bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Extending the Hearing-Aid Speech Perception Index (HASPI): Keywords, sentences, and context
Authors: Kates James M.
Published: March 2023

The Hearing-Aid Speech Perception Index version 2 (HASPI v2) is a speech intelligibility metric derived by fitting subject responses scored as the proportion of complete sentences correct. This paper presents an extension of HASPI v2, denoted by HASPI w2, which predicts proportion keywords correct for the same datasets used to derive HASPI v2. The results show that the accuracy of HASPI w2 is nearly identical to that of HASPI v2. The values produced by HASPI w2 and HASPI v2 also allow the comparison of proportion words correct and sentences correct for the same stimuli. Using simulation values for speech in additive noise, a model of context effects for words combined into sentences is developed and accounts for the loss of intelligibility inherent in the impaired auditory periphery. In addition, HASPI w2 and HASPI v2 have a small bias term at poor signal-to-noise ratios; the model for context effects shows that the residual bias is reduced in converting from proportion keywords to sentences correct but is greatly magnified when considering the reverse transformation.
Altered Trunk Position Sense and Its Relationship With Spinal Posture and Spinal Mobility in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease
Authors: Yaşa Mustafa Ertuğrul , Sonkaya Ali Rıza , Korkmaz Buse , Çoban Özge , Ün Yıldırım Necmiye
Published: March 2023

Introduction: Proprioception is significantly affected by dysfunction of the basal ganglia, which play an important role in sensorimotor integration. Parkinson’s disease (PD), which is characterized by progressive loss of the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra, leads to a variety of motor and nonmotor symptoms throughout the course of the disease. The aim of this study was to determine trunk position sense and to investigate its relationship with spinal posture and spinal mobility in patients with PD. Methods: The study included 35 patients with PD and 35 age-matched control subjects. Trunk position sense was determined with “trunk reposition errors.” A spinal mouse was used to assess spinal posture and spinal mobility. Results: According to the Hoehn–Yahr rating scale, the majority of the patients were in Stage 1 (68.6%). Trunk position sense was found to be significantly decreased in patients with PD compared with the control group (p < .001) but was not correlated with spinal posture and spinal mobility in patients with PD (p > .05). Conclusions: This study revealed that trunk position sense was impaired in PD from the early stages of the disease. However, neither spinal posture nor spinal mobility was associated with decreased trunk proprioception. Further research into these relationships in the late stages of PD is needed.
Identification and Characterization of the Determinants of Copper Resistance in the Acidophilic Fungus
Acidomyces richmondensis
MEY-1 Using the CRISPR/Cas9 System
Authors: Li Jinyang , Wang Xiao , Zou Jiahuan , Yang Kun , Wang Xiaolu , Wang Yuan , Zhang Honglian , Huang Huoqing , Su Xiaoyun , Yao Bin , Luo Huiying , Qin Xing
Published: March 2023

Filamentous fungi are widely distributed worldwide and play an important ecological role as decomposers. However, the mechanisms of their adaptability to various environments are not fully understood.
Inside Out Computational Redesign of Cavities for Improving Thermostability and Catalytic Activity of
Rhizomucor Miehei
Lipase
Authors: Zhang Zehua , Long Mengfei , Zheng Nan , Lü Xiang , Zhu Cailin , Osire Tolbert , Xia Xiaole
Published: March 2023

In the present study,
R. miehei
lipase, which is widely used in various industries, provides an opportunity to explore the effects of internal cavities on the thermostability and catalytic activity of enzymes. Here, we execute high hydrostatic pressure molecular dynamics (HP-MD) simulations to screen the critical internal cavity and reshape the internal cavities through site-directed mutation.
Identification of Multiple Iron Uptake Mechanisms in Enterococcus faecalis and Their Relationship to Virulence
Authors: Brunson Debra N. , Colomer-Winter Cristina , Lam Ling Ning , Lemos José A.
Published: March 2023

Among the unfavorable conditions bacteria encounter within the host is restricted access to essential trace metals such as iron. To overcome iron deficiency, bacteria deploy multiple strategies to scavenge iron from host tissues, with abundant examples of iron acquisition systems being implicated in bacterial pathogenesis.
Complete Genome Sequence of an
mcr-10
-Carrying Enterobacter roggenkampii Strain Isolated from a Human Blood Culture
Authors: Wang Chengcheng , Feng Yu , Zong Zhiyong
Published: March 2023

The
mcr-10
gene is a plasmid-borne colistin resistance gene. The complete genome sequence of an
mcr-10
-carrying
Enterobacter roggenkampii
clinical strain that had been isolated from a blood culture was obtained. The genome consists of a 4.95-Mbp chromosome and six plasmids, including a 195-kb plasmid harboring
mcr-10
and two replicons, IncFIB(K) and IncFII(Yp).
Draft Genome Sequence of Bacillus anthracis N1, Isolated from a Recreational Freshwater Kettle Lake in Ontario, Canada
Authors: Bryan Noah , Anderson Rebecca , Lawal Opeyemi U. , Parreira Valeria R. , Goodridge Lawrence
Published: March 2023

