bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Business continuity management deployment, community resilience, and organisational resilience in private industry response to 2011 Ayutthaya flooding
Authors: Rattanasaeng Sudarat , Sukhotu Vatcharapol
Published: October 2024

This research aims to investigate the role of community resilience in the relationship between business continuity management and organisational resilience, the focus on a real‐world event (flooding) and its impact on a community provides a concrete context that adds relevance to the study. To complete this research, a quantitative research design was used. A firm‐level survey of private industrial firms in Ayutthaya Province (n = 211) was conducted. Variables included three clusters of business continuity management practices, community resilience, and organisational resilience. The data were then analysed using descriptive statistics and structural equation modelling. The results showed that business continuity management practices contributed to organisational resilience. There were also interaction effects between community resilience and business continuity management practices, indicating that community resilience moderated the effect of business continuity management practices on organisational resilience following the floods. The study is the first to test the role of community resilience in the effectiveness of business continuity management practices on organisational resilience. This contributes to the research by providing a better explanation of how communities and organisations interact in organisational disaster response. The study only investigated a single context of disaster response (firms previously affected by the 2011 Ayutthaya flooding). The research focuses on industrial manufacturing and service firms and does not include retail firms. The research was conducted in historic perspective. Development of organisational resilience is affected by community resilience. Therefore, supporting community resilience through infrastructure, institutions, and other mechanisms is key for post‐disaster economic recovery. This provides a further reason for developing community resilience.
Enhancing cross‐organizational collaboration in crisis management: Outcomes from a full‐scale regional exercise in Norway
Authors: Steen‐Tveit Kristine , Munkvold Bjørn E. , Rustenberg Kjetil
Published: October 2024

Cross‐organizational collaboration exercises are crucial in improving preparedness and promoting team situational awareness for effective crisis management. Despite their potential, studies suggest that these exercises may often yield results with limited learning and practical benefits. This study analyzes a full‐scale regional crisis management collaboration exercise conducted in Norway, involving 10 different organizations, and engaging over 200 participants. Using a survey‐based data collection method focusing on the ‘Collaboration, Learning, and Utility‐Scale’, complemented by on‐site observations and data collection from various exercise locations, we scrutinize the exercise's effectiveness in enhancing collaborative efforts, learning outcomes and overall utility. The findings contribute valuable insights into the strengths and areas for improvement in cross‐organizational collaboration, offering practical implications for optimizing future crisis management preparedness initiatives.
How parties can shape their competence reputations: Issue attention, position and performance
Authors: STIERS DIETER , DASSONNEVILLE RUTH
Published: October 2024

Issue ownership is an important determinant of the vote, and it is electorally beneficial for parties to build a strong reputation on their core issues. Even though issue ownership has already been studied extensively in the party literature, we know less about how citizens form ownership perceptions. We contribute to this literature by means of two studies on the connection between party behaviour and perceptions of issue ownership, with an empirical focus on issue competence reputations of parties. In Study 1, we combine party‐level information about issue attention, positions and performance with data on competence perceptions from a wide range of national election studies. Study 2 is a pre‐registered conjoint experiment designed to examine the causal link between party behaviour and perceived competence. Our results point to significant effects for all three hypothesised sources of competence reputations. Moving beyond previous work that has argued that competence reputations are mostly stable over time, after accounting for the variation due to parties' popularity, our results show that they fluctuate in the short term and that parties have some level of control over how they are perceived.
Supporting clinicians post exposure to potentially traumatic events: Emergency department peer support program evaluation
Authors: Carne Belinda , Furyk Jeremy
Published: October 2024

Objective

Workers in EDs are regularly exposed to potentially traumatic events. Since the COVID‐19 pandemic, there has been exponential interest in peer support programs (PSPs) in a range of settings. We describe a PSP implemented in 2017 at University Hospital Geelong (UHG) ED together with results of a survey.

Methods

To describe the program such that others can replicate it in their settings in addition to feedback evaluation. Method involved a survey emailed to the ED doctors.

Results

Thirty responses from 96 emails with a range of feedback.

Conclusion

ED Doctors place high value on the PSP.
The climate change–pollution–aerobiome nexus: A ‘systems thinking’ mini‐review
Authors: Robinson Jake M. , Liddicoat Craig , Sun Xin , Ramesh Sunita , Hawken Scott , Lee Kevin , Brame Joel , Fickling Nicole W. , Kuhn Emma , Hayward Claire , Deshmukh Sonali , Robinson Kate , Cando‐Dumancela Christian , Breed Martin F.
Published: October 2024

The interrelationship between climate change, pollution and the aerobiome (the microbiome of the air) is a complex ecological dynamic with profound implications for human and ecosystem health. This mini‐review explores the multifaceted relationships among these factors. By synthesising existing research and integrating interdisciplinary perspectives, we examine the mechanisms driving interactions within the climate change–pollution–aerobiome nexus. We also explore synergistic and cascading effects and potential impacts on human health (including both communicable and non‐communicable diseases) and that of wider ecosystems. Based on our mini‐review results, climate change influences air pollution and, independently, air pollution affects the composition, diversity and activity of the aerobiome. However, we apply a ‘systems thinking’ approach and create a set of systems diagrams to show that climate change likely influences the aerobiome (including bacteria and fungi) via climate change–pollution interactions in complex ways. Due to the inherent complexity of these systems, we emphasise the importance of holistic and/or interdisciplinary approaches and collaborative efforts in understanding this nexus to safeguard planetary health in an era of rapid environmental change.
Archaeological Geology of Jurash, ʿAsīr Province, Southwestern Saudi Arabia
Authors: Harrell James A.
Published: October 2024

