bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Evaluating the Predictive Potential of Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte and Platelet-to-Lymphocyte Ratios in the Second-Trimester Preterm Premature Rupture of Membranes (PPROM): A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Özer Pınar Tuğçe , Özer Mehmet , Oğlak Süleyman Cemil , Budak Adnan , İnan Abdurrahman Hamdi , Tosun Gökhan , Töz Emrah , Yılmaz Emine Zeynep , Gülseren Varol , Bolluk Gökhan , Özeren Mehmet
Published: February 2024

Background: Proteolytic enzymes and specific cytokines have been associated with the underlying mechanism of preterm premature rupture of membranes (PPROM), contributing to weakened amniotic membranes. This study aims to elucidate the predictive role of neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and platelet-to-lymphocyte ratio (PLR) during the early stages of PPROM, given the limited existing literature exploring this relationship in second-trimester cases. Methods: This retrospective case-control study was performed from June 2018 to June 2023. We included 159 pregnant women diagnosed with mid-trimester PPROM and 573 pregnant women who gave birth at term. We obtained complete blood cell counts in all patients. We used a receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve to evaluate the cut-off, sensitivity, and specificity values. Results: Complete blood count evaluations revealed that in the mid-trimester PPROM group, neutrophil count, leukocyte count, hemoglobin (Hb) levels, NLR, and PLR were notably higher than those delivering after the 37th gestational week. These observations were identified not only in the first-trimester but also within 24 hours after membrane rupture. Contrary to prior research and to conventional patterns, our study identified a diminished mid-trimester NLR in cases of PPROM compared to the control group. Conclusions: In our study, we identified significant differences in lymphocyte counts, platelet levels, NLR, and PLR values between the PPROM group and the control group. Our study suggests that the NLR and PLR values from the first-trimester might be powerful indicators of PPROM risk.
Evaluation of the Expansion and Neuronal Differentiation Potency of Cultured Olfactory Epithelium Progenitor Cells from a Rat Model of Depression
Authors: Chen Liang , Xie Yangzhi , Chen Jiacheng , Luo Yan
Published: February 2024

Background: Olfactory impairment has been reported in patients with depression and in rodent models of depression. Olfactory epithelium (OE) is the only peripheral neural tissue connected to the brain that has the potential for self-renewal. We hypothesized the olfactory deficit during depression may be related to the dysfunction of OE progenitor cells. The aim of the present study was therefore to evaluate the expansion and neuronal differentiation potency of cultured OE progenitor cells obtained from a rat model of depression. Methods: Rats were exposed to chronic unpredictable mild stress procedures to establish a depressive-like state. Depressive-like behavior and olfactory sensing function were then evaluated and compared with control rats. Primary OE progenitor cells were cultured in vitro. The proliferation potency and survival of OE progenitor cells were assessed by 5-Ethynyl-2′-deoxyuridine staining and Cell Counting Kit-8 (CCK8), respectively, while cellular apoptosis was measured by flow cytometry. The neuronal differentiation potency of OE progenitor cells was evaluated by measurement of the protein and mRNA level of β-3 tubulin, a marker of neural cells. mRNA expression associated with neural stemness was examined by quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). Results: Depressive-like rats showed decreased olfactory function. OE progenitor cells from depressive-like rats showed reduced cell proliferation/survival and neuronal differentiation potency. Moreover, OE progenitor cells from depressive-like rats showed decreased expression of mRNA related to neural stemness. Conclusions: These results indicate the impaired function of OE progenitor cells may contribute to the olfactory deficit observed during depression. The OE may therefore provide a window for the study of depression.
Valvulopathies and Genetics: Where are We?
Authors: Coll Mònica , Fernández-Falgueras Anna , Iglesias Anna , Brugada Ramon
Published: February 2024

Valvulopathies are among the most common cardiovascular diseases, significantly increasing morbidity and mortality. While many valvular heart diseases are acquired later in life, an important genetic component has been described, particularly in mitral valve prolapse and bicuspid aortic valve. These conditions can arise secondary to genetic syndromes such as Marfan disease (associated with mitral valve prolapse) or Turner syndrome (linked to the bicuspid aortic valve) or may manifest in a non-syndromic form. When cardiac valve disease is the primary cause, it can appear in a familial clustering or sporadically, with a clear genetic component. The identification of new genes, regulatory elements, post-transcriptional modifications, and molecular pathways is crucial to identify at-risk familial carriers and for developing novel therapeutic strategies. In the present review we will discuss the numerous genetic contributors of heart valve diseases.
Gut Microbiome and Atherosclerosis: A Mendelian Randomization Study
Authors: Li Yue , Chen Yunxian , Li Zhe , Li Yanrong , Chen Yicai , Tang Liangqiu
Published: February 2024

