bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
ARRB1 downregulates acetaminophen-induced hepatoxicity through binding to p-eIF2α to inhibit ER stress signaling
Authors: Luo Yujun , Lei Yiming , Zhou Haoxiong , Chen Yan , Liu Huiling , Jiang Jie , Xu Chengfang , Wu Bin
Published: January 2024

Acetaminophen (APAP) stands as the predominant contributor to drug-induced liver injury (DILI), and limited options are available. β-Arrestin1 (ARRB1) is involved in numerous liver diseases. However, the role of ARRB1 in APAP-induced liver injury remained uncertain. Wild-type (WT) and ARRB1 knockout (KO) mice were injected with APAP and sacrificed at the indicated times. The histological changes, inflammation, endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress, and apoptosis were then evaluated. Hepatic cell lines AML-12 and primary hepatocytes were used for in vitro analyses. Systemic ARRB1-KO mice were susceptible to APAP-induced hepatotoxicity, as indicated by larger areas of centrilobular necrosis area and higher levels of ALT, AST, and inflammation level. Moreover, ARRB1-KO mice exhibited increased ER stress (indicated by phosphorylated α subunit of eukaryotic initiation factor 2 (p-eIF2α)-activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4)-CCAAT-enhancer-binding protein homologous protein (CHOP)) and apoptosis (indicated by cleaved caspase 3). Further rescue experiments demonstrated that the induction of apoptosis was partially mediated by ER stress. Overexpression of ARRB1 alleviated APAP-induced ER stress and apoptosis. Moreover, co-IP analysis revealed that ARRB1 directly bound to p-eIF2α and eIF2α. ARRB1 protected against APAP-induced hepatoxicity through targeting ER stress and apoptosis. ARRB1 is a prospective target for treating APAP-induced DILI.

Graphical Abstract

ARRB1 mitigates APAP-induced hepatotoxicity through regulating ER stress (p-eIF2α-ATF4-CHOP) and apoptosis (p-JNK and cleaved caspase 3) via binding to p-eIF-2α
Infinite families of minimal binary codes via Krawtchouk polynomials
Authors: Du Xiaoni , Rodríguez René , Wu Hao
Published: January 2024

Linear codes play a crucial role in various fields of engineering and mathematics, including data storage, communication, cryptography, and combinatorics. Minimal linear codes, a subset of linear codes, are particularly essential for designing effective secret sharing schemes. In this paper, we introduce several classes of minimal binary linear codes by carefully selecting appropriate Boolean functions. These functions belong to a renowned class of Boolean functions, namely, the general Maiorana–McFarland class. We employ a method first proposed by Ding et al.  (IEEE Trans Inf Theory 64(10):6536–6545, 2018) to construct minimal codes violating the Ashikhmin–Barg bound (wide minimal codes) by using Krawtchouk polynomials. The lengths, dimensions, and weight distributions of the obtained codes are determined using the Walsh spectrum distribution of the chosen Boolean functions. Our findings demonstrate that a vast majority of the newly constructed codes are wide minimal. Furthermore, our proposed codes exhibit a significantly larger minimum distance, in some cases, compared to some existing similar constructions. Finally, we address this method, based on Krawtchouk polynomials, more generally, and highlight certain generic properties related to it. These general results offer insights into the scope of this approach.
Fertility Declines Near the End of the COVID-19 Pandemic: Evidence of the 2022 Birth Declines in Germany and Sweden
Authors: Bujard Martin , Andersson Gunnar
Published: January 2024

Following the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, many countries faced short-term fertility declines in 2020–2021, a development which did not materialize in the majority of German-speaking and Nordic countries. However, more recent birth statistics show a steep fertility decline in 2022. We aim to provide empirical evidence on the unexpected birth decline in 2022 in Germany and Sweden. We rely on monthly birth statistics and present seasonally adjusted monthly Total Fertility Rates (TFR) for Germany and Sweden. We relate the nine-month lagged fertility rates to contextual developments regarding COVID-19. The seasonally adjusted monthly TFR of Germany dropped from 1.5–1.6 in 2021 to 1.4 in early 2022 and again in autumn 2022, a decline of about 10% in several months. In Sweden, the corresponding TFR dropped from about 1.7 in 2021 to 1.5–1.6 in 2022, a decline of almost 10%. There is no association of the fertility trends with changes in unemployment, infection rates, or COVID-19 deaths, but a strong association with the onset of vaccination programmes and the weakening of pandemic-related restrictions. The fertility decline in 2022 in Germany and Sweden is remarkable. Common explanations of fertility change during the pandemic do not apply. The association between the onset of mass vaccinations and subsequent fertility decline indicates that women adjusted their behaviour to get vaccinated before becoming pregnant. Fertility decreased as societies were opening up with more normalized life conditions. We provide novel information on fertility declines and the COVID-19-fertility nexus during and in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic.
The Content of Personalised Network-Based Case Formulations
Authors: van den Bergh Robin , Olthof Merlijn , Goldbeck Florens , Hegewald Konstantin , Pommerien-Becht Florian , Daniels-Wredenhagen Nora , Weggemans Rianne J. , Scholz Silvia , Daalmans Serena , Otten Roy , Aas Benjamin G. , Lichtwarck-Aschoff Anna
Published: January 2024

