bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Promoting plant diversity and habitat heterogeneity through vineyard terracing
Authors: Wersebeckmann Vera , Burstedde Kirsten , Leyer Ilona
Published: May 2024

Questions

Viticulture on steep slopes has shaped the landscape and biodiversity in many regions, but insufficient profitability has led to management cessation and shrub encroachment. A solution to maintain economically viable cultivation could be vineyard terracing. We aimed to identify the potential of terracing to enhance plant diversity and habitat heterogeneity in vineyards, analyze effects of management intensity on vineyard vegetation, and assess how plant communities change after vineyard abandonment.

Location

Wine‐growing region of the Upper Middle Rhine Valley in Hesse (50.042342° N, 7.814533° E) and Rhineland‐Palatinate (50.119139° N, 7.719275° E), Germany.

Methods

We recorded vascular plant species and local vineyard parameters in vertically oriented vineyards with vegetated and tilled open inter‐rows, in terraced vineyards with tilled terrace inter‐rows and extensively managed embankments, and in vineyard fallows in a total of 45 study sites. We used plant species richness, Ellenberg indicator values and Grime's strategy types to describe how traits and ecological requirements respond to distinct vineyard management.

Results

Plant species richness and composition were determined by management‐derived disturbance intensities. Extensively managed embankments had a distinct plant community, the highest plant species richness, more perennial and indicator species, and lower nitrogen indicator values compared with inter‐rows. By contrast, highly disturbed open and terrace inter‐rows revealed plant communities associated with annuals and ruderals, but species richness did not differ between terrace inter‐rows and embankments. The plant communities of fallows were completely different with lower plant diversity.

Conclusions

Our results highlight the potential of terraced vineyards for plant diversity with nutrient poor, extensively managed embankments providing conditions that have become rare in modern agricultural systems. A long environmental gradient from terrace inter‐rows to embankments created habitat heterogeneity within a narrow space. By contrast, intensive inter‐row management in vertically oriented vineyards hampers high plant diversity and abandonment fosters the spread of woody species at the expanse of plant diversity.
Recent advances in neuroinflammation prevention and therapy: the role of natural products and underlying mechanisms based on molecular targets
Authors: Zhao Mei‐Mei , Duan Jun‐Yu , Shen Yue , Liu Yang , Zeng Ke‐Wu
Published: May 2024

Neuroinflammation is initiated in response to a variety of endogenous and exogenous sources. As the resident macrophages of the central nervous system, the polarization of microglia into either the M1 pro‐inflammatory phenotype or the M2 anti‐inflammatory phenotype holds great promise as a therapeutic strategy for neuroinflammation. Natural products, comprising a vital chemical library with distinctive structures and diverse functions, have been extensively employed to modulate microglial polarization for the treatment of neuroinflammation. In this review, we present up‐to‐date and extensive insights into the therapeutic effects and underlying mechanisms of natural products in the context of neuroinflammation. Furthermore, the review aims to present a new perspective by focusing on the targets of natural compounds, elucidating the molecular mechanisms and guiding the transition from natural‐derived lead compounds to potential anti‐neuroinflammatory drugs. Additionally, we provide a comprehensive overview of the challenges and limitations associated with the utilization of natural products for neuroinflammation therapy.
Psychometric testing of the Chinese version of the Perceived Maternal Parenting Self‐Efficacy Scale among postpartum women
Authors: Zhong Xiaoying , Barnes Christopher R. , Adamson‐Macedo Elvidina N. , Li Xixi , Guo Xiujing , He Tingting , Li Dehua , Li Zuowei , Wang Bangjun , Wu Hongjin
Published: May 2024

Background

Maternal parenting self‐efficacy plays a critical role in facilitating positive parenting practices and successful adaption to motherhood. The Perceived Maternal Parenting Self‐Efficacy Scale (PMPS‐E), as a task‐specific measure, confirms its psychometric properties in cultural contexts. Compared with other tools, the advantages of the PMPS‐E are as follows: (i) specific context or time period during the lifespan of a child, (ii) explicitly assess parenting self‐efficacy across a diverse enough range of parenting tasks or activities during the perinatal/postnatal period and (iii) having robust psychometric properties. The aim of this study was to translate and determine the psychometric properties of the PMPS‐E among Chinese postpartum women (C‐PMPS‐E).

Method

The cross‐cultural adaptation process followed Beaton et al.'s intercultural debugging guidelines. A total of 471 women were included to establish the psychometric properties of the C‐PMPS‐E. Mothers were asked to complete the C‐PMPS‐E, Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale (EPDS), the Generalized Anxiety Disorder‐7 (GAD‐7) and several demographic questions. The psychometric testing of the C‐PMPS‐E was established through item analysis, construct validity and internal consistency reliability.