Background: According to recent studies, atherosclerosis and gut microbiota are related. Nevertheless, it has been discovered that the gut microbiota varies across studies, with its function still being debated, and such relationships not proven to be causal. Thus, our study aimed to identify the key gut microbiota taxa (GM taxa) at different taxonomic levels, namely, the phylum, class, order, family, and genus, to investigate any potential causal links to atherosclerosis. Methods: We employed summary data from the MiBioGen consortium on the gut microbiota to conduct a sophisticated two-sample Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis. Pertinent information regarding atherosclerosis statistics was acquired from the FinnGen Consortium R8 publication. To assess causality, the utilized principal analytical technique was the inverse variance-weighted (IVW) method. Supplementary to IVW, additional MR methodologies were employed, including weighted median, MR-Egger, weighted methods, and simple mode. Sensitivity analyses involved the application of Cochrane’s Q-test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO global test, and leave-one-out analysis. Results: Finally, after performing an MR study on the risk of 211 GM taxa on atherosclerosis, we discovered 20 nominal links and one strong causal link. Firmicutes (phylum ID: 1672) (odds ratio (OR) = 0.852 (0.763, 0.950), p = 0.004) continued to be connected with a lower incidence of coronary atherosclerosis, even after Bonferroni correction. Conclusions: Based on the discovered data, it was established that the phylum Firmicutes exhibits a causal relationship with a reduced occurrence of coronary atherosclerosis. This investigation could potentially provide novel insights into therapeutic objectives for atherosclerosis by focusing on the gut microbiota.
The Decrease in Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate as a Risk Factor of Ventricular Tachyarrhythmias after Acute Myocardial Infarction during Hospitalization: A Retrospective Propensity Score Matching Cohort Study
Authors: Li Ming , Zheng Chongzhou , Chen Chunmei , Zheng Xifeng , He Zhongkai
Published: February 2024

Background: To identify the decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) as an independent risk factor associated with ventricular tachyarrhythmias (VTA). Methods: This retrospective file review collected information from patients diagnosed with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), with and without VTA, from January 2017 to December 2019. We first applied the chi-square test to assess 12 risk factors and one outcome variable (incident rate of VTA). Next, all the 12 risk factors were further adjusted using the propensity score matching (PSM) method to simulate the dataset as a randomized controlled cohort, which can reduce the defects derived from confounding factors and the imbalance in baseline characteristics. To investigate the relationship between eGFR and VTA, univariate logistic regression analysis was applied to the cohort before and after PSM analysis. Results: A total of 503 patients diagnosed as AMI were included in the study. There were eight of twelve risk factors in baseline characteristics with a p-value < 0.05, as determined by the chi-square test before PSM matching. The result of PSM analysis indicated that 86 of 91 patients with decreased eGFR were matched, and all the risk factors were not significantly different (p-value > 0.05). The incident rates of VTA in the two groups were still significantly different (p-value < 0.001) according to the Pearson chi-square test in the cohort after PSM analysis. The results of univariate (eGFR) logistic regression indicated that the odds ratio of the cohort was 6.442 (95% confidence interval = 3.770–11.05) and 3.654 (95% confidence interval = 1.764–7.993) before and after PSM analysis respectively. Conclusions: The decrease in eGFR (<60 mL/min/1.73 m2) has been demonstrated as an independent risk factor for VTA after AMI.
A Comprehensive Assessment of the Chinese Version of the Duke Activity Status Index in Patients with Cardiovascular Diseases
Authors: Liao Yingxue , Zhou Haofeng , Liu Meifeng , Zhang Guolin , Wang Ting , Xu Mingyu , Deng Jiawei , Guo Lan , Ma Huan , Geng Qingshan
Published: February 2024

Background: Exercise capacity serves as a direct representation of cardiac function. The Duke Activity Status Index (DASI), a self-administered 12-item questionnaire, covers aspects of daily living, household tasks, sexual function, and physical activity. Although widely used to evaluate exercise capacity, its validation in Chinese cardiovascular disease (CVD) patients has not been thoroughly explored. Considering the significant cultural and lifestyle differences between China and Western countries, which may influence Chinese patients’ comprehension and responses to DASI, our objective is to culturally adapt DASI for Chinese patients with CVD to ensure its precision in assessing exercise capacity. Methods: The cultural adaptation of the original DASI questionnaire into Chinese followed a rigorous process to ensure its validity, reliability, and sensitivity to Chinese CVD patients. The study included 107 outpatients diagnosed with CVD who completed the DASI and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET). Cronbach’s alpha, Spearman correlation, and factor analysis were utilized to test reliability and validity. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was employed to assess the prognostic utility of the DASI. Results: Participants had a mean DASI score of 39.40 ± 10.75 and a peak oxygen uptake (Peak VO2) of 19.53 ± 5.89 mL/min/kg. The Chinese version of the DASI exhibited satisfactory reliability and validity in CVD patients, with a Chronbach’s alpha coefficient of 0.706. The DASI score demonstrated a moderate correlation with Peak VO2 measured by CPET (r = 0.67, p < 0.001). Factor analysis yielded three factors, accounting for 56.76% of the total variance, with factor 1 contributing to 26.38% of the variance. ROC curve analysis demonstrated that the DASI exhibited discriminative utility in the identification of patients with improved long-term prognosis (p < 0.001). The ROC curve had an area of 0.788 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 0.704–0.871]. The DASI score ≥36.85 served as the optimal threshold for enhanced long-term prognosis, exhibiting a sensitivity of 0.80 and a specificity of 0.69. Conclusions: The culturally adapted DASI questionnaire is a straightforward and efficient tool for reasonably evaluating exercise capacity in Chinese CVD patients.
Elevated Glucose on Admission Was an Independent Risk Factor for 30-Day Major Adverse Cardiovascular Events in Patients with STEMI but Not NSTEMI
Authors: Ma Linlin , Li Yanan , Pei Junyu , Wang Xiaopu , Zheng Keyang , Zhao Zixu , Yan Jiafu , Liu Rufei , Zhao Tianzhu , Wei Yuxuan , Cheng Wenli
Published: February 2024

