bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Association Between Periconceptual Maternal Dietary Patterns and Miscarriage Risk in Women With Recurrent Miscarriages: A Multicentre Cohort Study
Authors: Chung Yealin , Melo Pedro , Easter Christina , Price Malcolm J. , Dhillon‐Smith Rima , Quenby Siobhan , Devall Adam , Coomarasamy Arri
Published: November 2024

Objective

To examine the association between periconceptual maternal diet and miscarriage risk among women with recurrent miscarriages.

Design

Prospective multicentre cohort study (Tommy's Net).

Setting

Three university hospital research centres in the United Kingdom.

Population

1035 women with a baseline history of two or more miscarriages.

Methods

We analysed baseline dietary data from a 10‐item Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). For individual food category analyses, we used multivariable Poisson regression following adjustment for maternal confounders and paternal dietary patterns. For whole diet analyses, ordinal principal component analysis (PCA) was used to identify common dietary patterns. Results were presented as relative risks (RR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) and accompanying p‐values.

Main Outcome Measures

Miscarriage rate, defined as the rate of spontaneous pregnancy loss (< 24 weeks of gestation) relative to the total number of pregnancies (miscarriages and live births).

Results

High consumption of fruit and nuts (almonds and walnuts) was associated with lower miscarriage risk (fruit 226/662 (34.1%) vs. 38/77 (49.4%), RR 0.66, 95% CI 0.51 to 0.85, p = 0.001; nuts 47/152 (30.9%) vs. 220/613 (35.9%), RR 0.73, 95% CI 0.54 to 0.98, p = 0.039). High red meat intake was associated with a possible increase in miscarriage risk (6/12 (50.0%) vs. 165/469 (35.2%), RR 1.86, 95% CI 1.10 to 3.16, p = 0.022). The association with miscarriage risk was unclear for other food groups, including fresh vegetables, white meat, fish, dairy, eggs, soya and chocolate, due to imprecise point estimates. Through PCA, we identified three data‐derived dietary patterns. Yet, no distinct relationship emerged between these dietary patterns and miscarriage risk.

Conclusions

A maternal diet rich in fresh fruits and nuts is associated with a lower miscarriage risk among women with a history of recurrent miscarriage.

Trail Registration

Tommy's Net (ISRCTN17732518) https://www.isrctn.com/ISRCTN17732518. Analysis plan (OSF zp7cs) https://osf.io/zp7cs.
Maternal Cannabis Use Disorder and Neonatal Health Outcomes: A Data Linkage Study
Authors: Tadesse Abay Woday , Betts Kim , Dachew Berihun Assefa , Ayano Getinet , Alati Rosa
Published: November 2024

Objective

We tested for the potential associations between maternal antenatal cannabis use disorders (CUD) and neonatal health outcomes using large linked administrative data.

Design

Population‐based retrospective cohort study.

Setting

The study was conducted in New South Wales, Australia.

Population or Sample

A total of 215 879 singleton live births.

Methods

Generalised linear models (GLMs) fitted using log‐binomial regression to estimate risk ratios (RRs) with the corresponding 95% confidence intervals (95% CI). Additionally, we conducted a propensity score matching (PSM) analysis.

Main Outcome Measures

The outcomes include preterm births (PTB), low birth weight (LBW), small for gestational age (SGA), 5‐min lower Apgar scores and admission to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU).

Results

In unmatched analyses, antenatal CUD was associated with increased risks for all adverse neonatal outcomes (adjusted risk ratio [RR] ranging from 1.47 [95% CI: 1.01, 2.14] for 5‐min lower APGAR scores to 2.58 [95% CI 2.28, 2.91] for PTB). In PSM analyses, we observed slightly attenuated risks of PTB (RR = 1.98 [1.70, 2.31]), LBW (RR = 2.46 [2.13, 2.84]), SGA (RR = 1.84 [1.44, 2.35]) and admission to NICU (RR = 1.91 [1.49, 2.45]) after matching by covariates. However, we found no significant association between antenatal CUD and 5‐min low APGAR scores (RR = 1.47 [0.94, 2.30]).

Conclusion

We found that maternal antenatal exposure to CUD is associated with a range of adverse neonatal outcomes. This study highlights that targeted interventions focusing on antenatal counselling are recommended to mitigate risks associated with maternal cannabis use.
Low‐acuity emergency department presentation characteristics and their association with Medicare‐subsidised general practitioner services across New South Wales: A data linkage study
Authors: Kaikhosrovi Mahsa , Bein Kendall , Haywood Philip , Seimon Radhika , Dinh Michael
Published: November 2024

Objectives

Identify clinical and demographic characteristics of low‐acuity presentations (LAPs) to the ED and analyse correlations between population rates of LAPs to ED and rates of Medicare‐subsidised general practitioner (GP) services across statistical areas.

Methods

Retrospective data linkage study using state‐wide ED data and publicly available data on GP services per population by statistical area. We performed multilevel logistic regression to determine predictors of LAP at an individual level after adjusting for remoteness categories and performed correlations between rates of LAP and GP services per population across statistical areas in New South Wales, Australia. The primary outcome was the rate of LAPs to ED, LAPs being defined as patients who self‐presented to ED, assigned an Australasian Triage Score of 4 or 5 and subsequently discharged from ED.

