bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Nudging attitudes toward IT innovations by information provision that serves as a reminder of familial support
Authors: Komatsu Hidenori , Kubota Hiromi , Tanaka Nobuyuki
Published: February 2023

There is concern among the general public that information technology (IT) innovations may make existing jobs redundant. This may be perceived to pose a greater problem to future generations because new technologies, not limited to IT innovations, will be sophisticated in the future. Our previous work revealed that messages reminding people of familial support as a nudge can moderate risk-averse attitudes toward risks that are perceived to threaten future generations, which could be effective for other kinds of risks. Therefore, we conducted a randomized controlled trial to examine the message effects for information provision on IT innovations. The study was conducted via an online questionnaire survey in January 2020, before the COVID-19 pandemic, and more than 3,200 samples were collected from respondents aged 20 years or older living in Japan. The treatment groups received basic information supplemented with additional text or additional text and an illustration that highlighted IT innovations as support from previous generations. The control group received only the basic textual information. The effects of the intervention were evaluated by comparing changes in average subjective assessment of IT in the treatment groups with those in the control group. The intervention effect was statistically significant, and the sense of familial support after receiving the intervention messages was significantly increased in the treatment group that viewed the illustration compared with the control group. Additionally, we discuss how each component of the HEXACO personality traits influences responses to the intervention messages. Through a series of surveys, we demonstrated the potential of our framework for a wide variety of applications involving information provision perceived to involve future generations.
Role of ribosome recycling factor in natural termination and translational coupling as a ribosome releasing factor
Authors: Inokuchi Yoshio , Quaglia Fabio , Hirashima Akikazu , Yamamoto Yoshihiro , Kaji Hideko , Kaji Akira
Published: February 2023

The role of ribosome recycling factor (RRF) of E. coli was studied in vivo and in vitro. We used the translational coupling without the Shine-Dalgarno sequence of downstream ORF (d-ORF) as a model system of the RRF action in natural termination of protein synthesis. For the in vivo studies we used the translational coupling by the adjacent coat and lysis genes of RNA phage GA sharing the termination and initiation (UAAUG) and temperature sensitive RRF. The d-ORF translation was measured by the expression of the reporter lacZ gene connected to the 5’-terminal part of the lysis gene. The results showed that more ribosomes which finished upstream ORF (u-ORF) reading were used for downstream reading when RRF was inactivated. The in vitro translational coupling studies with 027mRNA having the junction sequence UAAUG with wild-type RRF were carried out with measuring amino acids incorporation. The results showed that ribosomes released by RRF read downstream from AUG of UAAUG. In the absence of RRF, ribosomes read downstream in frame with UAA. These in vivo and in vitro studies indicate that RRF releases ribosomes from mRNA at the termination codon of u-ORF. Furthermore, the non-dissociable ribosomes read downstream from AUG of UAAUG with RRF in vitro. This suggests that complete ribosomal splitting is not required for ribosome release by RRF in translational coupling. The data are consistent with the interpretation that RRF functions mostly as a ribosome releasing factor rather than ribosome splitting factor. Additionally, the in vivo studies showed that short (less than 5 codons) u-ORF inhibited d-ORF reading by ribosomes finishing u-ORF reading, suggesting that the termination process in short ORF is not similar to that in normal ORF. This means that all the preexisting studies on RRF with short mRNA may not represent what goes on in natural termination step.
Visual recognition and prediction analysis of China’s real estate index and stock trend based on CNN-LSTM algorithm optimized by neural networks
Authors: Chen Ningyan
Published: February 2023

Today, with the rapid growth of Internet technology, the changing trend of real estate finance has brought great an impact on the progress of the social economy. In order to explore the visual identification (VI) effect of Convolutional Neural Network and Long Short-Term Memory (CNN-LSTM) algorithm based on neural network optimization on China’s real estate index and stock trend, in this study, artificial neural network (ANN) algorithm is introduced to predict its trend. Firstly, LSTM algorithm can effectively solve the problem of vanishing gradient, which is suitable for dealing with the problems related to time series. Secondly, CNN, with its unique fine-grained convolution operation, has significant advantages in classification problems. Finally, combining the LSTM algorithm with the CNN algorithm, and using the Bayesian Network (BN) layer as the transition layer for further optimization, the CNN-LSTM algorithm based on neural network optimization has been constructed for the VI and prediction model of real estate index and stock trend. Through the performance verification of the model, the results reveal that the CNN-LSTM optimization algorithm has a more accurate prediction effect, the prediction accuracy is 90.55%, and the prediction time is only 52.05s. At the same time, the significance advantage of CNN-LSTM algorithm is verified by statistical method, which can provide experimental reference for intelligent VI and prediction of trend of China real estate index and property company stocks.
Assessing standardized contrast effects in ANCOVA: Confidence intervals, precision evaluations, and sample size requirements
Authors: Shieh Gwowen
Published: February 2023

