported complications. Moving heavy patients on a daily to weekly basis ( n = 278, 53%) was associated with an increased risk for any maternal complication; odds ratio (OR) 2.13, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.37 to 3.33, P < 0.001. High or debilitating stress levels were associated with any maternal complication, OR 2.93, 95% CI 2.06 to 4.17, P < 0.001, and any adverse neonatal/fetal outcome, OR 1.72, 95% CI 1.10 to 2.69, P = 0.018. The most common stress contributors were ‘work-related’, ‘exams’ and ‘pregnancy anxiety’. Ninety-one (38%) respondents reported experiencing stigma or negative attitudes toward their pregnancy from anaesthetic colleagues. Overall, 171 (71%) of respondents were satisfied with their experience of working in anaesthesia whilst pregnant. Thematic analysis of free text comments identified three major themes: workplace culture, maternal and fetal wellbeing, and career impacts on both pregnancy and family planning. Development of multilevel mechanisms to guide and support pregnant trainees and specialists in anaesthesia is recommended to address these findings.
fMRI Activation in Sensorimotor Regions at 6 Weeks After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Reconstruction
Authors: Culiver Adam M. , Grooms Dustin R. , Caccese Jaclyn B. , Hayes Scott M. , Schmitt Laura C. , Oñate James A.
Published: February 2025

Background:

Brain activity during knee movements is altered throughout the sensorimotor network after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). Patients at 2 to 5 years after surgery appear to require greater neural activity to perform basic knee movement patterns, but it is unclear if brain activity differences within sensorimotor regions are present early after surgery. It is also unknown whether uninvolved knee movements elicit similar or unique activity compared with involved knee movements.

Purpose:

To examine brain activity in sensorimotor regions during involved and uninvolved knee movements in patients at 6 weeks after ACLR compared with control participants.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 2.

Methods:

A total of 15 patients who underwent ACLR (mean age, 21.9 ± 4.3 years [range, 17-29 years]; 8 female) and 15 control participants performed 30-second blocks of repeated knee flexion and extension, followed by 30 seconds of rest, during functional magnetic resonance imaging. Regions of interest included the right and left primary motor cortex (M1), right and left primary somatosensory cortex (S1), supplementary motor area (SMA), precuneus, and lingual gyrus. Activity from task-relevant voxels (move > rest) was extracted, and generalized estimating equations evaluated the main effect of group and group-by-limb interaction. Effect sizes were calculated using the Cohen d.

Results:

Reduced brain activity during knee flexion and extension was observed in the ACLR group in the ipsilateral M1 and S1, contralateral S1, SMA, and precuneus during movements of the involved and uninvolved knees. There were no group-by-limb interaction effects, indicating no significant differences between the involved knee and uninvolved knee in the ACLR group. Medium to large effect sizes were identified for between-group differences in all regions.

Conclusion:

At 6 weeks after ACLR, patients exhibited bilateral reductions in brain activity during knee movements in multiple sensorimotor regions. These identified regions are associated with motor planning, motor execution, somatosensory function, and sensorimotor integration. These data indicate that ACLR affected sensorimotor brain activity in both limbs during the early postoperative phase of rehabilitation.
Clinical Outcomes of Fully Arthroscopic Versus Arthroscopically Assisted Latissimus Dorsi Transfer for Irreparable Subscapularis Tear
Authors: Kim Bo Taek , Miranda Luis Alfredo , Baek Chang Hee , Kim Jung Gon , Diaz Luis Leoncio Temoche , Baek Gyu Rim , Kany Jean
Published: February 2025

Background:

Untreated chronic subscapularis (SSC) tears pose a challenging problem to treat owing to the resultant tendon retraction, atrophy, fatty infiltration, and changes in humeral head position, which complicate surgical options. Anterior latissimus dorsi (LD) transfer has shown effective results in treating these tears without glenohumeral arthritis.

Purpose/Hypothesis:

This study introduces and evaluates fully arthroscopic and arthroscopically assisted anterior LD transfer techniques for reconstructing irreparable SSC tears. The authors hypothesize that both methods will yield promising and comparable clinical outcomes.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

This retrospective study reviewed patients who underwent anterior LD tendon transfer between February 2014 and April 2022. Indications for surgery included persistent shoulder pain and functional limitations unresponsive to nonoperative treatment, irreparable SSC tears (Lafosse grade ≥4), significant fatty infiltration (Goutallier grade ≥3), and minimal glenohumeral arthritis (Hamada stage <3). Patients were excluded if they had <2 years of follow-up or if data were lost. For comparison, the study divided patients into 2 groups based on the surgical methods: fully arthroscopic LD tendon transfer and arthroscopically assisted LD tendon transfer. Clinical assessments included pain levels (visual analog scale), Constant score, Subjective Shoulder Value score, and range of motion. Radiologic measurement and complications were assessed.

