bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Electoral Misinformation Nexus: How News Consumption, Platform Use, and Trust in News Influence Belief in Electoral Misinformation
Authors: Mont’Alverne Camila , Arguedas Amy Ross , Banerjee Sayan , Toff Benjamin , Fletcher Richard , Nielsen Rasmus Kleis
Published: July 2024

Electoral misinformation, where citizens believe false or misleading claims about the electoral process and electoral institutions—sometimes actively and strategically spread by political actors—is a challenge to public confidence in elections specifically and democracy more broadly. In this article, we analyze a combination of 42 million clicks in links and apps from behavioral tracking data of 2,200 internet users and a four-wave panel survey to investigate how different kinds of online news and media use relate to beliefs in electoral misinformation during a contentious political period—the 2022 Brazilian presidential elections. We find that, controlling for other factors, using news from legacy news media is associated with belief in fewer claims of electoral misinformation over time. We find null or inconsistent effects for using digital-born news media and various digital platforms, including Facebook and WhatsApp. Furthermore, we find that trust in news plays a significant role as a moderator. Belief in electoral misinformation, in turn, undermines trust in news. Overall, our findings document the important role of the news media as an institution in curbing electoral misinformation, even as they also underline the precarity of trust in news during contentious political periods.
The effects of dacitic (rhyolitic) tuff breccia and corn distillers’ dried grains with solubles (DDGS) inclusion on pellet mill electrical efficiency, production rate, and subsequent pellet quality
Authors: Badger Patrick A , Otott Haley K , Stark Charles R , Ferrel Jon , Sodak Mike , Shepherd Jerry , Kapetanovich Maks , Coble Kyle , Paulk Chad B
Published: July 2024

Two experiments were conducted to evaluate the effect of Azomite (AZO) and 30% distillers' dried grains with solubles (DDGS) on pellet mill (PM) electrical consumption (kWh/MT), production rate, and pellet quality. Experiment 1 was conducted as a 2 × 2 × 2 factorial with main effects of diet formulation (0% or 30% DDGS), PM (1 or 2), and AZO (0% or 0.25%) with 4 replications per treatment. PMs were equipped with a 4.4 × 39.0-mm (L:D 8.9) or 4.4 × 35.8 mm (L:D 8.2) die with PM production rates held constant at 31.8 metric ton (MT)/h and conditioning temperature was held constant at approximately 82 °C. Experiment 2 was designed as a 2 × 2 factorial of treatments with 4 replicates per treatment to evaluate the impact of AZO and DDGS on PM production rates and pellet quality. PM production rate was adjusted by the feeder screw to maintain 70% motor load, a 4.0 × 35.8-mm (L:D 8.75) PM die was used, and conditioning temperature held constant at approximately 82 °C. For experiment 1, a DDGS × PM interaction (P = 0.040) was observed. Diets containing 30% DDGS had a decreased kWh/MT compared to the control when using PM-1, whereas no differences were observed for kWh/MT between 0% and 30% when using PM-2. A DDGS × PM interaction (P = 0.019) was observed for kWh/MT standard deviation (STD). Diets containing DDGS increased STD compared to the control when pelleted with PM-2; however, there was no evidence of difference between the DDGS and control diets when pelleted with PM-1. There was an AZO × DDGS interaction (P < 0.05) for kWh/ton STD. No differences were observed in kWh/ton STD when pelleting corn–soy diets with or without AZO while AZO reduced kWh/ton STD in 30% DDGS diets. Diets containing AZO had reduced (P < 0.05) kWh/MT and pellet durability index (PDI) compared to diets pelleted without AZO. PDI was improved (P < 0.05) for diets containing DDGS. For experiment 2, diets containing AZO had increased (P < 0.05) PM production rate compared to those without AZO. The inclusion of 30% DDGS reduced (P < 0.05) PM production rate compared to the corn–soy diet. There was a tendency for an AZO × DDGS interaction (P = 0.083) for PDI. Azomite inclusion to corn–soy diets reduced PDI while there was no evidence of difference in diets containing DDGS. In conclusion, the addition of 0.25% AZO to the diet improved PM efficiency; however, this potentially leads to a reduced PDI depending on diet type and PM settings.
Vitamin D Supplementation in Congenital Ichthyosis: A Case Series
Authors: Hemrajani Priyanka , Sharma Mona , B.C. Sharath Kumar , Somkuwar Rajesh
Published: July 2024

Ichthyosis is a group of genetic keratinization disorders characterized by excessive scaling that is associated with hyperproliferative epidermis and/or cellular retention. Whereas normal outer epidermis thickness is 25 μm, it can be 10-fold greater in patients with ichthyosis. As a result, photoactivation of 7-dehydrocholesterol is impaired, causing systemic vitamin D deficiency.

In this case series, 25 patients with congenital ichthyosis with vitamin D deficiency (<10 ng/mL) were supplemented with 60,000 IU of vitamin D3 for 10 days followed by daily allowance of 400 to 600 IU of vitamin D3 and 40 mg/kg per day of elemental calcium. The authors assessed improvement in cutaneous scaling and body and tested patients’ blood and urine samples at day 1, day 10, 1 month, and 3 months. They also documented patients’ Dermatology Life Quality Index score before and after treatment.