Standardized effect sizes and confidence intervals are useful statistical assessments for comparing results across different studies when measurement units are not directly comparable. This paper aims to describe and compare confidence interval estimation methods for the standardized contrasts of treatment effects in ANCOVA designs. Sample size procedures are also presented to assure that the resulting confidence intervals yield informative estimation with adequate precision. Exact interval estimation approach has theoretical and empirical advantages in coverage probability and interval width over the approximate interval procedures. Numerical investigations of the existing method reveal that the omission of covariate variables has a negative impact on sample size calculations for precise interval estimation, especially when there is disparity in influential covariate variables. The proposed approaches and developed computer programs fully utilize covariate properties in interval estimation and provide accurate sample size determinations under the precision considerations of the expected interval width and the assurance probability of interval width.
How many days are needed? Measurement reliability of wearable device data to assess physical activity
Authors: Hilden Patrick , Schwartz Joseph E. , Pascual Christian , Diaz Keith M. , Goldsmith Jeff
Published: February 2023

Introduction/Purpose

Physical activity studies often utilize wearable devices to measure participants’ habitual activity levels by averaging values across several valid observation days. These studies face competing demands–available resources and the burden to study participants must be balanced with the goal to obtain reliable measurements of a person’s longer-term average. Information about the number of valid observation days required to reliably measure targeted metrics of habitual activity is required to inform study design.

Methods

To date, the number of days required to achieve a desired level of aggregate long-term reliability (typically 0.80) has often been estimated by applying the Spearman-Brown Prophecy formula to short-term test-retest reliability data from studies with single, relatively brief observation windows. Our work, in contrast, utilizes a resampling-based approach to quantify the long-term test-retest reliability of aggregate measures of activity in a cohort of 79 participants who were asked to wear a FitBit Flex every day for approximately one year.

Results

The conventional approach can produce reliability estimates that substantially overestimate the actual test-retest reliability. Six or more valid days of observation for each participant appear necessary to obtain 0.80 reliability for the average amount of time spent in light physical activity; 8 and 10 valid days are needed for sedentary time and moderate/vigorous activity respectively.

Conclusion

Protocols that result in 7–10 valid observation days for each participant may be needed to obtain reliable measurements of key physical activity metrics.
Is retina affected in Huntington’s disease? Is optical coherence tomography a good biomarker?
Authors: Dusek Pavel , Kopal Ales , Brichova Michaela , Roth Jan , Ulmanova Olga , Klempir Jiri , Preiningerova Jana Lizrova
Published: February 2023

Aim of the study

Comparative cross-sectional study of retinal parameters in Huntington’s disease and their evaluation as marker of disease progression.

Clinical rationale for the study

Huntington’s disease (HD) is a neurodegenerative disorder with dominant motor and neuropsychiatric symptoms. Involvement of sensory functions in HD has been investigated, however studies of retinal pathology are incongruent. Effect sizes of previous findings were not published. OCT data of the subjects in previous studies have not been published. Additional examination of structural and functional parameters of retina in larger sample of patients with HD is warranted.

Materials and methods

This is a prospective cross-sectional study that included: peripapillary retinal nerve fiber layer thickness (RNFL) and total macular volume (TMV) measured by spectral domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) of retina, Pelli-Robson Contrast Sensitivity test, Farnsworth 15 Hue Color discrimination test, ophthalmology examination and Unified Huntington’s disease Rating Scale (UHDRS). Ninety-four eyes of 41 HD patients examined in total 47 visits and 82 eyes of 41 healthy controls (HC) examined in total 41 visits were included. Analyses were performed by repeated measures linear mixed effects model with age and gender as covariates. False discovery rate was corrected by Benjamini-Hochberg procedure.

Results

HD group included 21 males and 20 females (age 50.6±12.0 years [mean ± standard deviation], disease duration 7.1±3.6 years, CAG triplet repeats 44.1±2.4). UHDRS Total Motor Score (TMS) was 30.0±12.3 and Total Functional Capacity 8.2±3.2. Control group (HC) included 19 males and 22 females with age 48.2±10.3 years. There was no statistically significant difference between HD and HC in age. The effect of the disease was not significant in temporal segment RNFL thickness. It was significant in the mean RNFL thickness and TMV, however not passing false discovery rate adjustment and with small effect size. In the HD group, the effect of disease duration and TMS was not significant. The Contrast Sensitivity test in HD was within normal limits and the 15-hue-test in HD did not reveal any specific pathology.

Conclusions

The results of our study support possible diffuse retinal changes in global RNFL layer and in macula in Huntington’s disease, however, these changes are small and not suitable as a biomarker for disease progression. We found no other structural or functional changes in retina of Huntington’s disease patients using RNFL layer and macular volume spectral domain OCT and Contrast Sensitivity Test and 15-hue-test.

Clinical implications

Current retinal parameters are not appropriate for monitoring HD disease progression.
Formula constant optimisation techniques including variation of keratometer or corneal refractive index and consideration for classical and modern IOL formulae
Authors: Langenbucher Achim , Szentmáry Nóra , Cayless Alan , Wendelstein Jascha , Hoffmann Peter
Published: February 2023

Background

To investigate whether variation of the keratometer/corneal refractive index nK/nC improves the performance (prediction error PE) of classical and a modern intraocular lens (IOL) power calculation formula and further, to establish whether any trend error of PE for corneal radius R could be eliminated using formula constant and nK/nC optimisation.