Results

There were 2.9 million ED presentations in 2021, of which 39.9% presentations were classified as LAP. LAPs were associated with younger age, routine care, eyes, ear, nose and throat and musculoskeletal presentations. The rate of LAPs was higher in non‐metropolitan areas. Additionally, 85% of LAPs were seen and discharged from ED within 4 h. There was an inverse correlation between the rate of Medicare‐subsidised GP services and the rate of total ED or LAPs in non‐metropolitan areas (ρ = −0.47, ρ = −056 and P = 0.012, P = 0.001, respectively). In metropolitan areas, correlations were either positive for all ED presentations (ρ = +0.41, P = 0.007) or not significant for LAPs (ρ = +0.18, P = 0.57).

Conclusions

A relationship between LAPs to ED and Medicare‐subsidised GP episodes of care exists for non‐metropolitan but not metropolitan areas.
The Role of Family Networks in Holocaust Rescue, 1933–1941: The Case of Australia
Authors: Láníček Jan
Published: November 2024

The article analyses the role family networks in Australia played in Holocaust rescue before and shortly after the outbreak of World War 2. Working with sources from the official archives as well as private documents, I argue that the networks enabled hundreds of Jewish migrants and refugees to escape Europe. Furthermore, they facilitated the arrival of migrants, who otherwise would most likely have been rejected as unsuitable applicants by the Australian government. First, the article analyses the Australian immigration laws before 1941, focusing predominantly on the sponsorship pathway, which allowed Australian residents to apply for the admission of their relatives and friends. In the following parts, the article uses case studies of individual migrants and their families to demonstrate the possibilities but also limitations of the sponsorship program. It concludes that despite the limitations, family networks need to be recognised for their contribution to Holocaust rescue, and this applies also to the case study of Australia, which otherwise was for a long time not considered an ideal destination by Jewish refugees.
The Pacific in Transition: 50 Years on
Authors: Banks Glenn , Overton John
Published: November 2024

The islands of the Pacific Ocean have been the subject of much study with regard to change and transformation. Current concerns with the effects climate change have not always been central and other discourses, such as development and progress, social change and decolonisation have interested the work of social scientists over several decades. Furthermore, until recently such research has been mainly carried out by individuals and institutions from outside the region. In this paper, we revisit a series of intensive fieldwork‐based studies conducted over 50 years ago out of the Australian National University and included in a book The Pacific in Transition edited by Harold Brookfield. We focus on three authors in this collection (Diana Howlett, William Clarke and Isireli Lasaqa). These, we argue, contained important and sometimes prescient insights into not only some of the fundamental processes of change in the region but also the limits of the dominant theoretical paradigms of the time. In addition, they also provide valuable lessons for the present day ways we conceive, study and interpret change in Oceania, as well as the need to foreground the agency, knowledges and realities of Pacific island people.
Applying the estimand framework to clinical pharmacology trials with a case study in bioequivalence
Authors: Lynggaard Helle , McKendrick Sue , Baird Mark , Kerwash Essam , Lanius Vivian , Lasch Florian , Wright David
Published: November 2024

The International Council for Harmonisation of Technical Requirements for Pharmaceuticals for Human Use has published an addendum on estimands and sensitivity analysis in clinical trials along with related training materials. These define an estimand as a precise description of the treatment effect that reflects the scientific question of interest. In December 2022, the US Food and Drug Administration released draft guidance recommending estimands of interest be specified in bioequivalence trial protocols. However, experience in implementing estimands in clinical pharmacology trials is limited and so we introduce estimands and provide step‐by‐step considerations about the estimand thinking process in this setting. We also describe a particular case study, a bioequivalence trial, illustrating how the estimand framework can provide transparency and alignment throughout the design, conduct and analysis of the trial. This involves discussion of how to identify and handle intercurrent events, which are events that can affect interpretation of the drug or metabolite endpoints. Furthermore, we discuss the broader applicability of the estimand framework to other clinical pharmacology trials. Finally, we encourage further discussion between industry, academia, regulators and the International Council for Harmonisation on whether the estimand framework should be considered in all clinical pharmacology regulatory guidance documents.
Are Corporations Like Psychopaths? Lessons On Moral Responsibility From Rio Tinto's Juukan Gorge Disaster
Authors: Schwenkenbecher Anne
Published: November 2024

There seems to be a striking parallel between the features of psychopaths and those of agential groups, including states and corporations. Psychopaths are often thought to lack some of the capacities that are constitutive of moral agency. Two features of psychopaths are commonly identified as grounds for limiting their moral responsibility: (i) their lack of relevant emotional capacities and (ii) their flawed rational capacities. Roughly, the first argument is that the lack of moral emotions such as sympathy, guilt, or shame negatively impacts moral perception and therewith an agent's capacity for moral reasoning. The second argument is that psychopaths are diminished in their agency as such, not just in their moral agency; they are erratic and impulsive and show other significant failures of rationality. Using the 2020 Juukan Gorge disaster in Western Australia as a case study, I conclude that deliberate or reckless corporate irrationality cannot be grounds for diminished corporate moral responsibility. Corporate agents are chiefly responsible for core aspects of their moral agency, including their internal epistemic structures and decision‐making processes. They have obligations to establish or maintain internal epistemic integrity and consistency.
Completion Thyroidectomy Trends and Rates: A Systematic Review and Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Soibelman Daniel , Ronen Ohad
Published: November 2024

Background

In January 2016, the American Thyroid Association (ATA) published an update to the guidelines concerning the management of adult patients with thyroid nodules and well‐differentiated thyroid cancers. One of the revised recommendations states that lobectomy is a reasonable surgical approach for low‐risk patients. This systematic review compares the rates of completion thyroidectomy surgeries before and after the publication of the recent ATA guidelines.

