bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
REPRESENTAÇÕES SOCIAIS DO MEIO AMBIENTE BRASILEIRO POR ESTUDANTES ESTRANGEIROS
Authors: Gomes da Silva Maria Clara , Grisotti Márcia
Published: February 2025

As experiências de mobilidade acadêmica tendem a influenciar o engajamento de estudantes em questões globais, como por exemplo, a sustentabilidade ambiental. No contexto das mudanças climáticas e da degradação do meio ambiente, este artigo analisa as representações sociais sobre o meio ambiente brasileiro, de estudantes estrangeiros egressos de uma experiência de mobilidade acadêmica em Bruxelas, Bélgica, entre 2020 e 2021. A amostragem desta pesquisa qualitativa constituiu 11 entrevistados, acionados pelo método bola de neve, em entrevistas semiestruturadas virtuais, tele gravadas pela plataforma digital “Zoom”. Para análise, utilizou-se a Análise de Conteúdo de Bardin. Observou-se a preponderância da representação social do meio ambiente brasileiro como um lugar rico por natureza, de grande diversidade e fortemente ameaçado. As causas da degradação ambiental no Brasil foram atribuídas aos hábitos dos indivíduos, considerados pelo/as informantes como deletérios, ao fraco compromisso do Estado brasileiro nas políticas ambientais; à falta de governança global e à necessidade de desenvolvimento econômico.
ESBOÇOS DE VIAGEM AO SUL DO BRASIL
Authors: Hettner Alfred , Arantes Leonardo
Published: February 2025

A tradução em questão versa para a língua portuguesa o primeiro esboço de viagem do geógrafo alemão Alfred Hettner (1859-1941) sobre a região sul do Brasil. A despeito de ter sido consagrado como o grande epistemólogo da Ciência Geográfica da primeira metade do século XX, Hettner realizou seus trabalhos de campo para o doutoramento e Habilitationsschrift na América do Sul, quando pôde visitar as empreitadas coloniais alemãs na região sul do Brasil. Em consonância com as comemorações aos 200 anos de colonização alemã no Brasil, a presente tradução visa não apenas tornar acessível ao leitor de língua portuguesa um dos relatos de viagem do conhecido geógrafo alemão, mas também reconhecer o papel seminal que essa figura exerceu na Geografia Brasileira, inaugurando uma tradição germânica do pensamento geográfico brasileiro, cujo maior expoente foi, sem dúvida, um de seus discípulos, o geógrafo também alemão Leo Waibel.
La construcción de la identidad profesional en el alumnado de Trabajo Social
Authors: Porto Zubieta Tania
Published: February 2025

El presente trabajo pretende contribuir al cono- cimiento y discusión sobre la construcción de la identidad profesional en la formación del alumnado de la Facultad de Trabajo Social de la Universidad Complutense de Madrid. Se trata de un tema aún incipiente a nivel nacional que representa un desafío para la institución académica y condiciona el desarrollo profesional en el ámbito práctico. A través del análisis documental y el discurso obte- nido durante la realización de entrevistas semiestructuradas al estudiantado del Grado en Trabajo Social, se analizan los significados y las atribuciones del colectivo estudiantil sobre la identidad profesional, la influencia de las representaciones sociales existentes y el alcance de la formación académica en su desarrollo.
Caso práctico de intervención social con una paciente de alcoholismo en el CAID de Torrejón de Ardoz desde el modelo biopsicosocial
Authors: Jimenez Fernández Antonio
Published: February 2025

Desde la perspectiva del Trabajo Social se presenta la intervención realizada a través del modelo biopsicosocial con una paciente con problemas de adicción al alcohol en el Centro de Atención Integral a Drogodependencias (CAID) de Torrejón de Ardoz, cuyo abordaje terapéutico permite poner en funcionamiento la coordinación de los recursos sociosanitarios disponibles en el municipio con el fin de favorecer una estabilidad en el proceso vital de la propia paciente.
La conducción de grupos multifamiliares
Authors: Manchado Flores Miguel Ángel
Published: February 2025

Trabajo de reflexión sobre la conducción de Grupos Multifamiliares (GMF) a partir de la experiencia práctica del autor como participante y conductor de uno de estos grupos, así como de los aprendizajes adquiridos y aplicados tras la realización de un máster en intervenciones
multifamiliares y socioterapéuticas. El artículo describe las tres fases del GMF: pregrupo, grupo y
postgrupo y sugiere la relación existente entre los GMF, el Trabajo Social con Grupos y el Trabajo
Social Clínico gracias al uso común de metodologías de intervención grupal que intervienen sobre factores psicosociales.
Niñeces y adolescencias: experiencias en dibujos sobre la escuela en pandemia
Authors: Martinez Sierra Pedro Daniel
Published: February 2025

Desde las miradas de niñas, niños y adolescentes, se analizan los impactos del cierre de las escue-las por COVID-19. Se presenta un estudio cualita-tivo donde participaron de forma voluntaria 17 niñas, niños y adolescentes de 9 a 17 años de edad, residentes principalmente de la Ciudad de México y Estado de México. La técnica utilizada consistió en el diseño de dibujos alusivos a la escuela y la pandemia por COVID-19. Sus represen-taciones gráficas mostraron una visión negativa a las nuevas dinámicas de enseñanza que provocaron estrés, tristeza, hartazgo, enojo y aburrimiento, mientras evidenciaron la importancia de los escenarios escolares presenciales en su desarrollo integral.
Psychological care provided by midwives in residential postpartum care facilities in Japan
Authors: Kuwahara Sayaka , Wachi Shigemi , Arai Yoko
Published: February 2025

Background/Aims

In Japan, residential postpartum care facilities admit mothers after discharge from the facility where they gave birth. The psychological elements of postpartum care provided at these facilities is unknown. This study aimed to explore the psychological care (especially care intended to prevent postpartum depression) usually provided by midwives in residential postpartum care facilities.

