bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Beta thalassemia: Looking to the future, addressing unmet needs and challenges
Authors: Angastiniotis Michael
Published: January 2024

Thalassemia management has reached new milestones, with new therapies promising the dawning of a new era. However, conventional and new approaches require accessibility, affordability, acceptability/adherence by patients, and medical expertise from healthcare providers. Current treatments still do not offer the expected duration and quality of life, and inequalities in patient care are almost a universal phenomenon. To understand the requirements to achieve improved care, including the adoption of new therapies, for the maximum number of the global patient population, it is necessary to recognize the weaknesses that are experienced in the present so that future corrective action can be taken. Deficits in service provision are due to poor political and financial support, lack of prioritization during resource rationing, and absence of epidemiological information for policy making. These system weaknesses require improved resource management and would benefit from patient support organizations, improved psychosocial support and patient welfare, and an increase in professional expertise through educational programs. Medical products and technology must also be made affordable and widely available, and the curative treatments and cheaper approaches to technology must be recognized as resource saving. Improvements in the access to innovative and quality care, and even a cure, require concerted actions by all stakeholders, including physicians and the patient community.
Three‐dimensional analysis of mandibular morphology asymmetry and temporomandibular joint position in patients with unilateral Brodie bite
Authors: Wu J. , Jia W. , Su X. , Zhang K. , Huang Y. , Lei Y.
Published: January 2024

Objective

Previous studies have shown unilateral posterior crossbite is associated with mandibular asymmetry in morphology and position. However, it remains unclear whether unilateral Brodie bite plays a similar role in mandibular development. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the morphological and positional symmetry of mandibles in patients with unilateral Brodie bite by three‐dimensional anaylsis.

Methods

Fourteen patients with unilateral Brodie bite (mean age 18.43 ± 4.24 years) and fourteen sex‐ and age‐matched patients with normal occlusion (mean age 18.07 ± 5.48 years) underwent cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) scans. 3D surface mesh models of their mandibles were established using Mimics Research 19.0. The surface matching percentage was compared between the original and mirrored mandible by Geomagic Control X software. Furthermore, the dimension and position of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) were determined for both groups using InVivoDental 5.0.

Results

For surface‐to‐surface deviation analysis, the percentage of mismatch in patients with unilateral Brodie bite was significantly higher than the control group at ±0.50 mm, ±0.75 mm, and ±1.00 mm tolerance (P < .001). In patients with unilateral Brodie syndrome, the condyles on the scissors‐bite side showed a significantly more anterior position (P = .03), greater medial inclination (P < .01), and larger posterior TMJ space (P = .01) than the non‐scissors‐bite side.

Conclusion

Patients with unilateral Brodie bite exhibit a more asymmetrical mandibular morphology, with a greater anterior condylar position and posterior joint space on the scissors‐bite side, indicating that early diagnosis and treatment may be necessary for patients with unilateral Brodie bite.
Plant microphenotype: from innovative imaging to computational analysis
Authors: Zhang Ying , Gu Shenghao , Du Jianjun , Huang Guanmin , Shi Jiawei , Lu Xianju , Wang Jinglu , Yang Wanneng , Guo Xinyu , Zhao Chunjiang
Published: January 2024

The microphenotype plays a key role in bridging the gap between the genotype and the complex macro phenotype. In this article, we review the advances in data acquisition and the intelligent analysis of plant microphenotyping and present applications of microphenotyping in plant science over the past two decades. We then point out several challenges in this field and suggest that cross‐scale image acquisition strategies, powerful artificial intelligence algorithms, advanced genetic analysis, and computational phenotyping need to be established and performed to better understand interactions among genotype, environment, and management. Microphenotyping has entered the era of Microphenotyping 3.0 and will largely advance functional genomics and plant science.
An in vitro study on the effects of photobiomodulation by diode lasers (red, infrared, and red–infrared combination) on periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells treated with bisphosphonates
Authors: Safari Amir Hossein , Sadat Mansouri Saeed , Iranpour Babak , Hodjat Mahshid , Hakimiha Neda
Published: January 2024

This study evaluated the effect of photobiomodulation therapy (PBMT) using 660 and 808 nm diode lasers (individual and in combination) on periodontal ligament mesenchymal stem cells (PDLSCs) in the presence of zoledronic acid (ZA). PDLSCs were cultured for 48 h in DMEM complete medium containing 5 μM ZA. PBMT was done three times with a 24‐h interval in groups 1 (660 nm, 5 J/cm2), 2 (880 nm, 3 J/cm2), and 3 (660 + 808 nm) either in normal or ZA‐treated culture medium. Control groups did not receive PBMT. Twenty‐four hours post‐irradiation, cell proliferation and expression of RANKL and OPG were assessed using MTT and real‐time PCR tests, respectively. The results showed a significant decrease in cell viability in ZA‐treated cells (p < 0.001). Additionally, ZA induced the expression of OPG (p = 0.03) while reducing RANKL (p < 0.001). Cell proliferation was significantly increased in 808 and 660 + 808 nm groups. Moreover, all PBMT groups could significantly increase and decrease the RANKL and OPG, respectively, in the presence of ZA (all p < 0.001). A combination of 660 + 808 nm showed the highest effects on both genes. In conclusion, it seems that PBMT can modulate the effects of ZA by inducing PDLSC proliferation and increasing RANKL‐to‐OPG gene expression ratio.
Disparities and social determinants of periodontal diseases
Authors: Albandar Jasim M.
Published: January 2024

