bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Comparing healthcare needs by language: interpreted Arabic and Somali telehealth calls in two regions of Sweden, 2014–18
Authors: Martin Leah J , Kühlmann-Berenzon Sharon , Azerkan Fatima , Bjelkmar Pär
Published: May 2024

Background

Limited language fluency can impede healthcare system navigation. In Sweden, the national telehealth line (Healthcare Guide 1177) offers interpretation in Arabic and Somali. We compared calls by language to identify differences in healthcare use for immigrant populations, focusing on three contact causes: pregnancy; vomiting or nausea in children; and worry/anxiety.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 3.9 million (n = 18 351 Arabic, n = 7199 Somali) telehealth calls (2014–18). Using multivariable logistic regression, we investigated associations between language of the call (Arabic, Somali, non-interpreted) and each contact cause. Potential confounders (age, region, year, and additionally for vomiting or nausea, month) and an interaction between age and language were considered.

Results

Compared with non-interpreted calls, interpreted calls were associated with increased odds of being for pregnancy, especially for 19 to 29-year-olds [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) (95% CI) = 4.04 (3.66–4.46) and 4.60 (4.05–5.23), for Arabic and Somali calls, respectively]. Vomiting or nausea showed similar results, with aOR increasing with age: from 0.90 (0.75–1.07) (Arabic, <1 year) to 3.79 (2.86–5.01) (Somali, 5–9 years). In contrast, in unadjusted analyses, Arabic and Somali calls were associated with decreased odds of being for worry/anxiety [OR = 0.47 (0.38–0.58) and 0.34 (0.21–0.50)], respectively, compared with non-interpreted calls.

Conclusion

Our results suggest callers to the interpreted lines may need additional assistance navigating the healthcare system for pregnancy and for vomiting or nausea among children. These findings can inform healthcare services planning for immigrants to Sweden and highlight a novel use of telehealth data as a way to uncover disparities in healthcare use within a multi-linguistic population.
Trends in oesophageal cancer mortality in Montenegro, 1990–2018
Authors: Nedović Vuković Mirjana , Jakšić Marina , Smolović Brigita , Lukić Miloš , Bukumirić Zoran
Published: May 2024

Background

Oesophageal cancer (OC) is a significant public health issue, despite the decreasing trends in OC mortality rates observed globally in the past decades. The objective of our study is to analyze the pattern of OC mortality in Montenegro between 1990 and 2018 and contribute to the development of a national long-term strategy for the prevention and control of this malignancy.

Methods

The data on OC death cases in Montenegro between 1990 and 2018 were collected. The mortality rates were standardized according to the World Standard Population. The Joinpoint, Linear and Poisson regressions were applied to analyze the OC mortality trend.

Results

Joinpoint regression analysis showed an increase in death rates for men and the overall level which were not statistically significant. However, the number of cases increases significantly with an average annual percentage change (AAPC) increase of 2.6% for the overall level [AAPC (95% CI)=2.6 (1.0–4.2); P = 0.002] at the expense of the increase in men, which on average was 2.6% annually [AAPC (95%CI) = 2.6 (1.2–4.1); P = 0.001]. The age groups 55–64 and 65–74 have the highest percentage of deaths cases from OC with 30.6% and 31.4%, respectively.

Conclusion

Montenegro has witnessed a recent increase in the number of deaths from OC, although the mortality rates remain stable. National strategies to further reduce mortality rates for OC are necessary. Individuals aged 55–64 and 65–74 need specific attention during the ongoing monitoring of this cancer.
Field-based high-throughput phenotyping enhances phenomic and genomic predictions for grain yield and plant height across years in maize
Authors: Adak Alper , DeSalvio Aaron J , Arik Mustafa A , Murray Seth C
Published: May 2024

Field-based phenomic prediction employs novel features, like vegetation indices (VIs) from drone images, to predict key agronomic traits in maize, despite challenges in matching biomarker measurement time points across years or environments. This study utilized functional principal component analysis (FPCA) to summarize the variation of temporal VIs, uniquely allowing the integration of this data into phenomic prediction models tested across multiple years (2018–2021) and environments. The models, which included 1 genomic, 2 phenomic, 2 multikernel, and 1 multitrait type, were evaluated in 4 prediction scenarios (CV2, CV1, CV0, and CV00), relevant for plant breeding programs, assessing both tested and untested genotypes in observed and unobserved environments. Two hybrid populations (415 and 220 hybrids) demonstrated the visible atmospherically resistant index’s strong temporal correlation with grain yield (up to 0.59) and plant height. The first 2 FPCAs explained 59.3 ± 13.9% and 74.2 ± 9.0% of the temporal variation of temporal data of VIs, respectively, facilitating predictions where flight times varied. Phenomic data, particularly when combined with genomic data, often were comparable to or numerically exceeded the base genomic model in prediction accuracy, particularly for grain yield in untested hybrids, although no significant differences in these models’ performance were consistently observed. Overall, this approach underscores the effectiveness of FPCA and combined models in enhancing the prediction of grain yield and plant height across environments and diverse agricultural settings.
Genome-wide association analyses using multilocus models on bananas (Musa spp.) reveal candidate genes related to morphology, fruit quality, and yield
Authors: Osorio-Guarin Jaime Andrés , Higgins Janet , Toloza-Moreno Deisy Lisseth , Di Palma Federica , Enriquez Valencia Ayda Lilia , Riveros Munévar Fernando , De Vega José J , Yockteng Roxana
Published: May 2024

