bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Outcome of combined cataract surgery and iris prosthesis implantation in iris melanoma patients previously treated with iridocyclectomy: A national retrospective non‐comparative case series
Authors: Nissen Kristoffer , Skibsted Simon Persson , Bagger Mette Marie , Ejstrup Rasmus , Faber Carsten , Riise Per , Heegaard Steffen , Kiilgaard Jens Folke
Published: January 2024

Purpose

To examine complications, visual outcomes, photic patient‐reported symptoms, corneal morphology, IOL tilt, and intraocular pressure after implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL) and iris prosthesis (IP) following iridocyclectomy.

Methods

Patients with previous iridocyclectomy treated with an IOL and IP at the Copenhagen University Hospital Rigshospitalet between 2007 and 2018 were included in this national retrospective non‐comparative case series. The assessment encompassed BCVA, PRO questionnaire, corneal topography, and anterior segment OCT.

Results

45 patients were included. Eight of 45 patients were previously treated with ruthenium‐106 brachytherapy in conjunction with iridocyclectomy. Six of 45 patients developed endothelial dysfunction four of whom had received ruthenium‐106 brachytherapy. Five of 45 patients had subluxation of the IOL/IP complex due to incomplete zonula apparatus. BCVA improved for all patients after lens surgery. 26 patients participated in the invited follow‐up examination. 19 of 26 (73%) reported none or mild photic symptoms after IP instalment. Five (19%) reported ongoing severe photic symptoms. The corneal astigmatism significantly increased after iridocyclectomy but did not change after lens surgery.

Conclusions

Implantation of an IOL and IP is a safe procedure, alleviating photic symptoms in most patients. It comes with higher risk of complications due to a more demanding procedure and larger surgical traumas from previous treatments. Ruthenium‐106 brachytherapy increases the complication risk. Corneal astigmatism is induced by iridocyclectomy but does not change after lens surgery.
The roles of stress mindset and personality in the impact of life stress on emotional well‐being in the context of Covid‐19 confinement: A diary study
Authors: Zeng Weilong , Ma Shaozhuang , Xu Yiqing , Wang Rui
Published: January 2024

Previous studies indicate that COVID‐19 confinement has led to an increase in psychological distress and a decrease in overall well‐being. This longitudinal study aims to investigate how stress mindset and personality traits moderate the impact of life stress on the development of emotional well‐being during the COVID‐19 pandemic confinement. Our study collected daily life stress and emotions data from 134 participants over 14 consecutive days using the diary method. We used hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to analyze the data, examining within‐person and between‐person effects. Life stress predicted moderate increases in positive emotions and strong increases in negative emotions over time. A stress‐is‐enhancing stress mindset was associated with greater positive emotions at baseline and mitigated the link between life stress and negative emotions. Among the Big Five personality traits, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness were associated with higher baseline levels of positive emotions. Agreeableness and conscientiousness mitigated the link between life stress and negative emotions. Neuroticism was associated with higher baseline levels of negative emotions and moderately mitigated the link between life stress and positive emotions. The interaction between neuroticism and stress‐is‐enhancing mindset predicted greater negative emotions and mitigated the link between life stress and positive emotions. In contrast, the interaction between stress‐is‐enhancing mindset and the other four personality traits mitigated the positive link between life stress and negative emotions. Overall, these findings suggest that life stress from confinement leads to a decrease in daily emotional well‐being as the confinement prolongs. Personality traits—agreeableness, conscientiousness, and a stress‐is‐enhancing stress mindset—act as protective roles in mitigating life stress' effect on reduced emotional well‐being over time. The findings advance our knowledge in understanding the roles of personality traits and stress‐is‐enhancing mindset in explaining the heterogeneity in the impact of life stress on emotional well‐being.
The production of ‘From Our Own Correspondent’ on BBC Radio 4: A popular geopolitical analysis
Authors: Watson Alice
Published: January 2024

The production of radio, a medium with the power to shape listeners' geographical imaginations, has received little attention in geography, particularly in comparison to visual media such as photography, television and film. This paper redresses this imbalance by examining the production of From Our Own Correspondent (FOOC), one of BBC Radio 4's longest‐running programmes which has broadcast dispatches from journalists around the world since 1955. It explores the representational power of FOOC to script the world for listeners by constructing geographical imaginaries of distant people and places; interrogates who ‘Our’ correspondents are and the structures which underpin whose voices are heard; and reveals the concealed practices, spatialities and temporalities which shape the programme's production and geopolitical scripts it broadcasts. In doing so, the paper makes a significant and timely contribution to popular geopolitics, a subfield of political geography which has traditionally focused on deconstructing geopolitical discourses and imaginaries in ‘texts’, at the expense of investigating where, how and why media are ‘made’. It draws on original interviews conducted with FOOC's presenter, two producers and four correspondents, and reflects on what the programme's production reveals about how FOOC understands, conceptualises and portrays the world. By exploring FOOC, the paper offers important insights into the hidden geographies of production which govern BBC radio journalism as a sonic medium of popular geopolitics.
Plotting against justice: Conspiracy theory endorsement and opposition to criminal justice reform
Authors: Pomerantz Aaron L. , Altgilbers Roweton Marie
Published: January 2024

