bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Did implementation of no-fault auto-insurance in British Columbia, Canada, impact return to work following road trauma? Protocol for a before–after survival analysis
Authors: Chan Herbert , Erdelyi Shannon , Jiang Alex , McLeod Christopher , Koehoorn Mieke , Brubacher Jeffrey R
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Road trauma (RT) is a major public health problem that often results in prolonged absenteeism from work. Limited evidence suggests that recovery after RT is associated with automobile insurance compensation schemes. In May 2021, British Columbia, Canada switched from fault-based to no-fault auto-insurance coverage. This manuscript presents the protocol for a planned evaluation of that natural experiment: We will evaluate the impact of changing automobile insurance schemes on return to work following RT.

Methods and analysis

The evaluation will use a before–after design to analyse auto-insurance claims (1 April 2019 to 30 April 2024) in order to compare recovery of claimants with non-catastrophic injuries who filed claims under the no-fault insurance scheme to that of those who filed claims under the previous system. Claimants will be followed from date of injury until they return to work or have been followed for 6 months (right-censored). We will perform sensitivity analyses to examine the robustness of our findings. First, we will exclude injuries that occurred during the COVID-19 provincial State of Emergency. Second, we will use propensity score methods rather than conventional covariate adjustment to address potential imbalance between characteristics of claimants pre-change and post-change. Finally, as the implementation effect may have a heterogeneous association with time off work, we will use quantile regression with right-censoring at 6 months to model differences in return to work at the 25th, 50th, 75th and 90th percentiles.

Ethics and dissemination

The study uses de-identified data and is approved by the University of British Columbia Clinical Research Ethics Board (H20-03644). This research is funded by the Insurance Corporation of British Columbia (ICBC). Findings will be published in the peer-reviewed literature and summarised in a report prepared for ICBC. We anticipate that our findings will inform policy decisions in other jurisdictions considering switching to no-fault auto-insurance schemes.
Universal horizons and black hole spectroscopy in gravitational theories with broken Lorentz symmetry
Authors: Zhang Chao , Wang Anzhong , Zhu Tao
Published: September 2023

The violation of Lorentz invariance (LI) in gravitational theories, which allows superluminal propagations, dramatically alters the causal structure of the spacetime and modifies the notion of black holes (BHs). Instead of metric horizons, now universal horizons (UHs) define the boundaries of BHs, within which a particle cannot escape to spatial infinities even with an infinitely large speed. Then, a natural question is how the quasi-normal modes (QNMs) of a BH are modified, if one considers the UH as its causal boundary. In this paper, we study in detail this problem in Einstein–Aether theory, a vector-tensor theory that violates LI but yet is self-consistent and satisfies all observations to date. Technically, this poses several challenges, including singularities of the perturbation equations across metric horizons and proper identifications of ingoing modes at UHs. After overcoming these difficulties, we show that the QNMs of the Schwarzschild BH, also a solution of Einstein–Aether theory, consist of two parts, the metric and aether parts. The QNMs of the metric perturbations are quite similar to those obtained in general relativity and are consistent with current observations of gravitational waves. But the ones from aether perturbations are different, and our numerical studies indicate that they are even not stable. The latter is consistent with our previous studies, which showed that the stealth Schwarzschild BH suffers a Laplacian instability along the angular direction. The method and techniques developed in this paper can be applied to the studies of QNMs in other theories of gravity with broken LI.
Dixon-Rosenfeld lines and the Standard Model
Authors: Chester David , Marrani Alessio , Corradetti Daniele , Aschheim Raymond , Irwin Klee
Published: September 2023

We present three new coset manifolds named Dixon-Rosenfeld lines that are similar to Rosenfeld projective lines except over the Dixon algebra $$\mathbb {C}\otimes \mathbb {H}\otimes \mathbb {O}$$

C
⊗
H
⊗
O

. Three different Lie groups are found as isometry groups of these coset manifolds using Tits’ formula. We demonstrate how Standard Model interactions with the Dixon algebra in recent work from Furey and Hughes can be uplifted to tensor products of division algebras and Jordan algebras for a single generation of fermions. The Freudenthal–Tits construction clarifies how the three Dixon-Rosenfeld projective lines are contained within $$\mathbb {C}\otimes \mathbb {H}\otimes J_{2}(\mathbb {O})$$

C
⊗
H
⊗

J
2

(
O
)

, $$\mathbb {O}\otimes J_{2}(\mathbb {C}\otimes \mathbb {H})$$

O
⊗

J
2

(
C
⊗
H
)

, and $$\mathbb {C}\otimes \mathbb {O}\otimes J_{2}(\mathbb {H})$$

C
⊗
O
⊗

J
2

(
H
)

.
Page curves on codim-m and charged branes
Authors: Guo Yu , Miao Rong-Xin
Published: September 2023

