bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Tracheal perforation and subcutaneous emphysema secondary to pseudomembranous invasive Aspergillus tracheobronchitis successfully managed with endotracheal tube manipulation
Authors: Shiraishi Kazushige , Lo Takkin 
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Aspergillus is a ubiquitous fungus causing various pulmonary diseases depending on the host’s immune status. Aspergillus tracheobronchitis, a rare form of invasive aspergillosis, primarily affects severely immunocompromised or critically ill patients. We present the first known case of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis complicated by tracheal perforation and subcutaneous emphysema successfully treated with conservative endotracheal tube manipulation. Case description: A 64-year-old male with type 2 diabetes mellitus presented with generalized weakness and abdominal discomfort, later diagnosed with a perforated cecum requiring right colectomy. His postoperative course in the intensive care unit was complicated by septic shock, acute kidney injury, and failed extubation due to airway compromise. Seven days after the failed extubation, he developed subcutaneous emphysema in the neck. Chest computed tomography scan showed neck, left chest wall, and mediastinal emphysema. Bronchoscopy identified a focal black necrotic lesion on the left proximal tracheal wall and multiple small mucosal ulcerations throughout the proximal to distal trachea. The endotracheal tube was advanced beyond proximal tracheal necrotic lesion. Subcutaneous emphysema reduced overnight, suggesting that the lesion was the source of the air leak. Bronchial washings confirmed Aspergillus fumigatus, establishing a diagnosis of invasive Aspergillus tracheobronchitis. Treatment with voriconazole prevented further expansion of emphysema, which gradually resolved. Conclusion: Subcutaneous emphysema in ventilated patients with tracheobronchitis is a rare and challenging complication. This case demonstrates successful management through endotracheal tube manipulation to tamponade the lesion, highlighting subcutaneous emphysema as a potential manifestation of Aspergillus tracheobronchitis and offering a minimally invasive treatment approach.
Effects of comprehensive physiotherapy on pain, functionality, strength and joint space in male members of the military with dynamic knee valgus: a randomised controlled trial
Authors: Shadmanfar Soraya , Shakibaee Abolfazl , Mohtashami Reza , Alishiri Gholamhosein , Raei Mehdi 
Published: February 2025

Background/Aims This study was designed to diagnose and treat dynamic knee valgus based on the movement system impairment classification. Methods A total of 80 men with dynamic knee valgus were randomly divided into experimental (n= 40, mean age: 20.07 years) and control groups (n=40, mean age: 20.22 years). The control group received knee- and hip-strengthening exercises, and the experimental group, in addition to strengthening exercises, received specific instructions in functional activities and posterior X-taping. Clinical outcomes, including pain intensity, physical function, strength of quadriceps, hip abductor and hip external rotator muscles, plus a sonographic parameter, consisting of patellar condylar distance, were measured before and after 6 weeks of intervention. Results Significant improvements in all variables were observed in the experimental group after the intervention when compared to the control group (P<0.05). In within-group comparison, a significant improvement in pain intensity and increased strength in three muscle groups were observed in both groups after treatment compared to before treatment (P<0.05). The patellar condylar distance and physical function demonstrated significant changes in the experimental group (P<0.05), but not in the control group (P>0.05). Conclusions Comprehensive physiotherapy could lead to further improvement of clinical outcomes and joint space in military individuals with dynamic knee valgus. Implications for practice This therapeutic programme may be an effective factor in reducing the incidence of knee overuse injuries.
Wind Tunnel Evaluation of Spray Nozzle and Droplet Size Effects on Spray Penetration Inside Soybean Plants
Authors: Castilho Theodoro Jose G. , Ozkan Erdal , Zhu Heping , Jeon Hongyoung , Campos Javier , Womac Alvin R. 
Published: February 2025

