bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Chitosan-based matrix as a carrier for bacteriophages
Authors: Sikora Monika , Wąsik Sławomir , Semaniak Jacek , Drulis-Kawa Zuzanna , Wiśniewska-Wrona Maria , Arabski Michał
Published: January 2024

Wound healing is a dynamic and complex process where infection prevention is essential. Chitosan, thanks to its bactericidal activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, as well as anti-inflammatory and hemostatic properties, is an excellent candidate to design dressings for difficult-to-heal wound treatment. The great advantage of this biopolymer is its capacity to be chemically modified, which allows for the production of various functional forms, depending on the needs and subsequent use. Moreover, chitosan can be an excellent polymer matrix for bacteriophage (phage) packing as a novel alternative/supportive antibacterial therapy approach. This study is focused on the preparation and characteristics of chitosan-based material in the form of a film with the addition of Pseudomonas lytic phages (KTN4, KT28, and LUZ19), which would exhibit antibacterial activity as a potential dressing that accelerates the wound healing. We investigated the method of producing a polymer based on microcrystalline chitosan (MKCh) to serve as the matrix for phage deposition. We described some important parameters such as average molar mass, swelling capacity, surface morphology, phage release profile, and antibacterial activity tested in the Pseudomonas aeruginosa bacterial model. The chitosan polysaccharide turned out to interact with phage particles immobilizing them within a material matrix. Nevertheless, with the high hydrophilicity and swelling features of the prepared material, the external solution of bacterial culture was absorbed and phages went in direct contact with bacteria causing their lysis in the polymer matrix.

Key points

• A novel chitosan-based matrix with the addition of active phages was prepared

• Phage interactions with the chitosan matrix were determined as electrostatic

• Phages in the matrix work through direct contact with the bacterial cells
Manual prostate MRI segmentation by readers with different experience: a study of the learning progress
Authors: Langkilde Fredrik , Masaba Patrick , Edenbrandt Lars , Gren Magnus , Halil Airin , Hellström Mikael , Larsson Måns , Naeem Ameer Ali , Wallström Jonas , Maier Stephan E. , Jäderling Fredrik
Published: January 2024

Objective

To evaluate the learning progress of less experienced readers in prostate MRI segmentation.

Materials and methods

One hundred bi-parametric prostate MRI scans were retrospectively selected from the Göteborg Prostate Cancer Screening 2 Trial (single center). Nine readers with varying degrees of segmentation experience were involved: one expert radiologist, two experienced radiology residents, two inexperienced radiology residents, and four novices. The task was to segment the whole prostate gland. The expert’s segmentations were used as reference. For all other readers except three novices, the 100 MRI scans were divided into five rounds (cases 1–10, 11–25, 26–50, 51–76, 76–100). Three novices segmented only 50 cases (three rounds). After each round, a one-on-one feedback session between the expert and the reader was held, with feedback on systematic errors and potential improvements for the next round. Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) > 0.8 was considered accurate.

Results

Using DSC > 0.8 as the threshold, the novices had a total of 194 accurate segmentations out of 250 (77.6%). The residents had a total of 397/400 (99.2%) accurate segmentations. In round 1, the novices had 19/40 (47.5%) accurate segmentations, in round 2 41/60 (68.3%), and in round 3 84/100 (84.0%) indicating learning progress.

Conclusions

Radiology residents, regardless of prior experience, showed high segmentation accuracy. Novices showed larger interindividual variation and lower segmentation accuracy than radiology residents. To prepare datasets for artificial intelligence (AI) development, employing radiology residents seems safe and provides a good balance between cost-effectiveness and segmentation accuracy. Employing novices should only be considered on an individual basis.

Clinical relevance statement

Employing radiology residents for prostate MRI segmentation seems safe and can potentially reduce the workload of expert radiologists. Employing novices should only be considered on an individual basis.

Key Points

• Using less experienced readers for prostate MRI segmentation is cost-effective but may reduce quality.

• Radiology residents provided high accuracy segmentations while novices showed large inter-reader variability.

• To prepare datasets for AI development, employing radiology residents seems safe and might provide a good balance between cost-effectiveness and segmentation accuracy while novices should only be employed on an individual basis.

Graphical abstract
Therapeutisches Management eines „kissing nevus“ des Augenlids
Authors: Gaca P. J. , Rejdak R. , Toro M. D. , Lewandowicz M. , Kopecky A. , Somfai G. M. , Nowak R. , Heindl L. M.
Published: January 2024