Periodontal diseases are highly prevalent in populations worldwide and are a major global public health problem, with major negative impacts on individuals and communities. This study investigates evidence of disparities in periodontal diseases by age groups, gender, and socioeconomic factors. There is ample evidence that these diseases disproportionally affect poorer and marginalized groups and are closely associated with certain demographics and socioeconomic status. Disparities in periodontal health are associated with social inequalities, which in turn are caused by old age, gender inequality, income and education gaps, access to health care, social class, and other factors. In health care, these factors may result in some individuals receiving better and more professional care compared to others. This study also reviews the potential causes of these disparities and the means to bridge the gap in disease prevalence. Identifying and implementing effective strategies to eliminate inequities among minorities and marginalized groups in oral health status and dental care should be prioritized in populations globally.
How competitive intensity drives firms to speed up new product development? The mediating effect of knowledge integration and the moderating effect of market orientation
Authors: Lyu Chongchong , Bao Yongchuan , Zhang Feng , Wang Hongpeng , Tuo Xiaonan , Ou Jianmeng , Lin Dongdong
Published: January 2024

While industry conventions underscore the imperative for firms to accelerate their new product development (NPD) speed in order to maintain competitive advantage, especially when they face intense competition, extant literature has afforded relatively scant attention to the phenomenon of competitive intensity as a driver of NPD speed. Equally underexplored are the operational mechanisms and the boundary conditions of the effects of competitive intensity on NPD speed. Drawing on the knowledge‐based view, this paper reveals how competitive intensity shapes firms' NPD speed through knowledge integration and the contingency of both the direct effects and the mediating effect on market orientation. Data collected from a sample of Chinese manufacturing firms support the hypotheses of these multifaceted effects. The research findings contribute to the NPD literature in multiple ways and provide useful recommendations to managers.
Ageism scale for dental students (ASDS): A focus group review of content validity
Authors: Elliott Kendall , Dukes Kimberly C. , Barlow Patrick B. , Kossioni Anastassia , Marchini Leonardo
Published: January 2024

Purpose/aim

Improve content validity of the Ageism Scale for Dental Students (ASDS) and identify barriers to using the scale.

Methods

Thematic analysis of transcripts of three purposively sampled focus groups of 1) geriatric dentistry specialists, 2) older adult dental patients, and 3) dental students.

Results

Twenty‐five participants engaged in focus groups. No new concepts to define ageism were identified. Experts found the scale acceptable and appropriate, yet they raised specific potential revisions to scale questions. Commonly reported themes already addressed by ASDS included the importance of tailoring decision‐making to patient preference and not making assumptions about older adults’ capacity or preferences for dental care. Barriers to identifying ageism or using the scale included experiential differences in interpreting scale items, cultural differences in attitudes towards older adults, and potential overlap with social determinants of health. Secondary findings include recommendations for older‐adult focused training for dental students to provide positive, concrete guidance on caring for older adults.

Conclusion

There are opportunities to refine the Ageism Scale for Dental Students and to allow tailoring of the scale for specific national or cultural contexts.
On the sheafyness property of spectra of Banach rings
Authors: Bambozzi Federico , Kremnizer Kobi
Published: January 2024

Let be a non‐Archimedean Banach ring, satisfying some mild technical hypothesis that we will specify later on. We prove that it is possible to associate to a homotopical Huber spectrum via the introduction of the notion of derived rational localization. The spectrum so obtained is endowed with a derived structural sheaf of simplicial Banach algebras for which the derived C̆ech–Tate complex is strictly exact. Under some hypothesis, we can prove that there is a canonical morphism of underlying topological spaces that is a homeomorphism in some well‐known examples of non‐sheafy Banach rings, where is the usual Huber spectrum of . This permits the use of the tools from derived geometry to understand the geometry of in cases when the classical structure sheaf is not a sheaf.
Bott‐integrable Reeb flows on 3‐manifolds
Authors: Geiges Hansjörg , Hedicke Jakob , Sağlam Murat
Published: January 2024

This paper is devoted to studying a notion of Bott integrability for Reeb flows on contact 3‐manifolds. We show, in analogy with work of Fomenko–Zieschang on Hamiltonian flows in dimension 4, that Bott‐integrable Reeb flows exist precisely on graph manifolds. We also show that all ‐invariant contact structures on Seifert manifolds, as well as all contact structures on the 3‐sphere, on the 3‐torus and on , admit Bott‐integrable Reeb flows. Along the way, we establish some general Liouville‐type theorems for Bott‐integrable Reeb flows, and a number of topological constructions (connected sum, open books, Dehn surgery) that may be expected to have wider applications.
Modeling Running via Optimal Control for Shoe Design
Authors: Fay Sarah C. , Hosoi A. E.
Published: January 2024

