julilili42/papers huggingface dataset:
Two‐year outcomes of epicranial focal cortex stimulation in pharmacoresistant focal epilepsy
2025-05-16

Abstract Objective This study was undertaken to report on the long‐term safety and efficacy of epicranial focal cortex stimulation (FCS) using the EASEE device as adjunctive neuromodulatory therapy in improving seizure control in adults with pharmacoresistant epilepsy originating from one predominant epileptogenic zone. Methods Prospective open‐label follow‐up of patients from the EASEE II and PIMIDES I clinical trials was done for a period of 2 years after the epicranial implantation of the EASEE electrode and stimulator device. Results Thirty‐three patients underwent device implantation, and stimulation was activated in 32 patients. Of these, 26 patients continued stimulation up to 2‐year follow‐up and provided seizure diary data for efficacy analysis. The 50% responder rate at 2‐year follow‐up was 65.4% (95% confidence interval = 44.3–82.8), corresponding to a median seizure frequency reduction of 68%. Patients reported improved health‐related quality of life. Tolerability was excellent, and there were no severe adverse events considered to be related to implantation or stimulation, nor were adverse effects on mood or cognition reported. Significance Results of the 2‐year follow‐up show that epicranial FCS is well tolerated by patients while providing improved seizure control in the long term. It thus offers a minimally invasive treatment option for patients with a predominant epileptic focus.
Mesoscopic Theory for Coupled Stochastic Oscillators
2025-05-16

The celebrated Ott-Antonsen for coupled oscillators provides a useful framework for working with deterministic systems in the thermodynamic limit, but it fails to capture many features of stochastic systems. Several solutions have been recently proposed to accurately describe the behavior of the order parameters in coupled oscillator systems. However, a fluctuating description of such order parameters has been still elusive. In this Letter, I construct for the first time a general mesoscopic description of finite-size populations of oscillators subject to white noise. The theory allows one to derive Langevin equations for the Kuramoto-Daido order parameters, opening the door to study features of synchronization phase transitions and finite-size effects, which were inaccessible before. The analysis of the fluctuations in the stochastic Kuramoto model uncovered highly accurate, closed analytical expressions for the average Kuramoto order parameter which outperforms previous approaches.
Stereoselective [2 + 2 + 2] Cycloaddition of Benzocyclobutanones and Norbornadienes through Nickel-Catalyzed C–C Bond Activation
2025-05-16

We report a nickel-catalyzed stereoselective [2 + 2 + 2] cycloaddition between norbornadienes and benzocyclobutanones via C-C activation. This transformation generates four stereocenters, producing nortricyclane scaffolds that introduce three-dimensional architecture. The reaction proceeds with high stereoselectivity while allowing precise steric control of the reaction site, offering a versatile approach for constructing intricate stereochemical frameworks.
Generation of an induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line carrying a KCNA2 homozygous (p.Arg294His, R294H) mutation related to hereditary spastic paraplegia
2025-05-16

The KCNA2 gene encodes the voltage-gated potassium channel K<sub>v</sub>1.2, which is essential for repolarization of action potential. The R294H variant in KCNA2 represents the only potassium channel gene variant linked to hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP) to date. However, this variant has been observed exclusively in heterozygous individuals. Here, we generated a homozygous KCNA2 R294H (c.881G > A) induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) line from a healthy individual iPSC line. The variant was introduced into both alleles using the CRISPR/Cas9 system. The resulting iPSC line has a normal karyotype, expresses key pluripotency markers, and is able to differentiate into all three germ layers.
Data-driven segmentation of type 2 diabetes mellitus patients: an observational study on health care utilisation prior to an emergency department visit in Germany
2025-05-16

Background Potentially avoidable hospital admissions (PAHs) due to type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) occur more frequently in Germany than in the rest of Europe. Emergency departments (EDs) play an important role in understanding cross-sectoral health care utilisation resulting in inpatient admissions. Segmenting T2DM patients in homogenous groups according to their health care utilisation may help to understand the population’s needs and to allocate limited resources. The aim of this study was to describe ED use and subsequent inpatient admissions among T2DM patients, and to segment the study population into homogenous subgroups based on disease stage, health care utilisation and process quality of outpatient care prior to an ED visit. Methods This study was conducted as part of the INDEED project, comprising data on 56,821 ED visits in 2016 attributable to 40,561 patients with T2DM from 13 German EDs, as well as statutory health insurance claims data from 2014 to 2016 retrospectively linked per patient. Descriptive analyses included patient characteristics, ED admission diagnoses and discharge diagnoses in the case of inpatient admission of T2DM patients to the ED. Latent class analysis was conducted to identify different subgroups of T2DM patients based on disease stage, number of physician contacts and medical examinations prior to the ED visit. Results Almost half of the study population had severe comorbidities (44.3%). In addition to T2DM, multiple cardiovascular diagnoses were among the most frequently documented admission and discharge diagnoses. The proportion of hospitalised ED visits for T2DM patients was higher (59%) than that for the INDEED population (42.8%). We identified three latent classes that were characterised as “early disease stage and high utilisation ” (36.5% of the study population), “ progressing disease stage and low utilisation” (26.1%) and “progressed disease stage and high utilisation” (37.4%). Conclusion A substantial share of T2DM patients had not received disease monitoring according to guideline recommendations prior to ED presentation. Improving guideline-adherence in the outpatient sector could help reduce potentially avoidable ED visits. Effective interventions that aim at improving continuity and quality of care as well as reducing the share of PAH need to be identified and evaluated per identified class.
Introduction: Bridging the transatlantic divide in social policy research
2025-05-17