Kongenitale geteilte melanozytäre Nävi (CMN) des Ober- und Unterlids sind seltene pigmentierte Veränderungen der Augenlider. Diese Muttermale sind auch als „kissing nevi“, „panda nevi“, „split ocular nevi“ bekannt und wurden erstmals 1919 von Fuchs beschrieben. Aus der Literatur sind bisher etwa 120 solcher Fälle bekannt. CMN sind entweder seit der Geburt vorhanden (kleine Nävi finden sich bereits bei ca. 1 % der Neugeborenen), oder sie manifestieren sich überwiegend im ersten Lebensjahrzehnt. Diese seltene melanozytäre Veränderung der Augenlider sollte regelmäßig kontrolliert werden, denn gemäß der Literatur kann es zu einer malignen Entartung kommen. Die tatsächliche Inzidenz dafür ist jedoch sehr variabel und reicht von 2 bis 40 %, je nach Dauer des Follow-up, mit durchschnittlich 14 % auf die gesamte Lebensdauer. Zudem können CMN an den Augenlidern als kosmetisch störend empfunden werden und zu funktionellen Problemen des Auges führen. Eine therapeutische Entfernung mittels Dermabrasion, Kryotherapie, Laserbehandlung oder chirurgische Exzision mit ophthalmoplastischer Deckung ist aufgrund des geringen Entartungsrisikos selten medizinisch indiziert. Sie kann aber bei sekundärer Amblyopie bei Ptosis, Kompression der Puncta lacrimalia, Epiphora oder basierend auf einem kosmetischen Wunsch durchgeführt werden. Notwendig wird die Therapie hingegen bei einer suspekten Erscheinungsform oder Beeinträchtigung der Lidfunktion und um mögliche Hänseleien und grausamen Spott bei Kindern zu vermeiden.
Optimal dichotomization of bimodal Gaussian mixtures
Authors: Jhan Yan-ni , Li Wan-cen , Ruan Shin-hui , Sie Jia-jyun , Lian Iebin
Published: January 2024

Despite criticism for loss of information and power, dichotomization of variables is still frequently used in social, behavioral, and medical sciences, mainly because it yields more interpretable conclusions for research outcomes and is useful for decision making. However, the artificial choice of cut-points can be controversial and needs proper justification. In this work, we investigate the properties of point-biserial correlation after dichotomization with underlying bimodal Gaussian mixture distributions. We propose a dichotomous grouping procedure that considers the largest standardized difference in group mean while minimizing information loss.
Dicentric chromosomes are resolved through breakage and repair at their centromeres
Authors: Cook Diana , Kozmin Stanislav G. , Yeh Elaine , Petes Thomas D. , Bloom Kerry
Published: January 2024

Chromosomes with two centromeres provide a unique opportunity to study chromosome breakage and DNA repair using completely endogenous cellular machinery. Using a conditional transcriptional promoter to control the second centromere, we are able to activate the dicentric chromosome and follow the appearance of DNA repair products. We find that the rate of appearance of DNA repair products resulting from homology-based mechanisms exceeds the expected rate based on their limited centromere homology (340 bp) and distance from one another (up to 46.3 kb). In order to identify whether DNA breaks originate in the centromere, we introduced 12 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) into one of the centromeres. Analysis of the distribution of SNPs in the recombinant centromeres reveals that recombination was initiated with about equal frequency within the conserved centromere DNA elements CDEII and CDEIII of the two centromeres. The conversion tracts range from about 50 bp to the full length of the homology between the two centromeres (340 bp). Breakage and repair events within and between the centromeres can account for the efficiency and distribution of DNA repair products. We propose that in addition to providing a site for kinetochore assembly, the centromere may be a point of stress relief in the face of genomic perturbations.
Decision tree analysis for age estimation in living individuals: integrating cervical and dental radiographic evaluations within a South African population
Authors: Uys A. , Steyn M. , Botha D.
Published: January 2024

Age estimation in living individuals around the age of 18 years is medico-legally important in undocumented migrant cases and in countries like South Africa where many individuals are devoid of identification documents. Establishing whether an individual is younger than 18 years largely influences the legal procedure that should be followed in dealing with an undocumented individual. The aim of this study was to combine dental third molar and anterior inferior apophysis ossification data for purposes of age estimation, by applying a decision tree analysis. A sample comprising of 871 black South African individuals (n = 446 males, 425 = females) with ages ranging between 15 and 24 years was analyzed using panoramic and cephalometric radiographs. Variables related to the left upper and lower third molars and cervical vertebral ring apophysis ossification of C2, C3, and C4 vertebrae analyzed in previous studies were combined in a multifactorial approach. The data were analyzed using a pruned decision tree function for classification. Male and female groups were handled separately as a statistically significant difference was found between the sexes in the original studies. A test sample of 30 individuals was used to determine if this approach could be used with confidence in estimating age of living individuals. The outcomes obtained from the test sample indicated a close correlation between the actual ages (in years and months) and the predicted ages (in years only), demonstrating an average age difference of 0.47 years between the corresponding values. This method showed that the application of decision tree analysis using the combination of third molar and cervical vertebral development is usable and potentially valuable in this application.
Imagery practice of motor skills without conscious awareness?: a commentary to Frank et al.
Authors: Heuer Herbert
Published: January 2024

Modifications of imagined sensory consequences will not benefit overt performance when they cannot be transformed into motor outflow that produces them. With physical practice, the acquisition of internal models of motor transformations is largely based on prediction errors that are absent in imagery practice. What can imagery practice nevertheless contribute to transformation learning? Explicit, strategic adjustments to novel transformations should be possible. This appears less likely for implicit adjustments. Are there variants of imagery practice that can produce adjustments without conscious awareness of the transformation and/or the resultant movement changes?
Vaccination against COVID-19 — risks and benefits in children
Authors: Munro Alasdair P. S. , Jones Christine E. , Faust Saul N.
Published: January 2024

Countries in Europe and around the world have taken varying approaches to their policies on COVID-19 vaccination for children. The low risk of severe illness from COVID-19 means that even small risks from vaccination warrant careful consideration. Vaccination appears to result in a decreased risk of severe illness including the paediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome known to be associated with COVID-19. These risks have already decreased significantly with the emergence of the Omicron variant and its subvariants, and due to widespread population immunity through previous infection. There is a relatively high risk of myocarditis following second doses of mRNA vaccines in adolescent males, although the general course of this condition appears mild.

