bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rational inattention: A new theory of neurodivergent information seeking
Authors: Jones Samuel David , Jones Manon Wyn , Koldewyn Kami , Westermann Gert
Published: March 2024

This paper presents rational inattention as a new, transdiagnostic theory of information seeking in neurodevelopmental conditions that have uneven cognitive and socio‐emotional profiles, including developmental language disorder (DLD), dyslexia, dyscalculia and autism. Rational inattention holds that the optimal solution to minimizing epistemic uncertainty is to avoid imprecise information sources. The key theoretical contribution of this report is to endogenize imprecision, making it a function of the primary neurocognitive difficulties that have been invoked to explain neurodivergent phenotypes, including deficits in auditory perception, working memory, procedural learning and the social brain network. We argue that disengagement with information sources with low endogenous precision (e.g. speech in DLD, orthography‐phonology mappings in dyslexia, numeric stimuli in dyscalculia and social signals in autism) constitutes resource‐rational behaviour. We demonstrate the strength of this account in a series of computational simulations. In experiment 1, we simulate information seeking in artificial agents mimicking an array of neurodivergent phenotypes, which optimally explore a complex learning environment containing speech, text, numeric stimuli and social cues. In experiment 2, we simulate optimal information seeking in a cross‐modal dual‐task paradigm and qualitatively replicate empirical data from children with and without DLD. Across experiments, simulated agents’ only aim was to maximally reduce epistemic uncertainty, with no difference in reward across information sources. We show that rational inattention emerges naturally in specific neurodivergent phenotypes as a function of low endogenous precision. For instance, an agent mimicking the DLD phenotype disengages with speech (and preferentially engages with alternative precise information sources) because endogenous imprecision renders speech not conducive to information gain. Because engagement is necessary for learning, simulation demonstrates how optimal information seeking may paradoxically contribute negatively to an already delayed learning trajectory in neurodivergent children.

Research Highlights

We present the first comprehensive theory of information seeking in neurodivergent children to date, centred on the notion of rational inattention.

We demonstrate the strength of this account in a series of computational simulations involving artificial agents mimicking specific neurodivergent phenotypes that optimally explore a complex learning environment containing speech, text, numeric stimuli, and social cues.

We show how optimal information seeking may, paradoxically, contribute negatively to an already delayed learning trajectory in neurodivergent children.

This report advances our understanding of the factors shaping short‐term decision making and long‐term learning in neurodivergent children.
Long noncoding RNA ANRIL alleviates hypoxia‐induced pulmonary microvascular endothelial cell damage
Authors: Qi Yijin , Chen Mingyue , Zhang Tianyi , Zhao Beibei , Jin Tianbo , Yuan Dongya
Published: March 2024

Background

High‐altitude pulmonary oedema (HAPE) is a form of noncardiogenic pulmonary oedema. Studies have found that long noncoding RNA (lncRNA) plays an important role in HAPE. ANRIL is significant in pulmonary illnesses, which implies that alterations in ANRIL expression levels may be involved in the beginning and development of HAPE. However, the specific mechanism is indistinct. The present study is meant to explore the effect and mechanism of ANRIL on hypoxic‐induced injury of pulmonary microvascular endothelial cells (PMEVCs).

Methods

In the hypoxic model of PMVECs, overexpression of ANRIL or knockdown of miR‐181c‐5p was performed to assess cell proliferation, apoptosis, and migration. Furthermore, the levels of apoptosis‐related proteins, inflammatory factors, and vascular active factors were also measured.

Results

The results showed that, after 24 h of hypoxia, PMVECs proliferation and migration were suppressed in comparison to the control group, along with an increase in apoptosis, a decrease in the expression of ANRIL, and an increase in the expression of miR‐181c‐5p (all p < .05). The damage caused by hypoxia in PMVECs can be lessened by overexpressing ANRIL, which also inhibits the production of TNF‐α, iNOS, and VEGF as well as BAX and cleaved caspase‐3 (all p < .05). Further experimental results showed that overexpression of ANRIL and knockdown of miR‐181c‐5p had the same protection against hypoxic injury in PMVECs (all p < .05).

Conclusions

Our study suggests that ANRIL may prevent hypoxia injury to PMVECs in HAPE through the negative regulation of miR‐181c‐5p.
A heuristic‐based hybrid sampling method using a combination of SMOTE and ENN for imbalanced health data
Authors: Nizam‐Ozogur Hatice , Orman Zeynep
Published: March 2024

Health datasets often exhibit class imbalance, with healthy individuals being the majority class and patients being the minority class. As in many applications, machine learning methods are frequently used in the prediction and detection of diseases. The class imbalance presents a significant challenge for machine learning classifiers, particularly in their ability to accurately and effectively classify data from minority and majority classes. Therefore, data preprocessing is crucial before classifying the imbalanced data. In this study, we present GASMOTEPSO_ENN method that combines the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) and edited nearest neighbour (ENN) algorithms using genetic algorithm (GA) and particle swarm optimization (PSO) heuristics as a preprocessing method to classify the imbalanced health datasets. In the experiments, chronic kidney disease (CKD), cerebral stroke prediction (CSP), and PIMA Indian diabetes (PID) datasets were utilized to assess the performance of the proposed method with metrics derived from the confusion matrix. The GASMOTEPSO_ENN method can classify the various diseases into different two classes of patients and healthy individuals with acceptable Matthews correlation coefficient (MCC) metric using the machine learning algorithms (Logistic regression (LR) 1.00 for CKD dataset, extreme gradient boosting (XGBoost) 0.94 for CSP dataset, and support vector machine (SVM) 0.87 for PID dataset). Moreover, the proposed method also performed well with other metrics in all datasets, and the analysis of the model results in relation to existing literature reveals that the proposed model demonstrably produces superior results.
Conceptualisation of personal recovery in a private hospital mental health service
Authors: Lorien Leonie M. , Blunden Sarah , Romero Vivian , MacNevin Diana
Published: March 2024

