bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Diversity Representation in Virtual Environments: How Brand Motives Mediate Consumer Perceptions
Authors: Ferraro Carla , Sands Sean , Demsar Vlad , Cohen Justin
Published: April 2024

Recent years have seen increased calls for marketers to embrace diversity and emphasise inclusivity, allowing brands to communicate with audiences more authentically. Such calls have spanned brand communications, advertising, social media and the like. Simultaneously, there has been a rise in virtual environments (i.e. virtual reality and the metaverse) and some consumers are increasingly demanding greater diversity in these virtual spaces. Despite this, little is known about how consumers perceive brands that take a diversity stand in these virtual, or artificial, environments. Do consumers perceive these brand strategies as grounded in integrity? Or do they perceive diversity representation in virtual environments as a form of exploitation? With this paper, we investigate the effect of diversity representation in virtual environments across two empirical studies. We provide evidence that while diversity representation can have positive effects in virtual environments, brand motives are an important mediator that influence consumers perceptions of diversity representation in virtual environments. Taken together, this research raises important considerations for brand managers, and the marketing discipline generally, as brands increasingly look for opportunities to engage with consumers in virtual environments.
Being (un)settled as citizens and community: post-2004 Polish migrants, Brexit and the legacy of the Parekh report
Authors: Ciupijus Zinovijus
Published: April 2024

This article applies the concept of Britain as a community of citizens and a community of communities to the analysis of post-2004 Polish migrants. This concept received its clearest articulation in the 2000 report on The Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain chaired by Bhikhu Parekh, which constituted a hallmark of the national debate on multiculturalism. The report is used as an intellectual inspiration to see post-2004 Poles not just as white labour migrants to the UK, but as citizens and community within the multi-ethnic Britain envisaged by Parekh and his co-authors. The discussion draws on a set of qualitative data gathered in the Northern English district of Wakefield following the Brexit vote. The analysis reveals a high degree of local embeddedness of Polish migrants both as citizens and community, which involves civil relations across ethnic lines and the sense of shared commitment. This inclusion is however undermined by the pattern of paid employment, language difficulties and arbitrariness of the Brexit state, which interviewees experienced both as a community and as individual citizens. While following the dialectical frames set by the report, this article expands notions of the boundary of multi-ethnic Britain by putting this ethnic and post-EU enlargement group within its map.
Judicial Actors’ Understanding of the Mental Health Impacts of Intimate Partner Violence: A Scoping Review
Authors: Heward-Belle Susan Lynn , Ali Parveen Azam , Marotta Julieta , Hager Debbie , Rogers Michaela , Stevenson Lynette
Published: April 2024

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health issue that has grave physical and mental health consequences for millions of women. The judicial system plays a critical role in responding to IPV principally through the criminal justice system, family law, and/or child welfare jurisdictions. However, victims/survivors who interact with the legal system report negative experiences. An under-researched area of scholarship is the degree to which judicial actors understand the mental health impacts of IPV on victims/survivors and how they apply that knowledge in practice. This scoping review aimed to identify and synthesize existing scholarship on judicial actors’ understanding of the mental health impacts of IPV on women survivors. We searched 10 databases (Medline, Scopus, PubMed, PsycINFO, EMBASE, Westlaw, HeinOnline, the Cochrane Library, and the Joanna Briggs Library databases) for studies published between 2000 and 2023. A total of 27 studies were included in the review. We identified five main themes, including: awareness of survivors’ experiences, gap in judicial actors’ knowledge, understanding of perpetrator tactics and risk factors, disclosing mental health problems, training, and guidance. The review highlights significant gaps in judicial actors’ understanding of this issue and recommends strategies to increase the awareness and understanding of IPV among judicial actors. The findings can be used to justify future research to better understand the training and development needs of judicial actors to improve their level of awareness of the dynamics and impact of IPV and to make policy and practice recommendations to build the capacity of the judicial workforce.
Efficacy of Hyaluronic Acid/Collagenase Ointment in the Treatment of Chronic Wounds: A Retrospective Observational Study
Authors: Calavul Abdulkadir
Published: April 2024

Background

Chronic wounds, including diabetic ulcers, posttraumatic ulcers, and pressure sores, present a significant challenge in healthcare due to their complex nature and resistance to conventional treatments. This retrospective observational study aimed to evaluate the efficacy of an ointment containing hyaluronic acid and collagenase in treating such wounds.

Methods

The study included 70 patients with various chronic wounds treated in our clinic from January 1, 2020, to October 1, 2023. The patients were selected according to specific inclusion and exclusion criteria, and comprehensive baseline data was collected. The treatment involved the application of a hyaluronic acid and collagenase ointment, followed by regular follow-up and data analysis.

Results

Significant improvements in wound bed scores (WBS) were observed, with a reduction in healing times for all types of wounds. High patient satisfaction rates were reported, along with efficient debridement and notable pain reduction. Diabetic ulcers showed the most significant improvement in terms of healing time and WBS.