This paper investigates Page curves on the branes with higher codimensions and charges. We study two kinds of doubly holographic modes, the AdS/dCFT and cone holography. In AdS/dCFT, the gravitations on the brane are massive, and the black hole on the codim-m brane is coupled with the non-gravitational bath on the AdS boundary. Following the standard approach, we derive the Page curve for eternal black holes. On the other hand, cone holography includes massless graviton on the brane, and the bath becomes gravitating. By adding suitable DGP gravity on the end-of-the-world brane, we recover non-trivial entanglement islands and Page curves, which strongly support that the island is consistent with massless gravity. Finally, we analyze the effects of charges and find that, as the charges increase, the Page time increases, and the parameter space for non-trivial Page curves widens.
UHTP: A User-Aware Hierarchical Task Planning Framework for Communication-Free, Mutually-Adaptive Human-Robot Collaboration
Authors: Ramachandruni Kartik , Kent Cassandra , Chernova Sonia
Published: September 2023

Collaborative human-robot task execution approaches require mutual adaptation, allowing both the human and robot partners to take active roles in action selection and role assignment to achieve a single shared goal. Prior works have utilized a leader-follower paradigm in which either agent must follow the actions specified by the other agent. We introduce the User-aware Hierarchical Task Planning (UHTP) framework, a communication-free human-robot collaborative approach for adaptive execution of multi-step tasks that moves beyond the leader-follower paradigm. Specifically, our approach enables the robot to observe the human, perform actions that support the human’s decisions, and actively select actions that maximize the expected efficiency of the collaborative task. In turn, the human chooses actions based on their observation of the task and the robot, without being dictated by a scheduler or the robot. We evaluate UHTP both in simulation and in a human subjects experiment of a collaborative drill assembly task. Our results show that UHTP achieves more efficient task plans and shorter task completion times than non-adaptive baselines across a wide range of human behaviors, that interacting with a UHTP-controlled robot reduces the human’s cognitive workload, and that humans prefer to work with our adaptive robot over a fixed-policy alternative.
“More Is Different” and Sustainable Development Goals: Thermoelectricity
Authors: Fukuyama Hidetoshi
Published: September 2023

The thermal Green's function formalism bridging between macroscopic observables and microscopic processes via linear response theory was established in the early 1960s, when I started my research career. I recall stimulating experiences with the help of this technique in exploring transport and thermodynamic properties of Bloch electrons in magnetic fields, especially orbital magnetism and the Hall effect, and this technique is useful for understanding narrow gap systems like Dirac and Weyl electrons, which are of current interest. Recent ongoing challenges on thermoelectricity based on the Kubo–Luttinger formula are briefly introduced; it is an important scientific issue in view of sustainable development goals that awaits contributions from condensed matter physics, where the thermal Green's function is again a powerful tool.
Mass Spectrometry–Based Proteogenomics: New Therapeutic Opportunities for Precision Medicine
Authors: Joshi Sunil K. , Piehowski Paul , Liu Tao , Gosline Sara J.C. , McDermott Jason E. , Druker Brian J. , Traer Elie , Tyner Jeffrey W. , Agarwal Anupriya , Tognon Cristina E. , Rodland Karin D.
Published: September 2023

Proteogenomics refers to the integration of comprehensive genomic, transcriptomic, and proteomic measurements from the same samples with the goal of fully understanding the regulatory processes converting genotypes to phenotypes, often with an emphasis on gaining a deeper understanding of disease processes. Although specific genetic mutations have long been known to drive the development of multiple cancers, gene mutations alone do not always predict prognosis or response to targeted therapy. The benefit of proteogenomics research is that information obtained from proteins and their corresponding pathways provides insight into therapeutic targets that can complement genomic information by providing an additional dimension regarding the underlying mechanisms and pathophysiology of tumors. This review describes the novel insights into tumor biology and drug resistance derived from proteogenomic analysis while highlighting the clinical potential of proteogenomic observations and advances in technique and analysis tools.
Optimal Control of Anti-Angiogenesis and Radiation Treatments for Cancerous Tumor: Hybrid Indirect Solver
Authors: Alimirzaei Iman , Malek Alaeddin
Published: September 2023

This paper proposes a real-life volume reduction for cancer cells using optimal doses of radiation and an anti-angiogenic drug. A generalized dynamical system based on the diffusion-consumption equation along with stimulation and inhibition factors is proposed. To achieve continuous and low-dose therapy, the related problem is simulated by an optimal regulator problem mathematically. By combining steepest descent, conjugate gradient, and Armijo techniques, a novel hybrid indirect iterative solver is designed. For accuracy and execution speed, the current solver is compared with an interior-point optimizer and sequential quadratic Hamiltonian methods. Cancer therapy under two different treatment strategies and 24 various versions of the general dynamical system is considered numerically. A comprehensive analysis of the corresponding outcomes is presented. Numerical results and related diagrams are provided.
Antioxidant, Cytotoxicity, Antimicrobial Activity, and In Silico Analysis of the Methanolic Leaf and Flower Extracts of Clitoria ternatea
Authors: Islam Md. Ariful , Mondal Samiran Kumar , Islam Shirmin , Akther Shorna Most. Nourin , Biswas Suvro , Uddin Md. Salah , Zaman Shahriar , Saleh Md. Abu
Published: September 2023