Shoe manufacturing technology is advancing faster than new shoe designs can viably be evaluated in human subject trials. To aid in the design process, this paper presents a model for estimating how new shoe properties will affect runner performance. This model assumes runners choose their gaits to optimize an intrinsic, unknown objective function. To learn this objective function, a simple two-dimensional mechanical model of runners was used to predict their gaits under different objectives, and the resulting gaits were compared to data from real running trials. The most realistic model gaits, i.e., the ones that best matched the data, were obtained when the model runners minimized the impulse they experience from the ground as well as the mechanical work done by their leg muscles. Using this objective function, the gait and thus performance of running under different shoe conditions can be predicted. The simple model is sufficiently sensitive to predict the difference in performance of shoes with disruptive designs but cannot distinguish between existing shoes whose properties are fairly similar. This model therefore is a viable tool for coarse-grain exploration of the design space and identifying promising behaviors of truly novel shoe materials and designs.
Material Properties of Fiber Bundles of the Superficial Medial Collateral Ligament of the Knee Joint
Authors: Chen Wentao , Zhou Qing , Tang Jisi
Published: January 2024

The superficial medial collateral ligament (sMCL) of the human knee joint has functionally separate anterior and posterior fiber bundles. The two bundles are alternatively loaded as the knee flexion angle changes during walking. To date, the two bundles are usually not distinguished in knee ligament simulations because there has been little information about their material properties. In this study, we conducted quasi-static tensile tests on the sMCL of matured porcine stifle joints and obtained the material properties of the anterior bundle (AB), posterior bundle (PB), and whole ligament (WL). AB and PB have similar failure stress but different threshold strain, modulus, and failure strain. As a result, we recommend assigning different material properties (i.e., modulus and failure strain) to the two fiber bundles to realize biofidelic ligament responses in human body models. However, it is often inconvenient to perform tensile tests on AB and PB. Hence, we proposed a microstructural model-based approach to predict the material properties of AB and PB from the test results of WL. Such obtained modulus values of AB and PB had an error of 2% and 0.3%, respectively, compared with those measured from the tests. This approach can reduce the experimental cost for acquiring the needed mechanical property data for simulations.
Characteristics of Physical Activity Interventions for People With Visual Impairments: A Scoping Review
Authors: Choi Soyoung , Pionke JJ
Published: January 2024

This study evaluated physical activity interventions designed for individuals with visual impairments and sought to guide health intervention scientists aiming to promote physical activity in this demographic. We delved into the specifics of participants’ visual impairments, intervention features, accommodation approaches, and replicability prospects. The search spanned four databases, namely PubMed, CINAHL, SportDiscus, and Scopus, providing a wide scope and diversity of potential studies. There were no restrictions on publication years. We reviewed 13 studies, totaling 15 interventions. A consensus on visual-impairment definitions remains elusive, and the intervention dosages displayed variability. Notably, 66.7% (n = 7) integrated behavior-change techniques to amplify physical activity levels. Multiple studies employed audio descriptions as an accommodation method. While most studies provided adequate information for potential replication, detailed study protocols were frequently absent. It is essential for developed interventions to be persistently evaluated and fine-tuned to optimize results.
Design and implementation of a seismic Newtonian noise cancellation system for the Virgo gravitational-wave detector
Authors: Koley Soumen , Harms Jan , Allocca Annalisa , Badaracco Francesca , Bertolini Alessandro , Bulik Tomasz , Calloni Enrico , Cieslar Marek , De Rosa Rosario , Errico Luciano , Esposito Marina , Fiori Irene , Hild Stefan , Idzkowski Bartosz , Masserot Alain , Mours Benoît , Paoletti Federico , Paoli Andrea , Pietrzak Mateusz , Rei Luca , Rolland Loïc , Singha Ayatri , Suchenek Mariusz , Suchinski Maciej , Tringali Maria Concetta , Ruggi Paolo
Published: January 2024

Terrestrial gravity perturbations caused by seismic fields produce the so-called Newtonian noise in gravitational-wave detectors, which is predicted to limit their sensitivity in the upcoming observing runs. In the past, this noise was seen as an infrastructural limitation, i.e., something that cannot be overcome without major investments to improve a detector’s infrastructure. However, it is possible to have at least an indirect estimate of this noise by using the data from a large number of seismometers deployed around a detector’s suspended test masses. The noise estimate can be subtracted from the gravitational-wave data, a process called Newtonian noise cancellation (NNC). In this article, we present the design and implementation of the first NNC system at the Virgo detector as part of its AdV+ upgrade. It uses data from 110 vertical geophones deployed inside the Virgo buildings in optimized array configurations. We use a separate tiltmeter channel to test the pipeline in a proof-of-principle. The system has been running with good performance over months.
Method-level Bug Prediction: Problems and Promises
Authors: Chowdhury Shaiful , Uddin Gias , Hemmati Hadi , Holmes Reid
Published: January 2024