Conclusions

Hyaluronic acid and collagenase ointment demonstrated promising results in the treatment of chronic wounds. This treatment may offer a valuable addition to current wound care practices, particularly in challenging cases such as diabetic ulcers. More research is recommended, including randomized controlled trials, to validate these findings.
One-stage or two-stage elective coronary artery bypass graft surgery and abdominal aortic aneurysm open repair in low and moderate cardiac surgical risk patients.
Authors: Gómez-Galán Sebastián , Velandia-Sánchez Alejandro , Corso-Ramírez Julián M , Polanía-Sandoval Camilo A , Florez-Amaya Paula C , Ortigoza-Espitia Sergio A , Suarez-Vásquez Sofía N , Sanabria-Arévalo Lina M , Barrera-Carvajal Juan G , Camacho-Mackenzie Jaime
Published: April 2024

Objectives

Coronary artery disease (CAD) and abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) are common arterial pathologies that might occur simultaneously; however, there is not enough evidence about the optimal strategy for patients with concomitant indications of coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) and open repair of the AAA (AAOR). This study aims to present the outcomes in low and moderate cardiac surgical risk patients who underwent one-stage or two-stage elective CABG and AAOR in a middle-income country.

Methods

An observational, retrospective case series study was conducted. Patients who had low and moderate cardiac surgical risk (less than 8% mortality risk on the STS score) and had the concomitant indication for CABG and AAOR between December 2005 and August 2021 were included. Patients were assigned to one of three strategies: Group 1 underwent one-stage surgery for CABG and AAOR, Group 2 underwent two-stage surgery within the same in-patient stay, and Group 3 underwent two-stage surgery in a new in-patient stay within 6 months.

Results

Twenty seven, patients with simultaneous requirements of CABG and AAOR were identified, with a mean age of 69.5 ± 6.1 years and 92.6% were male. The most common comorbidities were hypertension at 77.8% and dyslipidemia at 55.6%. The average mortality risk calculated by the STS score was 2.09% ± 1.53%. In Group 1 ( n = 9), 1/9 had in-hospital mortality and no reinterventions were needed. In Group 2 ( n = 10), 1/10 had in-hospital mortality, and the most common postoperative complication was acute kidney injury 2/10. Furthermore, 2/10 required a reintervention. In Group 3 ( n = 8), no in-hospital mortality was present, however, complications such as sepsis, atrial fibrillation, and acute kidney injury occurred in 2/8 patients each, and 2/8 required a reintervention.

Conclusion

Patients with CAD and AAA that need a concomitant surgical correction with CABG and an AAOR are uncommon in contemporary practice, given the advances in endovascular therapy. When indicated, one-stage surgery can be performed in patients with low cardiac surgical risk, proper patient selection plays a fundamental role and might be performed in experienced centers. However, two-staged surgeries at the same or different inpatient stay may be considered for asymptomatic AAA with close monitoring during the postoperative period. These findings can hold significance for addressing sociodemographic barriers in low and middle-income countries. More robust and extensive studies are needed to make clear comparisons between the different strategies.
Transfer of cognitive control adjustments within and between speakers
Authors: Kelber Paul , Mackenzie Ian Grant , Mittelstädt Victor
Published: April 2024

Congruency effects in conflict tasks are typically larger after congruent compared to incongruent trials. This congruency sequence effect (CSE) indicates that top-down adjustments of cognitive control transfer between processing episodes, at least when controlling for bottom-up memory processes by alternating between stimulus-response (S-R) sets in confound-minimised designs. According to the control-retrieval account, cognitive control is bound to task-irrelevant context features (e.g., stimulus position or modality) and retrieved upon subsequent context feature repetitions. A confound-minimised CSE should therefore be larger when context features repeat rather than change between two trials. This study tested this prediction for a more abstract contextual stimulus feature, speaker gender. In two preregistered auditory prime-probe task experiments, participants classified colour words spoken by a female or male voice. Across both experiments, we found confound-minimised CSEs that were not reliably affected by whether the speaker gender repeated or changed. This indicates that speaker transitions have virtually no influence on the transfer of control adjustments in the absence of S-R repetitions. By contrast, when allowing for bottom-up memory processes by repeating the S-R set, CSEs were consistently larger when the speaker gender repeated compared to changed. This suggests that speaker transitions can in principle influence transfer between processing episodes. The discrepancy also held true when considering learning and test episodes separated by an intervening episode. Thus, the present findings call for a refinement of the control-retrieval account to accommodate the role of more abstract contextual stimulus features for the maintenance of memory traces in auditory conflict processing.
A corpus-based discourse analysis of reparations inertia
Authors: Hoops Joshua F
Published: April 2024

The movement for reparations for those enslaved on the North American continent from 1450 to 1866 has a long history fraught with debate, criticized by individuals on both the right and left sides of the political spectrum. Specific points of contention include how much money should be allocated, who the recipients and potential liable parties should be, and what specific form reparations should take. Accounting for this historical opposition, this paper employs a corpus-based discourse analysis to examine the communicative barriers to implementing reparations. The corpora consisted of YouTube comments posted to news reports of six cities’ reparations proposals. I utilized Sketch Engine to examine frequency of keywords, collocations, and concordance, followed by a close-reading discourse analysis of lexical, grammatical, and tonal elements. The analysis revealed myriad constructions of reparations resulting in inertia, the institutional tendency to preserve the status quo. This discursive formation is consequential not only for its implications for reparations, but for broader structural reform efforts.
Incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of acute brain swelling associated with traumatic acute subdural hematoma: a retrospective study utilizing novel diagnostic criteria
Authors: Fu Shilong , Liu Haibing , Wang Guofeng , Hu Xiaofang , Wang Shousen
Published: April 2024

Background:

Post-traumatic acute brain swelling (ABS) is a major cause of elevated intracranial pressure and thus mortality. The current definition of post-traumatic ABS has certain limitations, and there is limited information available regarding ABS associated with traumatic acute subdural hematoma (ASDH).