All patients had normal vitamin D levels; supplementation was discontinued for two patients who reached a level of 100 ng/mL within 10 days. Subjective improvement of symptoms (dryness of the skin, allergic rhinitis, tightness of the skin, and scaling) was observed by both the provider and the patients. There was remarkable improvement in symptoms of severe ichthyosis such as lamellar ichthyosis (tightness of the skin and scaling). Marked improvement in Dermatology Life Quality Index score was also noted.

This case series demonstrated remarkable symptomatic relief with vitamin D supplementation in patients with congenital ichthyosis; however, additional research should be conducted with larger sample sizes to support these findings.
Decreasing Intraoperative Skin Damage in Prone-Position Surgeries
Authors: Bates-Jensen Barbara M. , Crocker Jessica , Nguyen Vicky , Robertson Lauren , Nourmand Deborah , Chirila Emily , Laayouni Mohamed , Offendel Ofelia , Peng Kelly , Romero Stephanie Anne , Fulgentes Gerry , McCreath Heather E.
Published: July 2024

OBJECTIVE

To determine if subepidermal moisture (SEM) measures help detect and prevent intraoperative acquired pressure injuries (IAPIs) for prone-position surgery.

METHODS

In this clinical trial of patients (n = 39 preintervention, n = 48 intervention, 100 historical control) undergoing prone-position surgery, researchers examined the use of multidimensionally flexible silicone foam (MFSF) dressings applied preoperatively to patients’ face, chest, and iliac crests. Visual skin assessments and SEM measures were obtained preoperatively, postoperatively, and daily for up to 5 days or until discharge. Electronic health record review included demographic, medical, and surgery data.

RESULTS

Of the 187 total participants, 76 (41%) were women. Participants’ mean age was 61.0 ± 15.0 years, and 9.6% were Hispanic (n = 18), 9.6% were Asian (n = 18), 6.9% were Black or African American (n = 13), and 73.8% were White (n = 138). Participants had a mean Scott-Triggers IAPI risk score of 1.5 ± 1.1. Among those with no erythema preoperatively, fewer intervention participants exhibited postoperative erythema on their face and chest than did preintervention participants. Further, fewer intervention participants had SEM-defined IAPIs at all locations in comparison with preintervention participants. The MFSF dressings overcame IAPI risk factors of surgery length, skin tone, and body mass index with fewer IAPIs in intervention participants.

CONCLUSIONS

Patients undergoing prone-position surgeries developed fewer IAPIs, and SEM measures indicated no damage when MFSF dressings were applied to sites preoperatively. The SEM measures detected more damage than visual assessment.
Blistering Disorders of the Foot
Authors: Swoboda Laura
Published: July 2024

Multiple pathophysiologic and biomolecular processes lead to bullae, including disruption of adhesion molecules, accumulation of cell injury, and traumatic injury. Blistering disorders of the foot can cause symptoms such as pruritus, pain, and drainage and significantly impact quality of life. Microbiologic and histopathologic examination of tissue specimens should be considered for concerns regarding atypical etiology.

This retrospective case series describes patients seen in a community hospital outpatient wound center in southeastern Wisconsin between January 2021 and June 2023 for atypical blistering disorders of the foot. The cases herein describe the history, clinical presentation, and treatment of three atypical blistering disorders of the foot. An 86-year-old man presented complaining of intensely pruritic blistering lesions to both feet. Histopathologic findings indicated eosinophilic infiltrate, and the patient was treated for an eosinophilic drug reaction. A 65-year-old man presented complaining of multiple painful blisters to the plantar aspect of both feet. Histopathologic examination of unroofed blister indicated bullous tinea. Finally, a 44-year-old man with long-standing type 1 diabetes presented complaining of a several-week history of a single blister to his anterior right foot of unknown etiology. The patient was diagnosed with bullosis diabeticorum.

Blistering disorders of the foot are diagnostic challenges; diagnostic clarity is assisted by thorough history, clinical presentation, treatment response, microbial analysis, and histopathologic findings.
Predicting within-city spatiotemporal variations in daily median outdoor ultrafine particle number concentrations and size in Montreal and Toronto, Canada
Authors: Venuta Alessya , Lloyd Marshall , Ganji Arman , Xu Junshi , Simon Leora , Zhang Mingqian , Saeedi Milad , Yamanouchi Shoma , Lavigne Eric , Hatzopoulou Marianne , Weichenthal Scott
Published: July 2024

Background:

Epidemiological evidence suggests that long-term exposure to outdoor ultrafine particles (UFPs, <0.1 μm) may have important human health impacts. However, less is known about the acute health impacts of these pollutants as few models are available to estimate daily within-city spatiotemporal variations in outdoor UFPs.

Methods:

Several machine learning approaches (i.e., generalized additive models, random forest models, and extreme gradient boosting) were used to predict daily spatiotemporal variations in outdoor UFPs (number concentration and size) across Montreal and Toronto, Canada using a large database of mobile monitoring measurements. Separate models were developed for each city and all models were evaluated using a 10-fold cross-validation procedure.