  Conclusion: COVID-19 vaccination only provides a transient reduction in transmission. Currently, insufficient evidence exists to determine the impact of vaccination on post-acute COVID syndromes in children, which are uncommon.

What is Known:• Vaccines against COVID-19 have significantly reduced morbidity and mortality around the world.• Whilst countries have universally recommended vaccines for adults and continue to recommend them for vulnerable populations, there has been more variability in recommendations for children.

What is New:• In the setting of near universal existing immunity from infection, the majority of the initial benefit in protecting against severe illness has been eroded.• The risks of myocarditis following mRNA vaccination for children is low, but an important consideration given the modest benefits.
Peripheral blood circular RNA circ-0008102 may serve as a novel clinical biomarker in beta-thalassemia patients
Authors: Chen Meihuan , Lv Aixiang , Zhang Siwen , Zheng Junhao , Lin Na , Xu Liangpu , Huang Hailong
Published: January 2024

Circular RNA circ-0008102 has previously been found dysregulated in β-thalassemia (β-thal) in circRNAs microarray (GSE196682 and GSE241141). Our study is aimed at identifying whether circ-0008102 could be a novel biomarker in β-thal. The peripheral blood of pediatric β-thal patients with (n = 39) or without (n = 20) blood transfusion and healthy controls (n = 30) was selected. qRT-PCR, ROC curve analysis, Spearman correlation analysis, and FISH were used to analyze clinical value of circ-0008102. qRT-PCR confirmed that circ-0008102 expression in pediatric β-thal patients without blood transfusion was significantly higher. ROC curves analysis showed that the AUC of circ-0008102 for differentiating patients without blood transfusion from patients with blood transfusion and healthy controls with an AUC of 0.733 and 0.711. Furthermore, circ-0008102 expression was positively correlated with the levels of RBC, HbF, β-globin, and γ-globin mRNA, but was negatively corrected with the levels of HbA and Cr. circ-0008102 was mainly located in the cytoplasm. circ-0008102 could induce the activation of γ-globin and negatively regulate the expression of the five highest-ranking candidate miRNAs (miR-372-3p, miR-329-5p, miR-198, miR-152-5p, and miR-627-3p) in K562 cells.

Conclusion: We demonstrate that peripheral blood upregulated circ-0008102 may serve as a novel clinical biomarker for pediatric β-thal without blood transfusion.

What is known:• CircRNAs are known to be involved in various human diseases, and several circRNAs are regarded as a class of promising blood-based biomarkers for detection of β-thal.• CircRNAs exert biological functions by epigenetic modification and gene expression regulation, and dysregulated circRNAs in β-thal might be involved in the induction of HbF in β-thal.

What is new:• Peripheral blood circ-0008102 maybe serve as a novel clinical biomarker for detection of pediatric β-thal without blood transfusion.• Circ-0008102 participates in the pathogenesis of β-thal through regulating γ-globin expression, and negatively regulates the expression of miR-372-3p, miR-329-5p, miR-198, miR-152-5p and miR-627-3p.
Shallow-subsidence vulnerability in the city of New Orleans, southern USA
Authors: van Asselen Sanneke , Erkens Gilles , Keogh Molly E. , Stuurman Roelof
Published: January 2024

Land subsidence in the city of New Orleans (USA) and its surroundings increases flood risk, and may cause damage to buildings and infrastructure and loss of protective coastal wetlands. To make New Orleans more resilient to future flooding, a new approach for groundwater and subsidence management is needed. As a first step in developing such an approach, high-quality and high-resolution subsurface and groundwater information was collected and synthesized to better understand and quantify shallow land subsidence in New Orleans. Based on the collected field data, it was found that especially the low-lying areas north and south of the Metairie-Gentilly (MG) Ridge are most vulnerable to further subsidence; north of the MG Ridge, subsidence is mainly caused by peat oxidation and south of the MG Ridge mainly by peat compaction. At present, peat has compacted ~31% on average, with a range of 9–62%, leaving significant potential for further subsidence due to peat compaction. Phreatic groundwater levels drop to ~150 cm below surface levels during dry periods and increase to ~50 cm below surface during wet periods, on average. Present phreatic groundwater levels are mostly controlled by leaking subsurface pipes. Shallow groundwater in the northern part of New Orleans is threatened by salinization resulting from a reversal of groundwater flow following past subsidence, which may increase in the future due to sea-level rise and continued subsidence. The hydrogeologic information provided here is needed to effectively design tailor-made measures to limit urban flooding and continued subsidence in the city of New Orleans.
Craniocervical instability in patients with Ehlers-Danlos syndromes: outcomes analysis following occipito-cervical fusion
Authors: Henderson Fraser C. , Schubart Jane R. , Narayanan Malini V. , Tuchman Kelly , Mills Susan E. , Poppe Dorothy J. , Koby Myles B. , Rowe Peter C. , Francomano Clair A.
Published: January 2024

