bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Understanding the Association Between Economic Abuse, Abuser-Initiated Workplace Disruptions and Mental Health Outcomes Among Nursing Professionals
Authors: Showalter Kathryn , Chung Yoonzie
Published: February 2025

Participants were recruited from statewide nursing membership organizations and major healthcare providers ( N = 174). Outcomes of anxiety, depression, and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were tested for association with two key predictors; economic abuse and abuser-initiated workplace disruptions. Utilizing multiple linear regression analyses, findings indicate economic abuse experienced among nurses increases anxiety and depression. However, abuser-initiated workplace disruption improved model fit when added, significantly increasing anxiety, depression, and PTSD even when controlling for demographics and economic abuse. The impact of abuser-initiated workplace disruptions could stretch beyond mental health problems and warrants future exploration.
Self-reported cat-friendly practices and attitudes of German, French and Swiss veterinarians
Authors: Griesser Anne-Claude , Chase-Topping Margo , Finka Lauren , Dowgray Nathalie
Published: February 2025

Objectives

The aim of this study was two-fold: first, to investigate the attitudes and application of cat-friendly practices among German, French and Swiss veterinarians during consultations; and second, to gain a better understanding of the relationship between the demographics of the veterinarians and variations in the application of cat-friendly practices and attitudes.

Methods

A bilingual questionnaire structured around the capability, opportunity, motivation and behaviour (COM-B) model of human behaviour was distributed to veterinarians in Germany, France and Switzerland. Using Likert scales, participants were asked to report on their application of cat-friendly practices during consultations and their attitudes towards cat-friendly methods. The proportion of cat-friendly practices and attitudes were identified by grouping results across Likert scales. Multiple binary logistic regression models were performed to compare the differences in cat-friendly practices and attitudes across the three countries. Cumulative scores were calculated for practices and attitudes, and analysed for associations with veterinarian demographics using a general linear model.

Results

Of the 516 respondents, 36.2% used scruffing to restrain cats, 51.9% prescribed anxiolytics for future visits and 17.1% used medication to mitigate stress during consultations. Only 37.6% thought that caregivers expected to be educated on how to prevent or reduce stress in their cats during transport. Having an employee position rather than being clinic director or partner was associated with a lower score of cat-friendly practices ( P <0.01) and motivation ( P = 0.02). Whereas, awareness of cat-friendly guidelines, working in a Cat Friendly or Fear Free accredited clinic and being trained in animal behaviour contributed to higher scores in both cat-friendly practices and overall attitudes ( P <0.001).

Conclusions and relevance

Education and promotion of guidelines on cat-friendly practices will facilitate improvements in handling cats and mitigating fear-anxiety with medication.
Patterns of Pediatric Chronic Hand Eczema: A Systematic Review with Focus on Causes and Management
Authors: Yeung Katie C. Y. , Lowe Joshua , Ho Jessica S. S. , Molin Sonja
Published: February 2025

Chronic hand eczema (CHE) is commonly seen in adults and often in the context of occupational exposures. Recently, there has been a growing number of cases reported among children. We conducted a systematic review using the PRISMA framework to identify cases of pediatric CHE. Search terms included “eczema,” “dermatitis,” “pompholyx,” “dyshidrosis,” “contact allergy,” and “pulpitis.” Case reports of patients aged <18 years old without an alternate/confounding diagnosis were included. 62 cases were included with a mean age of 10.9 years. In the patients with reported data, 61% (28/46) had a history of atopy and 38% (14/37) reported lesions were present for >1 year. The most common cause was allergic-contact dermatitis (71%) with the bilateral hands affected (87%). A total of 35 unique triggers were identified, with the top 5 being homemade slime (n = 28), store-bought slime (n = 8), outdoor plants (n = 4), UV-curing methacrylate nail polish (n = 4), and sporting gloves (n = 4). Patch testing was performed in 87% (54/62) of patients, of which 96% (52/54) tested positive to 1+ allergens. Positive reactions to methylchloroisothiazolinone and/or methylisothiazolinone (MCI/MI) were among the most common. In 53% (33/62) of patients, removal of the trigger resulted in resolution. Patterns of CHE triggers in pediatric patients differ from adults, and workup should include a detailed history of leisure-time and school activities. MCI/MI was the most common culprit, and trends involving children making slime has led to an increase in prolonged/repeated exposure. Awareness of potential causes ensures early identification, patch testing, prompt removal of trigger, and appropriate management.
Research on wear reduction of mid-convex type valve core based on simulation analysis: Design and application in spring-loaded check valve
Authors: Ma Jian-wei , Tian Xue-bao , Ye Tao , Zhou Zi-qi , Wang Shuang , Jia Zhen-yuan
Published: February 2025