HighlightsEffectiveness of four nozzle types was evaluated to deliver spray droplets inside soybean canopy in a wind tunnel.Spray deposition at the bottom part of canopies was significantly lower than the upper part across the test section.Nozzles generating medium and coarse droplet sizes improved spray coverage on the top and middle part of the canopy.Abstract. Adequate spray deposition and penetration of pesticides reaching the lower part of soybean canopy can increase the chance of success to protect plants from diseases and insects, especially when soybean foliage is matured. Therefore, selecting the nozzle type with the most appropriate droplet size plays a significant role in providing the right amount of spray deposition to the right place in plant canopy. The objective of this study was to evaluate the most effective spray nozzle and droplet size distribution to achieve more spray coverage within the soybean canopy under a 2 ms-1 wind-tunnel-controlled wind speed at 0.38 m row spacing. An open circuit wind tunnel with laminar airflow was used to avoid the uncontrollable outdoor weather conditions that often vary when similar experiments are conducted in the field. Four commercial spray nozzles (droplet size): XR11004 (medium), TTJ6011004 (coarse), AITTJ6011004 (very coarse), and AI11004 (extremely coarse) were operated at 275 kPa pressure and sprayed for 3 s to increase the spray droplet density to detect their effects in the soybean canopy. Eleven pots of soybean plants were placed in the wind tunnel test section in three rows along the direction of airflow to simulate the 0.38 m soybean row spacing. For each test run, water sensitive papers (WSP) were placed at three different heights of the soybean canopy (top, middle, and bottom) within 5 soybean plants located 0.15, 0.70, 1.25, 1.80, and 2.40 m downwind from the spray boom. After plants were sprayed, WSP samples were collected to determine the spray coverage. The top of the canopy received the greatest amount of spray coverage, followed by the middle position. Regardless of the nozzle and droplet size, significantly lower amounts of spray deposition were found at the bottom part of the canopy at all the sample collection points along the wind tunnel test section. Overall, the nozzles that generated medium and coarse droplet sizes provided higher levels of spray coverage on the top and middle part of the soybean canopy. Providing adequate coverage in the bottom part of the canopy remained a challenge, which must be addressed in future studies to evaluate additional nozzle types with different droplet size classes under different wind speed and row spacing settings. Keywords: Droplet size spectrum, Nozzle type, Soybean plants, Spray coverage, Spray deposition.
Integrated InP-based transmitter for continuous-variable quantum key distribution
Authors: Aldama J. , Sarmiento S. , Trigo Vidarte L. , Etcheverry S. , López Grande I. , Castelvero L. , Hinojosa A. , Beckerwerth T. , Piétri Y. , Rhouni A. , Diamanti E. , Pruneri V. 
Published: February 2025

Developing quantum key distribution (QKD) systems using monolithic photonic integrated circuits (PICs) can accelerate their adoption by a wide range of markets, thanks to the potential reduction in size, complexity of the overall system, power consumption, and production cost. In this work, we design, fabricate and characterize an InP-based PIC transmitter for continuous-variable (CV) QKD applications. In a proof-of-principle experiment implementing a pulsed Gaussian-modulated coherent state (GMCS) CV-QKD protocol over an optical fiber channel of 11 km, the system showed a performance compatible with a secret key rate of 78 kbps in the asymptotic regime. These results show the potential of InP technologies to integrate CV-QKD systems onto a monolithic platform.
PROBIOTICS PRESCRIBED WITH HELICOBACTER PYLORI ERADICATION THERAPY IN EUROPE: USAGE PATTERN, EFFECTIVENESS, AND SAFETY: Results from the European Registry on Helicobacter pylori Management (Hp-EuReg)
Authors: Deza Diego Casas , Alcedo Javier , Lafuente Miguel , López F. Javier , Perez-Aisa Ángeles , Pavoni Matteo , Tepes Bojan , Jonaitis Laimas , Castro-Fernandez Manuel , Pabón-Carrasco Manuel , Keco-Huerga Alma , Voynovan Irina , Bujanda Luis , Lucendo Alfredo J. , Jurecic Natasa Brglez , Denkovski Maja , Vologzanina Ludmila , Rodrigo Luis , Martínez-Domínguez Samuel J. , Fadieienko Galyna , Huguet Jose M. , Abdulkhakov Rustam , Abdulkhakov Sayar R. , Alcaide Noelia , Velayos Benito , Hernández Luis , Bordin Dmitry S. , Gasbarrini Antonio , Kupcinskas Juozas , Babayeva Gülüstan , Gridnyev Oleksiy , Leja Mārcis , Rokkas Theodore , Marcos-Pinto Ricardo , Lerang Frode , Boltin Doron , Mestrovic Antonio , Smith Sinead M. , Venerito Marino , Boyanova Lyudmila , Milivojevic Vladimir , Doulberis Michael , Kunovsky Lumir , Parra Pablo , Cano-Català Anna , Moreira Leticia , Nyssen Olga P. , Megraud Francis , Morain Colm O , Gisbert Javier P. ,   on behalf of the Hp-EuReg investigators
Published: February 2025

Aim:
To evaluate the prescriptions patterns, effectiveness, and safety of adding probiotics to Helicobacter pylori eradication therapy, in Europe.