The Jurash archaeological site is located on Wādī Bīshah near the city of Khamīs Mushayt in southwestern Saudi Arabia. It has a fort and other remains from the pre‐Islamic period (third century bc to early seventh century ad) and a settlement with two mosques from the Early Islamic period (early seventh to early 11th centuries ad). A survey was conducted for the purposes of identifying the building materials and determining their geographic sources, and also investigating the building methods. It was found that all materials were locally derived and that the fort's outer wall is a typical example of South Arabian fortifications of the first millennium bc. An examination of the site stratigraphy revealed that Jurash has been repeatedly inundated by destructive flash floods from Wādī Bīshah. The timing of these events was largely controlled by global climatic fluctuations, including the Medieval Climate Anomaly and the Little Ice Age.
Digital phenotyping in bipolar disorder: Using longitudinal Fitbit data and personalized machine learning to predict mood symptomatology
Authors: Lipschitz Jessica M. , Lin Sidian , Saghafian Soroush , Pike Chelsea K. , Burdick Katherine E.
Published: October 2024

Background

Effective treatment of bipolar disorder (BD) requires prompt response to mood episodes. Preliminary studies suggest that predictions based on passive sensor data from personal digital devices can accurately detect mood episodes (e.g., between routine care appointments), but studies to date do not use methods designed for broad application. This study evaluated whether a novel, personalized machine learning approach, trained entirely on passive Fitbit data, with limited data filtering could accurately detect mood symptomatology in BD patients.

Methods

We analyzed data from 54 adults with BD, who wore Fitbits and completed bi‐weekly self‐report measures for 9 months. We applied machine learning (ML) models to Fitbit data aggregated over two‐week observation windows to detect occurrences of depressive and (hypo)manic symptomatology, which were defined as two‐week windows with scores above established clinical cutoffs for the Patient Health Questionnaire‐8 (PHQ‐8) and Altman Self‐Rating Mania Scale (ASRM) respectively.

Results

As hypothesized, among several ML algorithms, Binary Mixed Model (BiMM) forest achieved the highest area under the receiver operating curve (ROC‐AUC) in the validation process. In the testing set, the ROC‐AUC was 86.0% for depression and 85.2% for (hypo)mania. Using optimized thresholds calculated with Youden's J statistic, predictive accuracy was 80.1% for depression (sensitivity of 71.2% and specificity of 85.6%) and 89.1% for (hypo)mania (sensitivity of 80.0% and specificity of 90.1%).

Conclusion

We achieved sound performance in detecting mood symptomatology in BD patients using methods designed for broad application. Findings expand upon evidence that Fitbit data can produce accurate mood symptomatology predictions. Additionally, to the best of our knowledge, this represents the first application of BiMM forest for mood symptomatology prediction. Overall, results move the field a step toward personalized algorithms suitable for the full population of patients, rather than only those with high compliance, access to specialized devices, or willingness to share invasive data.
Ureteroscopy and lasertripsy for lower pole stones <2 cm, in situ vs displacement? A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Dingwall Arran , Leighton James , Luk Angus , Chambers Mark , Somani Bhaskar , Geraghty Robert
Published: October 2024

Objective

To investigate the outcomes of ureteroscopy and lasertripsy in lower pole renal stones <2 cm when treated in situ compared to displacement to the upper pole.

Patients and Methods

Using the Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online (MEDLINE)/PubMed, the Excerpta Medica dataBASE (EMBASE), Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL), the Cochrane Library, and Clinicaltrials.gov we identified adult population, English language, studies published until March 2023 comparing surgical outcomes and stone‐free rates (SFRs) in relation to lower pole stones <2 cm managed in situ vs those displaced (International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews [PROSPERO] identifier: CRD42023432750). Analysis was performed using R with the ‘meta’ package. Bias analysis was performed using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool for randomised trials and the Newcastle–Ottawa scale for observational studies. The Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development, and Evaluation (GRADE) approach was used to ascertain the certainty of evidence.

Results

A total of five studies were included, comprising two retrospective cohort studies, three randomised trials, with a total of 408 patients. Meta‐analysis demonstrated SFRs are significantly higher in those patients undergoing displacement vs those managed in situ (risk ratio 1.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.10–1.34, P < 0.001). There was no significant difference in complication rates. Operative time was significantly longer in the displacement group (mean difference 5.62 min, 95% CI 0.40–10.83 min; P = 0.03). Overall risk of bias was moderate. Certainty of evidence was moderate for stone‐free status, and very low for all other outcomes.