Results

Item analysis showed that the critical ratios of all items were greater than 3 between the low‐score group and high‐score group, and all item–total correlation coefficients were greater than 0.4. The fit indices showed that the original correlated four‐factor model of C‐PMPS‐E was observed to be an excellent fit to the data. The PMPS‐E was negatively correlated with the EPDS and GAD‐7 demonstrating its discriminant validity. As expected, no significant correlation was found between PMPS‐E total or subscale scores and mothers' age. In addition, statistically significant differences for parity were detected for C‐PMPS‐E total and subscale scores with multipara having higher scores. This was taken as further evidence of the scale known‐groups discriminant validity. In terms of internal consistency, the Cronbach's alpha of the C‐PMPS‐E total scale was 0.950, and subscales ranged from 0.76 to 0.89. Furthermore, a ROC curve analysis was conducted to establish the ability of the C‐PMPS‐E to distinguish between symptoms of depression and symptoms of anxiety. A cut‐off value of 55 was identified that resulted in good specificity and fair sensitivity.

Conclusion

The C‐PMPS‐E is a reliable and valid tool to assess maternal parenting self‐efficacy in a Chinese context.
Using preoperative C‐reactive protein levels to predict anastomotic leaks and other complications after elective colorectal surgery: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: McKechnie Tyler , Cloutier Zacharie , Archer Vicki , Park Lily , Lee Jay , Heimann Luke , Patel Ashaka , Hong Dennis , Eskicioglu Cagla
Published: May 2024

Aim

While postoperative C‐reactive protein (CRP) is used routinely as an early indicator of anastomotic leak (AL), preoperative CRP remains to be established as a potential predictor of AL for elective colorectal surgery. The aim of this systematic review and meta‐analysis is to examine the association between preoperative CRP and postoperative complications including AL.

Method

MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane Library and CINAHL databases were searched. Studies with reported preoperative CRP values and short‐term surgical outcomes after elective colorectal surgery were included. An inverse variance random effects meta‐analysis was performed for all meta‐analysed outcomes to determine if patients with or without complications and AL differed in their preoperative CRP levels. Risk of bias was assessed with MINORS and certainty of evidence with GRADE.

Results

From 1945 citations, 23 studies evaluating 7147 patients were included. Patients experiencing postoperative infective complications had significantly greater preoperative CRP values [eight studies, n = 2421 patients, mean difference (MD) 8.0, 95% CI 3.77–12.23, p < 0.01]. A significant interaction was observed with subgroup analysis based on whether patients were undergoing surgery for inflammatory bowel disease (X2 = 8.99, p < 0.01). Preoperative CRP values were not significantly different between patients experiencing and not experiencing AL (seven studies, n = 3317, MD 2.15, 95% CI −2.35 to 6.66, p = 0.35), nor were they different between patients experiencing and not experiencing overall postoperative morbidity (nine studies, n = 2958, MD 4.54, 95% CI −2.55 to 11.62, p = 0.31) after elective colorectal surgery.

Conclusion

Higher preoperative CRP levels are associated with increased rates of overall infective complications, but not with AL alone or with overall morbidity in patients undergoing elective colorectal surgery.
Frequency of prediabetes in individuals with increased adiposity and metabolically healthy or unhealthy phenotypes
Authors: Cefalo Chiara M. A. , Riccio Alessia , Succurro Elena , Marini Maria Adelaide , Fiorentino Teresa Vanessa , Rubino Mariangela , Perticone Maria , Sciacqua Angela , Andreozzi Francesco , Sesti Giorgio
Published: May 2024

Aims

To utilize the estimated glucose disposal rate (eGDR) index of insulin sensitivity, which is based on readily available clinical variables, namely, waist circumference, hypertension and glycated haemoglobin, to discriminate between metabolically healthy and unhealthy phenotypes, and to determine the prevalence of prediabetic conditions.

Methods

Non‐diabetic individuals (n = 2201) were stratified into quartiles of insulin sensitivity based on eGDR index. Individuals in the upper quartiles of eGDR were defined as having metabolically healthy normal weight (MHNW), metabolically healthy overweight (MHOW) or metabolically healthy obesity (MHO) according to their body mass index, while those in the lower quartiles were classified as having metabolically unhealthy normal weight (MUNW), metabolically unhealthy overweight (MUOW) and metabolically unhealthy obesity (MUO), respectively.

Results

The frequency of impaired fasting glucose (IFG), impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), and IFG + IGT status was comparable among the MHNW, MHOW and MHO groups, while it increased from those with MUNW status towards those with MUOW and MUO status. As compared with participants with MHNW, the odds ratio of having IFG, IGT, or IFG + IGT was significantly higher in participants with MUOW and MUO but not in those with MUNW, MHOW and MHO, respectively.

Conclusions

A metabolically healthy phenotype is associated with lower frequency of IFG, IGT, and IFG + IGT status across all body weight categories.
Micro‐computed tomography reveals high‐density mineralised protrusions and microstructural lesions in equine stifle joint articular cartilage
Authors: Ducrocq Mathilde , Kamus Louis , Richard Hélène , Beauchamp Guy , Janvier Valentin , Laverty Sheila
Published: May 2024

Background

Stifle osteoarthritis (OA) lesions are most common in the medial femorotibial (MFT) compartment. Their characterisation and mapping will inform equine veterinarians towards an accurate diagnosis of OA.

Objectives

Investigate and map micro‐CT (μCT) changes in the hyaline articular cartilage (HAC) in the medial femoral condyle (MFC) and medial tibial plateau (MTP).

Study design

Ex vivo cadaveric.