Results:

The study included 34 patients (mean ± SD age, 62.4 ± 7.5 years; follow-up, 35.4 ± 15.9 months). Significant improvements were observed in all patient-reported outcomes (pre- to posttest visual analog scale, 7.5 ± 1.2 to 1.2 ± 1.6; Constant score, 28.3 ± 6.0 to 68.8 ± 15.8; Subjective Shoulder Value, 23.2 ± 8.7 to 65.3 ± 22.0; all P < .001), range of motion in all directions, and internal rotation strength. Fully arthroscopic (n = 18) and arthroscopically assisted (n = 16) LD tendon transfers produced comparable clinical outcomes. Complications included 3 retears, 3 infections, and 5 cases of arthritis progression.

Conclusion:

Fully arthroscopic and arthroscopically assisted anterior LD transfers significantly reduce pain, enhance range of motion, and strengthen internal rotation in patients with irreparable SSC tears, with no significant differences in complications. These techniques offer comparable clinical outcomes, providing different options for surgeons.
Are you Packing? It's not Just About Lunch Anymore: Perceptions of Guns in National Parks
Authors: Freng Adrienne , Snyder Jamie A.
Published: February 2025

Over the course of the last several years, national parks in the United States have welcomed unprecedented numbers of visitors. As national parks remain popular places to frequent, research has rarely focused on individuals’ perceptions of crime and safety in these locations. This is especially true regarding individuals’ views of guns, which became legal within the National Park System in 2010. The current study surveyed 1,500 MTurk users who visited at least one national park in 2019, 2020, and 2021 about their perceptions regarding safety and gun possession while inside national park boundaries. Over 75% of respondents did not know it was legal to carry a gun in a national park. Less than half said they thought it should be illegal, however. Several factors, such as being bothered by seeing someone carry, perceptions of safety related to more people and rangers carrying, approval of people carrying in other “sensitive” locations, and if they had seen someone carry in a national park, influenced individual perceptions on whether or not gun possession within national parks should be legal. Policy implications regarding gun perceptions and impacts on national parks will be discussed.
Relationship Between the Prognostic Nutritional index and Short-Term Prognosis among Patients with Community-Acquired Bacterial Pneumonia: A Retrospective Analysis of the MIMIC-IV
Authors: Wu Qingsong , Liao Lianyi , Deng Qingjun
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The objective of this study was to investigate the association between the prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and the short-term outcomes in patients with community-acquired bacterial pneumonia (CABP).

Design

This study employed a retrospective design, utilizing data from the Medical Information Mart for Intensive Care (MIMIC)-IV database.

Participants

371 individuals from the MIMIC-IV database who were diagnosed with CABP.

Primary and secondary outcomes

The primary endpoint was 28-day all-cause mortality. The secondary endpoint was the length of stay (LOS) in the intensive care unit (ICU) and in hospital.

Results

The area under the curve of PNI for predicting 28-day all-cause mortality is 0.702 (95% CI 0.630 to 0.775; p < 0.001). Patients were divided into two groups based on their PNI at admission: the low PNI (<35.75) group and the high PNI group (≥35.75). CABP patients with higher PNI presented a lower 28-day all-cause mortality rate (adjusted HR: 0.53, 95% CI 0.28-0.98, p = 0.044). Moreover, a negative linear correlation was found between the PNI and short-term mortality rates via restricted cubic splines. Eventually, there was no difference in the LOS in the ICU or hospital between the two groups.

Conclusion

These findings suggest a negative correlation between the PNI at admission and the short-term mortality rate of CABP. PNI is helpful for early identification of high-risk patients.
High α-lipoic acid-loaded hollow mesoporous prussian blue nanozymes for targeted therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in mice
Authors: Pan Ya , Wang Xiaofeng , Zhou Xuejun , Chen Haipeng , Zou Yuxia
Published: February 2025