Design:
International, prospective, non-interventional registry of the clinical practice of the European gastroenterologists. Data were collected and quality reviewed until March 2021 at AEG-REDCap. The effectiveness was evaluated by modified intention-to-treat analysis, differentiating by geographic areas. Adverse events (AE) were categorized as mild, moderate, and severe.

Results:
Overall, 36,699 treatments were recorded, where 8,233 (22%) were prescribed with probiotics. Probiotics use was associated with higher effectiveness in the overall analysis (OR 1.631 [95% CI 1.456-1.828]), as well as in triple (1.702 [1.403-2.065]), quadruple (1.383 [0.996-1.920]), bismuth quadruple (1.248 [1.003-1.554] and sequential therapies (3.690 [2.686-5.069]). Lactobacillus genus was associated with a higher therapy effectiveness in Eastern Europe when triple (OR: 2.625 [CI 1.911, 3.606]) and bismuth quadruple (OR: 1.587 [CI 1.117, 2.254]) first-line therapies were prescribed. In Central Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with a decrease in both the overall incidence of AEs (0.656 [0.516, 0.888]) as well as severe AEs (0.312; [0.217, 0.449]). Bifidobacterium genus was associated with lower overall (OR: 0.725 [95% CI 0.592-0.888]) and severe (OR: 0.254 [0.185-0.347]) AEs; and Saccharomyces was associated with reduced overall (OR: 0.54 [CI 0.32-0.91]) and severe (OR 0.257 [CI 0.123-0.536]) AEs under quadruple-bismuth regimen.

Conclusions:
In Europe, the use of probiotics was associated with higher effectiveness and safety of H. pylori eradication therapy. Lactobacillus improved treatment effectiveness, while Bifidobacterium and Saccharomyces were associated with a better safety profile.
Ameliorative effects of avocado oil on bleomycin‐induced lung fibrosis and oxidative stress in rats
Authors: Ochi Naoures , Abidi Anouar , Taamalli Wael , Ayedi Ayda , Sebai Hichem 
Published: February 2025

AbstractPulmonary fibrosis (PF), is a chronic interstitial lung disease, characterized by changes in the alveoli, excessive accumulation of extracellular matrix, persistent inflammation, and oxidative stress. In this study, we aimed to explore the therapeutic effects of avocado oil (Ao) on bleomycin (BLM)‐induced PF. Four this, 24 male rats were divided into four groups (n = 6): the first group served as a control, the second served as a fibrotic group, instilled intratracheally only with BLM (2 mg/kg bw), and the remaining groups were treated by gastric gavage with Ao at different doses (3.5 and 5 mL/kg bw) for 25 days after BLM instillation. The fibrosis induction revealed significant alterations, including increased lipid peroxidation and decreased antioxidant enzyme activities such as superoxyde dismutase (SOD) and catalase (CAT), level of thiols group coupled with a high fibrosis score (FS) and an inflammatory index (II), along with excessive collagen deposition in the pulmonary interstitium. Ao treatment reversed all disturbances induced by BLM in oxidative stress parameters and relatively repairs the histological damage caused by BLM by reducing the FS and the II. The antioxidant, anti‐inflammatory and anti‐fibrosis power of Ao, may suggest this last as a promising candidate for the treatment of PF.
Detection of Chlamydia trachomatis ompA DNA in urine by loop-mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay
Authors: Attanayake Hemali , Goonasekara Charitha , Abeygunasekera Nalaka , Elvitigala Jayanthi , Gunasekera Kamani Mangalika 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objectives
Efficient real-time PCR kits are commercially available for the detection of Chlamydia trachomatis (CT) genetic material, but at a price. As a result, cost-effective, sensitive and specific CT diagnostic tests are essential for resource limited countries. This study aims to describe the optimization of a loop mediated isothermal amplification (LAMP) assay for the detection of CT ompA DNA in urine.