Objectives:

To investigate the incidence, risk factors, and clinical outcomes of ABS associated with traumatic ASDH.

Design:

Retrospective study.

Methods:

Data for 161 patients diagnosed with traumatic ASDH were retrospectively collected. Novel computed tomography-based criteria were proposed for diagnosing ABS in patients with ASDH and determining its incidence. Univariate and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to explore the risk factors of post-traumatic ABS. The Glasgow Outcome Scale (GOS) score, mortality, and functional prognosis of all patients at discharge and the proportion of intraoperative malignant brain bulge in surgical patients were taken as clinical outcome measures.

Results:

A total of 45 (28%) patients experienced post-traumatic ABS, exhibiting significantly lower Glasgow Coma Scale scores on admission ( p < 0.001). The incidence of hemispheric and whole-brain swelling was 8.1% and 19.9%, respectively. Risk factors independently associated with post-traumatic ABS were: (1) age [odds ratio (OR) = 0.917, p < 0.001]; (2) platelet to white blood cell ratio (PWR) (OR = 0.887, p = 0.012); and (3) traumatic subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) (OR = 4.346, p = 0.005). The ABS cohort had a lower GOS score [2 (1–3) versus 4 (3–5); p < 0.001], higher mortality (46.7% versus 6.9%; p < 0.001), and higher proportion of unfavorable functional prognosis (75.6% versus 34.5%; p < 0.001) upon discharge compared to the no ABS cohort, along with higher proportion of intraoperative malignant brain bulge (43.8% versus 0%; p < 0.001).

Conclusion:

The incidence of ABS associated with ASDH is significantly high overall. Patients with ASDH who have young age, low PWR, and traumatic SAH are at an increased risk of developing post-traumatic ABS, and therefore of poor clinical outcomes.
ChatGPT is capable of providing satisfactory responses to frequently asked questions regarding total shoulder arthroplasty
Authors: Yeramosu Teja , Johns William L. , Onor Gabriel , Menendez Mariano E , Namdari Surena , Hammoud Sommer
Published: April 2024

Background

The rising prominence of artificial intelligence in healthcare has revolutionized patient access to medical information. This cross-sectional study sought to assess if ChatGPT could satisfactorily address common patient questions about total shoulder arthroplasty (TSA).

Methods

Ten commonly encountered questions in TSA practice were selected and posed to ChatGPT. Each response was assessed for accuracy and clarity using the Mika et al. scoring system, which ranges from “excellent response not requiring clarification” to “unsatisfactory response requiring substantial clarification,” and a modified DISCERN score. The readability was further evaluated using the Flesch Reading Ease Score and the Flesch-Kincaid Grade Level.

Results

The mean Mika et al. score was 2.93, corresponding to an overall subjective rating of “satisfactory but requiring moderate clarification.” The mean DISCERN score was 46.60, which is considered “fair.” The readability analysis suggested that the responses were at a college-graduate level, higher than the recommended level for patient educational materials.

Discussion

Our results suggest that ChatGPT has the potential to supplement the collaborative decision-making process between patients and experienced orthopedic surgeons for TSA-related inquiries. Ultimately, while tools like ChatGPT can enhance traditional patient education methods, they should not replace direct consultations with medical professionals.
Labour migration as a solution to an ageing population?
Authors: de Beer Paul
Published: April 2024

Labour migration is often mentioned as a way to mitigate the impact of ageing in wealthy societies. This article analyses the impact of labour migration on the welfare level and old-age dependency ratio of a prosperous ageing country, the Netherlands. If labour migrants are considered to be part of the population of the host country, they only contribute to a higher welfare level if their productivity is higher than per capita GDP. If they stay permanently and form a family, their productivity will need to be higher than the average labour productivity of the incumbent workforce. Labour migrants will mitigate the rise of the old-age dependency ratio, but only if they only stay in the host country temporarily. Therefore, only selective and temporary labour migration will relieve the ‘burden’ of an ageing society.
Continuous Glucose Monitoring for Prediabetes: What Are the Best Metrics?
Authors: Zahalka Salwa J. , Galindo Rodolfo J. , Shah Viral N. , Low Wang Cecilia C.
Published: April 2024

Background:

Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) has transformed the care of type 1 and type 2 diabetes, and there is potential for CGM to also become influential in prediabetes identification and management. However, to date, we do not have any consensus guidelines or high-quality evidence to guide CGM goals and metrics for use in prediabetes.