Conspiracy theories about criminal justice reform are an unexplored domain with unique relationships to system justification and resistance to criminal justice reform. Across two studies, we developed and began to validate a measure of conspiracies about criminal justice reform, the CCJR. The CCJR was predicted by system justification, general conspiracy mentality, and political ideology (Study 1). The CCJR also mediated the relationship between system justification and resistance to information about criminal justice reform (Study 2). These studies suggest that conspiracy theories contribute to opposition to criminal justice reform, and that criminal justice reform‐related conspiracy theories serve a system‐justifying function, that is, atypical of conspiracy theories. These findings suggest new avenues for research on both conspiracy theories and criminal justice reform.
Triggers, cascades, and endpoints: connecting the dots of coral bleaching mechanisms
Authors: Helgoe Joshua , Davy Simon K. , Weis Virginia M. , Rodriguez‐Lanetty Mauricio
Published: January 2024

The intracellular coral–dinoflagellate symbiosis is the engine that underpins the success of coral reefs, one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. However, the breakdown of the symbiosis and the loss of the microalgal symbiont (i.e. coral bleaching) due to environmental changes are resulting in the rapid degradation of coral reefs globally. There is an urgent need to understand the cellular physiology of coral bleaching at the mechanistic level to help develop solutions to mitigate the coral reef crisis. Here, at an unprecedented scope, we present novel models that integrate putative mechanisms of coral bleaching within a common framework according to the triggers (initiators of bleaching, e.g. heat, cold, light stress, hypoxia, hyposalinity), cascades (cellular pathways, e.g. photoinhibition, unfolded protein response, nitric oxide), and endpoints (mechanisms of symbiont loss, e.g. apoptosis, necrosis, exocytosis/vomocytosis). The models are supported by direct evidence from cnidarian systems, and indirectly through comparative evolutionary analyses from non‐cnidarian systems. With this approach, new putative mechanisms have been established within and between cascades initiated by different bleaching triggers. In particular, the models provide new insights into the poorly understood connections between bleaching cascades and endpoints and highlight the role of a new mechanism of symbiont loss, i.e. ‘symbiolysosomal digestion’, which is different from symbiophagy. This review also increases the approachability of bleaching physiology for specialists and non‐specialists by mapping the vast landscape of bleaching mechanisms in an atlas of comprehensible and detailed mechanistic models. We then discuss major knowledge gaps and how future research may improve the understanding of the connections between the diverse cascade of cellular pathways and the mechanisms of symbiont loss (endpoints).
Using the Mobile Toolbox in child and adolescent samples: A feasibility study
Authors: Young Stephanie Ruth , Novack Miriam Alana , Dworak Elizabeth M. , Kaat Aaron J. , Hosseinian Zahra , Gershon Richard C.
Published: January 2024

Cognitive research with developmental samples requires improved methods that support large‐scale, diverse, and open science. This paper offers initial evidence to support the Mobile Toolbox (MTB), a self‐administered remote smartphone‐based cognitive battery, in youth populations, from a pilot sample of 99 children (Mage = 11.79 years; 36% female; 53% White, 33% Black or African American, 9% Asian, and 15% Hispanic). Completion rates (95%–99%), practice performance (96%–100%), internal consistency (0.60–0.98), and correlations with similar NIHTB measures (0.55–0.77) provide the first evidence to support the MTB in a youth sample, although there were some inconsistencies across measures. Preliminary findings provide promising evidence of the MTB in developmental populations, and further studies are encouraged.
Cultural diversity of traditions for the disposal of exfoliated teeth: Implications for researchers
Authors: Parsons Clara L. B. , Mountain Rebecca V. , Jacobsson Kristina , Bidlack Felicitas B. , Lehmann Lisa Soleymani , Dunn Erin C.
Published: January 2024

Objectives

For decades, researchers in anthropology and archaeology have used teeth, including exfoliated primary teeth, as fossil records of people's physical life experiences. Recently, researchers in psychiatry, epidemiology, environmental health and other fields have recognized the potential for teeth to serve as biomarkers of other early‐life experiences, including trauma exposure and other types of psychosocial stress, which are potent determinants of later mental and physical health problems. Despite the emerging appreciation and value of teeth as biospecimens, little is understood about cultural beliefs and practices surrounding exfoliated teeth. If known, such insights could inform culturally appropriate practices for paediatric dental care and improve protocols for the ethical acquisition of teeth as biospecimens in research studies. To address this gap, a qualitative systematic review was performed to summarize the variety of traditions performed worldwide for disposing of primary exfoliated teeth.

Methods

PubMed, Google Scholar, AnthroSource, Anthropological Literature, EHRAF World Cultures and Anthropology Plus were searched with a systematic search strategy to identify articles published from inception through December 2, 2021. Citations of relevant papers were also forward and backward searched.

Results

There were 3289 articles that met the initial inclusion criteria, of which 37 were included after individual screening and applying exclusion criteria. Thematic analysis was used to identify 74 distinct traditions related to the disposal of exfoliated teeth, which were organized into seven general themes: (1) giving teeth to a tooth fairy, (2) giving teeth to mouse figures, (3) throwing teeth, (4) hiding/keeping teeth, (5) burying teeth, (6) giving teeth to animals and (7) eating the tooth.

