bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Phylogenetic analysis of the promoter element 2 of paramyxo- and filoviruses
Authors: Ashida Shoichi , Kojima Shohei , Okura Takashi , Kato Fumihiro , Furuyama Wakako , Urata Shuzo , Matsumoto Yusuke
Published: April 2024

Paramyxo- and filovirus genomes are equipped with bipartite promoters at their 3
'
ends to initiate RNA synthesis. The two elements, the primary promoter element 1 (PE1) and the secondary promoter element 2 (PE2), are separated by a spacer region that must be precisely a multiple of 6 nucleotides (nts), indicating these viruses adhere to the “rule of six.” However, our knowledge of PE2 has been limited to a narrow spectrum of virus species. In this study, a comparative analysis of 1,647 paramyxoviral genomes from a public database revealed that the paramyxovirus PE2 can be clearly categorized into two distinct subcategories: one marked by C repeats at every six bases (exclusive to the subfamily
Orthoparamyxovirinae
) and another characterized by CG repeats every 6 nts (observed in the subfamilies
Avulavirinae
and
Rubulavirinae
). This unique pattern collectively mirrors the evolutionary lineage of these subfamilies. Furthermore, we showed that PE2 of the
Rubulavirinae
, with the exception of mumps virus, serves as part of the gene-coding region. This may be due to the fact that the
Rubulavirinae
are the only paramyxoviruses that cannot propagate without RNA editing. Filoviruses have three to eight consecutive uracil repeats every six bases (UN
5
) in PE2, which is located in the 3
'
end region of the genome. We obtained PE2 sequences from 2,195 filoviruses in a public database and analyzed the sequence conservation among virus species. Our results indicate that the continuity of UN
5
hexamers is consistently maintained with a high degree of conservation across virus species.

IMPORTANCE

The genomic intricacies of paramyxo- and filoviruses are highlighted by the bipartite promoters—promoter element 1 (PE1) and promoter element 2 (PE2)—at their 3
'
termini. The spacer region between these elements follows the “rule of six,” crucial for genome replication. By a comprehensive analysis of paramyxoviral genome sequences, we identified distinct subcategories of PE2 based on C and CG repeats that were specific to
Orthoparamyxovirinae
and
Avulavirinae
/
Rubulavirinae
, respectively, mirroring their evolutionary lineages. Notably, the PE2 of
Rubulavirinae
is integrated into the gene-coding region, a unique trait potentially linked to its strict dependence on RNA editing for virus growth. This study also focused on the PE2 sequences in filovirus genomes. The strict conservation of the continuity of UN
5
among virus species emphasizes its crucial role in viral genome replication.
Contrasting constraints on the temporal and spatial extents of normal faults from the Hilltop and Lewis mining districts, northern Shoshone Range, Nevada, USA
Authors: Richardson Carson A. , Seedorff Eric
Published: April 2024

Mapping of rock types, structural geology, and hydrothermal alteration, supported by geochronology and thermochronology, sheds light on the original spatial relationships of hydrothermal systems to intrusions in the northern Shoshone Range in north-central Nevada. Rocks in the Hilltop district are tilted ~35–40°E, as indicated by orientations of flattened pumice fiamme and bedding in sedimentary rocks along a single set of presently low-angle normal faults that initiated at 60–70°W dips. New U-Pb zircon geochronology from two sets of dikes in the Lewis district could suggest late Eocene–early Oligocene extension, but definitive crosscutting relations are lacking to demonstrably support this potential earlier period of normal faulting. Reinterpretation of previously reported apatite fission-track cooling ages with a new palinspastic restoration in the Lewis mining district concurs with middle Miocene extension as documented to the south at the Caetano caldera; however, the depth of burial of the Lewis district—and thus the significance of the apatite fission-track cooling ages—is uncertain.

The comparable orientations and tilting history, supported by fault scaling relations, suggest that the temporally coincident extension in the Caetano caldera to the south represents the along-strike continuation of the same system of normal faults as in the Hilltop and Lewis districts, with changes in observed offset, percent extension, and fault spacing attributed to the gradual tipping out of the fault system northward.
Storylines of family medicine II: foundational building blocks—context, community and health
Authors: Ventres William B , Stone Leslie A , Shah Rupal , Carter Tamala , Gusoff Geoffrey M , Liaw Winston , Nguyen Bich-May , Rachelson Joanna V , Scott Mary Alice , Schiff-Elfalan Teresa L , Yamada Seiji , Like Robert C , Zoppi Kathleen , Catinella A Peter , Frankel Richard M , Prasad Shailendra
Published: April 2024

Storylines of Family Medicineis a 12-part series of thematically linked mini-essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine, as interpreted by individual family physicians and medical educators in the USA and elsewhere around the world. In ‘II: foundational building blocks—context, community and health’, authors address the following themes: ‘Context—grounding family medicine in time, place and being’, ‘Recentring community’, ‘Community-oriented primary care’, ‘Embeddedness in practice’, ‘The meaning of health’, ‘Disease, illness and sickness—core concepts’, ‘The biopsychosocial model’, ‘The biopsychosocial approach’ and ‘Family medicine as social medicine.’ May readers grasp new implications for medical education and practice in these essays.
Storylines of family medicine IV: perspectives on practice—lenses of appreciation
Authors: Ventres William B , Stone Leslie A , Akhtar Radeeb , Ring Jeffrey M , Candib Lucy M , Messias Erick , Epstein Ronald M , Tunzi Marc , Lee Amy L , Morley Christopher P , Brown Carina M , Slawson David , Konkin Jill , Campbell David G , Couper Ian , Williams Susan , Brooks Robert , Walters Lucie
Published: April 2024