Case formulation is at the heart of personalised care in psychotherapy. Scientific research into case formulations can provide new insights in the heterogeneity of psychopathology which are relevant for advances in personalised psychopathology research and practice. This mixed-methods study examined the content of 483 fully personalised network-based case formulations in psychotherapy in terms of uniqueness (i.e., frequencies of concepts) and commonality (i.e., the presence of common themes over the different case formulations). In a real-world clinical care setting, patients co-created network-based case formulations with their therapist as part of their routine diagnostic process. These case formulations feature concepts that are relevant to individual patients and their current situation. We assessed how often concepts were used by different patients to quantify uniqueness. We applied a bottom-up thematic analysis to identify patient-relevant themes from the concepts. The case formulations of 483 patients diagnosed with mood and/or anxiety disorders contained a total of 4908 interpretable concepts of which 4272 (87%) were completely unique. Through thematic analysis, we identified seven overarching themes in the concepts: autonomy, connectedness, emotions, self-care, identity, self-efficacy, and bodily sensations. Case formulations were highly unique, thereby illustrating the importance of personalised diagnostics. The unique concepts could be grouped under seven overarching themes which seem to encompass basic human needs. Current advancements in personalised diagnostics and assessment should have a broader scope than symptoms alone, and could use the themes identified here as part of a topic list in the generation of (network-based) case formulations.
HYPERCYCLICITY OF OPERATORS THAT $$\lambda$$-COMMUTE WITH THE HARDY BACKWARD SHIFT
Authors: Amouch Mohamed , León-Saavedra Fernando , Rosa M. P. Romero de la
Published: January 2024

An operator T acting on a separable complex Banach space $$\mathcal {B}$$
B
is said to be hypercyclic if there exists $$f\in \mathcal {B}$$

f
∈
B

such that the orbit $$\{T^n f:\ n\in \mathbb {N}\}$$

{

T
n

f
:

n
∈
N
}

is dense in $$\mathcal {B}$$
B
. Godefroy and Shapiro (J. Funct. Anal., 98(2):229–269, 1991) characterized those elements, which are hypercyclic, in the commutant of the Hardy backward shift. In this paper, we study some dynamical properties of operators X that $$\lambda$$
λ
-commute with the Hardy backward shift B, that is, $$BX=\lambda XB$$

B
X
=
λ
X
B

.
Performing SiO2-MWCNT/water hybrid nanofluid with differently shaped nanoparticles to enhance first- and second-law features of flow by considering a two-phase approach
Authors: Ekiciler Recep
Published: January 2024

The utilization of hybrid nanofluids has gained essential consideration in thermal engineering. Changes in the thermal characteristics of the base fluid are responsible for the improved thermal conductivity brought about by hybrid nanoparticles and their shapes. For this goal, in this paper, the two-phase 60%:40% SiO2-MWCNT/water hybrid nanofluid flow at the Reynolds number range of 3000–10,000 in a square duct is investigated concerning first- and second-law analysis. The turbulent flow regime is modeled using the RNG k–ε turbulence approximation. The hybrid nanofluid is modeled via a mixed model. The parameters used in this study are three different nanoparticle shapes (cylindrical, spherical, and platelet) and nanoparticle volume fractions (0.2%, 0.6%, and 1.0%). The distributions of the Nusselt number, friction factor, entropy generation, exergy destruction, exergy efficiency, temperature, and velocity contours are investigated in detail for the above parameters. It is found that the most significant increases in PEC are seen in hybrid nanofluids with the PC and PP shapes, at 2.27 and 3.24%, respectively. It has been shown that the exergy destruction of hybrid nanofluids with the second nanoparticle forms C and P is 43.90% and 58.74% more than that of a S one when PS-, PC-, and PP-shaped nanoparticles are utilized. The hybrid nanofluid with the PS shape has the highest exergy efficiency, whereas the SP-shaped nanofluid has the lowest.
Do provisioning ecosystem services change along gradients of increasing agricultural production?
Authors: Ahammad Ronju , Tomscha Stephanie A. , Gergel Sarah E. , Baudron Frédéric , Duriaux-Chavarría Jean-Yves , Foli Samson , Gumbo Davidson , Rowland Dominic , van Vianen Josh , Sunderland Terry C. H.
Published: January 2024

Context

Increasing agricultural production shapes the flow of ecosystem services (ES), including provisioning services that support the livelihoods and nutrition of people in tropical developing countries. Although our broad understanding of the social-ecological consequences of agricultural intensification is growing, how it impacts provisioning ES is still unknown.

Objectives

We examined the household use of provisioning ES across a gradient of increasing agricultural production in seven tropical countries (Bangladesh, Burkina Faso, Cameroon, Ethiopia, Indonesia, Nicaragua and Zambia). We answered two overarching questions: (1) does the use of provisioning ES differ along gradients of agriculture production ranging from zones of subsistence to moderate and to high agriculture production? and (2) are there synergies and/or trade-offs within and among groups of ES within these zones?

Methods

Using structured surveys, we asked 1900 households about their assets, livestock, crops, and collection of forest products. These questions allowed us to assess the number of provisioning ES households used, and whether the ES used are functionally substitutable (i.e., used similarly for nutrition, material, and energy). Finally, we explored synergies and trade-offs among household use of provisioning ES.

