bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Associations of 50 modifiable risk factors with atrial fibrillation using Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Zhang Zhuxin , Li Le , Zhang Zhenhao , Hu Zhao , Xiong Yulong , Zhou Likun , Yao Yan
Published: March 2024

Background

Substantial focus has been placed on atrial fibrillation (AF) treatment and associated stroke prevention rather than preventing AF itself. We employed Mendelian randomization (MR) approach to examine the causal relationships between 50 modifiable risk factors (RFs) and AF.

Methods

Instrumental variables for genetically predicted exposures were derived from corresponding genome‐wide association studies (GWASs). Summary‐level statistical data for AF were obtained from a GWAS meta‐analysis (discovery dataset, N = 1,030,836) and FinnGen (validation dataset, N = 208,594). Univariable and multivariable MR analyses were performed, primarily using inverse variance weighted method with a series of robust sensitivity analyses.

Results

Genetic predisposition to insomnia, daytime naps, apnea, smoking initiation, moderate to vigorous physical activity and obesity traits, including body mass index, waist–hip ratio, central and peripheral fat/fat‐free mass, exhibited significant associations with an increased risk of AF. Coffee consumption and ApoB had suggestive increased risks. Hypertension (odds ratio (OR) 95% confidence interval (CI): 5.26 (4.42, 6.24)), heart failure (HF) (OR 95% CI, 4.77 (2.43, 9.37)) and coronary artery disease (CAD) (OR 95% CI: 1.20 (1.16, 1.24)) were strongly associated with AF, while college degree, higher education attachment and HDL levels were associated with a decreased AF risk. Reverse MR found a bidirectional relationship between genetically predicted AF and CAD, HF and ischemic stroke. Multivariable analysis further indicated that obesity‐related traits, systolic blood pressure and lower HDL levels independently contributed to the development of AF.

Conclusions

This study identified several lifestyles and cardiometabolic factors that might be causally related to AF, underscoring the importance of a holistic approach to AF management and prevention.
Privacy regulation and firm performance: Estimating the GDPR effect globally
Authors: Frey Carl Benedikt , Presidente Giorgio
Published: March 2024

This paper examines how privacy regulation shaped firm performance. Controlling for firm and country‐industry‐year unobserved characteristics, we compare the outcomes of firms at different levels of exposure to EU markets, before and after the enforcement of the General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) in 2018. We find that the GDPR had the unintended consequence of harming the profitability of companies targeting European consumers through the cost channel. Technology firms experienced a 2.1% decline in profits, but not in sales. The GDPR increased extra expenses, added to firms wage bills, and accelerated patenting in GDPR‐related technology fields. The main burdens have been borne by smaller companies.
The effect of water turbidity on prey consumption and female feeding patterns in African turquoise killifish
Authors: Žák Jakub , Šuhajová Pavlína
Published: March 2024

Water turbidity alters prey detectability and prey selection by a predator. In dimorphic mesopredators, the effect of water turbidity on foraging success may be sex specific, primarily due to sex differences in reproductive allotment, body size and vulnerability to predation. To experimentally test the effect of turbidity on prey consumption with respect to sex, we used turquoise killifish (Nothobranchius furzeri), a small fish from ephemeral savanna pools in southeast Africa that vary widely in turbidity. Large males possess conspicuous nuptial coloration while females are smaller and drab. Vision is assumed to be a fundamental sense for turquoise killifish, despite often living in very turbid water. As mesopredators, killifish regulate the invertebrate community in ephemeral pools. We tested the consumption of bloodworms (benthic and red‐coloured) and glassworms (pelagic and transparent) under clear (<1NTU) and turbid (320 NTU) water conditions. We found that turquoise killifish maintained their overall foraging success irrespective of turbidity. In both the clear and turbid water, the females consumed three times more food than males relative to their body mass. This likely stems from the females' high nutritional demands due to daily reproduction. It also suggests that females are not risk‐aversive in clear water despite their smaller size. Water turbidity affected the type of prey consumed by turquoise killifish and demonstrated its potential to affect the community structure of invertebrate species in ephemeral pools.
Effectiveness of virtual reality interactive simulation practice in prosthodontic education: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Mai Hang‐Nga , Ngo Hien Chi , Cho Seok‐Hwan , Duong Chau Pham , Mai Hai Yen , Lee Du‐Hyeong
Published: March 2024

Introduction

Virtual reality‐based interactive simulation (VRIS) provides a safe and controlled environment for dental students and professionals to develop skills and knowledge. This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of using the VRIS for prosthodontic practice and to explore the trends, application areas, and users' attitudes towards VRIS.

Materials and Methods

This review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines for searching studies published until 21 March 2023 that reported quantitative or qualitative learning outcomes related to the use of VRIS for dental prosthodontic practice and clinical training. The quality of the included studies was assessed using the Medical Education Research Study Quality Instrument (MERSQI) and Newcastle–Ottawa Scale‐Education (NOS‐E) tools. A random‐effects meta‐analysis was conducted to compare the intervention group (utilizing VRIS) and the control group (employing conventional prosthodontic training methods) based on performance skill scores and task completion time, with a significance level set at <.05.