Methods

Qualitative induction was used to analyse questionnaires and semi-structured interviews conducted with seven midwives at different facilities providing residential postpartum care in Japan.

Results

Care was generally focused on acceptance and listening, promoting rest and allowing for reflection on childbirth. Care specifically intended to prevent postpartum depression was focused on initial assessments and prioritised relationships with husbands and family members, while avoiding providing excessive advice or altering mothers' established childcare practices.

Conclusions

Midwives practices were founded on respect for mothers and providing health guidance and family interactions that matched mothers' needs. Initial assessments were key to preventing postpartum depression, and midwives involved mothers' husbands and other family members in this care. These practices build trusting relationships and help mothers gain confidence in childrearing.

Implications for practice

Midwives providing psychological care to prevent postpartum depression should focus on initial assessments, and involve the woman's husband and family members.
Midwives' response to traumatic stress
Authors: Curran Tracy
Published: February 2025

Tracy Curran explores how drawing on our evolutionary past to reframe our responses to traumatic situations can offer a new perspective and protect against the effects of psychological heavy lifting
State of care: maternity services
Authors: Halliwell Amanda
Published: February 2025

Amanda Halliwell explores the Care Quality Commission's most recent report on the quality of maternity services in England
Cognitive behavioural therapies with a trauma focus for children and adolescents: A commentary on a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Lambert Alice , Doherty Alison , Harrison Joanna
Published: February 2025

There is a clear relationship between childhood trauma and subsequent mental illness in adulthood. Cognitive behavioural therapies with a trauma focus (CBTs-TF) are effective in reducing psychological distress and are recommended in clinical guidelines. However, existing clinical trials of CBTs-TF have inadequate statistical power to comment on moderators of efficacy. This commentary summarises and critically appraises a systematic review which investigated the efficacy of CBTs-TF for young people and examined individual-level and treatment-level factors that may moderate treatment effects. The findings of the original systematic review suggest that CBTs-TF are an effective treatment for young people with post-traumatic stress symptoms. This commentary expands upon the findings in the context of clinical practice.
Intimate partner violence among HIV index case testing clients in Malawi, a mixed-methods study
Authors: Sanena Maria , Hagstrom Christine , Phiri Khumbo , Kalande Pericles , Songo John , Maruwo Linda , Phiri Sam , Dovel Kathryn , van Oosterhout Joep J.
Published: February 2025

While its prevalence in sub-Saharan Africa is high, intimate partner violence (IPV) is rarely reported during routine index case testing (ICT) services in Malawi. We retrospectively explored the occurrence of IPV in a large, PEPFAR-supported HIV care and treatment program, among people with HIV (PWH) who had previously accessed ICT services. Between July-August 2022, we enrolled PWH aged ≥18 years, at 15 health facilities, who had received ICT services as new ART-initiators <6 months ago. We used a validated World Health Organization tool to measure IPV in domains of physical, sexual and emotional abuse, and controlling behaviors in the past 12 months. To understand reasons for IPV non-reporting, we randomly selected a sub-set of PWH who had experienced IPV and healthcare workers (HCWs) providing ICT services, for in-depth interviews (IDIs). We enrolled 149 PWH, 71.8% were female, 58.4% married, mean age 34 (IQR 25-40) years. Overall IPV prevalence was 71.1% (95%CI: 63.8%-78.5%), 76.6% (95%CI 68.5%-84.8%) among females and 57.1% (95%CI: 41.5%-72.8%) among males. Controlling behavior (65.7%) was the most common form of IPV, followed by physical (24.8%), emotional (33.6%), and sexual abuse (20.8%). Twenty-two percent related the IPV event to the HIV diagnosis. We analyzed 24 IDIs (15 PWH, 9 HCWs). Only two PWH (13.3%) had reported IPV to a HCW. Major barriers to reporting IPV for PWH were believing it is inappropriate discussing IPV with HCWs, concerns that discussing IPV would cause delays for others, and limited privacy. HCWs attributed IPV non-reporting to insufficient screening, high workload among ICT staff, negative HCW attitudes, and PWH’s fear of unintended consequences of IPV reporting. IPV prevalence was high among PWH who had recently undergone ICT, but IPV is often not reported. Multiple barriers to IPV reporting must be addressed urgently, given IPV’s adverse impact on HIV treatment and other health outcomes.
Understanding the vaccine hesitancy of COVID-19 in Benin
Authors: Abdoulaye Alfa Daleb , Le Hesran Jean-Yves , Boko Inès , Agossou Anani , Atchadé Aurore , Fiogbé Marc , Yovo Emmanuel , Hounsa Sandrine , Massougbodji Achille , Cottrell Gilles
Published: February 2025