Bananas (Musa spp.) are an essential fruit worldwide and rank as the fourth most significant food crop for addressing malnutrition due to their rich nutrients and starch content. The potential of their genetic diversity remains untapped due to limited molecular breeding tools. Our study examined a phenotypically diverse group of 124 accessions from the Colombian Musaceae Collection conserved in AGROSAVIA. We assessed 12 traits categorized into morphology, fruit quality, and yield, alongside sequence data. Our sequencing efforts provided valuable insights, with an average depth of about 7× per accession, resulting in 187,133 single-nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) against Musa acuminata (A genome) and 220,451 against Musa balbisiana (B genome). Population structure analysis grouped samples into four and five clusters based on the reference genome. By using different association models, we identified marker–trait associations (MTAs). The mixed linear model revealed four MTAs, while the Bayesian-information and linkage-disequilibrium iteratively nested keyway and fixed and random model for circulating probability unification models identified 82 and 70 MTAs, respectively. We identified 38 and 40 candidate genes in linkage proximity to significant MTAs for the A genome and B genome, respectively. Our findings provide insights into the genetic underpinnings of morphology, fruit quality, and yield. Once validated, the SNP markers and candidate genes can potentially drive advancements in genomic-guided breeding strategies to enhance banana crop improvement.
How repeated exposure to persuasive messaging shapes message responses over time: a longitudinal experiment
Authors: Skurka Chris , Keating David M
Published: May 2024

Repeated exposure theories have articulated several processes that explain how message repetition shapes persuasion over time, yet these processes are often studied in isolation. Moreover, repeated exposure theories have largely failed to specify the temporal trajectories of negative message responses over time. Integrating theorizing on repeated exposure, psychological reactance, and message fatigue, we conducted a mixed-design experiment (N = 1,416 total observations), varying the amount of daily exposure audiences had to campaign advertisements about distracted driving over nearly 2 weeks. Exposure to these messages (compared to control messages) led to greater message elaboration and reactance but not fatigue or attitudes. We found no evidence that these message reactions shifted linearly, logarithmically, or quadratically over time, with the exception that anger increased linearly with subsequent exposures. These findings suggest constraints on predictions made by repeated exposure frameworks, and post hoc analyses underscore the need to distinguish fatigue’s two dimensions conceptually and operationally.
Coping with alpine habitats: genomic insights into the adaptation strategies of Triplostegia glandulifera (Caprifoliaceae)
Authors: Zhang Jian , Dong Kai-Lin , Ren Miao-Zhen , Wang Zhi-Wen , Li Jian-Hua , Sun Wen-Jing , Zhao Xiang , Fu Xin-Xing , Ye Jian-Fei , Liu Bing , Zhang Da-Ming , Wang Mo-Zhu , Zeng Gang , Niu Yan-Ting , Lu Li-Min , Su Jun-Xia , Liu Zhong-Jian , Soltis Pamela S , Soltis Douglas E , Chen Zhi-Duan
Published: May 2024

How plants find a way to thrive in alpine habitats remains largely unknown. Here we present a chromosome-level genome assembly for an alpine medicinal herb, Triplostegia glandulifera (Caprifoliaceae), and 13 transcriptomes from other species of Dipsacales. We detected a whole-genome duplication event in T. glandulifera that occurred prior to the diversification of Dipsacales. Preferential gene retention after whole-genome duplication was found to contribute to increasing cold-related genes in T. glandulifera. A series of genes putatively associated with alpine adaptation (e.g. CBFs, ERF-VIIs, and RAD51C) exhibited higher expression levels in T. glandulifera than in its low-elevation relative, Lonicera japonica. Comparative genomic analysis among five pairs of high- vs low-elevation species, including a comparison of T. glandulifera and L. japonica, indicated that the gene families related to disease resistance experienced a significantly convergent contraction in alpine plants compared with their lowland relatives. The reduction in gene repertory size was largely concentrated in clades of genes for pathogen recognition (e.g. CNLs, prRLPs, and XII RLKs), while the clades for signal transduction and development remained nearly unchanged. This finding reflects an energy-saving strategy for survival in hostile alpine areas, where there is a tradeoff with less challenge from pathogens and limited resources for growth. We also identified candidate genes for alpine adaptation (e.g. RAD1, DMC1, and MSH3) that were under convergent positive selection or that exhibited a convergent acceleration in evolutionary rate in the investigated alpine plants. Overall, our study provides novel insights into the high-elevation adaptation strategies of this and other alpine plants.
Predictive Factors of Inactive Patient Participation in an Inflammatory Bowel Disease Learning Health System: A Longitudinal Cohort Study
Authors: Dang Nhu , Kumar Soryan , Kwon Michelle , Cradeur Michael , Zeven Katherine , Khunte Mihir , Marino Daniel , Tse Chung Sang , van Deen Welmoed K , Lee Adrian , Kamp Kendra , Oberai Ridhima , Melmed Gil Y , Siegel Corey A , Weaver S Alandra , Shah Samir A
Published: May 2024

Lay Summary

Patient participation is crucial to learning health systems that leverage patient data to improve care practices. Age, history of anxiety or depression, and frequency of clinic visits were associated with inactive participation in an inflammatory bowel disease learning health system.
External stenting for saphenous vein grafts reduces early postoperative graft failure
Authors: Dushaj Stak , Häussler Achim , Rings Laura , Ntinopoulos Vasileios , Papadopoulos Nestoras , Odavic Dragan , Rodriguez Cetina Biefer Hector , Dzemali Omer
Published: May 2024

OBJECTIVES

Multiple studies have shown that external stenting (ExSt) mitigates the progression of vein graft disease years after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). We used computed tomography to evaluate the effect of ExSt on perioperative vein graft patency.