Results

The meta‐analysis revealed that the utilization of VRIS generally improves students' performance scores (SMD = 1.04; 95% CI, −0.35 to 2.44; I2 > 50%; p = .13) and reduces task completion time (SMD = −0.03; 95% CI, 1.39–7.72; I2 > 50%; p = .93). Notably, using VRIS significantly enhanced the performance scores in implant surgery practice (SMD = 0.26; 95% CI, 0.09–0.42; p < .05). Additionally, the VRIS method significantly reduced task completion time in the cavity restorative preparation task (SMD = −1.19; 95% CI, −1.85 to −0.53; p < .05).

Conclusion

Engaging in practice with VRIS has the potential to enhance learning proficiency in prosthodontic education. The advantages associated with VRIS encompass the provision of immediate feedback, decreased task completion time, heightened confidence and motivation, accelerated skill acquisition, improved performance scores, and increased learning engagement.
Relationship between stable management practices and ocular disease in horses
Authors: Ludwig Claire , Barr Erin , Gilger Brian C.
Published: March 2024

Background

Ocular diseases are common in horses and their occurrence is frequently associated with trauma.

Objectives

This study aimed to evaluate how stable management practices, such as environment, feeding or use of fly masks, are related to the development of eye diseases, primarily corneal ulceration, in horses.

Study design

A survey of horse owners in the state of North Carolina was conducted and owners were asked how they managed their horses and the types of eye diseases the horses experienced.

Methods

Data collected included the primary environment of the horse (stable or pasture), type and method of feeding of hay, use of fly masks and eye diseases that the horses have developed. Correlations between management practices and eye disease were then performed.

Results

Of 446 horses, 161 (36% of total) had been diagnosed with a corneal ulcer, 44 (10%) had multiple occurrences of corneal ulcers, 65 [15%] horses had uveitis and 15 (3%) had immune‐mediated keratitis. Horses that were kept at pasture exclusively were significantly less likely to have had a corneal ulcer than horses kept in a combination of pasture and stalls (p = 0.04). Horses that wore the fly masks year‐round (p < 0.0001) and wore fly masks in both the pasture and stall (p = 0.01) were significantly more likely to have been diagnosed with multiple occurrences of corneal ulcers. There was no significant correlation between types of hay (p = 0.59) or how hay was fed (p = 0.49) with the occurrence of corneal ulceration or other ocular diseases.

Main limitations

Results were based on horse owner responses and not medical professionals.

Conclusions

Horses kept primarily at pasture have fewer ocular diseases, likely because they sustain less ocular trauma compared to horses kept in stables. How hay is fed does not correlate with the incidence of corneal or other ocular disease.
The cross‐linking between DNA damage, oxidative stress and epidermal barrier in keratinocytes after exposure to particulate matters and carbon black
Authors: Tang Jie , Diao Ping , Pan Weixi , Li Li , Xiong Lidan
Published: March 2024

As the largest organ, the skin provides the first line of defence against environmental pollutants. Different pollutants have varied damage to the skin due to their own physical–chemical properties. A previous epidemiological study by our team revealed that eczema was positively correlated with different air pollutants. However, the mechanism of action from different pollutants on the skin is less known. In this work, the differences among the genotoxicity, intracellular reactive oxygen species, and barrier‐related parameters caused by two kinds of air pollutants, that is, S1650b and carbon black (CB) were investigated by Western blot, TUNEL, comet assay and RNA‐sequences. The results indicated that both S1650b and CB caused DNA damage of keratinocytes. With the content of lipophilic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), S1650b leaked into the keratinocytes easily, which activated the aromatic hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) in keratinocytes, leading to worse damage to barrier‐related proteins than CB. And CB‐induced higher intracellular ROS than S1650b due to the smaller size which make it enter the keratinocytes easier. RNA‐sequencing results revealed that S1650b and CB both caused DNA damage of keratinocytes, and the intervention of S1650b significantly upregulated AhR, cytochrome oxidase A1 and B1 (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1) genes, while the results showed oppositely after CB intervention. The mechanism of keratinocyte damage caused by different air particle pollutants in this study will help to expand our understanding on the air pollutant‐associated skin disease at cell levels.
Satisfaction with a meal kit delivery program and feasibility of a phase I trial in the intervening in food insecurity to reduce and mitigate (InFoRM) childhood obesity study
Authors: Wu Allison J. , Huggins Marissa , Lin Hsin‐Tao Grace , Caballero‐Gonzalez Arlette , Dalvie Nisha , Battista Erica Di , Taveras Elsie M. , Fiechtner Lauren
Published: March 2024

Background

Food and nutrition security interventions have been demonstrated to optimize health, prevent and treat chronic diseases among adult populations. Despite the increasing prevalence and intersection of food insecurity and childhood obesity in the United States, there are few food and nutrition security interventions targeted to children and families.

Objectives

The primary purpose of this phase I randomized, crossover trial was to assess the safety, acceptability and satisfaction of a meal kit delivery program among children with obesity living in households with food insecurity. Secondarily, we assessed the feasibility of our study design, recruitment and retention to inform future larger scale trials.

Methods

We delivered 6 weeks of healthy meal kits, which included fresh pre‐portioned ingredients and simple picture‐based recipes (two recipes/week) in English or Spanish to prepare one‐pot, under 30‐min meals (after preparation ~ 10 servings/week).