Background: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of glucose levels on admission, on the risk of 30-day major adverse cardiovascular events (MACEs) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), and to assess the difference in outcome between ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) and non-ST-segment elevation myocardial infarction (NSTEMI) patients. Methods: This study was a post hoc analysis of the Acute Coronary Syndrome Quality Improvement in Kerala Study, and 13,398 participants were included in the final analysis. Logistic regression models were used to assess the association between glucose levels on admission and the risk of 30-day MACEs, adjusting for potential confounders. Results: Participants were divided according to the glucose quintiles. There was a positive linear association between glucose levels at admission and the risk of 30-day MACEs in AMI patients [adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.05 (1.03, 1.07), p < 0.001]. Compared to participants with an admission glucose between 5.4 and 6.3 mmol/L, participants with the highest quintile of glucose level (≥10.7 mmol/L) were associated with increased risk of 30-day MACEs in the fully adjusted logistic regression model [adjusted OR (95% CI): 1.82 (1.33, 2.50), p < 0.001]. This trend was more significant in patients with STEMI (p for interaction = 0.036). Conclusions: In patients with AMI, elevated glucose on admission was associated with an increased risk of 30-day MACEs, but only in patients with STEMI.
An Updated Meta-Analysis of Treatment in Patients with Heart Failure Complicated Ventricular Functional Mitral Regurgitation
Authors: Sasmita Bryan Richard , Luo Suxin , Huang Bi
Published: February 2024

Backgrounds: Ventricular functional mitral regurgitation (FMR) is a common morbidity in patients with heart failure (HF). In addition to guideline-directed medical therapy, mitral valve (MV) repair or replacement has become an option for such patients. However, the impact of different treatments on cardiac remodeling, function, and clinical outcomes remains unclear. Methods: We systematically searched PubMed, EMBASE, Medline, Clinical Trials.gov, and the Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials with search terms related to mitral regurgitation, mitral valve repair, surgical mitral valve replacement, mitral annuloplasty device, and MitraClip. The outcomes were left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF), left ventricular (LV) remodeling, all-cause mortality, cardiovascular death, and HF hospitalization. Sensitivity analysis was performed by removing high-bias risk studies. The analysis was done by Review Manager 5.4 Analyzer and MedCalc Statistical Software version 19.2.6. Results: This meta-analysis included 10 studies with a total of 2533 patients (567 with transcatheter MitraClip, 823 with surgical MV repair, 651 with surgical MV replacement, and 492 with medical therapy). Our meta-analysis revealed that surgical MV repair had significant improvement in LVEF compared to the surgical MV replacement (mean differences (MD) 2.32, [95% CI 0.39, 4.25]), while transcatheter MitraClip treatment was associated with LVEF reduction (MD –4.82, [95% CI –7.29, –2.34]). In terms of LV remodeling, transcatheter MitraClip treatment was associated with improvement in left ventricular end-diastolic volume (MD –10.36, [95% CI –18.74, –1.99]). Furthermore, compared to surgical MV replacement, surgical MV repair was not associated with a reduction of all-cause mortality (risk ratio (RR) 0.83, [95% CI 0.61, 1.13]) and cardiovascular death (RR 0.95, [95% CI 0.56, 1.62]), while transcatheter MitraClip was associated with reduced risk of all-cause mortality (RR 0.87, [95% CI 0.78, 0.98]). Conclusions: Surgical MV repair was associated with significant improvement in LVEF but had no significant effect on all-cause mortality compared to surgical MV replacement. Transcatheter MitraClip was associated with better long-term survival than the non-MitraClip group, thus, transcatheter MitraClip could be considered an alternative treatment in patients with HF-complicated ventricular FMR.
The Role of Fluid Mechanics in Coronary Atherosclerotic Plaques: An Up-to-Date Review
Authors: Yang Yaoming , Song Yang , Mu Xiaolin
Published: February 2024

