bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Losartan attenuates sex-dependent hypertension, neuroinflammation, and cognitive impairment in the aging male sprague–dawley rat
Authors: Nist Kayla M. , Bard Hannah , McBride Brannon , Capriglione Angela L. , Moreira Jesse D. , Farb David H. , Wainford Richard D. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe prevalence of hypertension increases with age and is the leading modifiable risk factor for cognitive impairment and dementia. At present, the neural mechanisms promoting hypertension across the lifespan are incompletely understood. Using the Sprague–Dawley (SD) rat as a model of normal aging, we hypothesized (1) blood brain barrier (BBB) disruption and neuroinflammation in the paraventricular nucleus (PVN) of the hypothalamus enhances sympathetic tone and contributes to age-dependent hypertension, (2) age-dependent hypertension is associated with cognitive impairment, and (3) lowering blood pressure in aged rats with established hypertension improves cognitive function. We found male, but not female, rats develop age-dependent hypertension with enhanced sympathetic tone, BBB disruption, and neuroinflammation in the PVN. Aged hypertensive male rats also showed impairments in recognition and spatial memory. Utilizing pharmacological interventions, blood pressure was lowered in male rats with established hypertension using either losartan (LOS) or hydrochlorothiazide. However, only losartan improved recognition memory. Further, LOS reduced BBB disruption, microglial activation, astrocyte reactivity, and proinflammatory cytokine expression in the PVN which we speculate contributes to a decrease in blood pressure. These data show SD rats develop age-dependent hypertension and cognitive impairment in a sex-dependent manner. However, not all antihypertensive agents improve cognitive function equally as only losartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor antagonist (AT1R) improved recognition memory. Thus, AT1R antagonists represent a potential therapeutic approach for treating cognitive decline in the aging population.
Development and feasibility study of a piezoresistive pressure sensor-based automated system for monitoring and controlling gastric pressure in endoscopy
Authors: Koh Sukgyu , Kim Sungwan 
Published: December 2024

AbstractMaintaining precise intragastric pressure during gastrointestinal endoscopy is critical for patient safety and diagnostic accuracy, yet current methods relying on manual adjustments pose risks of improper insufflation. This study aimed to develop an automated gastric pressure control system for flexible endoscopy, addressing these challenges with a piezoresistive pressure sensor that can be integrated into a 7.3 mm diameter flexible endoscope. The system, incorporating air and suction pumps controlled by a microcontroller, was calibrated in an acrylic chamber and validated through comprehensive testing in both an endoscopy simulator and a porcine specimen. Testing scenarios included normal breathing, coughing, belching, and combined events, assessing accuracy, stability, and real-time pressure regulation under conditions mimicking physiological responses. Results demonstrated high accuracy (R2 = 0.9999), minimal bias (0.23 mmHg), and strong agreement with reference standards, confirming effective pressure management. Simulated clinical scenarios in simulator and porcine specimen further showed the system’s ability to maintain target pressure with minimal errors, indicating robustness under dynamic conditions. These findings suggest that the automated pressure control system significantly improves safety and procedural efficiency in endoscopy, with potential applicability to other minimally invasive procedures. Further animal model testing is recommended to validate the clinical performance under realistic physiological conditions.
Graphical Abstract
Machine learning-based variable selection for clustered credit risk modeling
Authors: Bosker Joost , Gürtler Marc , Zöllner Marvin 
Published: December 2024