The study aims to address the prevalent issue of wear and sticking in spring-loaded check valves under extreme working conditions. Owing to the influence of guide clearance and spring eccentricity, the valves are particularly susceptible to misalignment issue in the axial alignment of the valve core. This misalignment will lead to wear and sticking in the valve guiding pairs, which can significantly impair the service performance of the valve. Therefore, based on the failure analysis of the check valve sticking, the paper proposed a design method for the sectional profile of the valve core constrained by the valve's service performance. The valve core before and after design was analyzed using the wear simulation model that considers the effect of flow field, thereby verifying the effectiveness of the design method. Furthermore, the influence mechanism of profile parameters on wear was discussed and the optimal parameters of the valve core profile were determined. The experimental results demonstrate a clear improvement in the optimized valve core: the mid-convex type valve core shows a 41.4% reduction in maximum wear depth and a 17.2% decrease in wear volume, which effectively lowers the probability of the valve sticking. These research findings are of great significance in the design of wear-reducing structure for spring-loaded check valves operating under extreme service conditions.
The platform’s cash administrators: Delegation, local adaptation, and labor control in Mexico City
Authors: Manriquez Mariana
Published: February 2025

This article delves into the process of technological adaptation to local environments by presenting the case of food delivery platforms in Mexico City. Primarily, it focuses on the tension between design and local economic practices. Given the primacy of cash as an object of economic exchange, platforms facilitate cash payments. Platforms then delegate the task of cash administration to couriers. Labor control around this task is then institutionalized in the form of platform features. Furthermore, platform dependency to cover basic necessities shapes divergent experiences of the delegated task of cash administration. Conceptually, this article employs the Latourian concept of delegation to explore the human and nonhuman enrollments mobilized to adapt digital technologies to local environments.
Are European Court of Justice judges biased towards their member states?
Authors: Cheruvu Sivaram
Published: February 2025

The Court of Justice of the European Union’s rulings significantly influence the European Union’s single market, the trajectory of European integration, and the efficacy of the rule of law in Europe. However, due to the Court of Justice’s practice of delivering decisions per curiam without publicly available votes, the impact of individual judges’ biases on case outcomes remains largely unknown. This article explores whether the Court of Justice’s judges are biased towards their appointing member states. I provide evidence across multiple datasets that when a judge receives an observation ( amici curiae brief) from their appointing member state, the judge’s panel is more likely to rule in favor of the member state’s position. This result holds irrespective of whether a judge is serving as the rapporteur (judgment-writer).
Social work's role in implementing de-escalation alternatives to law enforcement responses
Authors: Dyett Jordan , Udo Tomoko , Mullin Shannon , Roberts Preston , Cummings Denard , Morano Carmen
Published: February 2025

This paper discusses the Albany County Crisis Officials Responding and Diverting (ACCORD) program, which was developed in response to the nationwide community organizing in the summer of 2020 following multiple police killings. ACCORD aimed to reduce law enforcement involvement in non-violent mental health-related 911 calls. The program employed an interdisciplinary team comprising a social worker and an emergency medical service provider. This study focuses on a qualitative evaluation of the program's implementation, using semi-structured interviews to gather insights from ACCORD team members and supervisors.

Findings

Qualitative interviews were analyzed using an adaptation of Applied Thematic Analysis, which uncovered key barriers and strengths of the ACCORD model. Barriers included scarcity of services and fragmentation of existing services for mental health crises, especially in rural areas. Areas of strength included collaboration, given the interdisciplinary nature of ACCORD, and the versatility of the Social Work component of the intervention.

Application

The study highlights the value of comprehensive crisis intervention services and the role of social workers in providing support, advocacy, and de-escalation for individuals in mental health crises. It underscores the need for expanded community-based mental health programs, especially in rural areas, and emphasizes the importance of effective collaboration and communication among various service providers. This research contributes to the growing call across the nation to re-imagine crisis response in the hands of mental health professionals and agencies, outside of law enforcement.
Political branding of parties and leaders: A bibliometric clustered analysis of two decades
Authors: Jain Varsha , Gupta Damini Goyal , Sharma Himani
Published: February 2025

The current study systematically investigates the literature on political branding using a bibliometric clustered analysis. A synthesis of 17,811 research articles related to political advertising for political branding was developed using the Web of Science (WoS) and Scopus databases. Bibliometric coupling was used to identify the most prestigious research publications, authors, universities, and research work to capture information about developing challenges and charting political advertising for political branding of parties and leaders’ research growth, enhancing advertising and branding literature. This led to the identification of three clusters dominating political branding and have scope for future research. These are (1) the communication medium (online and offline) used for political branding, (2) the role of technology in creating a persona and identity of the political leaders, and (3) political influencers' effectiveness in the success or failure of political branding campaigns, which would significantly affect the political branding literature.
Public officials’ attitudes towards public participation in policymaking by people with dementia
Authors: Matsumoto Hiroshige , Tsuda Shuji , Hotta Satoko
Published: February 2025

