bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Clinical Characteristics and Outcomes in Patients With Apical and Nonapical Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy
Authors: Chen Qin‐Fen , Zou Jiahao , Katsouras Christos S. , You Shenban , Zhou Jian , Ge Hang‐Bin , Liu Chenyang , Zhou Xi , Ni Chao , Peng Yangdi , Hong Chenlv , Lin Wei‐Hong , Zhou Xiao‐Dong
Published: September 2024

Background

Apical hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (ApHCM) is a variant of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, with distinct clinical characteristics and outcomes. We aimed to clarify the natural history of patients with ApHCM and identify the risk of end‐stage heart failure incidence.

Methods and Results

This retrospective study was conducted on patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy in China between January 2009 and February 2024. Patients were stratified into ApHCM and non‐ApHCM groups. The primary outcome was a composite of major adverse cardiovascular events, including all‐cause deaths, heart failure hospitalization, sudden cardiac death, and ventricular tachycardia. The secondary outcome was the incidence of end‐stage heart failure, defined as left ventricular ejection fraction <50%. Kaplan‐Meier and univariable and multivariable Cox proportional analyses were applied. Adjustment variables were included for important baseline characteristics, comorbidities, and medication use. Of 5653 patients enrolled with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, 584 (10.3%) had ApHCM and 5069 (89.7%) had non‐ApHCM. During the median follow‐up period of 4.6 years (1.6–8.0 years), major adverse cardiovascular events occurred in 32.2% (n=1808), with a lower incidence in patients with ApHCM than non‐ApHCM (20.4% versus 33.3%,
P
<0.001). Non‐ApHCM was an independent predictor of major adverse cardiovascular events (hazard ratio [HR], 1.65 [95% CI, 1.36–1.99];
P
<0.001). In the serial cohort, patients with ApHCM exhibited a lower incidence of end‐stage heart failure than those with non‐ApHCM (12.4% versus 2.7%,
P
<0.001). Non‐ApHCM was associated with a higher risk of end‐stage heart failure development (HR, 2.31 [95% CI, 1.28–4.15];
P
<0.001). In subgroup and sensitivity analysis, the results were consistent for our main and secondary outcomes.

Conclusions

ApHCM is relatively common in hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and shows lower rates of all‐cause mortality and heart failure hospitalizations than non‐ApHCM.
Clinical Care for Cardiovascular Disease in Patients With Williams–Beuren Syndrome
Authors: Collins R. Thomas , Gravenhorst Verena , Faury Gilles , Kwiatkowska Joanna , Schmelzer Christian E. H. , Schneider Heike , Waldoch Anna , Pankau Rainer
Published: September 2024

Williams–Beuren syndrome (WBS) is a congenital multisystem disorder affecting the cardiovascular, central nervous, and musculoskeletal systems. Cardiovascular abnormalities, which consist principally of vascular stenoses, occur in approximately 80% of people with WBS and are the predominant cause of early morbidity and mortality. Supravalvar aortic stenosis and peripheral pulmonary artery stenosis are the most common stenotic lesions in WBS, though other stenoses often occur, including stenoses of the coronary arteries. Approximately one‐third of people with WBS undergo cardiovascular interventions. The risk of sudden cardiac death is markedly higher than the general population, with most events occurring in the periprocedural period. Because of the rarity of WBS and the often‐complex nature of the cardiovascular abnormalities, most physicians, including cardiologists, have limited experience in caring for patients with WBS. Further, heretofore, clinical cardiovascular management guidelines based on international expert consensus have not been available. This state‐of‐the‐art review provides a comprehensive synopsis of the cardiovascular abnormalities in WBS and presents clinical management guidelines based on the authors' expert consensus.
Advances in the Computational Assessment of Disturbed Coronary Flow and Wall Shear Stress: A Contemporary Review
Authors: Ekmejian Avedis Assadour , Carpenter Harry James , Ciofani Jonathan Laurence , Gray Benjamin Howard McIntosh , Allahwala Usaid Khalil , Ward Michael , Escaned Javier , Psaltis Peter James , Bhindi Ravinay
Published: September 2024

Coronary artery blood flow is influenced by various factors including vessel geometry, hemodynamic conditions, timing in the cardiac cycle, and rheological conditions. Multiple patterns of disturbed coronary flow may occur when blood flow separates from the laminar plane, associated with inefficient blood transit, and pathological processes modulated by the vascular endothelium in response to abnormal wall shear stress. Current simulation techniques, including computational fluid dynamics and fluid–structure interaction, can provide substantial detail on disturbed coronary flow and have advanced the contemporary understanding of the natural history of coronary disease. However, the clinical application of these techniques has been limited to hemodynamic assessment of coronary disease severity, with the potential to refine the assessment and management of coronary disease. Improved computational efficiency and large clinical trials are required to provide an incremental clinical benefit of these techniques beyond existing tools. This contemporary review is a clinically relevant overview of the disturbed coronary flow and its associated pathological consequences. The contemporary methods to assess disturbed flow are reviewed, including clinical applications of these techniques. Current limitations and future opportunities in the field are also discussed.
Hemorrhagic Moyamoya Angiopathy in European Patients
Authors: Brokbals Mosche , Pilgram-Pastor Sara , Focke Jan K. , Strunk Daniel , Veltkamp Roland , Kraemer Markus
Published: September 2024