Most acute coronary syndromes are due to a sudden luminal embolism caused by the rupturing or erosion of atherosclerotic plaques. Prevention and treatment of plaque development have become an effective strategy to reduce mortality and morbidity from coronary heart disease. It is now generally accepted that plaques with thin-cap fibroatheroma (TCFA) are precursors to rupturing and that larger plaques and high-risk plaque features (including low-attenuation plaque, positive remodeling, napkin-ring sign, and spotty calcification) constitute unstable plaque morphologies. However, plaque vulnerability or rupturing is a complex evolutionary process caused by a combination of multiple factors. Using a combination of medicine, engineering mechanics, and computer software, researchers have turned their attention to computational fluid mechanics. The importance of fluid mechanics in pathological states for promoting plaque progression, inducing plaque tendency to vulnerability, or even rupture, as well as the high value of functional evaluation of myocardial ischemia has become a new area of research. This article reviews recent research advances in coronary plaque fluid mechanics, aiming to describe the concept, research implications, current status of clinical studies, and limitations of fluid mechanic’s characteristic parameters: wall shear stress (WSS), axial plaque shear (APS), and fractional flow reserve (FFR). Previously, most computational fluid dynamics were obtained using invasive methods, such as intravascular ultrasound (IVUS) or optical coherence tomography (OCT). In recent years, the image quality and spatial resolution of coronary computed tomography angiography (CCTA) have greatly improved, making it possible to compute fluid dynamics by noninvasive methods. In the future, the combination of CCTA-based anatomical stenosis, plaque high-risk features, and fluid mechanics can further improve the prediction of plaque development, vulnerability, and risk of rupturing, as well as enabling noninvasive means to assess the degree of myocardial ischemia, thereby providing an important aid to guide clinical decision-making and optimize treatment.
The Complex Mechanisms and the Potential Effects of Statins on Vascular Calcification: A Narrative Review
Authors: Kadoglou Nikolaos PE , Stasinopoulou Marianna , Velidakis Nikolaos , Khattab Elina , Christodoulou Eirini , Gkougkoudi Evangelia , Valsami Georgia
Published: February 2024

Vascular calcification (VC) is a complex process of calcium deposition on the arterial wall and atherosclerotic plaques and involves interaction between vascular smooth muscle cells, inflammatory and VC mediators. The latter are independent predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and potential targets of pharmaceutical therapy. This paper is a narrative review of the complex mechanisms of VC development and in this context the potential anti-atherosclerotic effects of statins. At the initial stages of atherosclerosis VC correlates with atherosclerosis burden and in the long-term with cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. A plethora of animal and clinical studies have proposed statins as the cornerstone of primary and secondary prevention of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Based on coronary computed tomography data, high doses of statins may have negligible or even positive effects on the progression of coronary artery calcification. Growing data support an increase in atherosclerotic plaque calcification in peripheral arteries (e.g., carotids), after long-term, statin-therapy. Despite the paradox of increasing VC, those effects of statins have been associated with higher plaque stability, reducing the risk of consequent adverse events. Statins seem to promote a “favorable” atherosclerotic calcification, suppressing atherosclerotic lesion expansion and their vulnerability. More studies are required to clarify the underlying mechanisms.
All-Cause Death and Major Adverse Events in Atrial Fibrillation with Frailty: Observations from the Korea National Health Insurance Service Data
Authors: Park Jong Sung , Yang Pil-Sung , Kim Daehoon , Sung Jung-Hoon , Jang Eunsun , Yu Hee Tae , Kim Tae-Hoon , Pak Hui-Nam , Lee Moon-Hyoung , Joung Boyoung
Published: February 2024

Background: Atrial fibrillation (AF) is an indicator of frailty in old patients. This study aimed to investigate the effect of frailty on the use of oral anticoagulants (OAC) and clinical outcomes in a nationwide cohort of patients with new-onset AF. Methods: This study included 451,368 participants without AF from the Korea National Health Insurance Service-Health Screening cohort between 2002 and 2009. The Hospital Frailty Risk Score was retrospectively calculated for each patient using all available International Classification of Disease 10th revision diagnostic codes. According to the aggregate score, patients were divided into two groups: the participants without frailty (<5 points) and the participants with frailty (≥5 points). The primary outcome was death from any cause, and the secondary outcomes were cardiovascular death, ischemic stroke, major bleeding, and heart failure admission. Results: With up to 7.2 ± 1.5 years of follow-up, 11,953 participants (median age, 67 [interquartile range, 59.5–74.5] years; 7200 [60.2%] males) developed new-onset AF. Among the patients with AF, 3224 (26.9%) had frailty. Frailty was significantly associated with old age, female sex, polypharmacy, and other comorbidities. In patients with AF, frailty was negatively associated with OAC prescription after new-onset AF (p < 0.001). Compared to patients without frailty, patients with frailty had a significantly higher incidence and risk of all-cause death (hazard ratio [HR] 2.88, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.65–3.14), cardiovascular death (HR 2.42, 95% CI 2.10–2.80), ischemic stroke (HR 2.25, 95% CI 2.02–2.51), major bleeding (HR 2.44, 95% CI 2.17–2.73), and heart failure admission (HR 1.29, 95% CI 1.09–1.52). In subgroup analysis, when compared to the non-OAC group, the risks associated with frailty were significantly lower in the OAC group for all-cause death, cardiovascular death, ischemic stroke, and heart failure admission. Conclusions: Frailty was negatively associated with the use of OAC and was a predictor of poor prognosis owing to the association of frailty with death, thromboembolic events, bleeding, and heart failure admission. However, OAC use was associated with lower risks related to frailty for all-cause death and major adverse cardiovascular events in patients with AF.
Knowledge, attitude, and practice of consumers towards “Front of Package Label” (FOPL) on food packages regarding nutrition in India
Authors: Prajapati Arpit Chelabhai , Patel Dr Himadri , Patel Dr Mansi , Chaudhary Dr. Sahilkumari , Soni Rajvee , Soni Saloni , Wadhwani Vidhi
Published: February 2024