This introduction to the Special Issue explores the historical and contemporary relationship between European and North American social policy research and development, tracing the evolution of policy influence and scholarly exchanges across the Atlantic. It highlights early mutual policy learning between Europe and North America, with particular attention to the impact of key reforms like the New Deal. Furthermore, it points to the gradual emergence of a transatlantic divide, particularly in the U.S. due to notions of “American exceptionalism”. The aim of this Special Issue is to revive transatlantic comparative research, exploring themes such as poverty reduction, the impact of ethnic diversity on social policy, and the implications of non-standard work.
Towards transformative change for biodiversity: What can we learn from case studies in Germany?
2025-05-17

Current human activities have led to fundamental changes in ecosystems, including the loss of biodiversity, which increasingly leads to irreversible negative impacts on society. Although called for in many policy documents, the debate on how to initiate, promote and specifically support socio-ecological transformations for the conservation and restoration of biodiversity is still in its early stages. So far, efforts to protect biodiversity were only partially successful. Therefore, there is a need for approaches to promote societal change for the benefit of biodiversity. We analysed 22 case studies of biodiversity-enhancing societal processes and projects in Germany to understand barriers and success factors and to identify features that support transformative change towards sustainability and biodiversity mainstreaming. Following Wittmer et al. (2021), the following topics were analysed: a) orientation towards a shared and compelling vision that enables biodiversity conservation or enhancement (transformative vision), b) the role of (different types of) knowledge about how to change the system (transformative knowledge), c) navigating the dynamics inherent in changing development pathways (transformational dynamics), d) enabling emancipated action and opening spaces for creative participation of different social groups (emancipation and agency), and e) targeted interventions that aim to enable governance for transformation. This article discusses lessons learned from examples in Germany to support future transformative processes for biodiversity conservation, restoration and biodiversity mainstreaming. It identifies 16 features, enabling transformative change for biodiversity, many of which may be applicable in other countries with similar governance contexts. These characteristics suggest that a structured and well-informed approach, based on a broad range of communication, engagement, negotiation, and stakeholder involvement efforts throughout the process, is well-suited for developing and implementing proposals. While in some small cases indirect drivers were addressed, achieving this on a broader scale is the largest remaining challenge.
Natural language analysis of the structure of altered states of consciousness
2025-05-17

Abstract Background and aims Altered states of consciousness (ASC) represent acute and marked deviations from normal waking consciousness. Investigations into ASC are significant to problems in medicine, science, and philosophy, including the structure of conscious experience. Here, we conducted a preliminary investigation into the structure of ASC while addressing the role of psychedelics, which purportedly manifest features of mind. Methods We performed quantitative and qualitative analyses of 300 narrative reports across 12 ASC induction methods: meditation, float tank, psilocybin, lysergic acid diethylamide (LSD), N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT), 5-methoxy-N,N-DMT (5-MeO-DMT), ketamine, salvia, 3,4-methyl​enedioxy​methamphetamine (MDMA), cannabis, datura, and diphenhydramine (DPH). We hypothesized that reports from the psychedelics (serotonin 5-HT 2A receptor agonists) would contain similar content with non-pharmacological induction methods, alongside greater positive sentiment and reported authenticity relative to reports from other substances. Results In quantitative analysis, most psychedelics, except LSD, as well as salvia and ketamine, shared similar content with non-pharmacological methods. In qualitative analysis, most psychedelics, except LSD, were deemed both positive and authentic, with authenticity predicting positive sentiment across the 12 ASC induction methods ( R = 0.68; p = 0.015). We uncovered latent themes charting a trajectory of ASC from baseline to metaphysical experience, incorporating text-to-image generative artificial intelligence to illustrate underlying phenomenological structure. Conclusions Our findings suggest that reproducible structural observations may be externally validated across methods to support a “mind-manifesting” characterization for some ASC induction methods, such as salvia, ketamine, or 5-MeO-DMT, but not for others, such as LSD, datura, or DPH, together informing future studies of psychedelics, ASC, and structuralism.
Holding dysregulation in mind: How maternal mind‐mindedness relates to regulatory symptoms and disorders in infancy
2025-05-18