Conclusions

This systematic review and meta‐analysis demonstrates that for lower pole stones <2 cm displacement strategies have significantly higher SFRs than treatment in situ, with no significant difference in complications. There is significantly increased operative time in the displaced group, but an additional 6 min is unlikely to be clinically significant.
Apelin‐13's Actions in Controlling Hypertension‐Related Cardiac Hypertrophy and the Expressions of Inflammatory Cytokines
Authors: Wei Xiaoliang , Luo Liyun , Lu Huifang , Li Songbiao , Deng Xinlian , Li Zhihui , Gong Dong , Chen Bairong
Published: October 2024

As a key molecule for improving cardiovascular diseases, Apelin‐13 was surveyed in this work to explain its actions in controlling inflammation, pyroptosis, and myocardial hypertrophy. First, mouse models with myocardial hypertrophy were established. Then, assessments were made on the pathological variation in the heart of mouse, on the cardiac functions, as well as on the expressions of cardiac hypertrophy markers (β‐MHC, ANP, and BNP), inflammatory factors (TNF‐α, COX2, IL‐6, ICAM‐1, and VCAM‐1), myocardial cell pyroptosis markers (NLRP3, ASC, c‐caspase‐1, and GSDMD‐N), and Hippo pathway proteins (p‐YAP, YAP, LATS1, and p‐LATS1) by HE staining, echocardiography scanning, and western blot tests separately. The expressions of such inflammatory factors as in myocardial tissue were acquired by ELISA. After inducing the phenotype of H9c2 cell hypertrophy by noradrenaline, we used CCK‐8 kits to know about the activity of H9c2 cells treated with Apelin‐13, and performed ɑ‐actinin staining to measure the changes in volumes of such cells. As unraveled through this work, Apelin‐13 refrained the activation of the Hippo pathway, which in turn attenuated the hypertrophy, inflammation, and pyroptosis of myocardial tissue and H9c2 cells. Hence, Apelin‐13 can be considered as a target for hypertension treatment.
Oleic Acid Inhibits SDC4 and Promotes Ferroptosis in Lung Cancer Through GPX4/ACSL4
Authors: Dong Jingfei , Qi Fei , Qie Huiqing , Du Shibu , Li Li , Zhang Yan , Xu Kaiyue , Li Dehui , Xu Yapei
Published: October 2024

Introduction

As a common malignancy, lung cancer has a relatively poor prognosis and a low survival rate. In recent years, ferroptosis, as an emerging filed, has great promise in the potential treatment of cancer. Brucea javanica oil (BJO) is often used to treat various cancers. Oleic acid (OA) is the main ingredient of BJO. In this study, we investigated the role and molecular mechanism of OA in lung cancer treatment by promoting ferroptosis.

Methods

In this study, A549 cells and H1299 cells were used for in vitro experiments, and a CCK‐8 test, scratch test, and MTT experiment were carried out. We examined reactive oxygen species (ROS), the JC‐1 probe, glutathione (GSH) expression, lipid peroxidation, SDC4 mRNA levels, and ACSL4, SLC7A11, GPX4, and SDC4 protein levels.

Results

The results showed that OA could inhibit the proliferation and migration of A549 cells and H1299 cells, SDC4 was a potential therapeutic target of OA against lung cancer, and OA treatment significantly inhibited the expression of SDC4 in A549 cells and H1299 cells. OA induces ferroptosis in A549 cells and H1299 cells, decreases GSH levels, increases lipid peroxidation levels, and decreases SDC4 mRNA expression; in addition, OA upregulates ACSL4 expression and decreases SLC7A11, GPX4, and SDC4 expression.

Conclusion

This study confirmed that OA could inhibit SDC4 expression and promote the occurrence of ferroptosis in A549 cells and H1299 cells through the GPX4/ACSL4 pathway, providing an effective basis for the use of drugs targeting ferroptosis in lung cancer treatment.
Exploring omics signature in the cardiovascular response to semaglutide: Mechanistic insights and clinical implications
Authors: Vitorino Rui
Published: October 2024

Background

Semaglutide, a glucagon‐like peptide‐1 (GLP‐1) receptor agonist, is a widely used drug for the treatment of type 2 diabetes that offers significant cardiovascular benefits.

Results

This review systematically examines the proteomic and metabolomic indicators associated with the cardiovascular effects of semaglutide. A comprehensive literature search was conducted to identify relevant studies. The review utilizes advanced analytical technologies such as mass spectrometry and nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) to investigate the molecular mechanisms underlying the effects of semaglutide on insulin secretion, weight control, anti‐inflammatory activities and lipid metabolism. These “omics” approaches offer critical insights into metabolic changes associated with cardiovascular health. However, challenges remain such as individual variability in expression, the need for comprehensive validation and the integration of these data with clinical parameters. These issues need to be addressed through further research to refine these indicators and increase their clinical utility.