Methods

Stifles (n = 7 OA and 17 control [CO]) were retrieved from a tissue bank. The MFC and MFT were imaged with μCT. Regions of interest (ROIs) were cranial (MFCcr; MTPcr) and caudal (MFCca; MTPca) sites. In each ROI, μCT images were scored for HAC fibrillation, surface mineralisation and for the presence of high‐density mineralised protrusions (HDMP). The lesions were mapped, and site‐matched histology was performed.

Results

The microstructure of healthy and abnormal HAC was discernible on μCT images and confirmed with histology. HAC fibrillation was more prevalent (p = 0.019) in the MFCcr of the OA group (n = 7/7, 100%) when compared with the CO group (n = 7/17, 41%). Score 1 HAC surface mineralisation was more prevalent (p = 0.038) in the OA MFCca (n = 4/7, 57%) when compared with the CO group (n = 2/17, 12%). HDMP were heterogenous and hyperdense mineralised material protruding into the HAC and were more frequent (p = 0.033) in MFCs (n = 12/24, 50%) compared with MTPs (n = 5/24, 20%). Score 3 HDMPs were also more prevalent (p = 0.003) in the MFCcr (n = 7/24, 29%) compared with MFCca (n = 0/24, 0%) and in MFCs (n = 7/24, 29%) compared with MTPs (n = 3/24, 12.5%) (p = 0.046).

Main limitations

Clinical history was not available for all specimens.

Conclusions

Equine HDMP and HAC surface mineralisation are imaged for the first time in the MFT joint. HAC fibrillation and erosion and HDMP are more frequent in the cranial aspect of the MFC. μCT images of OA in equine stifle joints provide a novel perspective of lesions and improve understanding of OA.
Food insecurity and its relationship to mental health and oral health in older adults
Authors: Lee Jane J. , Mancl Lloyd A. , Kim Eunjung , Chi Donald L.
Published: May 2024

Background and objectives

Poor oral health disproportionately affects low‐income older adults, for whom food insecurity and poor mental health may affect dental health. We explored the associations between food insecurity, mental health, and dental health. Furthermore, we examined whether mental health impacted the associations between food insecurity and dental health.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a cross‐sectional study with a convenience sample of 226 older adults (aged 50+), employing survey and dental screening data. Participants were recruited from seven community‐based organisations in Washington State, USA. We calculated descriptive statistics and conducted Chi‐square tests, t tests, and logistic regression analyses to assess the associations between aspects of dental health (untreated decay, gum disease, and unmet dental needs), mental health (depression and cognitive function), and food insecurity.

Results

In our sample, food insecurity was observed in 28.4%, 40.6% had untreated decay, 31.6% gum disease, and 42.5% unmet dental needs. Food insecurity was associated with a higher occurrence of untreated decay and unmet dental needs. Participants experiencing food insecurity had higher odds of gum disease (aOR = 2.3; 95% CI: 1.1, 5.2) and unmet dental needs (aOR = 3.2; 95% CI:1.4, 7.6). Greater gum disease due to food insecurity was observed among individuals with lower levels of cognitive impairment.

Conclusion

Food insecurity is associated with poorer oral health among older adults and cognitive function may modify this relationship. These findings underscore the importance of addressing both food insecurity and cognitive impairment as integral components of efforts to improve the oral health of older adults.
Access to care and impact on HIV treatment interruptions during the COVID‐19 pandemic among people living with HIV in British Columbia
Authors: Finlayson‐Trick Emma , Tam Clara , Wang Lu , Dawydiuk Nicole , Salters Kate , Trigg Jason , Pakhomova Tatiana , Marante Antonio , Sereda Paul , Wesseling Tim , Montaner Julio S. G. , Hogg Robert , Barrios Rolando , Moore David M.
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The COVID‐19 pandemic has changed healthcare service delivery. We examined the overall impact of COVID‐19 on people living with HIV in British Columbia (BC), Canada, with a special focus on the potential impact of COVID‐19 on antiretroviral treatment interruptions (TIs).

Methods

Purposive sampling was used to enrol people living with HIV aged ≥19 years across BC into the STOP HIV/AIDS Program Evaluation study between January 2016 and September 2018. Participants completed surveys at baseline enrolment and 18 and 36 months later. Additional COVID‐19 questions were added to the survey in October 2020. TIs were defined as >60 days late for antiretroviral therapy (ART) refill using data from the BC HIV Drug Treatment Program. Generalized linear mixed models were used to examine trends in TIs over time and associations with reported health service access.

Results

Of 581 participants, 6.1%–7.7% experienced a TI during each 6‐month period between March 2019 and August 2021. The frequency of TIs did not statistically increase during the COVID‐19 epidemic. Among the 188 participants who completed the COVID‐19 questionnaire, 32.8% reported difficulty accessing healthcare during COVID‐19, 9.7% reported avoiding continuing a healthcare service due to COVID‐19‐related concerns, and 74.6% reported using virtual healthcare services since March 2020. In multivariable analysis, the odds of a TI in any 6‐month period were not significantly different from March to August 2019. None of the reported challenges to healthcare services were associated with TIs.