Methods
Cost-saving modifications included using Bsm polymerase and a nucleic acid gel stain. Crude DNA extraction (method-1) involved centrifuging urine at 14,000 g for 30 min, heating the deposit at 95 °C for 5 min, and centrifuging again at 17,000 g for 1 min. To boost sensitivity, urinary inhibitors were diluted with phosphate-buffered saline washes and a larger urine volume was used (method-2). The LAMP-SYBR GOLD assay was incubated at 56 °C for 60 min, with nucleic acid gel stain color changes observed under UV light. Urine from 326 sexually transmitted diseases clinic attendees was tested with both LAMP-SYBR GOLD and real-time PCR, comparing sensitivity and specificity.

Results
Analytical sensitivity of the LAMP-SYBR GOLD assay was 0.8 copies per reaction volume. Compared to real-time PCR, LAMP-SYBR GOLD assay had sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive and negative predictive values of 71.4 , 99.7, 96.2, 96.7 % respectively. Five of the seven false negative results obtained with method-1 were re-tested using method-2, providing in all the cases the expected positive results.

Conclusions
The LAMP-SYBR GOLD assay showed a sensitivity of 71 % and a high specificity for detecting CT in urine with extraction method-1. The use of method-2 could increase this sensitivity, likely due to the removal of urine inhibitors.
Development of a green and rapid ethanol-based HPLC assay for aspirin tablets and feasibility evaluation of domestically produced bioethanol in Thailand as a sustainable mobile phase
Authors: Thanayutsiri Thana , Mantadilok Siwa , Sapsin Jiradet , Tungwattanaviboon Thada , Wongwatanasin Jetsada , Opanasopit Praneet , Ngawhirunpat Tanasait , Rojanarata Theerasak 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Despite the growing trend of using ethanol as a greener alternative to hazardous solvents like methanol and acetonitrile in high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) analysis, no ethanol-based assay has been developed for aspirin tablets, nor has the potential of domestically produced bioethanol as a mobile phase been explored – until now. This study introduces a novel ethanol-based HPLC assay for aspirin and assesses the feasibility of using locally produced bioethanol. The optimized method, featuring a 40% (v/v) ethanol–water mobile phase adjusted to pH 3.6 with glacial acetic acid, with a 15-cm C18 column at 40°C and UV detection at 237 nm, successfully separated aspirin and its degradation product, salicylic acid, in 5 min. It demonstrated excellent linearity (0.1–0.6 mg·mL−1, r² = 0.9997), sensitivity (LOD = 0.01 mg·mL−1, LOQ = 0.03 mg·mL−1), accuracy, and precision, with no interference from excipients. The method’s performance on commercial aspirin tablets aligned with official pharmacopoeial methods. In a case study using fuel-grade bioethanol (>99.5% purity) derived from sugarcane molasses or cassava from local manufacturers in Thailand, chromatographic and analytical results matched those obtained with imported ethanol, validating its effectiveness. This innovative approach not only reduces costs and dependence on imported solvents but also supports local bio-circular-green economies and promotes greener, more sustainable analytical practices.
Direct pseudo-partitives in US English
Authors: Erbach Kurt , Gergel Remus 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
We present a corpus study looking at direct and indirect pseudo-partitives in US English and show that not only is there regular use of direct pseudo-partitives, but there is only positive evidence of their use with measure/portion readings as opposed to container+contents readings. We account for the data with an analysis in which of is a functional particle in measure/portion readings but is a lexical item specifying a contain relation in container+contents readings.
𝕮-inverse of graphs and mixed graphs
Authors: Alomari Omar , Abudayah Mohammad , Ghanem Manal 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
This article introduces a generalization of the concept of inverse graphs applicable to both graphs and mixed graphs. Given a graph

G

G

with adjacency matrix

A

(

G

)

A\left(G)

, the inverse graph

G

−
1

{G}^{-1}

is defined such that its adjacency matrix is similar to the inverse of

A

(

G

)

A\left(G)

through a diagonal matrix with entries of

±
1

\pm 1

. While this diagonal matrix may or may not exist for graphs with nonsingular adjacency matrices, our study extends the concept to include mixed graphs as well. It has been proven that for certain unicyclic graphs, such a diagonal matrix does not exist. Motivated by this, we generalized the definition of inverse graphs to include mixed graphs, allowing us to find inverse mixed graphs for a class previously shown to lack one.
Salience-dependent disruption of sustained auditory attention can be inferred from evoked pupil responses and neural tracking of task-irrelevant sounds
Authors: Fiedler Lorenz , Johnsrude Ingrid , Wendt Dorothea 
Published: February 2025