Fixing software bugs can be colossally expensive, especially if they are discovered in the later phases of the software development life cycle. As such, bug prediction has been a classic problem for the research community. As of now, the Google Scholar site generates ∼113,000 hits if searched with the “bug prediction” phrase. Despite this staggering effort by the research community, bug prediction research is criticized for not being decisively adopted in practice. A significant problem of the existing research is the granularity level (i.e., class/file level) at which bug prediction is historically studied. Practitioners find it difficult and time-consuming to locate bugs at the class/file level granularity. Consequently, method-level bug prediction has become popular in the past decade. We ask,are these method-level bug prediction models ready for industry use?Unfortunately, the answer isno. The reported high accuracies of these models dwindle significantly if we evaluate them in different realistic time-sensitive contexts. It may seem hopeless at first, but, encouragingly, we show that future method-level bug prediction can be improved significantly. In general, we show how to reliably evaluate future method-level bug prediction models and how to improve them by focusing on four different improvement avenues: building noise-free bug data, addressing concept drift, selecting similar training projects, and developing a mixture of models. Our findings are based on three publicly available method-level bug datasets and a newly built bug dataset of 774,051 Java methods originating from 49 open-source software projects.
FaceSigns: Semi-fragile Watermarks for Media Authentication
Authors: Neekhara Paarth , Hussain Shehzeen , Zhang Xinqiao , Huang Ke , McAuley Julian , Koushanfar Farinaz
Published: January 2024

Manipulated media is becoming a prominent threat due to the recent advances in realistic image and video synthesis techniques. There have been several attempts at detecting synthetically tampered media using machine learning classifiers. However, such classifiers do not generalize well to black-box image synthesis techniques and have been shown to be vulnerable to adversarial examples. To address these challenges, we introduce
FaceSigns
—a deep learning-based semi-fragile watermarking technique that allows media authentication by verifying an invisible secret message embedded in the image pixels. Instead of identifying and detecting manipulated media using visual artifacts, we propose to proactively embed a semi-fragile watermark into a real image or video so that we can prove its authenticity when needed. FaceSigns is designed to be fragile to malicious manipulations or tampering while being robust to benign operations such as image/video compression, scaling, saturation, contrast adjustments, and so forth. This allows images and videos shared over the internet to retain the verifiable watermark as long as a malicious modification technique is not applied. We demonstrate that our framework can embed a 128-bit secret as an imperceptible image watermark that can be recovered with a high bit recovery accuracy at several compression levels, while being non-recoverable when unseen malicious manipulations are applied. For a set of unseen benign and malicious manipulations studied in our work, our framework can reliably detect manipulated content with an AUC score of 0.996, which is significantly higher than prior image watermarking and steganography techniques.
An Electromagnetic Load Identification Method Based on the Polynomial Structure Selection Technique
Authors: Mao Wengui , Pei Shixiong , Guo Jie , Li Jianhua , Wang Buyao
Published: January 2024

Electromagnetic loads can effectively monitor motor health and improve motor design. Considering the weak correlation of the modal shape and Chebyshev orthogonal polynomial in the space‐time independent electromagnetic load identification method, a proposed method combining the polynomial structure selection technique together with limited measured displacement responses is presented, in which an error reduction ratio is used to pick out the significant mode shape matrix and the Chebyshev orthogonal polynomial. The time‐history function of the electromagnetic load is reconstructed by combining the significant mode shape matrix and the identified concentrated load through modal transformation, and the corresponding spatial distribution function is fitted by the significant Chebyshev orthogonal polynomial. Eventually, a comparative numerical study considering the selection of significant components and measurement noise is carried out to prove the effectiveness of the presented method.
Clinical Characteristics, Treatment, and Prognosis of Amoxicillin‐Induced AGEP/ALEP
Authors: Lei Haibo , Fan Zhiqiang , He Yang , Sun Wei , Li Zuojun , Wang Chunjiang
Published: January 2024

Background. Amoxicillin was associated with acute generalized exanthematous pustulosis (AGEP), and the clinical characteristics were not clear. The purpose of this study was to explore the clinical characteristics of amoxicillin‐induced AGEP and to provide a basis for prevention and treatment. Methods. Case reports and case series of amoxicillin‐induced AGEP were collected for retrospective analysis by searching the Chinese and English databases from inception to January 31, 2023. Results. A total of 46 patients were included with a median age of 40 years (range 1.4, 87). The onset time of AGEP ranged from 6 hours to 28 days, with a median of 2.5 days. Fever occurred in 32 patients (69.6%), and pruritus occurred in 13 patients (28.3%). Ten patients (21.7%) had mucous membrane involvement and systemic involvement, respectively. Twenty‐two patients had elevated neutrophils, with a median of 12850/mm3 (range 7880, 29140). Skin biopsy mainly showed subcorneal pustules (22 cases, 47.8%), spongy pustules (14 cases, 30.4%), and inflammatory cell infiltration (26 cases, 56.5%). Skin lesions disappeared in a median of 10 days (range 2, 42) after discontinuation of amoxicillin and administration of topical steroids (26 cases, 56.5%) as well as systemic corticosteroids (13 cases, 28.3%). Conclusions. AGEP is a rare complication of amoxicillin and is self‐limiting. Clinicians should correctly identify AGEP and should avoid represcribing amoxicillin. Clinicians should correctly identify AGEP and avoid represcribing amoxicillin, which can prevent unnecessary treatment measures.
Stress‐Related Gene Expression in Liver Tissues from Laying Hens Housed in Conventional Cage and Cage‐Free Systems in the Tropics
Authors: Herrera-Sánchez María Paula , Rodríguez-Hernández Roy , Rondón-Barragán Iang Schroniltgen
Published: January 2024