Results

Caregivers received and prepared the meal kits and reported overall satisfaction with the meal kit delivery program.

Conclusion

A meal kit delivery intervention for children with obesity and food insecurity is acceptable and a phase I randomized, crossover trial is feasible.
Eutectoid decompositions in Ce‐containing ABO3 perovskites: Part II, the case of divorced growth in CeCrO3
Authors: Johnston‐Peck Aaron C. , Biacchi Adam J. , Maier Russell A.
Published: March 2024

A eutectoid phase transformation was exhibited by the perovskite CeCrO3 when heated in air. The kinetics of the reaction, microstructure of the product, and mechanisms of the transformation were studied using thermogravimetric analysis, X‐ray and Raman spectroscopy, X‐ray diffraction, and electron microscopy. Fluorite CeO2 and corundum Cr2O3 were formed from the decomposition of CeCrO3. The CeO2 particles were porous and polycrystalline, a consequence of nucleation, growth, and impingent of CeO2 domains on the CeCrO3 particles. Anisotropic growth is indicated by the morphology of the CeO2 grains, while the Cr2O3 particles were single crystals without any crystallographic orientation relationship to the parent phase. Unlike the CeAlO3 eutectoid, the microstructure comprised of CeO2 and Cr2O3 show no characteristics of a microstructure formed by cooperative growth. The disparity between the eutectoid reactions in CeCrO3 and CeAlO3 is attributed to a difference in interfacial energy between the fluorite and sesquioxide phases (i.e., CeO2/Al2O3 versus CeO2/Cr2O3).
Explaining trace‐based learner profiles with self‐reports: The added value of psychological networks
Authors: Jovanovic Jelena , Gašević Dragan , Yan Lixiang , Baker Graham , Murray Andrew , Gasevic Danijela
Published: March 2024

Background

Learner profiles detected from digital trace data are typically triangulated with survey data to explain those profiles based on learners' internal conditions (e.g., motivation). However, survey data are often analysed with limited consideration of the interconnected nature of learners' internal conditions.

Objectives

Aiming to enable a thorough understanding of trace‐based learner profiles, this paper presents and evaluates a comprehensive approach to analysis of learners' self‐reports, which extends conventional statistical methods with psychological networks analysis.

Methods

The study context is a massive open online course (MOOC) aimed at promoting physical activity (PA) for health. Learners' (N = 497) perceptions related to PA, as well as their self‐efficacy and intentions to increase the level of PA were collected before and after the MOOC, while their interactions with the course were logged as digital traces. Learner profiles derived from trace data were further examined and interpreted through a combined use of conventional statistical methods and psychological networks analysis.

Results and Conclusions

The inclusion of psychological networks in the analysis of learners' self‐reports collected before the start of the MOOC offers better understanding of trace‐based learner profiles, compared to the conventional statistical analysis only. Likewise, the combined use of conventional statistical methods and psychological networks in the analysis of learners' self‐reports before and after the MOOC provided more comprehensive insights about changes in the constructs measured in each learner profile.

Major Takeaways

The combined use of conventional statistical methods and psychological networks presented in this paper sets a path for a comprehensive analysis of survey data. The insights it offers complement the information about learner profiles derived from trace data, thus allowing for a more thorough understanding of learners' course engagement than any individual method or data source would allow.
Indonesian COVID‐19 lesson: A mixed‐methods study on adolescent health status and health services during pandemic
Authors: Khuzaiyah Siti , Adnani Qorinah Estiningtyas Sakilah , Muthoharoh Ainun , Chabibah Nur , Widyastuti Windha , Susiatmi Sandi Ari , Zuhana Nina , Ersila Wahyu , Barach Paul , Lee Ka Yiu
Published: March 2024

Topic

The COVID‐19 pandemic affected adolescents' physical and psychological health. There must be specific services to cater to the needs of adolescents during COVID‐19 in Indonesia. Lessons learned from previous pandemics will be beneficial for nurses and other health professionals to prepare services for future pandemics.

Purpose

This mixed‐method study aimed to examine 459 Indonesian adolescents' health, literacy, preventive measures, and preferred health services during the COVID‐19 pandemic. This study also examines sociodemographics, respondent characteristics, health information sources, and media choices.

Results

A total of 47.5% of adolescents knew about COVID‐19, 26.8% experienced physical health changes, and 61.7% considered wearing masks. Adolescent health information came from teachers (26.6%) and the Internet (32.9%). Psychological changes showed 67.8% irritation. Indonesians preferred online counseling (53.8%) and WhatsApp (45.8%) for pandemic health services. COVID‐19 literacy did not affect physical or mental health (p > 0.05).