Methods:

We searched PubMed for all English-language articles on CGM use in nonpregnant adults with prediabetes published by November 1, 2023. We excluded any articles that included subjects with type 1 diabetes or who were known to be at risk for type 1 diabetes due to positive islet autoantibodies.

Results:

Based on the limited data available, we suggest possible CGM metrics to be used for individuals with prediabetes. We also explore the role that glycemic variability (GV) plays in the transition from normoglycemia to prediabetes.

Conclusions:

Glycemic variability indices beyond the standard deviation and coefficient of variation are emerging as prominent identifiers of early dysglycemia. One GV index in particular, the mean amplitude of glycemic excursion (MAGE), may play a key future role in CGM metrics for prediabetes and is highlighted in this review.
YouTubeTM as a source of information on autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease: A quality analysis
Authors: Selen Tamer , Merhametsiz Ozgur
Published: April 2024

Introduction

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is the most common inherited kidney disease in adults. As a social media platform, YouTube has tremendous potential to both support and hinder public health efforts. The aim of this study was to assess the reliability and quality of the most viewed English-language YouTube videos on ADPKD.

Methods

A YouTube search was conducted on 3 August 2023, using the keyword ADPKD disease and the top 200 videos were analyzed for relevance. Videos in the “Short” category that were duplicates, were not in English, were not audio or visual, and contained advertisements were excluded. Two reviewers divided the 159 included videos into groups based on their source and content.

Results

In 106 (66.7%) of the 159 videos, general information about the disease was given, 58 (36.5%) discussed medical treatment, 11 (6.9%) discussed surgical treatment, 30 (18.9%) included patient images and radiological images, and eight (5%) discussed the genetic and pathological features of the disease. Additionally, 16 (10.1%) videos fell into the “other” category. According to the Journal of the American Medical Association, Quality Criteria for Consumer Health Information and Global Quality Scale scoring systems, videos uploaded by health associations and foundations received the highest scores (3 (1–4), 54 (28–70), 4 (1–5), respectively).

Conclusion

Academic institutions and other official health organizations such as Health Associations/Foundations need to use YouTube more effectively to disseminate accurate, reliable and useful health-related information to society.
Water as elemental medium and heritage: The case of Sangyuanwei Polder embankment system
Authors: Xi Lei
Published: April 2024

This paper argues that elemental media studies, which emphasize the entanglements between humans and non-humans, can offer new avenues for addressing the challenges faced by post-humanist heritage studies. Due to the importance of tourism for heritage revitalization, this paper examines the limitations of the local tourism industry’s understanding of the water element in the context of the tourism plan of the Sangyuanwei Polder Embankment System, particularly the neglect of the destructiveness of water. It also investigates human-water interactions in the history of SPES through elemental analysis, examining how water as a medium of life has inspired human affects, feelings, actions, as well as facilitated the transformation of and communication with water through the development of water-related engineering and social institutions. By focusing on the affective aspects of the elements, as well as revisiting the histories and local knowledge, elemental aesthetics derived from elemental analysis aims to reconnect humans to the elements as media of life, thus allowing for the initiation of dialogs with heritage management and tourism. The elemental aesthetics of water for the life of heritage sites aiming at flood control has often included the destructive characteristics of water, as well as the complex feelings of fear, awe, reverence, and dedication that it stirs. Based on this, this paper also points out a possible new orientation for the future development of water-related heritage sites.
Underuse of Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA in the Spanish legal system: The case of conditional release. A forthcoming change in trend!
Authors: Montero Pérez de Tudela Esther
Published: April 2024

The enactment of Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA encounters numerous impediments, with Spain representing a particularly instructive case. Although transposed into Spanish legislation in December 2014, the utilisation of this instrument remains notably infrequent. This scarcity in application is, in part, due to its omission in cases of conditional release, where there is a marked preference for pre-transposition statutes in affording such benefits to EU citizens. Nonetheless, insights from the annual meeting of Penitentiary Surveillance Prosecutors herald a pivot towards a mandatory engagement with Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA. This anticipated shift portends a broader adoption of this legal mechanism in the coming years, especially concerning conditional release. This paper delves into the challenges inherent in implementing Framework Decision 2008/947/JHA, with a particular focus on the Spanish jurisdiction. Following a thorough examination of relevant data and scholarly discourse, this study proposes a suite of recommendations aimed at enhancing the utility of this legal tool.
Thinking and Enacting the Patient Medical Home Under Pandemic Conditions: A Qualitative Study From Primary Care in Alberta, Canada
Authors: Leslie Myles , Hansen Brian , Abboud Rida , Claussen Caroline , Aghajafari Fariba
Published: April 2024

Background:

The COVID-19 (C19) pandemic shocked primary care systems around the world. Those systems responded by supporting patients in the community, and acute care facilities in crisis. In Canada, the Patient Medical Home (PMH) is a widely adopted care model that aims to operationalize the tenets and principles of Primary Health Care (PHC) as developed since the Alma-Ata Declaration. This paper describes how personnel working in and with Primary Care Networks (PCNs) in Alberta, Canada deployed the PMH model and its underlying PHC principles to frame and respond to the C19 shock.

Methods:

Using purposive and snowball sampling techniques, we interviewed 57 participants who worked in public health and primary care, including community-based family physicians. We used interpretive description to analyze the interviews.