Introduction: Public participation by people with dementia in relevant policymaking has been advocated to improve the quality of health systems and democratic processes. Public officials’ attitude is a key determinant of public participation. This study aimed to explore Japanese local-government officials’ attitudes towards public participation by people with dementia in policymaking and associated factors. Methods: This cross-sectional study, utilising an online survey conducted in December 2022, included public officials ( n = 997) in charge of dementia policy in Japanese municipalities, with one respondent from each municipality. Participants’ certifications were administrative, public-health nurse, or other professionals. Univariate and mediation analyses were performed with attitudes towards public participation by people with dementia as a dependent variable, attitudes towards people with dementia as a mediating variable, and demographic characteristics, contact opportunities with people with dementia, and sources of dementia-related information as exploratory variables. Results: The mean attitude towards people with dementia and towards public participation was 45.1 (SD: 5.1) and 12.6 (SD: 1.8), respectively. Positive attitudes towards people with dementia were a significant determinant of supportive attitudes towards public participation. Participation in collaborative activities with people with dementia and a larger municipality population had positive and significant direct effects on attitudes towards public participation by people with dementia. Additionally, the public officials’ sex and exposure to information about dementia directly from people with dementia showed a significant positive indirect effect mediated by attitude towards people with dementia. Discussion: Attitudes towards people with dementia are the most significant factor influencing their public participation; therefore, reducing stigma among public officials is essential to foster public participation by people with dementia. Active involvement of public officials in collaborative activities with people with dementia at the micro level and valuing the perspectives of people with dementia as essential contributions can enhance public participation by in local policymaking.
Why Does Corrective Information Have a Muted Effect on Immigration Attitudes? Motivated Reasoning and Shifting Goalposts
Authors: Rovelo Aime , Hyde Aryanna , Landgrave Michelangelo
Published: February 2025

Several studies have attempted to test whether corrective information may counter the negative attitudes formed due to negative media portrayals of immigrants and immigration. In this manuscript, we report an original information-provision survey experiment where we provide corrective information about Mexican-immigrant welfare use to US research subjects. Consistent with prior studies, we find a muted effect on immigration attitudes. We advance the literature by presenting suggestive evidence that research subjects engage in motivated reasoning to reconcile new information with their a priori immigration attitudes. This suggests that, when provided corrective information about immigrants that is incongruent with their preexisting misperceptions, individuals will shift their beliefs about acceptable immigrant characteristics. By moving the goalposts, these individuals can avoid having to update their a priori attitudes. This suggests that corrective-information experiments have a mostly muted effect on immigration attitudes because research subjects reinterpret new information to justify existing attitudes.
The Role of Clinicians’ Self-Efficacy in Exercise Promotion for Adults with Venous Leg Ulcers: A Cross-Sectional Study
Authors: O’Brien Jane , McCann Damhnat , Parker Christina N , Finlayson Kathleeen , Jull Andrew
Published: February 2025

Introduction

Physical activity is recognised for its functional, physical, and psychological benefits in managing venous leg ulcers. Despite these advantages, individuals with venous leg ulcers often remain inactive, largely due to fear of exacerbating their condition and a lack of comprehensive guidance. Clinicians play a crucial role in promoting physical activity, providing support to patients to engage in safe and beneficial exercises. This study aimed to assess clinicians’ knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward physical activity in adults with venous leg ulcers to inform clinical practice and the development of targeted physical activity strategies.

Methods

An online questionnaire was developed to assess clinicians’ familiarity with physical activity guidelines, their confidence in recommending physical activity, and the barriers they encountered in practice.

Results

A total of 141 clinicians, predominantly nurses (99%), completed the survey, with 83% reporting awareness of clinical guidelines for venous leg ulcer management. However, only 25% regularly recommended a general increase in physical activity, 27% recommended calf strengthening exercises, and 38% consistently recommended ankle joint mobility exercises. Key barriers; 1) insufficient training to recommend specific exercises, 2) lack of evidence-based information to provide to patients and 3) limited access to exercise specialists for referrals. Statistical modelling showed that self-efficacy significantly influenced recommendations for ankle mobility exercises; clinicians with higher confidence were 7.6 times more likely to make such recommendations (p < .001). Although attitudes toward prescribing ankle exercises to adults with venous leg ulcers in compression were not statistically significantly related to reported practice (p = .087), they demonstrated relevance to clinical decision making and warrant further investigation.

Conclusion

While clinicians recognise the importance of physical activity for adults with venous leg ulcers, gaps in knowledge, resources, and training limit their ability to provide specific exercise recommendations. Addressing these gaps through large-scale implementation of structured physical activity strategies is essential.
Proposing Design Evaluation Metrics for Anesthesia Providers’ Workspace in Ambulatory Surgical Settings
Authors: Soman Devi Abhishek , Shokrollahi Ardekani Mina , Joseph Anjali , Neyens David , Mihandoust Sahar , Allison David , Catchpole Ken , Abernathy James H.
Published: February 2025