Storylines of Family Medicineis a 12-part series of thematically linked mini-essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine, as interpreted by individual family physicians and medical educators in the USA and elsewhere around the world. In ‘IV: perspectives on practice—lenses of appreciation’, authors address the following themes: ‘Relational connections in the doctor–patient partnership’, ‘Feminism and family medicine’, ‘Positive family medicine’, ‘Mindful practice’, ‘The new, old ethics of family medicine’, ‘Public health, prevention and populations’, ‘Information mastery in family medicine’ and ‘Clinical courage.’ May readers nurture their curiosity through these essays.
Storylines of family medicine VI: ways of being—in the office with patients
Authors: Ventres William B , Stone Leslie A , LaVallee Lisa A , Loxterkamp David , Brown Jonisha R , Waxman Dael M , Dorward Peter S , Cawse-Lucas Jeanne , Mauksch Larry B , Kieber-Emmons Autumn M , Crabtree Benjamin F , Miller William L , Brohm Veronica M , Daaleman Timothy P , Bossenbroek Fedoriw Kelly
Published: April 2024

Storylines of Family Medicineis a 12-part series of thematically linked mini-essays with accompanying illustrations that explore the many dimensions of family medicine, as interpreted by individual family physicians and medical educators in the USA and elsewhere around the world. In ‘VI: ways of being—in the office with patients’, authors address the following themes: ‘Patient-centred care—cultivating deep listening skills’, ‘Doctor as witness’, ‘Words matter’, ‘Understanding others—metaphor and its use in medicine’, ‘Communicating with patients—making good use of time’, ‘The patient-centred medical home—aspirations for the future’, ‘Routine, ceremony or drama?’ and ‘The life course’. May readers better appreciate the nuances of patient care through these essays.
Cost Minimization of Digital Twin Placements in Mobile Edge Computing
Authors: Zhang Yuncan , Liang Weifa , Xu Wenzheng , Xu Zichuan , Jia Xiaohua
Published: April 2024

In the past decades, explosive numbers of Internet of Things (IoT) devices (objects) have been connected to the Internet, which enable users to access, control, and monitor their surrounding phenomenons at anytime and anywhere. To provide seamless interactions between the cyber world and the real world, Digital twins (DTs) of objects (IoT devices) are key enablers for real time monitoring, behaviour simulations, and predictive decisions on objects. Compared to centralized cloud computing, mobile edge computing (MEC) has been envisioning as a promising paradigm for low latency IoT applications. Accelerating the usage of DTs in MEC networks will bring unprecedented benefits to diverse services, through the co-evolution between physical objects and their virtual DTs, and DT-assisted service provisioning has attracted increasing attention recently.

In this article, we consider novel DT placement and migration problems in an MEC network with the mobility assumption of objects and users, by jointly considering the freshness of DT data and the service cost of users requesting for DT data. To this end, we first propose an algorithm for the DT placement problem with the aim to minimize the sum of the DT update cost of objects and the total service cost of users requesting for DT data, through efficient DT placements and resource allocation to process user requests. We then devise an approximation algorithm with a provable approximation ratio for a special case of the DT placement problem when each user requests the DT data of only one object. Meanwhile, considering the mobility of users and objects, we devise an online, two-layer scheduling algorithm for DT migrations to further reduce the total service cost of users within a given finite time horizon. We finally evaluate the performance of the proposed algorithms through experimental simulations. The simulation results show that the proposed algorithms are promising.
Thymic Mimetic Cells: Ontogeny as Immunology
Authors: Michelson Daniel A. , Mathis Diane
Published: April 2024

Medullary thymic epithelial cells (mTECs) generate immunological self-tolerance by ectopically expressing peripheral-tissue antigens (PTAs) within the thymus to preview the peripheral self to maturing T cells. Recent work, drawing inspiration from old histological observations, has shown that subtypes of mTECs, collectively termed mimetic cells, co-opt developmental programs from throughout the organism to express biologically coherent groups of PTAs. Here, we review key aspects of mimetic cells, especially as they relate to the larger contexts of molecular, cellular, developmental, and evolutionary biology. We highlight lineage-defining transcription factors as key regulators of mimetic cells and speculate as to what other factors, including Aire and the chromatin potential of mTECs, permit mimetic cell differentiation and function. Last, we consider what mimetic cells can teach us about not only the thymus but also other tissues.
Exploring Mechanical Forces Shaping Self-Organization and Morphogenesis During Early Embryo Development
Authors: Huang Hong , Gao Shaorong , Bao Min
Published: April 2024