Results:

PCN staff and physicians described how the PMH model was foundational to normal operations, and how C19 responses were framed by the patient-centric, team-delivered, and continuous care principles the model shares with PHC. Specifically, participants described ensuring access to care, addressing the social determinants of health, being patient centered, and redeploying and expanding PHC teams to accomplish these goals.

Discussion:

Delivering PHC through the PMH allowed physicians and allied health staff to deliver patient-centered, team-based, holistic bio-medical services to Albertans. In tailoring services to meet the specific social and health needs of the populations served by each PCN, healthcare providers were able to ensure relevant support remained available and accessible.
The Relationship Between Unprofessional Social Media Posts and Personality Traits Made by Physician Assistant Students
Authors: Cotgreave Jaclyn N , Wolf Corri
Published: April 2024

OBJECTIVES

Research has indicated that physician assistant (PA) students use social media in their medical education; however, research is scant on whether PA students use social media unprofessionally. This study aimed to determine if PA students badmouth others or post pictures or comments depicting substance use and whether a relationship exists between personality and unprofessional posts.

METHODS

PA Program Directors were emailed and asked to disseminate an anonymous survey to their students. The survey included descriptive questions, questions regarding badmouthing and substance use posts, and the Mini-International Personality Item Pool. Data analysis included descriptive statistics, Spearman's correlation coefficient, and Mann–Whitney U with p < .05 indicating significance.

RESULTS

Recruitment resulted in n = 497 participants. Clinical year students made significantly more alcohol-related posts than didactic students ( p = .01) and were significantly less conscientious ( p ≤ .01). Didactic students badmouthed professors significantly more than clinical year students ( p < .05). Females made significantly more alcohol-related posts ( p ≤ .01); however, males badmouthed friends more ( p = .02). A statistically significant relationship was identified between extraversion and all types of badmouthing ( p < .05), alcohol-related ( p < .001), and recreational drug ( p = .02) posts, and between neuroticism and badmouthing professors ( p = .02); conversely there was a significant negative correlation between conscientiousness and badmouthing professors ( p = .01).

CONCLUSION

Medical educational programs should address professionalism concerning social media with a program policy to encourage a professional and ethical digital profile.
Predictors of severe intracerebral hemorrhage expansion
Authors: Morotti Andrea , Li Qi , Nawabi Jawed , Busto Giorgio , Mazzacane Federico , Cavallini Anna , Shoamanesh Ashkan , Morassi Mauro , Schlunk Frieder , Piccolo Laura , Urbinati Giacomo , Pezzini Debora , Paciaroni Maurizio , Fainardi Enrico , Casetta Ilaria , Padovani Alessandro , Zini Andrea
Published: April 2024

Background:

Severe hematoma expansion (sHE) has the strongest impact on intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) outcome. We investigated the predictors of sHE.

Methods:

Retrospective analysis of ICH patients admitted at nine sites in Italy, Germany, China, and Canada. The following imaging features were analyzed: non-contrast CT (NCCT) hypodensities, heterogeneous density, blend sign, irregular shape, and CT angiography (CTA) spot sign. The outcome of interest was sHE, defined as volume increase >66% and/or >12.5 from baseline to follow-up NCCT. Predictors of sHE were explored with logistic regression.

Results:

A total of 1472 patients were included (median age 73, 56.6% males) of whom 223 (15.2%) had sHE. Age (odds ratio (OR) per year, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.02 (1.01–1.04)), Anticoagulant treatment (OR 3.00, 95% CI 2.09–4.31), Glasgow Coma Scale (OR 0.93, 95% CI 0.89–0.98), time from onset/last known well to imaging, (OR per h 0.96, 95% CI 0.93–0.99), and baseline ICH volume, (OR per mL 1.02, 95% CI 1.02–1.03) were independently associated with sHE. Ultra-early hematoma growth (baseline volume/baseline imaging time) was also a predictor of sHE (OR per mL/h 1.01, 95% CI 1.00–1.02). All NCCT and CTA imaging markers were also predictors of sHE. Amongst imaging features NCCT hypodensities had the highest sensitivity (0.79) whereas the CTA spot sign had the highest positive predictive value (0.51).

Conclusions:

sHE is common in the natural history of ICH and can be predicted with few clinical and imaging variables. These findings might inform clinical practice and future trials targeting active bleeding in ICH.
Bio-synthesized TiO2 nanoparticles and the aqueous binder-based anode derived thereof for lithium-ion cells
Authors: Pillai Akhilash Mohanan , Gopinadh Sumol V. , Phanendra Peddinti V. R. L. , Salini Patteth S. , John Bibin , SarojiniAmma Sujatha , Devassy Mercy Thelakkattu
Published: April 2024