Infectious diseases pose a significant threat to human health worldwide. To address this challenge, we conducted a comprehensive study on the leaf and flower extracts of Clitoria ternatea plants. Our research encompassed in vitro assessments of their antibacterial, antibiofilm, antioxidant, and cytotoxic properties. Additionally, we employed in silico screening to identify promising compounds with potential applications in developing novel anti-Escherichia coli medications. Notably, our investigation revealed a remarkable inhibition zone of 13.00 ± 1 mm when applying the leaf extract (200 μg/ml) against E. coli, showcasing its potent antibacterial properties. Furthermore, both the leaf and flower extracts exhibited substantial biofilm inhibition efficacy against S. aureus, with inhibition percentages of 54% and 58%, respectively. In the realm of antioxidant activity, the leaf and flower extracts of C. ternatea displayed noteworthy DPPH free radical scavenging capabilities. Specifically, the leaf extract exhibited a substantial activity of 62.39% at a concentration of 150 μg/ml, while the flower extract achieved 44.08% at the same concentration. Our study also evaluated the impact on brine shrimp, where the floral extract displayed a significantly higher mortality rate of 93.33% at a dosage of 200 μg/ml compared to the leaf extract. To elucidate potential therapeutic targets, we utilized molecular docking techniques, focusing on the acbR protein (5ENR) associated with antibiotic resistance in E. coli. In this analysis, compounds isolated from the C. ternatea leaf extract, namely D1 (CID-14478556), D2 (CID-6423376), and D3 (CID-20393), exhibited binding energies of −8.2 kcal/mol, −6.5 kcal/mol, and −6.3 kcal/mol, respectively. Additionally, compounds from the flower extract, E1 (CID-5282761), E2 (CID-538757), and E3 (CID-536762), displayed binding energies of −5.4 kcal/mol, −5.3 kcal/mol, and −5.1 kcal/mol, respectively. In conclusion, the leaf and flower extracts derived from C. ternatea represent a promising natural resource with potential therapeutic applications in combating antibiotic-resistant pathogens.
Freshwater fishes of Syria: a revised and updated annotated checklist-2023
Authors: SAAD ADIB , ÇIÇEK ERDOĞAN , ESMAEILI HAMID REZA , FRICKE RONALD , SUNGUR SEVIL , EAGDERI SOHEIL
Published: September 2023

The current status of the freshwater fishes of Syria is revised, and an updated checklist is presented. The confirmed freshwater fishes of Syria comprise 108 species belonging to 15 orders, 25 families, and 51 genera. Among these, 11 species (10.2%) are alien, and six species (5.6%) are considered endemic to Syria. The orders with the largest numbers of species in the ichthyofauna of Syria are Cypriniformes (68 species), followed by Siluriformes and (nine species), Cichliformes (eight species), Mugiliformes (seven species), Cyprinodontiformes (six species), and others represent one species in each. At the family level, Cyprinidae has the greatest number of species (30 species; 27.8% of the total species), followed by Leuciscidae (21 species), Nemacheilidae (11 species), Cichlidae (eight species), and Mugilidae (seven species). According to IUCN Red List criteria, among 97 naturally distributed species (alien species not included), Tristramella sacra extinct (EX) and 24 species (26.5%) are categorized as threatened extinctions, CR, EN, and VU (eight species in each). A total of 17 species previously reported from Syria have been excluded from the checklist, either in the present study or in previous studies.
Impact of Using Natural Herbal Materials for Acupoint Application Combined with an Evidence-Based Supervision Method on Improving Renal Function and Lifestyle Treatment in Hemodialysis Patients
Authors: Li Yan
Published: September 2023

Natural herbal materials are commonly derived from plants, minerals, and animals, and compared to synthetic drugs, are closer to natural resources. Here, we analyzed the impact of using evidence-based supervision in combination with natural herbal materials for acupoint application
on renal function and lifestyle treatment in hemodialysis patients, with the aim to provide evidence for clinical practice. We selected 80 patients who underwent hemodialysis treatment in our hospital between September 2021 and December 2022 as the research subjects. All of the research subjects
were randomly divided into observation and control groups, with 40 cases in each group. The control group received conventional nursing interventions, while the observation group received interventions using acupuncture point application of natural Traditional Chinese medicine herbal materials
combined with evidence-based supervision. The main endpoints were to compare the nursing intervention effects between the two groups, including patients’ renal function indicators and quality of life. The natural Chinese medicinal herb Atractylodes macrocephala contains eucalyptol-type
sesquiterpene lactones, which exhibit various activities, especially in anti-inflammatory aspects, with a definite effect on the prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis in hemodialysis patients. Clinical studies have shown that the levels of serum creatinine (SCr) and blood urea nitrogen
(BUN) in the observation group were lower than those in the control group, while the GQOLI-74 scores of the observation group were higher than those of the control group (all P >0.05). Natural Chinese medicines are natural biobased materials that are often described as compound drugs
in practical clinical applications, containing multiple components that can work synergistically to produce comprehensive therapeutic effects. Among them, Atractylodes macrocephala has a definite effect on the prevention and treatment of renal fibrosis in hemodialysis patients. The
use of natural Chinese medicinal materials in acupoint application combined with evidence-based supervisory methods has shown precise clinical effects in hemodialysis patients, not only by improving renal function but also significantly enhancing their quality of life.
Chitosan Nanoparticles as Next Generation of Drug Carriers for Melanoma Treatment: A Review
Authors: Ren Xuesong , Jiang Qi , Zeng Yali , Wang Lin
Published: September 2023