Conclusion

Future integration of proteomic and metabolomic data with artificial intelligence (AI) promises to improve prediction and monitoring of cardiovascular outcomes and may enable more accurate and effective management of cardiovascular health in patients with type 2 diabetes. This review highlights the transformative potential of integrating proteomics, metabolomics and AI to advance cardiovascular medicine and improve patient outcomes.
Therapy‐Related Acute Promyelocytic Leukemia: Case Series and Current Insights
Authors: Bruzzese Antonella , Martino Enrica Antonia , Labanca Caterina , Mendicino Francesco , Lucia Eugenio , Olivito Virginia , Morelli Rosellina , Rossi Teresa , Neri Antonino , Morabito Fortunato , Gentile Massimo , Vigna Ernesto
Published: October 2024

Therapy‐related acute promyelocytic leukemia (t‐APL) is rare and often linked to previous treatment with alkylating agents or topoisomerase II inhibitors. This report describes three cases of t‐APL treated at the Haematology Department of Cosenza Hospital between 2022 and 2024, which occurred after alkylating agents and exemestane, alkylating agents and radiation therapy, alkylating agents, taxane, and checkpoint inhibitor, respectively. Each case was managed with a different therapeutic approach. The first case involved a 71‐year‐old man with colorectal and breast cancer, who developed low‐risk t‐APL and achieved complete remission (CR) with ATRA alone. A second 71‐year‐old man case with colorectal cancer developed high‐risk t‐APL with PML/RARA and FLT3‐ITD fusion transcripts; he achieved CR with idarubicin and ATRA despite severe sepsis and acute heart failure. The third case involved a 74‐year‐old man with lung squamous cell carcinoma who developed intermediate‐risk t‐APL following chemoimmunotherapy but unfortunately succumbed to pseudotumor cerebri complications during induction therapy.
Do Sex Ratio Distorting Microbes Inhibit the Evolution of Pesticide Resistance? An Experimental Test
Authors: Fisher Adam M. , McKenzie Amelia‐Rose V. , Price Tom A. R. , Bonsall Michael B. , Knell Robert J.
Published: October 2024

We are still largely reliant on pesticides for the suppression of arthropod pests which threaten human health and food production, but the recent rise of evolved resistance among important pest species has reduced pesticide efficacy. Despite this, our understanding of strategies that effectively limit the evolution of resistance remains weak. Male‐killing sex ratio distorting microbes (SRDMs), such as Wolbachia and Spiroplasma, are common among arthropod species. Previous theoretical work has suggested that they could limit adaptive potential in two ways: first, because by distorting sex ratios they reduce the effective population size, and second, because infected females produce no male offspring which restricts gene flow. Here we present the results of a novel experiment in which we test the extent by which these two mechanisms limit the adaptive response of arthropods to pesticide. Using a fully factorial design, we manipulated the adult sex ratio of laboratory populations of Drosophila melanogaster, both in the presence and absence of SRDMs, and exposed these populations to six generations of pesticide poisoning. This design allows the effects of SRDMs on sex ratio and their effects on gene flow to be estimated separately. After six generations, individuals from populations with even sex ratios displayed a higher resistance to pesticide relative to individuals from female‐biased populations. By contrast, we found no effect of the presence of SRDMs in host populations on pesticide resistance independent of sex ratio. In addition, males were more susceptible to pesticide than females—this was true of flies from both naïve and previously exposed populations. These findings provide the first empirical proof of concept that sex ratio distortion arising from SRDMs can limit adaptation to pesticides, but cast doubt on the theoretical effect of male‐killers limiting adaptation by disrupting gene flow.
Prevalence and Predictors of Inflammatory Arthritis in Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Authors: Sy Sheena Maureen T. , Eder Lihi , Jerome Dana , Obetta Chikaodili , McKee Hayley , Mirza Reza , Pek Elisabeth , Piguet Vincent , Alhusayen Raed
Published: October 2024

Hidradenitis Suppurativa (HS) is a chronic, debilitating, auto‐inflammatory condition often associated with inflammatory arthritis, significantly impacting patients' quality of life. Early diagnosis of both conditions is crucial for optimal management. The objective of this study was to determine the prevalence and factors associated with the development of inflammatory arthritis among HS patients. A cross‐sectional study was conducted between November 2021 and February 2023 at an academic dermatology centre in Canada. Adult patients with HS were consecutively sampled, and 52 patients consented to participate and completed assessments. Variables examined included age, sex, HS severity, treatment, ethnicity, family history, lifestyle factors and comorbidities. The main outcomes were rheumatologist‐confirmed inflammatory arthritis diagnosis and associated risk factors. Among 52 patients (24 males, 28 females; mean age: 37.4 years), 12 had inflammatory arthritis. Multivariate analysis revealed that Blacks (OR = 0.10, p < 0.001, CI: 0.026–0.343) and Asians (OR = 0.02, p < 0.001, CI: 0.005–0.109) had lower inflammatory arthritis odds compared to Whites. Every 1‐year increase in age at HS onset correlated with a 1.17‐fold increase in the odds of developing inflammatory arthritis (OR: 1.17, p < 0.001, CI: 1.12–1.24). Smoking (OR = 0.01, p < 0.001, CI: 0.002–0.49), hypertension (OR: 0.23, p = 0.04, CI: 0.057–0.930) and depression (OR: 0.12, p < 0.001, CI: 0.041–0.330) reduced inflammatory arthritis odds. White ethnicity and older age at HS onset were positively associated with inflammatory arthritis, while smoking, hypertension and depression were negatively associated. These findings suggest a distinct subset of HS patients with inflammatory arthritis that warrant further prospective studies. This study contributes to the understanding of inflammatory arthritis in HS patients and emphasises the importance of rheumatology referral during dermatologic clinic visits.
BENN: Balanced Ensemble Neural Network for Handling Class Imbalance in Big Data
Authors: Ramesh Sneha Halebeedu , Basava Annappa , Perumal Sankar Pariserum
Published: October 2024