There has been limited research on personal recovery during a hospital admission. However, studies in this setting indicate that consumers' experiences of personal recovery, during an inpatient admission, may not mirror the experiences of consumers living in the community, which has been conceptualised by the CHIME processes of Connectedness, Hope, Identity, Meaning and Empowerment. Findings to date posit that inpatients may be more likely to experience disconnection and hopelessness. To investigate this further, staff working in a private hospital mental health service designed and implemented a research project to understand personal recovery from patients' perspectives. The method comprised four consumer focus groups (n = 16 participants). Researchers analysed the data using inductive thematic analysis, identifying three themes: different pathways reflecting each patient's individual journey to personal recovery; challenges including experiencing hopelessness and distress, ups and downs, it not being easy, isolation and lack of support; and living well including wanting to return to everyday living, hope and acceptance, and feeling empowered. The findings suggest that the CHIME conceptualisation of recovery may need to be revised to include the experiences of hospital patients. The conceptualisation of recovery as a dynamic spectrum, with recovery moving up and down between challenges and living well may better represent hospital patient experiences. Patients also talked about a process not included in CHIME, of returning to ‘everyday living’ which was about getting back to doing everyday activities that most of us take for granted.
Numerical simulation of the Ge28Sb12Se60 fiber extrusion process
Authors: Shabarova L. V. , Stepanov B. S. , Kirillov Y. P. , Mishinov S. V. , Stepanov A. S. , Lashmanov E. N. , Shiryaev V. S.
Published: March 2024

A computational fluid dynamics model of the glass fiber extrusion process is proposed and verified. The model describes the homogeneous non‐isothermal motion of a viscous glass melt and the surrounding air in an experimental setup, taking into account the interface between the media and the movement of the metal rod. The unclad Ge28Sb12Se60 glass fibers for sensor applications are fabricated by extrusion. The validation of the developed model is performed based on the experimental data, including pressure values, temperature field in extrusion setup, and extruded glass mass outflow. Based on the proposed model, the thermal and kinetic conditions for the flow of Ge28Sb12Se60 glass during extrusion are numerically studied. The presented model could be used as a tool for analyzing the hydrodynamic and thermal processes during fiber extrusion.
The thermal debinding of soluble binders in injection molded zirconia ceramic from room temperature to 250°C
Authors: Zhu Jiacheng , Qiao Liang , Zheng Jingwu , Ying Yao , Cai Wei , Li Juan , Yu Jing , Li Wangchang , Che Shenglei
Published: March 2024

In ceramic injection molding, the conventional solvent‐debinding process encounters limitations such as solvent cost and environmental pollution. In this paper, a suitable thermal‐debinding process from room temperature to 250°C using carbon/alumina embedding powders with nano and submicron size was developed to remove the soluble binders replacing the conventional solvent debinding of injection molding ZrO2 ceramic. The effects of the embedding powders on microstructure and debinding ratio were studied in detail. The results showed that the main factor influencing debinding ratio was associated with the sufficient dispersing of mixed particles, which was characterized by the relative change ratio of tap volume. A debinding mechanism was proposed to explain the effects of carbon/alumina mixed powders on the debinding ratio and surface cracks. Based on the influencing mechanism, the debinded green part with the elimination of soluble binders and optimal surface was achieved using the mixed powders with C/A = 8/2 on the top and C/A = 4/6 on the bottom.
Environmental policy and audit pricing
Authors: Rabarison Monika K. , Siraj Ibrahim , Wang Bin
Published: March 2024

This paper examines the effect of environmental policy stringency (EPS) on audit pricing. By exploiting the exogenous variation in environmental policies across 26 countries, we find that firms in countries with more stringent environmental policies incur lower audit fees. The inverse association is more pronounced in common law countries, in countries with a higher level of public enforcement of regulations and in countries with more investor protection. The lower audit fees are also more prominent for firms that are followed by more analysts and firms that have a greater institutional ownership. Furthermore, we find that firms in countries with strong regulations are better and more innovative at managing environmental risk, which implies that better environmental performance of the firms following stronger regulations could lower business risks and thus decrease audit fees. Overall, our findings suggest that compliant firms benefit from EPS.
Enhance adult students' online knowledge construction: Exploring effective instructional designs and addressing barriers
Authors: Ho Yujen
Published: March 2024

Background Study

Asynchronous online discussions are vital venues for collaborative knowledge construction. However, the lack of appropriate instruction designs poses challenges in promoting deep and substantive engagement with the core subject matter. This paper explores how to enhance adult students' knowledge construction in the context of asynchronous online discussions at an open university in Taiwan.