Abstract This study examined the role of maternal mind‐mindedness (MM) – the tendency to ascribe mental states to one's child – in infant regulatory symptoms and disorders and the moderating role of parenting stress and global psychological distress. A better understanding of these relationships may inform prevention and intervention programs. The interactional MM measure (appropriate and positive mind‐related comments) was applied in a clinical group with regulatory disorders (ClinGrp; N = 124) and a healthy comparison group (CompGrp; N = 31) with mothers and their infants aged 4 to 15 months in Germany. Group differences between the ClinGrp and the CompGrp were calculated. Positive MM was higher in the CompGrp than in the ClinGrp. Appropriate and positive MM were negatively related to infant regulatory symptoms. Psychological distress was negatively linked to appropriate and positive MM. Parenting stress and psychological distress did not moderate the relationship between appropriate MM and regulatory symptoms. Lower‐quality MM characterizes parent–infant interactions in the context of regulatory symptoms and disorders. Implications for future research on the valence of mind‐minded comments, longitudinal studies on the protective role of MM, possible child effects, and clinical implications are discussed.
Study protocol: Mixed-methods evaluation of a cluster-randomized trial on preventing dysregulated screen use in children under 3
2025-05-19

Background Screen media use in early childhood is associated with increased risk for health and developmental problems. A preventive intervention during a regular examination in pediatric practices aims to prevent dysregulated screen time by children under three years of age. This protocol describes a process evaluation with the aim of understanding how to implement most effectively a complex intervention to prevent dysregulated screen time in childhood. For this purpose, the process evaluation combines two frameworks to identify both the implementation process and the relevant contextual factors. Methods The focus of this process evaluation is a nation-wide, cluster-randomized controlled trial with a complex intervention. Two-thirds of all pediatric practices registered with Professional Association of Pediatricians in Germany received the intervention materials with the option to participate in May 2022, while one-third maintain as usual. Since than an app has been collecting children’s screen time and developmental diagnostic parameters using a longitudinal parent survey. The process evaluation will examine the implementation process following the RE-AIM scheme (Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance) as well as the relevant contextual factors influencing the effectiveness of the implementation process following the Consolidated Framework for Implementation Research. Data collection will include quantitative and qualitative methods. Measurement points are at the start of the intervention, several times during the ongoing intervention and after two years. The two groups of people will be interviewed: Pediatricians who use the intervention in their practice and parents who have received the intervention. Discussion This protocol illustrates the process evaluation of a complex, app-based intervention in pediatric practices. It combines the two frameworks RE-AIM and CFIR and thus covers all aspects of the evaluation of the implementation process of a complex intervention. Trial register number DRKS00032258; https://drks.de/search/en/trial/DRKS00032258 .
Endobronchial Ultrasound Staging During Navigation Bronchoscopy for Peripheral Pulmonary Nodules in the Real World: Which Patients Will Benefit?
2025-05-19

Background/Objectives: The prevalence of lung cancer in patients with a peripheral pulmonary nodule referred for navigation bronchoscopy (NB) is high. Combining NB with a systematic EBUS for staging is common practice. We investigated the added value of performing EBUS in the population referred for NB in relation to the available pre-procedural [18F]FDG-PET and CT imaging information. Methods: This single-center study evaluated all consecutive patients who underwent an NB in an academic referral center. [18F]FDG-PET and CT scoring of lymphadenopathy was based on routine [18F]FDG-PET and/or contrast-enhanced chest (ce) CT imaging reports and were correlated to outcome of systematic EBUS and subsequent surgery (when available). Results: In total, 403 patients were included for analysis of which 327 underwent EBUS (81.1%). In 138/403 patients (35%) who had positive lymph nodes on [18F]FDG-PET (86.5%) or ceCT (13.5%), 12 lung cancer patients were diagnosed with N+ disease by EBUS (8.4%). An additional nine EBUS-negative patients were diagnosed with N+ disease after surgery (5.4%). In the group of patients with imaging-negative lymph nodes (65.8%), no metastatic lymph nodes were found by EBUS, and surgery revealed occult nodal metastasis in eight patients (3.1%). Conclusions: In patients with peripheral pulmonary nodules referred for NB, EBUS may be safely omitted when [18F]FDG-PET or ceCT imaging does not indicate presence of nodal involvement.
Dynamic tuning of surface lattice resonances via mechano-optical coupling in flexible nanoring metasurfaces
2025-05-19