Vaccination campaigns against COVID-19 have been set up in all countries. The aim was to reach a sufficient vaccination threshold to ensure herd immunity. In Benin, the objective was to achieve 60% coverage. However, coverage was only 35% in May 2022. People were reluctant to be vaccinated. We had set up a population-based study to investigate these barriers to vaccination. Our approach was qualitative (80 semi-structured interviews with vaccinated and non-vaccinated people) and quantitative (179 questionnaires with CHWs (Community Health Workers) in urban and rural areas. To analyse the qualitative data, thematic sorting was carried out, while the statistical analysis of the data was carried out using SPSS and Excel software. Perceptions and concerns about COVID-19 revealed widespread mistrust of the disease and vaccination. Part of the population doubted the existence or seriousness of the disease, with over 70% of CHWs reporting that people did not perceive the reality of the disease in their daily lives. These doubts were reinforced by the limited impact of the disease and political interpretations of the pandemic, often viewed as a tool for state control. Mistrust of vaccines was even more pronounced, with over 90% of CHWs indicating that people were concerned about the novelty of vaccines and doubts their effectiveness. Rumours circulating on social networks amplified these concerns, fuelling fears about vaccine safety. Fear of stigmatisation, forced isolation and the impossibility of carrying out traditional funeral rituals heightened people’s reluctance. The requirement to sign a consent form absolving the state of responsibility for side-effects further deepened these suspicions. Our study confirmed a strong reluctance to vaccinate against COVID-19. It highlighted the critical role of media and social networks and the necessity for authorities to address these factors in communication diseases to ensure efficient disease control.
Redefining the treatment of Chagas disease: a review of recent clinical and pharmacological data for a novel formulation of nifurtimox
Authors: Altcheh Jaime , Grossmann Ulrike , Stass Heino , Springsklee Martin , Garcia-Bournissen Facundo
Published: February 2025

Nifurtimox has been used for over 50 years to treat patients with Chagas disease, a potentially life-threatening neglected tropical disease caused by the protozoan parasite Trypanosoma cruzi. Without effective antitrypanosomal treatment, the infection can persist and progress to a chronic, often debilitating, clinical form. Migration and urbanization, as well as the shifting distribution of the parasite’s insect vector, have contributed to the emergence of Chagas disease as a global health threat. Administration of nifurtimox involves adjusting the dose for age and body weight. Particularly for children, this often requires the previously available 120 mg tablet to be divided manually, which could be problematic. To address this challenge, a new formulation tablet of nifurtimox was developed. Available in two dose strengths, 30 mg and 120 mg, the new formulation tablets contain a functional score line to facilitate accurate division. In addition, the formulation now allows rapid and easy dispersion in water to form a slurry for use by patients with difficulty swallowing tablets. These features enable more accurate body-weight-based and age-appropriate dosing and administration, which should prove beneficial for younger patients, including newborns and babies with a body weight ≥2.5 kg. Development of the new formulation nifurtimox tablets was guided by substantially updating pharmacological and clinical knowledge of the drug to meet current standards and regulatory requirements. This was achieved by conducting a substantial array of additional non-clinical and clinical studies to better understand and characterize clinically relevant aspects of nifurtimox pharmacokinetics. The efficacy and safety of the new tablet in children with Chagas disease was subsequently demonstrated in a large prospective randomized clinical trial with prolonged follow-up. In the present paper, we review key findings that contributed to the successful clinical development of the new formulation nifurtimox tablet, the availability of which redefines the treatment of young patients with Chagas disease.
Impacts of a prolonged marine heatwave and chronic local human disturbance on juvenile coral assemblages
Authors: Tietjen Kristina L. , Perks Nelson F. , O’Brien Niallan C. , Baum Julia K.
Published: February 2025

Coral reefs are threatened by climate change and chronic local human disturbances. Although some laboratory studies have investigated the effects of combined stressors, such as nutrient enrichment and heat stress, on growth and survival of early life stage corals, in situ studies remain limited. To assess the influence of multiple stressors on juvenile corals, we quantified densities of corals ≤ 5 cm at 18 forereef sites with different exposure levels to underlying chronic local human disturbance before, during, and after the 2015-2016 El Niño. This marine heatwave caused prolonged heat stress and devastating losses of coral cover on the shallow forereef’s of Kiritimati, in the central equatorial Pacific Ocean. Here, we enumerated a total of 7732 juvenile corals from 13 different families. Over 80% of corals were from four families: 70% from Agariciidae, Merulinidae, or Poritidae, which all have stress-tolerant life history strategies, and 11% from Acroporidae which has a competitive life-history strategy. Both local disturbance and heat stress were significantly negatively related to juvenile coral densities. Prior to the heatwave, juvenile densities were on average 72% lower at the most disturbed sites (7.2 ±  1.9 m-2) compared to the least disturbed ones (15.3 ±  3.8 m-2). Overall, juvenile corals had a lower bleaching prevalence and lower mortality during the heatwave when compared to their adult counterparts. Still, the heatwave resulted in the loss of half (49%) of all juvenile corals, with those corals with competitive or weedy life history strategies undergoing greater declines than stress-tolerant ones. Although juvenile coral densities increased slightly in the year following the heatwave, the effect was statistically non-significant. Our results highlight the influence of chronic local anthropogenic and marine heatwaves on juvenile coral densities.
Clinical safety and pharmacokinetics of a novel oral niclosamide formulation compared with marketed niclosamide chewing tablets in healthy volunteers: A three-part randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial
Authors: Walther Niklas , Schultz-Heienbrok Robert , Staß Heino , Corman Victor M. , Gassen Nils C. , Müller Marcel A. , Drosten Christian , Witzenrath Martin , Lee Hweeling , Posch Maximilian G.
Published: February 2025