Objectives

This study explores instructional designs aimed at promoting online knowledge construction among adult students and overcoming barriers to this process.

Methods

This study used a convergent parallel mixed methods design to collect concurrently both quantitative data from the students' online discussion postings for content analysis and qualitative data from the focus group and individual interviews, the online open‐ended questionnaire, and the instructor's observation logs for thematic analysis. Then the results were merged in the interpretation stage.

Results and Conclusion

The research highlights the significance of instructional designs in influencing students' level of knowledge construction during online discussions. The findings suggest that instructional designs that provide teacher‐led interim summaries, pose Socratic questions, and incorporate problem‐solving projects can promote higher‐level knowledge construction. However, time constraints, cultural influences, and unfamiliarity with peers negatively affected higher‐order knowledge construction. To address these challenges, culturally responsive and technologically inclusive instructional designs that take into account the specific challenges faced by adult learners are proposed to enhance learning outcomes through active participation.

Limitation

The study's limited sample size warrants further research with a larger and more diverse cohort to validate the effectiveness of the proposed instructional designs. Another limitation is the lack of a robust theoretical base for the instructional strategies presented by the current action‐research study. Further examination and broader exploration in online education are needed to prop up proposed pedagogical approaches.
Polygonatum sibiricum (Huang Jing) polysaccharide reduces diabetic cardiomyopathy through increasing cyclic guanosine monophosphate‐protein kinase G signaling in diabetic mice
Authors: Lei Shengping , Lu Xin , Yan Lei , Liu Tian , Niu Yan , Yu Jun
Published: March 2024

Aims/Introduction

Diabetic cardiomyopathy (DCM) is a prevalent condition among individuals with diabetes, and is associated with a high mortality rate. The anti‐oxidant properties of Jing Huang or Polygonatum sibiricum polysaccharide (PSP) have been extensively used to treat diabetes‐related disorders; however, its potential effectiveness against DCM remains unknown. This study aimed to investigate PSP's therapeutic effects on DCM in an experimental diabetic mouse model.

Materials and Methods

To induce insulin resistance, mice were fed a high‐fat diet for 3 months, followed by intraperitoneal streptozotocin injection to induce slight hyperglycemia and develop DCM. Both DCM and control mice were given PSP orally for 3 weeks. Western blotting was used to detect the protein expressions of protein kinase G, C/EBP homologous protein, glucose‐regulated protein 78, phosphodiesterase type 5, protein kinase R‐like endoplasmic reticulum (ER) kinase, and phospho‐protein kinase R‐like endoplasmic reticulum kinase in heart tissue.

Results

The results showed a reduction in bodyweight and blood glucose levels in the PSP therapy group compared with DCM group. PSP also improved cardiac function and had a negligible effect on malondialdehyde activity. Furthermore, the findings showed that PSP alleviated ER and oxidative stress observed in DCM mice hearts, leading to the inhibition of cyclic guanosine monophosphate‐specific phosphodiesterase type 5 and cardiac cyclic guanosine monophosphate reactivation. Phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibition reduced high‐fat diet‐induced cardiac dysfunction and decreased ER stress.

Conclusions

PSP could effectively protect diabetic myocardium by inhibiting endoplasmic reticulum stress. These findings provide crucial insights into the potential of PSP to ameliorate DCM conditions in diabetic mice by decreasing ER and oxidative stress, and enhancing cyclic guanosine monophosphate protein kinase G signaling.
A new characid species with remarkable sexual dimorphism (Characiformes: Characidae: Stevardiinae) from the upper Guayabero River, Orinoco basin, Colombia
Authors: P. Carvalho Tiago , Tonolli Thomaz Andréa , Urbano‐Bonilla Alexander , Prada‐Pedreros Saúl
Published: March 2024

A new species of characid with remarkable sexual characteristics is described from the upper Guayabero River drainage from the Orinoco basin in Colombia. The new species is included in the genus Monotocheirodon by sharing most of the previously proposed diagnostic features of this genus. It differs from all Stevardiinae by the combination, in adult males, of an enlarged urogenital papilla in contact with the first anal‐fin unbranched ray and a highly modified anal fin with enlarged and distally elongated first and second branched anal‐fin rays, forming a gonopodium‐like structure. In addition, it differs from congeners by the presence of an adipose fin, an incomplete lateral line, an ascending process of the premaxilla dorsally oriented, and a long snout. The new species was discovered from a poorly sampled region in Colombia and is an unexpected new record given its disjunct geographic distribution from other species of the genus. Monotocheirodon species were previously known from piedmont drainages in Bolivia and Peru. The conservation status of the new species is herein categorized following IUCN criteria.
Operationalizing therapeutic jurisprudence in the family law system
Authors: Lux Glenda , Amundson Jon
Published: March 2024

The family law system requires change to improve family outcomes, and the operationalization of therapeutic jurisprudence may be part of the solution. In this paper, the authors propose The Confluent Family Law Model, which realigns mental health professionals with the court to utilize their expertise better, mitigate problems with child custody evaluations, reduce system noise, and improve decision hygiene in family law. The model aims to work collaboratively with family court professionals to assist families and argues that “best interest” determinations may be better achieved through mental health input on a case‐by‐case basis at the level of the bench.
Characterization of African‐American Super‐Agers in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center cohort
Authors: Trammell Antoine R. , Goldstein Felicia C. , Parker Monica W. , Hajjar Ihab M.
Published: March 2024

Background

“Super‐agers” are adults aged ≥80 with cognitive performance similar to persons two to three decades younger. Characteristics such as larger hippocampal volume, APOE‐ε4 allele absence, higher educational attainment, female sex, and lifelong cognitive stimulation are associated with cognitive performance compatible with super‐aging. These findings are based on predominantly white research samples. Limited data are available on African‐American super‐agers. To fill this gap, we explored potential factors associated with super‐aging in older African‐American adults.