Class imbalance is a critical challenge in big data analytics, often leading to biased predictive models. This imbalance can lead to biased models that perform well on the majority class but poorly on the minority class. Many machine learning models tend to be biased towards the majority class because they aim to minimise overall error, often leading to poor performance on the minority class. This paper presents the balanced ensemble neural network, a novel solution to effectively address class imbalance in big data. Balanced ensemble neural network combines the robust capabilities of neural networks with the power of ensemble learning, incorporating class balancing strategies to ensure fair representation of minority classes. The methodology involves integrating multiple neural networks, each trained on balanced subsets of data using techniques like Synthetic Minority Over‐sampling Technique and Random Undersampling. This integration aims to leverage the strengths of individual networks while reducing their inherent biases. Our extensive experiments across various datasets reveal that BENN achieves an AUC‐ROC score of 0.94, surpassing other models such as random forest (0.88), support vector (0.84) and single neural net (0.80). It was also observed that BENN's performance is better compared to traditional neural network models and standard ensemble methods in key metrics like accuracy, precision, recall, F1‐score and AUC‐ROC. The results specifically highlight BENN's effectiveness in accurately classifying instances of minority classes, a notable challenge in many existing models. These findings underscore BENN's potential as a substantial advancement in handling class imbalance within big data environments, offering a promising direction for future research and application in machine learning.
Control risk premium: Dual‐class shares, family ownership, and minority investor returns
Authors: Anderson Ronald , Ottolenghi Ezgi , Reeb David , Savor Pavel
Published: October 2024

Despite exhibiting significant valuation discounts, dual‐class shares surged from 1% of initial public offerings in 1980 to nearly half in recent years. This study investigates the potential harm of such structures by examining the identity and returns of minority shareholders. We find that sophisticated investors predominantly hold low‐voting shares. Furthermore, outside shareholders earn a positive risk premium rather than suffering low returns, consistent with the hypothesis that market prices compensate for the risk associated with dual‐class structures. Our analysis reveals that such structures are confounded with family control, which is present in 89% of dual‐class firms in the Russell 3000. Interestingly, single‐class firms with family shareholders also enjoy positive abnormal returns, implying minority shareholders care more about the presence of a controlling shareholder than a specific voting structure. This research contributes to the ongoing debate on restricting dual‐class structures by highlighting the complex relationship between ownership, control, and shareholder returns.
Simple and Accurate Representation of Cumulative Nighttime Leaf Respiratory CO2 Efflux
Authors: Bruhn Dan , Slot Martijn , Mercado Lina M.
Published: October 2024

Leaf respiratory carbon loss decreases independent of temperature as the night progresses. Detailed nighttime measurements needed to quantify cumulative respiratory carbon loss at night are challenging under both lab and field conditions. We provide a simple yet accurate approach to represent variation in nighttime temperature‐independent leaf respiratory CO2 efflux in environments with both stable and fluctuating temperatures, which requires no detailed measurements throughout the night. We demonstrate that the inter‐ and intraspecific variation in the cumulative leaf respiratory CO2 efflux at constant temperature, at any length of night, scales linearly with the inter‐ and intraspecific variation in initial measurement of leaf respiratory CO2 efflux at the same temperature at the beginning of the night. This approach informs large‐scale predictions of cumulative leaf respiratory CO2 efflux, which is needed to understand plant carbon economy in global change studies as well as in global modeling and eddy covariance monitoring of the land–atmosphere exchange of CO2.
Features associated with arteriovenous fistula patency. A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhang Dongjuan , Liang Jing , Yang Yang
Published: October 2024

Introduction

It is unclear if cannulation‐associated variables such as timing of first cannulation, access creation method, cannulation technique, or needle type are associated with the outcomes of arteriovenous fistulas. We conducted a meta‐analysis to investigate such potential associations with 1‐year primary patency.

Methods

Twenty‐eight publications with titles that included “arteriovenous fistula,” “patency,” “cannulation,” “metric,” “first cannulation,” “hemodialysis,” “complication,” “vascular,” “nursing,” and “puncture” were retrieved and reviewed.

Findings

The 1‐year primary patency rates ranged from 0.32 to 0.93. Primary patency rates were significantly lower in patients in whom initial cannulation was done less than 1.5 months after fistula creation compared to fistulas first cannulated more than 1.5 months after anastomosis (odds ratio [OR] = 0.41, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.32–0.52). The effect of cannulation timing on primary patency rate was attenuated when plastic cannulas were used during the first two to three puncture weeks compared to metal needles (OR = 0.62 vs. 0.34; p = 0.032). Fistulas in the upper arm did not have a higher 1‐year primary patency compared to those in the forearm (OR = 1.05, 95% CI: 0.93–1.19). Primary patency of upper arm arteriovenous fistulas was higher in reports from the Americas or Europe compared to reports from Asia. Buttonhole cannulation was not associated with higher patency rates at 1 year compared to rope‐ladder cannulation (OR = 1.14, 95% CI: 0.75–1.71).