Bacillus anthracis
is widespread in soil and a causative agent of anthrax, primarily in herbivores. Here, we report the draft genome sequence of
Bacillus anthracis
strain N1, which was isolated from a recreational freshwater lake and found to carry multiple antibiotic resistance genes and biosynthetic gene clusters.
Transcriptome Analysis of the Necrotrophic Pathogen
Alternaria brassicae
Reveals Insights into Its Pathogenesis in
Brassica juncea
Authors: Rajarammohan Sivasubramanian
Published: March 2023

Alternaria brassicae
is a necrotrophic pathogen that can infect almost all members of the
Brassicaceae
family.
A. brassicae
causes extensive yield losses in oilseed mustard and has practically restricted the cultivation of oilseed brassicas in regions with cool and foggy climatic conditions (foothills and mountainous terrains) where the severity of the pathogen is the highest. In this study, I identified the differentially expressed genes associated with the pathogenicity of
A. brassicae
through transcriptome sequencing.
Vimentin Is an Attachment Receptor for Mycoplasma pneumoniae P1 Protein
Authors: Peng Kailan , Liao Yating , Li Xia , Zeng Dongdong , Ye Youyuan , Chen Li , Zeng Zhuo , Zeng Yanhua
Published: March 2023

Mycoplasma pneumoniae
is the most common pathogen causing respiratory tract infection, and the P1 protein on its adhesion organelle plays a crucial role during the pathogenic process. A variety of experiments, including enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), coimmunoprecipitation, adhesion, and adhesion inhibition assay, have demonstrated that the
M. pneumoniae
P1 protein can interact with vimentin, that the adhesion of
M. pneumoniae
and recombinant P1 protein to BEAS-2B cells was affected by the expression level of vimentin.
Molybdenum mineralization genetically linked with magmatism at the Shipingchuan deposit, SE China
Authors: Li Yan-Jun , Wei Jun-Hao , Chen Meng-Ting , Chen Zheng-Hui , Lahaye Yann , Zhang Hai-Jun , Ulrich Thomas
Published: March 2023

Most molybdenum (Mo) deposits are considered to be associated with magmatic systems; however, their genetic link is not clearly resolved when using, for example, bulk sulfur (S) and lead (Pb) isotopes of sulfides dominated by pyrite separates. Here, we present microtextures and in situ trace-element results of pyrite, in situ S isotopic compositions of molybdenite and pyrite, and Pb isotopes of pyrite and K-feldspar determined by laser ablation−inductively coupled plasma−mass spectrometry (LA-ICP-MS) and multicollector (MC) LA-ICP-MS. Combined with geochronologic data for both the magmatism and Mo mineralization, these in situ methods allowed the genetic link between Mo mineralization and magmatism to be unraveled at Shipingchuan, SE China. The Shipingchuan deposit is characterized by molybdenite-quartz veins hosted by faults or fractures around a biotite K-feldspar granite. Zircon LA-ICP-MS U-Pb and molybdenite Re-Os dating results confirm that the biotite K-feldspar granite and mineralization were coeval and formed during the end of the Early Cretaceous (ca. 105 Ma), whereas postmineralization monzogranite porphyry dikes formed at 93.7 Ma. Pyrite shows a close mutual relationship with molybdenite and is characterized by Co-Ni-As-Te-Cu-Pb-Ag-Bi−rich cores (PyI) revealed by LA-ICP-MS data. Co/Ni and calculated (Se/S)fluid ratios for both cores (PyI) and rims (PyII) indicate a magmatic-hydrothermal origin. The in situ S isotopic compositions (δ34S) of molybdenite are 2.1‰ to 6.8‰, which are identical to those of molybdenite separates. PyI has δ34S values of −6.9‰ to 0.8‰, whereas PyII exhibits slightly more negative values of −7.5‰ to −0.2‰. These analyses indicate reliable results for in situ S isotopes in molybdenite, which could be more appropriate to constrain the origin of sulfur in hydrothermal fluids than results from pyrite analysis. The in situ S isotopic compositions of sulfides confirm a magmatic source for sulfur. The in situ Pb isotopic compositions of pyrite are consistent with those of K-feldspar from the biotite K-feldspar granite, indicating a common source. The heterogeneous As/Ni, As/Sb, and As/Bi values, as well as the variations of δ34S values of both PyI and PyII, indicate progressive oxidization of the hydrothermal fluids. These results illustrate that the metal-rich fluids were released from the granite and migrated along faults and fractures around the granite in an extensional setting. The precipitation of molybdenite-quartz veins at Shipingchuan was triggered by changes in temperatures and redox conditions, which were caused by mixing of magmatic fluids and meteoric water. Results in this study provide an example of tracing the link between Mo mineralization and magmatism using in situ S isotopic compositions of molybdenite and Pb isotopes of pyrite and K-feldspar.
Effects of women’s economic empowerment interventions on antenatal care outcomes: a systematic review
Authors: Suh Heezy , Kalai Shiri , Trivedi Niki , Underwood Carol , Hendrickson Zoé Mistrale
Published: March 2023

Objectives

Early and adequate antenatal care (ANC) has been shown to reduce maternal morbidity and mortality globally. Increasing evidence suggests that women’s economic empowerment (WEE) is a critical factor that may influence uptake of ANC during pregnancy. However, existing literature lacks a comprehensive synthesis of studies on WEE interventions and their effects on ANC outcomes. This systematic review analyses WEE interventions at the household, community and national levels and their effects on ANC outcomes in low-income and middle-income countries, where the majority of maternal deaths occur.