Results

As agricultural production increased, provisioning ES declined both in total number and in different functional groups used. We found more severe decreases in ES for relatively poorer households. Within the functional groups of ES, synergistic relationships were more often found than trade-offs in all zones, including significant synergies among livestock products (dairy, eggs, meat) and fruits.

Conclusions

Considering landscape context provides opportunities to enhance synergies among provisioning services for households, supporting resilient food systems and human well-being.
Distributed and explainable GHSOM for anomaly detection in sensor networks
Authors: Mignone Paolo , Corizzo Roberto , Ceci Michelangelo
Published: January 2024

The identification of anomalous activities is a challenging and crucially important task in sensor networks. This task is becoming increasingly complex with the increasing volume of data generated in real-world domains, and greatly benefits from the use of predictive models to identify anomalies in real time. A key use case for this task is the identification of misbehavior that may be caused by involuntary faults or deliberate actions. However, currently adopted anomaly detection methods are often affected by limitations such as the inability to analyze large-scale data, a reduced effectiveness when data presents multiple densities, a strong dependence on user-defined threshold configurations, and a lack of explainability in the extracted predictions. In this paper, we propose a distributed deep learning method that extends growing hierarchical self-organizing maps, originally designed for clustering tasks, to address anomaly detection tasks. The SOM-based modeling capabilities of the method enable the analysis of data with multiple densities, by exploiting multiple SOMs organized as a hierarchy. Our map-reduce implementation under Apache Spark allows the method to process and analyze large-scale sensor network data. An automatic threshold-tuning strategy reduces user efforts and increases the robustness of the method with respect to noisy instances. Moreover, an explainability component resorting to instance-based feature ranking emphasizes the most salient features influencing the decisions of the anomaly detection model, supporting users in their understanding of raised alerts. Experiments are conducted on five real-world sensor network datasets, including wind and photovoltaic energy production, vehicular traffic, and pedestrian flows. Our results show that the proposed method outperforms state-of-the-art anomaly detection competitors. Furthermore, a scalability analysis reveals that the method is able to scale linearly as the data volume presented increases, leveraging multiple worker nodes in a distributed computing setting. Qualitative analyses on the level of anomalous pollen in the air further emphasize the effectiveness of our proposed method, and its potential in determining the level of danger in raised alerts.
A chromosome arm from Thinopyrum intermedium × Thinopyrum ponticum hybrid confers increased tillering and yield potential in wheat
Authors: Türkösi Edina , Szakács Éva , Ivanizs László , Farkas András , Gaál Eszter , Said Mahmoud , Darkó Éva , Cséplő Mónika , Mikó Péter , Doležel Jaroslav , Molnár-Láng Márta , Molnár István , Kruppa Klaudia
Published: January 2024

Tiller number is a key component of wheat plant architecture having a direct impact on grain yield. Because of their viability, biotic resistance, and abiotic stress tolerance, wild relative species are a valuable gene source for increasing wheat genetic diversity, including yield potential. Agropyron glael, a perennial hybrid of Thinopyrum intermedium and Th. ponticum, was created in the 1930s. Recent genome analyses identified five evolutionarily distinct subgenomes (J, Jst, Jvs, Jr, and St), making A. glael an important gene source for transferring useful agronomical traits into wheat. During a bread wheat × A. glael crossing program, a genetically stable translocation line, WT153397, was developed. Sequential in situ hybridizations (McGISH) with J-, St-, and D-genomic DNA probes and pSc119.2, Afa family, pTa71, and (GAA)7 DNA repeats, as well as molecular markers specific for the wheat 6D chromosome, revealed the presence of a 6DS.6Jvs Robertsonian translocation in the genetic line. Field trials in low-input and high-input breeding nurseries over four growing seasons demonstrated the Agropyron chromosome arm’s high compensating ability for the missing 6DL, as spike morphology and fertility of WT153397 did not differ significantly from those of wheat parents, Mv9kr1 and ‘Mv Karizma.’ Moreover, the introgressed 6Jvs chromosome arm significantly increased the number of productive tillers, resulting in a significantly higher grain yield potential compared to the parental wheat cultivars. The translocated chromosome could be highly purified by flow cytometric sorting due to the intense fluorescent labeling of (GAA)7 clusters on the Thinopyrum chromosome arm, providing an opportunity to use chromosome genomics to identify Agropyron gene variant(s) responsible for the tillering capacity. The translocation line WT153397 is an important genetic stock for functional genetic studies of tiller formation and useful breeding material for increasing wheat yield potential. The study also discusses the use of the translocation line in wheat breeding.
Breeding for durable resistance against biotrophic fungal pathogens using transgenes from wheat
Authors: Camenzind Marcela , Koller Teresa , Armbruster Cygni , Jung Esther , Brunner Susanne , Herren Gerhard , Keller Beat
Published: January 2024