Titanium dioxide nanoparticles (TiO2-NPs) are a promising anode material for Lithium-ion batteries (LIBs) due to their good rate capability, low cost, non-toxicity, excellent structural stability, extended cycle life, and low volumetric change (∼4%) during the Li+ insertion/de-insertion process. In the present paper, anatase TiO2-NPs with an average particle size of ~ 12 nm were synthesized via a green synthesis route using Beta vulgaris (Beetroot) extract, and the synthesized TiO2-NPs were evaluated as anode material in LIBs. Furthermore, we employed an aqueous binder (1:1 mixture of carboxy methyl cellulose and styrene butadiene) for electrode processing, making the process cost-effective and environmentally friendly. The results revealed that the Li/TiO2 half-cells delivered an initial discharge capacity of 209.7 mAh g−1 and exhibited superior rate capability (149 mAh g−1 at 20 C) and cycling performances. Even at the 5C rate, the material retained a capacity of 82.2% at the end of 100 cycles. The synthesis route of TiO2-NPs and the aqueous binder-based electrode processing described in the present work are facile, green, and low-cost and are thus practically beneficial for producing low-cost and high-performance anodes for advanced LIBs.
Characterization of early markers of disease in the mouse model of mucopolysaccharidosis IIIB
Authors: McCullough Katherine B. , Titus Amanda , Reardon Kate , Conyers Sara , Dougherty Joseph D. , Ge Xia , Garbow Joel R. , Dickson Patricia , Yuede Carla M. , Maloney Susan E.
Published: April 2024

Background

Mucopolysaccharidosis (MPS) IIIB, also known as Sanfilippo Syndrome B, is a devastating childhood disease. Unfortunately, there are currently no available treatments for MPS IIIB patients. Yet, animal models of lysosomal storage diseases have been valuable tools in identifying promising avenues of treatment. Enzyme replacement therapy, gene therapy, and bone marrow transplant have all shown efficacy in the MPS IIIB model systems. A ubiquitous finding across rodent models of lysosomal storage diseases is that the best treatment outcomes resulted from intervention prior to symptom onset. Therefore, the aim of the current study was to identify early markers of disease in the MPS IIIB mouse model as well as examine clinically-relevant behavioral domains not yet explored in this model.

Methods

Using the MPS IIIB mouse model, we explored early developmental trajectories of communication and gait, and later social behavior, fear-related startle and conditioning, and visual capabilities. In addition, we examined brain structure and function via magnetic resonance imaging and diffusion tensor imaging.

Results

We observed reduced maternal isolation-induced ultrasonic vocalizations in MPS IIIB mice relative to controls, as well as disruption in a number of the spectrotemporal features. MPS IIIB also exhibited disrupted thermoregulation during the first two postnatal weeks without any differences in body weight. The developmental trajectories of gait were largely normal. In early adulthood, we observed intact visual acuity and sociability yet a more submissive phenotype, increased aggressive behavior, and decreased social sniffing relative to controls. MPS IIIB mice showed greater inhibition of startle in response to a pretone with a decrease in overall startle response and reduced cued fear memory. MPS IIIB also weighed significantly more than controls throughout adulthood and showed larger whole brain volumes and normalized regional volumes with intact tissue integrity as measured with magnetic resonance and diffusion tensor imaging, respectively.

Conclusions

Together, these results indicate disease markers are present as early as the first two weeks postnatal in this model. Further, this model recapitulates social, sensory and fear-related clinical features. Our study using a mouse model of MPS IIIB provides essential baseline information that will be useful in future evaluations of potential treatments.
Comprehensive genomic analysis of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant BA.2.76 in Jining City, China, 2022
Authors: Yin Qiang , Liu Wei , Jiang Yajuan , Feng Qiang , Wang Xiaoyu , Dou Huixin , Liu Zanzan , He Feifei , Fan Yingying , Jiao Baihai , Jiao Boyan
Published: April 2024

Objective

This study aims to analyze the molecular characteristics of the novel coronavirus (SARS-CoV-2) Omicron variant BA.2.76 in Jining City, China.

Methods

Whole-genome sequencing was performed on 87 cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. Evolutionary trees were constructed using bioinformatics software to analyze sequence homology, variant sites, N-glycosylation sites, and phosphorylation sites.

Results

All 87 SARS-CoV-2 whole-genome sequences were classified under the evolutionary branch of the Omicron variant BA.2.76. Their similarity to the reference strain Wuhan-Hu-1 ranged from 99.72 to 99.74%. In comparison to the reference strain Wuhan-Hu-1, the 87 sequences exhibited 77–84 nucleotide differences and 27 nucleotide deletions. A total of 69 amino acid variant sites, 9 amino acid deletions, and 1 stop codon mutation were identified across 18 proteins. Among them, the spike (S) protein exhibited the highest number of variant sites, and the ORF8 protein showed a Q27 stop mutation. Multiple proteins displayed variations in glycosylation and phosphorylation sites.

Conclusion

SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, giving rise to new strains with enhanced transmission, stronger immune evasion capabilities, and reduced pathogenicity. The application of high-throughput sequencing technologies in the epidemic prevention and control of COVID-19 provides crucial insights into the evolutionary and variant characteristics of the virus at the genomic level, thereby holding significant implications for the prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Tissue-specific atlas of trans-models for gene regulation elucidates complex regulation patterns
Authors: Dagostino Robert , Gottlieb Assaf
Published: April 2024

Background

Deciphering gene regulation is essential for understanding the underlying mechanisms of healthy and disease states. While the regulatory networks formed by transcription factors (TFs) and their target genes has been mostly studied with relation tociseffects such as in TF binding sites, we focused ontranseffects of TFs on the expression of their transcribed genes and their potential mechanisms.