This study successfully constructs a tumor-targeting α-lipoic acid-loaded hollow mesoporous prussian blue nanozyme (AHPRzyme) for targeted therapy of nasopharyngeal carcinoma in mice. In these nanozymes, Arg-Gly-Asp (RGD) acts as a targeting ligand, enabling effective targeting of tumor cells. Additionally, AHPRzyme exhibits multiple anti-tumor mechanisms: ① The prussian blue nanozymes in AHPRzyme have catalase (CAT) activity, which decomposes H2O2 in human nasopharyngeal carcinoma CEN2 cells into non-toxic H2O, reducing H2O2 levels and minimizing damage to normal cells. The released O2 helps alleviate the hypoxic environment of the tumor, inhibiting lactate production due to hypoxia and consequently suppressing tumor growth. ② The prussian blue nanozymes also have peroxidase (POD) activity, which catalyzes H2O2 in tumor cells to generate ·OH, a reactive oxygen species, leading to tumor cell apoptosis. ③ The α-lipoic acid structure in AHPRzyme contains disulfide bonds that react with GSH, depleting excess glutathione (GSH) in tumor cells, disrupting the oxidative stress balance within the cells, and making them more sensitive to reactive oxygen species, thereby increasing tumor cell apoptosis. In summary, AHPRzyme can inhibit tumor cell growth and promote tumor cell apoptosis by improving the tumor microenvironment, achieving the goal of anti-nasopharyngeal carcinoma therapy.
Asymptotic Behavior of Nonlocal Semilinear Degenerate Heat Equations With Degenerate Memory
Authors: Wang Fengling , Li Yangrong , Caraballo Tomás
Published: February 2025

In this article, we study the asymptotic behavior of a nonlocal semilinear degenerate heat equation with degenerate past history in a bounded domain. We approximate the degenerate heat equation obtained after the Dafermos transformation with a non-degenerate equation to obtain the existence, uniqueness, and regularity of the solutions of the equation. Then, we obtain the existence of the global attractor of the original equation.
Evaluation of the interaction effect on viscoelastic and moisture behaviour of high-density polyethylene reinforced with multi-walled carbon nanotube and tungsten disulphide hybrid composites
Authors: Sudarsanam Sampath Kumar , Kavan Panneerselvam
Published: February 2025

This study examines the influence of varying weight percentages (wt.%) of the solid lubricant, tungsten disulphide (WS2), on the viscoelastic properties and interaction effects of a high-density polyethylene (HDPE) composite that is reinforced with both multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) and WS2. The fabrication of HDPE composites involved the utilisation of a twin screw extruder method to incorporate lubricants and reinforcement. The lubricant was introduced in three different proportions of 2, 4 and 8 wt.% while the MWCNT was reinforced at a constant 1 wt.% for all composite materials. The specimens were fabricated utilising an injection moulding machine. The composite's interaction effects were investigated using the Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy and Raman spectroscopy. The viscoelastic behaviours of the composite were studied using dynamic mechanical analyser (DMA). Composite moister characteristics were analysed using water contact angle measurement and water absorption test. The DMA results indicated that the HC1W2 (HDPE + MWCNT 1 wt.% + WS2 2 wt.%) hybrid composite exhibited enhanced interaction effects and desirable viscoelastic behaviour, as evidenced by loss modulus (G″) and storage modulus (G′) values. HC1W8 (HDPE + MWCNT 1wt.% + WS2 8 wt.%) sample shows less moister absorption, because adding filler improves the sample's hydrophobicity. The composite exhibits significant particle agglomeration when the lubricant content exceeds 2 wt.%. It affects the uniform dispersion of WS2 particles in the matrix, which leads to reduced composite performance.
A comparative study on material removal rate and surface roughness during electrochemical machining of 100Cr6 steel in oxidizing and reducing electrolytic environments
Authors: Upadhyay Ritesh Kumar , Majhi Shyam Sundar , Mahapatra Susanta Sinha , Yadav Narendra , Chakraborty Ashis Kumar , Singh Ashish Chandra , Kumar Bishnu
Published: February 2025

Electrochemical machining is a promising technique for creating microtextured surfaces on engineering materials due to its advantages, including a high material removal rate and superior surface finish. Electrochemical machining, however, faces challenges that hinder its precision, primarily due to the formation of a passive oxide layer on the workpiece surface. This oxide layer negatively affects both material removal rate and surface roughness (Ra), complicating the machining process. High current densities (> 20 A/cm²) can improve material removal rate, but they also increase energy consumption and worsen surface finish quality due to the intensified oxide layer formation. This dynamic creates a trade-off between increased material removal and a deteriorated surface finish. The article investigates ways to overcome these limitations by selecting appropriate electrolytic environments for the process. The study focuses on the anodic dissolution behavior of 100Cr6 steel in two distinct electrolytic solutions. The first is an oxidizing electrolyte, consisting of potassium dichromate (K2Cr2O7) and sodium chloride (NaCl), which promotes oxidation. The second is a reducing electrolyte, containing copper sulfate (CuSO4) and NaCl, which affects the electrochemical dissolution process differently by reducing the steel surface. The maximum improvement in material removal rate with the oxidizing electrolyte is observed at 22%, but simultaneously, a reduction in surface finish quality by 16.4% is noted. The reducing electrolyte offers much better overall performance, with significant improvements in both material removal rate (48.5%) and surface finish quality (21.7%). This is attributed to the reduction in oxide layer formation, which allows for a more controlled and efficient machining process. Analytical techniques like cyclic voltammetry (CV), UV–visible spectrophotometry, and field emission scanning electron microscopy (FESEM) were employed to analyze the dissolution process and visualize surface changes after machining. The results show that the oxidizing environment exposes more metal surfaces than the reducing environment, which aids in understanding and optimizing electrochemical machining processes.
Optimization and kinetics of biodiesel production from Mesua ferrea oil using K2CO3 imbued on alumina nanocatalyst
Authors: Karthikeyan Murugesan , Baskar Gurunathan , Sundararaman Sathish , Soosai Michael Rahul , Annam Renita Antony , Sangeetha Baskaran , Prabu Deivasigamani
Published: February 2025