AbstractSeveral studies have demonstrated the high prediction accuracy of clustered credit risk modeling. In clustered modeling, borrowers are segmented based on their similarities through cluster analysis, and a separate predictive model is developed for each cluster, resulting in increased predictive accuracy. Unambiguously, its effectiveness depends on the quality of the segmentation, which in turn depends primarily on the choice of variables used in the cluster analysis. However, appropriate variable selection for clustering is a major challenge, particularly for high-dimensional data. In the present study, we propose a machine learning-based variable selection method based on theoretical and regulatory considerations. Formally, the most influential risk drivers from a best-in-class machine learning model are identified using Shapley values and employed as clustering variables. Thus, the information of the explanatory variables crucial for the prediction of the dependent variable is already processed during data segmentation, making each individual predictive model more effective. Through a comparative analysis using two real-world credit default datasets, we show that our proposed approach to clustered modeling leads to the highest prediction accuracy among various clustering models.
Limited diagnostic performance of imaging evaluation for staging in gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma: a multi-center study
Authors: Himoto Yuki , Kido Aki , Yamanoi Koji , Kurata Yasuhisa , Morita Satoshi , Kikkawa Nao , Fukui Hideyuki , Ohya Ayumi , Iraha Yuko , Tsuboyama Takahiro , Ito Kimiteru , Fujinaga Yasunari , Minamiguchi Sachiko , Mandai Masaki , Nakamoto Yuji 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Purpose
The purposes of the study are to assess the diagnostic performance of preoperative imaging for staging factors in gastric-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (GEA) and to compare the performance for GEA with that of usual-type endocervical adenocarcinoma (UEA) among patients preoperatively deemed locally early stage (DLES) (< T2b without distant metastasis).

Materials and methods
For this multi-center retrospective study, 58 patients were enrolled. All had undergone MRI with or without CT and FDG PET-CT preoperatively and had been pathologically diagnosed with GEA at five institutions. Based on the medical charts and radiological reports, the diagnostic performances of preoperative imaging for the International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics staging factors were assessed retrospectively. Next, the imaging performance was assessed in preoperatively DLES-GEA (n = 36) and DLES-UEA (n = 136, with the same inclusion criteria). The proportions of underestimation of GEA and UEA were compared using Fisher’s exact test.

Results
Imaging diagnostic performance for GEA was limited, especially for sensitivity: parametrial invasion, 0.49; vaginal invasion, 0.54; pelvic lymph node metastasis (PELNM), 0.48; para-aortic lymph node metastasis, 0.00; and peritoneal dissemination, 0.25. Among preoperatively DLES patients, the proportions of underestimation were significantly higher in GEA than in UEA; parametrial invasion, 35% vs. 5% (p < 0.01); vaginal invasion, 28% vs. 6% (p < 0.01); PELNM, 24% vs. 6% (p < 0.05); peritoneal dissemination, 6% vs. 0% (p < 0.05).

Conclusion
At present, preoperative imaging diagnostic performance for staging factors in GEA does not meet clinical expectations, especially for sensitivity. Among patients preoperatively DLES, the proportions of underestimation in GEA were significantly higher than in UEA. Future incorporation of approaches specifically emphasizing GEA is desirable to improve imaging performance.
Erlebnisfeld Konflikt
Authors: Schimpf Elke , Hülsermann Oliver 
Published: December 2024