Methods

Based on 2 large datasets (1: N = 888 Hoya Vivinex aberration-correcting and 2: N = 822 Alcon SA60AT spherical lens) a classical formula constant optimisation has been performed for the Hoffer Q, Holladay 1, Haigis and Castrop formulae, to minimise the root mean squared (rms) PE (situation A). In two further optimisations, the formula constants and the formula specific nK/nC value were optimised to minimise the rms PE (situation B) or rms PE and trend error of PE for R (situation C). Nonlinear iterative optimisation strategy was applied according to Levenberg-Marquardt.

Results

Optimising for rms PE and trend error (C) mainly improved the performance of the Holladay 1. The Haigis formula also showed a slight improvement compared to (A). The Hoffer Q formula shows no relevant trend error of PE for R. In contrast, the Holladay shows a positive and the Haigis (and the Castrop a slight) negative trend error of PE for R. The trend error could be fully eliminated by optimising formula constants and nK/nC in (B), but this was at the cost of overall performance in the case of the Holladay 1 formula.

Conclusion

Classical IOL calculation concepts should be critically examined for potential improvement of formula performance by variation of the empirical nK/nC value defined in the formula. With additional degrees of freedom additional optimisation terms such as trend errors might be considered in new intelligent optimisation strategies.
Practice variation in opioid prescribing for non-cancer pain in Dutch primary care: A retrospective database study
Authors: Kalkman G. A. , Kramers C. , van Dongen R. T. , Schers H. J. , van Boekel R. L. M. , Bos J. M. , Hek K. , Schellekens A. F. A. , Atsma F.
Published: February 2023

Background

Prescription opioid use has increased steadily in many Western countries over the past two decades, most notably in the US, Canada, and most European countries, including the Netherlands. Especially the increasing use of prescription opioids for chronic non-cancer pain has raised concerns. Most opioids in the Netherlands are prescribed in general practices. However, little is known about variation in opioid prescribing between general practices. To better understand this, we investigated practice variation in opioid prescribing for non-cancer pain between Dutch general practices.

Methods

Data from 2017–2019 of approximately 10% of all Dutch general practices was used. Each year included approximately 1000000 patients distributed over approximately 380 practices. The primary outcome was the proportion of patients with chronic (>90 days) high-dose (≥90 oral morphine equivalents) opioid prescriptions. The secondary outcome was the proportion of patients with chronic (<90 oral morphine equivalents) opioid prescriptions. Practice variation was expressed as the ratio of the 95th/5th percentiles and the ratio of mean top 10/bottom 10. Funnel plots were used to identify outliers. Potential factors associated with unwarranted variation were investigated by comparing outliers on practice size, patient neighbourhood socioeconomic status, and urbanicity.

Results

Results were similar across all years. The magnitude of variation for chronic high-dose opioid prescriptions in 2019 was 7.51-fold (95%/5% ratio), and 15.1-fold (top 10/bottom 10 ratio). The percentage of outliers in the funnel plots varied between 13.8% and 21.7%. Practices with high chronic high-dose opioid prescription proportions were larger, and had more patients from lower income and densely populated areas.

Conclusions

There might be unwarranted practice variation in chronic high-dose opioid prescriptions in primary care, pointing at possible inappropriate use of opioids. This appears to be related to socioeconomic status, urbanicity, and practice size. Further investigation of the factors driving practice variation can provide target points for quality improvement and reduce inappropriate care and unwarranted variation.
Incidence of sinus thrombosis with thrombocytopenia—A nation-wide register study
Authors: Hovi Petteri , Palmu Arto A. , Nieminen Tuomo A. , Artama Miia , Jokinen Jukka , Ruokokoski Esa , Lassila Riitta , Nohynek Hanna , Kilpi Terhi
Published: February 2023

Safe vaccination is essential for mitigation of the COVID-19 pandemic. Two adenoviral vector vaccines, ChAdOx1 nCov-19 (AstraZeneca) and Ad26.COV2.S (Johnson&Johnson/Janssen) have shown to be effective and they are distributed globally, but reports on serious cerebral venous sinus thrombosis (CVST) associated with thrombocytopenia, have emerged. Our objective was to evaluate the background incidence of CVST with thrombocytopenia and to compare it to incidences following COVID-19 vaccines. We conducted a register-based nation-wide cohort study in Finland, including all 5.5 million individuals alive in Finland, 1 Jan 2020. COVID-19 vaccinations registered in the National Vaccination Register served as the exposure. We detected CVST admissions or hospital visits recorded in the hospital discharge register from Jan 1, 2020 through April 2, 2021. We confirmed the diagnosis of CVST and thrombocytopenia (platelet count <150,000 per cubic millimeter) using radiology reports and laboratory data. By Poisson regression, we compared the baseline incidences to the risks within four weeks after COVID-19 vaccinations. Out of the 167 CVST episodes identified in the registers, 117 were confirmed as CVST, 18 of which coincided with thrombocytopenia (baseline incidence 0.18 per 28 days per million persons). We found 2 episodes of CVST with thrombocytopenia within 28 days of the first ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccination (among 200,397 vaccinated, aged 16 or above). No cases were found following the first mRNA vaccine dose among 782,604 vaccinated. The background incidence of CVST combined with thrombocytopenia was minuscule compared to the incidence during the weeks following the ChAdOx1 nCov-19 vaccination. Accurate estimation of the baseline incidence is essential in the critical appraisal of the benefit-risk of any vaccination program.
Pattern of diseases and clinical outcomes in medical intensive care unit at a tertiary hospital in northeastern Tanzania: A three-year retrospective study
Authors: Sadiq Abid M. , Kilonzo Kajiru G.
Published: February 2023