Methods

Data from African‐American participants aged ≥80 in the National Alzheimer's Coordinating Center (NACC) dataset were analyzed. Using global Clinical Dementia Rating (CDR) scores, participants were first categorized as impaired (score ≥0.5) or non‐impaired/normal cognition (NC) (score = 0). From the NC group, super‐agers were identified using NACC‐data‐driven cutoffs. Participants were considered super‐agers if their memory performance was similar to persons aged 50–60 with NC, and their performance on other domains was within one standard deviation of the mean for persons aged ≥80. We examined group characteristics (NC, super‐ager, impaired) using chi‐square and ANOVA with pairwise comparisons. Multinomial logistic regression, adjusted for sex and education, evaluated correlates of super‐ager group assignment.

Results

Data for 1285 African‐American participants aged ≥80 were analyzed. We identified 24.7% (n = 316) NC, 4.8% (n = 61) super‐agers, and 70.6% (n = 905) impaired. Super‐agers were mostly female and more educated, had similar vascular comorbidities as the other groups, and had less sleep disorders, depression, and alcohol use. After adjusting for sex and education, super‐ager group assignment was associated with less sleep disorders, less depression, and moderate alcohol use.

Conclusions

Participants with controlled vascular risk, mental health, alcohol use, and sleep disorders tended to be in the super‐ager group. These factors may be important focus areas in clinical practice to support cognitive resilience with aging in older African‐American adults.
RNs in nursing homes—It is not always about the numbers
Authors: Mueller Christine A. , Bowers Barbara J. , Kolanowski Ann M.
Published: March 2024

The compelling evidence that higher RN to resident ratios improve health outcomes in nursing homes underscores the necessity of implementing evidence‐based RN nursing home staffing standards. However, there are other dimensions to RN staffing in nursing homes beyond the numbers or hours per resident day (HPRD) that influence the quality of care. Without attending to a broader focus on nurse staffing, the benefits of increased RN staffing levels will not be achieved. This article outlines how RN HPRD can be maximized by magnifying the RN's scope of practice and attending to how nursing care is organized and delivered in nursing homes using a nursing practice model framework. This framework addresses the accountability of the RN and the RN's role in supporting and facilitating: (1) collective decision‐making among the nursing staff about the care of residents and the work environment, (2) continuity of information among care providers, and (3) ensuring residents have continuity with the care providers assigned to their care. Attention to the RN's expertise in gerontological nursing and leadership capacity further leverages the RN's ability to influence the quality of care for nursing homes residents.
Adherence to PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines and scope of systematic reviews published in nursing: A cross‐sectional analysis
Authors: Carlo Torres Gian , Ledbetter Leila , Cantrell Sarah , Alomo Anna Rita L. , Blodgett Thomas J. , Bongar Maria Victoria , Hatoum Sandy , Hendren Steph , Loa Ritzmond , Montaña Sherihan , Francis Sumile Earl , Turner Kathleen M. , Relf Michael V.
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Systematic reviews are considered the highest level of evidence that can help guide evidence‐informed decisions in nursing practice, education, and even health policy. Systematic review publications have increased from a sporadic few in 1980s to more than 10,000 systematic reviews published every year and around 30,000 registered in prospective registries.

Methods

A cross‐sectional design and a variety of data sources were triangulated to identify the journals from which systematic reviews would be evaluated for adherence to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) 2020 reporting guidelines and scope. Specifically, this study used the PRISMA 2020 reporting guidelines to assess the reporting of the introduction, methods, information sources and search strategy, study selection process, quality/bias assessments, and results and discussion aspects of the included systematic reviews.

Results

Upon review of the 215 systematic reviews published in 10 top‐tier journals in the field of nursing in 2019 and 2020, this study identified several opportunities to improve the reporting of systematic reviews in the context of the 2020 PRISMA statement. Areas of priority for reporting include the following key areas: (1) information sources, (2) search strategies, (3) study selection process, (4) bias reporting, (5) explicit discussion of the implications to policy, and lastly, the need for (6) prospective protocol registration.

Discussion

The use of the PRISMA 2020 guidelines by authors, peer reviewers, and editors can help to ensure the transparent and detailed reporting of systematic reviews published in the nursing literature.