The increasing scarcity of fossil fuels and rising geopolitical and environmental concerns have complicated energy production. Mesua ferrea linn seeds can be used to produce biodiesel as an alternative to conventional food crops. This study examined the catalytic activity of unsupported K2CO3 supported with alumina (K2CO3/Al2O3) in the transesterification reaction. The reaction was optimized using two methods: one variable at a time (OVAT) and Response Surface Methodology (RSM) with a Box-Behnken Design (BBD), which helped identify the linear and interactive effects of process variables on biodiesel yield. OVAT determined the optimal conditions to be: catalyst amount (6 wt%), methanol-to-oil molar ratio (6:1), temperature (60°C), time (60 min), and stirring speed (600 rpm). In contrast, RSM predicted the highest methyl ester conversion with: catalyst amount (6 wt%), methanol-to-oil ratio (7.8:1), temperature (55°C), and time (45 min). A confirmation experiment under RSM conditions achieved a maximum FAME conversion of 95.81%. RSM also indicated that the key parameters influencing transesterification, in order of significance, were temperature, time, and methanol-to-oil ratio. A pseudo-first-order kinetic model was also developed, revealing an activation energy of 53.95 kJ/mol.
Towards safer mines: Analyzing occupational health and safety perceptions and injury patterns in Serbian underground mining
Authors: Ivaz Jelena S , Fedajev Aleksandra N , Petrović Dejan V , Stojadinović Saša S , Zlatanović Dragan M , Stojković Pavle Z , Stajić Milan S , Radovanović Mladen B
Published: February 2025

Background

Mining is a high-risk sector, particularly in underground environments, where workers face daily hazards. This research evaluates workplace safety perceptions in Serbian underground coal mines, ranking workers by education, age, and job role, while incorporating injury data to provide a comprehensive assessment of safety across different worker groups.

Objective

This study is aimed at analyses of the correlation between occupational health and safety (OHS) perceptions and the injury index across different worker groups, to identify improvement opportunities and propose targeted measures for enhancing OHS practices.

Methods

The PROMETHEE II method categorized workers based on production units, qualifications, and age, focusing on criteria like protective equipment, work conditions, risk awareness, management, work organization, and training. The entropy method provided objective weightings for these criteria, allowing for comparison with injury index rankings to establish priorities for improvement.

Results

Štavalj and Vrška Čuka ranked highest in OHS perception. Workers with MSc/Dr qualifications displayed heightened awareness of safety, while those aged 56 to 65 exhibited the best understanding of health and safety. Spearman rank correlation coefficients revealed a strong negative correlation (−0.796) for production units, a strong positive correlation (0.70) for qualifications, and a very strong positive correlation (0.90) for age concerning PROMETHEE II rankings and injury index indicators.

Conclusions

The disparities between worker perception rankings and injury index rankings suggest opportunities for targeted safety improvements and enhanced training protocols.
Factors Affecting the Intensive Care Experience of Patients Undergoing Cardiac Surgery: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: Dağcan Şahin Necibe , Gürol Arslan Gülşah
Published: February 2025

Background: Cardiac surgery is an operation with a high risk of postoperative complications. Many factors affect patients’ intensive care experience, especially after an operation. Objectives: To investigate the factors affecting the intensive care experience of patients undergoing cardiac surgery. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 200 patients who had undergone cardiac surgery in a hospital in Turkey between February and September 2022. Results: Patients who had cardiac surgery perceived their experiences in the intensive care unit (ICU) as more positive than negative. Variables of age, gender, length of stay (LOS) in the ICU, and mean pain scores were found to be significant predictors (53%) of the intensive care experience, with the most significant factor being LOS in the ICU. Conclusions: Both the LOS in the ICU and the pain scores can be alleviated with effective care. Reducing pain and shortening intensive care stays by providing quality nursing care will make the ICU experience more positive.
Community-Designed Park-Building and Maintenance With the Park in a Truck Initiative
Authors: McIntire Russell K. , Douglas Kimberlee , Shockley Alisa , Harris Drew , Gay Valerie
Published: February 2025