BACKGROUND:

Moyamoya angiopathy (MMA) is an important cause of juvenile stroke but an overall rare disease among European populations compared with East Asian cohorts. Consecutively, hemorrhagic MMA is described well in East Asian cohorts, but knowledge in non-Asian patients is limited. Literature suggests that disease presentation may vary between those cohorts, also including hemorrhage frequencies. Hence, this article aims to analyze hemorrhagic MMA in European patients.

METHODS:

We screened for patients of European origin with MMA from a single-center consecutive database of a German hospital specialized on MMA. Those who had a record of intracranial hemorrhage were analyzed individually regarding the type of hemorrhage and use of antiplatelet therapy before and after bleeding onset. To identify associated factors of intracranial hemorrhage, an age- and sex-matched control group was identified from the pool of patients without a history of hemorrhage. Both groups had a comparable follow-up time and were compared in terms of disease presentation, therapeutic interventions, and imaging characteristics, using both univariate tests and multivariate logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS:

From a pool of 332 patients with MMA we identified 288 of European ancestry. From those, 36 had a record of intracranial hemorrhage (12.5%). Thirty-three patients presenting with 37 events were included for further analysis and case-control-comparison. Most events were intracerebral hemorrhage (n=20; 54%) and subarachnoid hemorrhage (n=11; 30%). 78% developed hemorrhage although no antiplatelet therapy was in use (n=29). Seven patients developed intracranial hemorrhage ipsilateral to prior bypass surgery (21%), while 29 of the control patients had a bypass surgery (88%;
P
=0.0001). There was no significant difference in terms of unilateral or bilateral disease type, history of hypertension, as well as imaging characteristics (high Suzuki stage and the presence of collateral pathways in conventional angiography, as well as ischemic defects and the presence of microbleeds on cerebral magnetic resonance imaging;
P
>0.05 in multivariate analysis, respectively).

CONCLUSIONS:

Bypass surgery was negatively associated with the development of intracranial hemorrhage in MMA in European patients. There was no difference in terms of a history of hypertension between groups, indicating that blood pressure is not the major contributor for rupture of fragile collateral vessels. The investigated imaging characteristics were not associated to hemorrhage onset and, therefore, are not suitable as a tool of screening for patients at risk.
Superpixel-ComBat modeling: A joint approach for harmonization and characterization of inter-scanner variability in T1-weighted images
Authors: Chen Chang-Le , Torbati Mahbaneh Eshaghzadeh , Minhas Davneet S. , Laymon Charles M. , Hwang Seong Jae , Bilgel Murat , Crainiceanu Adina , Jin Hecheng , Luo Weiquan , Maillard Pauline , Fletcher Evan , Crainiceanu Ciprian M. , DeCarli Charles S. , Aizenstein Howard J. , Tudorascu Dana L.
Published: September 2024

T1-weighted imaging holds wide applications in clinical and research settings; however, the challenge of inter-scanner variability arises when combining data across scanners, which impedes multi-site research. To address this, post-acquisition harmonization methods such as statistical or deep learning approaches have been proposed to unify cross-scanner images. Nevertheless, how inter-scanner variability manifests in images and derived measures, and how to harmonize it in an interpretable manner, remains underexplored. To broaden our knowledge of inter-scanner variability and leverage it to develop a new harmonization strategy, we devised a pipeline to assess the interpretable inter-scanner variability in matched T1-weighted images across four 3T MRI scanners. The pipeline incorporates ComBat modeling with 3D superpixel parcellation algorithm (namely SP-ComBat), which estimates location and scale effects to quantify the shift and spread in relative signal distributions, respectively, concerning brain tissues in the image domain. The estimated parametric maps revealed significant contrast deviations compared to the joint signal distribution across scanners (p < 0.001), and the identified deviations in signal intensities may relate to differences in the inversion time acquisition parameter. To reduce the inter-scanner variability, we implemented a harmonization strategy involving proper image preprocessing and site effect removal by ComBat-derived parameters, achieving substantial improvement in image quality and significant reduction in variation of volumetric measures of brain tissues (p < 0.001). We also applied SP-ComBat to evaluate and characterize the performance of various image harmonization techniques, demonstrating a new way to assess image harmonization. In addition, we reported various metrics of T1-weighted images to quantify the impact of inter-scanner variation, including signal-to-noise ratio, contrast-to-noise ratio, signal inhomogeneity index, and structural similarity index. This study demonstrates a pipeline that extends the implementation of statistical ComBat method to the image domain in a practical manner for characterizing and harmonizing the inter-scanner variability in T1-weighted images, providing further insight for the studies focusing on the development of image harmonization methodologies and their applications.
Gender differences in the patterns and consequences of changing research directions in scientific careers
Authors: Zhang Lin , Qi Fan , Sivertsen Gunnar , Liang Liming , Campbell David
Published: September 2024