Conclusions

Most adolescents reported mental and physical health changes during COVID‐19. Our data suggest that adolescents' strong COVID−19 knowledge did not prevent anxiety and other psychological difficulties. The longitudinal studies could be utilized if pandemic demands social and physical distance. The government, as well as nurses, might utilize WhatsApp‐based remote online treatment for health services.
Business Power and the Geoeconomic Turn in the Single European Market
Authors: Eckert Sandra
Published: March 2024

Building on the existing literature on business power that has evolved against the background of a liberal economic world order, this article develops a novel analytical framework to capture business strategies in an altered, geoeconomic context. It addresses the research question whether and how business power has been affected by the more recent turn of European policy‐makers to adopt geoeconomic measures in response to external geopoliticising pressures. The relevance of these categories for analysis is illustrated by discussing recent cases of business lobbying on the EU's geoeconomic agenda, as well as business responses to the sanctions imposed on Russia following its invasion of Ukraine. These illustrative examples show that whilst most business actors have adapted their strategies, there are also cases where business actors adhere to and defend the status quo. The article prepares the ground for further research on the understudied consequences of the geoeconomic turn for business power.
Mathematical modeling of apparent specific heat capacity of channel catfish with different microwave heating time
Authors: Li Xuhai , Yang Lifeng , Wang Lan , Wu Wenjing , Zhou Zhi , Luo Hongyu , Shi Liu , Xiong Guangquan
Published: March 2024

Channel catfish fillets with different microwave heating times were evaluated by differential scanning calorimetry and low‐field nuclear magnetic resonance to build suitable modeling of apparent specific heat capacity (Cp) ranging from −60 to 90°C (except the obvious phase change region from −20 to 20°C). The content of bound water (Wb), immobilized water (Wi), and free water (Wf) were weighted and calculated. According to non‐linear fitting of experimental data, the obtained empirical equation of Cp, temperature (T), Wb, Wi, and Wf of samples was:. The equation was in good correlation (R2 > 0.95) with the experiment data and could provide a basis for improvement of processing parameters.
Melatonin does not reduce delirium severity in hospitalized older adults: Results of a randomized placebo‐controlled trial
Authors: Lange Peter W. , Turbić Alisa , Soh Cheng Hwee , Clayton‐Chubb Daniel , Lim Wen Kwang , Conyers Rachel , Watson Rosie , Maier Andrea B.
Published: March 2024

Background

Delirium is common in older inpatients, causing distress, cognitive decline, and death. Current therapies are unsatisfactory, limited by lack of efficacy and adverse effects. There is an urgent need for effective delirium treatment. Sleep wake cycle is disturbed in delirium; endogenous Melatonin is perturbed, and exogenous Melatonin is a safe and effective medication for sleep disorders.

This study aims to determine the effect of oral Melatonin 5 mg immediate release (IR) nightly for five nights on the severity of delirium in older (≥65 years) medical inpatients.

Methods

This was a double‐blinded, randomized controlled trial in general internal medicine units of a tertiary teaching hospital.

Older inpatients with Confusion Assessment Method positive, hyperactive or mixed delirium within 48 h of admission or onset of in‐hospital delirium were included. The primary outcome was change in delirium severity measured with the Memorial Delirium Assessment Scale (MDAS).

A previous pilot trial showed 120 participants randomized 1:1 to Melatonin or Placebo would provide 90% power to demonstrate a 3‐point reduction in the MDAS.

Results

One hundred and twenty participants were randomized, 61 to Melatonin 5 mg and 59 to Placebo. The medication was well tolerated. The mean MDAS improvement was 4.9 (SD 7.6) in the Melatonin group and 5.4 (SD 7.2) in the Placebo group, p‐value 0.42, a non‐significant difference. A post‐hoc analysis showed length of stay (LOS) was shorter in the intervention group (median 9 days [Interquartile Range (IQR) 4, 12] vs. Placebo group 10 [IQR 6, 16] p‐value = 0.033, Wilcoxon Rank Sum test).

Conclusions

This trial does not support the hypothesis that Melatonin reduces the severity of delirium. This may be due to no effect of Melatonin, a smaller effect than anticipated, an effect not captured on a multidimensional delirium assessment scale, or a type II statistical error. Melatonin may improve LOS; this hypothesis should be studied.
Diversity and limitations of electroencephalogram and event‐related potential applications in nursing research: A scoping review
Authors: Hu Huiling , Wu Bilin , Li Huijun , Wang Binlin , Wu Xue
Published: March 2024

Aims

This scoping review was conducted to provide a comprehensive summary of how electroencephalogram (EEG) and event‐related potentials (ERPs) have been used in nursing research, with the goal of mapping the themes and methods of nursing research involving EEGs or ERPs as a measurement tool.

Methods

The eligibility criteria were determined according to the Population, Concept, and Context principle. A systematic electronic search of articles in the PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, and Scopus databases was carried out for the period from database establishment to November 21, 2022. The included studies were analyzed using descriptive statistics and content analysis.

Results

The review process culminated in 45 articles, evidencing an increasing trend and dispersion characteristics of EEG in nursing research and reflecting five thematic domains of inquiry related to nursing. There was a deficiency of detailed reports of EEG recording and data analysis parameters in nursing research. The common EEG bands in nursing research were Delta, Theta, Alpha, Beta, Gamma. The ERP components used frequently were P3, P2, N1, N2, P1, N170, and feedback‐related negativity.