Clinical Relevance

Systematic reviews are considered strong research evidence that can guide evidence‐based practice and even clinical decision‐making. This paper addresses some common methodological and process issues among systematic reviews that can guide clinicians and practitioners to be more critical in appraising research evidence that can shape nursing practice.
Trajectories of offending over 9 years after youths' first arrest: What predicts who desists and who continues to offend?
Authors: Cauffman Elizabeth , Beardslee Jordan , Sbeglia Colleen , Frick Paul J. , Steinberg Laurence
Published: March 2024

Antisocial and illegal behavior generally declines as youth approach adulthood, but there is significant individual variation in the timing of the peak and decline of offending from adolescence to young adulthood. There are two primary research questions in the present study. First, are there subgroups of youth who follow similar patterns of offending over the nine years after their first arrest? Second, what baseline factors predict which youth will follow each pattern of offending? Data were drawn from the Crossroads study, which includes a sample of racially and ethnically diverse boys who were interviewed regularly for 9 years following their first arrest. Boys were between 13 and 17 years old at the start of the study and were approximately 24‐25 years old at the final interview. Trajectories were measured with youths' self‐reported offending using latent class growth analysis (LCGA). Results indicated that there were four subgroups of youth: a stable low group (55%), an escalating group (23%), a short‐term recidivist group (15%), and a persistently high group (7%). Several baseline factors distinguished the groups. In particular, the results indicated that youth who were informally processed after their first arrest were more likely to be in the low offending group than any of the other LCGA groups. Age at first arrest, peer delinquency, exposure to violence, substance use, callous‐unemotional traits, physical aggression, and perceptions of police legitimacy were also significantly related to group membership. Results suggest that certain risk factors identified after youths' first arrest may predict which youth continue to offend and which desist.
RELTRAD2: Refining the State of the Art of Religious Classification by Reconsidering the Categorization of Nondenominational Respondents
Authors: Gaghan Josh , Eagle David
Published: March 2024

RELTRAD is a major religious taxonomy used by a large number of researchers. Although criticisms have been raised about its utility, improving the algorithm to capture contemporary religious dynamics is important given its widespread use. The present RELTRAD taxonomy classifies more religiously active nondenominational respondents as Conservative Protestants and codes the remainder as missing data. A growing number of Americans indicate they are either nondenominational or only Christian or Protestant, which means using RELTRAD in its existing form codes a nonrandom and increasingly large number of respondents with a missing value for religious affiliation (growing from 2 percent to 5 percent of the US General Social Survey (GSS) sample between 2000 and 2018). Using a machine learning algorithm to predict the likely religious tradition of nondenominational respondents, we demonstrate the shortcomings of this approach and introduce a new coding scheme, RELTRAD2, which classifies nondenominational respondents who report a Black racial identity as Black Protestant, non‐Black respondents who never attend religious services as Mainline Protestant, and the remainder as Conservative Protestant. Code to derive RELTRAD2 from the GSS is provided.
Neurokinin‐1 receptor antagonist aprepitant regulates autophagy and apoptosis via ROS/JNK in intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma
Authors: Yang Yang , Cao Xueyan , Wang Yuting , Wu Xinyu , Zhou Ping , Miao Lin , Deng Xueting
Published: March 2024

Background

Intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma (iCCA) has a poor prognosis and limited treatment options. Aprepitant, a selective NK‐1R antagonist, can inhibit the growth of various tumours in vitro and in vivo. However, it remains unclear whether aprepitant has cytotoxic effects on iCCA.

Methods

We measured the expression of SP/NK‐1R in clinical samples of iCCA by immunohistochemistry. Then, we detected the cytotoxic effects of aprepitant on iCCA cells via MTT, EdU and colony formation assay. We constructed a subcutaneous xenograft model of BALB/c nude mice by using HCCC‐9810 and RBE cell lines to explore the effects of aprepitant in vivo. To elucidate the potential mechanisms, we explored the pro‐apoptotic effect of aprepitant by flow cytometric, western blotting, ROS detection and JC‐1 staining. Furthermore, we detected the autophagic level of HCCC‐9810 and RBE by western blotting, mRFP‐eGFP‐LC3 adenovirus transfection and electron microscope.

Results

SP/NK‐1R is significantly expressed in iCCA. Aprepitant inhibited human iCCA xenograft growth and dose‐dependently decreased the viability of RBE and HCCC‐9810 cells. Aprepitant‐induced mitochondria‐dependent apoptosis through ROS/JNK pathway. Additionally, pretreatment with z‐VAD‐fmk partly reversed the effect of aprepitant on cell viability, while NAC completely attenuated the cytotoxic effects of aprepitant in vitro. Furthermore, we observed the dynamic changes of autophagosome in RBE and HCCC‐9810 cells treated with aprepitant.

Conclusion

SP/NK‐1R signalling is significantly activated in iCCA and promotes the proliferation of iCCA cells. By contrast, aprepitant can induce autophagy and apoptosis in iCCA cells via ROS accumulation and subsequent activation of JNK.
FGF21 protects against ischaemia reperfusion injury in normal and fatty livers
Authors: Ma Yong , Singhal Garima , Chan Suzanne S. , Wang Chaoqun , Yu Hongjun , Yin Bing , Pang Jing , Malvar Grace , Nasser Imad , Mather Marie L. , Maratos‐Flier Eleftheria
Published: March 2024

Background

Liver ischaemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury, which is an inevitable clinical problem of liver resection, liver transplantation and haemorrhagic shock. Fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) was intimately coupled with multiple metabolic processes and proved to protect against apoptosis and inflammatory response in hepatocytes during hepatic I/R injury. However, the regulatory mechanisms of FGF21 in hepatic I/R injury remains unknown. Therefore, we hypothesize that FGF21 protects hepatic tissues from I/R injury.