Changes of research direction in scientific careers are related to the so-called “essential tension” between the exploration of new knowledge and the exploitation of established knowledge in research and innovation. Changes of research direction are thereby assumed to influence the evolution of science in general. Research has shown that such changes may also affect the success of individual scientists in their careers. However, the gender dimension of this aspect of career development is so far understudied. There is also a need for more dynamic indicators to record and interpret career developments in macro data. This study combines the gender perspective with the introduction of new indicators. We selected more than 29,000 scientists in Physics & Astronomy and studied them over six decades using a bibliographic data set from Scopus. We find that women are less likely to change research direction than their men counterparts, and that the research performance of women is less negatively affected by changing research direction. We discuss the policy implications of these findings as well as the methodological advancement related to the new indicators of career development.
Floristic analysis of Carex (Cyperaceae), the largest cosmopolitan genus in Yunnan, China
Authors: LI YUAN-YUAN , JIANG LI-QIONG , CHEN LI , CHAI YONG , DONG HONG-JIN , PENG HUA
Published: September 2024

Through specimen examination and field investigation, we present an extensive Carex checklist for Yunnan, China. Yunnan harbors 195 Carex species, encompassing 22 new records and recently published taxa. Prof. Wu Zhengyi’s classification of Chinese seed plants into 15 area-types, widely accepted by phytogeographers for decades, serves as our framework. Type 1 families and genera, deemed cosmopolitan, are often excluded in floristic statistics due to their perceived lack of floristic indication. We analyzed the floristic characteristics of Yunnan’s Carex, particularly representative Type 1 genera, reveals a predominantly temperate nature rather than tropical. The substantial presence of species affiliated with the Sino-Himalaya area-subtype indicates a strong association with the Sino-Himalayan Forest Subkingdom. As a globally distributed genus, Carex holds significant floristic indication at the species level. This study shows the significant value of this cosmopolitan genus in floristic research. For accurate elucidation of floristic characteristics, it is imperative to conduct species-level analyses of Cosmopolitan Area-Type genera when studying the flora of a specific floristic region.
Communicating Forecast Uncertainty (CoFU) 2: Replication and Extension of a Survey of the US Public's Sources, Perceptions, Uses, and Values for Weather Information
Authors: Lazo Jeffrey
Published: September 2024

Understanding end-users’ sources, perceptions, uses, and values of weather information is critical to the Weather Enterprise’s efforts to deliver the most accurate, most timely, and most relevant weather information to all 330 Million Americans. In 2006, a survey of the general public of the United States explored a range of issues related to the communication, use, understanding, and value of weather forecasts. In 2022, this survey was reimplemented, revisting questions related to the sources, perceptions, uses, and value of weather information. To the maximum extent possible the exact same survey instrument, implementation methods, and target population were replicated. Five additional topics were included at the end of the instrument to begin to assess these related concepts (cultural risk theory, numeracy, perceived vulnerability, political preferences, and risk preferences). This report presents an initial analysis of some aspects of the 2022 survey.
Pediatric Necrotizing Otitis Externa: A Scoping Review
Authors: Khokhar Zuhaib A. , Mills John F. , Nguyen Shaun A. , White David R. , Robbins Wayne K. , Meyer Ted A.
Published: September 2024

Objective:

This review sought to answer the following research question: What are the characteristics of pediatric necrotizing otitis externa (NOE)? Moreover, we wanted to highlight the clinical importance of the current limitations in the literature.

Methods:

A scoping review was performed to determine what is known about NOE in the pediatric population. Four databases (COCHRANE Library, CINAHL, PubMed, and Scopus) were queried for articles published in English between 1976 to 2022. Variables extracted included comorbidities, demographics, outcomes, and treatment.

Results:

A total of 20 studies (N = 439) reported sufficient measures to be included in the review. Patients with NOE had a mean age of 10.0 years (range 2 months to 14 years) with a male-to-female gender ratio of 1.1:1. Mean length of hospital stay was 2.9 days (95%CI: 2.7-3.0). Demographics included 45.4% Caucasian, 6.0% African American, and 2.7% Asian/Pacific Islander. Less than 5% of patients had diabetes, while other reported comorbidities included neutropenia (n = 6), anemia (n = 5), dehydration/malnutrition (n = 4), Stevens Johnson Syndrome (n = 2), some form of immunosuppression/organ transplantation (n = 2), thrombocytopenia (n = 2), and leukopenia (n = 2). There have been no reported deaths from NOE in children.