Results:

In total, our models were based on measurements from 12,705 road segments in Montreal and 10,929 road segments in Toronto. Daily median outdoor UFP number concentrations varied substantially across both cities with 1st–99th percentiles ranging from 1389 to 181,672 in Montreal and 2472 to 118,544 in Toronto. Outdoor UFP size tended to be smaller in Montreal (mean [SD]: 34 nm [15]) than in Toronto (mean [SD]: 44 nm [25]). Extreme gradient boosting models performed best and explained the majority of spatiotemporal variations in outdoor UFP number concentrations (Montreal, R
2: 0.727; Toronto, R
2: 0.723) and UFP size (Montreal, R
2: 0.823; Toronto, R
2: 0.898) with slopes close to one and intercepts close to zero for relationships between measured and predicted values.

Conclusion:

These new models will be applied in future epidemiological studies examining the acute health impacts of outdoor UFPs in Canada’s two largest cities.
Estimating the economic impact of comorbidities in patients with MASH and defining high-cost burden in patients with noncirrhotic MASH
Authors: Younossi Zobair M. , Mangla Kamal Kant , Chandramouli Abhishek Shankar , Lazarus Jeffrey V.
Published: July 2024

Background:

Metabolic dysfunction–associated steatohepatitis (MASH) is associated with high health care costs. This US study investigated the economic burden of MASH, particularly in patients without cirrhosis, and the impact of comorbidities on health care costs.

Methods:

This retrospective, observational study used data from patients diagnosed with MASH aged ≥18 years from October 2015 to March 2022 (IQVIA Ambulatory electronic medical record-US). Patients were stratified by the absence or presence of cirrhosis. Primary outcomes included baseline characteristics and annualized total health care cost after MASH diagnosis during follow-up. In addition, this study defined high costs for the MASH population and identified patient characteristics associated with increased health care costs among those without cirrhosis.

Results:

Overall, 16,919 patients (14,885 without cirrhosis and 2034 with cirrhosis) were included in the analysis. The prevalence of comorbidities was high in both groups; annual total health care costs were higher in patients with cirrhosis. Patients with a high-cost burden (threshold defined using the United States national estimated annual health care expenditure of $13,555) had a higher prevalence of comorbidities and were prescribed more cardiovascular medications. MASH diagnosis was associated with an increase in cost, largely driven by inpatient costs. In patients without cirrhosis, an increase in cost following MASH diagnosis was associated with the presence and burden of comorbidities and cardiovascular medication utilization.

Conclusions:

Comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease and type 2 diabetes, are associated with a higher cost burden and may be aggravated by MASH. Prioritization and active management may benefit patients without cirrhosis with these comorbidities. Clinical care should focus on preventing progression to cirrhosis and managing high-burden comorbidities.
Connecting Practice to Data: Implementation Strategies to Increase Collection of Core Outcome Measures in an Inpatient Rehabilitation Facility
Authors: Zalanowski Stacey , Riley Erin , Spaulding Abigail , Hansen Elizabeth , Clooney Debra , Modoono Caitriona , Evans Emily
Published: July 2024

Objective:

To describe a quality improvement project aimed at increasing collection of a “Core Set” of functional outcome measures in an inpatient rehabilitation facility (IRF), characterize implementation strategies used across 4 study phases, and evaluate program adoption and maintenance.

Setting:

A 30-bed brain injury unit of a 132-bed IRF.

Participants:

Participants included physical therapists (5 full-time, 2 part-time, and 30 hourly as needed) and 764 individuals with traumatic brain injury (TBI) who received care during the project period.

Design:

In this descriptive observational study, we operationalize implementation strategies selected for 4 project phases: Exploration, Preparation, Implementation, and Sustainment. We define each implementation strategy using the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change and report on program adoption and maintenance.

Main Measures:

Adoption (proportion of TBI-related admissions with completed outcome measures) and maintenance (adoption over 4 years).

Results:

Preparation phase strategies focused on local adaptations, education, environmental preparation, and collaboration with informatics. Implementation phase strategies included reminders, feedback, champions, and iterative adjustments. Sustainment strategies focused on integration into standard practice. Adoption increased postinitiation for all measures except one. Despite improvements, a notable portion of measures remained incomplete. Increases in outcome measure collection were maintained for 2 to 4 years, but a significant decline in paired admission and discharge scores suggests a reduced ability to monitor change over time.

Conclusions:

This study provides an example of a clinically driven quality improvement project and selected implementation strategies used to increase the collection of standard outcome measures in IRF. By leveraging the Expert Recommendations for Implementing Change framework, we aim to enhance comparability with similar efforts elsewhere. The results demonstrate the program’s successes and challenges, highlighting the need for interdisciplinary clinical and research collaboration to support the translation of knowledge between research and clinical practice and inform meaningful improvements in care across TBI rehabilitation.
Intraoperative goal-directed fluid management and postoperative brain edema in patients having high-grade gliomas resections: a randomized trial
Authors: Liu Xiaoyuan , Zhang Xingyue , Fan Yifang , Wang Bo , Wang Jie , Zeng Min , Li Shu , Shen Mi , Zhang Wei , Sessler Daniel I. , Peng Yuming
Published: July 2024

Introduction:

Patients with high-grade gliomas often have severe brain edema. Goal-directed fluid management protects neurological function, but whether reduces postoperative brain edema remains unknown.