Embryonic development is a dynamic process orchestrated by a delicate interplay of biochemical and biophysical factors. While the role of genetics and biochemistry in embryogenesis has been extensively studied, recent research has highlighted the significance of mechanical regulation in shaping and guiding this intricate process. Here, we provide an overview of the current understanding of the mechanical regulation of embryo development. We explore how mechanical forces generated by cells and tissues play a crucial role in driving the development of different stages. We examine key morphogenetic processes such as compaction, blastocyst formation, implantation, and egg cylinder formation, and discuss the mechanical mechanisms and cues involved. By synthesizing the current body of literature, we highlight the emerging concepts and open questions in the field of mechanical regulation. We aim to provide an overview of the field, inspiring future investigations and fostering a deeper understanding of the mechanical aspects of embryo development.
An Experimental Life
Authors: Grannis Paul D.
Published: April 2024

Over the past 60 years, particle physics has seen the maturation of its Standard Model and an enormous change in the character of the experiments that have defined it. I have had the good fortune to participate in and help shape this evolution.
Comprehensive Assessment of Health Impacts from Exposure to Nonionizing Radiation for Healthcare Practitioners Working with MRI and Ultrasound
Authors: Ibrayeva Lyazat , Grebeneva Olga , Omarkulov Bauyrzhan , Rybalkina Dina , Zharylkassyn Zhengisbek , Shadetova Almagul , Bacheva Irina , Alexeyev Alexey , Russyayev Mikhail , Sabirov Zhanbol , Minbayeva Larissa
Published: April 2024

Background. It is necessary to monitor the health disorders of healthcare practitioners exposed to a complex of occupational hazards to optimize their activities and substantiation of preventive health measures. The purpose of the study was the hygienic assessment of occupational hazards, analysis of data on self-assessment of the state of health (SASH questionnaire) among healthcare practitioners (MRI diagnostics specialists, ultrasound diagnostics specialists, and ophthalmologists, as a control group) exposed to nonionizing radiation, ultrasound, and noise. Materials and Methods. An analysis of hygienic parameters of the working environment (workplace) and questionnaire data of healthcare practitioners were carried out. The number of illnesses and absences from work, the level of quality of life, the level of depression, and the self-assessment of the state of health were evaluated according to the questionnaire. Results. An analysis of workloads made it possible to rank the severity and intensity of labor. Health disorders (according to the self-assessment of the state of health), the number of absences from work due to illness, an increase in complaints and level of depression, and a decrease in the level of quality of life were corresponded to the severity of labor. It was revealed that healthcare practitioners were exposed to a number of hazards during their work (above the threshold limit value (TLV)), which caused an increase in health disorders. Conclusions. During the organization of workplace ergonomics and implementation of preventive measures directed to maintaining health and early diagnosis of diseases, one should take into account the hygienic indicators of the working environment that exceed TLV, the results of self-assessment of the state of health (complaints) and morbidity of healthcare practitioners, the level of quality of life and the level of depression.
Detection and High‐Throughput Microbial Analysis of Particulate Matter in Houses and Downwind Areas of Duck Farms
Authors: Qu Zhengxiu , Wang Hairong , Li Ning , Guo Zhiyun , Li Jing , Lv Xiaoyang , Cui Yinling , Chai Tongjie
Published: April 2024

Particulate matter (PM) and the microorganisms of duck houses may have negative impacts on animal and human health. During 2021‐2022, PM2.5 and PM10 inside and outside the duck house were sampled with a built‐in air sampler in Tai’an City, Shandong Province, and the diversity and abundance of microorganisms within the PM were analyzed by macrogenomic and absolute sequence analysis. The results showed that PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in the house and at downwind points exceeded the short‐term (24 h) guideline of the global air quality guidelines (AQG). Macrogenome sequencing showed that the microbial composition of the PM2.5 samples was dominated by bacteria (exceed 85%); a total of 1316 bacterial genera and 110 fungal genera were identified in PM2.5 samples from duck house 1 in winter, which were much higher than the results of amplicon sequencing method reported before, and relatively high levels of the pathogenic bacteria (Coccidioides immitis, etc.) and the conditionally pathogenic bacterium (Rothia nasimurium) were identified at the species level. Absolute quantitative sequencing detected conditionally pathogenic bacteria and allergens at high levels in PM10 samples: Corynebacterium (5.6 × 107 copies/g), Aerococcus (9.9 × 106 copies/g), Alternaria (3.3 × 106 copies/g), and Aspergillus (8.3 × 105 copies/g). Moreover, Corynebacterium was the highest content of PM10 in summer and PM2.5 samples in winter, and its pathogenicity and potential threat should be noted. The diversity and relative abundance of microorganisms were similar in the duck house and at the downwind point. The results showed that the microorganisms in the house environment have a greater influence on the air environment around the downwind point and may pose a public health risk to the staff and the surrounding area.
Network Structure and Clustering Analysis Relating to Individual Symptoms of Problematic Internet Use in a Community Adolescent Population
Authors: Jeong Hyu Seok , Kim Hillary Mi-Sung , Kim Kyoung Min
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Problematic internet use (PIU) is a psychopathology that includes multiple symptoms and psychological constructs. Because no studies have considered both network structures and clusters among individual symptoms in the context of PIU in a Korean adolescent population, this study aimed to investigate network structures and clustering in relation to PIU symptoms in adolescents. Methods: Overall, 73,238 adolescents were included. PIU severity was assessed using a self-rating scale comprising 20 items and 6 subscales, namely, the Internet Addiction Proneness Scale for Youth-Short Form; KS scale. Network structures and clusters among symptoms were analyzed using a Gaussian graphical model and exploratory graph analysis, respectively. Centrality of strength, closeness, and betweenness scores was also calculated. Results: Our study identified four clusters: disturbance in adaptive functioning, virtual interpersonal relationships, withdrawal, and tolerance. The symptom of confidence served as a node bridging the cluster of virtual interpersonal relationships and other clusters of withdrawal and disturbances of adaptive function. The symptom of craving served as a bridge between the clusters of withdrawal and tolerance with high betweenness centrality. Conclusion: This study identified network structures and clustering among PIU symptoms in adolescents and revealed that positive experiences derived from online interpersonal relationships were an important mechanism underlying PIU. These are novel insights concerning the interconnection among multiple symptoms and related clustering for the mechanism of adolescent PIU in terms of KS-scale PIU assessment.
Purified Granulocyte Concentrates from Buffy Coats with Extended Storage Time
Authors: Klinkmann Gerd , Doss Fanny , Doss Sandra , Schwarz Antje , Reichert Susanne , Reuter Daniel A. , Selleng Kathleen , Thiele Thomas , Mitzner Steffen , Altrichter Jens
Published: April 2024