Breeding for resistant crops is a sustainable way to control disease and relies on the introduction of novel resistance genes. Here, we tested three strategies on how to use transgenes from wheat to achieve durable resistance against fungal pathogens in the field. First, we tested the highly effective, overexpressed single transgene Pm3e in the background of spring wheat cultivar Bobwhite in a long-term field trial over many years. Together with previous results, this revealed that transgenic wheat line Pm3e#2 conferred complete powdery mildew resistance during a total of nine field seasons without a negative impact on yield. Furthermore, overexpressed Pm3e provided resistance to powdery mildew isolates from our worldwide collection when crossed into the elite wheat cultivar Fiorina. Second, we pyramided the four overexpressed transgenes Pm3a, Pm3b, Pm3d, and Pm3f in the background of cultivar Bobwhite and showed that the pyramided line Pm3a,b,d,f was completely resistant to powdery mildew in five field seasons. Third, we performed field trials with three barley lines expressing adult plant resistance gene Lr34 from wheat during three field seasons. Line GLP8 expressed Lr34 under control of the pathogen-inducible Hv-Ger4c promoter and provided partial barley powdery mildew and leaf rust resistance in the field with small, negative effects on yield components which might need compensatory breeding. Overall, our study demonstrates and discusses three successful strategies for achieving fungal disease resistance of wheat and barley in the field using transgenes from wheat. These strategies might confer long-term resistance if applied in a sustainable way.
Navigating the landscape of concept-supported XAI: Challenges, innovations, and future directions
Authors: Shams Khoozani Zahra , Sabri Aznul Qalid Md , Seng Woo Chaw , Seera Manjeevan , Eg Kah Yee
Published: January 2024

This comprehensive review of concept-supported interpretation methods in Explainable Artificial Intelligence (XAI) navigates the multifaceted landscape. As machine learning models become more complex, there is a greater need for interpretation methods that deconstruct their decision-making processes. Traditional interpretation techniques frequently emphasise lower-level attributes, resulting in a schism between complex algorithms and human cognition. To bridge this gap, our research focuses on concept-supported XAI, a new line of research in XAI that emphasises higher-level attributes or 'concepts' that are more aligned with end-user understanding and needs. We provide a thorough examination of over twenty-five seminal works, highlighting their respective strengths and weaknesses. A comprehensive list of available concept datasets, as opposed to training datasets, is presented, along with a discussion of sufficiency metrics and the importance of robust evaluation methods. In addition, we identify six key factors that influence the efficacy of concept-supported interpretation: network architecture, network settings, training protocols, concept datasets, the presence of confounding attributes, and standardised evaluation methodology. We also investigate the robustness of these concept-supported methods, emphasising their potential to significantly advance the field by addressing issues like misgeneralization, information overload, trustworthiness, effective human-AI communication, and ethical concerns. The paper concludes with an exploration of open challenges such as the development of automatic concept discovery methods, strategies for expert-AI integration, optimising primary and concept model settings, managing confounding attributes, and designing efficient evaluation processes.
Direct evidentiality and discourse in Southern Aymara
Authors: Martínez Vera Gabriel
Published: January 2024

This paper discusses the discourse contrasts that arise in connection to direct evidentiality in Southern Aymara (henceforth, Aymara), an understudied Andean language. Aymara has two direct evidentials, the enclitic=waand the covert morpheme-∅, which are used whenever the speaker has the best possible grounds for some proposition. I make the novel observation that a sentence with=wacan be felicitously uttered if the speaker attempts to update the common ground by addressing an issue on the table. In fact, the sentence with=wathat is uttered must be congruent with prior discourse; I tie this to the claim that=wais a (presentational) focus marker (Proulx in Language Sciences 9(1):91–102, 1987). This paper thus claims that=wais a marker that combines evidentiality and focus. In contrast, uttering a sentence with-∅ entails that the speaker’s contribution is already in the common ground, which likens this evidential to common ground management operators—there is no congruence requirement in this case. I identify which construction can be used in different discourse settings (conversation openers and telling anecdotes). I implement a formal analysis based on Farkas and Bruce (Journal of Semantics 27:81–118, 2010) and Faller (Semantics and Pragmatics 12(8):1–53, 2019) that links evidentiality and discourse.
RETRACTED ARTICLE: Inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) detection of trace metal contents of children cosmetics
Authors: Kopru Semiha , Soylak Mustafa
Published: January 2024

Consumption of cosmetic products in daily life in order to improve skin quality or appearance is becoming quite common. Over time, it may expose consumers to skin problems and effects caused by the absorption of chemical elements. Clean cosmetic production is important for our health. However, heavy metals can be found as impurities in raw materials or as by-products of the cosmetic production process. Women's ingestion and exposure to organic and inorganic contaminants in cosmetics through dermal absorption, due to reasons such as personal habits and characteristics of the living environment, may contribute to carcinogenic risks following daily dietary exposure. NCS ZC 81002b (Human Hair) was performed as a certified reference material in method validation. This work was conducted to evaluate element concentrations of selected elements (Al, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, As, Se, Hg, Cd and Pb) in 3 different brands of children's cosmetic products such as bright and colorful 22 eye shadows (7 different colour) 4 lipsticks (3 different colour) and 4 nail polishes (3 different colour) used by children in Turkey. The sample solutions were analyzed with the inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) technique after the microwave digestion system. Consequently, the highest concentration of Al used as pigment was found in the eye shadow, lipstick and nail polish samples for the 3 brands, while the Se concentrations were the lowest in lipstick samples. The results of As, Cd, Hg, Pb, which are restricted or banned for use in cosmetic products in most countries, are below the limits set by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Health Canada Product Safety Laboratory (PSL).
Attention, moral skill, and algorithmic recommendation
Authors: Schuster Nick , Lazar Seth
Published: January 2024