Methods:

Patients having elective resection of supratentorial malignant gliomas were randomly assigned to goal-directed versus routine fluid management. Patients assigned to goal-directed management group were given 3 ml kg-1 hydroxyethyl starch solution when stroke volume variation exceeded 15% for 5 min. Fluid was managed per routine by attending anesthesiologists in reference patients. The primary outcome was cerebral edema volume after surgery as assessed by computerized tomography.

Results:

A total of 480 eligible patients were randomly assigned to the goal-directed (n = 240) or the routine fluid management group (n = 240). The amounts of crystalloid (5.4 vs. 7.0 ml kg-1 hour-1, P < 0.001), colloid (1.1 vs. 1.7 ml kg-1 hour-1, P < 0.001), and overall fluid balance (0.3 vs. 1.9 ml kg-1 hour-1, P < 0.001) were significantly lower in goal-directed fluid management group. There was no significant difference in postoperative brain edema volume between groups (36.0 vs. 38.9 cm3, mean difference: 0.18 cm3, 95% CI: −5.7 to 5.9). Goal-directed patients had lower intraoperative dural tension (risk ratio: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.50–0.80, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in Karnofsky Performance Status between the two groups at 30 days after surgery.

Conclusions:

Goal-directed fluid therapy substantially reduced intravenous fluid volumes, but did not reduce postoperative brain edema in patients having brain tumor resections.
A Brief but Spectacular Take: Reflecting on Professionalism by Student Physical Therapists
Authors: Stickley Lois A.
Published: July 2024

Background and Purpose.

Professionalism is an abstract concept that requires reflection for students to generate personal meaning and application. It should be taught explicitly within the academic part of a professional physical therapist education program. The purpose of this case report was to present one unique strategy to increase reflection about professionalism.

Case Description.

Forty-four students enrolled in the first semester of a professional physical therapist education program participated in the case report. All were enrolled in a 1-credit hour course, Professional Issues, in which they developed a 2- to 3-minute video presenting their brief but spectacular take on various professional issues. Students responded in an online discussion tool to 2 of their colleagues' videos, developing a rich conversation. An optional 11-item survey about student satisfaction with the assignment was distributed electronically. A 4-point Likert scale was used for 10 items with the 11 being open ended.

Outcomes.

An analysis of the video presentations identified 4 themes: diversity, equity, and inclusion; self-care; core values; and patient management. Discussions were positive, professional, and encouraging. The optional survey had a 45% response rate. The medians for individual items ranged from 3 (6 items) to 4 (3 items).

Conclusions.

Reflection is essential to provide meaning in the learning process. Creating a video reflection that allowed students to describe their passion for the profession and then to discuss it in an online format was a unique teaching/learning activity. The concept of professionalism was successfully explored using the assignment that was well-received, and most students found it beneficial to their personal growth.
New Pathways in Syphilis Vaccine Development
Authors: Liu Andy , Giacani Lorenzo , Hawley Kelly L. , Cameron Caroline E. , Seña Arlene C. , Konda Kelika A. , Radolf Justin D. , Klausner Jeffrey D.
Published: July 2024

The New Pathways in Syphilis Vaccine Development meeting was held before the start of the STI & HIV 2023 World Congress as a pre-meeting symposium to highlight recent advances in the development of an effective syphilis vaccine and discuss the challenges still faced by investigators. Internationally renowned public health officials, clinical investigators, and basic researchers from academia, government, and community-based organizations met on July 24, 2023, in Chicago, Illinois. Four speakers discussed key research findings in syphilis vaccine development, which included antigen selection, identification of epitopes associated with protective immunity, and delivery platforms, with great emphasis on development of chimeric antigens. Significant progress was also shown on the elucidation of Treponema pallidum genomes from virtually all continents to assess the diversity in vaccine candidates of the syphilis spirochete.
Patient-Engagement Health Information Technology and Quality Process Outcomes in Federally Qualified Health Centers
Authors: Choi Seongwon , Powers Thomas
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives:

Health information technology (HIT) for patient-engagement can positively influence the quality and efficiency of health care delivery. Although this topic is of significant importance, it has not been fully addressed in the federally qualified health center (FQHC) context. This research investigates the relationship between the level of patient-engagement HIT and FQHC preventive health care quality outcomes.

Method:

Based on the Uniform Data System (UDS), this study employed multivariable regression analysis to investigate the association between the level of patient-engagement HIT and FQHC preventive health care quality outcomes. FQHCs were placed in 4 mutually exclusive groups based on the level of FQHC use of patient-engagement HIT.

Results:

The results indicate that compared with the most comprehensive patient-engagement HIT at FQHCs, less comprehensive patient-engagement HIT was associated with lower rates of preventive care provision.