Melanoma is one of the deadliest forms of skin cancer which accounts for about 1% of all diagnosed skin cancer cases in the United States. Metastatic melanoma is highly resistant to conventional treatments and the disease is highly refractory. Therefore, the development of new treatment
strategies is crucial. The current drug delivery systems for melanoma therapy have certain disadvantages such as off-target drug delivery, low circulation time, toxic side effects, and the need for repeated drug administration. To address these challenges, polymeric nanoparticles have broken
new grounds for melanoma treatment. Among different candidates, chitosan-based nanoparticles (ChNPs) have gained significant attention. Due to their excellent biocompatibility, non-immunogenicity, versatile properties, high stability, and low cost, therapeutic appeal towards these carriers
is on the rise. In the current review, recent progress, applications, and challenges of ChNPs in melanoma treatment will be discussed.
Calcium Ions-Driven Hydrogel Scaffold Toward the Robust Antioxidant and Anticancer Biomaterials
Authors: Le Trung Hieu , Dao My Uyen , Nguyen Thi Hong Chuong , Thi Tran Thi Van , Le Lam Son , Nguyen Thi Nhu , Tran Thanh Minh , Nguyen Hoang Luong Ngoc , Vu Ho Xuan Anh
Published: September 2023

The presented investigation attempts to unveil the novel approach to prepare glucomannan/collagen-based hydrogel through the utilization of calcium ions (i.e., Ca2+) as the cross-linker. The achieved composite provides an appropriate scaffold for the deposition of gallic
acid as an active species. It turns out that gallic acid-decorated glucomannan/Ca2+/collagen composite (denoted as KGM/Ca2+/Col/GA) shows a great capacity to prevent free radicals in the antioxidant test. Impressively, the as-generated KGM/Ca2+/Col/GA sample
demonstrates a robust capability to inhibit KB cells in the cytotoxic evaluation, associated with an extremely low IC50 value (e.g., 8.8±0.5 μg/mL). Such pieces of evidence suggest the potential application of KGM/Ca/Col/GA hydrogel material in medical applications.
TWEAK Inhibits Venous Thrombosis Progression Through the NF-κB Signaling Pathway in Lung Cancer
Authors: Cui Yuzhi , Zhou Zongqi , Zhang Yanhong , Li Jiafa , Ren Jinmeng , Luo Lei , Wang Guanghui
Published: September 2023

Deep vein thrombosis (DVT) is a common complication of malignancy, which greatly increases the mortality rate of tumor patients. Therefore, it is critical to understand the mechanism of malignancy and DVT. TWEAK expression in lung adenocarcinoma tissues from TCGA dataset was performed
by using GEPIA and detected in 58 lung cancer patients with DVT by qRT-PCR. TWEAK shRNAs were transfected into endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) to analyze the consequent alteration in EPCs behaviors through CCK-8, cloning formation, transwell, and flow cytometry assays. TWEAK was obviously
declined in lung cancer patients with DVT and low expression of TWEAK was related to poor overall survival. The function experiments revealed that TWEAK over-expression facilitated EPCs proliferation, migration, invasion, and attenuated cell apoptosis. However, TWEAK inhibition showed the
opposite effects on EPCs behavior. Mechanistically, TWEAK over-expression promoted the activation of p-p65 and p-IkBα. Moreover, NF-κB pathway inhibitor overturned the effects of TWEAK on EPCs proliferation, metastasis and apoptosis. TWEAK might inhibit venous thrombosis
progression through the NF-κB signaling pathway in lung cancer.
Factors Determining Utilization of Free Trade Agreements by Indian Textile and Clothing Companies: A Conceptual Framework Model
Authors: Bajaj Parul , Sharma Anuj
Published: September 2023

The study focusses on the determinants to the use of trade agreements by Indian textile and clothing companies. A primary sample survey of 310 export companies was conducted in major clusters. Subsequently a conceptual framework model was developed to understand the various determinants influencing the use of trade agreements by the textile and clothing export firms in India. The study identified 8 dimensions of impediments, 4 determinants of costs, 5 benefits and 11 enablers to the use of trade agreements. A binary regression modelling was performed on the data set to identify the critical factors, which determine the usage of trade agreements using SPSS 16. The results obtained showed that the probability of usage of trade agreements decreased with documentation costs, cost associated with time to obtain preferential certificate, non-tariff barriers in partner countries and lack of knowledge. The probability of usage was positively significant for gaining new buyers under the agreements, government outreach, support from public sector bodies and ease in issuance of certificates. This study will provide a foundation to understand the determinants of usage of trade agreements in future. We conclude that a more SME centric approach will help in making trade agreements more inclusive.
Iterative intercensal single-decrement life tables using Stata
Authors: Muniz Jerônimo Oliveira
Published: September 2023

One way to estimate mortality in countries with incomplete data is to utilize intercensal methods, which do not require model life tables and provide accurate results even in the presence of age distortions and death underregistration. In this article, I revisit three of these techniques (census based, death distribution, and an iterative procedure) and introduce ilt, a command to calculate singledecrement life tables and the net flow of migrants by age. The required inputs are two age-specific population distributions and the average number of deaths between them. The empirical example draws on data from Vietnam, but the methods are extendable to any context and period.
World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery—The Official Journal of the Congenital Heart Surgeons’ Society
Authors: Jacobs Marshall L. , Backer Carl L.
Published: September 2023