Aim

Niclosamide is an established anthelmintic substance and a promising candidate for treating cancer, viral infections, and other diseases. However, its solubility in aqueous media is low, and the systemic bioavailability of the commercially available chewing tablet is poor, limiting the use of niclosamide for systemic treatment. A liquid oral formulation using polyethylene glycol 400 was developed and investigated in healthy volunteers to assess safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics in comparison to the marketed tablet. (ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04644705).

Methods

The study consisted of three parts: Part A was a double-blind placebo-controlled single ascending dose trial in three dose groups (200, 600, and 1600 mg) with four participants receiving either the investigational niclosamide formulation or placebo (3:1) under fasted and/or fed conditions. Part B was a crossover study comparing 1600 mg investigational niclosamide solution with the marketed 2000 mg chewing tablet in four healthy volunteers. Part C was a double-blind placebo-controlled multiple-dose trial comparing 1200 mg and 1600 mg (verum: placebo 4:2) in two dose groups with six subjects each, who received daily doses for seven days.

Results

No serious or severe adverse events occurred. The most frequent adverse events were mild to moderate gastrointestinal reactions. There was also no apparent dependence between drug exposure levels (AUC, Cmax) and the severity and incidence of adverse events detectable. A relevant food effect was observed with a mean AUClast about 2-fold higher in fed condition compared to fasted condition. In Part B, dose-normalized Cmax and AUClast were similar for niclosamide solution and tablet. Absorption of niclosamide solution was highly variable. Some individuals showed high absorption (Cmax > 2µg/ml) whereas others did absorb only marginally. Importantly, there was no dose linearity in the range of 200 mg – 1600 mg. No signs of relevant systemic drug accumulation after multiple administrations were observed.

Conclusion

Overall safety and tolerability observed in healthy subjects were benign. This is also true for individuals with high absorption (Cmax > 2µg/ml), encouraging further research into niclosamide as a potential therapeutic agent. Galenic optimization, however, will remain challenging as evident from the observed exposure variability and non-linear PK. Non-linearity, if confirmed by additional data, might make niclosamide more suitable for multi-dose rather than high single dose regimens. The observed food effect should also be considered when further investigating systemic niclosamide exposures.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov NCT04644705
Social and nutritional factors controlling the growth of honey bee (Apis mellifera) queens
Authors: Kama Omer , Shpigler Hagai Yehoshua
Published: February 2025

The honey bee queen is essential for colony function, laying hundreds of eggs daily and determining the colony’s genetic composition. Beekeepers cultivate and trade queens to enhance colony health and productivity. Despite its significance, artificial queen rearing in foster queenless colonies has remained largely unchanged for over a century, offering limited control over the environmental conditions influencing larval development. In this study, we developed a laboratory-based method for queen bee rearing, establishing a protocol for rearing queens in cages by nurse bees in the lab under controlled environmental conditions. We first investigated the minimal number of worker bees required to rear a single queen and found that groups of 200 workers raise queens with comparable success and weight to those reared in foster colony. As a proof of concept, we examined the impact of larval age on rearing success in our new system. We found that younger larvae developed into heavier and larger queens than older larvae, as recorded in the past using the traditional rearing method. Additionally, we assessed the influence of pollen nutrition on queen-rearing success, finding that a high pollen concentration is crucial for optimal queen development. These findings and the new method provide a foundation for studying queen bee-rearing behavior and development in the lab. We expect that it will be used to uncover factors that impact this important process in honey bee biology.
Wastewater surveillance overcomes socio-economic limitations of laboratory-based surveillance when monitoring disease transmission: The South African experience during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Maree Gillian , Els Fiona , Naidoo Yashena , Naidoo Laven , Mahamuza Phemelo , Macheke Mokgaetji , Ndlovu Nkosenhle , Rachida Said , Iwu-Jaja Chinwe , Taukobong Setshaba , Maposa Sibonginkosi , O’Reilly Kathleen , Yousif Mukhlid , McCarthy Kerrigan
Published: February 2025