Methods

A systematic review was conducted according to the PRISMA guidelines of the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta‐analyses. PubMed and Embase databases were searched to find articles which demonstrate the rates of completion thyroidectomy surgeries in the last 6 years, before and after the recent ATA guidelines publication. Overall, 8744 titles and abstracts were screened, and 964 articles were fully assessed for eligibility. Eventually, 40 studies were included for data extraction. More than 48 000 patients with thyroid malignancy were included in the review, and were divided into three time periods according to the publication date of 2015 ATA guidelines.

Results

We found that the rate of completion thyroidectomy was 51.8% before 2016 and 43.1% after the 2015 ATA guidelines publication. We observed a 17% reduction of early completion thyroidectomy surgeries since the 2015 ATA guidelines publication relative to previous periods, among patients with malignant pathology.

Conclusions

Apparently, more centres worldwide implemented the new guidelines and prefer a conservative surgical approach as compared to the pre‐ATA 2015 era.
Youth engagement in global conservation governance
Authors: Sithole Samantha S. , Walters Gretchen M. , Mbatha Philile , Matose Frank
Published: November 2024

Youth are increasingly recognized for their important role in shaping environmental decisions surrounding conservation. Regrettably, youth who are crucial decision‐makers are often excluded from environmental governance spaces due to structural barriers, both economic and political. As highlighted by recent environmental justice literature, this marginalization hinders their active participation in the decision‐making process. The recent publication of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) Youth Strategy 2022–2030 has brought prominent environmental organizations into the debate. The IUCN World Conservation Congress (WCC) presents a useful example from which to understand how youth access and participate in decision‐making at the highest level of governance in a prominent global conservation organization. We used event ethnography and participant observation methods to study the WCC Forum in Marseille, France (2021). We sought to examine the geopolitical intricacies of power and the underlying inequalities at the root of youth engagement, or lack thereof. We considered the IUCN's engagement with youth, outlining the process from previous resolutions and recommendations to the publication of the IUCN Youth Strategy in 2022. The results from the youth narratives we compiled showed that youth are not a monolith, that tokenism should be challenged, and that youth have agency but require support. We argue that when youth are mobilized in metalevel decision‐making spaces, their engagement is stratified and unequal. We situated youth engagement in decision‐making through the perspective of environmental organizations as a contribution to environmental governance and youth literature.
Adivasi (Tea Tribe) worldviews of living close to wild Asian elephants in Assam, India
Authors: Banerjee Sayan , Nayak Dibakar , Sinha Anindya
Published: November 2024

In Assam state, northeastern India, human–elephant conflict mitigation has included technocentric measures, such as installation of barriers, alternative livelihoods, and afforestation. Such measures treat conflict as a technical problem with linear cause–effect relations and are usually ineffective over the long term because they do not consider how historical conditions have shaped present interactions between humans and elephants. Human–elephant encounters in South Asia, including in Assam, have arisen from colonial and postcolonial land‐use policies, ethnic relations, and capital extraction. To disentangle these relations, we conducted ethnographic fieldwork in Udalguri district of Assam among the Adivasi (Tea Tribe) to examine their interactions with wild elephants. Through socioecological ruptures, caused by displacement and deforestation, Adivasi (Tea Tribe) and elephant lives have intersected through space and time. Adivasi (Tea Tribe) life narratives and observations of daily encounters with elephants revealed that their interactions are multifaceted and motivated by multiple factors. Myths and oral testimonies revealed that the community has created conceptualizations of the elephant by closely observing their behavior, especially their movements, diets, vocalizations, and interactions with humans. These conceptualizations are filled with vignettes of shared marginalized lives, caused by the loss of homeland, food poverty, and uncertain ways of living. The empathy, expressed by the Adivasi (Tea Tribe), highlights ways of living with elephants that are affective and reach beyond technocentric interventions. For Adivasi (Tea Tribe) members, cohabitation could thus be achieved by living close to elephants as uneasy neighbors. Concepts of cohabitation, we suggest, could be harnessed to inform conservation policy and bring into focus the critically important—and yet often underutilized—values, encompassed by bottom‐up, place‐centric understandings of what elephants are and how coexistence may be possible in increasingly anthropogenic landscapes.
Creating constellations of coexistence through connections between people in human–wildlife conflict areas
Authors: Green Aalayna R. , Chakrabarti Stotra , Shivakumar Shweta , Hughes Courtney , Banerjee Sayan , Kinyanjui Maureen W. , Mbizah Moreangels M. , Ohrens Omar , Thiemkey Abigail R.
Published: November 2024

