bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic properties of once‐weekly insulin icodec in individuals with type 1 diabetes
Authors: Hövelmann Ulrike , Engberg Susanne , Heise Tim , Kristensen Niels Rode , Nørgreen Lea , Zijlstra Eric , Ribel‐Madsen Rasmus
Published: February 2024

Aims

To investigate the pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of once‐weekly insulin icodec in individuals with type 1 diabetes (T1D).

Materials and Methods

In this randomized, open‐label, two‐period crossover trial, 66 individuals with T1D (age 18–64 years; glycated haemoglobin ≤75 mmol/mol [≤ 9%]) were to receive once‐weekly icodec (8 weeks) and once‐daily insulin glargine U100 (2 weeks) at individualized fixed equimolar total weekly doses established during up to 10 weeks' run‐in with glargine U100 titrated to pre‐breakfast plasma glucose (PG) of 4.4–7.2 mmol/L (80–130 mg/dL). Insulin aspart was used as bolus insulin. Blood sampling for icodec pharmacokinetics was performed from the first icodec dose until 35 days after the last dose. The glucose infusion rate at steady state was assessed in glucose clamps (target 6.7 mmol/L [120 mg/dL]) at 16–52 h and 138–168 h after the last icodec dose and 0–24 h after the last glargine U100 dose. Icodec pharmacodynamics during 1 week were predicted by pharmacokinetic‐pharmacodynamic modelling. Hypoglycaemia was recorded during the treatment periods based on self‐measured PG.

Results

Icodec reached pharmacokinetic steady state on average within 2–3 weeks. At steady state, model‐predicted daily proportions of glucose infusion rate during the 1‐week dosing interval were 14.3%, 19.6%, 18.3%, 15.7%, 13.1%, 10.6% and 8.4%, respectively. Rates and duration of Level 2 hypoglycaemic episodes (PG <3.0 mmol/L [54 mg/dL]) were 32.8 versus 23.9 episodes per participant‐year of exposure and 33 ± 25 versus 30 ± 18 min (mean ± SD) for icodec versus glargine U100.

Conclusions

The pharmacokinetic/pharmacodynamic properties of icodec suggest its potential to provide basal coverage in a basal‐bolus insulin regimen in people with T1D.
An exploratory research report on brain mineralization in postoperative delirium and cognitive decline
Authors: Lammers‐Lietz Florian , Borchers Friedrich , Feinkohl Insa , Hetzer Stefan , Kanar Cicek , Konietschke Frank , Lachmann Gunnar , Chien Claudia , Spies Claudia , Winterer Georg , Zaborszky Laszlo , Zacharias Norman , Paul Friedemann
Published: February 2024