Background

The availability of medical intensive care unit (MICU) services is limited, which is the main obstacle to providing optimal care to critically ill patients. Describing disease patterns and clinical outcomes will help make better use of the limited resources. This retrospective study was conducted to determine the pattern and outcome of MICU admissions to aid continuous quality improvement in obstetric care.

Materials and methods

This was a retrospective study conducted in a tertiary hospital in northeastern Tanzania. Data on participant characteristics were collected from patient records for all MICU admissions to identify the pattern of disease, length of stay, and clinical outcome from 1st January 2018 to 31st December 2020. Descriptive statistics were presented as frequencies, proportions, and tables. The odds ratio was generated for the relationship between MICU admission outcome and participant characteristics. A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Of the 1425 patients analyzed, 780 (54.7%) were males. Most patients (61.5%) were admitted to the MICU from the emergency department. The overall mortality rate was 37.6%. Mortality was associated with being over 75 years old (OR 1.66, 95% CI 1.20–2.30, P 0.002), being transferred from the medical ward (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.16–1.82, P 0.001), having a communicable disease (OR 2.63, 95% CI 1.98–3.50, P <0.001), and having cardiovascular disease (OR 1.46, 95% CI 1.14–1.86, P 0.002).

Conclusion

The overall mortality rate in the MICU was high. Elderly patients, transfers from the medical ward, and short ICU stays were significantly associated with the poor outcome of MICU patients. Further studies are needed to better appreciate the causes underlying MICU admission outcomes.
Development and validation of prediction models for the discharge destination of elderly patients with aspiration pneumonia
Authors: Hirota Yoshito , Shin Jung-ho , Sasaki Noriko , Kunisawa Susumu , Fushimi Kiyohide , Imanaka Yuichi
Published: February 2023

Background

Discharge planning enhances the safe and timely transfer of inpatients between facilities. Predicting the discharge destination of inpatients with aspiration pneumonia is important for discharge planning. We aimed to develop and validate prediction models for the discharge destination of elderly patients with aspiration pneumonia.

Methods

Using a nationwide inpatient database, we identified aspiration pneumonia cases for patients aged ≥65 years who had been admitted to hospital from their home or from a nursing home between April 2020 and March 2021. We divided the cases into derivation and validation cohorts according to the location of the admitting hospital. We developed two prediction models by dividing the cases based on the patient’s place of residence prior to admission, one model to predict the home discharge of cases admitted from home and the other to predict the home or to a nursing home discharge of cases admitted from a nursing home. The models were internally validated with bootstrapping and internal-externally validated using a validation cohort. Nomograms that could be used easily in clinical practice were also created.

Results

The derivation cohort included 19,746 cases admitted from home and 14,359 cases admitted from a nursing home. Of the former, 10,760 (54.5%) cases were discharged home; from the latter, 7,071 (49.2%) were discharged to either home or a nursing home. The validation cohort included 6,262 cases admitted from home and 6,352 cases admitted from a nursing home. In the internal-external validation, the C-statistics of the final model for the cases admitted from home and the cases admitted from a nursing home were 0.71 and 0.67, respectively.

Conclusions

We developed and validated new prediction models for the discharge of elderly patients with aspiration pneumonia either to home or to a nursing home. Our models and nomograms could facilitate the early implementation of discharge planning.
The association between serum albumin and long length of stay of patients with acute heart failure: A retrospective study based on the MIMIC-IV database
Authors: Liu Tao , Xuan Haochen , Wang Lili , Li Xiaoqun , Lu Zhihao , Tian Zhaoxuan , Chen Junhong , Wang Chaofan , Li Dongye , Xu Tongda
Published: February 2023

Background

The purpose of this article is to assess the relationship between serum albumin level and long length of stay (LOS) of inpatients with acute heart failure (AHF) in the intensive care unit (ICU).

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed data of 2280 patients with AHF from the medical information mart for intensive care IV (the MIMIC-IV) database. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to evaluate the association between serum albumin and long LOS, and the development of the predictive model was based on independent predictors of long LOS.