Conclusions

The wide variety of EEG components used show broad potential for studying nursing questions. In the future, it will be necessary to increase the depth of the research content, the repeatability of the experiment and the standardization of the report. Nursing researchers should give full play to the characteristics of nursing and establish a systematic and complete EEG research system for nursing.
Using the traditional microscope for mineral grain orientation determination: A prototype image analysis pipeline for optic‐axis mapping (POAM)
Authors: Acevedo Zamora Marco Andres , Schrank Christoph Eckart , Kamber Balz Samuel
Published: March 2024

This paper reports on the development of an open‐source image analysis software ‘pipeline’ dedicated to petrographic microscopy. Using conventional rock thin sections and images from a standard polarising microscope, the pipeline can classify minerals and subgrains into objects and obtain information about optic‐axis orientation. Five metamorphic rocks were chosen to test and illustrate the method. Thin sections were imaged using reflected and cross‐ and plane‐polarised transmitted light. Images were taken at different angles of the polariser and analyser (360° with 10° steps), both with and without the full‐lambda plate. The resulting image stacks were analysed with a modular pipeline for optic‐axis mapping (POAM). POAM consists of external and internal software packages that register, segment, classify, and interpret the visible light spectra using object‐based image analysis (OBIAS). The mapped fields‐of‐view and grain orientation stereonets of interest are presented in the context of whole‐slide images.

Two innovations are reported. First, we used hierarchical tree region merging on blended multimodal images to classify individual grains of rock‐forming minerals into objects. Second, we assembled a new optical mineralogy algorithm chain that identifies the mineral slow axis orientation. The c‐axis orientation results were verified with scanning electron microscopy electron backscattered diffraction (SEM‐EBSD) data. For quartz (uniaxial) in a granite mylonite the test yielded excellent correspondence of c‐axis azimuth and good agreement for inclination. For orthorhombic orthopyroxene in a deformed garnet harzburgite, POAM produced acceptable results for slow axis azimuth. In addition, the method identified slight anisotropy in garnet that would not be appreciated by traditional microscopy.

We propose that our method is ideally suited for two commonly performed tasks in mineralogy. First, for mineral grain classification of entire thin sections scans on blended images to provide automated modal abundance estimates and grain size distribution. Second, for prospective fields of view of interest, POAM can rapidly generate slow axis crystal orientation maps from multiangle image stacks on conventionally prepared thin sections for targeting detailed SEM‐EBSD studies.
Measuring “Dark Matter” in Asset Pricing Models
Authors: CHEN HUI , DOU WINSTON WEI , KOGAN LEONID
Published: March 2024

We formalize the concept of “dark matter” in asset pricing models by quantifying the additional informativeness of cross‐equation restrictions about fundamental dynamics. The dark‐matter measure captures the degree of fragility for models that are potentially misspecified and unstable: a large dark‐matter measure indicates that the model lacks internal refutability (weak power of optimal specification tests) and external validity (high overfitting tendency and poor out‐of‐sample fit). The measure can be computed at low cost even for complex dynamic structural models. To illustrate its applications, we provide quantitative examples applying the measure to (time‐varying) rare‐disaster risk and long‐run risk models.
A clinic doctor transferring a patient as a coauthor of a case report: A preliminary study
Authors: Matsubara Shigeki
Published: March 2024

Aim

Contribution to the authorship, including that for case reports, should be appropriately evaluated. I have noticed a scarcity of case reports with clinic doctors listed as coauthors, prompting this investigation. I sought to offer suggestions on the possible reasons for this trend.

Methods

I checked case reports published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, the Journal of Medical Case Reports, and the BMJ Case Reports. I identified case reports listing a clinic doctor as a coauthor. I consulted eight professors at Jichi Medical University to ascertain whether case reports from their departments included clinic doctors as coauthors and, if not, the reasons.

Results

Among 65 case reports from Japanese institutes published in the Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology Research, only one paper lists a clinic doctor as a coauthor. Of 100 and 50 papers published in the Journal of Medical Case Reports and BMJ Case Reports, respectively, none listed a clinic doctor as a coauthor. Six out of eight professors admitted to never considering the idea of including clinic doctors as coauthors.

Conclusions

The scarcity of case reports with clinic doctors as coauthors extends beyond Japanese obstetrics and gynecology, encompassing various specialties worldwide. Center doctors do not think of the idea that a clinic doctor should be a coauthor. A clinic doctor who transferred the patient should be considered as a candidate coauthor depending on his/her scientific contribution. Such an approach could foster an environment encouraging doctors to contribute to academic writing, regardless of their workplace.
Health information in short videos about metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease: Analysing quality and reliability
Authors: Ding Ruihao , Kong Qingzhou , Sun Longfei , Liu Xuyan , Xu Leiqi , Li Yueyue , Zuo Xiuli , Li Yanqing
Published: March 2024

Background & Aims

Short videos, crucial for disseminating health information on metabolic dysfunction‐associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD), lack a clear evaluation of quality and reliability. This study aimed to assess the quality and reliability of MASLD‐related videos on Chinese platforms.

Methods

Video samples were collected from three platforms (TikTok, Kwai and Bilibili) during the period from November 2019 to July 2023. Two independent reviewers evaluated the integrity of the information contained therein by scoring six key aspects of its content: definition, epidemiology, risk factors, outcomes, diagnosis and treatment. The quality and reliability of the videos were assessed using the Journal of the American Medical Association (JAMA) criteria, the Global Quality Score (GQS) and the modified DISCERN score.