Flexible metasurfaces comprising arrays of sub-wavelength thick nanoparticles embedded in soft and transparent substrates have attracted significant research interest due to their ability to generate predictable, tunable, and reversible optical performances. In this work, we employ electron beam lithography combined with wet-etching techniques to fabricate flexible metasurfaces of gold elliptical nanorings arranged in square or triangular arrays on polydimethylsiloxane. Scanning electron microscope tests conducted on the soft substrate demonstrate the feasibility of the pattern transfer technique at the nanoscale, as well as the reliability of the in situ optical characterization. Continuous monitoring of reflectance under strain, complemented by numerical simulations and theoretical analysis, reveals intriguing optical behaviors for these metasurfaces, including Fano features in surface lattice resonances, spectral blueshifts in localized surface plasmonic resonances, and color changes from purple to green and orange. By integrating metasurfaces with different characteristics into a chessboard-like pattern, we propose the configuration of a flexible strain map for contactless investigation of localized surface strain, which also provides opportunities for information encryption by encoding the varied resonances under strain.
Meta-analysis of the optimal needle length and decompression site for tension pneumothorax and consensus recommendations on current ATLS and ETC guidelines
2025-05-19

Abstract Background Tension pneumothorax (TP) is a life-threatening condition. The immediate recommended management is needle decompression (ND), followed by the insertion of an intercostal chest drain. The European Trauma Course (ETC) and the Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) guidelines differ on needle size and decompression site, creating clinical uncertainty. This meta-analysis aims to explore the optimal approach for emergency needle decompression in TP. Methods This meta-analysis followed the PRISMA 2020 guidelines. It included English-language RCTs, cohort, case–control, cross-sectional studies, and case series with more than six patients. Studies on adults undergoing needle decompression therapy for TP or with chest wall thickness measurements were included. Ovid MEDLINE, Embase, and Web of Science databases were searched until May 31, 2024. Data were extracted, assessed for quality using OCEBM and GRADE, and analyzed using SPSS and OpenMeta with random-effects models. Primary outcome: needle decompression failure rate. Secondary outcomes: patient demographics, cannula size, and chest wall thickness comparisons. Results This review analyzed 51 studies on needle decompression for TP, with a weighted mean patient age of 36.67 years. Radiological data from 24 studies (n = 8046) indicated a 32.84% failure rate for needle penetration into the pleural cavity (I 2 : 99.72%). Increased needle length reduced failure rates by 7.76% per cm. No significant differences in chest wall thickness between genders were observed (T-test, p = 0.77), but thickness at the 5th anterior axillary line (5AAL) and 5th midaxillary line (5MAL) was less than at the 2nd midclavicular line (2MCL). Injury rates were higher at 5AAL than 5MAL, with strong positive correlations between needle length and injury at these sites (0.88, 0.91). Conclusion Based on our meta-analysis, a 7 cm needle may be appropriate for decompression of right-sided tension pneumothorax at either the 5th intercostal space along the midaxillary line or the 2nd intercostal space along the midclavicular line. For left-sided cases, given the potential risk of cardiac injury, the 2nd midclavicular line is a safer option. However, these recommendations should be interpreted with caution due to considerable heterogeneity among the included studies, potential risk of bias, and variability in measurement techniques. Clinical decisions should always be individualized, taking into account patient-specific factors.
Noshing on Chocolate, I Can Do That: Increased Chocolate Consumption in the Chocolate‐Modified Bogus Taste Test With Better and Not Worse Inhibitory Control
2025-05-19

ABSTRACT Background Chocolate is the most craved energy‐dense food. Yet, most individuals can limit their chocolate consumption. Here, we investigate the cognitive mechanisms underlying chocolate consumption in a chocolate bogus taste test in a cross‐sectional experimental design. Method High chocolate cravers abstained from chocolate for a week, followed by a virtual reality chocolate exposure with biometric trajectory recordings of their stopping responses and an ad‐libitum bogus taste test of spontaneous chocolate intake. A single‐target implicit association task and a computerised stop‐signal task served as unstandardised control tasks 1–2 days before chocolate intake. Results Associations of parameters from all tasks with chocolate intake were small (| r | &lt; 0.23). Elastic net models misestimated food intake by min. 160 kcal (generalisation: 180 kcal) and feature selection was only possible with L1 penalty. At the group level, participants showed a more controlled and delayed movement towards chocolate relative to neutral cues, evidenced by lower peak acceleration and peak velocity and faster stopping latency. Discussion The findings demonstrate the complex cognitive‐behavioural underpinnings of food intake, food craving and abstinence.