Methods

Blood samples were available from haemangiomas patients undergoing hepatectomy and murine liver I/R model and used to further evaluate the serum levels of FGF21 both in humans and mice. We further explored the regulatory mechanisms of FGF21 in murine liver I/R model by using FGF21‐knockout mice (FGF21‐KO mice) and FGF21‐overexpression transgenic mice (FGF21‐OE mice) fed a high‐fat or ketogenic diet.

Results

Our results show that the circulating levels of FGF21 were robustly decreased after liver I/R in both humans and mice. Silencing FGF21 expression with FGF21‐KO mice aggravates liver injury at 6 h after 75 min of partial liver ischaemia, while FGF21‐OE mice display alleviated hepatic I/R injury and inflammatory response. Compared with chow diet mice, exogenous FGF21 decreases the levels of aminotransferase, histological changes, apoptosis and inflammatory response in hepatic I/R injury treatment mice with a high‐fat diet. Meanwhile, ketogenic diet mice are not sensitive to hepatic I/R injury.

Conclusions

The circulating contents of FGF21 are decreased during liver warm I/R injury and exogenous FGF21 exerts hepatoprotective effects on hepatic I/R injury. Thus, FGF21 regulates hepatic I/R injury and may be a key therapeutic target.
Histological characterization of liver involvement in systemic mastocytosis
Authors: Rossignol Julien , Canioni Danielle , Aouba Achille , Bulai‐Livideanu Cristina , Barete Stéphane , Lancesseur Charles , Polivka Laura , Madrange Marine , Ballul Thomas , Neuraz Antoine , Greco Celine , Agopian Julie , Brenet Fabienne , Dubreuil Patrice , Lemal Richard , Tournilhac Olivier , Terriou Louis , Launay David , Bouillet Laurence , Gourguechon Clément , Frenzel Laurent , Meni Cécile , Gaudy‐Marqueste Caroline , Gousseff Marie , Le Mouel Edwige , Hamidou Mohamed , Neel Antoine , Ranta Dana , Jaussaud Roland , Guilpain Philippe , Molina Thierry J , Bruneau Julie , Lhermitte Ludovic , Garcelon Nicolas , Javier Rose‐Marie , Pelletier Fabien , Castelain Florence , Retornaz Frederique , Cabrera Quentin , Zunic Patricia , Gourin Marie Pierre , Wierzbicka‐Hainaut Ewa , Viallard Jean François , Lavigne Christian , Hoarau Cyrille , Durieu Isabelle , Heiblig Maël , Dimicoli‐Salazar Sophie , Torregrosa‐Diaz Jose M , Soria Angèle , Arock Michel , Lortholary Olivier , Bodemer Christine , Pol Stanislas , Mallet Vincent , Hermine Olivier , Damaj Ghandi ,   on behalf the CEREMAST Network
Published: March 2024

Background and Aims

Systemic mastocytosis (SM) is characterized by the accumulation of atypical mast cells (MCs) in organs. Liver histology of SM has been marginally described and accurate histological classification is critical, given the consequences of aggressive SM diagnosis. We aimed to describe the histological features associated with liver SM using updated tools.

Methods

Using the database of the French Reference Centre for Mastocytosis, we retrospectively identified patients with a liver biopsy (LB) and a diagnosis of SM. All LB procedures were performed according to the local physician in charge and centrally reviewed by an expert pathologist.

Results

A total of 28 patients were included: 6 had indolent SM, 9 had aggressive SM, and 13 had SM with an associated hematologic neoplasm. Twenty‐five (89%) patients presented hepatomegaly, and 19 (68%) had portal hypertension. The LB frequently showed slight sinusoid dilatation (82%). Fibrosis was observed in 3/6 indolent SM and in almost all advanced SM cases (21/22), but none of them showed cirrhosis. A high MC burden (>50 MCs/high‐power field) was correlated with elevated blood alkaline phosphatase levels (p = .030). The presence of portal hypertension was associated with a higher mean fibrosis grade (1.6 vs. 0.8 in its absence; p = .026). In advanced SM, the presence of nodular regenerative hyperplasia (NRH) was associated with decreased overall survival (9.5 vs. 46.3 months, p = .002).

Conclusions

MC infiltration induced polymorphic hepatic lesions and the degree of fibrosis is associated with portal hypertension. NRH identifies a poor prognosis subgroup of patients with advanced SM. Assessing liver histology can aid in SM prognostic evaluation.
Queue‐jumping arguments
Authors: Aberdein Andrew , Pike Kenneth R.
Published: March 2024

A queue‐jumping argument concludes that some course of action is impermissible by likening it to the presumptively impermissible act of jumping a queue. Arguments of this sort may be found in a disparate range of contexts and in support of policies favoured by both left and right. Examples include arguments against private education and private health care but also arguments against accommodations for learning disabilities, refugee resettlement, and birthright citizenship. We infer that, although queue‐jumping arguments are strictly analogies, they constitute a sufficiently distinct class of arguments to justify their separate treatment. The paper proposes an argumentation scheme for queue‐jumping arguments and demonstrates its applicability to some existing arguments of this type.
Sociolinguistic competence and varietal repertoires in a second language: A study on addressee‐dependent varietal behavior using virtual reality
Authors: Wirtz Mason A. , Pfenninger Simone E. , Kaiser Irmtraud , Ender Andrea
Published: March 2024