Background: Granulocyte concentrates (GCs) are usually prepared by single-donor apheresis after G-CSF pretreatment and have to be transfused within 24 h after cell collection because of the rapid decrease in pH and cell survival due to high lactate production by red blood cell contamination. GCs pooled from buffy coats of whole blood donations could improve the availability of these products. Methods to reduce red blood cell and platelet contamination may improve storability. We developed a manufacturing process for pooled GCs and investigated cell viability and functionality over time. Methods: Six ABO blood group-identical buffy coats were pooled. Subsequently, the red blood cells spontaneously sedimented after the addition of hydroxyethyl starch. The resulting leukocyte-enriched supernatant was washed twice with saline to reduce platelets and was resuspended in ABO-identical donor plasma. The leukocyte concentrate was transferred to a platelet storage bag and stored up to 72 h at 20–24°C w/o agitation. Cell count and viability, pH, blood gases, phagocytosis, and oxidative burst activity were monitored. Results: The number of red blood cells and platelets was reduced to 0.4% and 6.1% of the baseline levels. About 50% of the original present leukocytes could be extracted (n = 76). In the course of 72 h of storage, there were no significant changes in white blood cell counts (p = 0.12). The viability exceeded 98% during the entire period. The rate of granulocytes performing phagocytosis and oxidative burst remained above 95% anytime. Conclusion: GCs prepared from pooled buffy coats provide a precious alternative to granulocytes obtained from apheresis. Reduction of red blood cells and platelets by more than 90% extends the maximum shelf life of GCs from 24 h to 72 h. For a therapeutic dose of at least 1 × 1010 granulocytes, 15–20 buffy coats are required.
Reference Data for a Quick Speech-in-Noise Hearing Test in the French Language
Authors: Bestel Julie , Pressnitzer Daniel , Robier Mathieu , Rembaud Frédéric , Renard Christian , Leclercq François , Vincent Christophe
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Difficulty in understanding speech in noise is the most common complaint of people with hearing impairment. Thus, there is a need for tests of speech-in-noise ability in clinical settings, which have to be evaluated for each language. Here, a reference dataset is presented for a quick speech-in-noise test in the French language (Vocale Rapide dans le Bruit, VRB; Leclercq, Renard, & Vincent, 2018). Methods: A large cohort (N = 641) was tested in a nationwide multicentric study. The cohort comprised normal-hearing individuals and individuals with a broad range of symmetrical hearing losses. Short everyday sentences embedded in babble noise were presented over a spatial array of loudspeakers. Speech level was kept constant, while noise level was progressively increased over a range of signal-to-noise ratios. The signal-to-noise ratio for which 50% of keywords could be correctly reported (speech reception threshold, SRT) was derived from psychometric functions. Other audiometric measures were collected for the cohort, such as audiograms and speech-in-quiet performance. Results: The VRB test was both sensitive and reliable, as shown by the steep slope of the psychometric functions and by the high test-retest consistency across sentence lists. Correlation analyses showed that pure tone averages derived from the audiograms explained 74% of the SRT variance over the whole cohort, but only 29% for individuals with clinically normal audiograms. SRTs were then compared to recent guidelines from the French Society of Audiology [Eur Ann Otorhinolaryngol Head Neck Dis. 2022;139(1):21–7]. Among individuals who would not have qualified for hearing aid prescription based on their audiogram or speech intelligibility in quiet, 18.4% were now eligible as they displayed SRTs in noise impaired by 3 dB or more. For individuals with borderline audiograms, between 20 dB HL and 30 dB HL, the prevalence of impaired SRTs increased to 71.4%. Finally, even though five lists are recommended for clinical use, a minute-long screening using only one VRB list detected 98.6% of impaired SRTs. Conclusion: The reference data suggest that VRB testing can be used to identify individuals with speech-in-noise impairment.
Oral Rinses: Some Kill and Some Cripple Candida albicans
Authors: Darmani Homa , Al-Saleh Dua’a Riyad Husain
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Oral healthcare professionals play a crucial role in guiding patients toward evidence-based choices among the many available oral rinses. In this study, we explored how specific oral rinse formulations affect the viability and modulate critical virulence traits of the opportunistic fungal pathogen Candida albicans. Materials and Methods: We assessed the effects of these oral rinses on the production of germ tube, production of phospholipase and hemolysin, as well as biofilm formation. Results: We found that oral rinses containing cetylpyridinium chloride (CPC) and chlorhexidine (CHX) showed the greatest fungicidal activity with the lowest minimum fungicidal concentrations (0.38% and 0.78%, respectively). Oral rinses based on zinc chloride and sodium fluoride with Miswak bark extract (MIS) or essential oils (EO) had much lower fungicidal activity (8–16 times lower) compared to CHX and CPC. However, they had a significantly greater impact on the virulence traits of C. albicans. They reduced germ tube production by 86–89% (vs. 42% for CHX and 29% for CPC), completely inhibited phospholipase and hemolysin production, and together with the CPC-based oral rinse, exerted the greatest reductions in biofilm formation across all tested concentrations. This was in contrast to both the controls and CHX, which had a minimal effect on biofilm formation. Conclusion: By inhibiting the virulence factors, the oral rinse can have a crippling effect on C. albicans, weakening this opportunistic pathogen and hindering its potential to cause infection.
Leukonychia Totalis: An Underreported Sign of Chronic Arsenicosis
Authors: Bhoi Anil Kumar , Gaurav Vishal , Kushwaha Sunil
Published: April 2024