Conclusions

Although some participants reported challenges to accessing services or avoidance of services due to COVID‐19, TIs were not more likely during COVID‐19 than before.
The new system for classification of periodontal and peri‐implant disease: A questionnaire study of implementation by Swedish dental hygienists
Authors: Malmqvist Sebastian , Strandberg Patrik , Victorin Ida , Boberg Emelie , Johannsen Annsofi
Published: May 2024

Objective

To what extent do dental hygienists (DH) employed by the Public Dental Health Service (PDHS) in Sweden use the new classification system, their knowledge of it and their attitudes towards it.

Methods

A web‐based questionnaire was distributed to DHs in the PDHS in different regions of Sweden. A total of 197 registered DHs responded. The questions covered their knowledge, attitudes and possible barriers to implementation of the new classification system of periodontal and peri‐implant diseases, and a question about their perceived need for a complementary digital tool to facilitate its implementation.

Results

Seventy per cent of the DHs stated that they used the new classification system. Twenty‐nine per cent of the participants were confident in classifying periodontitis under the new system. Furthermore, 36% of the participants considered their knowledge of the new system to be good and 33% to be poor or non‐existent. Several DHs stated that the new system was too time‐consuming, that it caused stress, that their knowledge was inadequate and that they, therefore, considered it too difficult to use. Eighty per cent of the participants were positive to a digital tool as a complement and support to classify periodontitis and peri‐implantitis.

Conclusion

The present study showed that most of the DHs used the new classification system and one‐third considered their knowledge to be good, although it was difficult and time‐consuming. Furthermore, in general, the DHs were positive to a digital tool to facilitate application of the new classification system.
Preface: Special issue: “Ion channels and genetic epilepsy”
Authors: Reid Christopher A.
Published: May 2024

This preface introduces the Journal of Neurochemistry Special Issue on Advances in Epilepsy Research. Epilepsy is a devastating disease characterized by recurrent seizures. Despite the addition of numerous therapeutics over the last few decades epilepsy patients resistant to standard of care treatments remains stubbornly high. This highlights a clear unmet clinical need and the importance of new research into this disease. One major advance over the last two decades has been the recognition that genetic factors play a significant role in the underlying pathogenesis of epilepsy. Much of our insights into the pathogenic mechanisms underlying genetic epilepsy has come from research into genes that encode ion channels. In this issue, there are up‐to‐date reviews discussing epilepsy caused by variation in HCN channels, voltage‐dependent sodium channels, voltage‐dependent calcium channels, and GABAA receptors. The reviews highlight our understanding of the genotype–phenotype relationships and the identification of precision medicine approaches. Complimenting this is a review on metabolic aspects modulating ion channels in genetic disease. This issue also has fundamental research manuscripts investigating how currently approved drugs may rescue NMDA receptor dysfunction and how in vitro neuron cultures can be used to probe network scale deficits and drug impacts in SCN2A disease. Other primary data manuscripts include those focusing on metabolic therapies, gut microbiota, and new in vivo screening tools for identifying novel anti‐seizure drugs. Collectively, manuscripts published as part of this edition highlight recent research gains, especially in our understanding of genetic causes of epilepsy involving ion channels.
Right versus left temporal lobe semiology in dementia: Lessons from two cases with focal frontotemporal dementia syndromes
Authors: Barbosa Breno José Alencar Pires , Correia Victor Adill Gomes , Albuquerque Pedro Mota de , Barros Amanda Vilma Brito Pires do Rego , Arca Vitor Maia , Araújo Luziany Carvalho
Published: May 2024

Focal atrophy of the left anterior temporal lobe has been associated with the semantic type of primary progressive aphasia evolving to semantic dementia. In contrast, focal atrophy of the right temporal lobe has more recently been described as a controverse entity reported as the right temporal variant of FTD. We describe two cases of FTD dementia syndromes: in Case 1, atrophy of the right temporal lobe led to significant behavioural impairment and difficulties in recognizing known people. In Case 2, atrophy of the left temporal lobe was associated with severe aggressive, ritualistic behaviour and aphasia.
Comparing ad valorem and specific taxes with corporate social responsibility
Authors: Hsiao Po‐Yuan , Glen Ueng K. L. , Peng Cheng‐Hau , Kuo Horn‐In
Published: May 2024

This paper examines the welfare ranking of indirect tax systems with corporate social responsibility (CSR) in a duopoly. Findings show that the two firms' cost and CSR asymmetries both play important roles. If the cost‐efficient firm has a higher CSR level, the standard result in traditional tax theory is sustainable. Namely, ad valorem tax (specific subsidy) policies are considered superior to specific tax (ad valorem subsidy) policies. However, if the cost‐inefficient firm has a significantly higher CSR level, the standard result is reversed. This result remains robust in an oligopoly model or under a tax revenue constraint.
Pharmacokinetics of famotidine in goats after intravenous administration
Authors: Escher Olivia G. , Smith Joe S. , Christopher Kamryn , Hogan Bryan , Harvill Lainey E. , Hopson Makenna , Cox Sherry
Published: May 2024