The World Journal for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery ( WJPCHS) was established in 2009, as a means of advancing the educational and scholarship goals of the World Society for Pediatric and Congenital Heart Surgery. WJPCHS has grown steadily since the first issue was published in April 2010. In 2017, the Congenital Heart Surgeons’ Society and the European Congenital Heart Surgeons Association both designated WJPCHS as the official journal of their respective organizations. The CHSS and ECHSA represent the face and the voice of congenital heart surgery in North America (United States and Canada) and in Europe, respectively. Each organization has advanced the science of surgical management of congenital heart disease through multicenter outcomes analyses, which have strongly and positively influenced the care of patients around the world.
The Development of the Innovation Readiness Inventory: An Assessment Tool to Assess Innovation Readiness of Nursing Organizations
Authors: Lahti Nina A. , Kevin Caroline , Schulz Sara , Meijers Katarina , Bothma Gerhard G.
Published: September 2023

Nursing organizations are expected to make contributions to innovation in Healthcare. However, they are often not innovation ready. How do nursing organizations know how Innovation Ready they are? What should nursing organizations do to become more Innovation Ready? In literature, there exists no consolidated resource to help nursing organizations to answer these questions. Therefore, this research aimed to support nurse-led innovation by developing an Innovation Readiness Inventory to be used as an assessment tool to qualitatively assess the innovation readiness of nursing organizations and support decision-making on actions to be implemented towards innovation readiness. The researchers performed a literature review to provide the theoretical basis for the assessment tool. Thereafter, the researchers engaged innovation experts and end-users in the form of nurse directors and managers, and frontline nurses. The researchers conducted semi-structured interviews, surveys, and design workshops and performed directed qualitative content analysis where relevant. Throughout, emphasis was placed on the scientific rigor of the research methodology with the intent to ensure the “trustworthiness” of the outcomes. To this end, the researchers implemented published best practices, when relevant and appropriate. As contribution to the discussion around nurse-led innovation, this research delivers the innovation readiness inventory that focusses the discussion on nursing organizations and the nurses within, and discusses challenges and opportunities related to the use thereof.
A multilevel mHealth intervention boosts adherence to hydroxyurea in individuals with sickle cell disease
Authors: Hankins Jane S. , Brambilla Donald , Potter Michael B. , Kutlar Abdullah , Gibson Robert , King Allison A. , Baumann Ana A. , Melvin Cathy , Gordeuk Victor R. , Hsu Lewis L. , Nwosu Chinonyelum , Porter Jerlym S. , Alberts Nicole M. , Badawy Sherif M. , Simon Jena , Glassberg Jeffrey A. , Lottenberg Richard , DiMartino Lisa , Jacobs Sara , Fernandez Maria E. , Bosworth Hayden B. , Klesges Lisa M. , Shah Nirmish
Published: September 2023

Hydroxyurea reduces sickle cell disease (SCD) complications, but medication adherence is low. We tested 2 mobile health (mHealth) interventions targeting determinants of low adherence among patients (InCharge Health) and low prescribing among providers (HU Toolbox) in a multi-center, non-randomized trial of individuals with SCD ages 15-45. We compared the percentage of days covered (PDC), labs, healthcare utilization, and self-reported pain over 24 weeks of intervention and 12 weeks post-study with a 24-week preintervention interval. We enrolled 293 patients (51% male; median age 27.5 years, 86.8% HbSS/HbSβ0-thalassemia). The mean change in PDC among 235 evaluable subjects increased (39.7% to 56.0%; P < 0.001) and sustained (39.7% to 51.4%, P < 0.001). Mean HbF increased (10.95% to 12.78%; P = 0.03). Self-reported pain frequency reduced (3.54 to 3.35 events/year; P = 0.041). InCharge Health was used ≥1 day by 199 of 235 participants (84.7% implementation; median usage: 17% study days; IQR: 4.8-45.8%). For individuals with ≥1 baseline admission for pain, admissions per 24 weeks declined from baseline through 24 weeks (1.97 to 1.48 events/patient, P = 0.0045) and weeks 25-36 (1.25 events/patient, P = 0.0015). PDC increased with app use (P < 0.001), with the greatest effect in those with private insurance (P = 0.0078), older subjects (P = 0.033), and those with lower pain interference (P = 0.0012). Of the 89 providers (49 hematologists, 36 advanced care providers, 4 unreported), only 11.2% used HU Toolbox ≥1/month on average. This use did not affect change in PDC. Tailoring mHealth solutions to address barriers to hydroxyurea adherence can potentially improve adherence and provide clinical benefits. A definitive randomized study is warranted. This trial was registered at www.clinicaltrials.gov as #NCT04080167.
Excess mortality in persons with severe mental disorder in Sweden: a cohort study of 12 103 individuals with and without contact with psychiatric services
Authors: Tidemalm Dag , Waern Margda , Stefansson Claes-Göran , Elofsson Stig , Runeson Bo
Published: September 2023

Background

Investigating mortality in those with mental disorder is one way of measuring effects of mental health care reorganisation. This study's aim was to investigate whether the excess mortality in those with severe mental disorder remains high in Sweden after the initiation of the Community Mental Health Care Reform. We analysed excess mortality by gender, type of mental health service and psychiatric diagnosis in a large community-based cohort with long-term mental disorder.