Food labels give information about the elements of the food and can help people make healthy diet choices. Food labels are potential tools for improving the dietary patterns of populations and could change dietary behavior. The aims of this study were to assess the knowledge and attitude of consumers related to FOPL, evaluate the practices of consumers regarding FOPL, and identify consumers' purchasing preferences for packaged food. A cross-sectional study was conducted at selected supermarkets in Gandhinagar city using a convenient sampling method. A total of 500 participants were selected from 4 supermarkets (125 participants were selected from each supermarket). Exit interviews were done through pretested, semi-structured questionnaires. Out of 500 participants, 79% read food labels, but only 15% knew about FOPL. 88.2% of people noticed manufacturing and expiration dates on packaged food. Only 50% of the participants thought that FOPL contained nutritional information. 49.4% knew that FOPL was present on the front side of package food. 90% of people consume Namkeen food as packaged food. 59.4% thought that FOPL helped them choose healthier food, and 73% thought it should be mandatory on all food packages. Education level is significantly related to knowledge and information on the FOPL (P = 0.0001). Education programmes about nutrition labeling and how to read nutrition labels properly must be done to increase consumers' awareness, knowledge, and understanding of the importance of nutrition labeling information. It can be an effective means of helping consumers make healthier food choices and prevent NCDs.
Needs to be met to enhance life for people with SCI
Authors: Wangdell Johanna , Axwalter Emelie , Åhrén Gunilla , Nilsson Åsa Lundgren , Sunnerhagen Katharina Stibrant , Melin Jeanette
Published: February 2024

Purpose: This paper reports prerequisites for an enhanced life for people living with SCI in Sweden.Materials and methods: This cross-sectional study combined workshops (n=42) and survey data (n=243) from people living with SCI and their relatives, together with health professionals and personal care assistants working with people living with SCI. The data were first categorised into the Bronfenbrenner’s bioecological model, followed by a conventional content analysis.Results and conclusions: Prerequisites for an enhanced life for people living with SCI, are, on the one hand very similar to people in general, including relationships, spare time activities and occupation, in the microsystem. On the other hand, there are unique components in the exosystem and macrosystem which concern people living with SCI. The exosystem – and especially the health care area –played a major part due to medical reasons. However, these also appeared obtruding and were minimizing the microsystem. The essential nature of the macrosystem was evident since it set “the rules” which govern the actors in the other layers by creating prerequisites for meeting needs emanating from microsystem and the exosystem. The prerequisites for an enhanced life are multifaceted and individual, the systems must therefore be flexible throughout the entire life span.
Sectorial Exclusion Criteria in the Marxist Analysis of the Average Rate of Profit: The United States Case (1960-2020)
Authors: Gómez José M.
Published: February 2024

The long-term estimation of the Marxist average rate of profit does not adhere to a theoretically grounded standard regarding which economic activities should or should not be included for such purposes, which is relevant because methodological non-uniformity can be a significant source of overestimation or underestimation, generating a less accurate reflection of the capital accumulation dynamics. This research aims to provide a standard Marxist decision criterion regarding the inclusion and exclusion of economic activities for the calculation of the Marxist average profit rate for the case of United States economic sectors from 1960 to 2020, based on the Marxist definition of productive labor, its location in the circuit of capital, and its relationship with the production of surplus value. Using wavelet-transformed Daubechies filters with increased symmetry, empirical mode decomposition, Hodrick-Prescott filter embedded in unobserved components model, and a wide variety of unit root tests the internal theoretical consistency of the presented criteria is evaluated. Also, the objective consistency of the theory is evaluated by a dynamic factor auto-regressive model, Principal Component Analysis, Singular Value Decomposition and Backward Elimination with Linear and Generalized Linear Models. The results are consistent both theoretically and econometrically with the logic of Marx’s political economy.
A multi-dimensional analysis of backchannels in L1 German, L1 Italian and L2 German
Authors: Sbranna Simona , Wehrle Simon , Grice Martine
Published: February 2024

Previous research has found that vocal feedback, referred to as backchannels, has positive effects on social interaction, especially by indicating listener engagement. For second language (L2) learners, however, backchannels can be challenging, because their use is bound by cultural and language-specific conventions. This study focuses on backchannels as used in dyadic task-oriented dialogue of native speakers of German and native speakers of Italian, both in their native (L1) Italian and in their L2 German, at two proficiency levels. We provide an in-depth multidimensional analysis of backchannel rate, duration, intonation, lexical form, and turn-taking function. We found that dyad-specific behaviour generally outweighs effects of proficiency. Despite considerable variability across dyads, learners tended to reproduce behaviour from their L1 in their L2 in the form of a complex mapping between intonation, lexical form and turn-taking function.
Blatantly false news increases belief in news that is merely implausible
Authors: Levari David E , Martel Cameron , Orchinik Reed , Bhui Rahul , Seli Paul , Pennycook Gordon , Rand David Gertler
Published: February 2024