The present study takes a variationist perspective to explore the varietal repertoires of adult learners of German as a second language (L2), that is, their variable use of standard German, Austro‐Bavarian dialect, and mixture varieties. Forty L2 learners completed a virtual reality task involving interactions with dialect‐speaking and standard‐German‐speaking interlocutors. Using Bayesian multilevel modeling, the goal was to explore differential outcomes in the acquisition of sociolinguistic competence by determining whether participants adjusted their varietal behavior to match that of the interlocutor (i.e., varietal convergence). The results show that there were no interindividual addressee‐dependent convergence tendencies. A holistic person‐centered analysis of individual learners’ intraspeaker variation revealed that only select L2 learners adjusted their usage patterns but did not entirely invert their usage of dialect and standard language as a function of the variety of the interlocutor. Introspective qualitative data speak to potential drivers behind the differential development of L2 (multi)varietal repertoires.
First biochemical and behavioural analysis of the response of the scorpion Urophonius brachycentrus (Thorell: 1876) upon exposure to an organophosphate
Authors: Garcia Carlos F. , Ojanguren Andrés , Seoane Analía , Iuri Hernan , Gambaro Rocio , Molina Gabriel , Laino Aldana
Published: March 2024

Scorpionism is an increasing public health problem in the world. Although no specific methodology or product is currently available for the control of those arachnids, the use of insecticides could be an effective tool. Chlorpyrifos is one of the insecticides used, but to date, whether scorpions recognise surfaces with that insecticide and how it affects their physiology and/or biochemistry is unknown. In the present study, we observed that scorpions recognise surfaces with 0.51 and 8.59 μg/cm2 of chlorpyrifos and avoid those areas. The 0.51 μg/cm2 concentration produced a decrease in acetylcholinesterase and an increase in catalase, superoxide dismutase and glutathione S‐transferase, whereas the 8.59 μg/cm2 concentration evoked a decrease in acetylcholinesterase and an increase in catalase and glutathione S‐transferase. Using the comet assay, we observed that the insecticide at 0.17, 0.51 and 8.59 μg/cm2 caused DNA damage. Finally, we found that the insecticide does not generate significant variations in glutathione peroxidase, glutathione reductase, the amount of protein or lipid peroxidation. The present results offer a comprehensive understanding of how scorpions respond, both at the biochemical and behavioural levels, when exposed to insecticides.
Utilization of immediate extubation in a multidisciplinary pathway for pediatric liver transplantation associated with improved postoperative outcomes
Authors: Goldstein Matthew A. , Karlik Joelle , Kamat Pradip P. , Lo Denise J. , Liu Katie , Gilbertson Laura E.
Published: March 2024

Background

Immediate extubation is becoming more common in liver transplantation. However, limited data exist on how to identify pediatric patients with potential for successful immediate extubation and how this intervention may affect recovery.

Methods

This retrospective review evaluated patients who underwent liver transplantation from 2015 to 2021 at Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Preoperative status and intraoperative management were evaluated and compared. Outcomes comprised thrombosis, surgical reexploration, retransplantation, as well as reintubation, high flow nasal cannula (HFNC) usage, postoperative infection, the length of stay (LOS), and mortality.

Results

A total of 173 patients were analyzed, with 121 patients (69.9%) extubated immediately. The extubation group had older age (median 4.0 vs 1.25 years,p = .048), lower PELD/MELD (28 vs. 34,p = .03), decreased transfusion (10.2 vs. 41.7 mL/kg,p < .001), shorter surgical time (332 vs. 392 min,p < .001), and primary abdominal closure (81% vs. 40.4%,p < .001). Immediate extubation was associated with decreased HFNC (0.21 vs. 0.71 days,p = .02), postoperative infection (9.9% vs. 26.9%,p = .007), mortality (0% vs. 5.8%,p = .036), and pediatric intensive care unit LOS (4.7 vs. 11.4 days,p < .001). The complication rate was lower in the extubation group (24.8% vs. 36.5%), but not statistically significant.

Conclusions

Approximately 70% of patients were able to be successfully extubated immediately, with only 2.5% requiring reintubation. Those immediately extubated had decreased need for HFNC, lower infection rates, shorter LOS, and decreased mortality. Our results show that with proper patient selection and a multidisciplinary approach, immediate extubation allows for improved recovery without increased respiratory complications after pediatric liver transplantation.
A systematic review of public policy implementation during the Covid‐19 pandemic: Current topics and future directions
Authors: de Oliveira Lemos Novato Valeria , Toscano Cristiana Maria , da Rocha Soares Ferreira Vicente , Patel Shivani
Published: March 2024