Results

According to the statistical results, A negative linear relationship was presented between albumin and long LOS of AHF patients in the ICU (P for trend <0.001), and serum albumin could predict long LOS (AUC 0.649, 95%CI 0.616–0.683, P <0.001). Based on independent predictors, including respiratory failure (OR 1.672, 95%CI 1.289–2.169, P<0.001), WBC (OR 1.046, 95%CI 1.031–1.061, P<0.001), creatinine (OR 1.221, 95%CI 1.098–1.257, P<0.001), glucose (OR 1.010, 95%CI 1.007–1.012, P<0.001), lactic acid (OR 1.269, 95%CI 1.167–1.381, P<0.001), and albumin (OR 0.559, 95%CI 0.450–0.695, P<0.001), identified by multivariable logistic regression analysis, we developed the nomogram to predict the probability of long LOS of AHF patients in the ICU. The nomogram accurately predicted the probability of long LOS (AUC 0.740, 95%CI 0.712–0.768, P<0.001). The calibration suggested the predictive probability was highly consistent with the actual probability of long LOS. Decision curve analysis (DCA) also suggested that the nomogram was applicable in the clinic.

Conclusion

Serum albumin level was negatively associated with LOS among AHF patients. The predictive model based on serum albumin has predictive value for evaluating the length of stay in AHF patients.
The performance of exceptional public buildings on social media–The case of Depot Boijmans
Authors: Alaily-Mattar Nadia , Arvanitakis Diane , Krohberger Hanna , Legner Lukas Franz , Thierstein Alain
Published: February 2023

Exceptional public buildings are buildings that are commissioned by public institutions with the deliberate and declared intention that they become icons. The recognisability of such buildings and their exposure to a wide audience can support the interests of their producers, who are keen on developing symbolic landmarks of their institutions. Textual and visual online communication can play an important role in boosting exposure and affecting how a building acquires iconic status. Content produced by social media users not only reflects how such buildings are perceived, it also goes on to affect how they perform, that is, what narratives they become associated with and how such association supports their transformation into icons. However, the role of content produced by different actors is unclear. In particular, what differences, similarities and influences exist between public/supply and private/user generated social media content particularly during the early life cycle of a building. This article presents a research methodology that can address these questions. Findings generated by applying this methodology on the case study of Depot Boijmans in the City of Rotterdam are presented. By scraping, filtering, organising and analysing content produced by Instagram users about the case study it was possible to show that that public/supply and private/user generated content converge independently. Textual analysis of posts uncovers an overwhelmingly neutral and positive sentiment in posts. Newness, iconicity and the novelty/firstness of the publicly- accessible- art- storage-concept emerge as central topics and are discussed in equal quantities on both the public and private actors. Post behaviour is characteristically different amongst actors, where public actors tell longer stories than private actors but both coinciding with events. The clustering of photographs of the building reveals a trend towards more than one point of interest. The results demonstrate that the exceptional building currently receives more attention on Instagram than the valuable masterpieces stored within it. This suggests the intended performance is achieved in the short term but its long-lasting effects and its assimilation to become an icon in the Museum Park or even the City of Rotterdam will be tested with time. It suggests the photograph itself becomes an actor in the creation of its iconic status in visual media platforms and recognises the agency of non-persons, and that Instagram is merely one of many (social) media platforms used to do so. This research offers methods and their applicability toward a catalogue for data analysis for architecture and urban studies related to the online performance of buildings.
Factors influencing frequency and severity of human-American black bear conflicts in New York, USA
Authors: Parchizadeh Jamshid , Kellner Kenneth F. , Hurst Jeremy E. , Kramer David W. , Belant Jerrold L.
Published: February 2023

Free-ranging large carnivores are involved in human-wildlife conflicts which can result in economic costs. Understanding factors that lead to human-wildlife conflicts is important to mitigate these negative effects and facilitate human-carnivore coexistence. We used a human-American black bear (Ursus americanus) conflict database maintained by the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation to determine whether drought, conflicts within the Adirondack and Catskill Parks as compared to outside of these parks, mild severity (Class 3) conflicts early in the year (April–June), and bear harvest in the previous year (as an index of bear abundance), were associated with greater frequency of high or moderate severity (Class 1–2) conflicts later in the year (July–September) across New York, USA. During 2006–2019, we obtained 3,782 mild severity conflict records early in the year, and 1,042 high or moderate severity records later in the year. We found that a one standard deviation increase in the cumulative precipitation difference from mean early in the year (about 7.59 cm) coincided with a 20% decrease in conflicts, and that Wildlife Management Units (WMUs) within the parks were predicted to have 5.61 times as many high or moderate severity conflicts as WMUs outside the parks. We also found that a one standard deviation increase in the frequency of mild severity conflicts (equivalent to 5.68 conflicts) early in the year coincided with an increase in the frequency of high or moderate severity conflicts in a WMU later in the year by 49%, while a one standard deviation increase in the bear abundance index in the previous year (0.14 bears/10 km2) coincided with a 23% increase in high or moderate severity conflicts. To reduce the frequency and severity of conflicts to facilitate human-black bear coexistence, we recommend the following measures to be taken in place consistently and build over time in local communities: (i) further reducing black bear access to anthropogenic foods and other attractants, (ii) non-lethal measures including bear-resistant waste management, (iii) electric fencing, and (iv) modifying placement or configuration of field crops.
Predictive value of heart rate variability on long-term mortality in end-stage kidney disease on hemodialysis
Authors: Osataphan Nichanan , Wongcharoen Wanwarang , Phrommintikul Arintaya , Putchagarn Phasakorn , Noppakun Kajohnsak
Published: February 2023