Recommender systems are artificial intelligence technologies, deployed by online platforms, that model our individual preferences and direct our attention to content we’re likely to engage with. As the digital world has become increasingly saturated with information, we’ve become ever more reliant on these tools to efficiently allocate our attention. And our reliance on algorithmic recommendation may, in turn, reshape us as moral agents. While recommender systems could in principle enhance our moral agency by enabling us to cut through the information saturation of the internet and focus on things that matter, as they’re currently designed and implemented they’re apt to interfere with our ability to attend appropriately to morally relevant factors. In order to analyze the distinctive moral problems algorithmic recommendation poses, we develop a framework for the ethics of attention and an account of judicious attention allocation as a moral skill. We then discuss empirical evidence suggesting that attentional moral skill can be thwarted and undermined in various ways by algorithmic recommendation and related affordances of online platforms, as well as economic and technical considerations that support this concern. Finally, we consider how emerging technologies might overcome the problems we identify.
Ground by Status
Authors: Vogt Lisa
Published: January 2024

What is the explanatory role of ‘status-truths’ such as essence-truths, necessity-truths and law-truths? A plausible principle, suggested by various authors, is Ground by Status, according to which status truths ground their prejacents. For instance, if it is essential to a that p, then this grounds the fact that p. But Ground by Status faces a forceful objection: it is inconsistent with widely accepted principles regarding the logic of grounding (Glazier in Philos Stud 174(11):2871–2889, 2017a, Synthese 174(198):1409–1424, 2017b; Kappes in Synthese 199(1–2):2575–2595, 2020, Philos Stud 178(4):1267–1284, 2021). I defend Ground by Status against this objection.
The impact of gender inclusion on the profits of global public tourism companies
Authors: De la Torre-Torres Oscar V. , Bollain-Parra Leticia , Álvarez-García José , Galeana-Figueroa Evaristo
Published: January 2024

The present paper tests the impact of women’s inclusion and general equity market sentiment on Global tourism companies’ return on equity (ROE). With data panel regressions of the historical ROE data of the members of Refinitiv Global Hotel, we estimated several models that used the leverage and market capitalization, sentiment indexes (such as Economic Policy news, geopolitical news, pandemic news, currency market, commodity market or social media uncertainties) and the level of inclusion measured with the percentage of women in the board of directors, the percentage of women top managers or the percentage of women in the company. Our results suggest that there is only an inverse relationship between top management inclusion and ROE in leisure and recreation companies. From a geographical perspective, this negative relationship holds only in Asia, Europe, and Northern America. In Australasia (Australia), there is a positive relationship between top management inclusion and ROE. As expected, the company size has a direct and significant relationship with ROE, and the leverage is negative. Also, only the pandemic news fear harms profits due to sales reduction, management decisions due to fear, or cost increase. Our results align with the position that women’s inclusion has a weak impact on profits, suggesting more women inclusion without return loss in the company. Also, they contribute to the discussion that women’s management is more conservative and is exposed to a crystal cliff once they overcome a crystal roof in the company.
Unprofitable Cartels: Evidence from a Natural Experiment in the UK
Authors: Symeonidis George
Published: January 2024

I analyse the effect of collusion on profitability with the use of evidence from a natural experiment of policy reform: the introduction of anti-cartel legislation in the UK in the late 1950s. This caused an intensification of price competition in previously collusive industries but did not affect industries that had not been collusive. Three main results are established: First, a comparison of the two groups of industries shows that the breakdown of collusion had no significant overall effect on profitability in the long run—although it had a strong negative effect on firm numbers. Second, the larger was the decrease in firm numbers, the smaller was the decline of profitability in previously collusive industries; however, no such correlation exists in industries that were not affected by the cartel law. Third, most cartels did not restrict entry; but in industries where entry had been restricted, profitability rather than firm numbers decreased when collusion broke down. These results are consistent with theories that emphasise the role of entry conditions for profitability: Cartels are often unprofitable because of entry even when collusion is effective.
Role Models in Action Through YouTube Videos for Engineering Community College Students
Authors: Lee Hye Rin , Rutherford Teomara , Hanselman Paul , Rodriguez Fernando , Ramirez Kevin F. , Eccles Jacquelynne S.
Published: January 2024

Community colleges provide broad access to a college degree due to their less expensive tuition, greater course time offerings, and more open admission policies compared to four-year universities as reported (Juszkiewicz, 2015). These institutions have great potential to diversify who chooses STEM, such as engineering. Such diverse representation is important, because students from different backgrounds can contribute new perspectives that foster creative and innovative approaches to solving problems. However, approximately 40% of the students who enter community college in the U.S. leave before graduation (Xu & Jaggars, 2011). Harnessing the power of social media to reduce attrition, we tested a pilot intervention in which community college students in engineering courses completed a reflection exercise after watching YouTube videos of former engineering students from similar backgrounds who successfully transferred to a four-year college. Quasi-experimental analyses (N = 537) show that students in the intervention received higher engineering course grades and had greater odds of enrolling in an engineering course in the subsequent term compared to those who were not in the intervention. Additionally, we find support for the hypothesis that the intervention has larger benefits for women. Results suggest that hearing from other students about their engineering experience can be a useful tool for improving community college students’ choices and performance.
Was Wittgenstein a radical conventionalist?
Authors: Berg Ásgeir
Published: January 2024