Conclusions

The results of this study elucidate the diversity within—yet universality of—exfoliated tooth disposal traditions and underscore the importance of tooth exfoliation as a major milestone during child development. Special attention must be paid to these traditions and related ethical concerns when designing research protocols related to their collection. With a greater understanding of beliefs and practices related to exfoliated teeth, researchers will be better equipped to engage children and families in studies that include analyses of exfoliated teeth, collect teeth as biospecimens, and broaden the use of teeth in research.
Family‐centred practice and family outcomes in residential youth care: A systematic review
Authors: Tang Emily , de Haan Amaranta D. , Kuiper Chris H. Z. , Harder Annemiek T.
Published: January 2024

Family‐centred practice (FCP) has been suggested as a best practice for treating youth with emotional and behavioural difficulties in residential care. In this preregistered systematic review, we examined how FCP is operationalized and measured in residential youth care and which family outcomes are associated with FCP. Our systematic search in six databases identified 5784 articles. We analysed included articles by coding the operationalizations of FCP in the interventions and study measures. Further, we descriptively summarized relations between FCP and family outcomes. Thirteen articles met our inclusion criteria. In these articles, FCP was operationalized by five types of youth worker actions in interventions and was measured as five types of family involvement. Ten articles examined pre–post differences in family‐centred interventions. Only four articles analysed relations between FCP and a family outcome. Studies found some support for a positive association between FCP and whole‐family functioning, but overall, the association between FCP and family outcomes remains unclear. Our findings demonstrate that more research is needed that specifically examines different aspects of FCP and how they relate to family outcomes in residential youth care. Such studies can benefit from the conceptual model proposed for FCP in residential youth care interventions.
‘The secret sauce’: Experience of a group‐based intervention for Black and Latino fathers
Authors: Cederbaum Julie A. , Okine Lucinda , Monro William , Albassam Bassam , Parker Keith , McBride Danette , Mennen Ferol E.
Published: January 2024

Fatherhood interventions have emerged as significant tools for strengthening father identity and parenting skills. Despite the growing evidence of the effectiveness and benefits of these interventions for fathers and their families, there are limited studies on fathers' and providers' perspectives and experiences with the implementation of father‐based interventions. To fill this gap, we explore the unique experiences of the Black and Latino programme staff and fathers in the implementation of the 24/7 Dad® intervention. Qualitative data were collected between October 2021 and February 2022 from all programme staff (n = 7) and selected Dad 24/7 fathers (n = 20) from the English (n = 10) and Spanish (n = 10) intervention groups. All programme staff completed a semi‐structured interview via phone and/or video conferencing. A qualitative descriptive approach was used for analysis. Average age of staff was 53 years; mean age of fathers was 43 years. Among staff, 43% were Black, and 57% were Latino. Fathers self‐identified as Black (30%) and Latino (70%). Three key staff themes were benefits to fathers, impact on fathers and facilitators, and ways to strengthen fatherhood interventions. Three key father themes were intervention benefits, intervention impact (what ‘made it work’) and ways to strengthen intervention services. Fathering is a key component in maintaining healthy families and communities. Fatherhood interventions have great potential for empowering fathers and strengthening families. Finding ways to a relational approach, allocating more time for robust participation and building on facilitators' experiences and assets can help strengthen the impact of fatherhood interventions.
Engaging urban residents in the appropriate actions to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts
Authors: Puri Mahi , Goode Kaitlin O. , Johannsen Kristina L. , Pienaar Elizabeth F.
Published: January 2024

Mitigating human–wildlife conflicts by altering human behaviors is critical to urban wildlife conservation. We investigated what actions urban residents are willing to take to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts in metropolitan Atlanta, one of the fastest growing metropolises in the United States (~6.1 million people, 21,690 km2). In 2022, we administered online surveys to 1006 residents of metropolitan Atlanta to determine which measures they had adopted to mitigate conflicts with urban wildlife, elicit their stated willingness to adopt additional conflict mitigation measures, and identify determinants of current or potential implementation of mitigation measures. Respondents most frequently reported watching urban wildlife (63.0% of respondents). The most frequently reported conflicts were wildlife raiding trash cans (14.8%) and damaging landscaping (20.8%). In total, 342 respondents (34.0%) had not taken any action to mitigate conflicts with wildlife. Respondents who had taken action to prevent conflicts most often secured their trash by keeping cans indoors or locking the lid of the can (28.7%), kept pets (20.5%) and pet food (20.3%) indoors, and took trash out on the morning of collection (19.6%). Respondents who had not adopted conflict mitigation measures stated that they were likely to secure their trash or keep pets and pet food indoors if they considered these measures to be necessary. Prior conflicts with wildlife influenced both respondents' current efforts to mitigate conflicts with wildlife, and their stated willingness to adopt additional measures to mitigate human–wildlife conflicts. Risk sensitivity to zoonotic pathogen transmission increased both actual and intended adoption of conflict mitigation measures. Respondents' self‐efficacy, beliefs about wildlife, and age also influenced their willingness to adopt conflict mitigation measures. Our results suggest that education and outreach about the need for conflict mitigation measures should highlight the importance and effectiveness of these measures in conserving wildlife, while also securing the well‐being of humans and pets.
The association between atrial fibrillation and dementia: A UK linked electronic health records cohort study
Authors: Brooks Kieran , Yoshimura Hiroyuki , Gonzalez‐Izquierdo Arturo , Zakkak Nadine , Kukendra‐Rajah Kishore , Lip Gregory Y. H. , Providencia Rui
Published: January 2024

Background

We investigated the association between atrial fibrillation (AF) and dementia, and its subtypes (vascular‐VaD, Alzheimer, mixed and rare dementia), and identified predictors for dementia in AF patients.