Results

We provide a comprehensive tissue-specific atlas, spanning 49 tissues of TF variations affecting gene expression through computational models considering two potential mechanisms, including combinatorial regulation by the expression of the TFs, and by genetic variants within the TF.

We demonstrate that similarity between tissues based on our discovered genes corresponds to other types of tissue similarity. The genes affected by complex TF regulation, and their modelled TFs, were highly enriched for pharmacogenomic functions, while the TFs themselves were also enriched in several cancer and metabolic pathways. Additionally, genes that appear in multiple clusters are enriched for regulation of immune system while tissue clusters include cluster-specific genes that are enriched for biological functions and diseases previously associated with the tissues forming the cluster. Finally, our atlas exposes multilevel regulation across multiple tissues, where TFs regulate other TFs through the two tested mechanisms.

Conclusions

Our tissue-specific atlas provides hierarchical tissue-specifictransgenetic regulations that can be further studied for association with human phenotypes.
Statin use for cardiovascular disease prevention: perceptions among people living with HIV in the United States
Authors: Ogunbajo Adedotun , Todd Ivy , Zajdman Deborah , Anderson Abraelle , Wali Soma , Diamant Allison , Ladapo Joseph A. , Ober Allison J.
Published: April 2024

Background

People living with HIV (PLWH) may be at heightened risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Statin use and lifestyle changes reduce the risk of CVD but remain under-prescribed among PLWH. The objective of this study was to characterize knowledge of CVD and statin use, current usage, barriers to taking statins, and information desired by PLWH to improve statin uptake among PLWH in Los Angeles, CA.

Methods

Between April 2019 and April 2020, we conducted four focus group discussions (n = 37) with patients across three public community health clinics that serve PLWH in Los Angeles County, California. All clinics participated in a larger study to improve statin prescribing for PLWH. We asked about knowledge of statins, willingness to take a statin, possible barriers to statin usage, preferred information sources for health information, and desired information about statins. We utilized standard qualitative content analysis methods to identify themes.

Results

We found a range in the awareness of statins, with some participants reporting never having heard of statins while others had a history of statin use. There were concerns about the potential long-term effect of statin use, but participants expressed willingness to use CVD medications generally and statins specifically, especially if recommended by their healthcare provider. Participants also expressed interest in potential alternatives to statin usage such as exercising regularly and nutritious eating.

Conclusions

More interventions are needed to increase statin use among PLWH to improve CVD outcomes, which also has implications for HIV progression. Clinics should aim to increase patient and provider knowledge about CVD risk and statin use for PLWH and provide shared decision-making tools that are easy to use and culturally appropriate.
Development of mental health first-aid guidelines for a person after a potentially traumatic event: A Delphi expert consensus study in Argentina and Chile
Authors: Agrest Martín , Tapia-Muñoz Thamara , Encina-Zúñiga Esteban , Vidal-Zamora Isidora , Ardila-Gómez Sara , Alvarado Rubén , Leiderman Eduardo A , Reavley Nicola
Published: April 2024

Background

Exposure to potentially traumatic events increases the risk of a person developing a mental disorder. Training community members to offer support to a person during and after a traumatic situation may help lower this risk. This study reports on the cultural adaptation of Australian mental health first aid guidelines for individuals exposed to a potentially traumatic event to the Chilean and Argentinian context.

Methods

A Delphi expert consensus study was conducted with two panels of experts, one of people with lived experience of trauma (either their own or as a carer;n = 26) and another one of health professionals (n = 41). A total of 158 items, drawn from guidelines developed by Australian experts in 2019, were translated to Spanish and evaluated in a two-round survey process. The panellists were asked to rate each item on a five-point Likert scale; statements were included in the final guidelines if 80% of both panels endorsed the item as “essential” or “important”.

Results

Consensus was achieved on 142 statements over two survey rounds. A total of 102 statements were included from the English-language guidelines, and 40 locally generated statements were accepted in the second round. Local experts endorsed a larger number of items compared to their counterparts in Australia and emphasised the importance of acknowledging the first aider’s limitations, both personally and as part of their helping role. Additional items about working as a team with other first responders and considering helping the person’s significant others were endorsed by the local panellists.

Conclusions

The study showed a high level of acceptance of the original actions suggested for inclusion in the guidelines for Australia, but also a significant number of new statements that highlight the importance of the adaptation process. Further research on the dissemination of these guidelines into a Mental Health First Aid training course for Chile and Argentina is still required.
The roles of health literacy and social support in the association between smartphone ownership and frailty in older adults: a moderated mediation model
Authors: Yi Jinseon , Yoon Ju Young , Won Chang Won , Kim Miji , Lee Kyoung Suk
Published: April 2024

Background

Understanding the role of smartphones to promote the health status of older adults is important in the digital society. Little is known about the effects of having smartphones on physical frailty despite its positive effect on the well-being of older adults. This study aimed to explore the association between smartphone ownership and frailty in community-dwelling older adults and its underlying mechanism.