Craniocervical instability (CCI) is increasingly recognized in hereditary disorders of connective tissue and in some patients following suboccipital decompression for Chiari malformation (CMI) or low-lying cerebellar tonsils (LLCT). CCI is characterized by severe headache and neck pain, cervical medullary syndrome, lower cranial nerve deficits, myelopathy, and radiological metrics, for which occipital cervical fusion (OCF) has been advocated. We conducted a retrospective analysis of patients with CCI and Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS) to determine whether the surgical outcomes supported the criteria by which patients were selected for OCF. Fifty-three consecutive subjects diagnosed with EDS, who presented with severe head and neck pain, lower cranial nerve deficits, cervical medullary syndrome, myelopathy, and radiologic findings of CCI, underwent open reduction, stabilization, and OCF. Thirty-two of these patients underwent suboccipital decompression for obstruction of cerebral spinal fluid flow. Questionnaire data and clinical findings were abstracted by a research nurse. Follow-up questionnaires were administered at 5–28 months (mean 15.1). The study group demonstrated significant improvement in headache and neck pain (p < 0.001), decreased use of pain medication (p < 0.0001), and improved Karnofsky Performance Status score (p < 0.001). Statistically significant improvement was also demonstrated for nausea, syncope (p < 0.001), speech difficulties, concentration, vertigo, dizziness, numbness, arm weakness, and fatigue (p = 0.001). The mental fatigue score and orthostatic grading score were improved (p < 0.01). There was no difference in pain improvement between patients with CMI/LLCT and those without. This outcomes analysis of patients with disabling CCI in the setting of EDS demonstrated significant benefits of OCF. The results support the reasonableness of the selection criteria for OCF. We advocate for a multi-center, prospective clinical trial of OCF in this population.
Efficient vectors in priority setting methodology
Authors: Furtado Susana , Johnson Charles R.
Published: January 2024

The Analytic Hierarchy Process (AHP) is a much discussed method in ranking business alternatives based on empirical and judgemental information. We focus here upon the key component of deducing efficient vectors for a reciprocal matrix of pair-wise comparisons. It has been shown that the entry-wise geometric mean of all columns is efficient for any reciprocal matrix. Here, by combining some new basic observations with some known theory, we (1) give a method for inductively generating large collections of efficient vectors, and (2) show that the entry-wise geometric mean of any collection of distinct columns of a reciprocal matrix is efficient. We study numerically, using different measures, the performance of these geometric means in approximating the reciprocal matrix by a consistent matrix. We conclude that, as a general method to be chosen, independent of the data, the geometric mean of all columns performs well when compared with the geometric mean of proper subsets of columns.
Metaphorical evolution: A longitudinal study of secondary school teachers’ concepts of 3D modelling and printing in education
Authors: Anđić Branko , Maričić Mirjana , Weinhandl Robert , Mumcu Filiz , Schmidthaler Eva , Lavicza Zsolt
Published: January 2024

Research into teachers’ concepts and changes over time in digital technologies is crucial for gaining insights into the factors that shape teachers’ concepts of technologies and influence their use in the classroom. Numerous studies have indicated that the use of 3D modelling and printing (3DMP) contributes to the modernization of teaching and the achievement of student learning outcomes. Using a three-wave longitudinal study with the application of conceptual metaphors as a theoretical background, this study tracks teachers’ concepts of 3DMP after training, three months, and after one year of teaching experience and provides insight into this area. The data for the study was collected from 74 secondary teachers and processed using a mixed-methods research approach. The findings show that as teachers gain experience, their views on using 3DMP in education evolve. The results include a shift in their perception of digital reliance, the pedagogical benefits, the potential for creative expression, and the sensitivity of 3D printing. The findings of our study suggest that teachers need continuous technical support at the beginning of their use of 3DMP in the classroom, so that the application of this technology can successfully contribute to the development of student creativity and knowledge. This research emphasizes the need for comprehensive ongoing support and targeted training to enable teachers to effectively integrate 3DMP into educational practices, while fostering creativity and addressing technical complexities. Furthermore, this research sheds light on teachers’ views of 3DMP and has implications for developments in teacher training and courses, the 3DMP platform, software development, education policy, and the 3DMP industry.
Sestrin2 ameliorates diabetic retinopathy by regulating autophagy and ferroptosis
Authors: Xi Xiaoting , Chen Qianbo , Ma Jia , Wang Xuewei , Zhang Junyan , Li Yan
Published: January 2024