What are the consequences of encountering blatant falsehoods and “fake news”? Here we show that exposure to a high prevalence of very implausible claims can increase belief in other, more ambiguous false claims, as they seem more believable in comparison. Participants in five preregistered experiments (N=5,476) were exposed to lower or higher rates of news headlines that seemed blatantly false, as well as some more plausible true and false headlines. Being exposed to a higher prevalence of extremely implausible headlines increased belief in unrelated headlines which were more ambiguous (or even plausible), regardless of whether they were true or false. The effect persisted for headlines describing hypothetical events, as well as actual true and false news headlines. It occurred whether people actively evaluated the headlines or read them passively, among liberals and conservatives, and among those high or low in cognitive reflection. We observed this effect in environments where the plausibility of a claim was a reliable and useful cue to whether it was true or false, and in environments where plausibility and truth were unrelated. We argue that a high prevalence of blatantly implausible claims lowers the threshold of plausibility for other claims to seem believable. Such relative comparisons are a hallmark of the brain’s tendency towards efficient computations in perception and judgment. Even when consumers can reliably identify and disregard blatantly false news content, encountering such content may make subtler falsehoods more likely to be believed.
State of the Science: The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP)
Authors: Cicero David C , Ruggero Camilo , Balling Caroline , Bottera Angeline R. , Cheli Simone , Elkrief Laurent , Forbush Kelsie T. , Hopwood Christopher James , Jonas Katherine , Jutras-Aswad Didier , Kotov Roman , Levin-Aspenson Holly Frances , Mullins-Sweatt Stephanie , Johnson-Munguia Sara , Narrow William , Negi Sonakshi , Patrick Christopher , Rodriguez-Seijas Craig Anthony , Sheth Shreya , Simms Leonard , Thomeczek Marianna L.
Published: February 2024

The Hierarchical Taxonomy of Psychopathology (HiTOP) is a dimensional framework for psychopathology advanced by a consortium of nosologists. In the HiTOP system, psychopathology is grouped hierarchically from super-spectra, spectra, and subfactors at the upper levels to homogeneous symptom components and maladaptive traits and their constituent symptoms, and maladaptive behaviors at the lower levels. HiTOP has the potential to improve clinical outcomes by planning treatment based on symptom severity rather than heterogeneous diagnoses, targeting treatment across different levels of the hierarchy, and assessing distress and impairment separately from the observed symptom profile. Assessments can be performed according to this framework with the recently developed HiTOP-Self-Report (HiTOP-SR). Examples of how to use HiTOP in clinical practice are provided for the internalizing spectrum, including the use of the Unified Protocol and other modularized treatments, measurement-based care, psychopharmacology, and in traditionally underserved populations. Future directions are discussed including HiTOP’s use in further developing transdiagnostic treatments, extending the model to include other information such as environmental factors, establishing the treatment utility of clinical assessment for the HiTOP-SR, developing new treatments, and disseminating the model.
Bias in Psychology: A Critical, Historical and Empirical Review
Authors: Jussim Lee , Honeycutt Nathan
Published: February 2024

This paper reviews research on bias. We start by reviewing the New Look of the 1940s and heuristics and biases in judgment and decision making. We show how the waves of enthusiasm for some then-new forms of bias proved overwrought. We then present a “Goodness of Judgement Index” and show how it can extract information about unbiased responding from studies reporting only data on bias. The final section reviews some of the phenomena central to the newest wave of bias research – on various aspects of “social justice.” Core findings and limitations to stereotype threat, microaggressions, and implicit bias are discussed. We end by reviewing 1. research finding little or no biases against women in studies of workplace discrimination and peer review; and 2. “the discrimination paradox” – the seemingly conflicting results of high quality studies seeming to provide evidence of both substantial and minimal racial discrimination. We resolve the paradox by showing that the findings are compatible. Across nearly 100 years of research on a wide variety of biases, some were false; others, though true, when held up to critical scrutiny, were either not as powerful as originally claimed, or, sometimes, proved to serve people well in the real world. In two cases, however, biases claimed to be substantial or important actually were.
“Who has shown me this object?” - Investigating children’s memory for the sources of their knowledge in an intergroup context
Authors: Andrási Krisztina , Oláh Katalin , Király Ildikó
Published: February 2024

It has been studied extensively whether children’s learning of novel cultural information is influenced by the group membership of the sources demonstrating this information to them. The findings converge to show that whether another person belongs to the children’s cultural community - signified, for example, by the language they speak - has an impact on what they acquire from others. However, no previous study has investigated how accurately children retain the sources themselves. In an online study, our aim was to explore this question with preschool aged children (age = 48–60 months, n =  63; 32 boys). Children were acquainted with four characters, two of whom belong to their cultural community, while two others belonged to a different community. Then the participants were shown these people demonstrating novel object sets to them on short videos, and consequently, both their memory for the sources and the content of these demonstrations were probed. The findings of the study could not fully answer the main question, although we did find a trend towards better source memory for the out-group members in a subgroup of the sample (43% versus 33% of the sources accurately identified, in the out-group and the in-group conditions, respectively). All in all, we consider the findings to be promising, and would suggest a replication in a live setting.
The role of sport psychology in injury prevention and rehabilitation
Authors: Weiß Moritz , Büttner Matthias , Richlan Fabio
Published: February 2024