Parks and green spaces have been shown to improve human health. Yet, in cities such as Philadelphia, people with lower incomes and racially minoritized populations have less access to these health-promoting spaces. Furthermore, there are more than 42,000 lots and properties which sit vacant in Philadelphia neighborhoods. Park in a Truck (PiaT) is a green space development initiative in Philadelphia that helps communities transform available lots into neighborhood parks. PiaT works with communities to acquire neighborhood land, design and build parks, and train local youth to program and maintain the parks. In this article, we present lessons learned and best practices generated from years of working with communities to design, build, and maintain parks through the PiaT initiative. We have found that transforming lots into community parks needs to be driven by communities, and particularly, champions on the ground who work to gain access to lots and motivate resident engagement. We have also found success in training neighborhood teens to maintain the parks—to keep them clean and organize park events. Finally, PiaT works to transmit the message that open lots can be transformed into community assets that bring people together. Overall, PiaT empowers residents to design, build, and maintain parks within their neighborhoods. This process can reduce park inequities, and if scaled, improve the health of populations.
Periareolar Cardiac Surgery in Patients With Breast Implants: How to Do It
Authors: Vinck Eric E. , García Mónica M. , Rendón Juan C. , Escobar José J.
Published: February 2025

Minimally invasive cardiac surgery has progressed from small thoracotomies to endoscopic and robotic surgeries. Here we present a periareolar approach in patients with breast implants. This technique involves both cardiac and plastic surgeons in response to a more cosmetically conscious population along with the benefits of avoiding the sternum. In elective cases, myxoma removals, atrial septal defect closures, and mitral valve surgeries can be performed in patients with previous breast prosthesis using a periareolar technique.
Journalistic role performance in Southern European media systems: Resilience in times of disruption
Authors: Maniou Theodora A , Trifonova Price Lada , Clark Marilyn , Papadopoulou Lambrini
Published: February 2025

This work is grounded and inspired by studies on journalism's vulnerabilities in times of crisis, role performance, support systems and calls for collective resilience in the face of emerging/new threats to journalism practice. The study adopts a comparative approach and goes beyond what has already been examined by critically assessing resilience strategies that journalists develop to cope with professional threats that have emerged with the onset of the coronavirus pandemic in 2020. The study focuses on journalism practice in Bulgaria, Greece, Cyprus and Malta. Its findings indicate that in the face of this crisis, journalists showed remarkable resilience despite the lack of professional support systems as they turned to their profession's highest values to draw strength and support. The hardships they faced, both personally and professionally, did not deter them from fulfilling their roles, but fuelled them with persistence and rekindled their faith in journalism as a vocation.
Positive health promotion: the Ottawa Charter approach
Authors: Watson MC , Neil KE
Published: February 2025

This article endeavours to make public health professionals aware of key priorities for promoting positive health based on the Ottawa Charter. The authors recommend the use of optimum or positive health indicators. They argue that in so doing we may see a paradigm shift in our thinking away from purely sickness and ill health, towards more positive visions of health.
‘Green energy’ is not always clean energy
Authors: Edwards S , Dowen S , Lee N
Published: February 2025

This article explores the public health implications of the change from from a coal-fired to a waste-fired power station and concerns for the long term impact of incineration.
Increasing trends in utilization of physical and occupational therapy services in early Parkinson's disease
Authors: Longhurst Jason K , Chrusciel Timothy , Ahmad Syed O
Published: February 2025

Background

Best practice guidelines in Parkinson's disease (PD) calls for the immediate initiation of rehabilitation therapies (inclusive of physical (PT) and occupational therapy (OT)) to prevent or ameliorate the loss of function and quality of life associated with disease progression.

Objective

The purpose of this study was to determine the utilization of PT and OT services within the first 2 years following PD diagnosis and to observe longitudinal trends in PT and OT utilization early following PD diagnosis.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study accessed 12 years (2011 to 2023) of data from electronic health records at a midwestern US healthy system. Patients with new PD diagnoses and two-years of visit history were included. The primary outcome was utilization of PT or OT services within two-years of PD diagnosis. Data extracted included demographics and PD therapies. Records of 9720 patients were included in the analyses.

