bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Implications of the decline in adolescent drinking on the experience of alcohol-related consequences in the Nordic countries: A study based on data from the ESPAD project
Authors: Ekholm Ola , Pisinger Veronica , Jensen Heidi Amalie Rosendahl , Bloomfield Kim
Published: February 2024

Aims: The aim of this study was to investigate: (1) whether self-reported acute alcohol-related consequences among adolescents in the Nordic countries have declined in concert with the decline in alcohol consumption; (2) whether the relationship between alcohol consumption and alcohol-related consequences has strengthened; and (3) whether the decline in alcohol-related consequences can be attributed to the decline in alcohol consumption. Methods: Data are from the European School Survey Project on Alcohol and Other Drugs (ESPAD) cross-sectional surveys in 2007, 2011 and 2015. Participants were students aged 15–16 years in 2007 (n = 16,035), 2011 (n = 14,765) and 2015 (n = 13,517). Alcohol consumption variables included lifetime and 12-month alcohol use, volume ethanol at last drinking occasion and heavy episodic drinking in the past 30 days. Self-reported acute alcohol-related consequences were measured as a sum index of experiencing the following at least once within the last 12 months: (1) an accident or injury; (2) being victimised by robbery or theft; or (3) had trouble with the police. Results: For all alcohol indicators, adolescent alcohol use decreased between 2007 and 2015. The highest prevalence estimates were found in Denmark, and here only the number of current drinkers decreased significantly. In addition, a decreasing trend in self-reported acute alcohol-related consequences was observed. We did not find a strengthening of the alcohol consumption consequences association from 2007 to 2015, except in Iceland. When all surveys were combined, the decrease in alcohol-related consequences could be explained by a decrease in alcohol consumption. Conclusions: Overall, adolescents aged 15–16 years exhibited decreasing trends in both alcohol consumption, less markedly in Denmark, and in our sum index of alcohol-related consequences between 2007 and 2015. Except for Iceland, we found no support for a strengthening of the alcohol-consequences association with declining drinking among adolescents.
Who controls ‘the narrative’? journalistic emplotment and political discourse in the networked public sphere
Authors: Dawson Paul
Published: February 2024

Over the last decade there has been a massive spike in use of the word ‘narrative’ in both media reportage and political discourse. This essay interrogates the rhetorical function and theoretical assumptions of this widespread usage, arguing that narrative rhetoric operates as a form of metajournalistic discourse shaping coverage of domestic politics and international relations while revealing an anxiety about the authority of contemporary news media. The prominence and semantic variability of the word narrative in public discourse is both a symptom of and a response to an epistemological crisis wrought by information overload and a fragmented public sphere in the digital age. The essay examines usage of the familiar phrase ‘control the narrative’ to reveal how journalistic discourse self-reflexively frames the dynamics of cultural debate. In this formulation, ‘the narrative’ operates as a synonym for what Chadwick (2017) calls the ‘political information cycle' in a hybrid news system, signifying an ongoing discursive struggle in which news media construct their moral and epistemological Others in a global communications network: social media, foreign state-run media, and competing news media. By tracking the phrase in coverage of the global COVID-19 outbreak and the notorious Steele Dossier in five major US dailies throughout 2020, this article demonstrates how the metajournalistic quality of narrative rhetoric facilitates an intramedia struggle for moral and referential authority in the networked public sphere.
Assessment of a domestic violence telecare protection system from the victims’ perspective
Authors: Quintas Jorge , Sousa Pedro , Guerreiro Ana , Leandro Alexandra , Faria Rita
Published: February 2024

This article presents an evaluative study of the telecare protection system (TPS) implemented in Portugal as a protection order for domestic violence victims. A survey was applied to a representative sample of victims who were supported by the system ( N = 171) and their responses were compared with those of domestic violence victims who did not benefit from it ( N = 100). Victims were asked about their: (i) knowledge, expectations, and experiences with the implementation of the system; (ii) assessment of agencies’ activities, and (iii) levels of satisfaction, safety, and re-victimisation. TPS had an activation rate of 32% for emergencies. Victims with the TPS showed great expectation fulfilment and a very positive assessment of the demeanour and behaviour of police and other support agencies. Generally, very satisfied with the system, victims reported, however, relatively lower satisfaction with the police responses in specific emergencies. Victims reported that the actions of agencies involved in the system allow them to feel safer; nonetheless, they also reported stable and continued fear and risk of being victimised. Finally, victims benefiting from TPS significantly differed from victims who did not benefit from it in terms of physical re-victimisation (7% and 15%, respectively).
Respiratory impairments in patients suffering from Fabry disease – A cross-sectional study
Authors: Ahmed Huma , Backer Vibeke , Effraimidis Grigoris , Rasmussen Åse Krogh , Kistorp Caroline Michaela , Feldt-Rasmussen Ulla
Published: February 2024

Background

The inherited X-linked disorder, Fabry disease, is caused by deficient lysosomal enzyme α-galactosidase A, with progressive accumulation of globotriaosylceramide in multiple organs including the upper and lower airways.

Objectives

To assess pulmonary function at the time of the first pulmonary function test (PFT) performed among the National Danish Fabry cohort and define the prevalence of affected lung function variables.