Conclusions:

In the adult population NOE most commonly affects patients with diabetes, but our review reveals that diabetes does not appear to play as big a role in children. The disease seems to commonly affect patients with immunosuppression or severe health conditions. Complications such as cranial nerve palsies appear to be more common in the pediatric population. Specifically, the role of biopsy and culture in the treatment of pediatric NOE is stressed as they are important in treatment decisions.
Evidence on the Effectiveness-Acceptance Trade-Off Between Forced Active Choice and Default Nudging: A Field Study to Reduce Meat Consumption in Cafeterias
Authors: Lemken Dominic , Simonetti Aline , Sindermann Gloria , Estevez Magnasco Ana Ines
Published: September 2024

Overconsumption of meat remains common in Western diets. In a cafeteria setting, we assessed the impact of two interventions on reducing meat consumption: forced active choice (explicitly choosing meat portion size) and default nudge (offering a reduced meat portion with an opt-out option). Our field study, involving 5,966 food choices and feedback from 125 cafeteria users, revealed both interventions were effective and perceived as ethical. Across 11 meat dishes, both interventions increased the selection of reduced meat portions. Notably, the default nudge had a more substantial impact, with 90.6% opting for reduced portions compared to 38.5% for active choice. Interestingly, gender differences are most pronounced during the active choice phase and reduced through a default condition. We predict that in biased food choice environments where one option is clearly favored, differences in food choices influenced by socio-demographic factors are likely to diminish.
A novel unified variational finite difference (VFD) solution method for optimal control problems
Authors: Norouzzadeh Amir , Nariman-zadeh Nader , Ansari Reza
Published: September 2024

This article is aimed to propose a simple yet efficient unified numerical strategy for solving both linear and non-linear optimal control problems. To do so, the general form of quadratic performance index function and nonlinear state equations are considered first. Then, the idea of variational differential quadrature method is used to convert the integral/differential equations to the equivalent algebraic form. Since time is the only independent variable is this research, the finite difference method with an equally-spaced discretization scheme would be a more appropriate technique rather than the differential quadrature approach. So, the implemented numerical solution is called now as the variational finite difference method. The method of Lagrange multipliers is then utilized for minimization purpose and, as a result, the final set of nonlinear algebraic equations are obtained. Finally, the quadratic and triadic forms of non-linearity are considered and an explicit formulation is represented for the residual and Jacobian of the Newton-based iterative solution procedure. To demonstrate the accuracy and efficiency of the proposed approach in the quadratic optimal control area, several benchmark problems involving linear time-invariant, linear time-variant and nonlinear examples are successfully solved and the results are confirmed with those existed in the literature.
Late Colonialism and Postcolonial Development in Africa: A Comparative-Historical Analysis of Former Italian Africa
Authors: Noor Salih O
Published: September 2024

This article analyzes the development legacies of Italian colonialism in Africa. The comparative-historical analysis shows that colonial Italy pursued “settler colonialism” in areas conducive to colonial settlement and large-scale exploitation, and “plantation colonialism” in areas with fewer resource endowments and settlement opportunities. In the immediate aftermath, while settler colonialism had a positive influence and plantation colonialism exerted a negative impact on economic prosperity, both types of Italian colonialism had strong negative effects on human development. In the post-1960 period, whereas the colonial legacy of plantation colonialism led to persistent poverty in Somalia, long-run development in Eritrea and Libya was contingent on critical junctures, which variously reinforced, destabilized, and/or transformed the institutional and developmental legacies of settler colonialism. I draw on the comparative-historical tradition emphasizing national orientation of European colonizers and natural conditions in colonized areas as key determinants of European colonialism and long-run development. However, I emphasize “factor endowments” as one such condition that defined Italian colonization strategies and institutions, finding little empirical support for factor endowments per se or precolonial ethnic centralization as principal determinants.
How spatial considerations figure into aspiration formation and agency
Authors: Farnsworth Valerie L
Published: September 2024

As young people near the end of compulsory schooling they are faced with decisions about what future education, training and employment they will pursue. This paper argues that imagined future education, training and career prospects can have largely under-recognised socio-spatial dimensions. This claim disrupts received notions around careers decision-making as distinctly rational, based on academic strengths, skills, or talents. This spatial argument follows from a theoretically-informed analysis of interviews conducted with 15 young people living in England. Sampling was opportunitistic and the design flexible to enable me to explore the use of different methods which could foreground reflections on space and place. Interviews employed visual methods (including photo voice) to prompt young people to talk about their conceptualisations of places and spaces as well as future education, training and career considerations. Focusing in particular on three participants’ reflections, I suggest that through a process of emplacement young people are constructing thirdspaces, a concept proposed by Soja. This process both supports aspiration formation and disrupts imposed structures or labels that might otherwise be deterministic of particular post-16 pathways and subjectivities. For three participants, I consider the ways their conceptions of spaces are implicit responses to cultural expectations, limitations and structures. These three participants are presented as developing what Yosso has called spatially-informed navigational and resistant capitals. Claims are made in the context of an analysis framed by an interpretation of agency in terms of the identity and implied subjectivities. The process by which a young person emplaces themselves in a possible future and the construction of imagined thirdspaces could be untapped cultural resources informing young people’s post-16 decisions and planning which could lead them to build future pathways they themselves value.
Can Decentralized School Systems Pursue Common Ends? An Analysis of Urban Catholic School and System Leaders’ Perceptions of Reform
Authors: Miller Andrew F. , Giunco Kierstin , Moreno Vera Maria A. , Friedman Audrey A. , Cownie Charles T. , Rosen-Reynoso Myra , Smith Annie
Published: September 2024