Results

Overall, 36.9% of the cohort ( n = 3586) received either physical or occupational therapy within two years of receipt of PD diagnosis. Increasing age, higher comorbidity index, female gender, use of dopamine replacement therapies, and African American race were all positively associated with receipt of PT or OT services ( ps < 0.007). The longitudinal trend revealed an average year over year increase in PT/OT utilization of 1.4% between 2013 and 2021 ( p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study shows a promising increase in utilization of PT and OT services over previous reports and longitudinally, however it continues to convey how far clinical practice continues to lag behind best practice and scientific recommendation.
Pulmonary Atresia, Ventricular Septal Defect, and Major Aortopulmonary Collateral Arteries: The Natural History and Late Presentation
Authors: Reddy Darshan , Kleinloog Robert , Kinsley Robin
Published: February 2025

Pulmonary atresia with ventricular septal defect and major aortopulmonary collateral arteries represents a heterogenous and complex congenital heart defect. Treatment pathways vary widely depending on center expertise. The recommended approach in infancy is to achieve uniform pulmonary artery and capillary bed development, and a biventricular repair when feasible. The natural history of this condition is particularly relevant in low-middle income countries where early intervention is not possible due to poor access to cardiac surgical care. This group of patients may present in late childhood or as adults with symptoms of chronic cyanosis that may be associated with cardiac failure. The surgical approach to this group may range from complete correction to pulmonary artery rehabilitation or unifocalization, or consideration for heart-lung transplantation.
Climate change adaptation in fragile and conflict-affected settings: Conflict and peace considerations in project design
Authors: Bergman Jonas
Published: February 2025

There is a growing overlap between countries most affected by climate change and those affected by conflict and fragility. This paper addresses the need for a better understanding of how to pursue effective climate action in fragile and conflict-affected settings (FCS) by investigating how and to what extent conflict considerations and peacebuilding efforts are integrated into adaptation projects in these contexts. A purposive sample of 15 projects approved in 2022–2023 from the three main multilateral climate funds were analyzed through a framework analysis method based on a novel three-step approach for the design of adaptation projects in FCS. The results indicate variability and a lack of systematic methodology in integrating conflict aspects and peacebuilding elements into project designs, a tendency of silo-thinking climate–conflict dynamics but also that a considerable share of projects engage with the concept of environmental peacebuilding. The findings imply that to mainstream conflict considerations and peacebuilding efforts more prevalently in adaptation projects in FCS, there is a critical need to develop suitable policies and guidelines to support this work. This includes more widely accepted frameworks and generates more robust evidence on the interaction between climate, conflict, fragility, and peacebuilding.
Damping capability enhancement of the polyurethane seismic isolation device for HV post insulators and its numerical evaluation with the 2023 Kahramanmaraş, Türkiye Earthquake Sequence
Authors: Gönülcü Emre , Gökçe Tansu , Yüksel Ercan , Orakdöğen Engin
Published: February 2025

One of the most effective methods of improving high-voltage (HV) porcelain insulator earthquake performance is seismic isolation. A low-cost seismic isolation device consisting of polyurethane springs has been developed previously to ensure the seismic safety of porcelain insulators. In this study, a supplementary steel damper mechanism was designed to improve the damping properties of the device. Quasi-static tests were conducted to determine the contribution of the proposed mechanism to the system characteristics, such as additional stiffness and damping. An extensive shaking table test program was carried out on a post-insulator system with and without base isolation to investigate the global dynamic behavior of the system while subjected to seismic excitation. Ten historical earthquake records matched with the required response spectrum of IEEE693-2018 were applied, and the experimental results were used to validate the finite element model. The effects of the proposed damping mechanism on the seismic isolation system were investigated experimentally and numerically. The effectiveness of the seismic isolation device with additional damping mechanisms has been assessed for a case study of the 6 February 2023 Kahramanmaraş (Pazarcık M7.7 and Elbistan M7.6) Earthquakes.
Factors associated with early quality of life response to palliative care during hematopoietic cell transplantation
Authors: Newcomb Richard A. , Amonoo Hermioni L. , Kavanaugh Alison R. , Wharton Kristin C. , Rowland Michaela , Fausto James , Webb Jason A. , Jackson Vicki , Greer Joseph A. , Temel Jennifer S , Lark Porsha , Rabideau Dustin J. , O'Brien Karen , LeBlanc Thomas W. , Lee Stephanie J. , El-Jawahri Areej
Published: February 2025