METHODS

This study assessed graft patency rates of saphenous vein grafts (SVG) in consecutive patients with isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) between 2018 and 2021. Logistic regression analyses were conducted to compare the outcomes of supported and non-supported groups at both patient and graft levels, with age, EuroSCORE II, gender, diabetes and arterial grafts as covariates. Subgroup analyses were performed based on different covariates. The goal of the study was to provide valuable insights into the clinical outcomes of SVG in patients having CABG.

RESULTS

The study examined a total of 357 patients who met the inclusion criteria and evaluated 572 vein grafts. Of these, 150 patients (205 SVGs) received ExSt, whereas 207 patients (337 SVGs) did not receive ExSt. The study results indicated that the likelihood of overall SVG patency at discharge was higher in the stented group than in the non-stented group, both at the level of the grafts [93.8% vs 87.8%, odds ratio (OR) 2.1; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.0–4.5; P = 0.05] and at the patient level (90.1% vs 83.5%, OR 1.8; 95% CI 0.9–3.6; P = 0.1). It is worth noting that the difference between the stented and non-stented groups was most significant in the subgroup that received 2 arterial grafts (96.5% vs 89.6%, OR 3.2; 95% CI 1.2–8.4; P = 0.02) and in the subgroup with a higher EuroSCORE II (median >1.1) (98.6% vs 88.6%, OR 8.8; 95% CI 1.1–72.7; P = 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS

The ExSt is associated with improved perioperative SVG patency at both the graft and the patient levels. Moreover, SVGs to the right territory and high-risk patients appear to have an advantage using ExSt.
How to harvest the left internal mammary artery—a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Laugesen Sofie , Krasniqi Lytfi , Benhassen Leila Louise , Mortensen Poul Erik , Pallesen Peter Appel , Bak Søren , Kjelsen Bo Juel , Riber Lars Peter
Published: May 2024

OBJECTIVES

It is uncertain whether Thunderbeat has a place in harvesting the left internal mammary artery (LIMA) and whether skeletonization is superior to pedicle-harvested LIMA. Some investigations have shown improved flowrates in the skeletonized graft. The aim of this study was to compare 3 groups of harvesting techniques: Pedicled, surgical skeletonized and skeletonized with Thunderbeat in terms of flow rates in the LIMA and postoperative in-hospital outcomes.

METHODS

Patients undergoing coronary artery bypass grafting with the LIMA to the anterior descending artery were randomized to pedicled (n = 56), surgical skeletonized (n = 55) and skeletonized with Thunderbeat (n = 54). Main outcomes were blood flow and pulsatility index in the graft.

RESULTS

No statistical difference between groups regarding flow in LIMA or pulsatility index. Similarly, no difference in postoperative bleeding or days of hospitalization. The duration of harvesting was faster for the pedicled technique compared with surgical skeletonized and skeletonized with Thunderbeat [mean total min: pedicled 20.2 min standard deviation (SD) ± 5.4; surgical skeletonized 28.6 min SD ± 8.7; skeletonized with Thunderbeat 28.3 min SD ± 9.11, P < 0.001]. No grafts discarded due to faulty harvesting and there was no graft failure within hospital stay.

CONCLUSIONS

We found no difference between the harvesting methods except for a significantly faster harvesting time with the pedicled technique. However, non-touch skeletonized LIMA harvesting with Thunderbeat seems to be an effective alternative to traditional surgical skeletonized LIMA. The future will reveal whether patency is harvesting dependent.

Clinical trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT05562908.
Geometric aspects of data-processing of Markov chains
Authors: Wolfer Geoffrey , Watanabe Shun
Published: May 2024

We examine data-processing of Markov chains through the lens of information geometry. We first establish a theory of congruent Markov morphisms within the framework of stochastic matrices. Specifically, we introduce and justify the concept of a linear right inverse (congruent embedding) for lumping, a well-known operation used in Markov chains to extract coarse information. Furthermore, we inspect information projections onto geodesically convex sets of stochastic matrices, and show that under some conditions, projecting (m-projection) onto doubly convex submanifolds can be regarded as a form of data-processing. Finally, we show that the family of lumpable stochastic matrices can be meaningfully endowed with the structure of a foliated manifold and motivate our construction in the context of embedded models and inference.
Analysis of Bovine Lactoferrin in Infant Formula and Adult Nutritional Products by Optical Biosensor Immunoassay: Collaborative Study, Final Action 2021.07
Authors: Gill Brendon D , Indyk Harvey E , Kobayashi Tadashi , Wood Jackie E , Clow Fiona , Dolezal Olan , Hartley-Tassell Lauren , Jones Martina , Kelton William , Stoller Robyn , Wilkinson-White Lorna
Published: May 2024

Background

Bovine lactoferrin is increasingly being used as an ingredient in infant formula manufacture to enhance nutritional efficacy through the provision of growth, immunoprotective, and antimicrobial factors to the neonate.