Materials and Method

A cross-sectional retrospective cohort study of 86 adult patients enrolled in one or both international patient registry databases for Fabry disease, Fabry Registry or FollowME with at least one PFT. The Mainz Severity Score Index (MSSI) was calculated to determine the disease severity. Lung function variables were examined by multivariate regression adjusted for important variables for developing airway illness.

Results

Seventeen patients (20%) showed obstructive airflow limitation and 7 (8%) a restrictive lung deficiency. Smoking status ( p = .016) and MSSI ( p < .001) were associated with increasing obstructive airway limitation.

Conclusion

The prevalence of affected lung function among the National Danish Fabry cohort was 28%. Patients with classic gene variants frequently developed a decrease in lung function regardless of their smoking status, with significant relationship with disease severity.
Exploring Feminine Hygiene Product Adoption: A Gynecologists’ Perspective in India. Application of the Theory of Planned Behavior (TPB) to Women’s Buying Behavior
Authors: Shukla Smriti , Sanjeev Rinku
Published: February 2024

Purpose

Feminine hygiene has emerged as a crucial topic of concern in recent years, with growing emphasis on the perspectives of medical professionals, particularly gynecologists. This paper sets out to study the feminine hygiene product adoption among women from gynecologists’ perspective using the theory of planned behavior (TPB) as a relevant and effective framework to study the behavioral tendencies of target audience.

Methods

Our research employs a qualitative approach, engaging in-depth interviews with 25 gynecologists. A semi-structured questionnaire guided these interviews, and they took place in settings chosen by the gynecologists themselves, such as private clinics or hospitals. The collected data was meticulously analyzed using thematic analysis.

Findings

Our study confirms the applicability of the TPB as a qualitative research tool. Furthermore, the results have contributed to the evolution and enhancement of the TPB model by incorporating additional influential variables. Notably, ‘comfort’ was identified as a significant factor influencing women’s attitude towards feminine hygiene, and beyond the TPB constructs, product knowledge was revealed to play a pivotal role in shaping women’s intentions to adopt feminine hygiene products.

Practical Implication

From a social marketing perspective, our study offers valuable insights for various stakeholders within the healthcare industry, policymakers, and product manufacturers. It highlights the urgency of normalizing the acceptance of feminine hygiene products, addressing unfamiliar advantages and disadvantages, and promote product efficacy. By adopting these strategies, stakeholders can better cater to women’s needs and enhance their overall health and well-being.

Originality/Value

This research makes a noteworthy contribution to the feminine hygiene literature by shedding light on the constructs that need to be integrated to understand women’s menstrual hygiene behavior comprehensively. This study has offered a wide range of understanding about feminine hygiene phenomenon from gynecologists’ perspective that has not yet been explored in any study. Additionally, we provide a robust theoretical framework for comprehending the feminine hygiene context, offering a foundation for further research and practical interventions.
Practitioner Perspectives on Occupation-Based Practice Across Varied Settings
Authors: Lee Ben D. , Bagatell Nancy , Ridlehoover Monica K. , Womack Jennifer
Published: February 2024

Occupation-based practice (OBP) is considered a cornerstone of occupational therapy practice. However, there is no consensus-based definition of OBP, let alone agreement on its mediators across practice settings. To describe how OBP is currently conceptualized and enacted across different practice settings, a descriptive qualitative approach of focus groups and elicitation of visual data (e.g., photographs, video recordings) was used with 65 participants. Multiple rounds of qualitative data analysis were used to identify codes and themes. Three themes were identified: (a) contextual factors of OBP, (b) client status, and (c) temporal characteristics of OBP. OBP is influenced by institutional, historical, and temporal aspects of practice settings, with further exploration needed across different practice settings and occupational therapy pedagogy styles. Considering the influence of contextual aspects may support occupational therapy practitioners and researchers’ efforts to support their advocacy for occupation as a foundational concept in the profession.
Health and Racial Disparities: Importance of Accurate and Reliable Ethnicity, Race, and Language Data
Authors: Aponte Judith , Figueroa Kelin , Brennan Noreen B. , Diaz Lillian , Samuels William Ellery
Published: February 2024

Introduction: Accurate demographic data are essential to identify and monitor differences, trends, and changes in diabetes-related conditions between Hispanics and non-Hispanic Blacks (NHBs). It also provides pertinent information to reduce health and racial disparities among English- and Spanish-speakers. Method: The study's design was a quantitative cross-sectional one. Electronic medical record (EMR) and survey data of the same sample were compared. Descriptive statistics were computed for ethnicity, preferred language, and physiological data. Frequency and percentages were calculated for each continuous and categorical variable. Chi-square was calculated to compare physiological variables by ethnicity and language. Results: During a 5-month period (September 2021–February 2022), 106 individuals from New York City with diabetes took part in this study. Among Hispanics, most from the EMR identified as Other (82.4%), whereas from the survey, most identified as White (57.1%). More Hispanics (19%) and Spanish speakers (18%) had high triglyceride levels compared to NHBs (2%) and English speakers (3%). Conclusion: Ensuring that demographic data are accurate can better inform programs. Because Hispanics and Spanish speakers had the highest triglyceride levels, diabetes programs need to include information on cardiovascular disease and must be available in Spanish, to further reduce risk factors, improve health outcomes, and promote health equity among these populations.
Antibacterial Activity and Possibly Made of Action of Isoquinoline-3-Carboxylic Acid
Authors: Zhiyuan Xu , Haixin Ding , Xin Fu , Yan Xu , Fadi Zhu , Huochun Ye , Yuan Yuan Zhang , Yongxia Guo , Jing Zhang , Gang Feng
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Due to the urgent need to develop innovative, environmentally sustainable bactericides, we use the natural product isoquinoline as a lead compound to discover highly active bactericides from isoquinoline derivatives.