Delirium is a severe postoperative complication associated with poor overall and especially neurocognitive prognosis. Altered brain mineralization is found in neurodegenerative disorders but has not been studied in postoperative delirium and postoperative cognitive decline. We hypothesized that mineralization‐related hypointensity in susceptibility‐weighted magnetic resonance imaging (SWI) is associated with postoperative delirium and cognitive decline. In an exploratory, hypothesis‐generating study, we analysed a subsample of cognitively healthy patients ≥65 years who underwent SWI before (N = 65) and 3 months after surgery (N = 33). We measured relative SWI intensities in the basal ganglia, hippocampus and posterior basal forebrain cholinergic system (pBFCS). A post hoc analysis of two pBFCS subregions (Ch4, Ch4p) was conducted. Patients were screened for delirium until the seventh postoperative day. Cognitive testing was performed before and 3 months after surgery. Fourteen patients developed delirium. After adjustment for age, sex, preoperative cognition and region volume, only pBFCS hypointensity was associated with delirium (regression coefficient [90% CI]: B = −15.3 [−31.6; −0.8]). After adjustments for surgery duration, age, sex and region volume, perioperative change in relative SWI intensities of the pBFCS was associated with cognitive decline 3 months after surgery at a trend level (B = 6.8 [−0.9; 14.1]), which was probably driven by a stronger association in subregion Ch4p (B = 9.3 [2.3; 16.2]). Brain mineralization, particularly in the cerebral cholinergic system, could be a pathomechanism in postoperative delirium and cognitive decline. Evidence from our studies is limited because of the small sample and a SWI dataset unfit for iron quantification, and the analyses presented here should be considered exploratory.
How close are we to a breakthrough? The hunt for blood biomarkers in Parkinson's disease diagnosis
Authors: Liu Cheng , Su Yang , Ma Xiaolong , Wei Yao , Qiao Rui
Published: February 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD), being the second largest neurodegenerative disease, poses challenges in early detection, resulting in a lack of timely treatment options to effectively manage the disease. By the time clinical diagnosis becomes possible, more than 60% of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra (SN) of patients have already degenerated. Therefore, early diagnosis or identification of warning signs is crucial for the prompt and timely beginning of the treatment. However, conducting invasive or complex diagnostic procedures on asymptomatic patients can be challenging, making routine blood tests a more feasible approach in such cases. Numerous studies have been conducted over an extended period to search for effective diagnostic biomarkers in blood samples. However, thus far, no highly effective biomarkers have been confirmed. Besides classical proteins like α‐synuclein (α‐syn), phosphorylated α‐syn and oligomeric α‐syn, other molecules involved in disease progression should also be given equal attention. In this review, we will not only discuss proposed biomarkers that are currently under investigation but also delve into the mechanisms underlying the disease, focusing on processes such as α‐syn misfolding, intercellular transmission and the crossing of the blood–brain barrier (BBB). Our aim is to provide an updated overview of molecules based on these processes that may potentially serve as blood biomarkers.
Colic signs caused by an unilateral abdominal seminoma in a Friesian stallion
Authors: Peeters Chantal M. P. , Sterk Teun , Grinwis Guy , Giglia Giuseppe , Rijkenhuizen Astrid B. M.
Published: February 2024

This case report describes the diagnosis and surgical treatment of a 12‐year‐old Friesian stallion that presented with colic and was diagnosed with an unilateral abdominal seminoma. The diagnostic work‐up included haematology, blood chemistry, rectal examination and ultrasonography before the tentative diagnosis of a neoplastic intra‐abdominal testicle was made. The mass was removed surgically and diagnosed as a seminoma via histopathology. Regular follow‐up was performed since suspected metastasis was seen on transrectal ultrasonography and laparoscopy. Unfortunately, the patient was subjected to euthanasia 18 months post‐surgery due to clinical deterioration. Post‐mortem examination was performed and confirmed the cause of clinical deterioration was due to metastasis of the previously removed seminoma. Colic is, to the author's knowledge, rarely seen in stallions with an abdominal testicular neoplasm, in contrast to humans and dogs.
The lexical content of high‐stakes national exams in French, German, and Spanish in England
Authors: Dudley Amber , Marsden Emma
Published: February 2024

Surprisingly little is known about the number and frequency level of words that beginner‐to‐low‐intermediate 16‐year‐old learners of French, German, and Spanish are expected to know when taking high‐stakes national exams in England. This study presents exploratory analyses of the lexical content of the listening and reading tests of these exams, a corpus totaling 116,647 running words. Specifically, it seeks to understand the number and frequency level of words that (a) this demographic seems to be expected to know and (b) could be needed for awarding organizations to create exams year‐on‐year. Key findings include that the proportion of low(er)‐frequency words in the corpus of exam papers seemed large, given the stage of the learners and the purpose of the assessments. Critically, these low(er)‐frequency words changed at a high rate between papers, likely incurring a heavy reliance on the lexical inferencing abilities of these relatively inexperienced language learners.
Capping welfare payments for workless families increases employment and economic inactivity: Evidence from the UK's benefit cap
Authors: Reeves Aaron , Fransham Mark , Stewart Kitty , Reader Mary , Patrick Ruth
Published: February 2024

In this paper, we examine the labour market effects of lowering the UK's benefit cap in 2016. This policy limits the total amount a working‐age non‐disabled household with no‐one in employment can receive in social security. We treat the sharp reduction in this benefit cap as a natural experiment, comparing those at risk of being capped and those who were not before and after the cap was lowered. Drawing on data from ~500,000 individuals, we find that this reform reduced unemployment compared to those not at risk of being capped. The reform also increased economic inactivity, partly because the cap harmed mental health but also because those at risk of being capped were eligible to claim disability‐related welfare payments that made them exempt. Limiting total monthly welfare payments of low‐income families may increase employment for some but it can also push others out of the labour market altogether.
The geography of collective bargaining in French multi‐establishment companies
Authors: Askenazy Philippe , Cottineau Clémentine
Published: February 2024