Autonomic disturbance is common in end-stage kidney disease (ESKD). Heart rate variability (HRV) is a useful tool to assess autonomic function. We aimed to evaluate the predictive value of HRV on all-cause mortality and explore the proper timing of HRV assessment. This prospective cohort study enrolled 163 ESKD on hemodialysis patients from April-December 2018. HRV measurements were recorded ten minutes before hemodialysis, four hours during hemodialysis, and ten minutes after hemodialysis. Clinical parameters and all-cause mortality were recorded. Cox-proportional hazard regression was used for statistical analysis. After a median follow up of 40 months, 37 (22.7%) patients died. Post-dialysis HRV parameters including higher very low frequency (VLF) (hazard ratio [HR], 0.881; 95%confidence interval [CI], 0.828–0.937; p<0.001), higher normalized low frequency (nLF) (HR, 0.950; 95%CI, 0.917–0.984; p = 0.005) and higher LF/HF ratio (HR, 0.232; 95%CI, 0.087–0.619; p = 0.004) were the independent predictors associated with lower risk for all-cause mortality. Higher post-dialysis normalized high frequency (nHF) increased risk of mortality (HR, 1.051; 95%CI, 1.015–1.089; p = 0.005). HRV parameters at pre-dialysis and during dialysis were not predictive for all-cause mortality. The area under receiver operating characteristic curve (AuROC) of VLF for survival was highest compared to other HRV parameters at post-dialysis period (AuROC 0.71; 95% CI; 0.62–0.79; p<0.001). In conclusion, post-dialysis HRV parameters predicted all-cause mortaliy in ESKD. VLF measured at post-dialysis exhibited best predictive value for survival in chronic hemodialysis patients.
Caizhixuan hair tonic regulates both apoptosis and the PI3K/Akt pathway to treat androgenetic alopecia
Authors: Fang Tingting , Xu Ruofei , Sun Shaopeng , He Yineng , Yan Yi , Fu Hongyang , Luo Hongbin , Cao Yi , Tao Maocan
Published: February 2023

Purpose

Caizhixuan hair tonic (CZX) is a topical traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) preparation for the treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). However, its active compounds and underlying mechanism for treating AGA are still unclear. The purpose of this study was to observe the effects of CZX on hair growth promotion in AGA mice and to explore the active components and mechanism.

Methods

Testosterone propionate was administered subcutaneously to mice to establish an AGA mouse model. The therapeutic effects of CZX on AGA were evaluated by observing skin colour changes, hair growth time, and average hair length; calculating the hair growth score; and performing skin histopathological analysis. Following that, CZX chemical components were analysed by ultra-high-performance liquid chromatography-quadrupole-time-of-flight mass spectrometry (UPLC–Q–TOF/MS). Network pharmacology was used to predict the major effects and possible mechanisms of CZX for the treatment of AGA. Furthermore, RT-qPCR and Western blotting were performed to assess the expression of key genes and proteins involved in PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways in order to validate CZX’s predicted mechanism in AGA.

Results

CZX promoted hair growth and improved the pathological morphology of hair follicles in the skin. In UPLC–Q–TOF/MS analysis, 69 components from CZX were isolated. Based on network pharmacology, CZX alleviated AGA by regulating PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways. According to RT-qPCR and Western blotting, CZX upregulated the expressions of PI3K, Akt, and Bcl-2, while downregulating that of Bax and caspase-3.

Conclusions

CZX promotes hair growth to treat AGA by regulating the PI3K/Akt and apoptosis pathways.
Inclusion for all; all for inclusion
Authors: Mantie Roger
Published: February 2023

The title of this editorial speaks to the aspirational goal of inclusion for proponents and practitioners of community music. Inspired by feminist care ethics, Janelize Morelli’s article connects care with love, compassion and Lee Higgins’s oft-cited concept of hospitality. Seán Doherty’s article provides a personalized insight into a composer’s struggles to reconcile conservatory-trained musical thinking with the participatory goal of promoting social inclusion for asylum seekers in Ireland. Lotte Latukefu and Irina Verenikina’s article extends the dialogue on street music by describing the informal learning efforts by the Australian organizers of HONK! Oz. The articles ‘The CI Music Hour’ and ’Exploring approaches to community music delivery by practitioners with and without additional support needs’ address inclusion more directly – the former through a study of the experiences of those with cochlear implants, the latter by interrogating the possibilities of including those with additional support needs as leaders, not just as followers. Finally, Karl Gunther’s article considers the historical practice of auditions for community choirs.
A street music festival: Informal learning perspectives
Authors: Latukefu Lotte , Verenikina Irina
Published: February 2023