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a serious microvascular complication of diabetes. The aim of this study was to explore the effect of Sestrin2 on DR through the regulation of autophagy and ferroptosis levels and its mechanism. In vitro and in vivo DR models were established by high glucose (HG) and streptozotocin (STZ) induction of ARPE-19 human retinal pigment epithelial cells and C57BL/6 mice, respectively. In this study, we demonstrated that after HG treatment, the activity of ARPE-19 cells was decreased, the apoptosis rate was increased, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress was activated, autophagy levels were decreased, and ferroptosis levels were increased. Overexpression of Sestrin2 enhanced cell viability, reduced apoptosis and ferroptosis, and enhanced autophagy. However, the effect of overexpression of Sestrin2 was attenuated after the addition of the STAT3 phosphorylation activator Colivelin TFA (C-TFA), the mTOR pathway activator MHY1485 or the autophagy inhibitor 3-methyladenine (3-MA). In addition, the effect of Sestrin2 knockdown on cells was opposite to the effect of overexpression of Sestrin2, while the effect of Sestrin2 knockdown was attenuated after treatment with the ER stress inhibitor 4-phenylbutyric acid (4-PBA). Animal experiments also confirmed the results of cell experiments and attenuated the effects of overexpression of Sestrin2 after injection of the ferroptosis activators erastin or 3-MA. Our study revealed that Sestrin2 inhibits ferroptosis by inhibiting STAT3 phosphorylation and ER stress and promoting autophagy levels, thereby alleviating DR.
Benefits of the Growing up Together Online Parenting Program for Families in Social Services in Croatia
Authors: Pećnik Ninoslava , Nieterau Merlin , Špaček Martina , Leijten Patty
Published: January 2024

Parenting programs have the ability to enhance parenting quality and healthy child development, but the overwhelming majority of evidence for their effects comes from a small minority of countries and research-intensive contexts. More evidence is needed from effectiveness studies (rather than highly controlled efficacy studies) and from countries less well-represented in the international literature. We examined changes in parental cognitions and parenting behavior in 62 families completing a 10-week online group program (Growing up Together Online) as part of social services in Croatia in 2020 and 2021, during the Covid-19 pandemic and earthquake. Parents reported on their cognitions and behaviors before and after the intervention. Paired-sample t-tests show significant improvements in parent-reported general self-esteem, parenting self-efficacy, and parenting experience and morale. Parents also reported significant reductions in angry, harsh, and violent parenting. Parents did not report increased attempts to understand children’s perspectives and positive interactions (e.g. joint play). Reliable change index analysis showed that reliable improvement was most common in parenting self-efficacy and least common in positive involvement and reinforcement. Findings provide preliminary evidence for the program’s potential to optimize the parenting conditions of children growing up in an environment at risk for child abuse and neglect.
The Limits and Contributions of Formal Support: Service Providers’ Perspectives on Balancing Formal and Natural Support for People with Disabilities and their Families in Canada
Authors: Nuri Reshma Parvin , Piccone Caitlin , Gaurav Navjit , Thomson Donna , Pauls Rebecca , Perry Linda , Aldersey Heather Michelle
Published: January 2024

Evidence suggests that integrated support, combining both natural and formal supports, is often essential for individuals with developmental disabilities to achieve their preferred quality of life. However, studies are limited on how to organize supports so that people with developmental disabilities and their families find a balance between formal and natural supports. Often, there are systemic and personal boundaries around the nature and extent of support that can be offered to persons with developmental disabilities through formal mechanisms, yet the value of natural supports in the lives of persons with developmental disabilities is often undervalued in society. Therefore, the objectives of this study were to explore formal support providers’ perspectives on (a) the unique skillsets and attributes of natural support providers and formal support providers; and (b) how we might best enable both natural and formal supports for persons with developmental disabilities and their families. Following a qualitative approach, we interviewed 16 formal support providers working with adults with developmental disabilities and their families via Zoom. We analyzed data using thematic analysis. We organized results into three themes: the role of natural supports, the role of formal supports, and strategies to best configure a system of supports. Results imply that there is a need for investment of funding to incentivize both support structures for adults with developmental disabilities and their families. Future studies should explore the perspectives from people with developmental disabilities and their natural support providers.
Political Ideology Direction of Policy Agendas and Maternal Mortality Outcomes in the U.S., 1915–2007
Authors: Rodriguez Javier M. , Bae Byengseon
Published: January 2024

Objectives

The causes for persistently high and increasing maternal mortality rates in the United States have been elusive.

Methods

We use the shift in the ideological direction of the Republican and the Democratic parties in the 1960s, to test the hypothesis that fluctuations in overall and race-specific maternal mortality rates (MMR) follow the power shifts between the parties before and after the Political Realignment (PR) of the 1960s.

Results

Using time-series data analysis methods, we find that, net of trend, overall and race-specific MMRs were higher under Democratic administrations than Republican ones before the PR (1915–1965)—i.e., when the Democratic Party was a protector of the Jim Crow system. This pattern, however, changed after the PR (1966–2007), with Republican administrations underperforming Democratic ones—i.e., during the period when the Republican Party shifted toward a more economically and socially conservative agenda. The pre-post PR partisan shifts in MMRs were larger for Black (9.5%, $$p<.01$$

p
<
.
01

) relative to White mothers (7.4%, $$p<.05$$

p
<
.
05

) during the study period.