There is currently limited pharmacokinetic data for the use of famotidine in goats for treatment and prevention of abomasal ulceration. The objective of this study was to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters after a single intravenous administration of famotidine (0.6 mg/kg). Famotidine was administered to six healthy goats and plasma samples were collected over a 24‐h period. The famotidine concentration was measured using reverse phase high‐performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). Non‐compartmental analysis was then used to determine the pharmacokinetic parameters. The maximum plasma concentration was estimated at 5476.68 ± 1530.51 ng/mL and elimination half‐life was estimated at 18.455 ± 13.26 min. The mean residence time was determined to be 19.85 ± 12.14 min with the apparent volume of distribution being estimated at 321.924 ± 221.667. The area under the curve was determined to be 54230.08 ± 24947.6 min*ng/mL. Total exposure and elimination half‐life were less than what has been reported in cattle and horses. Future research evaluating the pharmacokinetics of subcutaneous administration and looking at the pharmacodynamics of famotidine in goats is needed to determine the effectiveness of famotidine on raising pH levels of the abomasum.
Pediatric dermatologists versus AI bots: Evaluating the medical knowledge and diagnostic capabilities of ChatGPT
Authors: Huang Charles Y. , Zhang Esther , Caussade Marie‐Chantal , Brown Trinity , Stockton Hogrogian Griffin , Yan Albert C.
Published: May 2024

This study evaluates the clinical accuracy of OpenAI's ChatGPT in pediatric dermatology by comparing its responses on multiple‐choice and case‐based questions to those of pediatric dermatologists. ChatGPT's versions 3.5 and 4.0 were tested against questions from the American Board of Dermatology and the “Photoquiz” section of Pediatric Dermatology. Results show that human pediatric dermatology clinicians generally outperformed both ChatGPT iterations, though ChatGPT‐4.0 demonstrated comparable performance in some areas. The study highlights the potential of AI tools in aiding clinicians with medical knowledge and decision‐making, while also emphasizing the need for continual advancements and clinician oversight in using such technologies.
Immunotherapy Combining Mimotopes Selected by Phage Display Plus Amphotericin B Is Effective for Treatment Against Visceral Leishmaniasis
Authors: Soyer Tauane Gonçalves , Bandeira Câmara Raquel Soares , Pereira Isabela Amorim Gonçalves , Ramos Fernanda Fonseca , de Jesus Marcelo Moreira , Ludolf Fernanda , de Paula Costa Guilherme , Lage Daniela Pagliara , de Freitas Camila Simões , Vale Danniele Luciana , Pimenta Breno Luiz , Martins Vívian Tamietti , Galdino Alexsandro Sobreira , Chávez‐Fumagalli Miguel Angel , Roatt Bruno Mendes , de Sousa Vieira Tavares Grasiele , Coelho Eduardo Antonio Ferraz
Published: May 2024

The treatment for visceral leishmaniasis (VL) causes toxicity in patients, entails high cost and/or leads to the emergence of resistant strains. No human vaccine exists, and diagnosis presents problems related to the sensitivity or specificity of the tests. Here, we tested two phage clones, B1 and D11, which were shown to be protective against Leishmania infantum infection in a murine model as immunotherapeutics to treat mice infected with this parasite species. The phages were used alone or with amphotericin B (AmpB), while other mice received saline, AmpB, a wild‐type phage (WTP) or WTP/AmpB. Results showed that the B1/AmpB and D11/AmpB combinations induced polarised Th1‐type cellular and humoral responses, which were primed by high levels of parasite‐specific IFN‐γ, IL‐12, TNF‐α, nitrite and IgG2a antibodies, which reflected in significant reductions in the parasite load in distinct organs of the animals when analyses were performed 1 and 30 days after the treatments. Reduced organic toxicity was also found in these animals, as compared with the controls. In conclusion, preliminary data suggest the potential of the B1/AmpB and D11/AmpB combinations as immunotherapeutics against L. infantum infection.
The child welfare system as a social determinant of health
Authors: Maldonado Fabela Katherine
Published: May 2024

Research documents the ways that policing, incarceration, and deportation influence the health of racialized, poor families in the U.S. However, we lack empirical analysis of the ways that family policing through the child welfare system affects health. In this paper, I review the literature on intersectional harms in carceral institutions to argue that the child welfare system is a social determinant of health. First, I provide a review of the ways carceral institutions target women of color through settler‐colonial logic and the criminalization of race, poverty, and reproduction. Second, I share what is known about carceral effects on health and the mechanisms by which they function: 1. stigma, 2. maternal stressors, and 3. threat. Third, I delve into how these mechanisms manifest within the child welfare system and underscore the importance of examining their adverse health consequences. I conclude with a discussion where I call for more research on the child welfare system as a social determinant of health to understand abolitionist healthcare practices that contribute to dismantling the expanding carceral state. Collectively, these areas of literature illustrate the U.S. child welfare system's role in a broader criminalization process that detrimentally impacts the health of impoverished mothers of color.
Negotiating class, religion, and residential segregation: Aspirations of Muslim middle‐class women in Delhi
Authors: Salman Aashti
Published: May 2024