Methods

The analysis was based on 183,610 patients with new‐onset AF and 367,220 non‐AF controls in the United Kingdom between 1998 and 2016, identified in three prospectively collected, linked electronic health records sources. Time‐to‐event (dementia or subtypes) analyses were performed using Cox proportional hazards and weighted Cox. Sub‐analyses performed: including & censoring stroke and age (median used as cut‐off).

Results

Over a median follow‐up of 2.67 years (IQR .65–6.02) for AF patients and 5.84 years for non‐AF patients (IQR 2.26–11.80), incidence of dementia in the AF cohort was 2.65 per 100 person‐years, compared to 2.02 in the non‐AF cohort. After adjustment, a significant association was observed between AF and all‐cause dementia (HR = 1.38, 95% CI: 1.31–1.45), driven by a strong association with VaD (HR = 1.55, 95% CI: 1.41–1.70). AF was also associated with mixed dementia (HR = 1.26, 95% CI: 1.01–1.56), but we could not confirm an association with Alzheimer (HR = 1.05, 95% CI: .94–1.16) and rare dementia forms (HR = 1.19, 95% CI: .90–1.56). Ischemic stroke (HR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.26–1.56), subarachnoid haemorrhage (HR = 2.08, 95% CI: 1.47–2.96), intracerebral haemorrhage (HR = 1.95, 95% CI: 1.54–2.48) and diabetes (HR = 1.32, 95% CI: 1.24–1.41) were identified as the strongest predictors of dementia in AF patients.

Conclusions

AF patients have an increased risk of dementia, independent of stroke, with highest risk of VaD. Management and prevention of the identified risk factors could be crucial to reduce the increasing burden of dementia.
The importance of habitat type and historical fire regimes in arthropod community response following large‐scale wildfires
Authors: Holmquist Anna J. , Cody Markelz R. J. , Martinez Ciera C. , Gillespie Rosemary G.
Published: January 2024

Novel wildfire regimes are rapidly changing global ecosystems and pose significant challenges for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem management. In this study, we used DNA metabarcoding to assess the response of arthropod pollinator communities to large‐scale wildfires across diverse habitat types in California. We sampled six reserves within the University of California Natural Reserve System, each of which was partially burned in the 2020 Lightning Complex wildfires in California. Using yellow pan traps to target pollinators, we collected arthropods from burned and unburned sites across multiple habitat types including oak woodland, redwood, scrub, chamise, grassland, forest, and serpentine habitats. We found no significant difference in alpha diversity values between burned and unburned sites; instead, seasonal variations played a significant role in arthropod community dynamics, with the emergence of plant species in Spring promoting increased pollinator richness at all sites. When comparing all sites, we found that burn status was not a significant grouping factor. Instead, compositional differences were largely explained by geographic differences, with distinct communities within each reserve. Within a geographic area, the response of arthropods to fire was dependent on habitat type. While communities in grasslands and oak woodlands exhibited recovery following burn, scrublands experienced substantial changes in community composition. Our study highlights the importance of examining community responses to wildfires across broad spatial scales and diverse habitat types. By understanding the nuanced dynamics of arthropod communities in response to fire disturbances, we can develop effective conservation strategies that promote resilience and maintain biodiversity in the face of increasing wildfire frequency and severity driven by climate change.
Major tree species of Central European forests differ in their proportion of positive, negative, and nonstationary growth trends
Authors: Kašpar Jakub , Tumajer Jan , Altman Jan , Altmanová Nela , Čada Vojtěch , Čihák Tomáš , Doležal Jiří , Fibich Pavel , Janda Pavel , Kaczka Ryszard , Kolář Tomáš , Lehejček Jiří , Mašek Jiří , Hellebrandová Kateřina Neudertová , Rybníček Michal , Rydval Miloš , Shetti Rohan , Svoboda Miroslav , Šenfeldr Martin , Šamonil Pavel , Vašíčková Ivana , Vejpustková Monika , Treml Václav
Published: January 2024