Discussion

Early cannulation was associated with reduced 1‐year arteriovenous fistula patency. This association was reduced when plastic cannulas were used during the initial 2–3 weeks.
#Stand with Ukraine: Analyzing the links between Germans' emotions and their readiness to protest in response to the Russian invasion of Ukraine
Authors: Ditrich Lara , Sassenberg Kai
Published: October 2024

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 sparked protests around the globe. Most of Europe had – luckily – not seen violent conflict of this scale on their doorstep for more than 30 years. For Germany, the period was even longer. Being confronted with news about the war drove thousands of German citizens to the streets. In passionate protests, they made various demands of their government. Herein, we investigate the links between Germans' emotions and their readiness to engage in such protests. Drawing on collective action research, we predicted that anger and sympathy would correlate positively with Germans' protest readiness. Given the context and public debate, we predicted that fear should also correlate with protest readiness. Two surveys (total N = 905) conducted with residents of Germany – one day after the invasion and at its first anniversary – supported our hypotheses. We consistently found that the more sympathy and anger respondents experienced, the greater their readiness to protest. Fear explained variance beyond sympathy and anger in two cases and in an information‐seeking measure of protest readiness: Greater fear correlated with a higher interest in demonstrations advocating peace negotiations and a lower interest in demonstrations calling for solidarity with Ukraine. These findings underscore the links between sympathy, anger, fear, and the readiness to protest in response to the contemporary crisis that is the war in Ukraine.
Wealth inequality and community vitality in the aftermath of the Australian “Black Summer” bushfires
Authors: Dare Michael , Jetten Jolanda , Crimston Charlie R. , Selvanathan Hema P.
Published: October 2024

This study investigates the adverse impact of community‐level wealth inequality in the aftermath of a natural disaster, and explores the role of community strength (i.e., community identification, cohesion, and identity continuity) in potentially mitigating these negative effects. Using geo‐targeted survey data from communities affected by the 2019/2020 Black Summer Bushfires in Australia (N = 363), we found that greater perceived wealth inequality was associated with lower confidence that the community would make necessary changes to meet the threat of future bushfires, lower collective efficacy regarding future bushfires, and lower anticipated quality of life. However, we also found evidence some of these adverse effects were attenuated among those who reported higher levels of community identification and community cohesion. This study illustrates that problems posed by wealth inequality extend to the context of disaster recovery and climate change adaptation, and further underscores the socially mediated nature of this threat by demonstrating the potential for community strength to play a buffering role.
Role of Akkermansia muciniphila in insulin resistance
Authors: Zeng Zhijun , Chen Mengjie , Liu Yimin , Zhou Yun , Liu Hongning , Wang Shaohua , Ji Yanhua
Published: October 2024

Insulin resistance (IR) is a pathogenic factor in numerous metabolic diseases. The gut microbiota plays a crucial role in maintaining the function of the intestinal barrier and overall human health, thereby influencing IR. Dysbiosis of the gut microbiota can contribute to the development of IR. Therefore, it is essential to maintain a balanced and diverse gut microbiota for optimal health. Akkermansia muciniphila, a widely present microorganism in the human intestine, has been shown to regulate gastrointestinal mucosal barrier integrity, reduce endotoxin penetration, decrease systemic inflammation levels, and improve insulin sensitivity. Reduced abundance of A. muciniphila is associated with an increased risk of IR and other metabolic diseases, highlighting its correlation with IR. Understanding the role and regulatory mechanism of A. muciniphila is crucial for comprehending IR pathogenesis and developing novel strategies for preventing and treating related metabolic disorders. Individual variations may exist in both the gut microbiota composition and its impact on IR among different individuals. Further investigation into individual differences between A. muciniphila and IR will facilitate advancements in personalized medicine by promoting tailored interventions based on the gut microbiota composition, which is a potential future direction that would optimize insulin sensitivity while preventing metabolic disease occurrence. In this review, we describe the physiological characteristics of A. muciniphila, emphasize its roles in underlying mechanisms contributing to IR pathology, and summarize how alterations in its abundance affect IR development, thereby providing valuable insights for further research on A. muciniphila, as well as new drug development targeting diabetes.
Short‐term impact of bariatric surgery on the dietary intake of patients with type 2 diabetes
Authors: Shukla Prachi , Siddhu Anupa , Peters Atul N.C.
Published: October 2024

Background

The prevalence of overweight and obesity and an unhealthy diet and lifestyle are the key causes of rising diabetes burden in India. Bariatric surgery is gaining popularity in India as a favored approach to manage obesity and its accompanying comorbidities. Despite this, there is a scarcity of Indian studies evaluating dietary intake. Our goal was to analyse the dietary intake of Indian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) who have undergone laparoscopic sleeve gastrectomy (LSG) or duodeno‐jejunal bypass with sleeve gastrectomy (DJB‐SG) or surgeries.

Methods

The longitudinal observational study included 64 T2DM patients (32 in each procedure) enrolled through purposive sampling. The patients underwent surgery (LSG or DJB‐SG procedure) between January 2017 and July 2019. Dietary data was collected at baseline and postsurgery (12 months) using a 24‐h dietary recall method for 2 days (one working and one holiday).