Methods

We used data from the Korean Frailty and Aging Cohort Study and analyzed 2,469 older adults aged 72–86 years. Frailty, health literacy, and social support were assessed by Fried’s frailty phenotype, the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System health literacy module, and the Enhancing Recovery in Coronary Heart Disease (ENRICHD) Social Support Instrument, respectively. The mediation model and moderated mediation model were estimated, where the mediator was health literacy and the moderator was social support, to explore the relationship between smartphone ownership and frailty.

Results

Of our study participants, 58.9% owned smartphones, and 10.9% were classified as frail. Smartphone ownership was negatively associated with frailty (β = −0.623, p < 0.001). Health literacy mediated the relationship between smartphone ownership and frailty (β = −0.154, boot confidence interval [CI] = − 0.222, − 0.096), and social support moderated the mediation effect (β = −0.010, Boot CI = − 0.016, − 0.004).

Conclusions

Owning smartphones among older adults could reduce the risk of frailty. Promoting health literacy and social support among older adults with smartphones would be effective to prevent frailty.
Laser therapy decreases oral leukoplakia recurrence and boosts patient comfort: a network meta-analysis and systematic review
Authors: Luo Rui , Wang Yanan , Li Ruixin , Ma Yanan , Chen Haitao , Zhang Jian , Shen Jun
Published: April 2024

Background

Oral leukoplakia (OLK) is a prevalent precancerous lesion with limited non-pharmacological treatment options. Surgery and various lasers are the mainstay of treatment; however, their relative efficacy and optimal choice remain unclear. This first network meta-analysis compared the effects of different lasers and surgical excision on post-treatment recurrence and comfort in OLK patients.

Methods

We searched four databases for relevant randomized controlled trials (RCTs) up to April 2023. The primary outcome was post-treatment recurrence, and secondary outcomes included intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative pain scores. The Cochrane Risk of Bias tool was used to assess the study quality. Meta-analysis and network meta-analysis were employed to determine efficacy and identify the optimal intervention.

Results

A total of 11 RCTs including 917 patients and 1138 lesions were included. Er,Cr:YSGG laser treatment showed significantly lower recurrence rates compared to CO2 laser (OR: 0.04; 95% CI: 0.01–0.18), CO2 laser with margin extension (OR: 0.06; 95% CI: 0.01–0.60), Er:YAG laser (OR: 0.10; 95% CI: 0.03–0.37), electrocautery (OR: 0.03; 95% CI: 0.00–0.18), and standard care (OR: 0.08; 95% CI: 0.02–0.33). Er,Cr:YSGG laser also ranked the best for reducing recurrence, followed by standard care and CO2 laser combined with photodynamic therapy (PDT). Er:YAG and Er:Cr:YSGG lasers minimized bleeding and pain, respectively. None of the interventions caused severe adverse effects.

Conclusion

For non-homogeneous OLK, Er:YAG, Er:Cr:YSGG, and CO2 laser combined with PDT offer promising alternatives to surgical excision, potentially reducing recurrence and improving patient comfort. Further high-quality RCTs are necessary to confirm these findings and determine the optimal laser–PDT combination for OLK treatment.
Prevention and management of dental erosion and decay
Authors: Campus Guglielmo , Niu John Yun , Sezer Berkant , Yu Ollie Yiru
Published: April 2024

The 2017 Global Disease Study revealed 2.3 billion untreated cavities and 139 million other oral conditions like dental erosion. Modern treatments prioritise controlling etiological factors and preventing related diseases. This Editorial invites researchers to contribute to the collection, ‘Prevention and management of dental erosion and decay’.
Patients’ experiences with shared decision-making in home-based palliative care – navigation through major life decisions
Authors: Svendsen Sandra Jahr , Grov Ellen Karine , Staats Katrine
Published: April 2024

Background

This study addresses the issue of shared decision-making (SDM) in a Norwegian home-based palliative care setting. The significance of patient involvement in SDM is widely acknowledged, and many patients want to participate in decisions about care and treatment. Yet, it remains a need for more knowledge regarding the initiators and approaches of SDM in the context of home-based palliative care, particularly from the patients’ perspective. The aim of this study is to understand patients' experiences and preferences for SDM in home-based palliative care, seeking to enhance the quality of care and direct the planning of healthcare services.

Methods

We used a qualitative explorative design. A hermeneutic approach was employed, and data was collected through in-dept interviews with 13 patients.

Results

The study uncovered an overarching theme of "Navigating to reach own decisions," comprising three sub-themes: “To be trapped in life without decisions to act on”; “To surrender to others and let others deal with decisions”; “To continue to be oneself without focusing on disease and decision-making”.

Conclusions

The findings underscore the need for flexible, person-centered approaches in SDM, tailored to the fluctuating health literacy and changing preferences of patients in palliative care settings. Our study contributes to the understanding of SDM in palliative care by highlighting how patients navigate the balance between autonomy and reliance on HCPs. Future research should explore how healthcare systems, including HCPs’ roles in the system, can adapt to the patients’ dynamic needs, to ensuring that SDM will remain a supportive and empowering process for patients at all stages of their disease.