Methods

Six electronic databases were systematically searched as well as 19 websites of relevant organisations. Studies published in English and after 2010 were included.

Results

Following abstract and full-text review, 37 studies were included in this review. Seven studies used an experimental study design, 26 studies used a quasi-experimental study design, 1 study used an observational design and 1 study was a systematic review with meta-analysis. Thirty-one included studies evaluated a household-level intervention, and six studies evaluated a community-level intervention. No included studies examined a national-level intervention.

Conclusion

Most included studies on household-level and community-level interventions found a positive association between the intervention and the number of ANC visits women received. This review emphasises the need for more WEE interventions that empower women at the national level, for the expansion of the definition of WEE to be more inclusive of the multidimensionality of WEE interventions and the social determinants of health, and the standardisation of ANC outcome measurement globally.
Interaction of Systemic Morbidity and Oral Health in Ambulatory Patients in Need of Home Care (InSEMaP): an observational study at the sector boundary between dental and general practice care in Germany
Authors: Zimmermann Thomas , Koenig Alena , Porzelt Sarah , Schmage Petra , Konnopka Claudia , Schellhammer Stefanie , Behrens-Potratz Anja , Ijeoma Okoro Edelqueen , Henken Espen , Stratmeyer Peter , Beikler Thomas , König Hans-Helmut , Scherer Martin , Konnopka Alexander
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Older people in need of home care are at risk of declining oral health as their visits to dentists are becoming less frequent due to restricted mobility. There is increasing evidence that poor oral health and systemic diseases are closely associated, for example, in cardiological, metabolic or neurodegenerative conditions. Thus, Interaction of Systemic Morbidity and Oral Health in Ambulatory Patients in Need of Home Care (InSEMaP) is investigating the need, provision and utilisation of oral healthcare, systemic morbidity and clinical status of the oral cavity in older people.

Methods and analysis

InSEMaP consists of four subprojects (SP), all involving the target population of older people in need of home care. In SP1 part a, a sample is surveyed using a self-report questionnaire. In SP1 part b, stakeholders (general practitioners, dentists, medical assistants, family and professional caregivers) are interviewed regarding barriers and facilitators using focus groups and personal interviews. In SP2, a retrospective cohort study, health insurance claims data are examined to investigate the utilisation of oral healthcare, its association with systemic morbidity and healthcare costs. In SP3, a clinical observational study will assess the oral health of participants by a dentist’s visit at home. SP4 synthesises the results of SP1, SP2 and SP3 to develop integrated clinical pathways, identifying strategies to uphold oral healthcare in older people. In assessing and evaluating the process of oral healthcare, and its associated systemic morbidity, InSEMaP aims to improve general healthcare across the sector boundary of dental and general practitioner care.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethics approval was obtained from the Institutional Review Board of the Hamburg Medical Chamber (approval number: 2021-100715-BO-ff). The results of this study will be disseminated through conference presentations and publications in peer-reviewed journals. An expert advisory board to support the InSEMaP study group will be established.

Trial registration number

German Clinical Trials Register: DRKS00027020.
Performance of digital early warning score (NEWS2) in a cardiac specialist setting: retrospective cohort study
Authors: Alhmoud Baneen , Bonnici Tim , Melley Daniel , Patel Riyaz , Banerjee Amitava
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Patients with cardiovascular diseases (CVD) are at significant risk of developing critical events. Early warning scores (EWS) are recommended for early recognition of deteriorating patients, yet their performance has been poorly studied in cardiac care settings. Standardisation and integrated National Early Warning Score 2 (NEWS2) in electronic health records (EHRs) are recommended yet have not been evaluated in specialist settings.

Objective

To investigate the performance of digital NEWS2 in predicting critical events: death, intensive care unit (ICU) admission, cardiac arrest and medical emergencies.

Methods

Retrospective cohort analysis.

Study cohort

Individuals admitted with CVD diagnoses in 2020; including patients with COVID-19 due to conducting the study during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Measures

We tested the ability of NEWS2 in predicting the three critical outcomes from admission and within 24 hours before the event. NEWS2 was supplemented with age and cardiac rhythm and investigated. We used logistic regression analysis with the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) to measure discrimination.

Results

In 6143 patients admitted under cardiac specialties, NEWS2 showed moderate to low predictive accuracy of traditionally examined outcomes: death, ICU admission, cardiac arrest and medical emergency (AUC: 0.63, 0.56, 0.70 and 0.63, respectively). Supplemented NEWS2 with age showed no improvement while age and cardiac rhythm improved discrimination (AUC: 0.75, 0.84, 0.95 and 0.94, respectively). Improved performance was found of NEWS2 with age for COVID-19 cases (AUC: 0.96, 0.70, 0.87 and 0.88, respectively).