Objective: This paper describes the development and utilization of two design evaluation metrics aimed to measure design performance for improving circulation and workflow, situational awareness, and visibility for medication-related activities for anesthesia providers’ within their workspace in operating rooms. Background: Proactive performance evaluation of the design of critical areas such as operating rooms can help improve the safety of patients and staff workflows. This paper builds on previous work on task-switching behaviors in anesthesia workspaces to develop performance-based design evaluation metrics for anesthesia providers’ workspaces based on their tasks performed during the patient preparation, intra-operative, and post-operative phases of the surgery, considering the presence of multiple anesthesia providers. Methods: Pre-coded observational data for five ear, nose, and throat surgeries was analyzed to determine the task-location and task-durations for anesthesia providers while performing various medication-related tasks. The distance between task-locations and the frequency of anesthesia providers’ movement between these locations informed the proximity metric, whereas the anesthesia providers’ visibility of the patient and the vitals screen from these locations informed the visibility metric. These metrics were used to compare four anesthesia providers’ workspace layouts: observed operating room, prototype operating room, and two newly developed design configurations A1 and A2. Results: The proximity metric suggests that layout A2 supported better circulation and workflow for anesthesia providers, whereas the visibility metric indicated that they had improved situational awareness in both A1 and A2. Conclusions: Both metrics can be used to proactively evaluate anesthesia providers’ workspaces early in the design process, to improve patient care in future operating rooms.
Helping high school teachers learn family therapy in China
Authors: Quan Xin , Quan Chaolu
Published: February 2025

High school students’ mental health issues in China have been increasingly concerning for teachers and parents. To better help high school teachers respond to students’ psychological and behavioural needs, the second author, a psychologist, helped six teachers learn family therapy from October 2022 to June 2023 in China. This study used a qualitative approach to understand the learning outcomes of these high school teachers. The findings revealed the following themes: (1) learners began to recognise the importance of family therapy principles; (2) learners began to use family therapy concepts and methods to work with high school students and parents for problematic behaviours and (3) learners began to spread the ideas of family therapy. The results of this study offered preliminary evidence for the effectiveness of family therapy training among high school teachers/counsellors in China, which encouraged future related endeavours. Discussions and Limitations of this study are also provided.
Two-stage kinetics study of cadmium dissolution from Cd–Ni filter cake with sulfuric acid
Authors: Kaffash Yasaman , Raygan Shahram , Pourabdoli Mehdi , Lashgari Vahid Aghaei
Published: February 2025

In this research, the effects of temperature (25, 40, and 80 °C) and time (0–15 min and 15–40 min) on Cd dissolution from the Cd–Ni filter cake containing 24.5 wt-% cadmium and 8.3 wt-% nickel were investigated. It was found that temperature raising has little positive effect on the Cd dissolution. The Cd dissolution was 82%, 85%, and 92% at 25, 40, and 80 °C, respectively, for a leaching time of 40 min. Based on the kinetics evaluation, acidic dissolution of Cd follows the shrinking core model (SCM). Depending on the dissolution time, the rate-controlling step was diffusion through the product layer (for the time range of 0–15 min) and chemical reaction (for the time range of 15–40 min). The activation energy of the Cd dissolution process is calculated as 5.5 kJ/mol and 27 kJ/mol for the time ranges of 0–15 min and 15–40 min, respectively.
Digital futures: The role of social scientists in multi-stakeholder initiatives
Authors: Yu Haiqing
Published: February 2025

This commentary responds to ‘Collaborative Explorations as Breathing Spaces for Digital Futures’, which highlights the role of social scientists in shaping ethical and inclusive digital governance. The commentary reflects on the three collaborative research modes proposed by the original article – creating trouble, composing futures, and securing breathing space – demonstrating how social scientists challenge dominant technological narratives and mediate between stakeholders. It focuses on ‘breathing space’ as a key concept in emphasising critical reflection of and engagement with digital transformation – a crucial role that social scientists can play multi-stakeholder research to develop human-centred digital futures. While the analysis focuses on European contexts, the commentary advocates for a broader, global perspective on data activism, governance, and AI ethics.
Effectiveness of Dente91 DB Toothpaste on Salivary Glucose and pH in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: A Randomized Controlled Pilot Study
Authors: Agarwal Nikhil , Raut Ramnath , Pariyani Jacky , Shinde Kalyani , Dave Bhakti , Shah Harsh
Published: February 2025

Purpose:

This study was planned to assess and compare the effectiveness of Dente91 DB toothpaste and conventional toothpaste (Colgate Total) on salivary glucose and pH in Indian patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Methods:

This was a randomized, open-label, single-center, active-control, parallel-group clinical trial. Adult patients with established type 2 diabetes mellitus (HbA1c >8%) on treatment for ≥3 months were randomized to twice daily brushing with either Dente91 DB toothpaste or conventional toothpaste (Colgate Total) for 8 weeks. The primary endpoints were to assess the change in salivary glucose level and salivary pH from baseline to the end of 8 weeks.

Results:

Of 54 patients screened, 50 were enrolled in the study (25 in each group). At the end of 8 weeks, the mean change in salivary glucose level was significantly better in the Dente91 DB toothpaste group compared to the conventional toothpaste group (−3.20 ± 1.90 mg/dL vs −0.60 ± 1.76 mg/dL; P < .0001). The mean change in salivary pH did not differ significantly between Dente91 DB toothpaste and conventional toothpaste (0.32 ± 0.34 vs 0.17 ± 0.23; P = .09). The improvement in saliva flow rate was significantly better with Dente91 DB toothpaste (0.07 ± 0.03 mL/min vs 0.03 ± 0.03 mL/min; P < .0001), while the mean change in gingival index, plaque index, and dental hypersensitivity was not statistically different between the two groups at the end of 8 weeks.