Temperate forests are undergoing significant transformations due to the influence of climate change, including varying responses of different tree species to increasing temperature and drought severity. To comprehensively understand the full range of growth responses, representative datasets spanning extensive site and climatic gradients are essential. This study utilizes tree‐ring data from 550 sites from the temperate forests of Czechia to assess growth trends of six dominant Central European tree species (European beech, Norway spruce, Scots pine, silver fir, sessile and pedunculate oak) over 1990–2014. By modeling mean growth series for each species and site, and employing principal component analysis, we identified the predominant growth trends. Over the study period, linear growth trends were evident across most sites (56% increasing, 32% decreasing, and 10% neutral). The proportion of sites with stationary positive trends increased from low toward high elevations, whereas the opposite was true for the stationary negative trends. Notably, within the middle range of their distribution (between 500 and 700 m a.s.l.), Norway spruce and European beech exhibited a mix of positive and negative growth trends. While Scots pine growth trends showed no clear elevation‐based pattern, silver fir and oaks displayed consistent positive growth trends regardless of site elevation, indicating resilience to the ongoing warming. We demonstrate divergent growth trajectories across space and among species. These findings are particularly important as recent warming has triggered a gradual shift in the elevation range of optimal growth conditions for most tree species and has also led to a decoupling of growth trends between lowlands and mountain areas. As a result, further future shifts in the elevation range and changes in species diversity of European temperate forests can be expected.
Banter and beyond: The role of humor in addressing gendered organizational tensions and belonging within the UK Fire and Rescue Service
Authors: Brown Anna , Woodfield Ruth
Published: January 2024

This article explores the role of humor, specifically banter, in addressing gendered organizational tensions within the UK Fire and Rescue Service during a period of modernizing change. Such tensions reflect who holds authority and who is deemed to belong, and we explore how banter is used to both contest and confirm authority associated with the formal rank system and the informal, masculinist ideal‐typical worker in this context. We discuss banter's various roles as a cohering mode of humorous workplace communication, one that can reduce tension and consolidate authority and belonging, as well as its boundary setting, testing, and crossing capacities. In terms of the latter, we ask whether banter can genuinely trouble masculinist organizational norms. We conclude that specific humorous episodes that go “beyond banter” create particular ambivalence, but their impact is significantly limited by widespread discursive acceptance of banter as a central and permissible communication mode in the Service's culture.
Synthesis of high‐quality vanadium nitride particles by one‐step vacuum carbothermal reduction–nitridation method: Theoretical and experimental study
Authors: Liu Li , Yin Qi , Chen Xiumin , Liu Bo , Zhao Xiran , Yang Lianfeng , Liu Wei , Sheng Zhuo , Yang Bin , Xu Baoqiang , Liu Dachun , Jiang Wenlong
Published: January 2024

Owing to its high hardness, favorable stability, and good electrical performance, vanadium nitride (VN) has been extensively used as an alloy additive, an electrode material, a ceramic material, and a catalyst. However, traditional VN synthesis methods require high temperatures and long soaking times. In this study, high‐quality VN particles were prepared from V2O3 powder at a lower temperature and shorter soaking time by a one‐step vacuum carbothermal reduction–nitridation (VCRN) method. Thermodynamic and kinetic analyses elucidated the mechanism of this process. Thermodynamic analysis showed that vacuum was conducive to the carbothermal reduction of V2O3, reducing the initial reaction temperature, and the main reaction path was V2O3→VO→VxCy(VC/ V2C/ V8C7/ V6C5)→VN. Kinetic results indicated that the one‐step VCRN method was a gas–solid reaction. Within the temperature range of 1373–1473 K, the rate‐determining step was controlled by the carbothermal reduction–nitridation reaction, combination control of the reduction–nitridation reaction and the interlayer diffusion, and interlayer diffusion control of N2 during the different reaction processes. High‐quality VN particles obtained at a temperature of 1473 K, pressure of 300 Pa, and soaking time of 3 h were characterized by X‐ray diffraction, transmission electron microscopy, energy dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, and particle size distributions. The O and N contents, measured by an O/N analyzer, were 0.85% and 19%, respectively, and the C content, measured by a C/S analyzer, was 0.92%. These analyses indicate that high‐quality VN can be obtained by a one‐step VCRN method.
Modelling the lactation curve in Alpine × Beetal crossbred dairy goats using random regression models fitted with Legendre polynomial and B‐spline functions
Authors: Upadhyay Amritanshu , Alex Rani , Dige Mahesh Shivanand , Sahoo Shweta , Khan Kashif Dawood , Das Pradyut , Vohra Vikas , Gowane Gopal Ramdasji
Published: January 2024

The current study sought to genetically assess the lactation curve of Alpine × Beetal crossbred goats through the application of random regression models (RRM). The objective was to estimate genetic parameters of the first lactation test‐day milk yield (TDMY) for devising a practical breeding strategy within the nucleus breeding programme. In order to model variations in lactation curves, 25,998 TDMY records were used in this study. For the purpose of estimating genetic parameters, orthogonal Legendre polynomials (LEG) and B‐splines (BS) were examined in order to generate suitable and parsimonious models. A single‐trait RRM technique was used for the analysis. The average first lactation TDMY was 1.22 ± 0.03 kg and peak yield (1.35 ± 0.02 kg) was achieved around the 7th test day (TD). The present investigation has demonstrated the superiority of the B‐spline model for the genetic evaluation of Alpine × Beetal dairy goats. The optimal random regression model was identified as a quadratic B‐spline function, characterized by six knots to represent the central trend. This model effectively captured the patterns of additive genetic influences, animal‐specific permanent environmental effects (c2) and 22 distinct classes of (heterogeneous) residual variance. Additive variances and heritability (h2) estimates were lower in the early lactation, however, moderate across most parts of the lactation studied, ranging from 0.09 ± 0.04 to 0.33 ± 0.06. The moderate heritability estimates indicate the potential for selection using favourable combinations of test days throughout the lactation period. It was also observed that a high proportion of total variance was attributed to the animal's permanent environment. Positive genetic correlations were observed for adjacent TDMY values, while the correlations became less pronounced for more distant TDMY values. Considering better fitting of the lactation curve, the use of B‐spline functions for genetic evaluation of Alpine × Beetal goats using RRM is recommended.
The role of character‐based personal mitigation in sentencing judgments
Authors: Belton Ian K. , Dhami Mandeep K.
Published: January 2024