Methods

In this paper, the antibacterial activity of 49 isoquinoline derivatives was evaluated against three plant bacteria in vitro.

Results

Among all the derivatives, isoquinoline-3-carboxylic acid (IQ3CA) demonstrated significant antibacterial activity against Ralstonia solanacearum ( Rs), Acidovorax citrulli ( Ac), X. oryzae pv. oryzicola ( Xoc), X. campestris pv. campestris ( Xcc), P. carotovorum subsp. carotovorum ( Pcc), and X. fragariae ( Xf), with EC50 values ranging from 8.38 to 17.35 μg/mL. Furthermore, IQ3CA exhibited a potent protective effect against Ac, with an efficacy of 68.56% at 200 μg/mL, which was not significantly different from that of the positive control kasugamycin (72.48%) and was superior to that of the positive control thiosen copper (64.62%). The scanning electron microscopy observations revealed that treatment of Ac cells with IQ3CA at a concentration of 25 μg/mL resulted in a curved and sunken cell morphology, along with destroyed cell membrane integrity. Additionally, the motility and exopolysaccharides production of Ac were inhibited, and biofilm formation was prevented.

Conclusion

These results suggest that IQ3CA holds promise as a lead compound with antibacterial properties against plant diseases.
Shedding light on neuropathic pain: Current and emerging tools for diagnosis, screening, and quantification
Authors: Hamdan Anas , Galvez Rafael , Katati Majed
Published: February 2024

Ensuring the proper management of neuropathic pain is a contemporary challenge for professionals who care for patients with this type of pain. The estimated prevalence of neuropathic pain in Europe is 7%–8%. The objective of this study was to perform a non-systematic review on the diagnosis, screening, and quantification of neuropathic pain. For this purpose, a search was conducted of the PubMed/Medline, ScienceDirect, OVID, and SciELO databases for available evidence. The findings highlight the common occurrence of chronic neuropathic pain in clinical practice. However, diagnosing and managing this type of pain pose challenges due to its complexity and the individualized nature of cases. Precise diagnosis is crucial for effective management, involving therapeutic approaches that go beyond traditional pain treatments. It is noteworthy that until recent times, general questionnaires were utilized to assess neuropathic pain, lacking the ability to distinguish it from nociceptive pain or evaluate its broader impact on well-being. Biomarker pain panels hold promise in identifying treatable pain causes and evaluating treatment effectiveness. In conclusion, this review describes the diagnostic methods and tools for screening and quantifying neuropathic pain.
Knowledge, attitudes, and practices of secondary school students towards COVID-19 in Sana’a City, Yemen: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Al-Shahethi Ahmed H , Alhidary Ahmed , Alrubaiee Gamil Ghaleb , Al-Shahethi Hakim M , Al-Shameri Emad A , Abol Gaith Fawz Mohammad , Ali Al-Dhahari Amar , Al-Soofi Ahmed Mohammed , Abkar Mohammed Abdo , Al-Surimi Khaled
Published: February 2024

Background:

Understanding of public awareness on public health issues is very crucial, including the current health crisis of COVID-19. This research aimed to examine the Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices among Students towards COVID-19.

Design and methods:

A cross-sectional survey was conducted among secondary school students in grades 10–12. Proportional sample allocation was used in 16 randomly selected schools. Moreover, the schools were recruited by using a systematic random sampling technique. Socio-demographic data and questions of the knowledge, attitude and practice were collected by interview. Logistic regression analyses were employed to identify the associated factors and p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results:

Among the 357 participants the level of good knowledge, positive attitude, and optimal practice were 65.2%, 66.7% and 89.4% respectively. Regression analyses showed that being in the adolescent age group (15–16 years old), living with >5 family size, and family with a good income effectively predicted knowledge level. Attitudes towards COVID-19, male students were pessimistic about COVID-19 prevention and control measures as opposed to their female counterparts [aOR = 0.39; 95% CI: 0.21–0.71). Students with awareness of the virus demonstrated greater (two-fold) odds of a positive attitude as opposed to their less-conscious counterparts. The urban-area male students were demonstrated a higher (three-fold) odds of good practice level towards COVID-19 prevention and control measures as opposed to their rural-area female counterparts.

Conclusion:

A good knowledge level denoted a positive attitude despite the lack of information. Meanwhile, good preventive measure practices and behaviours reflected high levels.
Correlation Between Improvement in Pain After Ultrasound-Guided Intra-articular Hip Injection and Outcomes After Arthroscopy in Patients With Femoroacetabular Impingement
Authors: Shuang Ya-Juan , Mao Yi , Yu Kang-Kang , Li Chun-Bao , Zhang Ming-Bo
Published: February 2024

Background:

An accurate and objective criterion is needed to determine candidates who are suitable for hip arthroscopy in patients with femoroacetabular impingement (FAI).