Global egg production is mainly based on cage systems, which have been associated with negative effects on the welfare of birds. Stress factors in restrictive production systems can lead to changes in gene transcription and protein synthesis, ultimately impacting the quality of poultry products. The liver serves various metabolic functions, such as glycogen storage, and plays a crucial role in animals’ adaptation to environmental changes. Consequently, both internal and external conditions can influence liver functions. The aim of this study was to evaluate the gene expression of AGP, CRP, NOX4, SOD1, CAT, GPX1, SREBF1, and FXR in the liver of laying hens under two different production systems. Liver tissues from Hy‐Line Brown hens housed in conventional cage and cage‐free egg production systems at 60 and 80 weeks of production were used. mRNA transcript levels were determined by qPCR using the relative quantification method and ACTB as the reference gene. AGP, SOD1, and SREBF1 gene expressions were significantly higher in the conventional cage group at the 60 weeks of production. Furthermore, the mRNA levels of transcripts related to oxidative stress and lipid metabolism were higher in the group of laying hens housed in conventional cages compared to those in cage‐free systems. These results suggest differential gene expression of genes related to oxidative stress in liver tissues from hens housed in conventional cages compared to cage‐free systems. The conditions of the egg production system can impact the gene expression of oxidative stress and lipid synthesis genes, potentially leading to changes in the metabolism and performance of hens, including egg quality.
Identification of the Mechanism of Action of the Index Components of Banxia Xiexin Decoction for Gastric Cancer through Network Pharmacology, Bioinformatics, and Molecular Docking Analysis
Authors: Niu Xiaoji , Ma Mingyue , Wang Shoumei , Hu Aiyan , Xu Yi , Zhu Liang , Zhang Shuhui
Published: January 2024

Banxia Xiexin decoction (BXD) is a traditional prescription widely used to treat gastrointestinal conditions, including gastric cancer. Through network pharmacology, bioinformatics, and molecular docking analysis, this study aimed to investigate the potential mechanism of the antigastric cancer effect of BXD and pave the way for future research. The network pharmacology analysis used BXD index components to improve reliability and validity. Prognosis-related genes identified through Lasso and Cox regression analysis were considered potential BXD core targets for gastric cancer. Functional enrichment analysis was conducted to uncover the potential mechanism of action of BXD in gastric cancer. In addition, molecular docking of the index components of BXD and the core targets was used to validate the results. The present study obtained six index components of BXD and 155 corresponding antigastric cancer targets. ANXA5, CYP19A1, FGF1, and F2 in the prognostic signature model were identified as core targets of the index components of BXD. Protein-protein interaction networks and functional enrichment analysis indicated that proteoglycans in cancer, PI3K-Akt, and other pathways were involved. According to molecular docking results, six index components showed good-to-strong binding affinities to the core targets. The results indicated that the index components of BXD act on multiple pathways and targets of gastric cancer. Our study paved the way for further investigation of the antigastric cancer activity and mechanisms of BXD.
Limited Access to Aortic Valve Procedures in Socioeconomically Disadvantaged Areas
Authors: David Guy , Bergman Alon , Gunnarsson Candace , Ryan Michael , Chikermane Soumya , Thompson Christin , Clancy Seth
Published: January 2024

Background

To explore how differences in local socioeconomic deprivation impact access to aortic valve procedures and the treatment of aortic valve disease, in comparison to other open and minimally invasive surgical procedures.