This paper delves into the employment aspirations and struggles for upward social mobility of middle‐class Muslim female youth in Delhi, located in segregated and non‐segregated areas. The paper contends that women respondents navigate constraints such that their class, gender and religious background have an ambivalent role in the production of aspirations but a more definitive one in their realisation. This argument is anchored in the three key themes addressed in the paper. For women from middle and lower sections of the middle‐class the presence of high aspirations does not translate into gainful employment, leading to the problem of fraying hope and ‘frustrated freedom’. They are engaged in prolonged waiting experiencing what Ghassan Hage would call ‘stuckedness’. The upper stratum placed strategically in the Bourdieusian field, can leverage their economic and cultural capital to offset uncertainties around employment and marriage. The third section navigates religious, gender and class‐based constraints by participating in self‐employment activities in a segregated neighbourhood in Delhi. For these women, the segregated neighbourhood has a dual role as an enabler and a barrier to their aspirations.
A lower fibrinogen threshold does not lead to increased bleeding risk in patients receiving therapeutic plasma exchange: A prospective single‐center analysis
Authors: Wodajo Amelework , Sarode Ravi , Valiyaparambil Shiney , Webb Christopher , De Simone Nicole , Rebecca Dill , Usmani Amena
Published: May 2024

Background

Plasma exchange (PLEX) therapy is indicated for several disorders. The 5% albumin is often used as a sole replacement fluid during most PLEX. However, each 1.0 plasma volume exchange depletes coagulation factors by ~65%. Although most coagulation factors recover to hemostatic levels within 24 h post‐PLEX, fibrinogen requires 48–72 h to recover. Fibrinogen is the key coagulation protein for hemostasis. Therefore, fibrinogen is often monitored during the acute course of PLEX, and plasma is supplemented to prevent bleeding if fibrinogen is <100 mg/dL.

Study Design and Methods

We conducted a prospective, single‐center, observational study to evaluate bleeding risk in adults who received an acute course of PLEX with a fibrinogen level of 80–100 mg/dL without plasma supplementation during the procedure or before central venous catheter removal. The study group was compared to patients with plasma fibrinogen >100 mg/dL.

Results

Among the 275 patients who received 1406 PLEXes, 62 patients (23%) who underwent 323 PLEXes met the inclusion criteria, and only 2 (3%) patients had bleeding while on oral anticoagulants. In contrast, out of 275 patients, 143 (52%) with fibrinogen levels >100 mg/dL received 751 PLEX treatments, and bleeding occurred in 2 (1%) while on low‐molecular‐weight heparin.

Conclusions

Our findings suggest that a pre‐procedure fibrinogen threshold of 80–100 mg/dL without plasma supplementation does not increase bleeding risk unless patients were on anticoagulation.
Bridging the Digital Divide: The Role of Online Education in Promoting Equity
Authors: Greaves Denise E
Published: May 2024

This qualitative case study examines the impact of online education in Smith County (a pseudonym), a rural area in the southwestern United States characterized by economic challenges and a large Hispanic population. This study aimed to identify the barriers to and facilitators of educational equity in digital environments. A purposive sampling was utilized to select participants who could provide rich, in-depth insights into the impact of online education within Smith County. In-depth interviews were conducted and focus groups held with students, teachers, and administrators within Smith County. Data analysis was conducted through an iterative process of coding and thematic analysis. The study was informed by the theoretical framework of digital divide and culturally responsive pedagogy. This study delved into the nuanced challenges faced by this community, including technological access, digital literacy, and socio-economic factors. The analysis also explored the pedagogical approaches and support systems that contribute to effective online learning experiences within this rural area. The findings revealed a complex interplay of factors affecting online education engagement and success, highlighting the critical role of tailored support services, culturally responsive teaching, and community partnerships to enhance educational outcomes. The study underscores the importance of understanding local contexts and learner needs in designing and implementing online education programs that specifically address equity. Major conclusions point toward the need for comprehensive strategies that go beyond providing internet access, emphasizing the creation of inclusive, supportive online learning communities. This research contributes to the discourse on educational equity in the digital age, offering insights for educators, policymakers, and online education providers seeking to improve access and outcomes for all learners.
Child life specialist services, practice, and utilization across health care: a scoping review
Authors: Rosenblatt Audrey , Pederson Renee , Davis-Sandfoss Tyler , Irwin Lauren , Mitsos Rebecca , Manworren Renee
Published: May 2024

Objective:

The objective of this review was to map the available evidence regarding the scope of child life specialist services, practice, and utilization.

Introduction:

Child life specialists are members of multidisciplinary health care system teams who prioritize the developmental needs of pediatric patients to support and improve patient and family health care experiences. Evidence of the effectiveness of child life specialist services and the utilization of those services is often incorporated in multidisciplinary research reports and thus overlooked.

Inclusion Criteria:

All quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods research study reports and systematic reviews investigating child life specialist services, practice, and utilization in health care systems were included.

Methods:

This review was guided by the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and a published a priori protocol. CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, and PsycINFO (APA) were searched for evidence published from January 1980 to August 2022.