Conclusions for Practice

These findings imply that parties and the ideological direction of their agendas substantively affect the social determinants of maternal health and produce politized health outcomes.
The Impact of Crises on Maritime Traffic: A Case Study of the COVID-19 Pandemic and the War in Ukraine
Authors: Węcel Krzysztof , Stróżyna Milena , Szmydt Marcin , Abramowicz Witold
Published: January 2024

Maritime transport plays a key role in the global and local economy, accounting for 80% of global trade by volume. This makes smooth operation of the maritime transport essential. However, the sector faces the constant risk of various crises and their potential consequences that may significantly impact and disrupt the movement of goods on local, regional, and global levels. In recent years, two notable crises, namely the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine, have been observed. This paper aims to analyse how international crises, such as armed conflicts and pandemics, influence maritime traffic and assess their impact on both global and local economies. A comparison is drawn between the periods before and during the COVID-19 pandemic and before and during the war in Ukraine to exemplify the effects of crises. The findings are then extrapolated to apply to potential future crises. Vessel movements are studied using data collected from Automatic Identification Systems (AIS). In our quantitative approach, we analyse big data using dedicated tools and visualisation techniques to gain insights into specific phenomena. The paper identifies economically significant regions for maritime traffic and examines the impact of crises on their performance. Its unique value lies in its flow-based analysis of changes in maritime traffic. The main conclusion is that China's importance for worldwide maritime traffic is increasing. This makes the global economy heavily reliant on China to a substantially greater extent than it is, for example, on Russia. Consequently, any crisis in the China region could exert a dramatic impact on the global economy. The paper also discusses observations of changes in maritime traffic following the outbreak of the war in Ukraine.
Treatment Referrals Post-prohibition of Alcohol Exclusion Laws: Evidence from Colorado and Illinois
Authors: Azagba Sunday , Ebling Todd , Shan Lingping , Hall Mark , Wolfson Mark
Published: January 2024

Background

Individuals with alcohol-related disorders often encounter barriers to accessing treatment. One potential barrier is the state alcohol exclusion laws (AELs) that allow insurers to deny coverage for injuries or illnesses caused by alcohol intoxication. Several states have repealed AELs by prohibiting them completely, including banning exclusions in health and accident insurance policies, limiting their scope, or creating exemptions.

Objectives

To examine whether prohibiting alcohol exclusions in health and accident insurance policies is associated with alcohol-related treatment admissions.

Design

We used the 2002 to 2017 Treatment Episode Data Set and obtained data from several sources to control for state-level factors. We employed a heterogeneous difference-in-differences method and an event study to compare the treatment admissions in Colorado and Illinois, two states that uniquely repealed AELs, with control states that allowed or had no AELs.

Main Measures

We used aggregated alcohol treatment admission for adults by healthcare referral: (i) with alcohol as the primary substance and (ii) with alcohol as the primary, secondary, or tertiary substance.

Key Results

We found a significant relationship between AEL repeal and increased referrals. AEL repeal in Colorado and Illinois was associated with higher treatment admissions from 2008 to 2011 (average treatment effect on the treated: 2008 = 653, 2009 = 1161, 2010 = 1388, and 2011 = 2020). We also found that a longer duration of exposure to AEL repeal was associated with higher treatment admissions, but this effect faded after the fourth year post-treatment.

Conclusions

Our study reveals a potential positive association between the repeal and prohibition of AELs and increased alcohol-related treatment admissions. These findings suggest that states could enhance treatment opportunities for alcohol-related disorders by reconsidering their stance on AELs. While our study highlights the possible public health benefits of repealing AELs, it also paves the way for additional studies in this domain.
What Clinicians and Researchers Should Know About the Evolving Field of Advance Care Planning: a Narrative Review
Authors: McMahan Ryan D. , Hickman Susan E. , Sudore Rebecca L.
Published: January 2024

Advance care planning (ACP) has been recognized as crucial by patients, families, and clinicians; however, different definitions and measurements have led to inconsistencies in practice and mixed evidence in the literature. This narrative review explores ACP’s evolution, innovations, and outcomes using thematic analysis to synthesize data from randomized controlled trials, reviews, and editorials. Key findings include (1) ACP has evolved over the past several decades from a sole focus on code status and advance directive (AD) forms to a continuum of care planning over the life course focused on tailored preparation for patients and surrogate decision-makers and (2) ACP measurement has evolved from traditional outcome metrics, such as AD completion, to a comprehensive outcomes framework that includes behavior change theory, systems, implementation science, and a focus on surrogate outcomes. Since the recent development of an ACP consensus definition and outcomes framework, high-quality trials have reported mainly positive outcomes for interventions, especially for surrogates, which aligns with the patient desire to relieve decision-making burden for loved ones. Additionally, measurement of “clinically meaningful” ACP information, including documented goals of care discussions, is increasingly being integrated into electronic health records (EHR), and emerging, real-time assessments and natural language processing are enhancing ACP evaluation. To make things easier for patients, families, and care teams, clinicians and researchers can use and disseminate these evolved definitions; provide patients validated, easy-to-use tools that prime patients for conversations and decrease health disparities; use easy-to-access clinician training and simple scripts for interdisciplinary team members; and document patients’ values and preferences in the medical record to capture clinically meaningful ACP so this information is available at the point of care. Future efforts should focus on efficient implementation, expanded reimbursement options, and seamless integration of EHR documentation to ensure ACP’s continued evolution to better serve patients and their care partners.
The Effect of Slow-Paced Breathing on Cardiovascular and Emotion Functions: A Meta-Analysis and Systematic Review
Authors: Shao Robin , Man Idy S. C. , Lee Tatia M. C.
Published: January 2024