Objective

To evaluate method reproducibility of AOAC First Action Official Method 2021.07 for compliance with the performance requirements described in Standard Method Performance Requirement (SMPR®) 2020.005.

Methods

Eight laboratories participated in the analysis of blind-duplicate samples of seven nutritional products. Samples were diluted in buffer, and an optical biosensor immunoassay was used in a direct-assay format to quantitate bovine lactoferrin by its interaction with an immobilized anti-lactoferrin antibody. Quantitation was accomplished by the external standard technique with interpolation from a four-parameter calibration regression.

Results

After outliers were removed, precision as reproducibility was found to be within limits set in SMPR 2020.005 (≤ 9%) for six out of seven samples and all had acceptable Horwitz Ratio (HorRatR) values ranging from 1.0 to 2.1. Additionally, comparison with an alternative independent Stakeholder Panel on Infant Formula and Adult Nutritionals (SPIFAN) First Action method (heparin cleanup LC–UV), showed negligible difference between results.

Conclusion

The method described is suitable for the quantification of intact, undenatured bovine lactoferrin in powdered infant formulas. The SPIFAN Expert Review Panel evaluated the method and accompanying validation data from this multi-laboratory testing (MLT) study in July 2023 and recommended Official Method 2021.07 for adoption as a Final Action Official MethodSM.

Highlights

A multi-laboratory validation study of an automated optical biosensor immunoassay for the determination of intact, undenatured bovine lactoferrin is described.
Effects of eyestalk ablation and seawater temperature on d-glutamate levels in the reproductive tissues of male kuruma prawn Marsupenaeus japonicus
Authors: Yoshikawa Naoko , Yoshitomi Natsuki , Nakada Kazuki
Published: May 2024

D-Glutamate, a novel d-amino acid found in animal tissues, exclusively exists in the male reproductive tissues of the kuruma prawn, Marsupenaeus japonicus. Herein, changes in the d-glutamate content were determined in the male reproductive tissues of M. japonicus during acclimation to breeding seawater temperatures of 18–22°C and unilateral eyestalk ablation. The d-glutamate content in the testis increased with increasing seawater temperature and with unilateral eyestalk ablation. This suggests that both stimulations induced d-glutamate synthesis in the testis. Although the d-alanine content in the testis increased after unilateral eyestalk ablation, it did not change with elevated seawater temperature. Furthermore, we determined the d-glutamate distribution in the M. japonicus spermatophore. This indicates that d-glutamate is crucial in prawn fertilization.
SCOUT® Radar Localization at Time of Breast Biopsy
Authors: Dashevsky Brittany Z , Muneer Mohamed S , Hao Meng , Liang Tie , Wapnir Irene L , Poplack Steven P
Published: May 2024

Objective

Evaluate surgical utilization of SCOUT reflectors placed at breast biopsy.

Methods

Consent was waived for this retrospective IRB-approved, HIPAA-compliant study. Breast biopsy examinations that reported the term “SCOUT” between January 2021 and June 2022 were identified using an institutional search engine. Cases were included if a SCOUT reflector was placed at time of breast biopsy and excluded if lesion pathology was already known. Analysis was performed at the lesion level. A multivariate-regression analysis evaluated 6 variables with potential impact on SCOUT utilization.

Results

One hundred twenty-one lesions in 112 patients met inclusion criteria. Biopsy yielded 93% (113/121) malignant, 3% (4/121) elevated risk, 2% (2/121) benign-discordant, and 2% (2/121) benign-concordant results. Two cases lost to follow-up were excluded. SCOUT reflectors were utilized for lumpectomy (58%, 69/119 lesions) and excisional biopsy (6%, 7/119 lesions). SCOUTs were not utilized due to mastectomy (23%, 27/119), subsequent wire localization (2%, 2/119), and nonsurgical cases (12%, 14/119). Reflector placement utilization was 52% higher for findings less than 3.5 cm in size (P <.001), 33% higher in patients without prior treated breast cancer (P = .012), and 19% higher in patients with no suspicious ipsilateral lymph node (P = .048).

Conclusion

SCOUT reflector placement at time of biopsy was utilized for surgery 64% (76/119) of the time, although most (98%, 119/121) biopsies were malignant, elevated risk, or benign-discordant. Factors increasing reflector utilization include smaller lesion size, no suspicious ipsilateral lymph node, and no prior treated breast cancer.
Deep trade agreements and international migration: the role of visa provisions
Authors: Levelu Anthonin , Mayda Anna Maria , Orefice Gianluca
Published: May 2024