Results

The total sample consisted of 27 (42.2%) females and 37 (57.8%) males. The mean age was 46.8 years. At 12 months, the follow‐up for the LSG and DJB‐SG procedures was 100% and 78%, respectively. In the short term, a significant reduction was seen in weight, body mass index and haemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) in both surgical groups. The two procedures were comparable with respect to weight loss but improvement in glycaemia was higher in the DJB‐SG group. The dietary intake (food groups and nutrients) was similar in the two surgical groups at baseline and 12 months postsurgery. Dietary intake assessment showed significant reduction in calorie dense foods (cereals, roots and tubers, fats and oils, table sugar, and biscuits) in both surgical groups. Among nutrients, intake of energy, fats, carbohydrates, dietary fibre, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, folate and iron were reduced significantly in both procedures. Vitamin D (84.4% patients in LSG group and 81.3% patients in DJB‐SG) and iron (62.5% patients in LSG group and 68.8% patients in DJB‐SG) were commonly prevalent nutritional deficiencies at baseline and were significantly reduced at 12 months.

Conclusions

In the short term, bariatric surgery resulted in weight loss and improvement in glycaemia. Bariatric surgery does significantly affect dietary intake leading to nutritional deficiencies. Therefore, patients should be recommended vitamin and mineral supplements and regular patient education and counselling by a trained bariatric dietitian to prevent nutritional deficiencies and maintain nutritional status.
Reunification, reconsidered: Presenting an integrative, single‐therapist framework for resolving parent–child contact problems
Authors: Singh Terry , Mader Joel
Published: October 2024

Providing therapy to families of separation and divorce can be a challenging area of practice for marriage and family therapists, particularly when a child refuses contact with a parent. Several forms of “reunification therapy” designed to overcome resist/refuse dynamics between a child and parent have been proposed, with significant variation across the conceptualization of factors contributing to parent–child contact problems and the resulting treatment models that have been described. In an effort to design an overarching integrative framework for conducting family reunification therapy that is informed by available evidence, a review of the current literature is conducted. Following this review, an integrative single‐therapist framework for resolving parent–child contact problems is presented. Over the course of three successive treatment “stages,” this framework permits a marriage and family therapist to conduct reunification therapy in an evidence‐informed manner along general systemic therapeutic principles while permitting flexibility with respect to the specific interventions selected.
Efficacy and potency of sphenopalatine ganglion block for the management of postdural puncture headaches in post‐cesarean section: A case report and literature review
Authors: Hara Michael Shannon , Furuya Kiichiro , Kishida Kenji , Yamashita Saya , Kobayashi Shunji , Ogita Kazuhide
Published: October 2024

Spinal anesthesia is a widely practiced anesthetic technique during cesarean section but is associated with the risk of postdural puncture headache (PDPH). This article reports a case of refractory PDPH following a cesarean section that achieved immediate pain relief after a sphenopalatine ganglion block (SPGB). SPGB has been proposed as a non‐invasive alternative to the traditional epidural blood patch for nonobstetrical PDPH, nonetheless, it is a procedure not commonly performed by obstetricians. By targeting the sphenopalatine ganglion, SPGB offers a viable treatment option for PDPH and provides immediate relief to patients. This case report and literature review suggest that SPGB is a promising, effective, and safe approach for managing PDPH after cesarean section. Considering SPGB as an alternative to epidural blood patch, obstetricians can offer noninvasive treatment options for patients with PDPH.
Neuromuscular ultrasound for the differential diagnosis of radial tunnel syndrome and lateral epicondylitis
Authors: Kerasnoudis Antonios , Venouziou Aaron , Vasiliadis Angelo V.
Published: October 2024

Background and Purpose

Lateral elbow pain is quite common in everyday life. Lateral epicondylitis and radial tunnel syndrome are the most common causes of lateral elbow pain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the sensitivity and specificity of neuromuscular ultrasound examination in the diagnosis of lateral epicondylitis versus radial tunnel syndrome.

Methods

This was a prospective double‐blinded pilot study of 68 elbows in 34 patients with lateral elbow pain. Patients underwent clinical examination and standardized neuromuscular ultrasound evaluation in the first 15 days after the initiation of symptoms. Statistical significance was set at p < .001. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive value (NPV) were calculated.

Results

Sixty‐eight radial nerves were examined in 34 healthy controls (16 males; mean age 48.1 ± 8.2 years). Pain with palpation over the radial tunnel was found in 25 of 48 elbows (52.1%) compared to the pain over the lateral epicondyle found in 10 of 48 elbows (20.8%). Τhe sensitivity of palpation in differentiating radial tunnel syndrome from lateral epicondylitis was 75.7%, while the specificity was 50% (PPV 71.4%, NPV 51.5%). The sensitivity of neuromuscular ultrasound in differentiating radial tunnel syndrome from lateral epicondylitis was 92.6%, while the specificity was 80% (PPV 92.6%, NPV 80.0%). In most of the patients (25/31), fibrous bands anterior to the radio‐capitellar joint were responsible for the nerve entrapment.