Results

A total of 198 videos were included. The video content exhibited an overall unsatisfactory quality, with a primary emphasis on risk factors and treatment, while diagnosis and epidemiology were seldom addressed. Regarding the sources of the videos, the GQS and modified DISCERN scores varied significantly between the platforms (p = .003), although they had generally similar JAMA scores (p = .251). Videos created by medical professionals differed significantly in terms of JAMA scores (p = .046) compared to those created by nonmedical professionals, but there were no statistically significant differences in GQS (p = .923) or modified DISCERN scores (p = .317).

Conclusions

The overall quality and reliability of the videos were poor and varied between platforms and uploaders. Platforms and healthcare professionals should strive to provide more reliable health‐related information regarding MASLD.
Mortality risk in infants receiving therapeutic care for malnutrition: A secondary analysis
Authors: Mahmud Imteaz , Guesdon Benjamin , Kerac Marko , Grijalva‐Eternod Carlos S.
Published: March 2024

Small and nutritionally at‐risk infants aged under 6 months (<6 months) are at high risk of death, but important evidence gaps exist on how to best identify them. We aimed to determine associations between anthropometric deficits and mortality among infants <6 months admitted to inpatient therapeutic care. A secondary analysis of 2002–2008 data included 5034 infants aged <6 months from 12 countries. We estimated the prevalence, concurrence, and severity of wasted, stunted, and underweight, as stand‐alone indicators, and using the Composite Index of Anthropometric Failure (CIAF), which combines these indicators into six subgroups of single and multiple anthropometric deficits and into one combined indicator called CIAF. We used logistic regression to examine the association of different anthropometric deficits with in‐programme mortality. Among 3692 infants aged <6 months with complete data, 3539 (95.8%) were underweight, 3058 (82.8%) were wasted, 2875 (77.8%) were stunted and 3575 (96.8%) had CIAF. Infants with multiple anthropometric deficits were presented with significantly lower anthropometric indices, that is, they were more severely wasted, stunted and underweight. A total of 141 infants died during inpatient therapeutic care. Among these, severely wasted (116) and severely underweight (138) infants had higher odds of mortality than normal infants (odds ratio [OR] = 2.1, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.2–2.7, p = 0.009, and OR = 3.3, 95% CI: 0.8–13.6, p = 0.09, respectively). Boys had higher odds of inpatient mortality than girls (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.02–1.92, p = 0.03). Mortality was only observed in infants <6 months presenting multiple anthropometric deficits, although their odds of mortality were not significant, for example, OR = 2.4, 95% CI: 0.5–10.0, p = 0.21 for stunted, wasted and underweight infants <6 months. In conclusion, multiple anthropometric deficits (CIAF) is common among infants <6 months and may be reported in nutrition care programmes and surveys. Both weight‐for‐length/height z‐score and weight‐for‐age z‐score were found to be useful indicators for programme admission and in‐programme prognosis. Future work needs to explore which better accounts for admission bias. Boys appear to be most at‐risk of dying while receiving malnutrition therapeutic care. Programmes should ensure that all infants receive timely, evidence‐based, effective care.
A controllable generative model for generating pavement crack images in complex scenes
Authors: Zhang Hancheng , Qian Zhendong , Zhou Wei , Min Yitong , Liu Pengfei
Published: March 2024

Existing crack recognition methods based on deep learning often face difficulties when detecting cracks in complex scenes such as brake marks, water marks, and shadows. The inadequate amount of available data can be primarily attributed to this factor. To address this issue, a controllable generative model of pavement cracks is proposed that can generate crack images in complex scenes by leveraging background images and crack mask images. The proposed model, the crack diffusion model (CDM), is based on the diffusion model network, which enables better control over the position and morphology of cracks by adjusting the conditional input of cracks. Experiments show that CDM has several advantages, including high definition, controllability, and sensitivity to narrow cracks. Utilizing CDM to create a synthetic crack data set in complex scenes resulted in substantial improvements of crack detection and segmentation. The method proposed in this study can effectively alleviate the effort required for data acquisition and labeling, especially in complex scenes.
Excavating Whiteness in the African Archive: The Story of Amandus Johnson's 1920s Expedition to Angola for the Penn Museum
Authors: Scott Monique
Published: March 2024

As we further seek to “decolonize” museum images of Africa, the museum archives of African Collections—the correspondence, ledgers, diaries, photographs, and other documents of White explorers working in Africa—suture the colonial practices that produced ways of seeing Africa—and Blackness more broadly—back onto the objects that museums maintain and display today. As increasing scholarly attention seeks to rectify the anti‐Black colonial violence of the archive, this research aims to situate the pedestrian colonial ethnographic practices and spectacular African explorer mythmaking found in museum archives within the foundation of museum anthropology and the museum itself. It also looks to the possibilities of contemporary museum practice to reframe and repair colonial museum constructions of Africa.
From cyanobacteria and cyanophages to chloroplasts: the fate of the genomes of oxyphototrophs and the genes encoding photosystem II proteins
Authors: Ślesak Ireneusz , Ślesak Halina
Published: March 2024

Chloroplasts are the result of endosymbiosis of cyanobacterial organisms with proto‐eukaryotes. The psbA, psbD and psbO genes are present in all oxyphototrophs and encode the D1/D2 proteins of photosystem II (PSII) and PsbO, respectively. PsbO is a peripheral protein that stabilizes the O2‐evolving complex in PSII. Of these genes, psbA and psbD remained in the chloroplastic genome, while psbO was transferred to the nucleus.