An increasing number of regional trade agreements contains provisions that ease access to visas among member countries, which reduces the administrative cost of crossing the border. Combining United Nations data on bilateral stocks of immigrants in the period 1990–2020 with World Bank data on the content of 279 regional trade agreements, this article presents robust evidence of a positive effect of visa provisions in regional trade agreements on bilateral migration: the presence of visa provisions in regional trade agreements increases the bilateral stock of immigrants by 5.8 per cent. This result is robust to an instrumental variable strategy addressing the endogeneity problem. The effect of the inclusion of visa provisions in regional trade agreements is particularly effective among country pairs with different income levels (such as North-South). For this type of country pairs, the presence of visa provisions in regional trade agreements increases the bilateral stock of immigrants by 12.7 per cent. Finally, the article shows that the effectiveness of visa provisions in regional trade agreements reduces with the anti-immigration sentiment of voters in the destination.
Finite Lag Estimation of Non-Markovian Processes
Authors: Gallant A Ronald , White Halbert L
Published: May 2024

We consider the quasi-maximum likelihood estimator (qmle) obtained by replacing each transition density in the correct likelihood for a non-Markovian, stationary process by a transition density with a fixed number of lags. This estimator is of interest because it is asymptotically equivalent to the efficient method of moments estimator as typically implemented in dynamic macro and finance applications. We show that the standard regularity conditions of quasi-maximum likelihood imply that a score vector defined over the infinite past exists. We verify that the existence of a score on the infinite past implies that the asymptotic variance of the finite lag qmle tends to the asymptotic variance of the maximum likelihood estimator as the number of lags tends to infinity.
Censorship, industry structure, and creativity: evidence from the Catholic Inquisition in Renaissance Venice
Authors: Comino Stefano , Galasso Alberto , Graziano Clara
Published: May 2024

We examine the effects of the book censorship implemented by the Catholic Inquisition on printing outcomes in Renaissance Venice. We collect detailed information on indexes of prohibited books and publication activities by the main printers active in Venice during the 1500s. We construct treatment and comparison groups based on the specialization of each printer in transgressive publications before the Inquisition. We show that censorship had a significant impact on publication levels and industry structure, with the firms targeted by the Inquisition losing market shares to those less affected by censorship. These effects appear long lasting and associated to changes in survival and entry. We also show that censorship led to a change in the direction of publishing. These findings support the idea that censorship may have dynamic effects on the structure, evolution, and creativity of industries that go beyond the removal of certain types of creative work from the market (JEL O33, N33, L51).
The mechanism of action of Botrychium (Thunb.) Sw. for prevention of idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis based on 1H-NMR-based metabolomics
Authors: Lou Yutao , Zou Xiaozhou , Pan Zongfu , Huang Zhongjie , Zheng Shuilian , Zheng Xiaowei , Yang Xiuli , Bao Meihua , Zhang Yuan , Gu Jinping , Zhang Yiwen
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This study aimed to reveal the anti-fibrotic effects of Botrychium ternatum (Thunb.) Sw. (BT) against idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) and to preliminarily analyze its potential mechanism on bleomycin-induced IPF rats.

Methods

The inhibition of fibrosis progression in vivo was assessed by histopathology combined with biochemical indicators. In addition, the metabolic regulatory mechanism was investigated using 1H-nuclear magnetic resonance-based metabolomics combined with multivariate statistical analysis.

Key findings

Firstly, biochemical analysis revealed that BT notably suppressed the expression of hydroxyproline and transforming growth factor-β1 in the pulmonary tissue. Secondly, Masson’s trichrome staining and hematoxylin and eosin showed that BT substantially improved the structure of the damaged lung and significantly inhibited the proliferation of collagen fibers and the deposition of extracellular matrix. Finally, serum metabolomic analysis suggested that BT may exert anti-fibrotic effects by synergistically regulating tyrosine metabolism; phenylalanine, tyrosine and tryptophan biosynthesis; and synthesis and degradation of ketone bodies.

Conclusions

Our study not only clarifies the potential anti-fibrotic mechanism of BT against IPF at the metabolic level but also provides a theoretical basis for developing BT as an effective anti-fibrotic agent.
Semi-parametric Bayesian approach for population size estimation modelling the excess of singletons
Authors: Di Cecco Davide , Tancredi Andrea , Tuoto Tiziana
Published: May 2024

The phenomenon of one-inflation has received increasing attention in the recent literature on capture–recapture analysis. When data consist of frequencies of number of captures, the phenomenon manifests as an excess of units captured exactly once. We distinguish two possible causes for modelling the excess of singletons, namely, the erroneous inclusion of out-of-scope units, and a behavioural effect preventing subsequent captures after the first one. Accordingly, we propose two families of semi-parametric one-inflated models to estimate the number of uncaptured units. We consider a Bayesian approach by fitting a Dirichlet process mixture model as the base model, and extend this class to include one-inflation. The proposed base model and its two one-inflated counterparts are used to estimate the number of criminals involved in prostitution exploitation activities in Italy. We further assess the performance of the proposed models on three datasets available in the literature, as well as on simulated data.
SHOC2 plays an oncogenic or tumor-suppressive role by differentially targeting the MAPK and mTORC1 signals in liver cancer
Authors: You Xiahong , Dou Longyu , Tan Mingjia , Xiong Xiufang , Sun Yi
Published: May 2024