Purpose:

To determine whether improvement in pain after ultrasound (US)-guided intra-articular hip injection during standardized examinations can be used to predict the outcomes of hip arthroscopy in patients with FAI.

Study Design:

Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3.

Methods:

We enrolled 119 patients with FAI who underwent US-guided intra-articular hip injection of local anesthesia during standardized examinations, carried out from May 2018 to February 2020 (within 2 weeks before hip arthroscopy). All patients had undergone a minimum of 6 months of nonoperative treatment without remission and had 2-year follow-up data. Pain visual analog scale (VAS) scores (0-10) were recorded for 7 different physical examination tests, and a total score (0 [best] to 70 [worst]) was obtained. In addition, International Hip Outcome Tool–12 (iHOT-12) and modified Harris Hip Score (mHHS) scores were recorded before hip arthroscopy and at final follow-up. According to whether patients achieved the substantial clinical benefit (SCB) on the iHOT-12, they were divided into SCB and non-SCB groups, and the improvement in VAS pain scores from preinjection to postinjection (ΔVAS pain) was compared between the 2 groups. Logistic regression analysis was used to predict the achievement of SCB, and the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) was used to estimate the accuracy of the prediction.

Results:

There was a significant pre- to postoperative increase in iHOT-12 (31.6 points; P < .001) and mHHS (20.0 points; P < .001) scores, and 84 (70.6%) patients achieved the SCB. The ΔVAS pain score was significantly greater in the SCB versus the non-SCB group (16.0 vs 7.0 points; respectively; P < .001). Logistic regression analysis demonstrated an optimal cutoff value of 8.5 points for ΔVAS pain (AUC, 0.772; 95% CI, 0.687-0.858). For patients with more severe symptoms (total preinjection VAS pain score of >10 out of 70), the accuracy of the prediction for ΔVAS pain had a better evaluation value (AUC, 0.834; 95% CI, 0.676-0.992).

Conclusion:

Improvement in pain after US-guided intra-articular hip injection predicted the outcomes of hip arthroscopy in patients with FAI in this study, especially for patients with more severe pain.
Influence of Subchondral Cysts on the Outcomes of Surgical Treatment for Osteochondral Lesions of the Talus: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis
Authors: Zhang Jiayao , Zheng Kaiwen , Cai Wufeng , Huang Xihao , Li Qi
Published: February 2024

Background:

Limited literature is available regarding the effect of subchondral cysts on the surgical outcomes for treatment of osteochondral lesion of the talus (OLT).

Purpose:

To conduct a systematic review and meta-analysis of studies comparing surgical outcomes between OLTs with and without cysts.

Study Design:

Systematic review; Level of evidence, 4.

Methods:

Following the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) guidelines, the authors searched PubMed, Embase, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library for relevant studies published up to January 7, 2023. The 4375 retrieved studies were screened, and 9 articles (level of evidence, 2-4) were included, which comprised 165 patients with OLT and subchondral cysts (cyst group) and 223 without cysts (noncyst group). After data extraction, mean differences in outcome scores (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society [AOFAS] Ankle Hindfoot Scale, visual analog scale [VAS] score for pain) and adverse events were compared between the groups.

Results:

Functional scores improved after surgery in both groups, with the cyst group having a significantly higher AOFAS score than the noncyst group ( P = .005; I2 = 0%); subgroup analysis revealed that this difference was attributable to the size of the osteochondral lesion and the type of surgical procedure. No significant difference was found between the cyst and noncyst groups in VAS pain scores ( P = .77; I2 = 0%) or postoperative adverse events ( P = .35; I2 = 0%).

Conclusion:

The results of this review indicated that patients with subchondral cysts improved with surgical treatment of OLT. A relatively low level of evidence was available to indicate that surgical treatment for small OLTs with subchondral cysts will result in better clinical outcomes compared with OLTs without cysts.
Analysis of Correlated Outcomes of Anthropometric Measurements for Under-Five Children in Tanzania
Authors: Pallangyo Edgar E. , Msengwa Amina S.
Published: February 2024

The study aimed at applying Multivariate Generalized Linear Mixed Models to examine factors associated with correlation outcomes, in particular, anthropometric measurements among under-five children in Tanzania. Three anthropometric measurements: weight-for–age (WAZ), height-for–age (HAZ), and weight-for–height (WHZ) among under-five children in Tanzania were jointly modeled to identify common factors associated with childhood malnutrition. A total of 9052 children with valid measures of height and weight were processed and analyzed. The results indicate that WAZ was correlated with HAZ ( P-value < 2e-16) and WHZ ( P-value < 2e-16). The Multivariate Ordered Logit Model has lower AIC = 53213.92 and BIC = 52727.95, indicating better model fit than the Multivariate Ordered Probit Model. In Tanzania, the age of the child, birth order, mother education level, child gender, mother working status, wealth index, marital status, and mother body mass index are important determinants of malnutrition among children under the age of five. Moreover, the common factors were child's age, Birth order, Mother's education attainment, child's sex, Mother working status, wealth index, Marital status, and Mother's Body Mass Index. As a result, emphasis should be placed on analyzing correlated health outcomes in order to draw conclusions about the factors that may have a mutual effect on anthropometric measurements.
A Systematic Review and Metasynthesis of Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant (HSCT) Patient's Experiences of Long-Term Monitoring Clinics from the Patient's Perspective
Authors: Bell Blossom , Thursby Stacie , Limbrick Helen , Swainston Katherine
Published: February 2024