Conclusions:

In patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus, Dente91 DB toothpaste was better than conventional toothpaste at reducing salivary glucose levels after 8 weeks. Dente91 DB toothpaste demonstrated significant improvement in salivary pH level; however, it was not better compared to conventional toothpaste.
Caveolin-3: therapeutic target for diabetic myocardial ischemia/reperfusion injury
Authors: Wen Xinyu , Ji Yanwei , Tang Hepeng , Jin Zhenshuai , Su Wating , Zhou Lu , Xia Zhong-Yuan , Li Lin , Lei Shaoqing
Published: February 2025

Myocardial ischemia/reperfusion (I/R) injury is a major global health problem with high rates of mortality and disability, which is more severe in patients with diabetes. Substantial researches have documented that diabetic myocardium are more susceptible to I/R injury, but many current intervention strategies against myocardial I/R injury have limited effectiveness in diabetic hearts. Caveolin-3 (Cav-3) is the signature protein of caveolae and serves as a signal integration and transduction platform in the plasma membrane of cardiomyocytes, which plays a vital role in myocardial functions, metabolism and protection of multiple conditioning strategies against I/R injury. Nevertheless, numerous studies have revealed that the expression of Cav-3 is impaired in diabetic hearts, which contributes to increased vulnerability of myocardium to I/R injury and resistance to protective conditioning strategies. In this review, we outline the basic structure and function of Cav-3, emphatically present the unique role of Cav-3 as a signal integration and transduction element in diabetic myocardial I/R injury and discuss its therapeutic perspective in strategies against myocardial I/R injury in diabetes.
Sensory profiles in older adults with orthopedic conditions during quiet stance: a cross-sectional study
Authors: Brika Marine , Mourey France , Kubicki Alexandre
Published: February 2025

Background

Pathological aging can impair sensory information, leading to postural control disorders in older adults. Compensatory sensorial mechanisms are emerging to preserve balance function. The objective of the study was to identify sensory profiles in functionally impaired older adults, and determine if they are linked to the frequently observed cervical proprioceptive disorders in this population.

Methods

Fifty-one older adults (76.9 ± 7.6 years) were divided into 2 Functional Groups (FG-/FG+) according to a composite score that included 3 variables (gait speed, grip strength and fear of falling). All the participants completed the modified clinical test of sensory interaction on balance (m-CTSIB) and the cervical joint sense position error (CJPSE) test. Exploratory factor analysis was used to identify common factors among the variables. Pearson correlation was used to examine relationships between variables.

Results

As expected, conditions 2 and 3 of the m-CTSIB were both challenging to balance, whereas condition 4 was too difficult for several patients. Factor analysis revealed that the stabilometric variables were grouped together in factor one, and proprioceptive performance (CJPSE) and the mean CoP velocity in m-CTSIB condition 3 formed another second factor. Moreover, a significant correlation was highlighted between stability in Condition 3 and CJPSE in the FG-.

Conclusion

Our results revealed the predominance of both visual and podal information in functionally impaired adults to control their posture. We speculate that the observed podal preference could be consecutive to a less efficient cervical proprioceptive system.
The effect of an intervention for organizing primary mental health care in Brazil: a study based on routine process indicators
Authors: Eshriqui Ilana , de Almeida Letícia Yamawaka , de Mendonça Joana Moscoso Teixeira , Anazawa Leandro , Belotti Lorrayne , Fortes Sandra , Sousa Ana Alice Freire , de Souza Evelyn Lima , de Santana Teodoro Claudielle , Bonfim Daiana , de Almeida Siqueira Junior Joel , Bandeira Antonio Cleilson Nobre , Correia Lucas Reis
Published: February 2025

Background

The “Mental Health Care in Primary Health Care (PHC)” project (SMAPS, from Portuguese) was developed in six health regions from three Brazilian states. Considering the gap and relevance of monitoring and assessing mental health (MH) care in real-world settings using data from service records, this study aimed to evaluate the effect of SMAPS on indicators of MH care process in PHC, calculated from official records available in health services.

Methods

This is a pilot study conducted between January 2022 and September 2023. The sample comprised 18 PHC units in 14 municipalities, which were in one of the three Brazilian states that adhered to SMAPS and assigned to one of two groups: control and intervention (2:1). Secondary data were collected at two times using the same instrument to systematize the retrieval of aggregated data, which were extracted from management reports from PHC units or municipalities departments. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics at the PHC units or municipality level.