Personal mitigating factors (PMFs) such as good character, remorse and addressing addiction help sentencers evaluate an offender's past, present and future behavior. We analyzed data from the 2011–2014 Crown Court Sentencing Surveys in England and Wales to examine the relationship between these PMFs and custodial sentences passed on assault and burglary offenses, controlling for other sentencing relevant factors. Beyond revealing the distribution and co‐occurrence of the three PMFs, it was found that good character, remorse and addressing addiction all had a significant mitigating effect. The effects of addressing addiction were the strongest of the three across both offense types, while good character had a stronger effect on burglary than assault. In addition, some mitigating factors appear to be underweighted when they occur together. We consider the implications of these findings for sentencing policy and practice.
The effects of pks+Escherichia coli and bile acid in colorectal tumorigenesis among people with cholelithiasis or cholecystectomy
Authors: Pan Si‐Yuan , Zhou Cheng‐Bei , Deng Jia‐Wen , Zhou Yi‐Lu , Liu Zhu‐Hui , Fang Jing‐Yuan
Published: January 2024

Background and Aim

Patients with cholelithiasis (CL) or cholecystectomy (CE) would have more chances of getting colorectal adenoma (CRA) or cancer (CRC). We aimed to figure out the effects of gut microbiota and bile acid on colorectal neoplasm in CL and CE patients.

Methods

This was a retrospective observational study that recruited 514 volunteers, including 199 people with normal gallbladders (normal), 152 CL, and 163 CE patients. Discovery cohort was established to explore the difference in gut microbiota through 16S rRNA and metagenomics sequencing. Validation cohort aimed to verify the results through quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR).

Results

Significant enrichment of Escherichia coli was found in patients with cholelithiasis or cholecystectomy both in the discovery cohort (16S rRNA sequencing, PNormal‐CL = 0.013, PNormal‐CE = 0.042; metagenomics sequencing, PNormal‐CE = 0.026) and validation cohort (PNormal‐CL < 0.0001, PNormal‐CE < 0.0001). Pks+ E. coli was found enriched in CL and CE patients through qPCR (in discovery cohort: PNormal‐CE = 0.018; in validation cohort: PNormal‐CL < 0.0001, PNormal‐CE < 0.0001). The differences in bile acid metabolism were found both through Tax4Fun analysis of 16S rRNA sequencing (Ko00120, primary bile acid biosynthesis, PNormal‐CE = 0.014; Ko00121, secondary bile acid biosynthesis, PNormal‐CE = 0.010) and through metagenomics sequencing (map 00121, PNormal‐CE = 0.026). The elevation of serum total bile acid of CE patients was also found in validation cohort (PNormal‐CE < 0.0001). The level of serum total bile acid was associated with the relative abundance of pks+ E. coli (r = 0.1895, P = 0.0012).

Conclusions

E. coli, especially pks+ species, was enriched in CL and CE patients. Pks+ E. coli and bile acid metabolism were found associated with CRA and CRC in people after cholecystectomy.
NegotiAge: Development and pilot testing of an artificial intelligence‐based family caregiver negotiation program
Authors: Murawski Alaine , Ramirez‐Zohfeld Vanessa , Mell Johnathan , Tschoe Marianne , Schierer Allison , Olvera Charles , Brett Jeanne , Gratch Jonathan , Lindquist Lee A.
Published: January 2024

Background

Family caregivers of people with Alzheimer's disease experience conflicts as they navigate health care but lack training to resolve these disputes. We sought to develop and pilot test an artificial‐intelligence negotiation training program, NegotiAge, for family caregivers.

Methods

We convened negotiation experts, a geriatrician, a social worker, and community‐based family caregivers. Content matter experts created short videos to teach negotiation skills. Caregivers generated dialogue surrounding conflicts. Computer scientists utilized the dialogue with the Interactive Arbitration Guide Online (IAGO) platform to develop avatar‐based agents (e.g., sibling, older adult, physician) for caregivers to practice negotiating. Pilot testing was conducted with family caregivers to assess usability (USE) and satisfaction (open‐ended questions with thematic analysis).