Methods

A survey was conducted in Stockholm County, Sweden in 1997 to identify adults with long-term disabling mental disorder (mental retardation and dementia excluded). The 12 103 cases were linked to the Hospital Discharge Register and the Cause of Death Register. Standardised mortality ratios (SMRs) for 1998–2000 were calculated for all causes of death, in the entire cohort and in subgroups based on treatment setting and diagnosis.

Results

Mortality was increased in both genders, for natural and external causes and in all diagnostic subgroups. Excess mortality was greater among those with a history of psychiatric inpatient care, especially in those with substance use disorder. For the entire cohort, the number of excess deaths due to natural causes was threefold that due to external causes. SMRs in those in contact with psychiatric services where strikingly similar to those in contact with social services.

Conclusion

Mortality remains high in those with long-term mental disorder in Sweden, regardless of treatment setting. Treatment programs for persons with long-term mental disorder should target physical as well as mental health.
Are structured interviews truly able to detect and diagnose Bipolar II disorders in epidemiological studies? The king is still nude!
Authors: Carta Mauro Giovanni , Hardoy Maria Carolina , Fryers Tom
Published: September 2023

Introduction

A research commentary published in 2005 pointed out that the apparently low prevalence of Bipolar Disorder diagnosis as reported by epidemiological studies may be related to the under-estimate of bipolar disorder cases generally yielded by methodological instruments that are applied in such investigations.

New data apparently challenge this notion

More recent publications have presented new results that apparently contradict the issues raised by the commentary, stating that the CIDI interview, which is used in the most important epidemiological studies is not only valid but highly reliable in identifying bipolar disorders.

Commentary

This paper analyzes the new data and concludes that they do not give a clear indication as to how reliably the CIDI can recognize undiagnosed bipolar disorder cases. Further research studies are needed on larger "negative" (to the CIDI) samples before the field will be persuaded that CIDI really does what it is supposed to do.
Assessment of hearing performance of dental technicians due to the professional noise exposure
Authors: Vaddamanu Sunil Kumar , Alhamoudi Fahad Hussain , Binduhayyim Rayan Ibrahim H. , AlJameel AlBandary Hassan , Alwadi Maram Ali M. , Di Blasio Marco , Cicciù Marco , Minervini Giuseppe
Published: September 2023

Background

Some of the noise-intensive processes in dental laboratories include the finishing of crowns, bridges, and removable partial dentures; blowing out workpieces with steam and compressed air; and deflating casting rings. High sound pressure levels are also present in dental vibrators, polishing equipment, and sandblasters. The aim of this study was to Evaluation of the effect of noise production in dental technology laboratory on dental technician hearing capacity.

Methods

For this cross-sectional study, a total of 120 dental technicians were chosen. Otoscopic evaluation and the Weber test were used to establish if they had sensorineural or transmission hearing loss at 500 Hz, 1000 Hz, 2000 Hz, and 4000 Hz, respectively. Then an OAER (objective auditory evoked response) and PTA (clinical aurimeter) test were administered (Neurosoft, Russia). The whole procedure was carried out by an audiologist and an ENT specialist.

Results

The PTA results showed that the patient had mild hearing impairment overall, with the loss being more severe in the left ear than in the right. The OAE test results revealed that in-ear of the left side, 84.5% of subjects passed and 15.5% of subjects struggled and were referred to an ear specialist, whereas in the right ear, 82.7% of subjects passed and 17.3% struggled and were referred to an ear specialist. According to this study, in a right-handed study participant, the ear on the left side is more vulnerable than the right side. Differences in the mean hearing threshold at 4000 and 6000 Hz in the left ear were statistically significant in the groups of workers with eleven to fifteen years of practical experience and twenty-one to twenty-five years of practical experience, respectively (Minervini, et al. J Clin Med 12:2652, 2023).

Conclusions

A statistically meaningful threshold shift from 4000 to 6000 Hz is observed as the working experience grows, and this is suggestive of sensorineural hearing impairment brought on by the noisy dental environment.
Assessing the relationship between reproductive autonomy and contraceptive use in rural Malawi
Authors: Wollum Alexandra , Bornstein Marta , Mopiwa Gladson , Norris Alison , Gipson Jessica D.
Published: September 2023

Reproductive autonomy, or the extent to which people control matters related to their own sexual and reproductive decisions, may help explain why some people who do not intend to become pregnant nevertheless do not use contraception. Using cross-sectional survey data from 695 women aged 16 to 47 enrolled in the Umoyo Wa Thanzi (UTHA) study in Malawi in 2019, we conducted confirmatory factor analysis, descriptive analyses, and multivariable logistic regression to assess the freedom from coercion and communication subscales of the Reproductive Autonomy Scale and to examine relationships between these components of reproductive autonomy and current contraceptive use. The freedom from coercion and communication subscales were valid within this population of partnered women; results from a correlated two-factor confirmatory factor analysis model resulted in good model fit. Women with higher scores on the freedom from coercion subscale had greater odds of current contraceptive use (aOR 1.13, 95% CI: 1.03–1.23) after adjustment for pregnancy intentions, relationship type, parity, education, employment for wages, and household wealth. Scores on the communication subscale were predictive of contraceptive use in some, but not all, models. These findings demonstrate the utility of the Reproductive Autonomy Scale in more holistically understanding contractive use and non-use in a lower-income setting, yet also highlight the need to further explore the multidimensionality of women’s reproductive autonomy and its effects on achieving desired fertility.
Effects and action mechanisms of individual cytokines contained in PRP on osteoarthritis
Authors: Wang Zhengchao , Zhu Pengfei , Liao Bokai , You Hongbo , Cai Yu
Published: September 2023