Zusammenfassung
Konfliktsituationen können im Studium Soziale Arbeit zu emotionalen Herausforderungen führen. Das Instrumentarium der Konfliktanalyse erweist sich hier als hilfreich, um Emotionen und Grenzerfahrungen mit Studierenden zu bearbeiten.
Approaches to the conservation of archaeological sites in the Mediterranean in the current and changing climates, with a focus on the Prehistoric Temples of Malta
Authors: Cassar JoAnn 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis paper gives an overview of some of the current approaches to the preservation of UNESCO World Heritage Sites in the Mediterranean, represented by some of the most important archaeological remains, with a special focus on the Prehistoric Temples of Malta, and the key approaches to their conservation in the nineteenth, twentieth and twenty-first centuries. Preserving and conserving such sites, sometimes consisting of complex arrays of materials, is a challenge and approaches over time have varied. The lead example is the group of Temples of Malta because they (1) are made of porous limestones particularly susceptible to salt weathering; (2) have been exposed to adverse (exposed, marine) climatic conditions for millennia; (3) have suffered material deterioration over time leading also occasionally to structural problems; (4) have undergone various restoration attempts over the decades, not all particularly successful; (5) have resulted in complex decision-making processes leading to their sheltering; and (6) are facing (like all other sites) climate change, where new action/s may be required. This paper will therefore take us on a journey, led by the example of these Temples, to look also at various other iconic UNESCO sites in relation to past, present, and even future threats, including climate change, as well as approaches to conservation/restoration over the years, with indications for future decision makers on actions to take after holistically understanding the risks and threats.
Graphical abstract
Design and evaluation of a robot telemedicine system for initial medical examination with UK and Thai doctors
Authors: Chirapornchai Chatchai , Bremner Paul , Giuliani Manuel , Niyi-Odumosu Faatihah 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis study presents the evaluation of a robot telemedicine system used for initial diagnosis of patient with UK and Thai doctors. In a prior study, a set of user requirements for a robot telemedicine system were outlined based on a focus group with medical professionals and an online survey with the public. Based on these recommendations we have developed a robot telemedicine system that consists of a telepresence interface with examination functionality for doctors to control a robot that is present with patients. The system is designed for initial diagnosis of medical conditions, and Bell’s palsy diagnosis is chosen as an example use case. This paper presents the design and usability evaluation of this robot telemedicine system. The usability study was conducted using a thinking-aloud protocol, and a semi-structured interview was conducted after using the system. Study results were analysed using framework analysis. Additionally, participants were asked to give subjective ratings of the system. The study was conducted cross-culturally with doctors from the UK and Thailand, allowing us to gain a deeper understanding of system usability with groups that differ in their medical practice and user needs. Study participants rated the system with 72.19 points on the System Usability Scale, which indicates acceptable usability when interpreted semantically. The system also received a presence score of 0.691, normalized between 0 (least) and 1 (highest). Based on the framework analysis the prior set of user requirements has been refined and developed into a set of design recommendations for use in the development of future robot telemedicine systems. Additionally, study results indicate differences in medical practice between UK and Thai doctors which could be relevant to adjust the robot telemedicine system to local users.
Multidimensionale Herausforderungen und Strategien der Leistungsbewertung im Sportunterricht: eine qualitative Analyse
Authors: Schittkowski Bastian , Woll Alexander , Wagner Ingo 
Published: December 2024

ZusammenfassungDie vorliegende Interviewstudie untersucht die Herausforderungen und Strategien der Leistungsbewertung im Sportunterricht. Hauptaugenmerk liegt auf den spezifischen Herausforderungen des kompetenzorientierten Unterrichts und den Methoden zur Fehlervermeidung. Insgesamt 17 Sportlehrpersonen aus Baden-Württemberg wurden hierzu interviewt. Die Ergebnisse zeigen, dass Lehrpersonen eine Vielzahl von Strategien anwenden, um Transparenz zu schaffen und Bewertungsfehler zu minimieren. Dazu gehören die Verwendung von Bewertungstabellen, die Einbindung der Schüler:innen in die Kriterienentwicklung und die systematische Planung der Bewertung über das Schuljahr hinweg. Auf Basis der Studienergebnisse werden die vielfältigen Bewertungsdimensionen und Normenorientierungen diskutiert, die im Sportunterricht zur Anwendung kommen sowie praktische Ansätze zur Verbesserung der Bewertungspraxis deduziert.
A cancellation theorem for metacyclic group rings
Authors: Johnson F. E. A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractA ring $$\Lambda $$
Λ
has stably free cancellation when every stably free $$\Lambda $$
Λ
-module is free. Let $$ G \; = \; C_p \rtimes C_q $$

G

=

C
p

⋊

C
q

be a finite metacyclic group where p is an odd prime and q is a positive integral divisor of $$p-1$$

p
-
1

. We show that the group ring $$\mathcal{R}[G]$$

R
[
G
]

has stably free cancellation when $$\;\mathcal{R} \; = \; {\mathbb {Z}}[t_1, t_1^{-1}, \dots t_m, t_m^{-1}, x_1, \dots x_n] \;$$

R

=

Z
[

t
1

,

t
1

-
1

,
⋯

t
m

,

t
m

-
1

,

x
1

,
⋯

x
n

]

is a ring of mixed polynomials and Laurent polynomials over the integers. As a consequence, when $$C_\infty ^{(m)}$$

C
∞

(
m
)

is the free abelian group of rank m then the integral group ring $${\mathbb {Z}}[G(p,q) \times C_\infty ^{(m)}]\; $$

Z
[
G

(
p
,
q
)

×

C
∞

(
m
)