Results

The rate of referrals to MH specialties per consultation with a MH classifications record seemed to decline in intervention and control group. The percentage of benzodiazepine medications delivered for PHC decreased from 16.1 to 11.3% in the intervention group municipalities but increased from 20.3 to 24.1% in the control group. An inverse pattern was observed for antipsychotic, anticonvulsant, and antidepressant medications (increased from 82.2 to 86.2% in the intervention group municipalities and declined from 77.6 to 74.4% in the control group). Despite this, analyzing the mean variation in MH care indicators, statistically significant differences between groups in distribution at the 5% level were not identified.

Conclusion

The present pilot study points to possible effects of SMAPS for organizing MH care in PHC, especially regarding the referrals to specialty mental health care and the delivery of psychotropic medications. It contributes to the formulation of proposals for evaluating MH care based on data already available from records and reports from health services and emphasizes the need to improve the quality of MH care recording in PHC work routines.
Evaluating and addressing demographic disparities in medical large language models: a systematic review
Authors: Omar Mahmud , Sorin Vera , Agbareia Reem , Apakama Donald U. , Soroush Ali , Sakhuja Ankit , Freeman Robert , Horowitz Carol R. , Richardson Lynne D. , Nadkarni Girish N. , Klang Eyal
Published: February 2025

Background

Large language models are increasingly evaluated for use in healthcare. However, concerns about their impact on disparities persist. This study reviews current research on demographic biases in large language models to identify prevalent bias types, assess measurement methods, and evaluate mitigation strategies.

Methods

We conducted a systematic review, searching publications from January 2018 to July 2024 across five databases. We included peer-reviewed studies evaluating demographic biases in large language models, focusing on gender, race, ethnicity, age, and other factors. Study quality was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Critical Appraisal Tools.

Results

Our review included 24 studies. Of these, 22 (91.7%) identified biases. Gender bias was the most prevalent, reported in 15 of 16 studies (93.7%). Racial or ethnic biases were observed in 10 of 11 studies (90.9%). Only two studies found minimal or no bias in certain contexts. Mitigation strategies mainly included prompt engineering, with varying effectiveness. However, these findings are tempered by a potential publication bias, as studies with negative results are less frequently published.

Conclusion

Biases are observed in large language models across various medical domains. While bias detection is improving, effective mitigation strategies are still developing. As LLMs increasingly influence critical decisions, addressing these biases and their resultant disparities is essential for ensuring fair artificial intelligence systems. Future research should focus on a wider range of demographic factors, intersectional analyses, and non-Western cultural contexts.

Graphic Abstract
Physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) food labelling on discretionary foods in secondary school canteens in England: an efficacy cluster randomised controlled trial
Authors: Iris Natalia , Munir Fehmidah , Daley Amanda J.
Published: February 2025

Background

Schools do not typically implement food labelling in their canteens, therefore young people may not be given nutrition information on which to make their food choices. One way of expressing the energy/calorie content of foods is to provide this information in the form of physical activity calorie equivalent (PACE) food labelling, which may help to contextualise the energy content of food/drinks to young people in a simple and understandable way. The study aimed to assess the usefulness of implementing PACE labelling in school canteens and to conduct a process evaluation of using this type of food labelling with young people.

Methods

A parallel two-armed cluster RCT to evaluate a PACE labelling intervention in secondary schools (typically, adolescents aged 11 and above) in England was conducted. Schools were randomised on a 2:1 basis to display PACE labelling by cakes/sweet biscuits in canteens or to continue with usual practice (comparator) for up to six weeks. There was a baseline period of no PACE labelling for a minimum of four weeks in all schools. Anonymised purchase data were provided by schools and analysed both descriptively and using analysis of covariance.

Results

Eighteen schools in England were randomised and 11 participated (6 intervention and 5 comparators). Analyses are based on ~ 99,000 purchase transactions of cakes and biscuits from participating schools. There was a reduction in cake/biscuit purchases in intervention schools versus comparators of ~ 11 items per week per 100 students at follow-up (adjusted mean difference = -0.112, 95% CI [-0.179 to -0.045], p = 0.005). Intervention schools did not report major difficulties with the implementation of PACE labelling.

Conclusions

PACE labelling appeared to reduce cakes/biscuit purchases by a small amount and may be a useful approach to reducing the purchase of discretionary foods in young people in the school environment. The implementation of PACE labelling appeared feasible for some schools, but other schools had reservations about the adverse effects this type of labelling may have on the well-being of students.

Trial registration

Registered on ClinicalTrials.gov on 18th November 2022. NCT05623618, https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05623618.
A new stem saurian reptile from the late Permian of South Africa and insights into saurian evolution
Authors: Mooney Ethan Dean , Scott Diane , Reisz Robert Raphael
Published: February 2025