SHOC2 is a scaffold protein that activates the RAS-MAPK signal. Our recent study showed that SHOC2 is also a negative regulator of the mTORC1 signal in lung cancer cells. Whether and how SHOC2 differentially regulates the RAS-MAPK vs. the mTORC1 signals in liver cancer remains unknown. Here, we showed that SHOC2 is overexpressed in human liver cancer tissues, and SHOC2 overexpression promotes the growth and survival of liver cancer cells via activation of the RAS-MAPK signal, although the mTORC1 signal is inactivated. SHOC2 knockdown suppresses the growth of liver cancer cells mainly through inactivating the RAS-MAPK signal. Thus, in the cell culture models, SHOC2 regulation of growth is dependent of the RAS-MAPK but not the mTORC1 signal. Interestingly, in a mouse liver cancer model induced by diethylnitrosamine (DEN)-high-fat diet (HFD), hepatocyte-specific Shoc2 deletion inactivates the Ras-Mapk signal but has no effect in liver tumorigenesis. However, in the Pten loss-induced liver cancer model, Shoc2 deletion further activates mTorc1 without affecting the Ras-Mapk signal and promotes liver tumorigenesis. Collectively, it appears that SHOC2 could act as either an oncogene (via activating the MAPK signal) or a tumor suppressor (via inactivating the mTORC1 signal) in the manner dependent of the dominancy of the MAPK vs. mTORC1 signals.
Congressional Expansion of Enhancing Breast Cancer Screening and Care at the Veterans Health Administration
Authors: Wu Jenny , Zullig Leah L , Aditi Hazra , Moss Haley A
Published: May 2024

Despite high screening rates, breast cancer disparities persist among women veterans because of occupational risks and barriers to access. Three essential bills recently passed in Congress seek to expand access to breast cancer screenings and cancer care within the Veterans Health Administration. The Making Advances in Mammography and Medical Options for Veterans Act expands screening via partnerships with the National Cancer Institute, integrating telescreening and upgrading imaging technology. The Dr. Kate Hendricks Thomas Supporting Expanded Review for Veterans In Combat Environments Act broadens eligibility for those exposed to toxins and personalized risk assessments. The bipartisan Sergeant First Class Health Robinson Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act extends benefits for toxin-exposed veterans with presumptive conditions, including breast cancer. Further programs such as National TeleOncology, the Breast & Gynecologic Oncology System of Excellence, and research collaborations between the Veterans Health Administration, National Cancer Institute, and Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results Program seek to improve access, enhance understanding and care for women veterans with cancer, and mark significant progress in comprehensive care.
Photochromic radical states in 3D covalent organic frameworks with zyg topology for enhanced photocatalysis
Authors: Ma Tian-Tian , Huang Guo-Zhang , Wang Xiao-Han , Liang Yan , Li Run-Han , Wang Bin , Yao Su-Juan , Liao Jia-Peng , Li Shun-Li , Yan Yong , Lan Ya-Qian
Published: May 2024

Covalent-organic frameworks (COFs) with photoinduced donor-acceptor (D-A) radical pairs show enhanced photocatalytic activity in principle. However, achieving long-lived charge separation in COFs proves challenging due to the rapid charge recombination. Here, we develop a novel strategy by combining [6 + 4] nodes to construct zyg-type 3D COFs, first reported in COF chemistry. This structure type exhibits a fused Olympic-rings-like shape, which provides a platform for stabilizing the photoinduced D-A radical pairs. The zyg-type COFs containing catalytically active moieties such as triphenylamine and phenothiazine (PTZ) show superior photocatalytic production rates of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Significantly, the photochromic radical states of these COFs show up to 400% enhancement in photocatalytic activity compared to the parent states, achieving a remarkable H2O2 synthesis rate of 3324 μmol g−1 h−1, which makes the PTZ-COF one of the best crystalline porous photocatalysts in H2O2 production. This work will shed light on the synthesis of efficient 3D COF photocatalysts built on topologies that can facilitate photogenerating D-A radical pairs for enhanced photocatalysis.
Occupational exposures and sarcoidosis: a rapid review of the evidence
Authors: Rezai M , Nayebzadeh A , Catli S , McBride D
Published: May 2024

Background

Sarcoidosis is a rare, multisystem, inflammatory condition associated with the formation of granulomas. Diagnosis can be challenging because of non-specific symptoms complicating epidemiological investigations of its aetiology. Despite research efforts, a review of the current state of the evidence is needed.

Aims

To assess the evidence for an association between occupational exposures and the development of sarcoidosis. To determine if workers in any occupation are at a greater risk of developing sarcoidosis.

Methods

This rapid review follows the methodology suggested by the World Health Organization. Two electronic databases were systematically searched until April 2022. The methodological quality of the studies was critically appraised, and a best-evidence approach was used to synthesize the results.

Results

Titles and abstracts of 2916 articles were screened, with 67 full-text articles reviewed for eligibility. Among the 13 studies eligible for this review, none were of high quality (i.e. low risk of bias). Six studies exploring the association between sarcoidosis and a range of occupations and exposures, and one previous systematic review were of low quality reporting inconsistent findings. Six studies examined the risk of sarcoidosis associated with occupational silica exposure, two of which were of acceptable quality. Overall, the study methodologies and results were inadequate to support causal relationships.