There has been little research examining how decentralized Catholic diocesan systems have worked toward their stated system-wide goal of keeping urban Catholic schools sustainable. Through a new qualitative analysis of interviews with Catholic school and system leaders, we demonstrate in this article how leaders agreed about the issues preventing urban Catholic elementary schools from becoming operationally sustainable but disagreed about potential solutions to this problem. Our findings indicate these leaders believed decentralized systems constrained their ability to pursue coherent system-wide reforms. We connect these findings to broader calls for decentralization in large urban systems attempting to pursue educational equity initiatives.
Differences Among Elderly Patients Having Asymmetric Sensorineural Hearing Loss With and Without Cerebellopontine Angle Tumors
Authors: Plodpai Yuvatiya , Thepwongsa Kittisak
Published: September 2024

Objective: Asymmetric sensorineural hearing loss (ASNHL) exhibits a higher prevalence among the elderly compared to younger individuals, yet optimal management remains subject to ongoing debate. We aimed to elucidate the clinical disparities among elderly patients with ASNHL, distinguishing between those with and without cerebellopontine angle (CPA) tumors. Methods: A retrospective analysis was conducted on elderly patients (aged ≥65 years) diagnosed with ASNHL who underwent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) between January 2012 and December 2022 at our tertiary referral center. Results: A total of 119 patients were enrolled, with a median age of 71 years (range: 65-89 years). Among them, 11 patients (9.2%) exhibited abnormal MRI findings. In the CPA tumors group, vestibular schwannoma was the most prevalent abnormality (63.6%), with a mean growth rate of 0.53 mm/year (range: 0-1.33 mm/year). The prevalence of CPA tumors in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and ASNHL was significantly lower than in those without DM ( P = .021). Vertigo emerged as a significant associated symptom in cases with CPA tumors ( P = .011). However, there were no significant differences in mean hearing thresholds or asymmetry of hearing loss at individual frequencies between the 2 groups. Conclusions: Elderly patients with ASNHL and vertigo should undergo radiological assessment. Patients with DM exhibit a lower prevalence of CPA tumors than those without DM, warranting careful observation and follow-up due to the limited diagnostic yield of MRI. No discernible differences in audiometric patterns were detected between patients with and without CPA tumors.
Reimagining, Repositioning, Rebordering: Intersections of the Biopolitical and Geopolitical in the UK's Post-Brexit Migration Regime (and Why It Matters for Migration Research)
Authors: Benson Michaela , Sigona Nando
Published: September 2024

This article examines the emergence of a new immigration regime in the United Kingdom, following its exit from the European Union, to uncover the entanglements and intersections of biopolitics, geopolitics and ideology in migration and migration governance. It draws a clear line between Brexit as a political and geopolitical rupture, the ideological project of “Global Britain” that emerged from it, and the forms of migrant and citizen subjectivity that these paired projects produced as the body politic was re-modelled in this image. It demonstrates this through a critical analysis of recent immigration data and trends that consider who is coming to the UK, through what routes and under what conditions, and of recently introduced changes to the immigration system, including the curtailment of asylum and the emergence of new humanitarian routes. Building on scholarship that has shown the impact of migration on the outcome of the 2016 Brexit referendum, our analysis of migration and migration governance after Brexit offers unique insights into how migration continues to play a central role in the ideological reimagining and geopolitical repositioning of the UK on the global stage and develops the concept of rebordering to capture the nexus between ideological and geopolitical transformations and the making — through migration and migration governance — of a new body politic and its “others” that embody and can serve their purposes.
Software testing education. Teaching the concept of confirmation bias from a pragmatic perspective of reasoning / La formación en pruebas de software. Enseñanza del concepto de sesgo de confirmación desde la perspectiva del razonamiento pragmático
Authors: D’Angelo Verónica
Published: September 2024

Wason’s Selection Task, often used by information technology researchers, has traditionally highlighted the perceived inadequacies of software testers from a falsificationist perspective. However, a pragmatic approach to reasoning suggests that human cognition is influenced not only by logic but also by contextual factors. This perspective suggests that testers’ deficiencies may arise from prioritizing information relevance over strict logical adherence. Addressing confirmation bias and contextual influences is crucial for a comprehensive understanding of the issue and for developing new testing strategies. Experiment 1 examined two thematic versions of the Wason task among computer science students, confirming enhanced performance in line with relevance theory. Experiment 2 showed students’ ability to grasp falsification concepts and apply them to abstract tasks. This suggests the Wason test’s value as a didactic tool for illustrating confirmation bias rather than solely assessing reasoning proficiency.
Natural Frequencies Improve Public Understanding of Medical Test Results: An Experimental Study on Various Bayesian Inference Tasks with Multiple Scoring Methods and Non-Bayesian Reasoning Strategies
Authors: Kim Soyun
Published: September 2024

Background

It is well established that the natural frequencies (NF) format is cognitively more beneficial for Bayesian inference than the conditional probabilities (CP) format. However, empirical studies have suggested that the NF facilitation effect might be limited to specific groups of individuals. Unlike previous studies that focused on a limited number of Bayesian inference problems evaluated by a single scoring method, it was essential to examine multiple Bayesian problems using various scoring metrics. This study also explored the impact of numeracy on Bayesian inference and assessed non-Bayesian cognitive strategies using the numerical information in problem solving.