Wastewater and environmental surveillance has been promoted as a communicable disease surveillance tool because it overcomes inherent biases in laboratory-based communicable disease surveillance. Yet, little empirical evidence exists to support this notion, and it remains largely an intuitive, though highly plausible hypothesis. Our interdisciplinary study uses WES data to show evidence for underreporting of SARS-CoV-2 in the context of measurable and statistically significant associations between economic conditions and SARS-CoV-2 incidence and testing rates. We obtained geolocated, anonymised, laboratory-confirmed SARS-CoV-2 cases, wastewater SARS-CoV-2 viral load data and socio-demographic data for Gauteng Province, South Africa. We spatially located all data to create a single dataset for sewershed catchments served by two large wastewater treatment plants. We conducted epidemiological, persons infected and principal component analysis to explore the relationships between variables. Overall, we demonstrate the co-contributory influences of socio-economic indicators on access to SARS-CoV-2 testing and cumulative incidence, thus reflecting that apparent incidence rates mirror access to testing and socioeconomic considerations rather than true disease epidemiology. These analyses demonstrate how WES provides valuable information to contextualise and interpret laboratory-based epidemiological data. Whilst it is useful to have these associations established for SARS-CoV-2, the implications beyond SARS-CoV-2 are legion for two reasons, namely that biases inherent in clinical surveillance are broadly applicable across pathogens and all pathogens infecting humans will find their way into wastewater albeit in varying quantities. WES should be implemented to strengthen surveillance systems, especially where economic inequalities limit interpretability of conventional surveillance data.
Oseltamivir-induced hepatotoxicity: A retrospective analysis of the FDA adverse event reporting system
Authors: Yu Lurong , Xiang Qiumeng , Liu Limei
Published: February 2025

Assessing the potential for oseltamivir-induced liver damage is essential to ensure its safe administration. The aim of this study was to examine the association between hepatotoxicity and oseltamivir use and to describe the features of oseltamivir-induced hepatotoxicity. Data were obtained from the Adverse Event Reporting System of the US Food and Drug Administration (FAERS). Disproportionality and proportionality analyses were performed to evaluate the safety profile of oseltamivir-related hepatotoxicity and the occurrence of hepatotoxicity-related adverse events across sex and age groups. The FAERS recorded 20,340,254 adverse event reports between 2004 and 2023, of which 16,960,996 reports were included in the analysis. We identified 14 types of oseltamivir-related adverse events that were hepatotoxic and showed positive signals. The most frequently reported adverse event was abnormal hepatic function (n =  54), and the most severe adverse event was fulminant hepatitis. Compared with that for male individuals, the reporting odds ratio (ROR) was 0.5 for female individuals; and for male individuals, the ROR, compared with that for female individuals, was 4.19. The median time to hepatotoxic adverse events, excluding mixed liver injury, was <  5 days. Oseltamivir can cause liver toxicity, which is influenced by sex and age. Liver function tests and monitoring for signs of liver disease are crucial when using oseltamivir.
Association of myopia and parapapillary choroidal microvascular density in primary open-angle glaucoma
Authors: Suwan Yanin , Chansangpetch Sunee , Fard Masoud Aghsaei , Pooprasert Pakinee , Chalardsakul Kamolwat , Threetong Thanatporn , Tipparut Siripa , Saaensupho Thiraporn , Tantraworasin Apichat , Hojati Sahar , Kafieh Raheleh , Danesh Hajar , Petpiroon Purit , Supakontanasan Wasu
Published: February 2025

Background/Aims

To compare parapapillary choroidal microvascular (PPCMv) densities between myopic eyes with and without glaucoma.

Methods

In this retrospective study, OCTA images (4.5 × 4.5 mm) were obtained using a commercial spectral-domain OCTA system. PPCMv density was calculated in inner and outer annuli using customized software. Marginal model of generalized estimating equations was established to adjust for confounding factors and intraclass correlations.

Results

This study included 35 myopic eyes with glaucoma (MG), 96 non-myopic eyes with glaucoma (NMG) matched for visual field mean deviation, 37 myopic eyes without glaucoma (MNG), and 73 control eyes from three tertiary centers. The participant ages were (mean [standard deviation, SD]) 57.43 [11.49], 60.40 [10.07], 52.84 [9.35], and 54.74 [12.07] years. Inner and outer annular PPCMv densities (mean [SD]) decreased in the following order: control (0.15 [0.04] and 0.12 [0.04]), MNG (0.14 [0.08] and 0.12 [0.08]), NMG (0.09 [0.05] and 0.07 [0.04]), and MG (0.09 [0.04] and 0.07 [0.03]). The mean differences in PPCMv density between glaucoma groups (NMG and MG) and the control group (mean difference [95% confidence interval]) were −0.06 (−0.08 to −0.04, P < 0.001 for inner whole annular PPCMv density in NMG vs control) and −0.07 (−0.10 to −0.04, P < 0.001 for inner whole annular PPCMv density in MG vs control), consistent across all regions of interest (ROIs). No significant interaction was observed between glaucoma and myopia after adjustment for potential confounders (P > 0.112).

Conclusions

Parapapillary choroidal microvascular density attenuation tends to be greater in eyes with glaucoma than in eyes with myopia.
Maternal vitamin D status in relation to cardiometabolic risk factors in children from the Norwegian Environmental Biobank
Authors: Amberntsson Anna , Bärebring Linnea , Winkvist Anna , Lissner Lauren , Brantsæter Anne Lise , Erlund Iris , Papadopoulou Eleni , Augustin Hanna
Published: February 2025

Background

Maternal 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25OHD) status has been associated with birth weight and childhood growth. Further, maternal 25OHD status may also influence cardiometabolic outcomes in childhood. This study investigated the association between maternal 25OHD concentration in pregnancy and markers of cardiometabolic risk in 7–12-year-old children.