Methods and Results

Procedure volume data were obtained from the Healthcare Cost and Utilization Project from 18 states from 2016 to 2019 and merged with area deprivation index data, an index of zip code‐level socioeconomic distress. We estimate the relationship between local deprivation ranking and differences in volumes of aortic valve replacement, which include transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) and surgical aortic valve replacement (SAVR), versus coronary artery bypass graft surgery and laparoscopic colectomy (LC). All regressions control for state and year fixed effects and an array of zip code‐level characteristics. TAVR procedures have increased over time across all zip codes. The rate of increase is negatively correlated with deprivation ranking, regardless of the higher share of hospitalizations per population in high deprivation areas. Distributional analysis further supports these findings, showing that lower area deprivation index areas account for a disproportionately large share of SAVR, TAVR, and LC procedures in our sample relative to their share of all hospitalizations in our sample. By comparison, the cumulative distribution of coronary artery bypass graft procedures was nearly identical to that of total hospitalizations, suggesting that this procedure is equitably distributed. Regressions show high area deprivation index areas have lower prevalence of SAVR (
β
=−15.1%, [95% CI, −26.8 to −3.5]), TAVR (
β
=−9.1%, [95% CI, −18.0 to −0.2]), and LC (
β
=−19.9%, [95% CI, −35.4 to −4.4]), with no statistical difference in the prevalence of coronary artery bypass graft (
β
=−2.5%, [95% CI, −12.7 to 7.6]), a widespread and commonly performed procedure. In the population aged ≥80 years, results show high area deprivation index areas have a lower prevalence of TAVR (
β
=−11.9%, [95% CI, −18.7 to −5.2]) but not SAVR (
β
=−0.8%, [95% CI, 8.1 to 6.3]), LC (
β
=−3.5%, [95% CI, −13.4 to −6.4]), or coronary artery bypass graft (
β
=5.2%, [95% CI, −1.1 to 1.1]).

Conclusions

People living in high deprivation areas have less access to life‐saving technologies, such as SAVR, and even moreso to device‐intensive minimally invasive procedures such as TAVR and LC.
Pigs and Pathogens: “Swine Flu” as a Boundary Object for Animal Rights and Farming Discourses
Authors: Couture Abigail A.
Published: January 2024

This paper considers the ways in which discourse around the 2009 Swine Flu outbreak reflects differences in framing and symbolic boundary negotiation amongst animal rights organizations, small scale farming advocates and meat industry representatives. Frame analysis shows how “Swine Flu” is treated as a “boundary object” to negotiate its significance and meaning for human and non-animal health writ large. The ambiguity of the virus’ origins, who was responsible, and who should care allowed Swine Flu to emerge as a boundary object for stakeholders to negotiate within public health discourse. Thematic analysis identified six separate frames, revealing patterns of meaning-making by animal rights organizations (AROs), farm-to-table groups, and meat industry networks. Frame use illustrates how Swine Flu was situated by competing stakeholders to reinforce a network of boundaries. Future directions consider the applicability of frames to understand boundary processes during COVID-19.
Evaluation of antibacterial activities of hemolymph and methanol extracts from black soldier fly (Hermetia illucens)
Authors: Luo Y.H. , Ye B.P. , Gao S.Q. , Tang G.J. , Li D.P. , Huang Y.H. , Huang Z.Z. , Yang X. , Naman A.M. , Qian Y.X. , Tan Z. , Zeng X.Y. , Wang B.
Published: January 2024

Black soldier fly (BSF) has been recently recognized as a promising source of antibacterial substances such as antimicrobial peptides (AMPs) and medium-chain fatty acids (MCFAs). This study aimed to isolate and identify the antibacterial activities of hemolymph and methanol extracts from BSF. The BSF larvae hemolymph increased the growth of bacteria which is likely due to its nutritional effects. However, the bacteria (Listeria monocytogenes, Staphylococcus aureus, Salmonella typhimurium, and Escherichia coli) treated with the hemolymph from bacteria inoculated BSF larvae showed slower growth when compared with the bacteria treated with the unchallenged hemolymph, and such a difference was dramatically eliminated by proteinase K and proteins/peptides between 3-10 kDa were the most active substances that affected the growth of bacteria. However, the antibacterial activity of BSF hemolymph was not strong enough to develop a visible inhibition zone in the Zone of Inhibition test against any of the four bacteria strains above. Methanol extracts from III instar BSF larvae, V instar BSF larvae, and BSF prepupae showed strong antibacterial activities in the Zone of Inhibition test against the four bacteria strains, and it is resistant to proteinase K treatment. The antibacterial activity and the percentage of fatty acids in the methanol extracts increased with age. Heating at 130 °C for 60 min significantly improved the antibacterial ability of methanol extracts against Staphylococcus aureus without changing its fatty acid profile. In conclusion, bacteria-inoculated BSF larvae develop AMPs in hemolymph which exhibit weak antibacterial activities. The methanol extracts of BSF can be produced in large quantities using larvae and have strong antibacterial activity which is attributed to lauric acid and some unknown compounds.
A Systematic Review of Mortality Associations in Patients who Develop Tracheoinnominate Artery Fistula Following Tracheostomy
Authors: Ward Katherine , Hinchman-Dominguez Daniela , Stokes Laura , Norton Elizabeth L. , Narveson Joel R. , Punja Viren P.
Published: January 2024

Objective

Tracheoinnominate artery fistulas (TIFs) are a rare but deadly complication of tracheostomy. Tracheoinnominate artery fistula cases in the literature were summarized in order to understand mortality associations.

Methods

MEDLINE was searched for studies reporting individual characteristics of patients with TIFs after tracheostomy, excluding cases without tracheostomy or with additional procedures at the tracheostomy site. This study followed PRISMA guidelines.