Introduction: Arsenic poisoning results from exposure to arsenic through ingestion, inhalation, or skin contact. Cutaneous and neurological symptoms enable early diagnosis. Diagnostic tests include hair, nail, and urine arsenic levels. Leukonychia can be true, apparent, or pseudoleukonychia, depending on the underlying cause. Case Report: A 27-year-old male on herbal supplement for bodybuilding, presented with whitish discolouration of nails for 2 years and tingling sensation in extremities for 6 months. Electrophysiological tests indicated symmetric sensorimotor polyneuropathy. Arsenic levels were significantly elevated in hair, nails, and herbal supplements. A diagnosis of chronic arsenicosis with leukonychia totalis and early peripheral neuropathy was made. Discussion: Chronic arsenicosis may feature skin changes including pigmentary alterations, palmoplantar keratosis, and the characteristic “raindrops on a dusty road” appearance. Hair loss and nail alterations, such as Mees’ lines, are also noted. Arsenic-related neuropathy can be mild or subclinical initially and primarily affects sensory nerve fibres. Total leukonychia due to chronic arsenic exposure has not been reported previously.
Prognostic Effects of RASSF1A, BRCA1, APC, and p16 Promoter Methylation in Ovarian Cancer: A Meta-Analysis
Authors: Chen Cheng , Zhu Ying , Zhang Haibo , Xiao Lan
Published: April 2024

Introduction: DNA methylation plays an important role in the carcinogenesis, progression, and prognosis of various human cancers. RASSF1A, BRCA1, APC, and p16 are the frequently methylated genes among patients with ovarian cancer. Therefore, our study aimed to better determine the prognostic and cancer characteristics effects of RASSF1A, BRCA1, APC, and p16 promoter methylation in ovarian cancer patients. Methods: Databases such as PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, CNKI, and WanFang were searched for published studies up to March 4, 2024. The outcomes are shown as OR and HR with their 95% CIs. Then, the random or fixed-effect model was performed to evaluate the effect sizes. Results: Finally, 27 articles were included in this meta-analysis. No significant relationships were observed between RASSF1A, BRCA1, and APC promoter methylation and the clinical prognostic (including overall survival and progression-free survival) and cancer characteristics (including ascites, lymph node metastasis, and pelvic peritoneal metastasis) in ovarian cancer. p16 promoter methylation was significantly related to poor progression-free survival (PFS) (HR = 1.52, 95% CI = 1.14–2.04) and overall survival (OS) (HR = 1.39, 95% CI = 1.06, to 1.83) in univariate and poor PFS in multivariate Cox regression models (HR = 1.42, 95% CI = 1.05–1.92). Besides, our results indicated that the clinical stage was associated with inferior OS while there was no significant association between tumor grade and OS. Conclusion: RASSF1A, BRCA1, and APC promoter methylation were not significantly associated with clinical prognostic and cancer characteristics. p16 may be a useful biomarker for predicting PFS in ovarian cancer. Furthermore, the clinical stage was significantly associated with OS. In further research, more prospective and multicenter validation studies remain needed.
Temporal Trends in Cardiovascular Disease Prevalence Among Asian American Subgroups
Authors: Nguyen Kaylin T. , Li Jiang , Peng Allison W. , Azar Kristen , Heidenreich Paul , Palaniappan Latha , Yong Celina M.
Published: April 2024

Background

Asian and multiracial individuals represent the 2 fastest growing racial and ethnic groups in the United States, yet most prior studies report Asian American and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander as a single racial group, with limited data on cardiovascular disease (CVD) prevalence among subgroups. We sought to evaluate temporal trends in CVD burden among disaggregated Asian subgroups.