Despite growing interest in the firm bargaining process, little research focuses on the structure of bargaining within multi‐establishment firms. We question whether running negotiations at the workplace level and/or firm level is a strategic choice for employers. We hypothesize that the level chosen depends on the geography of the firm. Employers face a trade‐off: workplace bargaining is more efficient because it meets local conditions; yet higher level negotiations increase coordination costs for workers and weakens their bargaining power, which can benefit the employer. Using a French representative survey, we find a significant relation between the level of bargaining within a firm and the number, spatial distribution and heterogeneity of its establishments, suggesting that the structure of multi‐establishment firms can inform the level at which collective bargaining takes place.
How clinicians make decisions for patient management plans in telehealth
Authors: Zhang Yuhan , Stayt Louise , Sutherland Sheera , Greenway Kathleen
Published: February 2024

Aim

This systematic integrative literature review explores how clinicians make decisions for patient management plans in telehealth.

Background

Telehealth is a modality of care that has gained popularity due to the development of digital technology and the COVID‐19 pandemic. It is recognized that telehealth, compared to traditional clinical settings, carries a higher risk to patients due to its virtual characteristics. Even though the landscape of healthcare service is increasingly moving towards virtual systems, the decision‐making process in telehealth remains not fully understood.

Design

A systematic integrative review.

Data Sources

Databases include CINAHL, APA PsycInfo, Academic Search Complete, PubMed, Web of Science and Google Scholar.

Review Methods

This systematic integrative review method was informed by Whittemore and Knafl (2005). The databases were initially searched with keywords in November 2022 and then repeated in October 2023. Thematic synthesis was conducted to analyse and synthesize the data.

Results

The search identified 382 articles. After screening, only 10 articles met the eligibility criteria and were included. Five studies were qualitative, one quantitative and four were mixed methods. Five main themes relevant to decision‐making processes in telehealth were identified: characteristics of decision‐making in telehealth, patient factor, clinician factor, CDSS factor and external influencing factor.

Conclusions

The decision‐making process in telehealth is a complicated cognitive process influenced by multi‐faceted components, including patient factors, clinician factors, external influencing factors and technological factors.

Impact

Telehealth carries higher risk and uncertainty than face‐to‐face encounters. CDSS, rather than bringing unification and clarity, seems to bring more divergence and ambiguity. Some of the clinical reasoning processes in telehealth remain unknown and need to be verbalized and made transparent, to prepare junior clinicians with skills to minimize risks associated with telehealth.

Patient or Public Contribution

Not applicable.
The mediating role of coping strategies between caregiving burden and pre‐death grief among Chinese adult‐child caregivers of dementia patients
Authors: Wangliu Yiqi , Chen Ji‐Kang
Published: February 2024

Aims

The objective of this study was to examine the relationship between caregiving burden and pre‐death grief, with a specific focus on adult‐child caregivers in mainland China. Additionally, the study explored whether coping strategies played a mediating role in this correlation.

Methods

A convenience sample of 320 adult‐child caregivers of older parents with dementia from Kunming, mainland China, was recruited for the study. Data were collected using the Chinese version of the Marwit‐Meuser Caregiver Grief Inventory‐Short Form, the Burden Scale for Family Caregivers, and the Ways of Coping Checklist‐Revised.

Results

Results using linear regression and multiple mediation analysis with Hayes' process model indicated that caregiving burden was positively related to pre‐death grief and that active coping mediated the relationship between them. In the female group, active coping partially mediated the association between caregiving burden and pre‐death grief, but in the male group, this mediating effect did not exist.

Conclusion

The study found evidence supporting the link between caregiving burden and pre‐death grief among adult‐child caregivers of older parents with dementia in mainland China. Furthermore, the caregiving burden prevented the use of active coping, and this decrease in coping increased the perception of pre‐death grief. These associations only existed in the female group.