Sports injuries have historically been addressed and treated from a purely physical perspective. Nevertheless, like in many other aspects of sports, it has become evident during the last decades that psychological considerations and consequent interventions are both vital and inevitable in the work with athletes. Especially in the domains of sports injury prevention and rehabilitation, psychological measures can yield significant benefits for athletes. Stress management techniques, cognitive restructuring, mindfulness, motor imagery, or seeking social support, have been demonstrated as being highly effective. These techniques, many of them originally intended by sport psychologists to optimize performance, now aid athletes in performing at their best while also preventing injury and facilitating a safe return to competition after injury. During injury rehabilitation, sport psychological measures play an important role as well. The purpose of this review is firstly to provide an overview of the psychological factors that significantly support both injury prevention and rehabilitation. We subsequently elaborate on the identification and optimization of these factors by presenting evidence-based psychological interventions and training programs. In addition, we provide science-informed fundamentals that may serve as a basis for the adaptation and/or development of novel psychological measures to support athletes during injury prevention and rehabilitation.
NCTzen Fandom Bandung Fanaticism on K-Pop Idol NCT
Authors: Nuha Mohammad Nadwa Ulin , Wahyudin Uud , Gemiharto Ilham
Published: February 2024

The development of technology, the emergence of various K-Pop groups that began to bewitch the Indonesian people. One of them, a boy group made by SM Entertainment, namely NCT. The NCTzen phenomenon increasingly shows that the movement of the Korean entertainment industry is mushrooming in Indonesian society. This study aims to find out the motives, experiences, and meanings of fanaticism for NCTzen Bandung in liking NCT. Fanaticism comes from the meaning of being a fan, where "ism" which is an understanding or view is combined into a fanatical view. The research method used is a qualitative method with a phenomenological approach. The resource person in this study looked at the research subject who is NCTzen Bandung and has good experience in supporting NCT. The results showed that the motive for favoring NCT was during the pandemic and needed entertainment content during activities at home. The various behaviors that NCTzen has in support of NCT are streaming, buying physical albums, voting, buying official merchandise, and watching NCT concerts. The meaning of being part of NCTzen is to be able to provide happiness and become a support system as long as NCTzen lives its daily life.
Socio-Economic Status and Fertility Behavior among Tamang Women in Bhaktapur
Authors: Bhandari Rita
Published: February 2024

This study "Socio-Economic Status and Fertility Behavior among Tamang Women in Bhaktapur District" was carried out with the main objective of to identify the socio-economic status and fertility behavior among the Tamang women in the study area. The study included 169 married Tamang women of reproductive age group selected from census method. By conducting this research it is concluded that most of the women get married at the age of 15-20 years. Which was 48.5 percent of the total in the same way education, economic status, religion, occupation and family income were the dominant socio-economic factors of affecting the fertility behavior. 
Out of 169 respondents in the study area, 69.82 percent respondents were literate and 30.17 percent population was illiterate. Out of 169 respondents 60 percent were engaged in the agriculture sector, followed by 25 percent of hose hold workers. Most of the respondents were using family planning method for limiting birth. From the viewpoint of effects of socio-economic variables on fertility behavior, medium income group was 66.27 percent, low income 19.52 percent and high income was 14.20 percent. In education field, illiterate 30.17 percent, secondary level 79.66 percent and higher level 20.33 percent. In occupation involved in agriculture was 60.35 percent, household chose 24.85 percent, business 16.05 percent and other 4.73 percent. Similarly this study had found that the total number of respondents with their average CEB was 2.52 per family.
High fertility culture was shown by these people. Lower fertility, behavior was associated with literacy and having higher age at marriage. It is argued that fertility remains high due to high child mortality. High fertility has ensured high dependency and family burden. Similarly current skewed distribution of population towards the younger ages would result high fertility level in the years to come.
Religious Leaders' Perspectives Towards LGBTIQ in Nepal
Authors: Subedi Laxman
Published: February 2024