Methods and Results

Patients with CVD based on
International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision
and
Tenth Revision
(
ICD‐9
and
ICD‐10
) coding who received care from a mixed‐payer health care organization in California between 2008 and 2018 were classified into self‐identified racial and ethnic subgroups (non‐Hispanic White [NHW], Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Japanese, Korean, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and multiracial groups). Adjusted trends in CVD prevalence over time by subgroup were compared using logistic regression. Among 3 494 071 patient‐years, prevalence of CVD increased faster among all subgroups except Japanese and Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander patients (
P
<0.01 for each, reference: NHW). Filipino patients had the highest overall CVD prevalence, which increased from 34.3% to 45.1% over 11 years (increase from 17.3%–21.9%,
P
<0.0001, reference: NHW). Asian Indian patients had the fastest increase in CVD prevalence over time (16.9%–23.7%,
P
<0.0001, reference: NHW). Among subcategories of disease, hypertension increased faster among Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, Korean, and multiracial groups (
P
<0.01 for all, reference: NHW), and coronary artery disease increased faster among Asian Indian, Chinese, Filipino, and Japanese groups (
P
<0.05 for each, reference: NHW).

Conclusions

The increasing prevalence of CVD among disaggregated Asian, Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander, and multiracial subgroups over time highlights the importance of tailored approaches to addressing CVD in these diverse subpopulations.
Cost‐Effectiveness of a Multicomponent Primary Care Intervention for Hypertension
Authors: Chay Junxing , Jafar Tazeen H. , Su Rebecca J. , Shirore Rupesh M. , Tan Ngiap Chuan , Finkelstein Eric A.
Published: April 2024

Background

The SingHypertension primary care clinic intervention, which consisted of clinician training in hypertension management, subsidized single‐pill combination medications, nurse‐delivered motivational conversations and telephone follow‐ups, improved blood pressure control and cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk scores relative to usual care among patients with uncontrolled hypertension in Singapore. This study quantified the incremental cost‐effectiveness, in terms of incremental cost per unit reduction disability‐adjusted life years, of SingHypertension relative to usual care for patients with hypertension from the health system perspective.

Methods and Results

We developed a Markov model to simulate CVD events and associated outcomes for a hypothetical cohort of patients over a 10‐year period. Costs were measured in US dollars, and effectiveness was measured in disability‐adjusted life years averted. We present base‐case results and conducted deterministic and probabilistic sensitivity analyses. Based on a willingness‐to‐pay threshold of US $55 500 per DALY averted, SingHypertension was cost‐effective for patients with hypertension (incremental cost‐effectiveness ratio: US $24 765 per disability‐adjusted life year averted) relative to usual care. This result held even if risk reduction was assumed to decline linearly to 0 over 10 years but not sooner than 7 years. Incremental cost‐effectiveness ratios were most sensitive to the magnitude of the reduction in CVD risk; at least a 0.13% to 0.16% point reduction in 10‐year CVD risk is required for cost‐effectiveness. Probabilistic sensitivity analysis indicates that SingHypertension has a 78% chance of being cost‐effective at the willingness‐to‐pay threshold.

Conclusions

SingHypertension represents good value for the money for reducing CVD incidence, morbidity, and mortality and should be considered for wide‐scale implementation in Singapore and possibly other countries.

Registration Information

REGISTRATION: URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov
; Unique identifier: NCT02972619.
LLaMA-LoRA Neural Prompt Engineering: A Deep Tuning Framework for Automatically Generating Chinese Text Logical Reasoning Thinking Chains
Authors: Chen Songlin , Wang Weicheng , Chen Xiaoliang , lu Peng , Yang Zaiyan , Du Yajun
Published: April 2024

The exption of Chinese natural language processing (NLP) has stimulated research in the broader NLP domain. However, existing large language models have limitations in comprehending and reasoning in Chinese. This paper addresses these limitations by enhancing Chinese language models comprehension and reasoning capabilities while minimizing resource requirements. We propose LLaMA-LoRA, a neural prompt engineering framework that builds upon the LLaMA-13B model and incorporates the Low-Rank Adaptation (LoRA) of Large Language Models technique for refinement. Chain-of-Thought (CoT) are crucial for generating intermediate reasoning chains in language models, but their effectiveness can be limited by isolated language patterns. Erroneous reasoning resulting from conventional prompts negatively impacts model performance. Automatic prompts are introduced to encourage reasoning chain generation and accurate answer inference. Training the model with an extensive corpus of Chinese CoT data enhances its comprehension and reasoning abilities. The LLaMA-LoRA model demonstrates exceptional performance across numerous Chinese language tasks, surpassing benchmark performance achieved by related language models such as GPT-3.5, Chat-GLM, and OpenAssistant, delivering accurate, comprehensive, and professional answers. The availability of our open-source model code facilitates further research in the field of Chinese text logical reasoning thinking chains.
Disentangling reference frames in the neural compass
Authors: Dutriaux Léo , Xu Yangwen , Sartorato Nicola , Lhuillier Simon , Bottini Roberto
Published: April 2024