Conclusions

There is limited evidence of acceptable methodological quality to assess the risk of sarcoidosis associated with occupational exposures. There is a growing body of research examining occupational exposure to silica and sarcoidosis. Additional high-quality confirmatory research is needed.
Islamic Universities in Egypt and Indonesia as Tools of Liberal Governance: How States Use them to Canonize Reformed Versions of Islam
Authors: Nakissa Aria
Published: May 2024

This article examines how liberal states regulate religion through a comparative study of government-run Islamic universities in Egypt and Indonesia. Building on recent historical scholarship, it is argued that, contrary to conventional views, liberal states have frequently endorsed government intervention in religious life – including “authoritarian” repression of disfavored religious beliefs and practices. Liberal interventionist policies were first developed in Europe during the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries, where they were applied most intensely to Catholics. The policies were then brought to the Muslim world during the colonial era, and have been maintained by liberal post-colonial Muslim states like Egypt and Indonesia. It is argued that such Muslim states utilize heavy government intervention to promote liberal ideals of “civilizational progress” (i.e., development) and “religiously inclusive nationalism”. Intervention is carried out, in large part, through state-run systems of religious education, which include Islamic universities. Such universities canonize reformed “progressive” “nationalist” versions of Islam, while simultaneously decanonizing “fanatic” versions of Islam which oppose civilizational progress and religiously inclusive nationalism. It is shown that the canonization process involves ascribing unique importance to particular languages, places, persons, and texts associated with the Islamic tradition.
Management of a metacarpal oblique fracture in an elite cyclist
Authors: Trager Stuart L , Gulick Dawn T
Published: May 2024

Metacarpal fractures are common in contact sports but are not often seen in elite cyclists. This case report depicts a 32-year-old elite cyclist injured when forced into a race course metal barricade. The diagnosis was an oblique fracture of the third metacarpal. This report chronicles the diagnosis, clinical signs and symptoms, and application of custom splinting to maximize athletic participation during the rehabilitation process.
Isolated systematized nevus Unius Lateris: a case report
Authors: Alhalabi Rima , Oun Youlla , ALshawa Kinda
Published: May 2024

Nevus unius lateris is a rare congenital cutaneous hamartoma derived from the ectoderm and is considered as a verrucous variant of the epidermal nevus. Although it can affect any body part, it rarely involves the head and neck region. When the nevus becomes widely distributed, it usually associated with systemic involvement known as epidermal nevus syndrome. We report here a case of a 7-year-old male patient with a diagnosis of systematized nevus unius lateris, with bilateral involvement of the head and neck and without associated comorbidities, owing to its rarity.
The Du Boisian Perspective on Social Movements
Authors: Schwartz Michael
Published: May 2024

As a scholar and activist, W.E.B. Du Bois targeted systemic oppression against people on the wrong side of “the color line”. He understood that this enforced inequality had been purposefully constructed by elites and sustained through the violation of unalienable human rights, and could only be deconstructed by well-organized mass resistance that targeted the vulnerabilities of the system. In his doctoral dissertation Du Bois identified moments when the slave trade could have been suppressed or ended, but the Antislavery movement was unable to recognize and/or exploit these moments of inflection. During his debate with Booker T. Washington, he concluded successful reform depends upon coercing, rather than convincing, power holding elites to grant concessions; and such coercion requires a consciously constructed movement capable of simultaneously challenging economic, political, and social oppression. His work with the Niagara movement and his biography of John Brown, led him to the concept of “moral mastery,” the combination of insight, evidence, and moral outrage that helps protestors recognize and exploit moments of inflection.
Serbian Wedding Practices in Postwar Kosovo
Authors: Zlatanović Sanja
Published: May 2024

This chapter is based on extensive, long-term fieldwork among members of the Serbian community of southeast Kosovo after the war of 1998–1999 and the establishment of the United Nations administration in Kosovo in 1999. Research was focused on the interrelation between ethnicity and other forms of collective identification in a radically altered political and social landscape. Weddings are complex rituals, and their form, content, and significance make them particularly well suited for expressing identity (especially ethnic, religious, regional, local, and gender). They are private, family rituals but also involve many participants and activities that are performed on the public stage. Through visual content (the display of national flags) and narration (songs with national and/or nationalistic themes) as well as their inherently performative nature, weddings are prone to be politicized. Like fine-tuned seismographs, weddings register and express deep social processes and “shocks,” including changes in familial and gender relations.
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventories
Authors: McCord David M. , Veltri Carlo O. C.
Published: May 2024

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) family of assessment instruments now includes six versions in its history, which dates back formally to 1943. Current versions are the MMPI-3 (2020) for adults and the MMPI-A-RF (2016) for adolescents. These are multiscale instruments that are standardized, normed self-report questionnaires with a true–false response format. Earlier versions of the MMPI were developed to assess traditional syndromes or “disorders”; current versions have been restructured to align with emerging hierarchical–dimensional models of psychological dysfunction, such as the Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology. The MMPI instruments are widely used in both inpatient and outpatient clinical settings as well as many specialized settings, including medical and forensic applications (e.g., child custody evaluations, presurgical evaluations, and police candidate evaluations). This chapter offers a brief description of MMPI history and the previous versions of the test, with more detailed description of the two current versions.
EMDR Therapy for Depression
Authors: Dominguez Sarah K. , Lee C. W.
Published: May 2024