Human–wildlife conflict (HWC) is a critical challenge to human development and well‐being and threatens biodiversity conservation. Ideally, HWC mitigation should benefit both wildlife and communities and limit the costs associated with living alongside wildlife. However, place‐ and context‐dependent realizations of conflict are often overlooked in HWC mitigation. Social and systemic dimensions of human–wildlife relationships often receive limited consideration in HWC as a concept and in mitigation strategies implemented globally. In recognizing our collective symmetries as a diverse group of researchers, we pose the idea of constellations of coexistence, based on Atallah et al.’s “constellation of co‐resistance.” Building on literature and our interdisciplinary and cross‐sectoral experiences of working with diverse species inhabiting different sociocultural, sociopolitical, and socioeconomic landscapes, we considered evidence of cultural nuances (e.g., sociocultural dimensions of human–elephant and human–lion interactions in East Africa and India) in HWC mitigation and argue that failing to incorporate them in mainstream practices poses a myriad of ethical and practical consequences. Locally situated but globally relevant, participation of local and Indigenous communities in HWC mitigation activities produces better conservation outcomes. Centering communities in the ideation, implementation, and evaluation of HWC mitigation promotes more equitable and sustainable management strategies for long‐term human–wildlife coexistence.
The impact of an integrated alcohol policy: The example of Lithuania
Authors: Rehm Jürgen , Lange Shannon , Miščikienė Laura , Jiang Huan
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Although integrated alcohol policies, characterised by being consistent, structurally connected and interdependent, are considered to be best practices, very few evaluations of such policies exist. We evaluated the impact of two phases of integrated alcohol policies implemented in Lithuania in 2008/2009 and 2017/2018 on adult (15+ years of age) alcohol per capita consumption.

Methods

Alcohol per capita consumption was the main outcome, based on national data from Statistics Lithuania. Time‐series analyses using generalised additive mixed models were used, and unrecorded consumption trends were examined. A sensitivity analysis was conducted with data from the World Health Organization.

Results

The two phases of integrated alcohol policies were associated with average reductions in adult alcohol per capita consumption of almost 1 litre (−0.88 L; 95% confidence interval −1.43; −0.34). Sensitivity analyses with comparable international data on Lithuania yielded similar results.

Discussion and Conclusions

Integrated alcohol policies had a substantial effect on the average level of consumption. However, the effect of major single policies for Lithuania and other Baltic countries has been estimated to be of about the same magnitude. We conclude that in order to be successful, integrated alcohol policies should include at least one major effective population‐based policy.
Hazardous drinking by age at migration and duration of residence among migrants in Sweden
Authors: Berg Lisa , Juárez Sol P. , Honkaniemi Helena , Rostila Mikael , Dunlavy Andrea
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Sweden, with its history of restrictive alcohol policies and a large and diverse migrant population, constitutes an interesting context for studies on alcohol consumption patterns in migrant groups. This study examines how hazardous drinking among migrants in Sweden varies by origin, duration of residence and age at migration.

Methods

Pooled cross‐sectional survey data from the Västra Götaland region of Sweden, collected in 2011 and 2015, were linked to register data containing demographic, socioeconomic and migration‐related factors (i.e., country of birth, duration of residence, age at migration), for 7754 migrants and 68,493 Swedish‐born individuals aged 18–84 years. Logistic regression analyses were applied to estimate odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for hazardous drinking, identified by the validated Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test.

Results

Relative to Swedish‐born individuals, migrants from other Nordic countries had higher odds of hazardous drinking (OR 1.45, 95% CI 1.18–1.77), while migrants from other European (OR 0.55, 95% CI 0.44–0.69) and non‐European (OR 0.25, 95% CI 0.20–0.31) countries showed lower likelihoods. Among non‐Nordic migrants in particular, hazardous drinking was more common among those with a longer duration of residence and those who migrated at pre‐school ages.

Discussion and Conclusions

Hazardous drinking among non‐Nordic migrants increasingly resembled that of the Swedish‐born population over time, aligning with findings in less restrictive alcohol policy contexts. Understanding how drinking patterns vary among migrant groups over time and across policy contexts is essential for developing effective public health strategies to reduce hazardous consumption and associated health and social harms.
Genome‐wide methylation profiling of maternal cell‐free DNA using methylated DNA sequencing (MeD‐seq) indicates a placental and immune‐cell signature
Authors: van Vliet Marjolein M. , Boers Ruben G. , Boers Joachim B. , Schäffers Olivier J. M. , van der Meeren Lotte E. , Steegers‐Theunissen Régine P. M. , Gribnau Joost , Schoenmakers Sam
Published: November 2024

Background

Placental‐originated cell‐free DNA (cfDNA) provides unique opportunities to study (epi)genetic placental programming remotely, but studies investigating the cfDNA methylome are scarce and usually technologically challenging. Methylated DNA sequencing (MeD‐seq) is well compatible with low cfDNA concentrations and has a high genome‐wide coverage. We therefore aim to investigate the feasibility of genome‐wide methylation profiling of first trimester maternal cfDNA using MeD‐seq, by identifying placental‐specific methylation marks in cfDNA.

Methods

We collected cfDNA from nonpregnant controls (female n = 6, male n = 12) and pregnant women (n = 10), first trimester placentas (n = 10), and paired preconceptional and first trimester buffy coats (total n = 20). Differentially methylated regions (DMRs) were identified between pregnant and nonpregnant women. We investigated placental‐specific markers in maternal cfDNA, including RASSF1 promoter and Y‐chromosomal methylation, and studied overlap with placental and buffy coat DNA methylation.

Results

We identified 436 DMRs between cfDNA from pregnant and nonpregnant women, which were validated using male cfDNA. RASSF1 promoter methylation was higher in maternal cfDNA (fold change 2.87, unpaired t‐test p < .0001). Differential methylation of Y‐chromosomal sequences could determine fetal sex. DMRs in maternal cfDNA showed large overlap with DNA methylation of these regions in placentas and buffy coats. Sixteen DMRs in maternal cfDNA were specifically found only in placentas. These novel potential placental‐specific DMRs were more prominent than RASSF1.