Conclusions

The present study highlights the importance of the neuromuscular ultrasound's diagnostic role in differentiating radial tunnel syndrome from lateral epicondylitis in the clinical scenario of lateral elbow pain.
Efficacy of facilitated tucking position and Reiki given to preterm infants during orogastric tube insertion: A randomised controlled trial
Authors: Kurt Sezer Hilal , Onal Hatice , Degirmencioglu Halil , Kucukoglu Sibel
Published: October 2024

Aim

This research was conducted to evaluate the effects of Reiki and facilitated tucking position on pain, stress and physiologic parameters in preterm infants during orogastric tube (OGT) insertion.

Methods

The study used a single‐blind, parallel‐group randomised controlled experimental design. It was carried out in the neonatal intensive care unit of a hospital in Niğde/Turkey between February 2022 and January 2023. A total of 45 preterm infants, who met the study criteria and whose sample size was determined according to power analysis, were randomly divided into three groups. As an intervention, the facilitated tucking position was applied to the first group, and Reiki was applied to the second group during OGT insertion. Routine application continued in the control group. The Infant Introductory Information Form, Physiological Parameter Follow‐up Chart, Infant Stress Scale (ISS) and Premature Infant Pain Profile Scale‐Revised (PIPP‐R) were used for data collection. Significance was accepted as P < 0.05 in the statistical analysis.

Results

It was determined that the infants were homogeneously distributed between the experimental and control groups (P > 0.05). Infants who received the facilitated tucking position and Reiki intervention had better physiological stability compared to the control group (P < 0.05). The group with the lowest average stress (1.53 ± 0.99) and pain scores (4.06 ± 1.22) during OGT insertion was the facilitated tucking group (P < 0.001). After the procedure, stress and pain scores in both the facilitated tucking group and the Reiki group were found to be significantly lower than those in the control group (P < 0.001).

Conclusions

The results of the study showed that the facilitated tucking position during OGT insertion was especially effective in reducing the pain and stress of infants. Both the facilitated tucking position and Reiki were determined to be effective interventions in reducing the pain and stress of infants more quickly after the procedure. The results of study contribute to the recommendation that NICU nurses should include non‐pharmacological methods to decrease the pain of preterm infants during procedural pain.
Differential Effects of Light and Dark Phase Modifications on Jet Lag Adaptability in Mice
Authors: Ma Changxiao , Li Haonan , Shen Bingyi , Zheng Huiwen , Chen Yunfei , Chen Lihong , Yang Guangrui
Published: October 2024

In chronobiology, shifting light/dark cycles is a common method to disrupt circadian rhythms. While the direction and magnitude of a phase shift (e.g., +6 denoting a 6‐h advanced shift) dictate the temporal change before and after the shift, little attention has been paid to the duration and relative proportion of daytime and nighttime during the shift, leading to a critical, unexamined variable in circadian research. In this study, we introduce the concepts of “L‐shift” (longer light phase on the shift day) and “D‐shift” (longer dark phase), and investigate how these variations impact the adaptability of mice to jet lag. By examining multiple phase shifts (12L vs. 12D, +6L vs. +6D, −6L vs. −6D), we demonstrate that L‐shifts not only facilitate faster adaptation but also significantly reduce the severity of sepsis in a jet lag‐sensitive lipopolysaccharide‐induced sepsis model. Further investigations with additional phase shifts at 1‐h intervals (+8 to +11) reinforced the enhanced fitness of mice under L‐shifts. Mechanistically, L‐shifts were found to increase sleep duration, thereby improving circadian entrainment, with sleep deprivation nullifying the adaptability differences between lighting protocols. These findings underscore a previously unrecognized factor in circadian biology and suggest that optimizing lighting protocols could profoundly improve adaptability to circadian disruptions. This research opens new avenues for enhancing therapeutic strategies and refining experimental designs in the field of chronobiology.
Talk‐LD and Talk‐LD+: A pilot trial of school‐based interventions to challenge discrimination and promote inclusion
Authors: Maguire Roseann , Wilson Alastair , Hastings Richard P. , Scior Kartina , Jahoda Andrew
Published: October 2024

To counteract stigma and discrimination a series of five lessons Talk about Learning Disability (Talk‐LD) to promote young people's understanding and acceptance of people with intellectual disabilities were developed for the Scottish secondary school curriculum. This study examined the feasibility of carrying out a randomised control trial comparing the delivery of the lessons alone with the lessons plus an attempt to promote positive contact between participating students and people with intellectual disabilities. The aim was to recruit and randomise 12 schools to receive the lessons alone or the lessons plus contact. The Attitudes Towards Intellectual Disability (ATTID) questionnaire was completed at baseline and a questionnaire about students' understanding of the lesson content was completed at follow‐up alone. Twelve schools were recruited and randomised. The lessons were delivered to 23 classes across the 12 schools. Baseline data were obtained for 480 participants. However, school closures due to COVID‐19 meant that follow‐up data were only obtained from 220 students (six schools) prior to school closures. The attitude measure only detected change in one ATTID scale, indicating students may be more willing to interact with a person with intellectual disabilities post intervention. Three of the six schools randomised to the lessons plus contact group had plans in place for joint activities between students and young people with an intellectual disability. Despite the disruption caused by the Covid pandemic, the findings were encouraging in relation to future research on the Talk‐LD lessons. The schools also engaged positively with the process of promoting positive contact with young people with an intellectual disability.