This study aimed to synthesize all qualitative evidence on the experiences of hematopoietic stem cell transplant (HSCT) patients attending long-term monitoring clinics from their perspective. A systematic search of the literature was undertaken across 8 databases. The Critical Appraisal Skills Program was used to evaluate each study's quality. Confidence in the Evidence from Reviews of Qualitative Research was employed to assess confidence in each finding. Three themes from 4 qualitative studies were identified relating to patients’ experiences, “[It's] important to maintain a good relationship with the nurses and doctors,” “There's always the thing about the logistics,” and “Once you have cancer, you’re always thinking do I have it again?”. The findings suggest that HSCT patients’ experiences of long-term follow-up care clinics are influenced by the patient-provider relationship and the logistical set-up of monitoring practices, and weakly connected with fear of cancer recurrence. Future research is needed to understand the impact of each finding of this review, specifically in relation to patients’ country of residence to gain a greater understanding of their monitoring support needs.
Blood, sweat and tears: On the corporeality of deportation
Authors: Borrelli Lisa Marie , Walters William
Published: February 2024

It is hard to imagine how deportation regimes could function without the threat or the exercise of force. Yet surprisingly a focus on forces and bodies, and more generally the question of corporeality, has rarely been foregrounded by migration scholars looking at deportation. Academic study of clandestine border crossing as well as detention abounds with descriptions and theorization at the level of the body. Why not deportation? Building on fieldwork with cantonal police units in Switzerland between 2015 and 2017, this paper calls for scholars of deportation to take corporeality seriously. We follow some of the corporeal practices implemented by state actors and related experts and authorities to understand how bodies feature in removal practices in terms of senses, feelings, affects, nerves, pulses, breathing. Violence overarches this scene, but it is by no means the whole story in the state’s struggle for sovereignty and racialised removal, since we should equally register the other moves that are integral to deportation operations such as calming, monitoring, medicating, consoling, dressing, undressing, and inspecting. To overlook the corporeal is to risk producing an overly sanitized, cleansed, tidy depiction of deportation.
Climate imaginaries as praxis
Authors: Celermajer Danielle , Cardoso Maria , Gowers Josh , Indukuri Deepthi , Khanna Pragnya , Nair Rohit , Orlene Janet , Sambhavi VPJ , Schlosberg David , Shah Mayank , Shaw Sacha , Singh Aadya , Spoor Gijs , Wright Genevieve
Published: February 2024

As communities around the world grapple with the impacts of climate change on the basic support systems of life, their future climate imaginaries both shape and are shaped by actions and material realities. This paper argues that the three globally dominant imaginaries of a climate changed future, which we call ‘business as usual’, ‘techno-fix’ and ‘apocalypse’ – fail to encourage actions that fundamentally challenge or transform the arrangements that underpin systemic injustices and extractive forms of life. And yet, to meet the challenges associated with food production, energy needs, and the destruction of ecosystems, people are coming together, not only to take transformative action, but in doing so, to create and nurture alternative imaginaries. This paper presents empirical findings about how communities in north and south India and south-east Australia are pre-figuring alternative futures, locally and in most cases in the absence of broader state support. An analysis of communities’ actions and reflections indicates that their praxes are altering their future imaginaries, and we consider how these local shifts might contribute to broader changes in climate imaginaries. At the heart of the emerging imaginaries are a set of transformations in the relational fabric within which communities are embedded and how they attend to those relations: relations within community, with the more-than-human, and with time.
Reliability and Feasibility of Linear Mixed Models in Fully Crossed Experimental Designs
Authors: Scandola Michele , Tidoni Emmanuele
Published: February 2024

The use of linear mixed models (LMMs) is increasing in psychology and neuroscience research In this article, we focus on the implementation of LMMs in fully crossed experimental designs. A key aspect of LMMs is choosing a random-effects structure according to the experimental needs. To date, opposite suggestions are present in the literature, spanning from keeping all random effects (maximal models), which produces several singularity and convergence issues, to removing random effects until the best fit is found, with the risk of inflating Type I error (reduced models). However, defining the random structure to fit a nonsingular and convergent model is not straightforward. Moreover, the lack of a standard approach may lead the researcher to make decisions that potentially inflate Type I errors. After reviewing LMMs, we introduce a step-by-step approach to avoid convergence and singularity issues and control for Type I error inflation during model reduction of fully crossed experimental designs. Specifically, we propose the use of complex random intercepts (CRIs) when maximal models are overparametrized. CRIs are multiple random intercepts that represent the residual variance of categorical fixed effects within a given grouping factor. We validated CRIs and the proposed procedure by extensive simulations and a real-case application. We demonstrate that CRIs can produce reliable results and require less computational resources. Moreover, we outline a few criteria and recommendations on how and when scholars should reduce overparametrized models. Overall, the proposed procedure provides clear solutions to avoid overinflated results using LMMs in psychology and neuroscience.
Experiences of an Online Palliative Rehabilitation Programme for Spousal Caregivers of People With Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis and Cognitive and/or Behavioural Impairments: A Qualitative Interpretive Study
Authors: Olesen Lene Klem , la Cour Karen , Nimmon Laura , With Heidi , Handberg Charlotte
Published: February 2024

Purpose:

The purpose of this study was to understand how spousal caregivers of people with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis and cognitive and/or behavioural impairments felt about the EMBRACE intervention.