This paper defends a reading of Wittgenstein’s philosophy of mathematics in the Lectures on the Foundation of Mathematics as a radical conventionalist one, whereby our agreement about the particular case is constitutive of our mathematical practice and ‘the logical necessity of any statement is a direct expression of a convention’ (Dummett in Philos Rev 68(3), 1959, p. 329). On this view, mathematical truths are conceptual truths and our practices determine directly for each mathematical proposition individually whether it is true or false. Mathematical truths are thus not consequences of a prior adoption of a convention or rules as orthodox conventionalism has it. The goal of the paper is not merely exegetical, however, and argues that radical conventionalism is able to withstand some of the most difficult objections that have been brought forward against it, including those of Dummett himself, and thus that radical conventionalism has been prematurely excluded from consideration by philosophers of mathematics.
Value transparency and promoting warranted trust in science communication
Authors: Intemann Kristen
Published: January 2024

If contextual values can play necessary and beneficial roles in scientific research, to what extent should science communicators be transparent about such values? This question is particularly pressing in contexts where there appears to be significant resistance among some non-experts to accept certain scientific claims or adopt science-based policies or recommendations. This paper examines whether value transparency can help promote non-experts’ warranted epistemic trust of experts. I argue that there is a prima facie case in favor of transparency because it can promote four conditions that are thought to be required for epistemic trustworthiness. I then consider three main arguments that transparency about values is likely to be ineffective in promoting such trust (and may undermine it). This analysis shows that while these arguments show that value transparency is not sufficient for promoting epistemic trust, they fail to show that rejecting value transparency as a norm for science communicators is more likely to promote warranted epistemic trust than a qualified norm of value transparency (along with other strategies). Finally, I endorse a tempered understanding of value transparency and consider what this might require in practice.
Imaging characteristics of incidentally detected cosmetic surgery-derived foreign bodies on CT images in the maxillofacial region
Authors: Hisatomi Miki , Takeshita Yohei , Yanagi Yoshinobu , Okada Shunsuke , Fujikura Mamiko , Yoshida Suzuka , Kawazu Toshiyuki , Asaumi Junichi
Published: January 2024

Objectives

This study examined the imaging characteristics of cosmetic surgery-derived foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region through a retrospective review of cosmetic material foreign bodies incidentally detected on computed tomography (CT) images in routine clinical practice.

Methods

We retrospectively investigated cases of cosmetic surgery-derived foreign bodies other than dental materials in the maxillofacial region, using 5 years of CT image data stored on an imaging server. The imaging findings of these foreign bodies were investigated, along with patient age, patient sex, whether the foreign bodies were associated with the disease targeted by the CT scan, and the availability of cosmetic surgery information prior to examination.

Results

Foreign bodies were more common in women (19/21 cases), and affected patients displayed a wide age range (20–84 years). Four types of cosmetic surgery-derived foreign bodies in the maxillofacial region were detected by CT examination: nasal prostheses (nasal region), lifting sutures and injectable facial fillers (both in the buccal region), and silicone chin implants (chin region).

Conclusions

A cosmetic surgery-derived foreign body should be suspected when a foreign body is identified without a dental source of infection. In addition, cosmetic surgery-derived foreign bodies may be present in numerous patients, regardless of age or sex.
Assessment of resectability of pancreatic cancer using novel immersive high-performance virtual reality rendering of abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging
Authors: Kunz Julia Madlaina , Maloca Peter , Allemann Andreas , Fasler David , Soysal Savas , Däster Silvio , Kraljević Marko , Syeda Gulbahar , Weixler Benjamin , Nebiker Christian , Ochs Vincent , Droeser Raoul , Walker Harriet Louise , Bolli Martin , Müller Beat , Cattin Philippe , Staubli Sebastian Manuel
Published: January 2024

Purpose

Virtual reality (VR) allows for an immersive and interactive analysis of imaging data such as computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The aim of this study is to assess the comprehensibility of VR anatomy and its value in assessing resectability of pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC).

Methods

This study assesses exposure to VR anatomy and evaluates the potential role of VR in assessing resectability of PDAC. Firstly, volumetric abdominal CT and MRI data were displayed in an immersive VR environment. Volunteering physicians were asked to identify anatomical landmarks in VR. In the second stage, experienced clinicians were asked to identify vascular involvement in a total of 12 CT and MRI scans displaying PDAC (2 resectable, 2 borderline resectable, and 2 locally advanced tumours per modality). Results were compared to 2D standard PACS viewing.