Implications

This paper presented the importance of active coping skills in the dementia caregiving process.

Impact

The findings of this study emphasize the necessity for health practitioners to provide targeted interventions regarding pre‐death grief among dementia caregivers and strengthen caregivers' active coping strategies to reduce their pre‐death grief. Community‐based and personal care support services should be promoted to alleviate their caregiving burden.

Reporting Method

We have adhered to the transparent reporting of evaluations with quantitative design statements and the corresponding checklist was followed.

Patient or Public Contribution

‘No patient or public involvement’.
State Borrowing and Global Responsibilities
Authors: Pattison James
Published: February 2024

This article explores the ethics of state borrowing to fulfil global responsibilities. Although borrowing may appear attractive in the face of budgetary pressures and an increased number of crises in a changing global order, the article argues that borrowing to fulfil global responsibilities is generally morally problematic. It presents two main objections to borrowing. First, borrowing is often likely to be unfair intergenerationally, violating the ‘Just Borrowing Principle’. Second, borrowing demonstrates a lack of sufficient commitment, violating the ‘Taking a Stand Principle’, and therefore weakens the expressivist justification of measures to fulfil global responsibilities.
Health professionals' education related to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities: A scoping review
Authors: Ailey Sarah H. , Bathje Molly , Tichá Renáta , Abery Brian , Khuu Belle K. , Angel Lisa
Published: February 2024

Background

People with intellectual and developmental disabilities are among the most underserved in an inequitable healthcare system.

Methods

Using Arksey and O'Malley's methodology and a social determinants of health framework, we conducted a scoping review of literature on the state of practice in education of healthcare professionals in the health and healthcare needs of this population.

Results

Searches found 4948 articles, with 182 included in the final review. Themes identified included gaps of not being informed by workforce needs, continued use of the medical model of care, not addressing intersectionality with racial/ethnic and other discriminations, and lack of involvement of the population in developing/evaluating programs and promising trends of development of competency‐based interprofessional programs with experiential learning.

Conclusion

We provide recommendations for best practices in a concerted effort to educate a healthcare workforce equipped with the knowledge and skills to address the health needs of this population.
Proteomic, miRNA and bacterial biomarker patterns in atopic dermatitis patients and their course upon anti‐IL‐4Rα therapy
Authors: Pažur K. , Francuzik W. , El‐Mahmoud H. , Kraft M. , Worm M.
Published: February 2024

Background

Identification of biomarkers is required for a systems medicine approach and personalized treatment in atopic dermatitis (AD). These biomarkers may not only aid in diagnosing but also might be suitable to predict the effectiveness of targeted treatment.

Objective

We aimed to identify proteomic, microbial and miRNA biomarkers in AD patients and investigated their course in relation to the clinical response upon anti‐IL‐4Rα therapy.

Methods

Proteomic and miRNA screening was performed in AD patients in comparison to healthy controls. Differentially regulated serum proteins, miRNA and selected skin microbiota were measured consecutively in 50 AD patients before and upon systemic dupilumab treatment. A random forest classifier was used to predict the outcome of dupilumab therapy based on the initial biomarker patterns.

Results

We identified 27 proteomic candidates, miRNA and three microbial strains to be dysregulated in AD. CCL17, CCL13, CCL22, E‐selectin and BDNF were differently regulated and significantly associated with treatment response. In contrast, neither the microbial composition nor the miRNA pattern was associated with treatment response upon dupilumab treatment.

Conclusion

AD patients display defined dysregulations regarding their systemic proteomic serum profile, miRNA patterns and their skin microbiome. The proteomic profile and selected skin bacteria changed profoundly upon anti‐IL‐4Rα therapy which was associated with an overall clinical response. This was not seen in miRNA‐related biomarkers. Our findings support the hypothesis that biomarker profiles reflect treatment responses and may in the future be used to develop a personalized medicine approach for the treatment of AD patients.
Effort complementarity and role assignments in group contests
Authors: Kobayashi Katsuya
Published: February 2024