Materials and methods:

A qualitative interpretive study, using individual semi-structured interviews pre- and post-participation in a palliative rehabilitation blended learning programme, was applied. In total, 13 spousal caregivers were interviewed pre-intervention and 10 of them post-intervention.

Results:

Three overarching themes were identified: Striving to Obtain Control in Everyday Life, Peer support Across the Illness Trajectory and The Complexity of Relations. Information provided in targeted videos and sharing experiences with peers in virtual group meetings were beneficial to comprehend, manage and find meaning in everyday challenges related to being a caregiver.

Conclusion:

The EMBRACE intervention helped spousal caregivers cope with everyday needs and challenges related to being a caregiver. EMBRACE was found to support and strengthen the participants in gaining more control in everyday life, creating a sense of coherence. Through targeted videos and discussions with peers, the participants felt prepared for the illness trajectory of their relative. Peer support promoted resilient functioning and reduced their feelings of loneliness.

Clinical trial registration:

This study was registered on clinicaltrials.gov under the name: A Complex Intervention Study on a Palliative Rehabilitation Blended Learning Programme to Support Relatives and Health Care Providers of People with ALS and Cognitive Impairments in Coping with Challenges. ID no. NCT04638608. URL: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/results?cond=&term=NCT04638608&cntry=&state=&city=&dist= .
Incorporating functional annotation with bilevel continuous shrinkage for polygenic risk prediction
Authors: Zhuang Yongwen , Kim Na Yeon , Fritsche Lars G. , Mukherjee Bhramar , Lee Seunggeun
Published: February 2024

Background

Genetic variants can contribute differently to trait heritability by their functional categories, and recent studies have shown that incorporating functional annotation can improve the predictive performance of polygenic risk scores (PRSs). In addition, when only a small proportion of variants are causal variants, PRS methods that employ a Bayesian framework with shrinkage can account for such sparsity. It is possible that the annotation group level effect is also sparse. However, the number of PRS methods that incorporate both annotation information and shrinkage on effect sizes is limited. We propose a PRS method, PRSbils, which utilizes the functional annotation information with a bilevel continuous shrinkage prior to accommodate the varying genetic architectures both on the variant-specific level and on the functional annotation level.

Results

We conducted simulation studies and investigated the predictive performance in settings with different genetic architectures. Results indicated that when there was a relatively large variability of group-wise heritability contribution, the gain in prediction performance from the proposed method was on average 8.0% higher AUC compared to the benchmark method PRS-CS. The proposed method also yielded higher predictive performance compared to PRS-CS in settings with different overlapping patterns of annotation groups and obtained on average 6.4% higher AUC. We applied PRSbils to binary and quantitative traits in three real world data sources (the UK Biobank, the Michigan Genomics Initiative (MGI), and the Korean Genome and Epidemiology Study (KoGES)), and two sources of annotations: ANNOVAR, and pathway information from the Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG), and demonstrated that the proposed method holds the potential for improving predictive performance by incorporating functional annotations.

Conclusions

By utilizing a bilevel shrinkage framework, PRSbils enables the incorporation of both overlapping and non-overlapping annotations into PRS construction to improve the performance of genetic risk prediction. The software is available at https://github.com/styvon/PRSbils.
A juvenile bird with possible crown-group affinities from a dinosaur-rich Cretaceous ecosystem in North America
Authors: Brownstein Chase Doran
Published: February 2024

Background

Living birds comprise the most speciose and anatomically diverse clade of flying vertebrates, but their poor early fossil record and the lack of resolution around the relationships of the major clades have greatly obscured extant avian origins.

Results

Here, I describe a Late Cretaceous bird from North America based on a fragmentary skeleton that includes cranial material and portions of the forelimb, hindlimb, and foot and is identified as a juvenile based on bone surface texture. Several features unite this specimen with crown Aves, but its juvenile status precludes the recognition of a distinct taxon. The North American provenance of the specimen supports a cosmopolitan distribution of early crown birds, clashes with the hypothesized southern hemisphere origins of living birds, and demonstrates that crown birds and their closest relatives coexisted with non-avian dinosaurs that independently converged on avian skeletal anatomy, such as the alvarezsaurids and dromaeosaurids.

Conclusions

By revealing the ecological and biogeographic context of Cretaceous birds within or near the crown clade, the Lance Formation specimen provides new insights into the contingent nature of crown avian survival through the Cretaceous-Paleogene mass extinction and the subsequent origins of living bird diversity.
Identification of genomic characteristics and selective signals in Guizhou black goat
Authors: Chang Lingle , Zheng Yundi , Li Sheng , Niu Xi , Huang Shihui , Long Qingmeng , Ran Xueqin , Wang Jiafu
Published: February 2024

Background

Guizhou black goat is one of the indigenous black goat breeds in the southwest region of Guizhou, China, which is an ordinary goat for mutton production. They are characterized by moderate body size, black coat, favorite meat quality with tender meat and lower odor, and tolerance for cold and crude feed. However, little is known about the genetic characteristics or variations underlying their important economic traits.