Community music forges relationships and interactions between people and the location they live. Previous research into community music and learning demonstrate that these social interactions can in turn lead to informal life-long learning. This article reports on learning perspectives of festival participants and organizers, of the HONK! Oz Street Music Festival. The data revealed that many participants noted an increase in their understanding and ability to improvise, play tunes in genres outside of their previous experience and play their instruments more freely due to the nature of mobile street music. Specifically, they talked about how the pre-festival workshops, which were an innovative feature of these festivals, helped them to meet and interact with other musicians at the festival and helped them to improve their understanding of how to play street music.
The CI Music Hour: Building community and promoting well-being through music appreciation
Authors: Kovach Chrysa , Papadopoulos Julianne , Ilari Beatriz , Goldsworthy Ray
Published: February 2023

The Cochlear Implant (CI) Music Hour is a weekly music appreciation session hosted by a major university in the United States. Led by researchers in music and audiology, the CI Music Hour combines research and community engagement. This study primarily examined the relationship between involvement in the CI Music Hour, musicianship and general well-being of its participants during its two years of existence. A second aim was to uncover resources, learning environments and relationships that our community members found meaningful in the CI Music Hour. In this mixed methods study, we collected qualitative data from weekly CI Music Hour observations and in-depth interviews, and quantitative data in the form of a self-report on musicianship from sixteen community members. Findings were analysed using Martin Seligman’s five categories of well-being, along with an additional category for negative emotions from the PERMA (Positive Emotions, Engagement, Relationships, Meaning, and Accomplishment)-profiler. Our findings suggest that although experiences and levels of musicianship varied, instances of negative emotions were counterbalanced with positive experiences identified in Seligman’s well-being theory. Many of these experiences were the direct result of music making within a group setting and building connections with fellow CI users, thus indicating a benefit to participating in the CI Music Hour.
Inclusion, auditions and American community choirs: A historical inquiry
Authors: Gunther Karl
Published: February 2023

This article brings a historical perspective to the study of inclusion and exclusion in American community music ensembles. Focusing specifically on community choirs and using Miami, Florida, as a case study, it traces the history of audition practices in the city’s community choirs, beginning at Miami’s founding in 1896 and ending at the present day. It shows that auditions have been a common, although not universal, practice among Miami’s community choirs and it identifies a trend in recent decades away from holding auditions. By offering a detailed historical account of community choirs’ various exclusive and inclusive practices, it prompts present-day community music scholars, facilitators and participants to reflect on the complex and multi-faceted nature of inclusion in community music.
Replies to critics
Authors: FRICKER Miranda
Published: February 2023

Replies
Some Trends in the Philosophy of Physics
Authors: Zinkernagel Henrik
Published: February 2023

A short review of some recent developments in the philosophy of physics is presented. I focus on themes which illustrate relations and points of common interest between philosophy of physics and three of its `neighboring' elds: Physics, metaphysics and general philosophy of science. The main examples discussed in these three `border areas' are (i) decoherence and the interpretation of quantum mechanics; (ii) time in physics and metaphysics; and (iii)methodological issues surrounding the multiverse idea in modern cosmology.
Suppes' Methodology of Economics
Authors: García de la Sienra Adolfo
Published: February 2023

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Argumentation, Arguing, and Arguments: Comments on Giving Reasons
Authors: Biro John , Siegel Harvey
Published: February 2023

While we applaud several aspects of Lilian Bermejo-Luque's novel theory of argumentation and especially welcome its epistemological dimensions, in this discussion we raise doubts about her conception of argumentation, her account of argumentative goodness, and her treatments of the notion of "giving reasons" and of justification.
Cooperation and trust in conversational exchanges
Authors: FAULKNER Paul
Published: February 2023

A conversation is more than a series of disconnected remarks because it is conducted against a background presumption of cooperation. But what makes it reasonable to presume that one is engaged in a conversation? What makes it reasonable to presume cooperation? This paper considers Grice's two ways of answering this question and argues for the one he discarded. It does so by means of considering a certain problem and analysis of trust.
Selección interna: el control de la filogenia por la ontogenia en una perspectiva variacional
Authors: Caponi Gustavo
Published: February 2023

La idea de selección interna, propuesta originalmente por Lancelot Whyte, no sólo sirve para entender el papel causal que los constreñimientos del desarrollo tienen en evolución; sino que además puede hacernos comprender de qué modo esos factores organísmicos o internos, cuya importancia la Biología Evolucionaria del Desarrollo hoy quiere rescatar, son pasibles de ser considerados desde una perspectiva variacional o seleccional compatible, pero no asimilable, a la Teoría de la Selección Natural. Así, considerado como un concepto autónomo y diferente al de selección natural, el concepto de selección interna puede permitirnos comprender de qué modo eso que Wallace Arthur llama developmental bias constituye una causa, efectiva y positiva, de transformaciones evolutivas irreversibles y acumulables.The idea of internal selection, originally proposed by Lancelot Whyte, not only helps to understand the causal role that the developmental constraints have in evoltion, but it can also show how these organismic or internal factors, which relevancy the Evolutionary Developmental Biology remarks today, can be considered from a variational or selectional perspective that is compatible with, but not reducible to, Natural Selection Theory. Thus, being considered as a concept autonomous and different from natural selection, the concept of internal selection can allow us to understand how that phenomenon that Wallace Arthur calls developmental bias constitutes an effective and positive cause of irreversible and cumulative evolutionary changes.
Computational Semantics
Authors: Blackburn Patrick , Bos Johan
Published: February 2023