The evolutionary radiation of diapsid reptiles that includes all extant and most extinct reptiles is well-represented in the Mesozoic and Cenozoic fossil records, however, the earliest stages recorded in the Paleozoic Era are limited to comparatively few taxa. Consequently, the origins of Sauria, the crown-group of Diapsida, remains poorly understood and the phylogenetic positions of the few known taxa along the saurian stem are controversial. Here, we describe Akkedops bremneri sp. et gen. nov., a new early late Permian stem saurian from the Karoo of South Africa based on two skulls and show that the famous aggregation of "juvenile Youngina” SAM-PK-K7710 is also referrable to it, thereby making this one of the best-known stem saurians. The skull has a short rostrum, open lower temporal bar, large contribution of the postfrontal to the upper temporal fenestra, slender stapes, sliver-like supratemporal with a distinct lateral flange suturing to the postorbital, and lacks both postparietal and tabular bones. The saddle-shaped quadrate is rather saurian-like in being posteriorly emarginated with a tympanic crest and unique medial flange. The post cranial skeleton of Akkedops bremneri is lizard-like and notably shows a hook-shaped fifth metatarsal and thyroid fenestra. Phylogenetic analysis recovers Akkedops
bremneri as sister to Sauria, which is especially surprising considering its rather small size and slender, lizard-like morphology prior to the split between the apparently similar lepidosauromorphs and many of the comparatively robust archosauromorph saurians. Our analysis also indicates that Youngina capensis falls outside the clade of Akkedops bremenri + Sauria and does not appear to form a clade with other “younginiform” reptiles. The available evidence indicates a surprising level of complexity related to the evolution of stem saurians and the origin of Sauria that occurred in the shadow of other Paleozoic amniotes.
When do the Kahn-Kalai bounds provide nontrivial information?
Authors: Christopherson Bryce Alan , Baretz Jack
Published: February 2025

The Park-Pham theorem (previously known as the Kahn-Kalai conjecture) bounds the critical probability,

$p_{c}(\mathcal{F})$

p
c

(
F
)

, of the a nontrivial property

$\mathcal{F}\subseteq 2^{X}$

F
⊆

2
X

that is closed under supersets by the product of a universal constant K, the expectation threshold of the property,

$q(\mathcal{F})$

q
(
F
)

, and the logarithm of the size of the property’s largest minimal element,

$\log \ell (\mathcal{F})$

log
ℓ
(
F
)

. That is, the Park-Pham theorem asserts that

$p_{c}(\mathcal{F})\leq Kq(\mathcal{F})\log \ell (\mathcal{F})$

p
c

(
F
)
≤
K
q
(
F
)
log
ℓ
(
F
)

. Since the critical probability

$p_{c}(\mathcal{F})$

p
c

(
F
)

always satisfies

$p_{c}(\mathcal{F})<1$

p
c

(
F
)
<
1

, one may ask when the upper bound posed by Kahn and Kalai gives us more information than this–that is, when is it true that

$Kq(\mathcal{F})\log \ell (\mathcal{F}) < 1$

K
q
(
F
)
log
ℓ
(
F
)
<
1

? In this short note, we provide a number of necessary conditions for this to happen and give a few sufficient conditions for the bounds to provide new (and, in fact, asymptotically perfect) information along the way. In the most interesting case where

$\ell (\mathcal{F}_{n})\rightarrow \infty $

ℓ
(

F
n

)
→
∞

, we prove the following relatively strong necessary condition for the Kahn-Kalai bounds to provide nontrivial information: For every positive integer t, every collection of all-but-t of the minimal elements of

$\mathcal{F}_{n}$

F
n

may have nonempty intersection for only finitely many n. Consequently, not only must the number of minimal elements become arbitrarily large, but so too must the size of any cover. Intuitively, this means that such sequences

$\mathcal{F}_{n}$

F
n

must occupy an ever-widening ‘wedge’ in

$2^{X_{n}}$

2

X
n

: the further

$\mathcal{F}_{n}$

F
n

climbs up

$2^{X_{n}}$

2

X
n

in one area, the further it must spread down and across

$2^{X_{n}}$

2

X
n

in another.
Exercise and cardiovascular health among breast cancer survivors: a scoping review of current observational evidence
Authors: Wilson Oliver W.A. , Wojcik Kaitlyn M. , Cohen Camryn M. , Kamil Dalya , Butera Gisela , Matthews Charles E. , Dieli-Conwright Christina M. , Jayasekera Jinani
Published: February 2025

Background

Breast cancer survivors are at increased risk of cardiovascular events due to the cardiotoxic effects of cancer treatment. Exercise participation can lower the risk of various adverse cardiovascular health outcomes. However, most breast cancer survivors do not meet exercise guidelines.

Objectives

To map and critically evaluate the observational literature describing the direction and strength of the relationship between post-diagnosis leisure-time exercise (aerobic and muscle-strengthening) and cardiovascular health (cardiovascular disease, cardiac function, and related physiological risk factors) among diverse breast cancer survivors; and identify variations in this relationship based on race, ethnicity, and/or socioeconomic status.

Methods

Our scoping review was conducted in accordance with established guidelines and frameworks. Seven databases were searched. Participant characteristics, findings regarding the relationship between exercise and cardiovascular health, and any variations in this relationship were extracted. Article quality was appraised using the Mixed Methods Appraisal Tool.