Objectives

Slow-paced breathing entails voluntarily controlling one’s breathing rate to a frequency close to the oscillation frequency of the cardiovascular system. Accumulating evidence indicates slow-paced breathing improves cardiovascular and emotion functions. However, there is no meta-analysis that quantifies pooled effect of slow-paced breathing across studies with nonclinical populations.

Method

In this meta-analysis and systematic review, we synthesized the findings of 31 studies (total n = 1133) which investigated the effect of slow-paced breathing on cardiovascular and emotion measures. PsycINFO, PubMed, Web of Science, and PsycARTICLES electronic databases were searched up to August 1, 2023. Random-effect modelling was conducted to compute pooled effect size across studies.

Results

Slow-paced breathing showed significant immediate effects in reducing systolic blood pressure (Standardized Mean Difference or SMD = -0.45, 95% CI = [-0.86, -0.04], p < 0.01), increasing time-domain heart rate variability (the root-mean-square-of-successive-differences-between-normal-heartbeats, or RMSSD, SMD = 0.37, 95% CI = [0.16, 0.58], p < 0.01; Standard Deviation of NN Intervals, or SDNN, SMD = 0.77, 95% CI = [0.26, 1.28], p < 0.01), and decreasing heart rate (SMD = -0.10, 95% CI = [-0.19, -0.01], p < 0.05). The effect in reducing negative emotion, particularly perceived stress, was marginal (SMD = -0.51, 95% CI = [-1.06, 0.03], p = 0.06). Limited evidence indicated persistent reduction of blood pressure 3 months post-intervention among prehypertensive samples. Preliminary analysis showed moderate association of the physiological and emotion effects of slow-paced breathing.

Conclusions

Slow-paced breathing demonstrated reliable effects in inducing short-term improvements in cardiovascular functions, and modest effect in reducing negative emotions, but its long-term efficacy in improving cardiovascular functions remains to be established. Future studies should continue to investigate the interrelations among the multifaceted effects of slow-paced breathing.

Preregistration

This review was preregistered on PROSPERO (Ref No: CRD42023450175).
Electrochemical and Tribological Performance of Ti–Al with xNb Addition Synthesized via Laser In situ Alloying
Authors: Kanyane L. R. , Raji S. A. , Tlotleng M.
Published: January 2024

Additive manufacturing is a growing technique of producing 3D parts directly using metal powders or wires melted with a high-powered intensity beam or laser. It is still a challenging process as to how laser processing parameters such as gas flow rate and powder flow rate can profitably be adopted to significantly produce Ti–Al-based materials from elemental powders to synthesize alloys that are defect-free and have good mechanical properties. The density of titanium aluminide (Ti–Al) intermetallic alloys makes it gain lots of interests due to its potential ability to substitute nickel-based superalloys in gas turbine engines. This work aims to investigate the effects of Niobium (Nb) additions on Ti–Al–xNb ternary alloys created via the use of 3D printing technology, specifically looking at microstructural evolution, microhardness, electrochemical behavior, and tribological properties. Ti–Al–Nb alloy was synthesized at scan speed of 26 in/min and laser power of 450 W. The structural morphology of the alloys produced was investigated using scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive spectroscopy and the electrochemical studies of the in situ alloyed Ti–Al–xNb were studied using potentiodynamic techniques. Using an Emco microhardness tester, the microhardness characteristics of the produced TiAl–xNb alloys were examined. From the results obtained, it was observed that the microstructure showed not much substantial cracking or crack initiation. The micrographs are evident of refined microstructure associated to increase in Nb feed rate with α-Ti3Al, γ-TiAl and precipitates of β-TiAl phases as the distinctively identified in the microstructure. The highest recorded microhardness value of 679.1 HV0.5 was achieved at Nb feed of 0.5 rpm and gas carrier of 2 L/min. The fabricated Ti–Al–Nb alloys showed good corrosion resistance behavior in HCl and appreciable wear characteristics with coefficient of friction of 0.412, 0.401, and 0.414 µ at B1, B3, and B5, respectively.
Mechanical behaviors and failure characteristics of coal-rock combination under quasi-static and dynamic disturbance loading: a case based on a new equipment
Authors: Jing Suolin , Wen Zhijie , Jiang Yujing , Wen Jinhao , Du Wanjun
Published: January 2024