Limited data exist on factors associated with early quality of life (QOL) response to palliative care (PC) in patients undergoing hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT). We conducted a secondary analysis from two randomized clinical trials of PC versus usual care in adults with hematologic malignancies undergoing HCT. We measured patient-reported QOL, physical and psychological symptoms, and coping (categorized as approach-oriented and avoidant) at time of HCT admission, 2-weeks, 3- and 6- months post-HCT. PC clinicians completed weekly surveys documenting PC domains addressed. We defined early QOL response to PC as change in FACT-BMT Total score from HCT admission to week 2 and used the median split to define "high" responders. 252 participants were included in analyses. The median change in QOL from HCT admission to week 2 was -10.7 (range: -77.0, +52.0). Minoritized race (OR=3.2, CI=[1.7,6.3], p<0.001), lower baseline QOL (OR=0.97, CI=[0.96,0.99], p<0.001), higher physical (OR=1.02, CI=[1.0,1.04], p=0.004) and PTSD symptoms (OR=1.04, CI=[1.01,1.07], p=0.008) were associated with being a high PC responder. High PC responders reported greater use of approach-oriented coping at week 2 (D=2.5, CI=[0.9,4.1], p=0.002), 3 months (D=1.7, CI=[0.1,3.3], p=0.04), and 6 months post-HCT (D=2.6, CI=[0.8,4.4], p=0.003). Based on PC clinician surveys during HCT, high responders' PC visits focused on coping, illness/HCT education, and symptom education, compared to low responders' visits which focused on symptom management. These findings provide insights into factors associated with early QOL response to PC in HCT and help identify those most likely to benefit in real world practice. The clinical trial were registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT02207322, NCT03641378)
Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists and Venous Thromboembolism in Type 2 Diabetes: A Target Trial Emulation
Authors: Chiang Cho Han , Song Junmin , Chang Yu-Cheng , Osataphan Soravis , Lee Yu-Che , Chang Ko-Yun , Chi Kuan-Yu , Chiang Cho-Hung , Dua Anahita , Lake Leslie , Lauw Mandy N. , Bauer Kenneth A , Kazi Dhruv Satish , Patell Rushad
Published: February 2025

Glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists (GLP1-RA) are anti-diabetes agents recently approved for weight loss. Obesity is an established risk factor for venous thromboembolism (VTE). Moreover, preclinical studies have shown that GLP1-RA may attenuate thromboxaneinduced platelet activation. Therefore, we hypothesized that GLP1-RA use may reduce the risk of VTE. We performed a target trial emulation using a population-based database of electronic health records to evaluate whether GLP1-RA use is associated with a reduction in VTE in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared with dipeptidyl peptidas e-4 inhibitors (DPP4i). Patients who were newly initiated on GLP1-RA were propensity scorematched to patients who were newly initiated on DPP4i. We evaluated the primary outcome, composite VTE, identified using ICD-10 codes, within 12 months of the initiation of GLP1-RA or DPP4i. The study cohort comprised 540,258 patients with 270,129 individuals receiving either GLP1-RA or DPP4i. Over 12 months of follow-up, patients who received GLP1-RA had a lower incidence of VTE compared with patients who received DPP4i (6.1 vs. 7.6 events per 1000 patient-years, hazard ratio [HR], 0.78 [95% CI: 0.73-0.83]). This was similar for PE (2.9 vs. 3.8 events per 1000 patient-years, HR, 0.74 [95% CI: 0.68-0.82]) and DVT (3.9 vs. 4.7 events per 1000 patient-years, HR, 0.81 [95% CI: 0.75-0.88]). In this propensity scorematched, target trial emulation study, patients with T2DM who received a GLP1-RA had a lower risk of VTE at one year compared with patients who received DPP4i.
Tectonometamorphic evolution of a subduction plate interface at the base of the Mirdita Ophiolite (Bajram Curri, northeastern Albania)
Authors: Richter Madeline , Pollok Kilian , Onuzi Kujtim , Ustaszewski Kamil
Published: February 2025