Osteoarthritis (OA) is defined as a degenerative joint disease that can affect all tissues of the joint, including the articular cartilage, subchondral bone, ligaments capsule, and synovial membrane. The conventional nonoperative treatments are ineffective for cartilage repair and induce only symptomatic relief. Platelet-rich plasma (PRP) is a platelet concentrate derived from autologous whole blood with a high concentration of platelets, which can exert anti-inflammatory and regenerative effects by releasing multiple growth factors and cytokines. Recent studies have shown that PRP exhibits clinical benefits in patients with OA. However, high operational and equipment requirements greatly limit the application of PRP to OA treatment. Past studies have indicated that high-concentration PRP growth factors and cytokines may be applied as a commercial replacement for PRP. We reviewed the relevant articles to summarize the feasibility and mechanisms of PRP-based growth factors in OA. The available evidence suggests that transforming growth factor-α and β, platelet-derived growth factors, epidermal growth factor, insulin-like growth factor-1, and connective tissue growth factors might benefit OA, while vascular endothelial growth factor, tumor necrosis factor-α, angiopoietin-1, and stromal cell derived factor-1α might induce negative effects on OA. The effects of fibroblast growth factor, hepatocyte growth factor, platelet factor 4, and keratinocyte growth factor on OA remain uncertain. Thus, it can be concluded that not all cytokines released by PRP are beneficial, although the therapeutic action of PRP has a valuable potential to improve.
COVID-19 associated Mucormycosis among ICU patients: risk factors, control, and challenges
Authors: Abd El-Baky Rehab Mahmoud , Shady Esraa R. , Yahia Ramadan , Ahmed Fatma Y. , Ramadan Mohamed , Ahmed Hala Rady , Al-Kadmy Israa M. S. , Ramadan Yasmin N. , Hetta Helal F.
Published: September 2023

The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2) pandemic is still difficult to be controlled. The spread of this virus and the emergence of new variants are considered a great challenge worldwide. Disturbance in infection control guidelines implementation, use of steroids, antibiotics, hospital crowdedness, and repeated use of oxygen masks during the management of critically ill COVID-19 patients lead to an increase in the rate of opportunistic infections. So, patients need to fight both the virus with its different variants and opportunistic pathogens including bacteria and fungi especially patients with diabetes mellitus, malignancy, or those who undergo hemodialysis and receive deferoxamine. During the pandemic, many cases of Mucormycosis associated with COVID-19 infection were observed in many countries. In this review, we discuss risk factors that increase the chance of infection by opportunistic pathogens, especially fungal pathogens, recent challenges, and control measures.
Identification and experimental validation of autophagy-related genes in abdominal aortic aneurysm
Authors: Yuan Xiaoli , Song Yancheng , Xin Hai , Zhang Lu , Liu Bingyu , Ma Jianmin , Sun Ruicong , Guan Xiaomei , Jiang Zhirong
Published: September 2023

Aim

Autophagy plays essential roles in abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) development and progression. The objective of this study was to verify the autophagy-related genes (ARGs) underlying AAA empirically and using bioinformatics analysis.

Methods

Two gene expression profile datasets GSE98278 and GSE57691 were downloaded from the Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database, and principal component analysis was performed. Following, the R software (version 4.0.0) was employed to analyze potentially differentially expressed genes related with AAA and autophagy. Subsequently, the candidate genes were screened using protein–protein interaction (PPI), gene ontology (GO) enrichment analysis, and Kyoto Encyclopedia of Genes and Genomes (KEGG) enrichment analysis. Finally, quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (RT-qPCR) was performed to detect the RNA expression levels of the top five selected abnormal ARGs in clinical samples obtained from the normal and AAA patients.

Results

According to the information contained (97 AAA patients and 10 healthy controls) in the two datasets, a total of 44 differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (6 up-regulated genes and 38 down-regulated genes) were screened. GO enrichment analysis of differentially expressed autophagy-related genes (DEARGs) demonstrated that some enrichment items were associated with inflammation, and PPI analysis indicated interaction between these genes. RT-qPCR results presented that the expression levels of IL6, PPARG, SOD1, and MAP1LC3B were in accordance with the bioinformatics prediction results acquired from the mRNA chip.

Conclusion

Bioinformatics analysis identified 44 potential autophagy-related differentially expressed genes in AAA. Further verification by RT- qPCR presented that IL6, PPARG, SOD1, and MAP1LC3B may affect the development of AAA by regulating autophagy. These findings might help explain the pathogenesis of AAA and be helpful in its diagnosis and treatment.
Panobinostat (LBH589) combined with AM1241 induces cervical cancer cell apoptosis through autophagy pathway
Authors: Sheng Bo , Wang Wenwen , Xia Dongyue , Qu Xiangdong
Published: September 2023

Purpose

The study aims to investigate the apoptotic effects of combining LBH589 and AM1241 (a selective CB2 receptor agonist) on cervical cancer cells and elucidating the mechanism of this combined therapy, which may provide innovative strategies for treating this disease.