Results

Here, we resequenced the whole genome of Guizhou black goat from 30 unrelated individuals breeding in the five core farms. A total of 9,835,610 SNPs were detected, and 2,178,818 SNPs were identified specifically in this breed. The population structure analysis revealed that Guizhou black goat shared a common ancestry with Shaanbei white cashmere goat (0.146), Yunshang black goat (0.103), Iran indigenous goat (0.054), and Moroccan goat (0.002). However, Guizhou black goat showed relatively higher genetic diversity and a lower level of linkage disequilibrium than the other seven goat breeds by the analysis of the nucleotide diversity, linkage disequilibrium decay, and runs of homozygosity. Based on FST and θπ values, we identified 645, 813, and 804 selected regions between Guizhou black goat and Yunshang black goat, Iran indigenous goat, and cashmere goats. Combined with the results of XP-EHH, there were 286, 322, and 359 candidate genes, respectively. Functional annotation analysis revealed that these genes are potentially responsible for the immune response (e.g., CD28, CD274, IL1A, TLR2, and SLC25A31), humility-cold resistance (e.g., HBEGF, SOSTDC1, ARNT, COL4A1/2, and EP300), meat quality traits (e.g., CHUK, GAB2, PLAAT3, and EP300), growth (e.g., GAB2, DPYD, and CSF1), fertility (e.g., METTL15 and MEI1), and visual function (e.g., PANK2 and NMNAT2) in Guizhou black goat.

Conclusion

Our results indicated that Guizhou black goat had a high level of genomic diversity and a low level of linkage disequilibrium in the whole genome. Selection signatures were detected in the genomic regions that were mainly related to growth and development, meat quality, reproduction, disease resistance, and humidity-cold resistance in Guizhou black goat. These results would provide a basis for further resource protection and breeding improvement of this very local breed.
Hyperactivation and enhanced cytotoxicity of reduced CD8+ gamma delta T cells in the intestine of patients with Crohn’s disease correlates with disease activity
Authors: Zhu Tao , Zhu Linlin , Sheng Caixia , Wu Danju , Gu Qianru , Jiang Zhinong , Xu Jiaqi , Fu Guoxiang , Jiang Yujie
Published: February 2024

Background and aims

We aimed to investigate the immune characteristics of intestinal CD8+ gamma delta T (CD8+ γδ T) cells in Crohn’s disease (CD) and their correlation with disease activity.

Methods

The study cohorts included 21 CD patients and 21 healthy individuals. CD8+ γδ T cells were isolated from human ileal mucosa for detection by flow cytometry. The activation or inhibition status of cells was detected by detecting the expression of activation marker HLA-DR and the immunosuppressive molecule PD-1 on cells. The cytotoxicity of cells was assessed by detecting the expression of cytotoxic molecules (Perforin, Granzyme B, and TRAIL) in cells. Ratios of investigated cells were calculated as prediction factors by receiver operating characteristic curve (ROC) analysis.

Results

The study revealed a reduction in intestinal CD8+ γδT cells among active CD patients, with a more pronounced reduction observed in moderately active patients compared to mildly active patients. Moreover, active CD patients exhibited heightened activation levels in their intestinal CD8+ γδT cells, whereas the activation was comparatively weakened in moderately active patients compared with mildly active patients. Additionally, the cytotoxicity of intestinal CD8+ γδT cells was enhanced solely in mildly active patients, while it was impaired in moderately active patients compared with mildly active patients. Furthermore, HLA-DR+ CD8+ γδT cell ratio, CD8+ γδT ratio, and CD8+ γδT count were identified as indicators in the diagnosis of active CD. Meanwhile, the ratios of Granzyme B+ CD8+ γδT cell and Perforin+ CD8+ γδT cell were identified as indicators that distinguish mildly moderately active CD cases.

Conclusions

Intestinal CD8+ γδT was reduced in active CD patients, but their activation and cytotoxicity were enhanced. However, with increased disease activity, intestinal CD8+ γδ T cells became dysfunctional. CD-specific perturbations observed in various phenotypic markers in CD8+ γδ T cells can be used as indicators to assist in diagnosing CD patients.
Facultative mycorrhization in a fern (Struthiopteris spicant L. Weiss) is bound to light intensity
Authors: Guillen-Otero Thais , Lee Soon-Jae , Hertel Dietrich , Kessler Michael
Published: February 2024

Background

The establishment of mycorrhizal relationships between a fungus and a plant typically enhances nutrient and water uptake for the latter while securing a carbon source for the fungus. However, under a particular set of environmental conditions, such as low availability of light and abundant nutrients in the soil, the resources invested in the maintenance of the fungi surpass the benefits obtained by the host. In those cases, facultative mycorrhizal plants are capable of surviving without symbiosis. Facultative mycorrhization in ferns has been overlooked until now. The present study measured the response of Struthiopteris spicant L. Weiss, and its root-associated fungi to different levels of light and nutrient availability in terms of growth, mycorrhizal presence, and leaf nutrient content. This fern species exhibits a great tolerance to variable light, nutrient, and pH conditions, and it has been found with and without mycorrhizae. We conducted a greenhouse experiment with 80 specimens of S. spicant and three factors (Light, Phosphorus, and Nitrogen) resulting in eight treatments.