Conclusion

The performance of NEWS2 in patients with CVD is suboptimal, and fair for patients with CVD with COVID-19 to predict deterioration. Adjustment with variables that strongly correlate with critical cardiovascular outcomes, that is, cardiac rhythm, can improve the model. There is a need to define critical endpoints, engagement with clinical experts in development and further validation and implementation studies of EHR-integrated EWS in cardiac specialist settings.
Feasibility and effectiveness of disinfection of gloves during routine care: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Li Ke , Han Shuyu , Yang Zhennan , Zhang Mengjie , Zhang Jianxia
Published: March 2023

Introduction

Disinfecting gloves during patient care has potential benefits and risks. In recent years, disinfection of disposable medical gloves for prolonged use has occurred in clinical practice. However, there is limited high-level evidence to know if this practice can prevent nosocomial infections, reduce microbial levels on the glove surface. This concept was researched using a scoping review to explore the feasibility and effectiveness of disinfecting disposable gloves for prolonged use.

Methods and analysis

The review will be conducted in accordance with the Arksey and O'Malley scoping review methodology framework. From the date of database construction to 10 February 2023, the following 16 electronic databases in English and Chinese will be searched: PubMed, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, ProQuest, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang, SinoMed Database, Google Scholar, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), European Centre for Disease Prevention and Control, WHO, China CDC, International Nosocomial Infection Control Consortium and European Medicines Agency Science Medicines Health. The screening and data extraction of the study will be carried out by two reviewers (KL and SH). Differences between the two reviewers will be handled through negotiation. If there are still differences, they will be discussed with a third reviewer. Any study, for example, intervention study or observational study, that provide insights about the disinfection of disposable medical gloves for prolonged use will be included. Data charts will be used to extract relevant data from the included studies. Results will be reported according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses Extension for Scoping Reviews, to define the scope of evaluation. A narrative summary will be completed to synthesise key research findings and background information on the disinfection of gloved hands.

Ethics and dissemination

Ethical approval will not be required because only publicly available data will be analysed. The findings from the scoping review will be published in a peer-reviewed journal and presented at scientific meetings. By highlighting the feasibility and effectiveness of the disinfection of gloved hands in the literature, this review will provide direction for future research and clinical guidelines.

Trial registration number

This scoping review protocol has been registered in the Open Science Framework (registration number: 10.17605/OSF.IO/M4U8N).
Global HIV prevention, care and treatment services for children: a cross-sectional survey from the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium
Authors: Vreeman Rachel C , Yiannoutsos Constantin T , Yusoff Nik Khairulddin Nik , Wester C William , Edmonds Andrew , Ofner Susan , Davies Mary-Ann , Leroy Valériane , Lumbiganon Pagakrong , de Menezes Succi Regina Célia , Twizere Christella , Brown Steven , Bolton-Moore Carolyn , Takassi Ounoo Elom , Scanlon Michael , Martin Roxanne , Wools-Kaloustian Kara
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To assess access children with HIV have to comprehensive HIV care services, to longitudinally evaluate the implementation and scale-up of services, and to use site services and clinical cohort data to explore whether access to these services influences retention in care.

Methods

A cross-sectional standardised survey was completed in 2014–2015 by sites providing paediatric HIV care across regions of the International Epidemiology Databases to Evaluate AIDS (IeDEA) consortium. We developed a comprehensiveness score based on the WHO’s nine categories of essential services to categorise sites as ‘low’ (0–5), ‘medium’, (6–7) or ‘high’ (8–9). When available, comprehensiveness scores were compared with scores from a 2009 survey. We used patient-level data with site services to investigate the relationship between the comprehensiveness of services and retention.

Results

Survey data from 174 IeDEA sites in 32 countries were analysed. Of the WHO essential services, sites were most likely to offer antiretroviral therapy (ART) provision and counselling (n=173; 99%), co-trimoxazole prophylaxis (168; 97%), prevention of perinatal transmission services (167; 96%), outreach for patient engagement and follow-up (166; 95%), CD4 cell count testing (126; 88%), tuberculosis screening (151; 87%) and select immunisation services (126; 72%). Sites were less likely to offer nutrition/food support (97; 56%), viral load testing (99; 69%) and HIV counselling and testing (69; 40%). 10% of sites rated ‘low’, 59% ‘medium’ and 31% ‘high’ in the comprehensiveness score. The mean comprehensiveness of services score increased significantly from 5.6 in 2009 to 7.3 in 2014 (p<0.001; n=30). Patient-level analysis of lost to follow-up after ART initiation estimated the hazard was highest in sites rated ‘low’ and lowest in sites rated ‘high’.

Conclusion

This global assessment suggests the potential care impact of scaling-up and sustaining comprehensive paediatric HIV services. Meeting recommendations for comprehensive HIV services should remain a global priority.
Neoadjuvant Arterial Embolization Chemotherapy Combined PD-1 Inhibitor for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (NECI Study): a protocol for a phase II study
Authors: Fan Yiqun , Zhu Xiaoling , Xu Chengcai , Ding Caiyou , Hu Jibo , Hong Qiang , Wang Jianwei
Published: March 2023

Introduction

The NICHE trial showed remarkable results of neoadjuvant immunotherapy in colorectal cancer patients with mismatch repair (MMR) deficiency (dMMR). However, rectal cancer patients with dMMR accounted for only 10% of case. The therapeutic effect is unsatisfactory in MMR-proficient patients. Oxaliplatin has been demonstrated to induce immunogenic cell death (ICD), which may improve the therapeutic effect of programmed cell death 1 blockade; however, a maximum tolerated dose is required to induce ICD. Arterial embolisation chemotherapy provides drugs locally and can easily reach the maximum tolerated dose, which could be a significant method for delivering chemotherapeutic agents. Therefore, we designed a multicenter, prospective, single-arm, phase II study.