Results:

Research publications about child life specialist services, practice, and utilization have increased dramatically over the past decade with more than 50% of studies published in the last 5 years. Although the first authors of the majority of the research publications were physicians, these multidisciplinary author teams depicted child life specialist services in a variety of roles, including co-investigators, interventionists, and research subjects. The 105 full-text publications reviewed were from 10 countries and occurred across a wide scope of health care settings and medical subspecialties, but primarily in hospitals and health centers, and to a lesser extent, in ambulatory clinics and communities. A wide variety of child life specialist services were described across these settings.

Conclusion:

The concept of child life services began in 1922 and emerged as the child life specialist services specialty in the United States in the 1970s and 1980s. Mapping the research can help delineate the barriers and facilitators to these services in health care systems. This scoping review provides evidence of the global diffusion of child life specialist services across health care system settings with recent increases in research publications involving child life specialist services.
Nursing-sensitive outcomes for the provision of pain management in pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities: a scoping review protocol
Authors: MacNeil Morgan , McCord Helen , Alcock Lynsey , Mireault Amy , Rothfus Melissa , Campbell-Yeo Marsha
Published: May 2024

Objective:

The aim of this review is to identify and map nursing-sensitive outcomes for the provision of pain management in pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities that are currently reported in the literature.

Introduction:

The experience of pain is highly individualized and subjective, with physiological, biochemical, and psychological differences contributing to pain perception. Pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities are at increased risk of ubiquitous pain exposure. Pain management effectiveness can be determined through the measurement of nursing-sensitive outcomes, which have not been mapped in the context of pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities.

Inclusion criteria:

Quantitative, qualitative, mixed methods, and gray literature discussing nursing pain management in pediatric populations with intellectual disabilities will be included. No date limits will be applied. Only studies published in English will be considered.

Methods:

This review will be guided by the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. The search strategy will aim to locate published and unpublished literature using the databases CINAHL (EBSCOhost), MEDLINE (Ovid), Embase (Ovid), Scopus, PsycINFO (ProQuest), LILACS, SciELO, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global. Titles and abstracts, and then full-text studies, will be selected and reviewed by 2 independent researchers against the inclusion criteria. Content analysis using the NNQR-C, C-HOBIC, NDNQI, and Donabedian model frameworks will be used for data extraction and organization, accompanied by charted results and narrative summaries, as appropriate.
Transformative engagement with community music-making for older adults: a scoping review protocol
Authors: English Helen Jane , Lewis Suzanne , Davidson Jane W. , Goodwin Nicholas
Published: May 2024

Objective:

This scoping review has 3 objectives: to identify the literature on older adults’ engagement with community music-making in which an experience of transformative change is noted, to explore the different ways transformation is described, and to identify the factors that enable this experience.

Introduction:

Music has been shown to stimulate transformation (positive change) in individuals. Documented experiences of transformation fall into 3 broad areas: self-perception, quality of life, and personal growth. Yet the specific elements of musical experience that enable such effects remain little understood. Identifying the literature on this topic will enable deeper understanding and identify gaps in knowledge.

Inclusion criteria:

The review will include peer-reviewed publications, systematic and scoping reviews, and gray literature, including theses and reports. Studies will focus on older community-dwelling adults (60 years or over) engaged in group music-making in community settings. The studies must include enquiry into transformative effects. Music used therapeutically in health settings, individual music-making, and listening (rather than active music-making) will be excluded. Any empirical methodology will be accepted.

Methods:

The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews. Databases to be searched will include MEDLINE (Ovid), CINAHL (EBSCOhost), PsycINFO (Ovid), Scopus, Embase (Ovid), Informit, Cochrane Library, Campbell Collaboration, JBI Evidence-based Practice Database, Web of Science, JSTOR, Academic Search Ultimate (EBSCOhost), ProQuest Dissertations and Theses Global, and Google Scholar. Studies must be published in English, from 2000 until the present. Retrieved studies will be independently screened by at least 2 reviewers. Data will be extracted using a data extraction tool developed by the research team. The findings will be presented in tabular format, supported by a narrative summary.

Review registration:

Open Science Framework https://osf.io/ftuhx
Análisis de los diferentes regímenes sobre las excepciones que puede plantear el asegurador en el marco de la acción directa en el seguro de responsabilidad
Authors: Castañeda Díaz Gustavo Andrés
Published: May 2024

La acción directa en el seguro de responsabilidad civil cuenta con un nivel de protección diferente en los distintos ordenamientos jurídicos en donde es adoptada, lo cual determina su alcance, contenido, características y particularidades en cuanto a su ejercicio. Este escrito pretende exponer los diferentes regímenes de excepciones oponibles e inoponibles por el asegurador en el ejercicio de dicha acción directa. De esta forma, el artículo se dividirá en tres grandes secciones: en la primera, se abordará la regulación española, que otorga una inmunidad relativa al derecho del perjudicado; en la segunda, se analizará la regulación colombiana, en donde el sistema es completamente opuesto, permitiendo al asegurador oponer todas las excepciones que este pueda tener contra el asegurado y perjudicado; finalmente, se estudiarán regulaciones intermedias, en donde básicamente se acoge la inoponibilidad de excepciones posteriores al siniestro.
Lengua y política. Historia crítica de los diccionarios del español de la Argentina.* Por Daniela Lauria, Eudeba, 2022, 380 pp.
Authors: Olave Arias Giohanny
Published: May 2024