This study characterizes role assignments in maximizing a group's winning probability under the influence of the complementarity of group members' efforts in a group contest, in contrast to prize and multiple resource allocations. We use a constant elasticity of substitution effort aggregator function to parameterize the complementarity. While the prize and resource allocation rules depend on the complementarity, the assignment rule does not when multiple roles are assignable to a single group member: All roles are assigned only to the most productive group member. However, when only a single role per group member is assignable, the assignment rule depends on the complementarity: Roles from greater to less importance are assigned to group members in descending order of their productivity under strong complementarity; only the most important role is assigned to the most productive group member and the others have no effect under weak complementarity.
Functional and numerical response and mutual interference of Goniozus legneri (Hymenoptera: Bethylidae) on Cydia pomonella (Lepidoptera: Tortricidae): Its implications for biological control
Authors: Cavallo María José , Romero Oscar Eduardo , Barros Lucas Ariel , Cichón Liliana , Garrido Silvina Alejandra , Diez Patricia Alejandra
Published: February 2024

The functional and numerical response and the potential for mutual interference are key components in the selection of parasitoids for biological control. In this study, functional and numerical responses of Goniozus legneri to different densities of fifth instar Cydia pomonella larvae and mutual interference of this parasitoid were studied under laboratory conditions. Logistic regression was used to find the type of functional response and the result was type II. The attack rate, handling time, the parasitoid searching efficiency and the maximum host mortality rate were estimated by fitting the Holling model to the data. The numerical response of the parasitoid did not vary based on the availability of codling moth larvae. The negative value of the interference coefficient (−0.228) in the mutual interference analysis showed an inverse relationship between parasitoid density and per capita searching efficiency. This suggests that when the density of G. legneri and C. pomonella larvae is equivalent, the parasitoid proves to be more effective in pest control. The findings of this study contribute to increasing the knowledge of G. legneri and its potential as a biocontrol agent.
CEO compensation complexity: Optimal contracts or agency problems?
Authors: Alolah Othman
Published: February 2024

I construct a CEO pay complexity index based on grant‐level compensation data to test whether compensation complexity is consistent with optimal contracts or agency problems. Complexity may represent board efforts to contract optimally or a means by which the CEO camouflages agency issues and rent extraction. I find evidence supporting the agency view by showing how complexity is negatively related to firm value, profitability, and CEO turnover–performance sensitivity. I also examine the relation between complexity and CEO investment behavior and find mixed results. Overall, the findings relate to shareholders' dissatisfaction with the increased complexity of CEO compensation.
Simulation analysis and experimental testing of the grading performance of small potato grading device
Authors: Deng Weigang , Ren Zhiqi , Zhao Haohao , Yan Dong , Xie Shengshi
Published: February 2024

Existing potato grading device has a complex structure and a large volume, which is not suitable for small‐scale potato farmers. However, traditional manual grading methods not only have low efficiency but also high labor costs. This article developed a small movable rotating plate (MRP)‐type potato grading device, and the influences of three factors (the height of the horizontal slide, the tilt angle of the inclined slide, and the chain speed) on the grading efficiency and accuracy were investigated using the discrete element method and virtual orthogonal experiments. It was found that the horizontal slide height of 185 mm, the inclined slide tilt angle of 3.5°, and the chain speed of 0.9 m/s yielded the optimal grading efficiency (13.84 t/h) and grading accuracy (94.11%). Finally, the potato grading process was tested and validated through indoor tests, and the optimal grading accuracy was 91.04%. The grading accuracy deviation between the test and simulation results was less than 8%.

Practical Application

Currently, most commercial potato grading machines are designed for large‐scale farms, which are not suitable for developing countries. The potato grading device designed in this article can not only be used independently by small‐scale farms, but also be integrated with potato combine harvesters to achieve potato harvest and grading joint operations. This grading device has a simple structure, small footprint (1700 × 1200 × 840 mm3), and a very low cost ($600). With a high grading efficiency and accuracy, it can significantly improve the grading productivity of small and medium‐sized potato farmers in developing countries, reduce the production costs, and save labors.
Tea bud detection based on multi‐scale convolutional block attention module
Authors: Gui Jiangsheng , Wu Dongwei , Xu Huirong , Chen Jianneng , Tong Junhua
Published: February 2024