Conclusions:

Comprehensive patient-engagement HIT across FQHCs may improve preventive health care quality outcomes. The results support policy incentives for FQHCs with less comprehensive levels of patient-engagement HIT to foster improved preventive care for their patients.
COVID-19 Inpatient Caseloads in General Hospitals Did Not Affect Quality Indicator Compliance Rates in Israel
Authors: Bronshtein Olga , Konson Alexander , Kuniavsky Michael , Goldschmidt Nethanel , Hanhart Shuli , Mahalla-Garashi Hannah , Peri Shir , Rosenfelder Chana , Niv Yaron , Dollberg Shaul
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives:

Early in the global COVID-19 pandemic, a concern was raised that potentially high volumes of COVID-19 inpatients in general hospitals might compromise the hospitals’ capabilities to maintain high-quality care for routine patients and, thereby, to comply with indicators specifying quality of care. The objective of this study is to evaluate the impact of the surges of COVID-19 inpatients into general hospitals in Israel on the compliance rates for selected quality indicators reported by these hospitals within the Israeli National Program for Quality Indicators (NPQI).

Methods:

Compliance rate data were collected from the quality indicators reports made to the NPQI by participating hospitals. COVID-19 inpatient volume data were obtained from the Ministry of Health Digital Technologies and Data Division. Both datasets were analyzed on a week-by-week basis and plotted one alongside the other on a time scale. Association of each quality indicator’s compliance rate with the number of COVID-19 inpatients was tested by Pearson’s correlation analysis. The study included data from July 1, 2019 through June 30, 2022, spanning the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic in Israel. Five quality indicators included in the study were: Surgical repair of femoral neck fracture within 48 h of admission; Assessment of cerebral ischemic event risk for patients with atrial fibrillation; Duplex carotid ultrasound within 72 h of emergency department admission for patients with suspected transient ischemic attack; Antibiotic prophylaxis for caesarean sections; and Percutaneous coronary intervention within 90 min for patients presenting with ST-elevation myocardial infarction.

Results:

Compliance rates for five quality indicators, representing different aspects of routine health care, remained steady – even at times with high volumes of COVID-19 inpatients in general hospitals. This lack of effect was prominent throughout the analyzed period, i.e., general hospitals maintained similar compliance rates for all quality indicators both during the surges of COVID-19 patients and between these periods. Statistical analysis showed no correlation between the quality indicators’ compliance rates and the number of COVID-19 inpatients.

Conclusions:

Our findings indicate that high volumes of COVID-19 inpatients in general hospitals did not affect the hospitals’ capability to comply with routine health care quality indicators. The results of our study imply that general hospitals in Israel were able to withstand the challenges associated with the care of COVID-19 inpatients while preserving high quality of care for routine patients.
The Integration of Quality Improvement and Health Care Simulation: A Scoping Review
Authors: Allgood Ashleigh , Wiltrakis Susan , White Marjorie Lee , Hayes Leslie W. , Buchalter Scott , Hall Allyson G. , Brown Michelle R.
Published: July 2024

Background and Objectives:

Quality improvement (QI) and simulation employ complementary approaches to improve the care provided to patients. There is a significant opportunity to leverage these disciplines, yet little is known about how they are utilized in concert. The purpose of this study is to explore how QI and simulation have been used together in health care.

Methods:

This scoping review includes studies published between 2015 and 2021 in 4 databases: CINAHL, Embase, PubMed, and Scopus.

Results:

The search yielded 921 unique articles.18 articles met the inclusion criteria and specifically described QI and simulation collaborative projects. Of the 18 articles, 28% focused on improvements in patient care, 17% on educational interventions, 17% on the identification of latent safety threats (LSTs) that could have an impact on clinical care, 11% on the creation of new processes, 11% on checklist creation, and 6% on both LST identification and educational intervention. The review revealed that 61% of the included studies demonstrated a concurrent integration of simulation and QI activities, while 33% used a sequential approach.

Conclusions:

There is a paucity of studies detailing the robust and synergistic use of QI and simulation. The findings of this review suggest a positive impact on patient safety when QI and simulation are used in tandem. The systematic integration of these disciplines and the use of established reporting guidelines can promote patient safety in practice and in the literature.
Association of Frailty, Balance, and Depression with Activities of Daily Living in Older Adults
Authors: Baysal Gökçe , Saka Seda
Published: July 2024

Purpose:

This study aimed to examine the effects of frailty, balance, and depression on the performance of activities of daily living (ADL) in older adults.

Methods:

Eighty-five older adults registered at a community health center in Amasya-Türkiye volunteered to participate in this one-time data collected observational study. All participants were assessed using the Mini Mental State Test (MMST), simple FRAIL scale, Geriatric Depression Scale–Short Form, and Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living (L-IADL) Scale.

Results:

According to FRAIL scale scores, 38.8% (n = 33) of the participants were evaluated as frail, 37.6% (n = 32) as pre-frail, and 23.5% (n = 20) as normal. There were statistically significant correlations between all parameters analyzed (p < 0.05). According to the regression analysis performed to determine which factors are associated with L-IADL, it was determined that a 1-unit increase in the Berg Balance Scale score was associated with a 0.639-unit increase in the L-IADL score. Mean L-IADL score differed significantly between the frailty groups, with frail participants having a significantly lower mean L-IADL score compared to pre-frail and normal participants (p < 0.05).