Reseña bibliográfica del libro Lengua y política. Historia crítica de los diccionarios del español de la Argentina, de Daniela Lauria (2022). Buenos Aires: Eudeba, 380 p.
A diminished North Atlantic nutrient stream during Younger Dryas climate reversal
Authors: Lynch-Stieglitz Jean , Vollmer Tyler D. , Valley Shannon G. , Blackmon Eric , Gu Sifan , Marchitto Thomas M.
Published: May 2024

The high rate of biological productivity in the North Atlantic is stimulated by the advective supply of nutrients into the region via the Gulf Stream (nutrient stream). It has been proposed that the projected future decline in the Atlantic Meridional Overturning Circulation (AMOC) will cause a reduction in nutrient supply and resulting productivity. In this work, we examine how the nutrient stream changed over the Younger Dryas climate reversal that marked the transition out of the last ice age. Gulf Stream nutrient content decreased, and oxygen content increased at the Florida Straits during this time of weakened AMOC. The decreased nutrient stream was accompanied by a reduction in biological productivity at higher latitudes in the North Atlantic, which supports the link postulated in theoretical and modeling studies.
A petavoxel fragment of human cerebral cortex reconstructed at nanoscale resolution
Authors: Shapson-Coe Alexander , Januszewski Michał , Berger Daniel R. , Pope Art , Wu Yuelong , Blakely Tim , Schalek Richard L. , Li Peter H. , Wang Shuohong , Maitin-Shepard Jeremy , Karlupia Neha , Dorkenwald Sven , Sjostedt Evelina , Leavitt Laramie , Lee Dongil , Troidl Jakob , Collman Forrest , Bailey Luke , Fitzmaurice Angerica , Kar Rohin , Field Benjamin , Wu Hank , Wagner-Carena Julian , Aley David , Lau Joanna , Lin Zudi , Wei Donglai , Pfister Hanspeter , Peleg Adi , Jain Viren , Lichtman Jeff W.
Published: May 2024

To fully understand how the human brain works, knowledge of its structure at high resolution is needed. Presented here is a computationally intensive reconstruction of the ultrastructure of a cubic millimeter of human temporal cortex that was surgically removed to gain access to an underlying epileptic focus. It contains about 57,000 cells, about 230 millimeters of blood vessels, and about 150 million synapses and comprises 1.4 petabytes. Our analysis showed that glia outnumber neurons 2:1, oligodendrocytes were the most common cell, deep layer excitatory neurons could be classified on the basis of dendritic orientation, and among thousands of weak connections to each neuron, there exist rare powerful axonal inputs of up to 50 synapses. Further studies using this resource may bring valuable insights into the mysteries of the human brain.
Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging at 0.05 Tesla
Authors: Zhao Yujiao , Ding Ye , Lau Vick , Man Christopher , Su Shi , Xiao Linfang , Leong Alex T. L. , Wu Ed X.
Published: May 2024

Despite a half-century of advancements, global magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) accessibility remains limited and uneven, hindering its full potential in health care. Initially, MRI development focused on low fields around 0.05 Tesla, but progress halted after the introduction of the 1.5 Tesla whole-body superconducting scanner in 1983. Using a permanent 0.05 Tesla magnet and deep learning for electromagnetic interference elimination, we developed a whole-body scanner that operates using a standard wall power outlet and without radiofrequency and magnetic shielding. We demonstrated its wide-ranging applicability for imaging various anatomical structures. Furthermore, we developed three-dimensional deep learning reconstruction to boost image quality by harnessing extensive high-field MRI data. These advances pave the way for affordable deep learning–powered ultra-low-field MRI scanners, addressing unmet clinical needs in diverse health care settings worldwide.
A nasal chemosensation–dependent critical window for somatosensory development
Authors: Cai Linbi , Argunşah Ali Özgür , Damilou Angeliki , Karayannis Theofanis
Published: May 2024

Nasal chemosensation is considered the evolutionarily oldest mammalian sense and, together with somatosensation, is crucial for neonatal well-being before auditory and visual pathways start engaging the brain. Using anatomical and functional approaches in mice, we reveal that odor-driven activity propagates to a large part of the cortex during the first postnatal week and enhances whisker-evoked activation of primary whisker somatosensory cortex (wS1). This effect disappears in adult animals, in line with the loss of excitatory connectivity from olfactory cortex to wS1. By performing neonatal odor deprivation, followed by electrophysiological and behavioral work in adult animals, we identify a key transient regulation of nasal chemosensory information necessary for the development of wS1 sensory-driven dynamics and somatosensation. Our work uncovers a cross-modal critical window for nasal chemosensation–dependent somatosensory functional maturation.
Stronger safeguards sought for trial ‘guinea pigs’
Authors: Enserink Martin
Published: May 2024

Global charter aims to prevent exploitation of paid, healthy volunteers in drug studies
Australia bets big on optical quantum computing
Authors: Cho Adrian
Published: May 2024

In AU$940 million deal, PsiQuantum will build “utility scale” facility
White House overhauls rules for risky pathogen research
Authors: Kaiser Jocelyn
Published: May 2024

New policy governs gain-of-function and “dual-use” studies