The genomes of selected cyanobacteria, chloroplasts and cyanophages carrying psbA and psbD, respectively, were analysed.

The highest density of genes and coding sequences (CDSs) was estimated for the genomes of cyanophages, cyanobacteria and chloroplasts. The synonymous mutation rate (rS) of psbA and psbD in chloroplasts remained almost unchanged and is lower than that of psbO.

The results indicate that the decreasing genome size in chloroplasts is more similar to the genome reduction observed in contemporary endosymbiotic organisms than in streamlined genomes of free‐living cyanobacteria. The rS of atpA, which encodes the α‐subunit of ATP synthase in chloroplasts, suggests that psbA and psbD, and to a lesser extent psbO, are ancient and conservative and arose early in the evolution of oxygenic photosynthesis. The role of cyanophages in the evolution of oxyphototrophs and chloroplastic genomes is discussed.
Should the Fiscal Authority Avoid Implementation Lag?
Authors: Eguchi Masataka , Niwa Hidekazu , Tsuruga Takayuki
Published: March 2024

Implementation lags are a concern of policymakers as they may reduce the efficacy of fiscal policy. Using a standard New Keynesian model with an effective lower bound on the nominal interest rate, we compare the impacts of fiscal stimulus on output across various lengths of implementation lag. We show that despite concerns among policymakers, implementation lags may enhance the efficacy of government purchases on output when the economy is caught in a liquidity trap.
A review of animal models for burning mouth syndrome: Mechanistic insights and knowledge gaps
Authors: Sangalli Linda , Prakapenka Alesia V. , Chaurasia Akhilanand , Miller Craig S.
Published: March 2024

Objectives

The underlying mechanisms of burning mouth syndrome (BMS) remain unclear leading to challenges and unsatisfactory management. Current treatments focus primarily on symptom relief, with few consistently achieving a 50% reduction in pain. This review aims to explore animal models of BMS to gain a better understanding of the underlying mechanisms and to discuss potential and existing knowledge gaps.

Methods

A comprehensive review of PubMed®, Google Scholar, and Scopus was performed to assess advances and significant gaps of existing rodent models that mimic BMS‐related symptoms.

Results

Rodent models of BMS involve reproduction of dry‐tongue, chorda tympani transection, or overexpression of artemin protein. Existing preclinical models tend to highlight one specific etiopathogenesis and often overlook sex‐ and hormone‐specific factors.

Conclusion

Combining aspects from various BMS models could prove beneficial in developing comprehensive experimental designs and outcomes encompassing the multifaceted nature of BMS.
Refitting contact lens dropouts into a modern daily disposable contact lens
Authors: Lievens Chris , Pucker Andrew D. , Rayborn Elyse , Kannarr Shane , Bickle Katherine , Hogan Catherine , Franklin Quentin X. , Christensen Michael
Published: March 2024

Purpose

To determine the number of previous contact lens (CL) wearers who could be comfortably refitted into delefilcon A (DAILIES TOTAL1®) CLs.

Methods

This was a 6‐month, three‐visit study that recruited subjects who discontinued CLs within the past 2 years because of discomfort or dryness symptoms. Subjects were required to have Standard Patient Evaluation of Eye Dryness (SPEED) questionnaire scores ≤3 and to be able to wear spherical study CLs. Subjects were asked to complete a ±50 comfort visual analogue scale (VAS) at 1 month and a Likert questionnaire after 1 and 6 months of CL wear to understand the subjects' CL experience.

Results

All 60 subjects who were fitted with the study CLs were still wearing them after 1 month, while one subject had dropped out by 6 months. Subjects had a median (interquartile range) age of 24.0 (7.0) years (71.7% female). They reported a median VAS score of 44.0 (8.0) units at the 1‐month visit, with all reporting a comfortable score. At the 1‐month/6‐month visits, 98.3%/93.2%, 86.5%/78.0% and 93.2%/91.5% of subjects responded that they were very satisfied or satisfied with their vision, their end‐of‐day CL comfort and overall CL comfort, respectively. The same subjects responded that they were very likely or likely to continue to wear the study CLs at 1 (89.6%) and 6 months (80.7%) and to recommend the study CLs to a friend at 1 (98.3%) and 6 months (93.2%).

Conclusions

The results suggest that when encountering a CL dropout, a practitioner could educate a patient about trying an alternative CL and consider delefilcon A lenses as an option.
Design and Biomechanical Finite Element Analysis of Spatial Weaving Infracalcaneal Fixator System
Authors: Zhang Yong , Weng Qiuyan , Chen Jianming , Yang Yunfeng
Published: March 2024

Objective

Traditional internal fixation of calcaneus fractures, involving lateral L‐shaped incisions and plate fixation, has disadvantages such as increased operative exposure, eccentric plate fixation, and complications. The aim of this study was to design a Spatial Weaving Intra‐calcaneal Fixator System (SWIFS) for the treatment of complex calcaneal fractures and to compare its biomechanical properties with those of traditional calcaneal plates.