Conclusions

MeD‐seq can detect (novel) genome‐wide placental DNA methylation marks and determine fetal sex in maternal cfDNA. Our results indicate a placental and immune‐cell contribution to the pregnancy‐specific cfDNA methylation signature. This study supports future research into maternal cfDNA methylation.
Identifying the causes of chronic unilateral nasal discharge in the horse
Authors: Dixon P. M.
Published: November 2024

This article briefly reviews the causes of unilateral nasal discharge associated with sinonasal disease in the horse. While computed tomographic and radiographic imaging are often of great diagnostic value, clinical and nasal endoscopic examinations are the initial steps in investigating these disorders. This article reviews the use of oral examination and nasal endoscopy in the investigation of nasal discharge caused by sinonasal disease.
Adverse childhood experiences and infidelity: The mediating roles of anxious and avoidant attachment styles
Authors: Coyle Phoebe , Van Doorn George , Teese Robert , Dye Jacob
Published: November 2024

Infidelity is any behavior that breaks the implied agreement of exclusivity within a romantic relationship and is a leading cause of divorce. Previous literature has established a relationship between Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) and infidelity perpetration. As experiencing childhood adversity does not guarantee an individual will engage in infidelity, mechanisms explaining this relationship should be explored. We investigated whether avoidant and anxious attachment styles mediate the relationship between ACEs and cheating frequency. A sample of 584 participants aged 18–82 years (M = 35.31, SD = 11.68, 67.0% female) was recruited and completed online versions of the Childhood Experiences Survey—17, the Relationship Structures Questionnaire, and frequency of cheating behavior in their current or most recent relationship. After dichotomizing gender and testing assumptions, data from 553 participants were available for analysis. A parallel mediation provided support for the first hypothesis, and partial support for the second. Specifically, ACEs were positively associated with anxious and avoidant attachment styles, but only avoidant attachment was significantly and positively associated with cheating frequency. As such, only avoidant attachment acted in a manner consistent with a mediator in the relationship between ACEs and infidelity. This result suggests a potential link between childhood adversity and the development of both avoidant and anxious attachment styles, but that individuals with an avoidant attachment style are more likely to engage in infidelity. These findings provide insight into the role attachment styles play in infidelity post‐childhood adversity, and have the potential to guide therapeutic interventions for affected individuals.
Body mass index at birth and early life and colorectal cancer: A two‐sample Mendelian randomization analysis in European and East Asian genetic similarity populations
Authors: Papadimitriou Nikos , Murphy Neil , Jenab Mazda , Chen Zhishan , Brenner Hermann , Kweon Sun‐Seog , Le Marchand Loic , Moreno Victor , Platz Elizabeth A. , van Duijnhoven Fränzel J. B. , Cheng Iona , Pai Rish K. , Phipps Amanda I. , Peters Ulrike , Zheng Wei , Hughes David J.
Published: November 2024

Background

Varying obesogenic inherited predisposition in early to later life may differentially impact colorectal cancer (CRC) development. Previous Mendelian randomization (MR) studies, conducted in populations of European genetic similarity, have not observed any significant associations between early life body weight with CRC risk. However, it remains unclear whether body mass index (BMI) at different early lifetime points is causally related with CRC risk in both Europeans and East Asian populations.

Objectives

We conducted a two‐sample MR study to investigate potential causal relationships between genetically predicted BMI during early life (birth to 8 years old) and at specific periods (birth, transient, early rise and late rise) and CRC risk.

Methods

Summary data were obtained from genome‐wide association study (GWAS) of BMI in 28 681 children from the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study (MoBa) study and applied to CRC GWAS data from European and East Asian descent populations (102 893 cases and 485 083 non‐cases).

Results

There were no significant associations observed between early life BMI and CRC risk in European or East Asian populations. The effect estimates were similar in European studies (odds ratio [OR] per a 1‐standard deviation [SD] increase: 1.01, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.95, 1.07) and in East Asians (OR per a 1‐SD increase: 1.02, 95% CI: 0.91, 1.14). Similar nonsignificant associations were found between time of BMI measurement during childhood and cancer‐site‐specific analyses.

Conclusions

We found little evidence of any associations between early life adiposity on later life CRC risk.
Impact of National Culture on the Transfer of Leadership Training
Authors: Yaghi Abdulfattah , Yaghi Majed , Yaghi Ihsan
Published: November 2024