Methods

Data were obtained from the Norwegian Environmental Biobank (NEB) including 244 mother-child pairs in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) participating in NEB part I and II. Childhood outcomes investigated were z-scores of anthropometrics, blood lipids and hormones. Associations between maternal 25OHD and individual cardiometabolic risk factors in children were assessed by linear regression, adjusted for maternal pre-pregnancy BMI, maternal education, child’s sex, age and BMI, and tested for interaction with pre-pregnancy BMI.

Results

Per 10 nmol/L increase in maternal 25OHD, childhood adiponectin z-score increased by 0.067 standard deviations (p = 0.039). There were no associations between maternal 25OHD concentration and any other cardiometabolic risk factor in childhood.

Conclusion

The results indicate that higher maternal vitamin D status during pregnancy may be related to higher childhood adiponectin z-score, but not with any other cardiometabolic risk marker. Whether adiponectin could be one pathway linking vitamin D to cardiometabolic health remains to be determined.
Design and experiment of a bionic drag-reducing digger for tuberous crops under heavy soil conditions
Authors: Yang Ranbing , Xu Wenjian , Pan Zhiguo , Zhang Huan , Deng Zhixi
Published: February 2025

Aiming at the problems of high working resistance and high energy consumption in potato crop harvesting in sticky soil, this paper designs a potato bionic drag-reducing digging shovel based on the streamline shape of catfish head. Based on the theoretical analysis and discrete element method (DEM) simulation, the main factors affecting the digging resistance are the angle of entry, forward speed and vibration frequency, and the digging resistance increases with the increase of forward speed, and decreases with the increase of vibration frequency. Through the orthogonal test in the field, the optimal working parameters of the drag reduction performance are determined with the digging resistance as the test index, and the comparative test of the different shovel shapes is carried out with this parameter. The results show that the optimal solution is to use bionic shovel, with an entry angle of 15°, an operating speed of 0.27m/s, and a vibration frequency of 6Hz. The average digging resistance of the bionic shovel is 3612.86N, and the bionic digging shovel reduces resistance by 17.76% relative to an ordinary flat shovel, and 21.09% relative to the plane triangle shovel. The effect of drag reduction is remarkable, and the structure of the digging shovel bionic is reasonable, which can satisfy the requirements of resistance reduction and consumption reduction of potato harvesting under the conditions of sticky and heavy soils.
Revisiting Pearl’s influenza studies by bootstrapping for forward variable selection with a null factor
Authors: Kessels Roselinde , Gotwalt Chris , Erreygers Guido
Published: February 2025

In 1919 and 1921 Raymond Pearl published four empirical studies on the Spanish Flu epidemic in which he explored the factors that might explain the explosiveness and destructiveness of the epidemic in America’s largest cities. Using partial correlation coefficients he tried to isolate the net effects of the possible explanatory factors, such as general demographic characteristics of the cities and death rates for various diseases, on the variables measuring the severity of the epidemic. Instead of Pearl’s correlation analysis, we apply a bootstrap simulation to forward variable selection with a null factor for generalized linear regression with AICc validation. The null factor or pseudo-variable is a random variable that is independent of the response. The number of times it is included in the model selection simulation provides an important metric for deciding which terms should remain in the model. Our results are largely consistent with Pearl’s conclusions in that the pre-pandemic death rates from organic heart disease and from all causes are most predictive of pandemic explosiveness or severity. However, our results also contain substantive nuances. Our paper contributes to the literature showing that state-of-the-art methodology for variable selection proves useful for historical epidemiology.
Consumer attitudes and perceptions on consumption of edible insects among communities in western Kenya
Authors: Owidi Emmah , Asoka Gilbert , Waga Eric , Ochieng’ Alfred , Kawaka Fanuel
Published: February 2025

Edible insects are a highly sustainable and nutritional food source despite their low consumption in many communities. This study evaluated consumer attitudes and perceptions on consumption of edible insects in western Kenya. Eight focus group discussions (FGDs) were conducted in four rural and four urban markets in Kisumu and Vihiga counties. The FGDs were audio-recorded, transcribed, and analyzed using thematic content analysis. A total of 59 respondents consisting of 27 male and 32 females participated in the FGDs. The results showed higher acceptability and consumption of edible insects in rural areas compared to urban centers. The most popular edible insects were flying termites, grasshoppers, soldier termites and locusts. Consumption of these insects was mostly determined by their perceived high nutritional value, pleasant taste and familiarity as food sources. Seasonal capturing of the insects, especially during off-season also contributed to their low consumption. Respondents’ willingness to taste insect-based products was based on curiosity, packaging and familiarity with the product forms. These results suggest that there is need for interventions that promote public awareness and enhance the availability of edible insects and insect-based products, to support wider acceptability and consumption.
Soluble RAGE enhances muscle regeneration after cryoinjury in aged and diseased mice
Authors: Horwitz Naftali , Florea Michael , Medha K. C. , Liu Tina , Garcia Vivian , Kim Rebekah , Lam Amy , Messemer Kathleen , Rios Christopher , Almada Albert E. , Wagers Amy J.
Published: February 2025