Methods

In a Web-based experimental survey, 175 South Korean adults were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 format groups (NF v. CP). After completing numeracy scales, participants were asked to estimate 4 Bayesian inference problems and document the numerical information used in their problem-solving process. Four scoring methods—strict rounding, loose rounding, absolute deviation, and 50-Split—were used to evaluate participants’ estimations.

Results

The NF format generally outperformed the CP format across all problems, except in a chorionic villus sampling test problem when evaluated using the 50-Split method. In addition, numeracy levels significantly influenced Bayesian inference; participants with higher numeracy demonstrated better performance. In addition, participants used various non-Bayesian strategies influenced by the format and the nature of the problems.

Conclusions

The NF facilitation effect was consistently observed across multiple Bayesian problems and scoring methods. Individuals with higher numeracy levels benefited more from the NF format. The use of various non-Bayesian strategies varied with the formats and nature of specific tasks.

Highlights

The natural frequencies (NF) format is known to foster understanding of medical test results compared with the conditional probabilities (CP) format, but some studies have reported that this benefit is either nonexistent or limited to specific groups. This study aims to replicate previous empirical studies using various Bayesian problems using multiple scoring methods. The NF format fosters understanding of medical test results across all Bayesian problems by all scoring methods, except in the CVS problem when using a 50-Split scoring method. Participants with high numeracy perform better Bayesian inference than those with lower numeracy. Particularly, higher numerates benefit more in the NF format than lower numerates do. In addition, the public tend to use various non-Bayesian reasoning strategies depending on the format and the nature of the tasks.
How Much Information Is Too Much? An Experimental Examination of How Information Disclosures May Unintentionally Encourage the Withholding of Health Information
Authors: Colby Helen , Popovich Deidre , Stovall Tony
Published: September 2024

Introduction

Information disclosures are used in medicine to provide patients with relevant information. This research examines whether patients are less likely to discuss medical conditions with their physicians after seeing an insurance information disclosure.

Methods

Three experimental studies with nonprobability online samples (ntotal = 875 US adult participants) examined the impact of information disclosures on patients’ likelihood of disclosing symptoms to providers, using new symptoms and preexisting chronic conditions. The effects of insurance disclosures were also compared to those of pharmaceutical discount disclosures.

Results

These studies demonstrate that information disclosures can result in unintended consequences for patients and providers. Results showed that information disclosures about insurance claims significantly negatively affected willingness to discuss health information with providers. This effect was consistent for both new health concerns, b = −0.661, P < 0.001 (study 1, n = 250) and b = −0.893, P < 0.001 (study 3, n = 375), as well as chronic conditions, b = −1.175, P < .001 (study 2, n = 250); all studies were conducted in January 2023. Information provided to patients about pharmaceutical savings did not similarly affect willingness to discuss symptoms with providers.

Limitations

These were experimental studies with hypothetical scenarios. Future research is needed to understand how patients react to information disclosures in a physician’s office. Future research is also needed to examine the role of specific wording and tone used in information disclosures.

Conclusions

Prior research has shown that patients prefer more information and to be involved in their medical decisions; however, these studies demonstrate that some information disclosures can discourage full communication between patients and physicians.

Implications

This research has important implications for the potential consequences of information disclosures in health care settings. Information disclosures should be presented in a way that will not discourage candid discussions of patient symptoms.

Highlights

This research found that information disclosures about insurance claims can negatively affect patient willingness to discuss health information with providers. Information disclosures may sometimes fall short of their intended purpose of aiding patient decisions with the goal of improved well-being. When information disclosures are focused on warning about potential new costs, patients may feel uncomfortable discussing new symptoms with their providers. Findings suggest patients may often be more concerned with costs than with addressing their ongoing health problems.
Risk factors and nomograms for diagnosis and early death in patients with combined small cell lung cancer with distant metastasis: a population-based study
Authors: Yin Hui , Hu Zhi , Yang Jie
Published: September 2024

Objective

Combined small cell lung cancer (CSCLC) with distant metastasis (DM) is an aggressive disease with a poor prognosis. Effective nomograms are needed to predict DM and early death in patients with CSCLC and DM.

Methods

This retrospective study included patients with CSCLC from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database between 2004 and 2015. Risk factors for DM and early death were analyzed by univariate and multivariate logistic regression. Nomograms were constructed based on the results in a training cohort and confirmed in a validation cohort, and their performances were assessed by concordance index (C-index), receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC), calibration curve, and decision curve analysis (DCA).