Organisations invest heavily in leadership training with the hope that managers will become better leaders. However, the success of these investments depends on the extent to which managers apply the knowledge, skills, and abilities (KSA) they have acquired during their training to their job. Without this transfer, leadership training is ineffective. Despite extensive research on training transfer, there is a notable gap in understanding how national culture influences this process. This research aims to examine the impact of national culture on managers' ability to transfer leadership KSA in light of Hofstede's cultural theory. To achieve this, the focus group method was employed to gather qualitative data from 14 managers in Jordan; seven males and seven females. Thematic and narrative analyses confirmed the impact of national culture on training transfer. The six cultural dimensions have influenced the transfer of leadership training and, to a certain extent, shaped managers' organisational behaviour, regardless of gender. The findings provide a comprehensive understanding of how deeply ingrained cultural values and practices can either facilitate or impede the application of new knowledge and skills in the workplace. For instance, high power distance in Jordanian organisations hinders initiative‐taking and training transfer, while collectivist values facilitate teamwork and knowledge sharing. High uncertainty avoidance poses challenges in handling new situations, and a focus on short‐term goals reflects a lower long‐term orientation. Additionally, the narratives illustrate varying experiences and outcomes of leadership training transfer, influenced by the interplay of characters, setting, and cultural context. These insights have significant implications for designing and implementing leadership training programmes in culturally diverse settings. Practical recommendations include fostering supportive leadership, implementing mentorship programmes, developing recognition and reward systems, and incorporating change management components. By integrating these findings, organisations can enhance the effectiveness of leadership training and achieve a better return on investment.
Clinical Outcome of Cryoballoon Ablation for Long‐Standing Persistent Atrial Fibrillation: From the Korean Cryballoon Ablation Registry
Authors: Lee Sung Ho , Moon Suhyeon , Cha Myung‐Jin , Lee So‐Ryoung , Kim Ju Youn , Kwon Chang Hee , Shim Jaemin , Park Junbeom , Kim Ki‐Hun , Yang Pil‐Sung , Kim Jun‐Hyung , Oh Il‐Young , Lim Hong Euy
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) by cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is considered an effective primary strategy for early persistent atrial fibrillation (AF). However, data regarding CBA for long‐standing persistent AF (PeAF) are limited. We evaluated the efficacy and safety of CBA for long‐standing PeAF compared to PeAF.

Methods

The study included 1484 patients with non‐paroxysmal AF from Korean CBA registry data with follow‐up of > 12 months after de novo CBA. The primary outcome was recurrence of atrial tachyarrhythmias (ATs) of ≥ 30‐s after a 3‐month blanking period.

Results

A total of 367 PeAF (25%) and 1117 long‐standing PeAF (75.3%) patients (mean age 61.9 ± 9.6 years, 80% men) underwent de novo CBA. Compared to patients with PeAF, patients with long‐standing PeAF had more heart failure, previous stroke or transient ischemic attack, chronic kidney disease, higher CHA2DS2‐VASc score, and larger left atrium (LA). During a mean follow‐up period of 15.1 ± 10.9 months, ATs recurrence occurred in 41.4% of PeAF and 40.1% of long‐standing PeAF. Multivariate analysis showed that female gender (hazard ratio [HR]: 1.31, p = 0.01), larger LA ≥ 45 mm (HR: 1.53, p < .001) and LA volume index ≥ 51 mL/m2 (HR: 1.77, p < 0.001), and longer AF duration ≥ 5 years (HR: 1. 33, p = .003) were associated with ATs recurrence. After propensity score matching, larger LA was an independent factor for ATs recurrence.

Conclusions

During a long‐term follow‐up period after index CBA in patients with non‐paroxysmal AF, ATs recurrence rate was similar between PeAF and long‐standing PeAF. CBA might be an effective strategy as an initial rhythm control therapy regardless of AF type.
Contamination of Disposable Distal Cap Duodenoscopes and Detachable Elevator Duodenoscopes After Reprocessing: A Randomized Trial
Authors: Ridtitid Wiriyaporn , Buathong Jirayus , Chatsuwan Tanittha , Angsuwatcharakon Phonthep , Luangsukrerk Thanawat , Mekaroonkamol Parit , Piyachaturawat Panida , Kulpatcharapong Santi , Kongkam Pradermchai , Rerknimitr Rungsun
Published: November 2024

Background and Aim

To reduce bacterial contamination after reprocessing, various new designs of duodenoscopes have been developed to better expose the elevator complex for cleaning. We compared the rates of bacterial contamination and organic residue in disposable distal cap duodenoscopes and detachable elevator duodenoscopes after manual cleaning and high‐level disinfection (HLD), as well as their cost‐effectiveness.

Methods

A total of 162 duodenoscopes were randomly assigned to either Group A (disposable distal caps; n = 81) or Group B (detachable elevator; n = 81). A total of 324 samples from the elevator were collected for culture following manual cleaning (n = 81 in each group) and HLD (n = 81 in each group), followed by the adenosine triphosphate (ATP) testing for organic residue.

Results

After manual cleaning, there was no difference in bacterial contamination rates (8.6% vs. 8.6%; p = 1.00) and mean ATP levels (164.6 ± 257.5 vs. 158.1 ± 286.1 RLUs; p = 0.88) between Groups A and B. After HLD, no bacterial contamination was observed in either group and the mean ATP levels were very low with no significant difference between the two groups (30.1 ± 45.3 vs. 37.5 ± 51.9 RLUs; p = 0.68). The expense in reprocessing (excluding the scope cost) for Group A was lower (2099 USD) than Group B (3854 USD) in providing comparable scope cleanliness.

Conclusion

After manual cleaning, the bacterial contamination rate and organic residue levels in detachable elevator duodenoscopes and disposable distal caps duodenoscopes were comparable. No bacterial contamination was detected in either type of duodenoscope after reprocessing. Apart from the initial differences in scope cost, the disposable distal cap duodenoscope had lower cost on disposable items to have comparable disinfection result.
Accuracy of reported energy in food and beverages supplied to hospital patients
Authors: Chapman Claire E. , Irwin Christopher , Hopper Zane , Desbrow Ben
Published: November 2024

Background

Underprovision of food energy within the hospital environment can negatively affect clinical outcomes. Hence, the supply of hospital foods/beverages and the ability to assess their calorie provision is critical. The aim of this study was to directly measure the energy density of foods/beverages supplied to patients by Gold Coast University Hospital (GCUH) foodservice and compare these to caloric values established from nutrition information panels (NIPs) on product packaging.