Results

Development: With NegotiAge, caregivers progress through didactic material, then receive scenarios to negotiate (e.g., physician recommends gastric tube, sibling disagrees with home support, older adult refusing support). Caregivers negotiate in real‐time with avatars who are designed to act like humans, including emotional tactics and irrational behaviors. Caregivers send/receive offers, using tactics until either mutual agreement or time expires. Immediate feedback is generated for the user to improve skills training. Pilot testing: Family caregivers (n = 12) completed the program and survey. USE questionnaire (Likert scale 1–7) subset scores revealed: (1) Useful—Mean 5.69 (SD 0.76); (2) Ease—Mean 5.24 (SD 0.96); (3) Learn—Mean 5.69 (SD 0.74); (4) Satisfy—Mean 5.62 (SD 1.10). Items that received over 80% agreements were: It helps me be more effective; It helps me be more productive; It is useful; It gives me more control over the activities in my life; It makes the things I want to accomplish easier to get done. Participants were highly satisfied and found NegotiAge fun to use (91.7%), with 100% who would recommend it to a friend.

Conclusion

NegotiAge is an Artificial‐Intelligent Caregiver Negotiation Program, that is usable and feasible for family caregivers to become familiar with negotiating conflicts commonly seen in health care.
Improved accuracy and efficiency of primary care fall risk screening of older adults using a machine learning approach
Authors: Song Wenyu , Latham Nancy K. , Liu Luwei , Rice Hannah E. , Sainlaire Michael , Min Lillian , Zhang Linying , Thai Tien , Kang Min‐Jeoung , Li Siyun , Tejeda Christian , Lipsitz Stuart , Samal Lipika , Carroll Diane L. , Adkison Lesley , Herlihy Lisa , Ryan Virginia , Bates David W. , Dykes Patricia C.
Published: January 2024

Background

While many falls are preventable, they remain a leading cause of injury and death in older adults. Primary care clinics largely rely on screening questionnaires to identify people at risk of falls. Limitations of standard fall risk screening questionnaires include suboptimal accuracy, missing data, and non‐standard formats, which hinder early identification of risk and prevention of fall injury. We used machine learning methods to develop and evaluate electronic health record (EHR)‐based tools to identify older adults at risk of fall‐related injuries in a primary care population and compared this approach to standard fall screening questionnaires.

Methods

Using patient‐level clinical data from an integrated healthcare system consisting of 16‐member institutions, we conducted a case–control study to develop and evaluate prediction models for fall‐related injuries in older adults. Questionnaire‐derived prediction with three questions from a commonly used fall risk screening tool was evaluated. We then developed four temporal machine learning models using routinely available longitudinal EHR data to predict the future risk of fall injury. We also developed a fall injury‐prevention clinical decision support (CDS) implementation prototype to link preventative interventions to patient‐specific fall injury risk factors.

Results

Questionnaire‐based risk screening achieved area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) up to 0.59 with 23% to 33% similarity for each pair of three fall injury screening questions. EHR‐based machine learning risk screening showed significantly improved performance (best AUROC = 0.76), with similar prediction performance between 6‐month and one‐year prediction models.

Conclusions

The current method of questionnaire‐based fall risk screening of older adults is suboptimal with redundant items, inadequate precision, and no linkage to prevention. A machine learning fall injury prediction method can accurately predict risk with superior sensitivity while freeing up clinical time for initiating personalized fall prevention interventions. The developed algorithm and data science pipeline can impact routine primary care fall prevention practice.
The role of social relations in supply chain decision‐making: Evidence from China
Authors: Lei Liu , Wei Xu , Yongjian Shen
Published: January 2024

This study examines the extent to which firms in emerging markets build supply chains around social relationships. Most existing studies contend that companies decide who to buy (sell) products from (to) based on cost–benefit trade considerations of product quality, price, and other factors. We argue that companies make supply chain decisions around social relations to reduce possible risks. We empirically test this conjecture by using data from Chinese municipal party secretaries who served in different places from 2006 to 2017, and the primary customers of listed companies. The results show that after an official move from one jurisdiction to work in another, the firms in the latter jurisdiction will see an increase in customers from where the official previously served. Further investigation reveals that companies that are economically strong, face fierce competition, are state‐owned, and are located in areas with low degrees of marketization are more likely to attract customers from the area where the official last served after the new municipal party secretary takes office. Making supply chain decisions based on the social relationships of the secretaries of the municipal party committees does not improve companies' profitability, but doing so will increase the turnover rate of accounts receivable and accounts received in advance.
Development of Older Adults’ Perceptions on Community‐based Connectedness with People Scale: Reliability and validity evaluation
Authors: Kikuchi Mami , Ikeda Atsuko , Hirano Michiyo
Published: January 2024

Aim

We developed a self‐assessment scale—Older Adults' Perceptions of Community‐based Connectedness with People—to assess older adults' comprehensive perceptions of their connectedness with others in the community. A specific aim of this study is to evaluate the reliability and validity of this scale.

Methods

Participants consisted of 1000 men and women aged 65 years or older, living in Sapporo, Hokkaido, Japan. Factorial validity was assessed using exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis, while concurrent validity was assessed using correlation analysis. Reliability was confirmed by Cronbach's α coefficient using the internal consistency method, and the stability coefficient was confirmed using the test–retest method.