Conclusions:

Our results demonstrated that frailty, balance, and depression are associated with performance of activities of daily living, with balance being the strongest determinant. Frail older adults showed greater dependence in activities of daily living than those who were pre-frail or normal.
Cardiac Rehabilitation in Geriatric Individuals
Authors: Calik-Kutukcu Ebru , Topcuoglu Ceyhun , Ar Ulas , Saglam Melda
Published: July 2024

Background:

The aim of the study is a current review in the field of cardiac rehabilitation in geriatric individuals.

Methods:

Literature searches were conducted using PubMed, Embase and Scopus. Additional articles were identifed by searching reference lists.

Results:

Aging is a physiological condition in the normal process of life and leads to changes in all organs and systems. The aging process significantly affects the cardiovascular, pulmonary, musculoskeletal, and metabolic systems. Cardiac rehabilitation provides numerous psychological and physiological benefits to older adults. All comorbidities, frailty status, and social and financial factors should be comprehensively evaluated while planning cardiac rehabilitation programs that consist of the main components of exercise training, risk factor management, and psychosocial counseling in older adults.

Conclusions:

Regular participation in cardiac rehabilitation programs can reduce morbidity and mortality rates and improve cardiorespiratory fitness and overall health outcomes by modifying coronary artery disease risk factors in older adults with chronic conditions, including cardiovascular disease, stroke, and respiratory disease
Cross-disciplinary advance care planning in oncology and palliative care amidst a pandemic: a best practice implementation project
Authors: Muehlensiepen Felix , Stanze Henrikje , May Susann , Stahlhut Kerstin , Helm Carolin , Hakam Hassan Tarek , Bała Małgorzata M. , Peričić Tina Poklepović , Vrbová Tereza , Klugarova Jitka , Prill Robert
Published: July 2024

Introduction:

Advance care planning (ACP) ensures that patients receive medical care aligned with their values, goals, and preferences, especially regarding end-of-life decisions in serious chronic illnesses.

Objective:

This project aimed to introduce and promote evidence-based ACP in oncology and palliative care at a midsized hospital near Berlin, Germany, during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Methods:

This project was guided by the JBI Evidence Implementation Framework and used a mixed methods audit cycle. A baseline audit was conducted using qualitative interviews and workshops with representatives from all the health care disciplines involved in oncology and palliative care at the hospital. The findings were compared with eight best practice recommendations. Targeted strategies aimed at the key stakeholders involved in ACP practice were then implemented. Finally, a semi-quantitative questionnaire was used in a follow-up audit with the same participants as in the baseline audit.

Results:

The baseline audit revealed a high level of familiarity with the concept of ACP. However, there was a lack of a uniformly accepted definition and understanding of ACP among the health care professionals, leading to a lack of coordination in task distribution. The follow-up audit revealed improvements with regard to education and training in ACP (Criterion 1: 50% to 100%) and organizational support to facilitate ACP conversations (Criterion 3: 87.5% to 100%). Other audit criteria compliance rates remained unchanged.

Conclusion:

Clinical education and team-based process analysis can facilitate ACP implementation across disciplines in oncology and palliative care facilities. However, the project did not succeed in implementing lasting changes in clinical processes and best practice ACP due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Such an endeavor would demand considerable resources and time, both of which were constrained during the pandemic.

Spanish abstract:

http://links.lww.com/IJEBH/A236
Central Nervous System Control of breathing in Natural Conversational Turn-Taking
Authors: Di Pasquasio Camilla , De Pellegrin Lila , Pineaud Arthur , Marty Antonin , Chaminade Thierry
Published: July 2024

Discussion is a fundamental social activity requiring coordination of speech between interlocutors. Speech production is a complex human behaviour that involves several anatomo-physiological processes, including inspiration and expiration. The aim of the present study is to investigate the neurophysiological underpinnings of speech-related respiration events in conversational turn-taking. We made use of an existing corpus of natural conversations between a participant and its interlocutor (Human or Robot) focusing on synchronised (1) behavioural (conversation turn-taking), (2) respiratory (maxima of inspiration) and (3) neurophysiological (fMRI) data. Precisely timed conversation transcripts from 25 participants were used to categorise breathing maxima based on their timing relative to the participant’s speech onset. In agreement with the literature, the closest respiration time maximum to each speech turn occurred on average 200 ms prior to speech onset. The fMRI second-level contrast (pFWE< 0.05, extend k > 5 cm3) Resp+ (maximum respiration associated with speech)versusResp-, exclusively masked to exclude speech related areas, revealed bilateral activations in the central sulcus, the brainstem and the cerebellum. The brainstem cluster comprises respiratory pattern generators, possibly the preBötzinger complex, that need to be inhibited to enslave breathing to speech production and not physiological needs, while the central sulcus cluster is likely to be located in the postcentral primary sensory cortex receiving upper torso inputs indicating that lungs are filled, and the cerebellum clusters could play a role in the timing of speech onset, 200 ms after a respiration maximum. These results show how cortical, cerebellar and brainstem coordinated control of breathing during conversational turn-taking is part of the intricate physiological mechanisms that contribute to natural communication dynamics.
A Necrotizing Toxin PromotesPseudomonas syringaeInfection Across Evolutionarily Divergent Plant Lineages
Authors: Grenz Kristina , Chia Khong-Sam , Turley Emma K. , Tyszka Alexa S. , Atkinson Rebecca E. , Reeves Jacob , Vickers Martin , Rejzek Martin , Walker Joseph F. , Carella Philip
Published: July 2024