Methods

Bomb calorimetry was used to determine the gross energy density of 58 food/beverage items (~47% of total menu) using standardised procedures. Food items included those from the general menu, in addition to therapeutic menu items. Equivalence between directly measured values and those derived from NIPs was determined by comparing the measured mean and ±90% confidence interval (CI) against two pre‐defined equivalence bounds (i.e., ±10% NIP value [consensus criteria] and ±20% NIP value [United States Food and Drug Administration (US FDA) criteria]). Caloric values from NIPs were considered equivalent to measured values when the 90% CI of the measured values fell within these thresholds.

Results

Overall, 34 (59%) and 19 (33%) items had measured energy density values not equivalent to those from product NIPs according to the consensus and US FDA thresholds, respectively. When employing the US FDA criteria, 12 (21%) items contained a higher calorie density than that established from the label, while seven (12%) items were lower. While non‐equivalent items were identified across all therapeutic menus, food labels from items exclusively prepared for the smooth‐pureed menu were particularly inaccurate (~60% non‐equivalency).

Conclusion

This study found a discrepancy between energy density that was directly measured and that derived from manufacturers' NIPs for many foods and beverages supplied via a hospital foodservice. Given the importance of accurate energy provision for hospitalised patients, this level of inaccuracy is concerning and may warrant a revision of food labelling procedures for items supplied in hospital settings.
Divergent Population Structure in Five Common Rockfish Species of Puget Sound, WA Suggests the Need for Species‐Specific Management
Authors: Wray Anita , Petrou Eleni , Nichols Krista M. , Pacunski Robert , LeClair Larry , Andrews Kelly S. , Haggarty Dana , Hauser Lorenz
Published: November 2024

Quantifying connectivity between endangered or threatened marine populations is critical information for management and conservation, especially where abundance and productivity differ among such populations. Spatial patterns of such connectivity depend not only on extrinsic factors such as oceanography and bathymetry but also on intrinsic species‐specific factors such as life history, demography and the location of glacial refugia. Nevertheless, population structure is often inferred from related or ecologically similar species. For example, the population structure in most rockfish species (Sebastes spp.) in the Salish Sea and the US West Coast is currently inferred from genetic data of three species that are known to hybridise in Puget Sound. Here, we determined the population structure and connectivity in five Puget Sound Rockfish species (Black [Sebastes melanops], Yellowtail [S. flavidus], Redstripe [S. proriger], Greenstriped [S. elongatus], and Puget Sound Rockfish [S. emphaeus]) from over 12,000 restriction‐site associated DNA sequencing (RADseq) loci. We found species‐specific patterns of genetic differentiation, attributable to both extrinsic and intrinsic factors. Specifically, Black and Puget Sound rockfishes showed no genetic differentiation; Yellowtail and Greenstriped rockfishes were structured according to known geographic barriers; and Redstripe Rockfish revealed evidence for temporal genetic differentiation, suggesting irregular recruitment influences population structure. Only Yellowtail Rockfish followed the federal DPS boundaries generally assumed for rockfish, further emphasizing the importance of species‐specific management for the effective recovery and management of these rockfish populations and of marine species in general.
Evaluation of a Novel Smart Capsule Bacterial Detection System Device for Diagnosis of Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth
Authors: Lee Shaoying Nikki , Rahimian Pejman , Stork Cheryl , Moshiree Baharak , Jones Mitchell , Chuang Emil , Wahl Chris , Singh Sharat , Rao Satish S. C.
Published: November 2024

Background

There is a large unmet need for alternative, non‐invasive, and accurate diagnosis of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth (SIBO). The smart capsule bacterial detection system (SCBDS) device contains a targeted sampling technology and an onboard SCBDS assay to detect metabolically active bacteria in the small intestine. Here, we evaluated the agreement of SCBDS assay with duodenal aspiration/culture ex vivo in a multicenter clinical study.

Methods

Duodenal aspiration was performed in subjects with gastrointestinal symptoms suggestive of SIBO. Aspirated fluid was sent to local and central microbiology labs to evaluate the agreement for detecting bacteria with SCBDS assay compared to the total bacterial count (TBC) reference standard. The performance of SCBDS assay was evaluated using a receiver operator curve, sensitivities, and specificities.

Key Results

Aspirates from 66 patients were collected and analyzed for TBC and SCDBS assay. The overall agreement between the two assays was 82%–92% across 3 clinical sites. The SCBDS assay had a sensitivity of 67%–100% and a specificity of 90%–97% using either ≥ 103 or 105 CFU mL−1 cutoff. Additionally, there was a good correlation (r = 0.82) for the TBC culture between the local and central labs.