Methods and analysis

First, recruited patients will receive neoadjuvant arterial embolisation chemotherapy (NAEC) with oxaliplatin 85 mg/m2and 3 mg/m2. After 2 days, three cycles of immunotherapy with intravenous tislelizumab (200 mg/body, day 1) will be initiated at an interval of 3 weeks. From the second cycle of immunotherapy, the XELOX regimen will be added. 3 weeks after neoadjuvant therapy finished, the operation will be initiated. Neoadjuvant Arterial Embolization Chemotherapy Combined PD-1 Inhibitor for Locally Advanced Rectal Cancer (NECI) Study combined arterial embolisation chemotherapy, immunotherapy and systemic chemotherapy. Based on this combination therapy, the maximum tolerated dose could easily be reached, and ICD could be induced by oxaliplatin easily. To our knowledge, the NECI Study is the first multicenter, prospective, single-arm, phase II clinical trial to assess the efficacy and safety of NAEC combined with tislelizumab and systemic chemotherapy in locally advanced rectal cancer. This study is expected to provide a new neoadjuvant therapeutic regimen for locally advanced rectal cancer.

Ethics and dissemination

The Human Research Ethics Committee of the Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Zhejiang University School of Medicine approved this study protocol. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals and presented at appropriate conferences.

Trial registration number

NCT05420584.
Basal ganglia lesions may be a risk factor for characteristic features of a glaucomatous optic disc: population-based cohort study in Japan
Authors: Fukuoka Hideki , Nishita Yukiko , Tange Chikako , Otsuka Rei , Ando Fujiko , Shimokata Hiroshi
Published: March 2023

Background

We conducted a study to investigate the relationship between optic nerve vertical cup-to-disc ratio (VCDR), body and ocular parameters, and brain lesions in middle-aged and above Japanese subjects, because although various risk factors for glaucoma have been previously characterised, it is theorised that there are unidentified neurological components.

Methods

In this population-based, age/gender-stratified, cross-sectional study that involved 2239 Japanese subjects (1127 men and 1112 women) aged 40 years and older (mean age: 59.3±11.7 years) living in the central geographical region of Japan who participated in the National Institute of Longevity Sciences–Longitudinal Study of Aging between 2002 and 2004, 4327 eyes and 2239 obtained MRIs of the head were evaluated. Multivariate mixed model and trend analyses were also performed.

Results

No significant relationship between VCDR and brain lesions, other than basal ganglia lesions, was found. VCDR significantly increased with the high grade of basal ganglia infarct lesions (p=0.0193) and high intraocular pressure (p<0.0001) after adjustment for influential factors using a multivariate mixed model. A significant positive linear trend was observed between the predicted VCDR and the degrees of the basal ganglia lesions (p value trend=0.0096).

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that in subjects with higher grades of basal ganglia lesions, strict attention should be paid to elevated VCDR; however, further studies are needed to support/confirm our results.
Sex-specific trajectories of molecular cardiometabolic traits from childhood to young adulthood
Authors: O'Keeffe Linda M , Tilling Kate , Bell Joshua A , Walsh Patrick T , Lee Matthew A , Lawlor Deborah A , Davey Smith George , Kearney Patricia M
Published: March 2023

Background

The changes which typically occur in molecular causal risk factors and predictive biomarkers for cardiometabolic diseases across early life are not well characterised.

Methods

We quantified sex-specific trajectories of 148 metabolic trait concentrations including various lipoprotein subclasses from age 7 years to 25 years. Data were from 7065 to 7626 offspring (11 702 to14 797 repeated measures) of the Avon Longitudinal Study of Parents and Children birth cohort study. Outcomes were quantified using nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy at 7, 15, 18 and 25 years. Sex-specific trajectories of each trait were modelled using linear spline multilevel models.

Results

Females had higher very-low-density lipoprotein (VLDL) particle concentrations at 7 years. VLDL particle concentrations decreased from 7 years to 25 years with larger decreases in females, leading to lower VLDL particle concentrations at 25 years in females. For example, females had a 0.25 SD (95% CI 0.20 to 0.31) higher small VLDL particle concentration at 7 years; mean levels decreased by 0.06 SDs (95% CI −0.01 to 0.13) in males and 0.85 SDs (95% CI 0.79 to 0.90) in females from 7 years to 25 years, leading to 0.42 SDs (95% CI 0.35 to 0.48) lower small VLDL particle concentrations in females at 25 years. Females had lower high-density lipoprotein (HDL) particle concentrations at 7 years. HDL particle concentrations increased from 7 years to 25 years with larger increases among females leading to higher HDL particle concentrations in females at 25 years.

Conclusion

Childhood and adolescence are important periods for the emergence of sex differences in atherogenic lipids and predictive biomarkers for cardiometabolic disease, mostly to the detriment of males.
Prevention of in-stent restenosis with drug-eluting balloons in patients with postirradiated carotid stenosis accepting percutaneous angioplasty and stenting
Authors: Wu Chia-Hung , Lin Te-Ming , Chung Chih-Ping , Yu Kai-Wei , Tai Wei-An , Luo Chao-Bao , Lirng Jiing-Feng , Chang Feng-Chi
Published: March 2023

Objective

To investigate the technical safety and outcome of in-stent restenosis (ISR) prevention with drug-eluting balloon (DEB) in patients with postirradiated carotid stenosis (PIRCS) undergoing percutaneous angioplasty and stenting (PTAS).