The Covid‐19 pandemic greatly impacted global public policy implementation. There is a lack of research synthesizing the lessons learned during Covid‐19 from a policy perspective. A systematic review was conducted following PRISMA guidelines to examine the literature on public policy implementation during the Covid‐19 pandemic in order to gain comprehensive insights into current topics and future directions. Five clusters of topics were identified: lessons from science, crisis governance, behavior and mental health, beyond the crisis, and frontlines and trust. Extensive collaboration among public health departments emerged as a significant research theme. Thirty recommendations for future research were identified, including the examination of frontline worker behavior, the use of just tech in policy implementation, and the investigation of policies driving improvements in global public health. The findings indicate that current research on public policy implementation during the Covid‐19 pandemic extends beyond health and economic crisis‐related policies. However, further studies in a post‐pandemic context are needed to validate the identified topics and future directions.
Impact of dental sedation treatment on the oral health‐related quality of life of distressed young children: A secondary analysis of a randomized clinical trial
Authors: Corrêa‐Faria Patrícia , Paiva Saul Martins , Costa Luciane Rezende
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Little is known regarding the impact of dental treatment under sedation on distressed young children's oral health‐related quality of life (OHRQoL).

Aim

To evaluate the impact of dental treatment under sedation on the OHRQoL of children and their families.

Methods

Caregivers of two‐to‐six‐year‐old children answered the Brazilian version of the Early Childhood Oral Health Impact Scale (B‐ECOHIS): (1) before treatment under sedation (T0), (2) two weeks (T1) and (3) 3 months after the completion of treatment (T2). A global transition judgment was included in the posttreatment evaluations to determine the perception of changes in OHRQoL after dental treatment. Bivariate analysis was performed. Changes in scores and effect sizes (ES) were calculated.

Results

Reductions were found at both posttreatment evaluations in the total B‐ECOHIS scores (median [25th–75th percentile] at T0: 14 [9.8–21.7]; T1: 2.0 [0.0–5.1]; T2: 2.0 [0.0–6.7]); “child impact” section (T0: 8.8 [4.0–13.1]; T1: 0.0 [0.0–2.2]; T2: 0.0 [0.0–4.3]) and “family impact” section (T0: 6.0 [4.0–8.5]; T1: 0.0 [0.0–2.0]; T2: 0.0 [0.0–2.0]) (≤0.001; large ES). In 92.3% of cases at T1 and 88.3% at T2, caregivers reported that their child's oral health improved considerably.

Conclusion

Dental treatment under sedation significantly improved the OHRQoL of the children and their families.
Jealousy as a correlate of intimate partner homicide‐suicide versus homicide‐only cases: National Violent Death Reporting System, 2016–2020
Authors: Johnson Laura
Published: March 2024

Introduction

The objective of this study was to compare jealousy as a correlate of intimate partner homicide‐suicide cases to homicide‐only cases using data from the National Violent Death Reporting System (NVDRS), a state‐based surveillance system maintained by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Jealousy is categorized as jealous feelings or distress over a current or former intimate partner's relationship or suspected relationship with another person.

Methods

NVDRS data from a 5‐year period (2016–2020) was used to estimate frequencies and identify significant differences in jealousy and other sociodemographic, mental health, relationship, and incident‐related correlates of intimate partner homicide‐suicide compared to homicide‐only cases. Cases were included if they involved an intimate partner single homicide or a single homicide followed by suicide.

Results

The study sample included 5335 cases (intimate partner homicide‐suicide n = 1402; homicide‐only n = 3933). A significantly higher percentage of intimate partner homicide‐suicide cases reported jealousy preceding the event (9%) compared to homicide‐only cases (6%). Compared with homicide‐only cases, homicide‐suicide cases had 3.5 greater odds of recording jealousy as a precipitating event.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that intimate partner homicide‐suicide cases are distinct from homicide‐only cases both in terms of individual‐ and incident‐level and situational factors, including the presence of jealousy.
Comparison of a new immobilization method using a reusable 3‐point fixation cylinder system and bite‐block type immobilization methods in veterinary radiotherapy
Authors: Yoda Shinichiro , Maruo Takuya , Arai Haruka , Takahashi Rihoko , Kusaka Takuya , Nishiyama Yuta , Kayanuma Hideki
Published: March 2024

In veterinary radiotherapy, highly reproducible immobilization is important for accurate irradiation. Consequently, we developed a new reusable head‐immobilization method for dogs using cylinders. This study aimed to compare the accuracy of our novel immobilization method using cylinders with that of bite‐block type immobilization methods. Three immobilization methods were compared: bite‐block only, bite‐block combined with torso immobilization, and immobilization using cylinders. Five beagles with canine teeth underwent CT five times for each of the three immobilization methods. One beagle without canine teeth underwent CT 15 times using each method. Three maxillary landmarks (maxillary incisor, frontal sinus, and occipital bone) and one mandibular landmark (mandibular incisor) were established, and the errors in each immobilization method were measured. For all head landmarks, the error in the immobilization method using cylinders was the most reproducible, with the smallest errors. No significant differences were observed in the time required for immobilization. Although there were limitations (such as the use of dogs from a single breed, a single episode of anesthesia, no disassembly of the immobilization system between scans, and the same person performing the positioning on the same day), we found our new reusable immobilization method using cylinders was the most accurate among the three compared methods. This was a proof‐of‐principle study to evaluate head immobilization using cylinders, and further investigations are needed to confirm its clinical utility.