The neural system that encodes heading direction in humans can be found in the medial and superior parietal cortex and the entorhinal-retrosplenial circuit. However, it is still unclear whether heading direction in these different regions is represented within an allocentric or egocentric coordinate system. To investigate this problem, we first asked whether regions encoding (putatively) allocentric facing direction also encode (unambiguously) egocentric goal direction. Second, we assessed whether directional coding in these regions scaled with the preference for an allocentric perspective during everyday navigation. Before the experiment, participants learned different object maps in two geometrically similar rooms. In the MRI scanner, their task was to retrieve the egocentric position of a target object (e.g., Front, Left) relative to an imagined facing direction (e.g., North, West). Multivariate analyses showed, as predicted, that facing direction was encoded bilaterally in the superior parietal lobule (SPL), the retrosplenial complex (RSC), and the left entorhinal cortex (EC), a result that could be interpreted both allocentrically and egocentrically. Crucially, we found that the same voxels in the SPL and RSC also coded for egocentric goal direction but not for allocentric goal direction. Moreover, when facing directions were expressed as egocentric bearings relative to a reference vector, activities for facing direction and egocentric goal direction were correlated, suggesting a common reference frame. Besides, only the left EC coded allocentric goal direction as a function of the subject’s propensity to use allocentric strategies. Altogether, these results suggest that heading direction in the superior and medial parietal cortex is mediated by an egocentric code, whereas the entorhinal cortex encodes directions according to an allocentric reference frame.
Theta activity discriminates high-level, species-specific body processes
Authors: Chesley Jane , Riecke Lars , Lu Juanzhi , Vogels Rufin , de Gelder Beatrice
Published: April 2024

Among social stimuli that trigger rapid reactions, body images occupy a prominent place. Given that bodies carry information about other agents’ intentions, actions and emotional expressions, a foundational question concerns the neural basis of body processing. Previous functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) studies have investigated this but were not yet able to clarify the time course and its functional significance. The present EEG study investigated the role of slow oscillatory cortical activity in body processing and species-specificity. Human participants viewed naturalistic images of human and monkey bodies, faces, and objects, along with mosaic-scrambled versions to control for low-level visual features. Analysis of event-related theta power (4–7 Hz) combined with data-driven methods revealed a strong, body-evoked neural response that is specific to human bodies and spans a widespread scalp region during a time window of 200–550 ms after the onset of the body image. Our results corroborate recent research proposing a species-specific cortical network of human body processing. We submit that this network may play an essential role in linking body processes to movement intentions.
JustiLM: Few-shot Justification Generation for Explainable Fact-Checking of Real-world Claims
Authors: Zeng Fengzhu , Gao Wei
Published: April 2024

Justification is an explanation that supports the veracity assigned to a claim in fact-checking. However, the task of justification generation has been previously oversimplified as summarization of a fact-check article authored by fact-checkers. Therefore, we propose a realistic approach to generate justification based on retrieved evidence. We present a new benchmark dataset called ExClaim (for Explainable fact-checking of real-world Claims), and introduce JustiLM, a novel few-shot Justification generation based on retrieval-augmented Language Model by using fact-check articles as an auxiliary resource during training only. Experiments show that JustiLM achieves promising performance in justification generation compared to strong baselines, and can also enhance veracity classification with a straightforward extension.1

Code and dataset are released at https://github.com/znhy1024/JustiLM.
The Middle Belt Factor in the Nigeria-Biafra War, 1967–1975
Authors: Eze Okonkwo Christopher , Ugbudian Lucky Igohosa , Alaku Emmanuel C
Published: April 2024

The Middle Belt factor in the Nigeria-Biafra War is a new perspective in Nigerian historical scholarship. The intra-elite competition for power in the Middle Belt resulted in the Tiv revolts of the early 1960s which eroded the legitimacy of Nigeria’s post-independence government. This study is a knowledge-building effort to analyse how the pendulum of the Middle Belt politics from 1967–1975 factored the Zone’s participation in the Nigeria-Biafra War, its influence in the war-time policies, as well as the post-war policies. The thrust of this study, therefore, is to demonstrate how the Middle Belt politics shaped the success of the war and the formulation of war policies during, and after the war in Nigeria. The argument from this perspective is that the crises in the Zone precipitated the coup and subsequent events that snowballed into the war, and their cumulative contributions to the end of the war.
Hobbes and Locke: Meaning, Method, Modernity
Authors: Stanton Timothy , Stuart-Buttle Tim
Published: April 2024

An introduction to the special issue on Hobbes and Locke: Meaning, Method, Modernity.
Botho/Ubuntu paradigm as cognitive justice in psychology
Authors: Sefotho Maximus Monaheng , Letseka Moeketsi
Published: April 2024

The concept of Botho/ Ubuntu emerges as a balancing paradigm poised to drive cognitive justice in psychological discourses. A paradigm is a universally recognized scientific model that represents a worldview of the nature of the world. There are enduring concerns about the privileging of Western European paradigms, ontologies, epistemologies, and axiologies over their African counterparts. In this article, we present the Botho/ Ubuntu paradigm as a strong contender for the promotion, and humanization of epistemologies in psychology. The 59th annual conference of the Comparative and International Education Society (CIES) in Washington, DC in 2015, whose theme was “ Ubuntu! Imagining a Humanist Education Globally,” as well as the World Council of Comparative Education Societies’ (WCCES) recent book, Comparative Education for Global Citizenship, Peace and Shared Living through Ubuntu, are examples through which Ubuntu began to emerge as a paradigm poised to deliver cognitive and epistemic justice in the area such as psychology. We use Critical African Psychology as a lens through which we interrogate cognitive injustice. We conclude by demonstrating that Botho/Ubuntu paradigm might serve as a driver of cognitive justice in psychology and makes inroads into major discourses driven by African scholars.
Reflections on high growth firms
Authors: Motoyama Yasuyuki , Henderson Christina , Clevenger Morgan , Desai Sameeksha , Oh Sehun , Van Maasakkers Tijs
Published: April 2024