The dynamic disasters of deep mining coal and rock mass are frequent and easy to be instable. Aiming at the deformation of coal-rock roadway under the coupled static and dynamic load, a new equipment which can simulate the actual situation dynamic environment is used to carry out the coupled static-dynamic loading test of coal-rock combination. The failure law and mechanical behavior of combination are studied. Test results show that weak structure significantly affects mechanical response of coal-rock combination. The coal part with lower strength firstly reaches the crack initiation stress. The strength of the combination is dominated by the coal part. The post-peak stage of the stress–strain curve under the coupled static and dynamic load presents a stepped reduction, which shows yield process. The dynamic load level has a significant effect on the mechanical behaviors of the combination. The elastic modulus decreases under dynamic loading. The peak stress of the combination is positively correlated with the dynamic load level in a certain range, and the peak strain was negatively correlated. The energy accumulation and dissipation are closely related to the failure of the samples. The strain energy is more concentrated in the area where the failure occurs first. The AE energy under dynamic load is developed from the traditional “four-stages” characteristic under static load to three stages. The interval release stage appears because of the appearance of intermittent disturbance load makes the AE energy of the sample change intermittently. The dynamic instability of samples accompanies a sudden increase in AE energy rate, hysteresis loop area and strain. Compared with the shear failure of single lithology sample, the failure mode of the combinations is mainly tensile, and it turns into tensile-shear failure under dynamic load. The fragmentation of samples is different under different failure modes. The fragmentation index can characterize the failure mode and crack propagation characteristics of coal-rock combination. The research provides reference for large deformation dynamic disasters of surrounding rock.
Experimental study on mechanical damage characteristics of water-bearing tar-rich coal under microwave radiation
Authors: Yang Pan , Shan Pengfei , Xu Huicong , Chen Jiageng , Li Zhiyong , Sun Haoqiang
Published: January 2024

As a recognized special resource, tar-rich coal can extract the country's scarce oil and gas resources and generate semi-coke that can replace anthracite and coking coal. The tar-rich coal in northern Shaanxi is prominent, but due to the dense structure and high strength of tar-rich coal, it is easy to cause frequent dynamic disasters in coal mining. Therefore, the realization of pressure relief and disaster reduction has become the primary problem in mining tar-rich coal. There are many shortcomings in conventional pressure relief methods, so a new method of microwave-weakening coal is proposed. Through different water saturation treatments of tar-rich coal samples, the longitudinal wave velocity degradation trend and surface crack expansion law of water-bearing coal after microwave irradiation were analyzed, and the strength softening characterization and energy evolution relationship under the combined action of microwave and water were studied. Fractal dimension and its internal correlation based on the equivalent side length-mass of coal sample fragments. The experimental results show that: (1) Under the same microwave radiation condition, with the increase of water saturation, the deterioration trend of physical and mechanical parameters such as longitudinal wave velocity and peak strength is obvious. (2) After microwave radiation, the uniaxial compression results show that the coal sample is damaged by load, there is still a high residual strength, the ratio of elastic energy to dissipation energy decreases, and the possibility of rockburst of the coal sample decreases. The strength softening degree of coal specimen under the degradation of microwave and water is the highest, followed by microwave and water. (3) The fractal dimension is inversely proportional to the moisture content and microwave radiation intensity, and the fractal dimension has a significant positive correlation with the peak intensity and longitudinal wave velocity. The mechanical damage law of water-bearing tar-rich coal under microwave action is revealed, which aims to solve the problem of weakening and reducing the impact of hard coal on-site to a certain extent, ensure the safety of working face, and improve the mining efficiency of tar-rich coal. It provides basic theoretical support for microwave-assisted hydraulic fracturing technology and effective weakening measures for hard roof treatment.
Determination of working resistance of support parameter variation of large mining height support: the case of Caojiatan coal mine
Authors: Xue Bo , Zhang Wenshuai , Wang Chen
Published: January 2024

Aiming at the problem that it is difficult to determine the reasonable working resistance of support in fully-mechanized top coal caving face with large mining height, this paper discusses it from the perspective of preventing rib spalling of coal wall, and holds that the support resistance of working face should not only maintain the stability of roof structure of working face, but also prevent rib spalling of coal wall. Taking Caojiatan 122,107 working face as the engineering background. Using theoretical analysis, numerical simulation, orthogonal test, and similar simulation, it is concluded that reducing the end distance b, reducing the distance l between the action point of the support force and the coal wall, increasing the vertical force Pv and the horizontal force Ph of the support are beneficial to the integrity and stability of the coal wall. The proportion index η of the plastic zone of coal wall is established, and the fitting relationship between η and support parameters is: $$\eta { = } - 0.21{\text{g}}P_{v} + 0.04{\text{g}}P_{h} + 0.551{\text{g}}b - 0.039{\text{g}}l + 0.665$$

η
=
-
0.21
g

P
v

+
0.04
g

P
h

+
0.551
g
b
-
0.039
g
l
+
0.665

. Taking η as the index, the calculation formula of the lower limit value of support strength is constructed, and the lower limit value of support strength required to prevent coal wall spalling in 122,107 working face is 12,369 kN. On-site monitoring and adjustment have achieved good results.