The Receptor for Advanced Glycation End Products (RAGE), classically considered a mediator of acute and chronic inflammatory responses, has recently been implicated by genetic knockout studies as a regulator of skeletal muscle physiology during development and following acute injury. Yet, the role of its soluble isoform, soluble RAGE (sRAGE), in muscle regeneration remains relatively unexplored. To address this knowledge gap, Adeno-Associated Virus (AAV) mediated and genetic knockin supplementation strategies were developed to specifically assess the effects of changing levels of sRAGE on muscle regeneration. We evaluated general muscle physiology and histology, including central nucleation, and myofiber size. We found that acute induction of sRAGE in aged and atherosclerotic animals accelerates muscle repair after cryoinjury. Similarly, genetic modification of the endogenous Ager gene locus to favor production of sRAGE over transmembrane RAGE accelerates repair of cryo-damaged skeletal muscle. However, increasing sRAGE via AAV delivery or using our transgenic mouse lines had no impact on muscle repair in aged or diseased mice after barium chloride (BaCl2) injury. Together, these studies identify a unique muscle regulatory activity of sRAGE that is variable across injury models and may be targeted in a context-specific manner to alter the skeletal muscle microenvironment and boost muscle regenerative output.
Chinese medical named entity recognition utilizing entity association and gate context awareness
Authors: Yan Yang , Kang Yufeng , Huang Wenbo , Cai Xudong
Published: February 2025

Recognizing medical named entities is a crucial aspect of applying deep learning in the medical domain. Automated methods for identifying specific entities from medical literature or other texts can enhance the efficiency and accuracy of information processing, elevate medical service quality, and aid clinical decision-making. Nonetheless, current methods exhibit limitations in contextual awareness and insufficient consideration of contextual relevance and interactions between entities. In this study, we initially encode medical text inputs using the Chinese pre-trained RoBERTa-wwm-ext model to extract comprehensive contextual features and semantic information. Subsequently, we employ recurrent neural networks in conjunction with the multi-head attention mechanism as the primary gating structure for parallel processing and capturing inter-entity dependencies. Finally, we leverage conditional random fields in combination with the cross-entropy loss function to enhance entity recognition accuracy and ensure label sequence consistency. Extensive experiments conducted on datasets including MCSCSet and CMeEE demonstrate that the proposed model attains F1 scores of 91.90% and 64.36% on the respective datasets, outperforming other related models. These findings confirm the efficacy of our method for recognizing named entities in Chinese medical texts.
Dietary patterns and their associations with the occurrence and severity of early childhood caries among 1–5-year-olds in Iran: A multicenter cluster randomized survey
Authors: Javadzadeh Ehsan , Razeghi Samaneh , Shamshiri Ahmadreza , Mohebbi Simin Z.
Published: February 2025

Aim

A health-promoting and tooth-friendly diet can reduce the risk factors associated with early childhood caries (ECC) and promote overall health in children. This study aimed to identify dietary habits and feeding practices and their associations with ECC among 1–5-year-olds in Iran.

Methods

This analytical cross-sectional study utilized data from a survey conducted from August 1, 2020, to January 20, 2021. A three-stage stratified cluster sampling method was employed to recruit participants. Parents provided written informed consent in Persian before enrollment and were then interviewed via a valid and reliable questionnaire inquiring about background information, feeding practices, and dietary habits. Each child underwent a dental examination by one of four trained and calibrated dentists to assess dental plaque and ECC. After appropriate weightings were applied, associations between key covariates and outcome measures were analyzed using multivariable logistic regression modeling and multivariate generalized negative binomial regression modeling. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS V25 and Stata V14.2 software.

Results

The mean age of the study population was 45.0 (±0.5) months, and 53% (±5%) had ECC. Visible dental plaque was present on the tooth surfaces of 39% ( ± 3%) of the toddlers and 66% ( ± 4%) of the preschoolers. The majority of the children had been breastfed for over 18 months (65%). Most children consumed sugar between meals once a day or less (66%) and fruits once (39%) or twice (37%) a day. ECC experience increased with age and poor oral hygiene across all age groups. Toddlers with a higher frequency of sugar intake between meals had higher dmft and ECC prevalence. The consumption of four to five servings of grain products per day was associated with a five-fold reduction in ECC occurrence (p = 0.047, OR = 0.2). In contrast, the consumption of two servings of fruits per day was associated with a doubling of the dmft score in toddlers (p = 0.015, IRR = 2.0).