ThePseudomonas syringaespecies complex harbors a diverse range of plant pathogenic bacteria. While much of the current understanding ofP. syringaeis centered on interactions with flowering plants, much less is known about infection in evolutionarily divergent non-flowering lineages. Here, we took a comparative evolutionary approach to understand howP. syringaeinfects distantly related plants. We identify broad hostP. syringaeisolates causing significant disease in the liverwortMarchantia polymorpha, the fernCeratopteris richardii, and the flowering plantNicotiana benthamiana, which last shared a common ancestor over 500 million years ago. We demonstrate that phytotoxin enriched isolates belonging to the phylogroup 2 clade of theP. syringaespecies complex are particularly virulent in non-flowering plants, relying on a combination of type-3 secreted effector proteins and the lipopeptide phytotoxin syringomycin. The application of purified syringomycin promotes necrosis in diverse host tissues and activates conserved genes associated with redox regulation and cell death. Toxin-deficient phylogroups normally unable to infectMarchantiathalli exhibit enhanced bacterial growth when supplemented with exogenous syringomycin, further highlighting its role as a host-range defining factor inPseudomonas. Collectively our research reveals a key role for the lipopeptide syringomycin in promotingPseudomonascolonization, which works in concert with type-3 effector proteins to antagonize an exceptionally wide spectrum of land plants.
Manganese transporter SLC30A10 and iron transporters SLC40A1 and SLC11A2 impact dietary manganese absorption
Authors: Prajapati Milankumar , Zhang Jared Z. , Chong Grace S. , Chiu Lauren , Mercadante Courtney J. , Kowalski Heather L. , Antipova Olga , Lai Barry , Ralle Martina , Jackson Brian P. , Punshon Tracy , Guo Shuling , Aghajan Mariam , Bartnikas Thomas B.
Published: July 2024

SLC30A10 deficiency is a disease of severe manganese excess attributed to loss of SLC30A10-dependent manganese excretion via the gastrointestinal tract. Patients develop dystonia, cirrhosis, and polycythemia. They are treated with chelators but also respond to oral iron, suggesting that iron can outcompete manganese for absorption in this disease. Here we explore the latter observation. Intriguingly, manganese absorption is increased in Slc30a10-deficient mice despite manganese excess. Studies of multiple mouse models indicate that increased dietary manganese absorption reflects two processes: loss of manganese export from enterocytes into the gastrointestinal tract lumen by SLC30A10, and increased absorption of dietary manganese by iron transporters SLC11A2 (DMT1) and SLC40A1 (ferroportin). Our work demonstrates that aberrant absorption contributes prominently to SLC30A10 deficiency and expands our understanding of biological interactions between iron and manganese. Based on these results, we propose a reconsideration of the role of iron transporters in manganese homeostasis is warranted.
Expansion of the MutS Gene Family in Plants
Authors: Sloan Daniel B. , Broz Amanda K. , Kuster Shady A. , Muthye Viraj , Peñafiel-Ayala Alejandro , Marron Jennifer R. , Lavrov Dennis V. , Brieba Luis G.
Published: July 2024

TheMutSgene family is distributed across the tree of life and is involved in recombination, DNA repair, and protein translation. Multiple evolutionary processes have expanded the set ofMutSgenes in plants relative to other eukaryotes. Here, we investigate the origins and functions of these plant-specific genes. Land plants, green algae, red algae, and glaucophytes share cyanobacterial-likeMutS1andMutS2genes that presumably were gained via plastid endosymbiotic gene transfer.MutS1was subsequently lost in some taxa, including seed plants, whereasMutS2was duplicated in Viridiplantae (i.e., land plants and green algae) with widespread retention of both resulting paralogs. Viridiplantae also have two anciently duplicated copies of the eukaryoticMSH6gene (i.e.,MSH6andMSH7) and acquiredMSH1via horizontal gene transfer – potentially from a nucleocytovirus. Despite sharing the same name, “plantMSH1” is not directly related to the gene known asMSH1in some fungi and animals, which may be an ancestral eukaryotic gene acquired via mitochondrial endosymbiosis and subsequently lost in most eukaryotic lineages. There has been substantial progress in understanding the functions ofMSH1andMSH6/MSH7in plants, but the roles of the cyanobacterial-likeMutS1andMutS2genes remain uncharacterized. Known functions of bacterial homologs and predicted protein structures, including fusions to diverse nuclease domains, provide hypotheses about potential molecular mechanisms. Because most plant-specific MutS proteins are targeted to the mitochondria and/or plastids, the expansion of this family appears to have played a large role in shaping plant organelle genetics.