Results

A total of 788 patients with CSCLC were selected, including 364 patients with metastatic CSCLC. Sex, tumor site, T stage, and N stage were independent risk factors for DM, while age, surgery, chemotherapy, and liver metastasis were independent risk factors for early death. C-index, ROC, calibration, and DCA curve analyses all showed good predictive performances for both nomograms.

Conclusions

These nomograms could reliably predict DM risk in CSCLC patients and early death in CSCLC patients with DM, and may thus help clinicians to assess these risks and implement individualized therapies.
Intestinal pathology in goats challenged with Clostridium perfringens type D strain CN1020 wild-type and its genetically modified derivatives
Authors: Morrell Eleonora L. , Navarro Mauricio A. , Garcia Jorge P. , Beingesser Juliann , Uzal Francisco A.
Published: September 2024

Clostridium perfringens type D is the causative agent of enterotoxemia in sheep, goats, and cattle. Although in sheep and cattle, the disease is mainly characterized by neurological clinical signs and lesions, goats with type D enterotoxemia frequently have alterations of the alimentary system. Epsilon toxin (ETX) is the main virulence factor of C. perfringens type D, although the role of ETX in intestinal lesions in goats with type D enterotoxemia has not been fully characterized. We evaluated the contribution of ETX to C. perfringens type D enteric pathogenicity using an intraduodenal challenge model in young goats, with the virulent C. perfringens type D wild-type strain CN1020; its isogenic etx null mutant; an etx-complemented strain; and sterile, non-toxic culture medium. The intestinal tract of each animal was evaluated grossly, microscopically, and immunohistochemically for activated caspase-3. Both ETX-producing strains induced extensive enterocolitis characterized by severe mucosal necrosis, apoptosis, and diffuse suppurative infiltrates. No significant gross or microscopic lesions were observed in goats inoculated with the non–ETX-containing inocula. These results confirm that ETX is essential for the production of intestinal lesions in goats with type D disease. Also, our results suggest that the intestinal pathology of type D enterotoxemia in goats is, at least in part, associated with apoptosis.
The Journal at Fifty
Authors: Dickson David
Published: September 2024

One of the journal's original editors reflects on its birth in 1974, its adolescence and its subsequent evolution.
Cultivating Sustainable Return Migration to Lebanon: Supporting Young Migrants Through Marketing Systems Amid Ongoing Conflict
Authors: Abou-Khalil Walid J. , Khalifé Eliane , Aoun Georges
Published: September 2024

Amid Lebanon's enduring conflict and its consequences, young Lebanese are driven to seek stability and opportunities abroad, impacting the demographic balance among religious communities, which generates tensions and threatens the fragile peace prevailing in the country. This study delves into these migration dynamics, exploring how marketing systems can mitigate challenges and encourage emigrants to return to Lebanon. Semistructured interviews with Lebanese migrants across five continents were conducted to ascertain primary motivations for emigration, obstacles to return, and factors encouraging repatriation. Findings reveal that while young Lebanese pursue better lives abroad, insecurity and persistent barriers hinder their return. By integrating marketing systems and adapting the Transformative Refugee Service Experience Framework, this research proposes comprehensive public policy and managerial strategies tailored to Lebanon's context. Key recommendations include targeted job placement programs, enhanced communication with the diaspora, and community-based educational reforms. By fostering a hospitable environment, Lebanon can support sustainable development, resilience, and well-being, encouraging the return of its young migrants. This study bridges theory and practice, offering actionable insights for policy makers and extending existing frameworks to other sociopolitical settings.
How and Why Do Diaspora Give? A Conceptual Model to Understanding Diaspora Philanthropy
Authors: Appe Susan , Papyan Satenik
Published: September 2024

This article intends to contribute to further research on cross-border phenomenon in nonprofit and philanthropic studies by developing a conceptual model for diaspora philanthropy, the transfer of resources such as money, time, labor, and knowledge to countries of origin for the public good. The interdisciplinary opportunities for the topic of diaspora philanthropy can be considered a strength, but at times, they result in disparate studies and minimal consideration for larger questions and theory development. In this article, we hope to aggregate relevant research in order to remedy some of these challenges. An interdisciplinary approach allows us to chart macro, meso, and micro theories and empirical work that help to explain diaspora philanthropy. We ask: What are the (global) drivers that influence diaspora philanthropy (macro level)? What are the channels that allow for, or challenge, diaspora philanthropy (meso level)? And what are the individual motives of diaspora philanthropists (micro level)?
Tribological behavior of Ni-based composite coatings produced by cold spray
Authors: Gautam Rohit Kumar Singh , Tripathi Vivek Mani , Gautam Jitendra Kumar , Mishra Subhash , Nautiyal Hemant , Singh Raj Bahadur , Jha Pushkar , Singh Sudesh
Published: September 2024