Scholars and practitioners have investigated high growth firms because a small number of high growth firms contribute disproportionately to economic development. However, we find that the standard perception and support programs of high growth firms are heavily geared toward to firms in the high-tech sector that seek venture capital investment and hyper growth. The authors in this paper conducted multiple research projects of high growth firms in Kansas City, St Louis, Indianapolis, Columbus, and Montana, and came to conclude that many high growth firms are sector agonistic, locally rooted, grow organically based on market niche, and exist in every city. This alternative model of high growth firms leads to a completely different set of policy and support implications, which we synthesize in eight points.
Post-stroke depression, activities of daily living, and occupational therapy intervention: An observational survey
Authors: Anello Sara , Pisaniello Diletta Maria , Battain Pier Carlo
Published: April 2024

Introduction:

Post-stroke depression is a frequent but under-diagnosed condition. Nevertheless, it impacts participation in activities of daily living (ADLs) and the rehabilitation process. The aim of this study is to analyze the influence of post-stroke depression on participation in ADLs and on occupational therapy (OT) intervention in adults.

Methods:

An observational study was conducted through a survey. The questionnaire covered OTs view about the influence of post-stroke depression on ADLs and occupational therapy treatment. Data collected by online questionnaire were analyzed through STATA®, using a mixed method. Quantitative data were analyzed through descriptive statistics. Qualitative data were analyzed by thematic analysis.

Results:

Sixty-three surveys were valid. Stroke adults manifest hopelessness toward the future, crying and nervousness (“often” / “always” >50%). They have often worse occupational performance than patients with stable mood (55.56%), especially in self-care activities (35.92%). The performance limiting factors are low volition (41%), reduced motor skills (30%), and reduced cognitive skills (19%). OT intervention with these patients aims to increase volition (21.30%), recover roles (16.61%), and improve self-care activities (14.08%).

Conclusion:

Mood disorders negatively affect participation in ADLs and OT intervention. This study highlights the importance of volitional factors in promoting occupational engagement and provides guidance for OT treatment. Further investigation through specific studies appears necessary.
Context clues: Citizens and their higher valuation of the contextualist journalist role
Authors: Lough Kyser , Wallace Ryan , Overgaard Christian Staal Bruun
Published: April 2024

This study examines media trust and how members of the public perceive and value various journalistic roles using a nationally representative survey (n = 1,026) to redefine and confirm how the American public places significant value on the contextualist role of journalism. The individual journalistic functions that make up contextual reporting are also highly valued. Media trust is primarily predicted by overall journalistic role perception, even above ideological views, but not for the contextualist role.
Expansion of a spherical cavity in an infinite porous rigid/plastic medium
Authors: Hwang Yeong-Maw , Alexandrov Sergei , Rynkovskaya Marina
Published: April 2024

An expanding spherical cavity of a zero initial radius surrounded by an infinite porous rigid/plastic medium is considered. The material is assumed to obey the flow theory of plasticity based on a yield criterion and its associated flow rule. The yield criterion depends on the linear and quadratic stress invariants. No restriction is imposed on this dependence, except for the standard requirements imposed on the yield criteria. It is shown that the solution can be extended into the rigid region. The yield criterion approaches the von Mises yield criterion as the relative density approaches unity. Some equations contain the expression 0/0 at the rigid/plastic boundary. In this respect, the present solution is qualitatively different from available elastic/plastic solutions. However, the solution does not provide the solution for the von Mises yield criterion as a particular case. Numerical results are presented for Green’s yield criterion. These results follow physical expectations concerning the distributions of the relative density, the radial velocity, and the radial stress. The solution is adapted for expanding a cavity of a non-zero initial radius. The pressure required for expanding the cavity is calculated.
Idiopathic intracranial hypertension as the initial presenting manifestation of systemic lupus erythematosus in a child
Authors: Sudhakar Murugan , Kocheril Anu P , George Anish S , Vettiyil George I , Jasper Anitha , Kumar Sathish
Published: April 2024

Idiopathic intracranial hypertension (IIH) is a diagnosis of exclusion characterized by features of raised intracranial pressure (ICP) in the absence of brain parenchymal lesion, vascular malformations, hydrocephalus, or central nervous system (CNS) infection. Commonly used other terms for this entity include benign intracranial hypertension (BIH) or pseudotumor cerebri. Few case reports of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) presenting as IIH are available in the literature. We report a 12-year-old girl presented with chronic holocranial headache and occasional episodes of projectile vomiting for the last 6 months and then developed blurring of vision for the last month. She fulfilled the criteria for IIH. Subsequent evaluation revealed a diagnosis of SLE. The occurrence of IIH in SLE is not coincidental and is reported in 1%–5.4% of patients with SLE. Though corticosteroids have not been widely used in IIH, underlying SLE warranted administering corticosteroids with subsequent complete resolution of IIH. Pediatricians, neurologists, intensivists, and ophthalmologists should consider SLE as a differential diagnosis in children presenting with IIH.