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Which Modal Models are the Right Ones (for Logical Necessity)?
Authors: Burgess John P.
Published: February 2023

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La lógica que aprendimos
Authors: Alonso Enrique , Marraud Huberto
Published: February 2023

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Logical Consequence for Nominalists
Authors: Rossberg Marcus , Cohnitz Daniel
Published: February 2023

It is often claimed that nominalistic programmes to reconstruct mathematics fail, since they will
at some point involve the notion of logical consequence which is unavailable to the nominalist.
In this paper we use an idea of Goodman and Quine to develop a nominalistically acceptable explication
of logical consequence.
Abductive Reasoning: Challenges Ahead
Authors: Aliseda Atocha
Published: February 2023

The purpose of this piece is to provide a critical analysis on some key aspects of abduction, as conceived by several researchers through my book Abductive Reasoning. These contributions raise fundamental questions concerning the conjectural character of abduction, its psychological status, its logical and computational structure as well as its role as inference to the best explanation and as a process of epistemic change.
Ignorance and Semantic Tableaux: Aliseda on Abduction
Authors: Woods John
Published: February 2023

This is an examination of similarities and differences between Atocha Aliseda's semantic tableaux analysis of abduction and Dov Gabbay's and the present author's ignorance-preservation model of it. Also discussed is the suitability of these models for the analysis of the logical structure of legal reasoning.
Particularity and Reflexivity in the Intentional Content of Perception
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ PRAT Olga
Published: February 2023

A significant part of perception is characterized by awareness of particular objects. Two ways of making precise this intuition have been proposed (Searle vs. Evans, Campbell and others). The dispute's argumentative context is reconstructed and a proposal is advanced that may be regarded as a compromise between the contenders.
Memory and Perception: Remembering Snowflake
Authors: FERNÁNDEZ Jordi
Published: February 2023

Memories have the power to elicit certain beliefs in us. These are beliefs about time and beliefs about perception. The aim of this paper is to propose a notion of mnemonic content that can account for the rationality of forming those beliefs on the basis of our memories.
Defending the structural concept of representation
Authors: BARTELS Andreas
Published: February 2023

The paper defends the structural concept of representation, defined by homomorphisms, against the main objections that have been raised against it: Logical objections, the objection from misrepresentation, the objection from failing necessity, and the copy theory objection. Homomorphic representations are not necessarily 'copies' of their representanda, and thus can convey scientific insight.
Scientific Theories as Intervening Representations
Authors: IBARRA Andoni , MORMANN Thomas
Published: February 2023

In this paper we use some ideas of Hertz and Duhem to propose a new concept of representation that overcomes the dichotomy between representation and intervention. It is based on the category-theoretical notion of adjoint situations and is used to explain the relation between empirical facts and theoretical laws in a new way.
There Is No Special Problem About Scientific Representation
Authors: CALLENDER Craig , COHEN Jonathan
Published: February 2023

We propose that scientific representation is a special case of a more general notion of representation, and that the relatively well worked-out and plausible theories of the latter are directly applicable to the scientific special case.
Signs, figures and time: Cavaillès on "intuition" in mathematics
Authors: CASSOU-NOGUÈS Pierre
Published: February 2023

This paper is concerned with Cavaillès' account of "intuition" in mathematics. Cavaillès starts from Kant's theory of constructions in intuition and then relies on various remarks by Hilbert to apply it to modern mathematics.
Newton and Leibniz on Non-substantival Space
Authors: CASSINI Alejandro
Published: February 2023

According to their own concepts of substance, both Newton's and Leibniz' spaces are not substantival. The reason of that consists in the fact that space is not capable of action. However, space is relational because their parts are individuated only by means of their mutual relations.
Does probabilism solve the great quantum mystery?
Authors: MAXWELL Nicholas
Published: February 2023

I put forward a micro realistic, probabilistic version of quantum theory, which specifies the precise nature of quantum entities thus solving the quantum wave/particle dilemma, and which both reproduces the empirical success of orthodox quantum theory, and yields predictions that differ from orthodox quantum theory for as yet unperformed experiments.
Fictional Reports A Study on the Semantics of Fictional Names
Authors: Salis Fiora
Published: February 2023

Against standard descriptivist and referentialist semantics for fictional reports, I will defend a view according to which fictional names do not refer yet they can be distinguished from one another by virtue of their different name-using practices. The logical structures of sentences containing fictional names inherit these distinctions. Different interpretations follow.
Learning and Selection Processes
Authors: Artiga Marc
Published: February 2023

In this paper I defend a teleological explanation of normativity, i. e., I argue that what an organism (or device) is supposed to do is determined by its etiological function. In particular, I present a teleological account of the normativity that arises in learning processes, and I defend it from some objections.