]

has stably free cancellation.
Heart and lung point-of-care ultrasonography tutoring in internal medicine: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Leidi Antonio , Krauer Juliette , Soret Guillaume , Parent Thibault , Marti Christophe , Meyer Philippe , Juillerat André , Bex Stijn , Suh Noémie , Rouyer Frédéric , Siegenthaler Nils , Grosgurin Olivier 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Purpose
In recent years, point-of-care ultrasonography (POCUS) has been integrated into internal medicine practice with most curricula composed of a single course. Despite competency acquisition during the course, a significant decline in proficiency occurs in the subsequent weeks due to a lack of regular practice and training. This study aims to evaluate the impact of a structured POCUS tutoring, on POCUS use and skills retention at 6 months.

Methods
In this randomized controlled trial, internal medicine residents were enrolled after completing a practical course focused on heart and lung ultrasonography. Residents assigned to the intervention group were paired with a tutor, and time slots were scheduled for bedside direct supervision over the following 6 months. The primary outcome was the proportion of residents who successfully completed at least 25 POCUS examinations six months after inclusion. Secondary outcomes included self- and blinded-expert-assessed POCUS competency skills.

Results
Between January and May 2022, 23 residents were included in the study. The intervention significantly increased the proportion of participants reaching the primary outcome (70% versus 0%; p < 0.001) with a median of 27 (interquartile range, IQR, 6 to 44) supervised examinations performed versus 0 (IQR 0 to 0) in intervention and control arm respectively; p < 0.001. After 6 months, proficiency was higher for most heart imaging but not for lung imaging, as assessed through self-assessment by participants or independently by blinded experts.

Conclusion
Structured POCUS supervision significantly enhances the number of POCUS examinations and proficiency at 6-months, particularly in applications requiring greater visuospatial skills.
Impact of Chinese visceral adiposity index on all-cause mortality risk in community-dwelling older adults: a prospective cohort study
Authors: Zhang Yuyu , Shi Mingyue , Dong Zhao , Li Tingting , Gong Yangfan , Ge Wei 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
Backgrounds
Whether excess visceral fat tissue increases the risk of death in older individuals remains controversial.

Aims
To investigate the association between the Chinese Visceral Adiposity Index (CVAI) and all-cause mortality risk in older Chinese individuals.

Methods
This cohort study utilized data of individuals aged ≥ 65 years in 2014 to 2018 wave from the Chinese Longitudinal Healthy Longevity Survey database. Older individuals in the 2014 wave were included and followed up in 2018. CVAI was calculated based on age, body size, and blood lipid parameters, with higher values indicating increased visceral fat. Survival status was determined from official death certificates, local primary healthcare providers, or the family members of participants. Kaplan-Meier survival curve and log-rank test were employed to analyze cumulative mortality risk through CVAI tertiles (tertile 1: CVAI index < 97.34; tertile 2: 97.43 ≤ CVAI index < 132.21; and tertile 3: CVAI index ≥ 132.21). A Cox proportional hazards regression model was used to assess the relationship between the CVAI groups and all-cause mortality risk. Additionally, a sensitivity analysis was performed by excluding participants who died within the first year of follow-up. A subgroup analysis was performed based on age and sex, and a restricted cubic spline plot was created to analyze the dose-response relationship between CVAI and mortality risk.

Results
A total of 1414 individuals were included, and the mean age of the participants was 84.6 (standard deviation: 10.9) years, of which 46.4% were women and 32.8% were died during a median follow-up time of 36.4 months. In the multivariable adjusted Cox regression model, we observed a significantly lower risk of mortality in the CVAI tertile 2 and 3 groups than in the tertile 1 group. The hazard ratios (HR) of the tertile 2 and 3 groups were 0.68 (95% CI, approximately 0.52–0.89) and 0.63 (95% CI, approximately 0.48–0.82), respectively. Subgroup analysis revealed that the protective effect of higher CVAI levels on mortality was more pronounced in participants aged 65–79 years and in women.