Methods

Between 2017 and 2021, we prospectively recruited patients with severe PIRCS for PTAS. They were randomly separated into two groups based on endovascular techniques performed with and without DEB. Preprocedural and early postprocedural (within 24 hours) MRI, short-term ultrasonography (6 months after PTAS), and long-term CT angiography (CTA)/MR angiography (MRA), 12 months after PTAS, were performed. Technical safety was evaluated based on periprocedural neurological complications and the number of recent embolic ischemic lesions (REIL) in the treated brain territory on diffusion-weighted imaging of early postprocedural MRI.

Results

Sixty-six (30 with and 36 without DEB) subjects were enrolled, with one failure in techniques. For 65 patients in the DEB versus conventional groups, technical neurological symptoms within 1 month (1/29 (3.4%) vs 0/36; P=0.197) and REIL numbers within 24 hours (1.0±2.1 vs 1.3±1.5; P=0.592) after PTAS showed no differences. Peak systolic velocity (PSVs) on short-term ultrasonography was significantly higher in the conventional group (104.13±42.76 vs .81.95±31.35; P=0.023). The degree of in-stent stenosis (45.93±20.86 vs 26.58±8.75; P<0.001) was higher, and there were more subjects (n=8, 38.9% vs 1, 3.4%; P=0.029) with significant ISR (≥ 50%) in the conventional group than in the DEB group on long-term CTA/MRA.

Conclusions

We observed similar technical safety of carotid PTAS with and without DEBs. The number of cases of significant ISR were fewer and the degree of stenosis of ISR was less in primary DEB-PTAS of PIRCS than for conventional PTAS in the 12-month follow-up.
Good construct validity of the CT Syndesmophyte Score (CTSS) in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
Authors: Stal Rosalinde , Ramiro Sofia , Baraliakos Xenofon , Braun Juergen , Reijnierse Monique , van den Berg Rosaline , van der Heijde Désirée , van Gaalen Floris A
Published: March 2023

Objectives

To assess construct validity of the CT Syndesmophyte Score (CTSS) for the measurement of structural spinal damage in patients with radiographic axial spondyloarthritis.

Methods

Low-dose CT and conventional radiography (CR) were performed at baseline and 2 years. CT was assessed with CTSS by two readers and CR with modified Stoke Ankylosing Spondylitis Spinal Score (mSASSS) by three readers. Two hypotheses were tested: (1) syndesmophytes scored with CTSS are also detected with mSASSS at baseline or 2 years later; (2) CTSS is non-inferior to mSASSS in correlations with spinal mobility measures. Presence of a syndesmophyte was determined per reader per corner for all anterior cervical and lumbar corners on CT at baseline and CR at baseline and 2 years. Correlations of CTSS and mSASSS with six spinal/hip mobility measurements plus Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index (BASMI) were tested.

Results

Data from 48 patients (85% male, 85% HLA-B27+, mean age 48 years) were available for hypothesis 1 and 41/48 were available for hypothesis 2. At baseline, syndesmophytes were scored with CTSS in 348 (reader 1, 38%) and 327 (reader 2, 36%) corners out of 917. Of these, depending on reader pairs, 62%–79% were also seen on CR at baseline or after 2 years. CTSS correlated well (rs0.46–0.73), and with higher correlation coefficients than mSASSS (rs0.34–0.64), with all spinal mobility measures and BASMI.

Conclusions

The good agreement between syndesmophytes detected by CTSS and mSASSS and the strong correlation of CTSS with spinal mobility support the construct validity of the CTSS.
The evolution of sanguivory in vampire bats: origins and convergences
Authors: Riskin Daniel K. , Carter Gerald G.
Published: March 2023

Blood-feeding (sanguivory) has evolved more than two dozen times among birds, fishes, insects, arachnids, molluscs, crustaceans, and annelids; however, among mammals, it is restricted to the vampire bats. Here, the authors revisit the question of how it evolved in that group. Evidence to date suggests that the ancestors of phyllostomids were insectivorous, and that carnivory, omnivory, and nectarivory evolved among phyllostomids after vampire bats diverged. Frugivory likely also evolved after vampire bats diverged, but the phylogeny is ambiguous on that point. However, vampire bats lack any genetic evidence of a frugivorous past, and the behavioural progression from frugivory to sanguivory is difficult to envision. Thus, the most parsimonious scenario is that sanguivory evolved in an insectivorous ancestor to vampire bats via ectoparasite-eating, wound-feeding, or some combination of the two—all feeding habits found among blood-feeding birds today. Comparing vampire bats with other sanguivores, the authors find several remarkable examples of convergence. Further, it was found that blood-feeding has been ca. 50 times more likely to evolve in a vertebrate lineage than in an invertebrate one. The authors hypothesize that this difference exists because vertebrates are more likely than invertebrates to have the biochemical necessities required to assimilate the components of vertebrate blood.
Stratification flow and variable heat transfer over different non-Newtonian fluids under the consideration of magnetic dipole
Authors: Naik Lal Sing , Prakasha D. G. , Praveena M. M. , Krishnamurthy M. R. , Ganesh Kumar K.
Published: March 2023