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans gender, Intersex, Queer plus is an emerging social issue in Nepal. Still Nepalese society has hardly accepted the issue yet. There might be various reasons; this concept has not earned priority in current social structure. Social structures are guided by the religious belief and practice. Religious leaders’ hold the governing positions to construct the perception of society. For the reason, it aims to explore the perception of religious leaders towards LGBTIQ. The religious leaders from Hindus (Sanatana Dharma), Buddhist, Islam and Christian around Kathmandu valley were selected as the respondents of the research. Qualitative data were collected through in-depth interview. In their own worshipping places through field visit. Respondents felt uneasy on the topic though they preferred to explain the good features of the religion rather than the issue. Hindus claimed that they respect third gender as the grace of the god, though they believe that it is against the rule and nature constructed by the god. Similarly, the devotees of Buddhism take oath to follow the ‘Eight-Fold-Path’ as their guideline which consist the five precepts. The Christians consider sexuality to be a divine gift, though it ignores the sexual orientation of LGBTIQ and there are significant disagreements among the Christian community in Nepal. Islamic faith is controlled by holy Quran, which does not give permission for unnatural sex. Though, in the holy text, the story of Luth is mentioned to aware the devotees from the sinful act performed by LGBTIQ. Though, the religious leader accepted the biological features of the LGBTIQ but they denied the sexual activities they perform or express. They perceive it as a sinful act of previous life. Moreover, they believe that the lesbian, gay issues were mostly influenced by western culture and the advancement of the modern technologies. Thus, the religion guided structure of Nepal left behind to address the LGBTIQ to struggle for decades to achieve the rights in the country.
Legislative Amendments to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code of Ukraine under Martial Law
Authors: Maksymovych Roman , Bronevytska Oksana
Published: February 2024

Despite the fact that military actions on the territory of Ukraine have been ongoing since year 2014, the negative consequences of which have been the destabilization of the political situation in the country and destructive processes in many spheres of life that caused the need for a complex solution including a legislative one by way of problematic issues that arise in connection with the implementation of criminal proceedings in the conditions of emergency, which drew attention in the scientific literature, the criminal and procedural legislation, unfortunately, turned out to be not ready for effective criminal proceedings in the conditions of martial law, which required prompt introduction of changes for the proper functioning of the entire criminal system of justice.
EXPERIMENTAL STUDIES OF NOISE POLLUTION OF MECHANICAL PROCESSING PLANTS
Authors: Rieznik Dmytro
Published: February 2024

Purpose. Determination of noise pollution at the workplace of workers of metal-cutting machines of turning, milling and drilling groups.

Methodology. An experimental study of the noise load at the workplace of workers working on lathes, milling and drilling group machines. The research was carried out using a testo 816-1 digital noise level meter, Sound Forge Pro software and a mathematical package for the formation of noise dependences on the type and mode of operation of the machines.

Results. An experimental study of the noise load at the workplace of workers working on metal-cutting machines, namely universal lathe-screw-cutting machines (type 1K62 and CA6136), vertical milling machines (type 6P11A and F2-250), vertical milling machine with CNC (type XS5036C) and radial drilling machine (type 2L53U). In addition, it was established that the type of machine affects the level of noise pollution at the workplace of metal-cutting machine workers. For example, the machines used for drilling are characterized by high noise values in all octave frequency ranges and all operating modes, increasing the noise level by 15 dB (16.5%) on average. Milling machines, compared to lathes, show higher noise values at medium and high octave frequencies by 7 dB (8.4%). Based on the results of the study, an adequate polynomial dependence of the fifth order was determined, which describes the noise levels relative to the frequency and corresponds to the results of the natural experiment. The resulting dependencies have practical applications in the development of component materials for simultaneous shielding of both magnetic fields of an electromagnetic field of industrial frequency and electromagnetic fields of different frequencies.

Scientific novelty. The solution of this problem can be used in the future to assess the risk of occupational diseases among workers working at mechanical processing stations.

Practical significance. The determined dependence will allow further consideration of the issue related to the protection of employees of mechanical processing stations from noise pollution arising during the operation of metal-cutting machines of various groups.

Key words: railway, metalworking machine, noise pollution, noise.
On the Issue of Teaching Bioethics and the Basics of Law in Medical Higher Education Institutions
Authors: Avkhodiev Gaziz Ibragimovich , Zimina Natalia Vladimirovna , Kot Mikhail Leonidovich , Viatkina Iuliia Nikolaevna
Published: February 2024

The chapter examines the issues of teaching bioethics and the basics of law in medical higher educational institutions related to the causes of the formation of bioethics as a new direction of ethical teaching and conditions that have influenced close interaction with law.
In modern bioethics and the foundations of law, the following research methods are applicable: theoretical, pedagogical experiment, observation, comparison, testing, method of scientific analysis, analysis of legal norms.
The rapid growth in the number of declarations and documents not only of an ethical nature, but also normative legal acts, both laws and subordinate acts, complicate professional medical activities. It is often difficult for practitioners to navigate these constantly changing conditions, which inevitably leads to certain errors in the interpretation and application of these professional standards. The documents adopted by national and international professional medical associations have already led to the formation of medical legislation, which, in turn, determines the growth of interest in a new direction of legal science - medical law - one of the branches of bioethics designed to protect human rights in science and medicine, i.e. consideration of the problems of the ratio of bioethics and law as a new field of science. There is often a discrepancy between the relevant regulatory legal acts and federal ones, which leads to certain legal conflicts, and as a result, the unreasonableness of claims and even accusations against practitioners.
Teoreticheskii analiz rolei uchastnikov shkol'nogo bullinga
Authors: Korol Natalia Valerevna
Published: February 2024

The chapter examines the concept of roles in bullying, based on an analysis of literary sources, the main roles are identified: aggressor, victim, witness who reinforces the bully’s behavior, bully’s assistant, passive observer, defender of the victim, and also describes the psychological characteristics of schoolchildren occupying different positions in a bullying situation.