Conclusion
Our study established a linear relationship between CVAI and mortality risk among community-dwelling older adults, with higher CVAI levels associated with a lower risk of all-cause mortality. These findings highlight the potential importance of visceral adiposity in predicting mortality risk in community-dwelling older adults.
Authoritarianism and Democratic Education: A Paper for Martin Thrupp
Authors: Lauder Hugh 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis paper examines the contribution that Martin Thrupp made to educational policy and teachers' practice in the light of the present threat to democracy presented by the authoritarian right. Martin's work on school composition is extended to an analysis of the prospects and practice for a education for democratic citizenship. It focuses on the challenge to an education for democratic citizenship at the level of pedagogy, the individual school and the wider context of the threat posed to democracy by the authoritarian right and those from more mainstream parties that adopt elements of its programme. It argues that teaching the history of fascism and colonialism are key to such an education and that in contrast to shallow pedagogies (Balarin and Rodriguez in Global Soc Chall J 3:49, 2024) pedagogy should engage students in controversial issues. It reports on key examples of the ways that this can be undertaken in the work of Kidman and O’Malley in Memory Stud 13(4):537–550, (2018), Kidman and O’Malley in Fragments from a contested past: Remembrance, Denial and New Zealand history BWB texts, (2022) and MacDonald and Kidman in Critical Studies in Education 63(1):31–46, (2021). It concludes with some of the principles necessary for an education for democratic citizenship.
‘I hope you love it’: poetry, protest and posthumous publishing with and for Palestinian colleagues in Gaza during scholasticide
Authors: Phipps Alison 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAfter 15 years of daily work with colleagues in Gaza on education for peace, multilingual education and life long learning the scholasticide and plausible risk of genocide in the Gaza Strip under Israeli aggression has changed how research and teaching can be undertaken. This short Point and Counterpoint contribution offers the statements and obituaries written by the UNESCO Chair at the University of Glasgow through the first year of the ongoing plausible genocide, under the protections of the language of international instruments, international humanitarian law. It proceeds using poetry and cries and clarifying statements which punctuate the silence which has been the dominating characteristic of the higher education institutions, with some rare exceptions, during a period of extreme violence against scholars, teachers, researchers and students.
Design and characterization of natural fiber reinforced cotton-epoxy composites
Authors: Shetty Sawan , Salins Sampath Suranjan , Sachidananda H. K. 
Published: December 2024

Abstract
This research paper focuses on the design and fabrication of natural cotton epoxy composites. By combining natural cotton fibers with epoxy resin, the study aims to develop composite materials with desirable mechanical properties. To evaluate their performance, the composites were subjected to three-point bending tests, which revealed an average flexural strength of 50 MPa and a flexural modulus of 3.8 GPa, highlighting the material’s capacity to bear bending loads. The bending tests provided insights into the composite’s response to flexural loads, including its strength, stiffness, and failure mechanisms. Post-test analysis using an optical microscope revealed that the primary failure modes included delamination and fiber breakage. Delamination, characterized by the separation of layers within the composite, and fiber breakage, caused by the fibers’ inability to withstand stress exceeding their tensile strength of approximately 300 MPa, led to crack propagation through the material. These findings indicate that the composite's failure was primarily driven by these mechanisms. This study provides valuable insights into improving the composite's design and enhancing its mechanical properties, contributing to the broader understanding of natural fiber-reinforced composites and their behavior under mechanical stress.
Discounted optimal stopping zero-sum games in diffusion type models with maxima and minima
Authors: Gapeev Pavel V. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractWe present a closed-form solution to a discounted optimal stopping zero-sum game in a model based on a generalised geometric Brownian motion with coefficients depending on its running maximum and minimum processes. The optimal stopping times forming a Nash equilibrium are shown to be the first times at which the original process hits certain boundaries depending on the running values of the associated maximum and minimum processes. The proof is based on the reduction of the original game to the equivalent coupled free-boundary problem and the solution of the latter problem by means of the smooth-fit and normal-reflection conditions. We show that the optimal stopping boundaries are partially determined as either unique solutions to the appropriate system of arithmetic equations or unique solutions to the appropriate first-order nonlinear ordinary differential equations. The results obtained are related to the valuation of the perpetual lookback game options with floating strikes in the appropriate diffusion-type extension of the Black–Merton–Scholes model.