Stimulus-driven attention allows us to react to relevant stimuli (and imminent danger!) outside our current focus of attention. But irrelevant stimuli can also disrupt attention; for example, during listening to speech. The degree to which sound captures attention is called salience, which can be estimated by existing, behaviorally validated, computational models (Huang & Elhilali, 2017). Here we examined whether neurophysiological responses to task-irrelevant sounds indicate the degree of distraction during a sustained-listening task and how much this depends on individual hearing thresholds. N = 47 Danish-speaking adults (28/19 female/male; mean age: 60.1, SD: 15.9 years) with heterogenous hearing thresholds (PTA; mean: 25.5, SD: 18.0 dbHL) listened to continuous speech while one-second-long, task-irrelevant natural sounds (distractors) of varying computed salience were presented at unpredictable times and locations. Eye tracking and electroencephalography were used to estimate pupil response and neural tracking, respectively. The task-irrelevant sounds evoked a consistent pupil response (PR), distractor-tracking (DT) and a drop of target-tracking (ΔTT), and statistical modelling of these three measures within subjects showed that all three are enhanced for sounds with higher computed salience. Participants with larger PR showed a stronger drop in target tracking (ΔTT) and performed worse in target speech comprehension. We conclude that distraction can be inferred from neurophysiological responses to task-irrelevant stimuli. These results are a first step towards neurophysiological assessment of attention dynamics during continuous listening, with potential applications in hearing-care diagnostics.Significance statementSuccessful speech-in-noise comprehension in daily life does not only depend on the acuity of the auditory input, but also cognitive factors like attentional control. Being able to measure distraction-dependent neurophysiological responses to peripheral, task-irrelevant stimuli would enable monitoring the extent to which the attentional focus is instantaneously captured away from a target under sustained attention. Here we show that especially pupil response and neural tracking of distractor sounds reflect the degree to which people with both normal and elevated hearing thresholds are distracted. Such a measure could be used to non-invasively track the focus of attention and thus could find application in hearing care diagnostics, where cognitive factors like attentional control are being increasingly recognized as important.
ADAPTATION OF A YOUNG SPECIALIST TO PROFESSIONAL ACTIVITY
Authors: Kobal Vasyl , Rozman Ірина 
Published: February 2025

The article focuses on ways of adapting a young specialist to pedagogical professional activity. It is noted that the true formation of a teacher occurs with the beginning of professional activity. Only in the classroom does a young teacher understand whether this is his vocation or whether he wants to devote his life to it. Emphasis is placed on the importance of mutual visits for improving the teacher's skills. A young teacher has the opportunity to enrich his teaching experience and plan his professional growth. The goal of collective forms of methodological work is to improve the skills of all teachers in the process of purposefully planned and implemented activities. It is emphasized that the most common collective forms of methodical work in an institution of general secondary education are open lessons.
The purpose of the article is a theoretical justification of the importance of forming pedagogical conditions for the professional self-development of future teachers and determining the level of professional training of future teachers for practical activities. Also, in addition to improving professional growth, there are ways to improve the methodical training of the teacher and the adaptation capabilities of the specialist to professional activity. It was noted that the subject methodical associations of teachers, as centers of methodical work, have an extremely important function of adapting young specialists. Four components of one's own «I» and specific stages of formation of a teacher's professional competence are singled out.

It is emphasized that an effective form of self-improvement is imaginary entry into the role of an experienced colleague. But using the experience of others carries the threat of inhibiting one's own initiatives and creativity. Therefore, it is necessary to solve a number of issues: conduct a diagnosis of the work of a young teacher; to promote the study of regulatory and legal documents on education; to improve educational and methodical training of modern teachers; promote the mastery of innovative technologies, advanced methods of teaching and education; to encourage the study and application of best practices in pedagogy. During the adaptation period of a young specialist in an educational institution, special attention should be paid to the level of methodical work. They will be divided into three: school level, city level, regional level. It is noted that in order to improve the professional training of pedagogical personnel in schools, special methodical work is carried out, which encourages teachers to improve their qualifications, contributes to the mutual enrichment of the pedagogical team with pedagogical experience, enables young teachers to learn pedagogical skills from experienced colleagues, ensures the desire of the pedagogical team to find new ones forms and methods of work.