Results

121 TIF patients from 18 case series and 46 case reports were included. The median age was 40 years, and 52.9% were male. The overall mortality rate was 64.5%. There were differences in mortality between cases that presented initially with vs without sentinel bleeding (odds ratio [OR] .34; CI [confidence interval] .16-.73; P = .006). The mortality rate also differed in whether or not the tracheostomy cuff was over-inflated for temporary hemostasis during resuscitation (OR 3.57 (CI 1.57-8.09); P = .002). Treatment compared to no treatment had lower mortality rates (OR .11 (CI 0.04-.32); P < .001); no differences were found if treatment was endovascular vs open surgical.

Conclusions

Mortality is a major concern after detection of a TIF and resuscitation paired with endovascular or open surgical intervention is imperative. Rapidly investigating sentinel bleeds and intervening upon hemorrhage with temporary cuff over inflation may lead to improved outcomes.
Guérison et transformations rituelles dans les mondes autochtones au Québec : l’expérience de la loge à sudation (sweat lodge) comme acte politique chez les Atikamekw Nehirowisiwok
Authors: Jérôme Laurent
Published: January 2024

In this article, we will analyze the political significance and the dynamics of transformation related to the sweat lodge ritual in the indigenous context of Quebec. While tracing the historical context of this ritual practice, which is well known throughout the Americas, we will show how it can be understood through the relational dynamics that it allows to set up : relations between the actors of the ritual, between the participants and the territory, between human and non-human world, between the present and the colonial history, between future perspectives and the heritage of ancestors. This relational perspective of ritual allows us to question the way in which it is inscribed in different healing initiatives while referring to current processes of political affirmation in the indigenous context.
Cross-Cultural Differences in Perception of Facial Trustworthiness Based on Geometric Morphometric Morphs
Authors: Rostovtseva Victoria V. , Butovskaya Marina L. , Mezentseva Anna A. , Dashieva Nadezhda B. , Korotkova Anna A. , Kavina Alexander , Singh Mewa
Published: January 2024

We report on an experimental study that explores cross-cultural differences in perception of trustworthiness based on facial traits. In the first part of the experiment, individual male and female neutral photographs of Buryats (Mongolian people of Eastern Siberia) were rated on trustworthiness by men and women from the same population. The trustworthy-looking facial traits were investigated by means of geometric morphometrics, and analysis of the facial action units using artificial neural network (FaceReader). Significant associations between facial traits and perceived trustworthiness were revealed only for male photographs rated by men. Facial shape pattern along trustworthy–untrustworthy vector corresponded to the facial femininity-masculinity vector for Buryats, as well as to the positive-negative vector of the emotional connotation of the neutral facial shape. “Untrustworthy” facial shape was characterized by relatively narrower lower jaw, lower set eyebrows, as well as a lower position of the “Brow Lowerer” facial action unit—a frown. In the second part of the experiment, two geometric morphometric morphs, representing “trustworthy” and “untrustworthy” Buryat male facial shapes, were judged on trustworthiness by male representatives of Buryat, Tuvan (Mongolian people of Southern Siberia), Russian, Indian, and East African (Tanzanians) cultures. The results revealed that in all studied samples the “trustworthy” male portrait was rated significantly higher on trustworthiness than “untrustworthy” one. However, perceived trustworthiness, and agreement of portrait judgments with those of Buryats significantly declined with geographic and genetic distance between populations.
Effectiveness of Internet-Based Training on Psychotherapists’ Transcultural Competence: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Atzor Marie-Christin , Andersson Gerhard , von Lersner Ulrike , Weise Cornelia
Published: January 2024

Treating culturally diverse patients (CDPs) presents considerable challenges for psychotherapists, including language barriers, differing beliefs, and insecurities. Improving their transcultural competence requires training, but empirical evidence is lacking. This 6-week randomized controlled trial evaluated the impact of standardized internet-based training on psychotherapists’ transcultural competence (i.e., awareness, engagement, and handling challenges). Demographic data were collected before training. Transcultural competence was measured at pre-training, post-training, and 3-month follow-up. Training satisfaction was assessed at post-training and follow-up visits. In the guided training group (GTG; n = 83), psychotherapists received hands-on training with practical exercises, weekly knowledge assessments, and online feedback. The second condition comprised a non-guided control group (CG; n = 90) that received only text-based training. Primary analyses on both intent-to-treat ( n = 173) and completer analyses ( n = 95) indicated significant improvements in transcultural awareness and engagement after 6 weeks of training for both groups. Significant within-group improvements were noted, as evidenced by large Cohen’s d effect sizes for both groups. No between-group differences were observed. Qualitative assessments revealed that GTG participants evaluated the training’s concept and content significantly more positively than CG participants and felt significantly less insecure about treating CDPs. Such training could pave the way for the long-term development of innovative, culturally sensitive mental health care services that more effectively meet the needs of CDPs.
Fun in a Box? Loneliness and Adolescents’ Problematic Smartphone Use: A Moderated Mediation Analysis of the Underlying Mechanisms
Authors: Maftei Alexandra , Merlici Ioan-Alex , Opariuc-Dan Cristian
Published: January 2024