Non-Newtonian fluids have industrial and technical applications. Several liquids in nature do not have Newtonian viscosities. These fluids include applesauce, polymer mixtures, colloidal and fermented mixtures, clay glazes, paints, lubricants, cement, slush, shampoos, mud, foodstuffs, paper paste, aqueous froths, etc. This study considers stratified flow and variable heat transmission across a stretched surface. The magnetic hydrodynamics and slips’ impacts are illustrated. On the basis of flow assumptions, the mathematical model was created using the Navier–Stokes equation. The boundary layer approximation approach is provided PDEs by working on the Navier–Stokes equation under flow assumptions. This system is converted into ODEs through similarity transformations. Dimensionless system is elucidated by means of RKF-45 technique. The concerning physical parameter effects are elaborated numerically as well as graphically. Based on the findings of the comparison, it was determined that Williamson fluid had superior performance in terms of fluid velocity compared to Maxwell fluid. Furthermore, the temperature of the fluid is greater for booming values of both [Formula: see text] and [Formula: see text] parameters.
The Many Faces of Monetisation: Understanding the Diversity and Extremity of Player Spending in Mobile Games via Massive-scale Transactional Analysis
Authors: Zendle David , Flick Catherine , Deterding Sebastian , Cutting Joe , Gordon-Petrovskaya Elena , Drachen Anders
Published: March 2023

With the rise of microtransactions, particularly in the mobile games industry, there has been ongoing concern that games reliant on these obtain substantial revenue from a small proportion of heavily involved individuals, to an extent that may be financially burdensome to these individuals. Yet despite substantive grey literature and speculation on this topic, there is little robust data available. We explore the revenue distribution in microtransaction-based mobile games using a transactional dataset of $4.7B in in-game spending drawn from 69,144,363 players of 2,873 mobile games over the course of 624 days. We find diverse revenue distributions in mobile games, ranging from a “uniform” cluster, in which all spenders invest approximately similar amounts, to “hyper-Pareto” games, in which a large proportion of revenue (approximately 38%) stems from 1% of spenders alone. Specific kinds of games are typified by higher spending: The more a game relies on its top 1% for revenue generation, the more these individuals tend to spend, with simulated gambling products (“social casinos”) at the top. We find a small subset of games across all genres, clusters, and age ratings in which the top 1% of gamers are highly financially involved—spending an average of $66,285 each in the 624 days under evaluation in the most extreme case. We discuss implications for future studies on links between gaming and wellbeing.
A Manifesto for More Productive Psychological Games Research
Authors: Ballou Nick
Published: March 2023

Despite enormous resource investment, researchers lack consensus on seemingly simple questions about how video games affect players. Topics such as violent games and aggression, playtime and wellbeing, and more are characterized by deeply divided opinions and conflicting results even at the meta-analytic level. I argue that much of this disagreement stems from limitations of common methods, including use of problematic self-report measures, overreliance on cross-sectional research, and superficial use of theory, among others. To resolve debates more effectively, I describe seven practices games research should adopt more widely: (1) strengthening the theoretical derivation chain, (2) attending to inter-individual effect size variation, (3) prioritizing longitudinal, within-person studies, (4) justifying measurement decisions, (5) harnessing digital trace data, (6) controlling individual game features, and (7) adopting open research principles. For each practice, I include practical steps and resources for implementing them in one’s own work. While critical of the current state of knowledge, the article is hopeful: with the help of these practices, the next generation of video games research can be the most informative yet.
From Online World to Metaverse
Authors: Koster Raph
Published: March 2023

The history of virtual worlds to date suggests possible ways a future metaverse might develop, and what new games research it might enable.
Teaching Environmentally Conscious Game Design: Lessons and Challenges
Authors: Fizek Sonia , Fiadotau Mikhail , Wirman Hanna , Garda Maria
Published: March 2023

A growing number of game design and development programs in higher education are beginning to incorporate environmental considerations into their curricula. This aligns with the broader push for more responsible and environmentally conscious practices in game production, consumption, and education. This article introduces two ongoing European inter-university projects: the Erasmus+ Greening Games project and the Nordplus-funded Nordic Alliance for Sustainability in Gaming network. Using them as case studies, the article reflects on the lessons learned and the challenges encountered while implementing the projects’ pilot stages, as well as their implications for environmentally conscious game design education more broadly.
3D Audio: The Next Step in Realism for Gaming: Benefits and pitfalls of 3D audio in games from a creative content and technical implementation point of view
Authors: Rieger Martin , Zingler Dominik
Published: March 2023

When using 3D audio in games, the goal should be to create an immersive, believable auditory experience. To achieve this on the technical side of things, game developers must combine the appropriate hardware with sophisticated software algorithms and sound propagation techniques. Regarding content, creators need to distinguish between 3D sounds inside the scene and sounds with a narrative function that are non-diegetic. This article looks behind the curtains of the spatial audio hype and lets you know what you're in for and what is coming in the future.
A Design Practice for Social Systems
Authors: Cook Daniel
Published: March 2023

On grim winter days it is easy to feel that we live in a predatory digital ecology intentionally designed to foster negative emotions. We prime players with mechanisms that actively generate social comparison, fear of missing out, loneliness, anxiety, and polarization. Why? So our games can more easily extract their time and cash. What a sad state.