Methods

The viability of the cervical cancer cells was measured by cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, and the synergistic effect was analyzed using SynergyFinder. Cell proliferation was tested by cell cloning. The apoptosis and reactive oxygen species (ROS) production in cervical cancer cells were analyzed by flow cytometry. Western blot and quantitative real-time PCR (qRT-PCR) were employed to determine changes in protein and gene levels of pathway-related factors.

Results

By the results of cytotoxicity assay, SiHa cells were selected and treated with 0.1 μM LBH589 and 4 μM AM1241 for 24 h for subsequent experiments. The combination of both was synergistic as determined by bliss, ZIP, HSA and LOEWE synergy score. Plate cloning results showed that LBH589 combined with AM1241 inhibited the proliferation of cervical cancer cells compared to individual drug. Additionally, compared with LBH589 alone, the combination of LBH589 and AM1241 induced autophagy by increasing LC3II/LC3I and decreasing P62/GAPDH, leading to a significantly higher rate of apoptosis. Pharmacological inhibition of also inhibited apoptosis. Consistently, we found that the endoplasmic reticulum, DNA damage repair pathway were induced after co-administration. Furthermore, cellular ROS increased after co-administration, and apoptosis was inhibited by the addition of ROS scavenger.

Conclusion

LBH589 combined with AM1241 activated the endoplasmic reticulum emergency pathway, DNA damage repair signaling pathway, oxidative stress and autophagy pathway, ultimately promoting the apoptosis of cervical cancer cells. These findings suggest that the co-administration of LBH589 and AM1241 may be a new treatment plan for the treatment of cervical cancer.
Figurant types in scenario-based exercises
Authors: Jonsson Cecilia , Lif Susanna
Published: September 2023

Scenario-based exercises employing figurants are frequently used in vocational education worldwide. The purpose of these exercises is to help the students develop practical knowledge and skills on their way to becoming professional practitioners. While previous research often concentrates on the exercises’ design, level of realism and complexity, there is a knowledge gap regarding the use of figurants, not least when it comes to advantages and disadvantages with different figurant types. The aim of this study is to investigate how, why and in what type of exercises figurants are used in Swedish police education. The empirical material derives from interviews with teachers, students, and figurants from five Swedish police education programmes, focusing on the interviewees’ experience of the use of internal, external, and semi-external figurants in distinctive exercises. The three figurant types were attributed specific effects on the implementation of exercises and were perceived as having different advantages and disadvantages depending on the purpose of each exercise, the impact being particularly noticeable in relation to levels of realism, permissive environments, the counterpart perspective, safety concerns, feedback, and simulation competence. The choice of figurant type has an equally important impact on the outcome of the scenarios as other factors, and there is a need for more research on the use of figurants in relation to student learning.
Staphylococcus aureus contamination of animal-derived foods in Nigeria: a systematic review, 2002—2022
Authors: Odetokun Ismail Ayoade , Adetona Mutiat Adenike , Ade-Yusuf Rodhiat Oyinlola , Adewoye Adeola Oluwafunmibi , Ahmed Aliyu Nuhu , Ghali-Mohammed Ibrahim , Al-Mustapha Ahmed Ibrahim , Fetsch Alexandra
Published: September 2023

Background

Staphylococcus aureus (S. aureus) is a bacterium of public health importance. The zoonotic spread of this pathogen through animal-derived foods has been reported. This systematic literature review investigates the prevalence, distribution, antimicrobial resistance (AMR) profiles, and molecular characteristics of S. aureus in the food chain in Nigeria.

Methods

A systematic search of online databases (Pub Med, Google Scholar, and Web of Science) for published articles from January 2002 to January 2022 was performed using the Prisma guideline.

Results

Fifty articles were included from an initial 511 extracted documents. These papers included research carried out in 22 states across Nigeria. S. aureus detection in most studies was above the satisfactory level for foods (≥ 104 CFU/g). The prevalence of S. aureus ranged from 1.3% in raw cow meat to 72.5% in fresh poultry meat. Most S. aureus isolates demonstrated multiple drug resistance patterns, especially being resistant to beta-lactams. There is a lack of information on the molecular typing of the S. aureus isolates. The different spa types of S. aureus isolated were t091, t314, t1476, and t4690, categorized into Multi-Locus-Sequence Types ST8, ST121, ST152, and ST789. Virulence genes detected include pvl, sea, see, spa, coa, edin, tsst, and hly. Certain AMR-encoding genes were detected, such as mecA, blaZ, fos, tet, and dfsr.. Factors contributing to the presence of S. aureus were reported as poor processing, poor sanitary conditions of the food processing units, inadequate storage units, and poor handling.

Conclusion

We showed that S. aureus is a major food contaminant in Nigeria despite the need for more information on the molecular typing of strains from animal-derived food sources. There is a need to control S. aureus by targeting specific entry points based on the findings on risk factors and drivers of food contamination.