The current experiment examined the friction and wear characteristics of Ni-based composite coatings developed by cold spray route. In the developed coatings, fixed concentration of MoS2 (10 wt. %) and varying concentrations of Ag (5, 10, and 15 wt. %) were incorporated to evaluate the lubricating potential of reinforcing elements. The specimens were slid in various working regimes of loads (6, 11, 16, & 21 N) and at a fixed sliding speed of 0.3 m/s under room temperature (RT). According to the investigation, all participating composite coatings have revealed a lower coefficient of friction (COF) and wear rate as the testing load increased from 6 to 16 N, beyond which a reverse trend was recorded till 21 N. However, composite coating with 10 wt. % Ag has shown excellent tribological properties in terms of the lowest COF (0.29) as well as wear rate (4.0 × 10−5 mm3/Nm) at 16 N and 0.3 m/s. The superior tribological characteristics of the aforesaid coating have been explained and well connected to the synergistic effect of solid lubricants (Ag and MoS2) as well as the optimal weight percent of Ag in the creation of tribo layer on the wear track.
De-Escalation With Low-Intensity Antecedent Strategies: Implications for Disproportionate Disciplinary Outcomes
Authors: Page Dana E. , Landrum Timothy J.
Published: September 2024

Research suggests that a cycle of misbehavior can escalate quickly from corrections over minor rule infractions to threats of serious disciplinary consequences. There is also evidence that Black youth may be especially at risk for these escalations due to subtle or implicit racial bias, or cultural mismatches that may lead teachers to believe that minor rule violations, especially those that require subjective judgments, convey willful defiance or disrespect. In this article, we provide a brief overview of data confirming that Black students experience disproportionate disciplinary outcomes, explore the idea that one contributor to disproportionality may be cultural disconnects between adults and the student population, and consider the idea that many punitive disciplinary actions evolve from relatively minor classroom conflict, disruption, or rule violations. We argue that fairly simple, low-intensity antecedent strategies that show promise in defusing problems rather than exacerbating them may offer mitigation against disproportionate disciplinary outcomes.
Does Medicare Care About Anxiety: Views of Home Care Social Workers
Authors: Cabin William
Published: September 2024

This study addresses the lack of research on the perceptions of home care social workers as to how the Medicare home health benefit addresses anxiety. The findings are based on interviews of 44 home care social workers from five home health agencies in the New York City area. Four themes emerged. Social workers believe: (1) there is extensive anxiety among Medicare home health beneficiaries; (2) Medicare home health’s mandatory assessment for anxiety is limited and not done by social workers; (3) Medicare home health does not require treatment or coverage of anxiety; (4) the lack of coverage for patients assessed with anxiety creates and exacerbates mental and physical health conditions. Policymakers should modify the Medicare home health benefit to cover anxiety.
Memorable digital-free tourism experiences: Antecedents and outcomes
Authors: Sthapit Erose , Ji Chunli , Yang Ping , Woosnam Kyle
Published: September 2024

This study examines the role of escapism, experience co-creation, existential authenticity, and experiential satisfaction as antecedents of memorable digital-free tourism experiences. It then examines the relationship between memorable digital-free tourism experiences and hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being and place attachment. Survey data were gathered, via WeChat, from 389 Chinese tourists who had engaged in a digital-free meditation retreat in China between August 2022 and July 2023. Empirical results reveal that levels of escapism and experiential satisfaction positively explain memorable digital-free tourism experiences. Further, more memorable digital-free tourism experiences are associated with greater hedonic well-being, eudaimonic well-being and place attachment.
Numerical analysis of fractional nonlinear vibrations of a restrained cantilever beam with an intermediate lumped mass
Authors: Sun Yi , Lu Junfeng , Zhu Menghu , Alsolami Abdulrahman Ali
Published: September 2024

This paper focuses on the numerical investigation of the fractional nonlinear oscillator for a restrained cantilever beam with an intermediate lumped mass. A numerical approach based upon the fractional complex transformation and the global residue harmonic balance method (FCT-GRHBM) is suggested for approximately solving this fractional oscillation system of fifth-order nonlinearity. The approximated fractional periodic solutions and frequencies are provided by FCT-GRHBM, which are not touched in the existing literature. Numerical results and sensitive analysis with respect to different parameters are shown to confirm its efficiency.
Partners in progress: Advancing dementia research through collaboration
Authors: Roth John , Roth OAM Cathy , Goh Anita MY
Published: September 2024

The lived experience of dementia, the views of the caregiver, and the pursuit of scientific understanding by researchers need to converge for holistic and collaborative action to improve dementia research. However, there often exist silos and division between these groups, which limits relevance and innovation. This paper aims to bridge this divide by offering a tripartite exploration of dementia research through three distinct, yet interconnected, lenses of a person living with the disease, their dedicated carer, and a researcher actively engaged in dementia research. This collaborative endeavour highlights the need to move beyond the traditional (and outdated) dichotomy of “subject and expert”. By weaving together personal perspectives and insights in a multi-voiced approach, we highlight the opportunities and potential that can emerge from working in partnership and using a relational approach.