Results

Responses were received from 380 participants, and 358 participants who responded to all items were included in the analysis. The developed scale comprised 22 items with three factors: “Perception of Inclusion” (α = .947), “Perception of Reciprocity through Reception” (α = .937), and “Perception of Reciprocity through Provision” (α = .910). Correlation analyses indicated that concurrent scales were positively correlated with Ikigai and negatively correlated with loneliness on the total scale. The model fit was comparative fit index = 0.933, goodness‐of‐fit index = 0.854, adjusted goodness‐of‐fit index = 0.818, and root mean square of approximation = 0.081. The stability coefficient of the total scale scores was 0.875 (95% CI: [0.830, 0.908]).

Conclusions

The developed scale had adequate reliability and validity. The perceptions of connectedness measured using this scale can be used by public health and nursing care professionals to prevent loneliness and isolation among older adults living in the community.
The anatomy and feeding mechanism of the Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus)
Authors: Matsumoto Ryoko , Fujiwara Shin‐ichi , Evans Susan E.
Published: January 2024

The fully aquatic Japanese giant salamander (Andrias japonicus) is a member of the Cryptobranchidae, and is currently distributed in western Japan, with other members of this group restricted to China and North America. Their feeding behaviour is characterized by a form of suction feeding that includes asymmetric movements of the jaw and hyobranchial apparatus. Previous studies on the North American species, Cryptobranchus alleganiensis, have suggested that this specialized jaw movement is produced by a flexible quadrate‐articular joint combined with a loosely connected lower jaw symphysis including two small fibrocartilaginous pads. However, little is known about this feeding behaviour in the Asian species, nor have the three‐dimensional asymmetric jaw movements been fully investigated in any member of Cryptobranchidae. In this study, we explore the asymmetric jaw movements in A. japonicus using three methods: (1) dissection of musculoskeletal structures; (2) filming of feeding behaviour to understand in which situations asymmetric feeding is used; (3) analysis of 3D movement of jaws and skull. In the third component, fresh (from frozen) specimens of A. japonicus were manipulated to replicate asymmetric and symmetric jaw movements, with the specimens CT scanned after each step to obtain the 3D morphology of the jaws at different positions. These positions were combined and their Euler angles from resting (closed) jaw position were calculated for asymmetric or symmetric jaw positions. Our filming revealed that asymmetric jaw movements are linked to the position of the prey in relation to the snout, with the jaw closest to the prey opening asymmetrically. Moreover, this action allows the salamander to simultaneously grasp prey in one side of the mouth while ejecting water on the other side, if the first suction attempt fails. The asymmetric jaw movements are performed mainly by rotation of the mandible about its long axis, with very limited lateral jaw movements. During asymmetric and symmetric jaw movements, the posterior ends of the maxilla and quadrate move slightly. The asymmetric jaw movements are permitted by a mobile quadrate‐articular joint formed by wide, round cartilages, and by two small fibrocartilage pads within the jaw symphysis that act as cushions during jaw rotation. Some of these soft tissue structures leave traces on the jaws and skull, allowing feeding mode to be reconstructed in fossil taxa. Understanding cryptobranchid asymmetric jaw movement thus requires a comprehensive assessment of not only the symphysial morphology but also that of other cranial and hyobranchial elements.
Distinguishing multicystic from focal encephalomalacia on delayed MRI in children with term hypoxic ischemic injury
Authors: Alkhulaifat Dana , Venkatakrishna Shyam Sunder B. , Alves César Augusto Pinheiro Ferreira , Lerebo Wondwossen , Tierradentro‐Garcia Luis Octavio , Elsingergy Mohamed , Worede Fikadu , Curic Jelena , Andronikou Savvas
Published: January 2024

Background and Purpose

To define cystic patterns resulting from term hypoxic ischemic injury (HII) on delayed Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and determine associated HII patterns and lesions that reflect the severity of injury, from a database of African children with cerebral palsy.

Methods

Retrospective review of 1175 children with cerebral palsy due to term HII diagnosed on late MRI, identifying those with cystic changes. These were classified as multicystic or (multi‐) focal‐cystic, and were evaluated for associated injuries—thalami, basal ganglia, hippocampi, cerebellum, and presence of ulegyria.

Results

Three hundred and eighty‐eight of 1175 (33%) children had cystic encephalomalacia. Two hundred and seven of 388 (53.3%) had focal‐cystic and 181/388 (46.6%) had multicystic injury. The focal‐cystic group comprised 87.9% (182/207) with thalamic injury, 25.6% (53/207) with basal ganglia injury, and 15% (31/207) with cerebellar involvement. Basal‐ganglia‐thalamus (BGT) pattern was present in 43.9% (91/207) and ulegyria in 69.6% (144/207). In the multicystic group, 88.9% (161/181) had thalamic injury, 30.9% (56/181) had basal ganglia injury, and 21% (38/181) had cerebellar involvement. BGT pattern was observed in 29.8% (54/181) and ulegyria in 28.7%. (52/181). Significant associations (p<.05) were found between multicystic injury and caudate/globus pallidus involvement, and between focal‐cystic pattern of injury and ulegyria.

Conclusions

Cystic encephalomalacia was seen in almost one‐third of patients with term HII imaged with delayed MRI, with a similar prevalence of focal‐cystic and multicystic injury. Multicystic injury was associated with caudate and globus pallidi involvement, typical of the BGT pattern of HII, whereas the focal‐cystic pattern was associated with ulegyria, typical of watershed injury.