Results

In VR visualisation of CT and MRI, the abdominal anatomical landmarks were recognised by all participants except the pancreas (30/34) in VR CT and the splenic (31/34) and common hepatic artery (18/34) in VR MRI, respectively. In VR CT, resectable, borderline resectable, and locally advanced PDAC were correctly identified in 22/24, 20/24 and 19/24 scans, respectively. Whereas, in VR MRI, resectable, borderline resectable, and locally advanced PDAC were correctly identified in 19/24, 19/24 and 21/24 scans, respectively. Interobserver agreement as measured by Fleiss κ was 0.7 for CT and 0.4 for MRI, respectively (p < 0.001). Scans were significantly assessed more accurately in VR CT than standard 2D PACS CT, with a median of 5.5 (IQR 4.75–6) and a median of 3 (IQR 2–3) correctly assessed out of 6 scans (p < 0.001).

Conclusion

VR enhanced visualisation of abdominal CT and MRI scan data provides intuitive handling and understanding of anatomy and might allow for more accurate staging of PDAC and could thus become a valuable adjunct in PDAC resectability assessment in the future.
Unleashing the Potential for Patient-Generated Health Data (PGHD)
Authors: Nazi Kim M. , Newton Terry , Armstrong Christina M.
Published: January 2024

Patient-generated health data (PGHD) is data created, captured, or recorded by patients in between healthcare appointments, and is an important supplement to data generated during periodic clinical encounters. PGHD has potential to improve diagnosis and management of chronic conditions, improve health outcomes, and facilitate more “connected health” between patients and their care teams. Electronic PGHD is rapidly accelerating due to the proliferation of consumer health technologies, remote patient monitoring systems, and personal health platforms. Despite this tremendous growth in PGHD and anticipated benefits, broadscale use of PGHD has been challenging to implement with significant gaps in current knowledge about how PGHD can best be employed in the service of high-quality, patient-centered care. While the role of PGHD in patient self-management continues to grow organically, we need a deeper understanding of how data collection and sharing translate into actionable information that supports shared decision-making and informs clinical care in real-world settings. This, in turn, will foster both clinical adoption and patient engagement with PGHD. We propose an agenda for PGHD-related research in the Veterans Health Administration that emphasizes this clinical value to enhance our understanding of its potential and limitations in supporting shared decision-making and informing clinical care.
Research Priorities to Expand Virtual Care Access for Patients in the Veterans Affairs Health Care System
Authors: Wray Charlie M. , Myers Ursula , Slightam Cindie , Dardashti Navid , Heyworth Leonie , Lewinski Allison , Kaboli Peter , Edes Thomas , Trueman Kevin , Zulman Donna M.
Published: January 2024

The rapid expansion of virtual care is driving demand for equitable, high-quality access to technologies that are required to utilize these services. While the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) is seen as a national leader in the implementation of telehealth, there remain gaps in evidence about the most promising strategies to expand access to virtual care. To address these gaps, in 2022, the VA’s Health Services Research and Development service and Office of Connected Care held a “state-of-the-art” (SOTA) conference to develop research priorities for advancing the science, clinical practice, and implementation of virtual care. One workgroup within the SOTA focused on access to virtual care and addressed three questions: (1) Based on the existing evidence about barriers that impede virtual care access in digitally vulnerable populations, what additional research is needed to understand these factors? (2) Based on the existing evidence about digital inclusion strategies, what additional research is needed to identify the most promising strategies? and (3) What additional research beyond barriers and strategies is needed to address disparities in virtual care access? Here, we report on the workgroup’s discussions and recommendations for future research to improve and optimize access to virtual care. Effective implementation of these recommendations will require collaboration among VA operational leadership, researchers, Human Factors Engineering experts and front-line clinicians as they develop, implement, and evaluate the spread of virtual care access strategies.
Pain Care Disparities and the Use of Virtual Care Among Racial-Ethnic Minority Groups During COVID-19
Authors: Javier Sarah J. , Carey Evan P. , Gunzburger Elise , Chen Huang-Yuan P. , Zeliadt Steven B. , Williams Emily C. , Chen Jessica A.
Published: January 2024

Background and Objective

COVID-19 led to an unprecedented reliance on virtual modalities to maintain care continuity for patients living with chronic pain. We examined whether there were disparities in virtual specialty pain care for racial-ethnic minority groups during COVID-19.

Design and Participants

This was a retrospective national cohort study with two comparison groups: primary care patients with chronic pain seen immediately prior to COVID-19 (3/1/19–2/29/20) (N = 1,649,053) and a cohort of patients seen in the year prior (3/1/18–2/28–19; n = 1,536,954).

Main Measures

We assessed use of telehealth (telephone or video) specialty pain care, in-person care specialty pain care, and any specialty pain care for both groups at 6 months following cohort inclusion. We used quasi-Poisson regressions to test associations between patient race and ethnicity and receipt of care.