Depression is a pervasive global disorder. Many individuals with depression either fail to respond positively to current evidence-based interventions or relapse in the years after treatment has ceased. The last decade has seen an increase in randomized controlled trials investigating the impact of EMDR therapy on people with depression. Meta-analyses of these studies suggest that there is evidence emerging to support using EMDR therapy as a treatment for depression when compared to inactive controls, such as a waitlist, and also active controls, such as cognitive behavioral therapy. This chapter begins with a theoretical analysis of why EMDR can assist individuals suffering from depression. An outline of the evidence regarding EMDR therapy and depression is then provided, followed by a description of the key clinical factors to assess in depression and how to use EMDR to target key etiological experiences. Finally a case study is given to demonstrate how this intervention may be delivered when working with this population. Future studies to improve the current evidence base are recommended.
Neuroendocrine Mechanisms for Human Emotional Attachments
Authors: Habecker Heather , Flinn Mark V.
Published: May 2024

Family relationships are a key component of human sociality. Here we integrate information from genetics and neuroendocrinology with cross-cultural analyses of family behavior and evolutionary logic. Hormonal and neural mechanisms provide clues to the evolution of the emotional and cognitive systems that influence human family psychology. Evolved changes in affiliative neuropeptide (oxytocin, arginine vasopressin) and associated neurobiological mechanisms primarily in the medial frontal lobe, the ventral forebrain, the ventral basal ganglia, and the hypothalamus enable attachment and bonding emotions that underpin the extended kin relationships characteristic of humans. These adaptive changes in family and kinship psychology are critical for the development of other major aspects of human sociality, including inter-group cooperation and cumulative culture. The extended family facilitates tolerance and connections among groups. Bilateral, multigenerational, and affinal kinship links are critical. The emotional systems that underpin this unique human pattern of kinship networks are key to understanding how human intelligence, culture, and sociality coevolved.
Caring and the Evolution of Guilt
Authors: Gilbert Paul
Published: May 2024

Mammals are confronted with a number of life tasks to support their survival and reproduction. A core reproductive task is care of offspring. This requires competencies for detecting offspring needs, distress protecting from harm. Later evolved motives to care and support allies and in-group members. Guilt evolved with caring motives and alerts to the possibility of causing harm or not preventing it (for example by not meeting needs). It triggers urgent action if harm could or has occurred. Guilt can therefore arise when one has caused unintended harm or allowed harm to occur that one could have prevented. It is very different to shame. The chapter also discusses how some forms of antisocial behavior are associated with diminished care and compassion motives and an absence of guilt. Here the therapeutic task is to facilitate care and compassion motives and hence capacities to experience the remorse and sadness of guilt.
The Origins of Boredom
Authors: Lin Yijun , Westgate Erin C.
Published: May 2024

This chapter argues that boredom provides an evolutionary solution to minimizing prediction error by incentivizing learning. While reducing prediction error is crucial for cognitive processes, the potential solution of isolating oneself in extremely predictable environments raises the “Dark Room Problem.” Boredom evolved to prevent this problem, making it affectively undesirable by signaling a lack of successful attentional engagement in a valued goal-congruent activity. This aversive state motivates individuals to re-engage in meaningful activities and reallocate attentional resources. The chapter reviews behavioral science and computational modeling evidence supporting boredom’s role in maximizing learning and reducing prediction error. Additionally, the authors propose that boredom's functions extend beyond modern humans to various species, presenting evidence of boredom-like states in nonhuman animals (e.g., stereotyped behavior). This chapter emphasizes the adaptive value of boredom, addressing its origins and prevalence across human and nonhuman contexts, and discusses the relationship between boredom and technology in modern society.
The Evolutionary Functions of Sadness
Authors: P. Forgas Joseph
Published: May 2024

What is the point of sadness? The adaptive benefits of other negative emotions such as anger, disgust, and fear have long been recognized, yet the evolutionary functions of sadness remain poorly understood, even though many practicing psychologists deal with sadness and depression. This chapter offers an evolutionary explanation for the adaptive benefits of sadness, as an important signal that influences our thinking and judgments. Extensive experimental research now suggests that induced sadness can promote improved functioning on various cognitive and social tasks, including memory performance, judgments, inferences, the detection of deception, social perception, interpersonal communication, and strategic communication and interactions. These results support theoretical models that predict that negative affect promotes a more accommodative, vigilant, and externally focused thinking strategy. The relevance of these findings for affect-cognition theories will be discussed, and the practical implications of this research for improving social thinking and performance in applied fields will be considered.
The Motivational Architecture of Emotions
Authors: Del Giudice Marco
Published: May 2024

Evolutionary research on emotion is increasingly converging on the idea that emotions can be understood as superordinate coordination mechanisms. Despite its plausibility and heuristic power, the coordination approach fails to explicitly address the relations between emotions and motivation. This chapter aims to fill this conceptual gap. The author argues that the current view of emotions as coordination mechanisms should be extended—and partially revised—to include motivational systems as an additional control layer, responsible for the activation and deactivation of specific emotions in the pursuit of domain-specific goals. The extended coordination approach proposed in this chapter facilitates the analysis of folk emotion categories; helps clarify the distinction between emotions and moods; suggests new ways to think about emotion regulation; and provides a more natural interface to model the link between emotions and personality.