One-Sentence Summary

Plants are distinguished from other eukaryotes by a functionally diverse complement of MutS proteins gained via a combination of gene duplication, endosymbiotic gene transfer, and horizontal gene transfer.
DrugDiff - small molecule diffusion model with flexible guidance towards molecular properties
Authors: Oestreich Marie , Merdivan Erinc , Lee Michael , Schultze Joachim L. , Piraud Marie , Becker Matthias
Published: July 2024

With the cost/yield-ratio of drug development becoming increasingly unfavourable, recent work has explored machine learning to accelerate early stages of the development process. Given the current success of deep generative models across domains, we here investigated their application to the property-based proposal of new small molecules for drug development. Specifically, we trained a latent diffusion model - DrugDiff - paired with predictor guidance to generate novel compounds with a variety of desired molecular properties. The architecture was designed to be highly flexible and easily adaptable to future scenarios. Our experiments showed successful generation of unique, diverse and novel small molecules with targeted properties. The code is available at https://github.com/MarieOestreich/DrugDiff.
Toward Stable Replication of Genomic Information in Pools of RNA Molecules
Authors: Burger Ludwig , Gerland Ulrich
Published: July 2024

The transition from prebiotic chemistry to living systems requires the emergence of a scheme for enzyme-free genetic replication. Here, we analyze a recently proposed prebiotic replication scenario, the so-called Virtual Circular Genome (VCG) [Zhou et al., RNA 27, 1-11 (2021)]: Replication takes place in a pool of oligomers, where each oligomer contains a subsequence of a circular genome, such that the oligomers encode the full genome collectively. While the sequence of the circular genome may be reconstructed based on long oligomers, short oligomers merely act as replication feedstock. We observe a competition between the predominantly error-free ligation of a short oligomer to a long oligomer and the predominantly erroneous ligation of two long oligomers. Increasing the length of long oligomers and reducing their concentration decreases the fraction of erroneous ligations, enabling high-fidelity replication in the VCG. Alternatively, the problem of erroneous products can be mitigated if only monomers are activated, such that each ligation involves at least one monomer. Surprisingly, in such systems, shorter oligomers are extended by monomers more quickly than long oligomers, a phenomenon which has already been observed experimentally [Ding et al., JACS 145, 7504-7515 (2023)]. Our work provides a theoretical explanation for this behavior, and predicts its dependence on system parameters such as the concentration of long oligomers. Taken together, the VCG constitutes a promising scenario of prebiotic information replication: It could mitigate challenges of in non-enzymatic copying via template-directed polymerization, such as short lengths of copied products and high error rates.
Ex vivofunctional characterization of mouse olfactory bulb projection neurons reveals a heterogenous continuum
Authors: Gadiwalla Sana , Guillaume Chloé , Huang Li , White Samuel JB , Basha Nihal , Petersen Pétur Henry , Galliano Elisa
Published: July 2024

Mitral and tufted cells in the olfactory bulb (OB) act as an input convergence hub and transmit information to higher olfactory areas. Since first characterized, they have been classed as distinct projection neurons based on size and location: laminarly-arranged mitral cells with a diameter larger than 20µm in the mitral layer (ML), and smaller tufted cells spread across both the ML and external plexiform layer (EPL). Recentin vivowork has shown that these neurons encode complementary olfactory information, akin to parallel channels in other sensory systems. Yet, manyex vivostudies still collapse them into a single class, mitral/tufted, when describing their physiological properties and impact on circuit function. Using immunohistochemistry and whole-cell patch clamp electrophysiology in fixed or acute slices from adult mice, we attempted to alignin vivo andex vivodata and test a soma size-based classifier of OB projection neurons using passive and intrinsic firing properties. We found that there is no clear separation between cell types based on passive or active properties. Rather, there is a heterogeneous continuum with three loosely clustered subgroups: EPL tufted cells, and putative tufted or putative mitral cells in the ML. These findings illustrate the large functional heterogeneity present within the OB projection neurons and complement existing literature highlighting how heterogeneity in sensory systems is preponderant and possibly used in the OB to decode complex olfactory information.
Normative trajectories of R1, R2* and magnetic susceptibility in basal ganglia on healthy ageing
Authors: Chan Kwok-Shing , Zwiers Marcel P. , Jansen Michelle G. , Oosterman Joukje M. , Norris David G. , Beckmann Christian F. , Marques José P.
Published: July 2024

Quantitative MRI techniques, including R1, R2*, and magnetic susceptibility mapping, have emerged as promising tools for generating surrogate imaging markers of brain tissue microstructure, enabling non-invasive in vivo measurements associated with myelination and iron deposition. Gaining insights into how these quantitative measurements evolve throughout a normal lifespan can enhance our understanding of brain maturation processes and facilitate the study of disease-related microstructural changes by distinguishing pathological alterations from normal brain development. In this study, we established the normative trajectories of R1, R2*, and magnetic susceptibility in the basal ganglia at 3T. We used a healthy ageing cohort comprising 260 subjects with an evenly distributed age range and sex ratio throughout adulthood. Utilizing the non-parametric Gaussian Process Regression model to derive the normative trajectories, we found that R1in these structures predominantly exhibit a quadratic shape over age, while R2* and magnetic susceptibility are primarily linear. We validated the normative trajectories of R2* and magnetic susceptibility using an independent cohort. Additionally, we demonstrated that the spatial distributions of the quantitative MRI parameters also change with age in the putamen and caudate nucleus. This study not only reinforces existing findings on the association between age and qMRI but also provides valuable resources for studying cognitive ageing, in conjunction with the behavioural data available in the same data collection.