Key Results

Prior to COVID-19, there were Black-White (RR = 0.64, 95% CI [0.62, 0.67]) and Asian-White (RR = 0.63, 95% CI [0.54, 0.75]) disparities in telehealth use, and these lessened during COVID-19 (Black-White: RR = 0.75, 95% CI [0.73, 0.77], Asian-White: RR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.74, 0.89]) but did not disappear. Individuals identifying as American Indian/Alaska Native used telehealth less than White individuals during early COVID-19 (RR = 0.98, 95% CI [0.85, 1.13] to RR = 0.87, 95% CI [0.79, 0.96]). Hispanic/Latinx individuals were less likely than non-Hispanic/Latinx individuals to use telehealth prior to COVID-19 but more likely during early COVID-19 (RR = 0.70, 95% CI [0.66, 0.75] to RR = 1.06, 95% CI [1.02, 1.09]). Disparities in virtual pain care occurred over the backdrop of overall decreased specialty pain care during the early phase of the pandemic (raw decrease of n = 17,481 specialty care encounters overall from pre-COVID to COVID-era), including increased disparities in any VA specialty pain care for Black (RR = 0.81, 95% CI [0.80, 0.83] to RR = 0.79, 95% CI [0.77, 0.80]) and Asian (RR = 0.91, 95% CI [0.86, 0.97] to RR = 0.88, 95% CI [0.82, 0.94]) individuals.

Conclusions

Disparities in virtual specialty pain care were smaller during the early phases of the COVID-19 pandemic than prior to the pandemic but did not disappear entirely, despite the rapid growth in telehealth. Targeted efforts to increase access to specialty pain care need to be concentrated among racial-ethnic minority groups.
Disparities in Video-Based Primary Care Use Among Veterans with Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Tisdale Rebecca , Der-Martirosian Claudia , Yoo Caroline , Chu Karen , Zulman Donna , Leung Lucinda
Published: January 2024

Background

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is prevalent among Veterans, and video care enhances access to CVD care. However, it is unknown which patients with CVD conditions receive video care in primary care clinics, where a large proportion of CVD services is delivered.

Objective

Characterize use of VA video primary care for Veterans with two common CVDs, heart failure and hypertension.

Design

Retrospective cohort study.

Patients

Veterans seen in VA primary care with diagnoses of heart failure and/or hypertension in the year prior to the COVID-19 pandemic and for the first two pandemic-years.

Main Measures

The primary outcome was use of any video-based primary care visits. Using multilevel regressions, we examined the association between video care use and patient sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, controlling for time and adjusting for patient- and site-level clustering.

Key Results

Of 3.8M Veterans with 51.9M primary care visits, 456,901 Veterans had heart failure and hypertension, 50,753 had heart failure only, and 3,300,166 had hypertension only. Veterans with heart failure and hypertension had an average age of 71.6 years. 2.9% were female, and 34.8% lived in rural settings. Patients who were male, aged 75 or older, or rural-dwelling had lower odds of using video care than female patients, 18–44-year-olds, and urban-dwellers, respectively (male patients’ adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 0.73, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.72–0.74; 75 years or older, AOR 0.38, 95% CI 0.37–0.38; rural-dwellers, AOR 0.71, 95% CI 0.70–0.71). Veterans with heart failure had higher odds of video care use than those with hypertension only (AOR 1.05, 95% CI 1.04–1.06).

Conclusions

Given lower odds of video primary care use among some patient groups, continued expansion of video care could make CVD services increasingly inequitable. These insights can inform equitable triage of patients, for example by identifying patients who may benefit from additional support to use virtual care.
The Clinical Resource Hub Telehealth Program and Use of Primary Care, Emergency, and Inpatient Care During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Gujral Kritee , Scott Jennifer Y. , Dismuke-Greer Clara E. , Jiang Hao , Wong Emily , Yoon Jean
Published: January 2024

Background

The COVID-19 pandemic disrupted delivery of health care services worldwide. We examined the impact of the pandemic on clinics participating in the Veterans Affairs (VA) Clinical Resource Hub (CRH) program, rolled out nationally in October 2019, to improve access to care at under-resourced VA clinics or “spoke” sites through telehealth services delivered by regional “hub” sites.

Objective

To assess whether the CRH program was associated with increased access to primary care, we compared use of primary, emergency, and inpatient care at sites that adopted CRH for primary care (CRH-PC) with sites that did not adopt CRH-PC, pre-post pandemic onset.

Design

Difference-in-difference and event study analyses, adjusting for site characteristics.

Study Cohort

A total of 1050 sites (254 CRH-PC sites; 796 comparison sites), fiscal years (FY) 2019–2021.

Intervention

CRH Program for Primary Care.

Main Measures

Quarterly number of VA visits per site for primary care (across all and by modality, in-person, video, and phone), emergency care, and inpatient care.

Results

In adjusted analyses, CRH-PC sites, compared with non-CRH-PC sites, had on average 221 additional primary care visits (a volume increase of 3.4% compared to pre-pandemic). By modality, CRH-PC sites had 643 fewer in-person visits post-pandemic (− 14.4%) but 723 and 128 more phone and video visits (+ 39.9% and + 159.5%), respectively. CRH-PC sites, compared with non-CRH-PC sites, had fewer VA ED visits (− 4.2%) and hospital stays (− 5.1%) in VA medical centers. Examining visits per patient, we found that CRH-PC sites had 48 additional telephone primary care visits per 1000 primary care patients (an increase of 9.8%), compared to non-program sites.

Conclusions

VA’s pre-pandemic rollout of a new primary care telehealth program intended to improve access facilitated primary care visits during the pandemic, a period fraught with care disruptions, and limited in-person health care delivery, indicating the potential for the program to offer health system resilience.