Conclusions

This study identified possible dietary risk factors for ECC in Iranian children, such as increased sugar intake and fruit consumption, while balancing diet with grain consumption played a protective role. Considering the role of oral hygiene and the multifactorial nature of the disease may highlight a route toward developing future targeted and effective preventive strategies.
Widespread dissemination of Salmonella, Escherichia coli and Campylobacter resistant to medically important antimicrobials in the poultry production continuum in Canada
Authors: Medrano Hiddecel , Hill Sarah , Boulianne Martine , Cereno Teresa , Deckert Anne E. , Charlebois Audrey , Gow Sheryl P. , McDonald Kathryn , Reid-Smith Richard J. , Agunos Agnes
Published: February 2025

The Canadian Integrated Program for Antimicrobial Resistance Surveillance (CIPARS) monitors Escherichia coli, Salmonella and Campylobacter and their resistance to antimicrobials in broiler chickens at the farm and slaughter plant levels. In response to many years of CIPARS’ observations and farmers’ data, the Chicken Farmers of Canada implemented a strategy to reduce antimicrobial use in 2014. As resistance genes can be transmitted vertically from parents to their offspring, a study was conducted in broiler breeder flocks to assess the frequency of target bacteria, their antimicrobial resistance (AMR) and to obtain a comprehensive picture of AMR in poultry production. Spent breeder flocks slaughtered between 2018 and 2021 were sampled and data from broiler flocks at the farm and slaughter plants were assessed. Salmonella was most frequently detected in farm broiler chickens (46%), while Campylobacter was most frequently detected in broiler breeders (73%). In Campylobacter, high levels (20–24%) of ciprofloxacin resistance were found across the three production stages, and was highest in farm broiler chickens (24%). In E. coli, an indicator organism, low-level ceftriaxone resistance and occasional isolates that were non-susceptible to ciprofloxacin were noted. Using the indicator, fully susceptible E. coli, broiler breeders had the highest frequency (54%) compared to farm (36%) and slaughtered (35%) broiler chickens. In Salmonella broiler breeders had the highest resistance to most antimicrobials tested.Fully susceptible Salmonella was lowest in broiler breeders (16%) compared to farm (42%) and slaughtered (42%) broiler chickens. Salmonella serovars differed between the production stages, but S. Kentucky was the most predominant. Resistance to critically important antimicrobials in human medicine and regional variations in resistance profiles were observed. This study suggests that broiler breeders carry foodborne bacteria resistant to antimicrobials used in human medicine, demonstrating their role in the maintenance of AMR in poultry and the need to adopt a harmonized sector-wide AMU strategy.
The 24-hour movement behaviour compositions of children with and without impaired motor coordination: The Moves-UP project
Authors: Swindell Nils , Starbuck Chelsea , Jin Siqi , Barker Harriet , Thomas Gemma , Rueda-Hernandez Jimena , Crosby Catherine , Barnes Claire , Summers Huw , Stratton Gareth
Published: February 2025

The 24-hour movement behaviours, including sleep, sedentary behaviour (SB), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) are crucial for a child’s healthy growth and development. Yet, the full 24-hour movement behaviour composition has not been thoroughly explored in children with suspected Developmental Coordination Disorder (sDCD). The aim of this study was to compare the 24-hour movement behaviour compositions of children with sDCD to their typically developing (TD) peers and to assess the associations between movement behaviours and motor competence. Sixty-nine children (mean age 8.6 ±  1.6 years, 55% boys) wore a wrist-mounted accelerometers for seven consecutive days, completed a dynamic motor competence assessment and were screened for sDCD using the Developmental Coordination Disorder Questionnaire. Results of the compositional Isotemporal-substitution analysis indicated that children with sDCD spent less time in light physical activity (LPA) and MVPA and more time in SB compared to the TD group. No significant differences were observed during school or weekend periods. However, increasing MVPA in place of lower-intensity activities was associated with theoretical improvements in motor competence. The 24-hour movement behaviour profiles of children with sDCD identified in this study may have adverse implications for their future health and wellbeing, emphasising the need for targeted interventions, particularly during out-of-school hours.
Accuracy of next-generation sequencing for rapid diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy: A protocol of systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Ling Yuyang , Shen Yanqin , Xu Xudong , Yu Guocan
Published: February 2025

Background

Early, rapid and precise diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy is difficult. Next-generation sequencing (NGS) has been used for the diagnosis of TB in some high-income countries. We completed the protocol of the study in order to better guide the systematic review and meta-analysis for evaluating the role of NGS in the diagnosis of tuberculous pleurisy, which was the purpose of the current study.

Methods

We designed and drafted this protocol as per the Preferred reporting items for systematic review and meta-analysis protocols (PRISMA-P) guidelines. Three English databases (Cochrane Library, Embase and Medline via PubMed) and two Chinese databases (China National Knowledge Infrastructure and Wanfang Database) will be used to search for relevant studies. We followed the PICT principles to develop the eligibility criteria. Once the final compliant literature is identified, we will extract the valid information from the literature for statistical analysis. We will assess the quality of the included studies using the Quality Assessment of Diagnostic Accuracy Studies (QUADAS-2) tool. When there are more than 4 eligible studies, we will use Stata (version 15.0; Stata Corp., College Station, TX, the USA) with midas module to conduct the relevant meta-analysis and plot the relevant forest plots and curves. When there are less than 4 eligible studies, we will use Meta-DiSc (version 1.4) to perform the associated meta-analysis and plot the associated forest plots and curves. We will use the I2 statistic to assess heterogeneity between included studies. We will conduct meta-regression analysis, subgroup analysis and sensitivity analysis to explore possible sources of heterogeneity when significant heterogeneity exists.

Systematic review registration

PROSPERO Registration number: CRD42024568791