Methods

The computed tomography (CT) data of the normal adult calcaneus was used for modeling, and the largest trapezoidal column structure was cut and separated from the model and related parameters were measured. The SWIFS was designed within the target trapezoid, according to the characteristics of the fracture of the calcaneus. The Sanders model classification type IV calcaneal fracture was established in finite element software, and fixation with calcaneal plate and the SWIFS examined. Overall structural strength distribution and displacement in the two groups were compared.

Results

The maximum 3D trapezoidal column in the calcaneus was constructed, and the dimensions were measured. The SWIFS and the corresponding guide device were successfully designed. In the one‐legged erect position state, the SWIFS group exhibited a peak von Mises equivalent stress of 96.00 MPa, a maximum displacement of 0.31 mm, and a structural stiffness of 2258.06 N/mm. The conventional calcaneal plate showed a peak von Mises equivalent stress of 228.66 Mpa, a maximum displacement of 1.26 mm, and a structural stiffness of 555.56 N/mm. The SWIFS group exhibited a 75.40% decrease in displacement and a 306.45% increase in stiffness.

Conclusion

Compared with fixation by conventional calcaneal plate, the SWIFS provides better structural stability and effective stress distribution.
High‐precision body mass predictors for small mammals: a case study in the Mesozoic
Authors: Huang E.J. , Wilson Jacob D. , Bhullar Bhart‐Anjan S. , Bever Gabriel S.
Published: March 2024

Body mass is a pivotal quantity in palaeobiology but must be inferred from an imperfect fossil record. We analyse the performance of regression models derived from various dentoskeletal predictors in mammals to inform fossils from the early, Mesozoic history of this radiation. Our focus is on the critical small end of the size spectrum; critical because the earliest mammals were small, because small size persisted onto the stems of the major extant radiations, and because small mammals compose a large proportion of crown diversity. The sampling strategy is diverse in terms of both phylogeny and skeletal predictors: the former allows a general application, while the latter enables comparison of various models. Linear regressions based on extant small mammals indicate a universal correlation of body mass with observed measurements, but with clear differences in precision. Postcranial predictors outperform jaw and dental metrics, with certain femoral joint dimensions providing surprisingly precise predictions. Our results indicate complex patterns of size evolution within the small‐bodied category, including the possibility that multiple Mesozoic species approached the theoretical lower limit of mammalian body size. The ability to study such dynamics only becomes possible when predicting body mass within a strict, highly focused phylogenetic context. The heuristic value of the models we provide here is not limited to the Mesozoic but is applicable to small‐bodied mammals of any geologic age.
Introducing subplot in policy narratives: A structural narrative analysis of the debate over the Pebble Mine project in Bristol Bay in Alaska, United States
Authors: Angervil Gilvert
Published: March 2024

Policy narrative research focuses on one story/plot that forms narratives in policy controversies without attention to the subplot, picturing a reduced policy narrative structure. Subplots are studied in literary narratives as secondary plots to main plots and in terms of their structures, differences with, and similarities to plots, with both pursuing individual objectives toward common goals. Subplots enhance policy narratives’ structures through enlargement and enrichment. Neglecting the subplot impedes knowledge about their contributions and potentially limits narrative analyses. This article introduces the subplot in policy narratives through a descriptive account, proposes an expanded structural definition, and structurally analyzes the policy narratives in the debate over a mining project in Bristol Bay, Alaska, United States. The opposing narrative's plot is cultural with political, legal, and environmental subplots, while the supporting narrative's plot is developmental with legal and political subplots. The study offers perspectives for advancing subplot research and narrative policy analysis.

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Season of burn has minimal effect on groundlayer community structure and composition in an Appalachian mixed‐oak forest
Authors: Keyser Tara L. , Greenberg Cathryn H.
Published: March 2024

The groundlayer flora has a disproportionate influence on ecosystem function and contributes to the biodiversity in temperate Quercus forests of eastern North America. Historically open understory conditions perpetuated, in part by fire, have become closed and homogenized by long‐term fire exclusion, likely impacting the groundlayer community. We explored the effects of burn season (unburned = CON, dormant season = DSB, growing season = GSB) on groundlayer (<1 m) vegetation attributes pre‐ and post‐burn. The difference (post‐burn – pre‐burn) in tree cover was greater in GSB (+8.22%) than DSB (+1.24%) and CON (+0.15%), while the change in forb cover was greater in GSB (+1.17%) than CON (−0.15%). Minor effects of burning were observed in diversity metrics, with the change in forb richness greater in GSB (+0.11 species/m2) than CON (−0.78 species/m2), while the change in tree richness was greater in GSB (+1.11 species/m2) than DSB (−1.11 species/m2) and CON (−1.67 species/m2). Nonmetric multi‐dimensional scaling provided evidence that between pre‐ and post‐burn, modest composition shifts in DSB and GSB were associated with more open conditions and lower litter depth. Understory composition did not vary among burn treatments pre‐burn, while post‐burn, composition differed significantly between CON and DSB and DSB and GSB. However, overall, a growing season burn had relatively minor effects on the groundlayer community compared to a dormant season burn. A better understanding of multiple factors affecting groundlayer response to burning is critical to the effective use of prescribed burning in attaining restoration goals.