The Western Vardar ophiolite, a thrust sheet of oceanic crust and mantle obducted onto the Adriatic passive margin in the Late Jurassic, crops out along the entire Balkan Peninsula. The Mirdita Ophiolite forms the northern Albanian segment of this unit. In northeast Albania near Bajram Curri, a 200–700 m thick metamorphic sole is preserved at its base. The assembly of obducted mantle rocks and metamorphic sole constitutes a plate interface that formed during the intraoceanic subduction stage preceding obduction; we call this a fossil intraoceanic plate interface in this paper. This setting allows to study the interrelated tectonometamorphic evolution and rock-water interaction between the subducted and exhumed metamorphic sole and concomitant mantle wedge serpentinization in the overlying units. We combined detailed lithological and structural mapping with micro-scale analyses along this plate interface. Three tectonic units were distinguished. Mylonitic harzburgites overlie a tightly folded, tectonised subophiolitic mélange along a SE-dipping contact that defines the fossil intraoceanic plate interface. The tectonised subophiolitic mélange itself was separated into a structurally lower non-metamorphic broken formation and a higher metamorphic sole, separated by an isoclinally folded thrust. Within the metamorphic sole, the temperature and degree of deformation increase towards the structural top. Shear sense indicators in calcschists of the metamorphic sole show top to the west transport of the overriding units. All metamorphic sole lithologies were overprinted at lower greenschist-facies conditions, reflecting their exhumation from intraoceanic subduction. Corresponding microstructures indicate mineral growth at isotropic stresses, suggesting that deformation migrated into structurally lower, frontally accreted non-metamorphic units of the sub-ophiolitic mélange marking the start of obduction onto the passive Adriatic margin. Ongoing westward transport led to folding of the entire sub-ophiolitic succession. Harzburgites are more deformed towards the plate interface, forming a mylonitic fabric. There, harzburgites contain accessory Cr-rich spinel and the foliation is dissected by multiple generations of veins containing serpentine and magnetite. Vein density is highest along the plate interface and decreases up-section, suggesting that serpentinisation was triggered by devolatilisation reactions in the sediments of the metamorphic sole that were subducting below the harzburgites, and the upwards migration of volatiles into the overlying mantle wedge.
sORFdb – a database for sORFs, small proteins, and small protein families in bacteria
Authors: Hahnfeld Julian M. , Schwengers Oliver , Jelonek Lukas , Diedrich Sonja , Cemič Franz , Goesmann Alexander
Published: February 2025

Small proteins with fewer than 100, particularly fewer than 50, amino acids are still largely unexplored. Nonetheless, they represent an essential part of bacteria’s often neglected genetic repertoire. In recent years, the development of ribosome profiling protocols has led to the detection of an increasing number of previously unknown small proteins. Despite this, they are overlooked in many cases by automated genome annotation pipelines, and often, no functional descriptions can be assigned due to a lack of known homologs. To understand and overcome these limitations, the current abundance of small proteins in existing databases was evaluated, and a new dedicated database for small proteins and their potential functions, called ’sORFdb’, was created. To this end, small proteins were extracted from annotated bacterial genomes in the GenBank database. Subsequently, they were quality-filtered, compared, and complemented with proteins from Swiss-Prot, UniProt, and SmProt to ensure reliable identification and characterization of small proteins. Families of similar small proteins were created using bidirectional best BLAST hits followed by Markov clustering. Analysis of small proteins in public databases revealed that their number is still limited due to historical and technical constraints. Additionally, functional descriptions were often missing despite the presence of potential homologs. As expected, a taxonomic bias was evident in over-represented clinically relevant bacteria. This new and comprehensive database is accessible via a feature-rich website providing specialized search features for sORFs and small proteins of high quality. Additionally, small protein families with Hidden Markov Models and information on taxonomic distribution and other physicochemical properties are available. In conclusion, the novel small protein database sORFdb is a specialized, taxonomy-independent database that improves the findability and classification of sORFs, small proteins, and their functions in bacteria, thereby supporting their future detection and consistent annotation. All sORFdb data is freely accessible via https://sorfdb.computational.bio.
Seed endophytes of malting barley from different locations are shaped differently and are associated with malt quality traits
Authors: Ajayi Oyeyemi , Mahalingam Ramamurthy
Published: February 2025

Maximizing microbial functions for improving crop performance requires better understanding of the important drivers of plant-associated microbiomes. However, it remains unclear the forces that shapes microbial structure and assembly, and how plant seed-microbiome interactions impact grain quality. In this work, we characterized the seed endophytic microbial communities of malting barley from different geographical locations and investigated associations between microbial (bacterial and fungal) species diversity and malt quality traits. Host genotype, location, and interactions (genotype x location) significantly impacted the seed endophytic microbial communities. Taxonomic composition analysis identified the most abundant genera for bacterial and fungal communities to be Bacillus (belonging to phylum Firmicutes) and Blumeria (belonging to phylum Ascomycota), respectively. We observed that a greater proportion of bacterial amplicon sequence variants (bacterial ASVs) were shared across genotypes and across locations while the greater proportion of the fungal ASVs were unique to each genotype and location. Association analysis showed a significant negative correlation between bacterial alpha diversity indices (Faith PD and Shannon indices) and malt quality traits for barley protein (BP), free amino nitrogen (FAN), diastatic power (DP) and alpha amylase (AA), while fungal alpha diversity (Shannon and Simpson) showed significant negative relationship with β-D-glucan content. In addition, some bacterial and fungal genera were significantly associated with malt extract (ME) -a key trait for maltsters and brewers. We conclude that barley genotype, location, and their interactions shape the seed endophytic microbiome and is key to microbiome manipulation and management during barley production and/or malting.