Results

Fourteen sources were identified, and study quality varied. Two adjusted analyses found aerobic exercise may lower the risk of cardiovascular disease. There was limited data found on the direction and strength of an adjusted relationship between exercise (aerobic or muscle-strengthening) and other cardiovascular outcomes or possible variations in the relationship across racial, ethnic, or socioeconomic groups.

Conclusion

Findings highlight a considerable gap in knowledge regarding the relationship between exercise and cardiovascular health among diverse breast cancer survivors. Further longitudinal observational research is needed to better establish the direction and strength of this relationship, and how it differs based on race, ethnicity, or socioeconomic status.
QTL mapping associated with Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton based on MAGIC population
Authors: Ayyaz Muhammad , Chang Zewei , Ding Shugen , Han Peng , Xu Lin , Abudukeyoumu Abudurezike , Siddho Irfan Ali , Li Zhibo , Lin Hairong , Xu Jianwei , Wu Yuanlong , Nie Xinhui
Published: February 2025

Background

Cotton is an important cash crop in China and a key component of the global textile market. Verticillium wilt is a major factor affecting cotton yield. Single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers and phenotypic data can be used to identify genetic markers and loci associated with cotton resistance to Verticillium wilt. We used eight upland cotton parent materials in this study to construct a multiparent advanced generation inter-cross (MAGIC) population comprising 320 lines. The Verticillium wilt resistance of the MAGIC population was identified in the greenhouse in 2019, and the average relative disease index (ARDI) was calculated. A genome-wide association study (GWAS) was performed to discover SNP markers/genes associated with Verticillium wilt resistance.

Results

ARDI of the MAGIC population showed wide variation, ranging from 16.7 to 79.4 across three replicates. This variation reflected a diverse range of resistance to Verticillium wilt within the population. Analysis of distribution patterns across the environments revealed consistent trends, with coefficients of variation between 12.25% and 21.96%. Families with higher ARDI values, indicating stronger resistance, were more common, likely due to genetic diversity and environmental factors. Population structure analysis divided the MAGIC population into three subgroups, with Group I showing higher genetic variation and Groups II and III displaying more uniform resistance performance. Principal component analysis (PCA) confirmed these divisions, highlighting the genetic diversity underlying Verticillium wilt resistance. Through GWAS, we identified 19 SNPs significantly associated with Verticillium wilt resistance, distributed across three chromosomes. The screening of candidate genes was performed on the transcriptome derived from resistant and susceptible cultivars, combined with gene annotation and tissue expression patterns, and two key candidate genes, Ghir_A01G006660 and Ghir_A02G008980, were found to be potentially associated with Verticillium wilt resistance. This suggests that these two candidate genes may play an important role in responding to Verticillium wilt.

Conclusion

This study aims to dissect the genetic basis of Verticillium wilt resistance in cotton by using a MAGIC population and GWAS. The study seeks to provide valuable genetic resources for marker-assisted breeding and enhance the understanding of resistance mechanisms to improve cotton resilience against Verticillium wilt.
Species boundaries, hybridization and gene flow
Authors: Nachman Michael W.
Published: February 2025

The rise of genomics has spurred a renewed interest in hybridization and the permeability of species boundaries.  However, these ideas are not new.  Here I review early work by Patton and colleagues on hybridization, gene flow, and the nature of species boundaries in pocket gophers and argue that a focus on the underlying biology of the organism provides insights into hybridization and gene flow that are not obtainable from genomic data alone.
Improved superelastic Ni–Ti alloy wire for treating skeletal class III malocclusion combined with anterior crossbite: A case report
Authors: Chang Yu-Hsiang Sean , Chen Yuan-Hou , Yu Jian-Hong
Published: February 2025

BACKGROUND

Correcting skeletal class III malocclusion with anterior crossbite in adolescents using only orthodontic treatment poses challenges. This report highlights a novel approach leveraging improved superelastic Ni–Ti alloy wire (ISW) to address these conditions effectively.

CASE SUMMARY

A 17-year-old male patient presented with the chief complaint of an underbite. The patient was given a diagnosis of skeletal class III malocclusion and anterior crossbite. The orthodontic treatment plan was implemented and did not require teeth extractions or orthognathic surgery. Key interventions involved the application of ISW, intermaxillary elastics, and ISW unilateral multi-bend edgewise archwire. The unique combination of these techniques enabled the correction without the need for extractions or surgery. This approach leverages the advanced biomechanical properties of ISW, including its super-elasticity and shape memory, to enhance treatment efficacy. The treatment lasted 17 months, and major improvements in overjet, overbite, and alignment were achieved. The results were favorable, and stability was discovered during follow-up.

CONCLUSION

The application of ISW for treating skeletal class III malocclusion with anterior crossbite in a 17-year-old male patient resulted in exceptional outcomes. The treatment led to a marked improvement in the patient’s facial profile and to proper overjet, overbite, and midline alignment. These results were maintained over a one-year follow-up, indicating that a minimally invasive orthodontic approach can effectively address complex skeletal discrepancies in adolescent patients. This case illustrates that with the careful use of advanced orthodontic techniques, major skeletal challenges can be resolved without resorting to surgical procedures.