Addictive smartphone use is one of the most concerning behaviors among adolescents. The present study investigated the indirect effects of self-esteem and boredom proneness and the moderating role of the need to belong on the link between loneliness and addictive smartphone use (ASU). Our sample included 357 adolescents aged 12 to 19 ( Mage = 15.56, SD = 1.01, 57.42% males) from ten public schools in Romania. We used a moderated mediation approach, with moderation of the both second mediation paths and the direct effect path. Results suggested that the influence of loneliness on ASU was statistically significant and partially mediated both by self-esteem and boredom proneness. Adolescents’ need to belong significantly moderated the positive association between boredom proneness and ASU, and the direct negative association between loneliness and ASU; however, it did not moderate the negative association between self-esteem and ASU. Thus, high levels of the need to belong also increased the influence of boredom proneness on AUS and had a marginally significant effect on the relation between loneliness and ASU. These results suggested that adolescents’ need to belong, self-esteem, and boredom proneness might contribute to developing ASU. Interventions centered around countering the adverse effects of excessive technology use ought to consider group activities that facilitate social bonding to satisfy the participants’ need to belong, reduce their levels of boredom, and, thus, reduce the risk of developing ASU symptoms.
Modified addition theorem on Kubelka-Munk transmission law for mass prediction of each primary in two-mixed cotton fiber blends
Authors: Wu Meiqin , Lu Zuoxiang , Hu Haiqun , Chen Yunhui , Sun Xinye
Published: January 2024

Unclear light propagation in mixed fibers has resulted in unachievable masses of primary fibers, in particular thin two-mixed fiber assemblies for decades. Hereby, a modified mixed medium addition theorem of the Kubelka-Munk transmission model is proposed to address this issue. This theorem was constructed by introducing a transfer function in the common ones on scattering coefficients, and such a transfer function takes both the mass proportion of each component and the reflectivity of mixed material into consideration. This opens up a new avenue for understanding the possible light mechanism of color mixed fiber assemblies. The proposed method demonstrated excellent accuracy in determining the primary masses of 48 specimens, with an average mean absolute error of only 2.23 mg. In comparison, the Lambert-Beer law yielded a much higher average mean absolute error of 8.66 for all types of blended samples. Such superiority was particularly obvious in white-black mixed samples, probably due to its comprised reflectance. In brief, this proposed theorem shows a high-quality prediction accuracy level in fiber mass and can be expanded to detect and control mixed fibers, as well as fiber length and uniformity detection through further study.
Social Media Use and Daily Well-Being: The Role of Quantity and Quality of Social Support
Authors: Lin Xin Yao , Lachman Margie E.
Published: January 2024

There have been mixed findings on whether social media use is positively or negatively related to well-being. Using the Midlife in the United States Refresher study ( N = 782, age 25–75), multilevel structural equation modeling examined social support quantity (time giving and receiving) and quality of as mediators at both the within- (intraindividual) and between-person (interindividual) levels. Giving support significantly mediated at within- and between-person levels: more social media use was associated with more time giving support and worse well-being. Receiving support significantly mediated at the between-person level: more social media use was associated with more time receiving support and worse well-being. When examining social support quality as a mediator, findings showed that more social media use to contact family/friends was related to better social support quality and better well-being. Results added to our understanding of the relationship between social media use and well-being by considering the role of social support quantity/quality.
Discrimination in Sentencing: Showing Remorse and the Intersection of Race and Gender
Authors: Zhao Jun , Rogalin Christabel L.
Published: January 2024

Using an intersectional lens, we investigate how an offender’s race and gender influence perceptions of and reactions to displays of remorse in jurors’ decision-making processes. Drawing on an experiment of a mock criminal trial (N = 1,155), we find that despite perceiving remorse equally across Black and White women and men, respondents rewarded all but Black men for displaying remorse, assigning significantly lighter sentences to remorseful offenders than their nonremorseful White and woman counterparts. Our results illustrate how emotions are used to reinforce existing racial hierarchies and that remorse is a gendered and racialized emotion.
Bibliometric study of scientific production in music education from 2000 to 2022
Authors: Sánchez-Marroquí Judith , Vicente-Nicolás Gregorio
Published: January 2024

The main aim of this study is to quantify and analyse scientific production on music education in different databases (WoS, Scopus, Dimensions and Lens) between 2000 and 2022. The selected sample comprises 17,373 articles, 3,394 journals, 23,145 authors and 23,473 keywords. A descriptive and inferential analysis of scientific output and structural analyses was performed using bibliometric techniques such as citation, co-citation, co-occurrence and collaboration. Results reveal exponential growth of scientific production related to music education. The majority of authors (77.07%) have published only one article and very few cover most scientific production. Among journals which have published most articles the top positions correspond to the International Journal of Music Education and Music Education Research, and a scattering of the scientific bibliography is observed, showing that a very small group of journals concentrate most bibliography in a discipline. Finally, regarding article subjects, an increase is seen in educational-musical studies over those in the field of psychology.