As a designer of social architectures lived in by millions, I doggedly ask myself the following questions. What is a brighter path forward? What adds to our player's lives? What can we do as smart, thoughtful, caring builders to create new digital worlds that help players thrive?

Because, no matter how gloomy or entrenched certain business practices might be, the future is yet to be written. We have an obligation to create design theory and practice that increases player happiness (both hedonic and eudaimonic) and health (both physical and mental). At the scale of individual players and across massive communities.

I see four opportunities to turn this challenge into a reality.
Social Impact Games, a Probable Future Illuminated by Looking Back
Authors: Grace Lindsay D.
Published: March 2023

Social Impact Games are created to address varied societal challenges. Future innovations in social impact game design are likely to come through the researchers and practitioners that not only make such games, but shape the way we design, develop, employ, and apply social impact games. This opinion piece emphasizes the idea that reactive research chases the future, but innovative research shapes it. It outlines threats to the practice, including antisocial impact games (contrasted with prosocial design), technological durability, and shifts in ludo literacy. It concludes with opportunities, based on historical contexts, to develop ethical standards for social impact game design, increase inclusivity and improved efficacy. From this perspective, the past indicates a future where the work of social impact matures out of research experiment toward everyday experiences among the milieux of interactive media.
Inaugural Editorial: A Lighthouse for Games and Playable Media
Authors: Deterding Sebastian , Mitchell Kenny , Kowert Rachel , King Brad
Published: March 2023

In games and playable media, almost nothing is as it was at the turn of the millennium. Digital and analog games have exploded in reach, diversity, and relevance. Digital platforms and globalisation have shifted and fragmented their centres of gravity and how they are made and played. Games are converging with other media, technologies, and arts into a wide field of playable media. Games research has similarly exploded in volume and fragmented into disciplinary specialisms. All this can be deeply disorienting. The journal
Games: Research and Practice
wants to offer a lighthouse that helps readers orient themselves in this new, ever-shifting reality of games industry and games research.
Games Futures I
Authors: Deterding Sebastian , Mitchell Kenny , Kowert Rachel , King Brad
Published: March 2023

Games Futures collect short opinion pieces by industry and research veterans and new voices envisioning possible and desirable futures and needs for games and playable media. This inaugural series features eight of over thirty pieces.
Machine-aided PPG Signal Quality Assessment (SQA) for Multi-mode Physiological Signal Monitoring
Authors: Beh Win-Ken , Yang Yu-Chia , Lo Yi-Cheng , Lee Yun-Chieh , Wu An-Yeu(Andy)
Published: March 2023

Photoplethysmography (PPG) is a non-invasive technique for recording human vital signs. PPG is normally recorded by wearable devices that are prone to artifacts. This results in signal corruption that decreases measurement accuracy. Thus, a signal quality assessment (SQA) system is essential in obtaining reliable measurements. Conventionally, SQA is mainly driven by human-knowledge and supervised through experts’ annotations. However, they are not tailored for the particularities of the domain applications. Hence, we propose a machine-aided SQA framework that generates respective quality criteria for applications. By using the proposed approach, quality criteria can be easily trained for different applications. Then, quality assessment can be applied to several PPG-based physiological signals telemonitoring. Compared with conventional approaches, the proposed system has a higher rejection rate for high-error signals and a lower mean absolute error is achieved when estimating heart rate (-3.06 BPM), determining respiration rate (–1.36 BPM), and predicting hypertension (+24%). The proposed method enhances accuracy in monitoring physiological signals and thus is suitable for healthcare applications.
An Explicitly Weighted GCN Aggregator based on Temporal and Popularity Features for Recommendation
Authors: Li Xueqi , Xiao Guoqing , Chen Yuedan , Tang Zhuo , Jiang Wenjun , Li Kenli
Published: March 2023

Graph convolutional network (GCN)
has been extensively applied to
recommender systems (RS)
and achieved significant performance improvements through iteratively aggregating high-order neighbors to model the relevance between users and items as well as their characteristics. In the aggregation process, GCN models usually give neighbors the same or trainable weights based on implicit features, ignoring explicit ones. In this work, we take the features with explicit meanings or extracted with specific purpose as explicit ones (e.g., temporal features) and the others contained in user-item network as implicit ones (e.g., user preferences). However, some explicit features and knowledge play an essential role in improving the model representation ability and explainability in recommendation systems. To deal with the limitation, we propose a GCN based framework to embed the explicit features or those extracted with explicit intentions in this work. We also provide specific implementations based on two commonly researched features, temporal evolution and popularity bias. Specifically, we first experimentally analyze the popularity bias of the representation learning in RS based on two commonly used GCN models. Secondly, we propose a general framework to weigh neighbors based on explicit features or intentions. Thirdly, we implement a
Temporal and Popularity weighted Aggregator (TPA)
for GCN. The Interest-Forgetting Curve is utilized to capture temporal evolution as temporal weights and the data-driven Beta distribution is employed to tune the weights based on the node popularity flexibly. At last, we conduct extensive experiments on three real-world datasets to demonstrate the effectiveness of TPA in improving recommendation accuracy and alleviating the popularity bias.