Results

We found a significant influence of the factor light on fungal community composition, plant biomass, and nutrient accumulation. Departing from a lack of colonization at the initial stage, plants showed a remarkable increment of more than 80% in the arbuscular mycorrhizal fungi (AMF) richness and abundance in their roots when grown under high light conditions, compared with the ones in low light. We also observed an upward trend of C:P and C:N ratios and the above- and belowground biomass production when AMF abundance increased. Furthermore, the compositional analysis of the whole fungal communities associated with S. spicant roots revealed clear differences among low-light and high-light treatments.

Conclusions

This study is the first to investigate the importance of light and nutrient availability in determining fern-AMF relationships. We confirmed that Struthiopteris spicant is a facultative mycorrhizal plant. The composition and diversity of AMF found in the roots of this fern are strongly influenced by light and less by nutrient conditions. Our study shows that ferns respond very sensitively to changes in environmental factors, leading to shifts in the associated mycorrhizal communities.
Carbon monoxide is involved in melatonin-enhanced drought resistance in tomato seedlings by enhancing chlorophyll synthesis pathway
Authors: Liu Yunzhi , Xu Junrong , Lu Xuefang , Huang Mengxiao , Mao Yuanzhi , Li Chuanghao , Yu Wenjin , Li Changxia
Published: February 2024

Background

Drought is thought to be a major abiotic stress that dramatically limits tomato growth and production. As signal molecule, melatonin (MT) and carbon monoxide (CO) can enhance plant stress resistance. However, the effect and underlying mechanism of CO involving MT-mediated drought resistance in seedling growth remains unknown. In this study, tomato (Solanum lycopersicum L. ‘Micro-Tom’) seedlings were used to investigate the interaction and mechanism of MT and CO in response to drought stress.

Results

The growth of tomato seedlings was inhibited significantly under drought stress. Exogenous MT or CO mitigated the drought-induced impairment in a dose-dependent manner, with the greatest efficiency provided by 100 and 500 µM, respectively. But application of hemoglobin (Hb, a CO scavenger) restrained the positive effects of MT on the growth of tomato seedlings under drought stress. MT and CO treatment promoted chlorophyll a (Chl a) and chlorophyll a (Chl b) accumulations. Under drought stress, the intermediate products of chlorophyll biosynthesis such as protoporphyrin IX (Proto IX), Mg-protoporphyrin IX (Mg-Proto IX), potochlorophyllide (Pchlide) and heme were increased by MT or CO, but uroporphyrinogen III (Uro III) content decreased in MT-treated or CO-treated tomato seedlings. Meanwhile, MT or CO up-regulated the expression of chlorophyll and heme synthetic-related genes SlUROD, SlPPOX, SlMGMT, SlFECH, SlPOR, SlChlS, and SlCAO. However, the effects of MT on chlorophyll biosynthesis were almost reversed by Hb.

Conclusion

The results suggested that MT and CO can alleviate drought stress and facilitate the synthesis of Chl and heme in tomato seedlings. CO played an essential role in MT-enhanced drought resistance via facilitating chlorophyll biosynthesis pathway.
Rare and common coding variants in lipid metabolism-related genes and their association with coronary artery disease
Authors: Li Wei , Wang Yongyi , Huang Ritai , Lian Feng , Xu Genxing , Wang Weijun , Xue Song
Published: February 2024

Background

Coronary artery disease (CAD) is a complex disease that is influenced by environmental and genetic factors. In this study, we aimed to investigate the relationship between coding variants in lipid metabolism-related genes and CAD in a Chinese Han population.

Methods

A total of 252 individuals were recruited for this study, including 120 CAD patients and 132 healthy control individuals. Rare and common coding variants in 12 lipid metabolism-related genes (ANGPTL3, ANGPTL4, APOA1, APOA5, APOC1, APOC3, CETP, LDLR, LIPC, LPL, PCSK9 and SCARB1) were detected via next-generation sequencing (NGS)-based targeted sequencing. Associations between common variants and CAD were evaluated by Fisher’s exact test. A gene-based association test of rare variants was performed by the sequence kernel association test-optimal (SKAT-O test).

Results

We found 51 rare variants and 17 common variants in this study. One common missense variant, LIPC rs6083, was significantly associated with CAD after Bonferroni correction (OR = 0.47, 95% CI = 0.29–0.76, p = 1.9 × 10− 3). Thirty-three nonsynonymous rare variants were identified, including two novel variants located in the ANGPTL4 (p.Gly47Glu) and SCARB1 (p.Leu233Phe) genes. We did not find a significant association between rare variants and CAD via gene-based analysis via the SKAT-O test.

Conclusions

Targeted sequencing is a powerful tool for identifying rare and common variants in CAD. The common missense variant LIPC rs6083 confers protection against CAD. The clinical relevance of rare variants in CAD aetiology needs to be investigated in larger sample sizes in the future.