Conclusions and Inferences

The SCBDS assay showed a high level of agreement with TBC and improved performance compared to other non‐invasive tests. These results demonstrate the potential utility of SCBDS device to aid SIBO diagnosis as a simple and non‐invasive tool that merits further clinical validation.
Ecuador Mama Llaktapi Wamprakunapak Muskuykuna, Ayllullaktakuna, Kaya Mincha Runakunapash
Authors: Tuaza Castro Luis Alberto , Colloredo‐Mansfeld Rudi
Published: November 2024

Shinapash, kunan punchakunaka, ayllullaktakunapak tantarikunaka wakllirishkami kan, runakunapash ña mana tantanakusha ninkunachu. Llaktakuna, allpapi llankaykunapash urmakunmi, runakunapash karu hatun llaktakunamanmi rikunkuna, runa kawsay, rimaypash chinkarikunmi, runakunapak hatun tantanakuykunapash rakirikunmi, ayllullaktakunapi pachakamakpak shutipi tantanakuykunapash ashayakunkunami. Kay killkapika, runakunapak kawsaymanta shuktak rikuykunatami rikuchisha ninchik. Ishki waranka, ishki chunka watamanta Ecuador, Chimborazo, Imbabura markakunamanta runa wamprakunapak muskuykunata rikuchinkapakmi llankaykunata killkashpa shamushkanchik. Kay llankaykunata rurankapakka, runa wamprakuna llankaymanta, yachaykunamanta, runa kawsaymanta imata yuyakushkamantapashmi paykunawan rimanakushpa shamushkanchik. Mushuk yuyaykunata rikuchinkapakka, ayllullaktakunapi llankaymantaka ishkay rikuykunatami rikuchinchik: ayllullaktakunata pushakkunaka kallarimanta alli kawsayta mashkankapakka, mana paykunapak ayllullakta ukullata rikurkakunachu, ashtawanpash mamallaktapi kamachik ukukunapi, karu tantanakuykunata, shuktak mama llaktakunapi kak hatun iglesiakunapak yanapaykunatapashmi mashkarkakuna. Chashnami, paykunapak alli kawsaypak munaykunataka tukuykuna rikuchun churarkakuna. Shinallatak, kunan punchakunakamami ayllullakta tantanakuykunaka sinchi kan, runakunapak kamachita sinchi kashkata rikuchin, imashina mushuk llankaykuna rikurishkata, ima shina tukuy laya ayllullaktakunapi kullki rikurichun mushuk llankaykuna tiyashkatapashmi rikuchin.
PhAN2 regulated Ph3GT silencing changes the flower color and anthocyanin content in petunias
Authors: Yang Wenjie , Yao Yi , Deng Wenqi , Li Xin , Cao Jiahao , Li Jieni , Yang Weiyuan , Yu Yixun , Liu Juanxu
Published: November 2024

Anthocyanins are important secondary metabolites in plants. After the formation of anthocyanidins, Flavonoid 3‐O‐glucosyltransferase (3GT) mediated glycosylation first occurs at the C‐3 site, forming a stable anthocyanin 3‐O‐glucoside. Several studies have investigated the function of 3GT using biochemical methods. However, it is necessary to provide further genetic evidence for the role of Ph3GT in petunia (Petunia hybrida). In addition, there is no information regarding the subcellular localization of Ph3GT and the regulation of transcription factors on Ph3GT. In this study, the full‐length Ph3GT gene from petunia (Petunia hybrida) was isolated. We found that Ph3GT is localized in the cytoplasm. Ph3GT exhibited high expression levels in the corollas during the coloring period of petunia flowers. VIGS‐mediated Ph3GT silencing resulted in a lighter corolla color and a significant decrease in the anthocyanin content in six petunia cultivars. The silencing of Ph3GT affected the expression levels of eight key genes in the anthocyanin synthesis pathway. Additionally, dual luciferase and yeast one‐hybrid assays showed that R2R3‐MYB transcription factor PhAN2 directly regulates the transcript of Ph3GT.
A multiomics investigation into the evolution and specialized metabolisms of three Toxicodendron cultivars
Authors: Zong Dan , Xu Yan , Zhang Xiaolin , Gan Peihua , Wang Hongli , Chen Xiayi , Liang Hongping , Zhou Jintao , Lu Yu , Li Peiling , Ma Shaojie , Yu Jinde , Jiang Tao , Liao Shengxi , Ren Meirong , Li Linzhou , Liu Huan , Sahu Sunil Kumar , Li Laigeng , Wang Sibo , He Chengzhong
Published: November 2024

Toxicodendron species are economically and medicinally important trees because of their rich sources of natural products. We present three chromosome‐level genome assemblies of Toxicodendron vernicifluum ‘Dali’, Toxicodendron succedaneum ‘Vietnam’, and T. succedaneum ‘Japan’, which display diverse production capacities of specialized metabolites. Genome synteny and structural variation analyses revealed large genomic differences between the two species (T. vernicifluum and T. succedaneum) but fewer differences between the two cultivars within the species. Despite no occurrence of recent whole‐genome duplications, Toxicodendron showed evidence of local duplications. The genomic modules with high expression of genes encoding metabolic flux regulators and chalcone synthase‐like enzymes were identified via multiomics analyses, which may be responsible for the greater urushiol accumulation in T. vernicifluum ‘Dali’ than in other Toxicodendron species. In addition, our analyses revealed the regulatory patterns of lipid metabolism in T. succedaneum ‘Japan’, which differ from those of other Toxicodendron species and may contribute to its high lipid accumulation. Furthermore, we identified the key regulatory elements of lipid metabolism at each developmental stage, which could aid in molecular breeding to improve the production of urushiol and lipids in Toxicodendron species. In summary, this study provides new insights into the genomic underpinnings of the evolution and diversity of specialized metabolic pathways in three Toxicodendron cultivars through multiomics studies.