For the sake of effectively identifying tea buds and improving the picking precision of mechanical picking, as a matter of fact, the traditional object detection algorithm has some problems such as poor detection effect and robustness under unstructured environment, the application of Yolo‐Tea object detection algorithm in tea bud detection under unstructured environment was explored. First, by introducing multi‐scale convolutional block attention module (MCBAM) and multi‐scale prediction layer into a network, the model gathers important information that is beneficial to tea buds classification and enhances the detection of small object tea buds in the dense scene. Then, based on the specific tea buds dataset, the anchor boxes are re‐clustered using K‐means and genetic algorithm. Finally, EIoU loss function is introduced into the boundary box regression stage to reduce the missed detection and speed up the convergence of the model. The multi‐detection box generated by the object is suppressed by soft‐non‐maximum suppression, the test effect image has a final boundary box, and the category score is output. The experiment results show that the mAP of the proposed algorithm for tea buds is 95.2%. Compared with the common object detection algorithm, the network shows superior performance in tea buds detection, which can effectively improve the recognition effect of tea buds under an unstructured environment.
Understanding global research trends in the control and prevention of infectious diseases for children: Insights from text mining and topic modeling
Authors: Oh Won‐Oak , Lee Eunji , Heo Yoo‐jin , Jung Myung‐Jin , Han Jihee
Published: February 2024

Introduction

The emergence of novel infectious diseases has amplified the urgent need for effective prevention strategies, especially ones targeting vulnerable populations such as children. Factors such as the high incidence of both emerging and existing infectious diseases, delays in vaccinations, and routine exposure in communal settings heighten children's susceptibility to infections. Despite this pressing need, a comprehensive exploration of research trends in this domain remains lacking. This study aims to address this gap by employing text mining and modeling techniques to conduct a comprehensive analysis of the existing literature, thereby identifying emerging research trends in infectious disease prevention among children.

Methods

A cross‐sectional text mining approach was adopted, focusing on journal articles published between January 1, 2003, and August 31, 2022. These articles, related to infectious disease prevention in children, were sourced from databases such as PubMed, CINAHL, MEDLINE (Ovid), Scopus, and Korean RISS. The data underwent preprocessing using the Natural Language Toolkit (NLTK) in Python, with a semantic network analysis and topic modeling conducted using R software.

Results

The final dataset comprised 509 journal articles extracted from multiple databases. The study began with a word frequency analysis to pinpoint relevant themes, subsequently visualized through a word cloud. Dominant terms encompassed “vaccination,” “adolescent,” “infant,” “parent,” “family,” “school,” “country,” “household,” “community,” “HIV,” “HPV,” “COVID‐19,” “influenza,” and “diarrhea.” The semantic analysis identified “age” as a key term across infection, control, and intervention discussions. Notably, the relationship between “hand” and “handwashing” was prominent, especially in educational contexts linked with “school” and “absence.” Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) topic modeling further delineated seven topics related to infectious disease prevention for children, encompassing (1) educational programs, (2) vaccination efforts, (3) family‐level responses, (4) care for immunocompromised individuals, (5) country‐specific responses, (6) school‐based strategies, and (7) persistent threats from established infectious diseases.

Conclusion

The study emphasizes the indispensable role of personalized interventions tailored for various child demographics, highlighting the pivotal contributions of both parental guidance and school participation.

Clinical Relevance

The study provides insights into the complex public health challenges associated with preventing and managing infectious diseases in children. The insights derived could inform the formulation of evidence‐based public health policies, steering practical interventions and fostering interdisciplinary synergy for holistic prevention strategies.
The frequency and reasons for missed nursing care in Australian perioperative nurses: A national survey
Authors: Gillespie Brigid M. , Harbeck Emma , Chaboyer Wendy
Published: February 2024

Aim

To describe Australian perioperative nurses' reported frequency and reasons for missed nursing care in the operating room.

Design

Cross‐sectional online survey conducted in March–April 2022.

Methods

A census of Australian perioperative nurses who were members of a national professional body were invited to complete a survey that focussed on their reported frequency of missed nursing care and the reasons for missed nursing care in the operating room using the MISSCare Survey OR.

Results

In all, 612 perioperative nurses completed the survey. The perioperative and intraoperative nursing care tasks reported as most frequently missed included time‐intensive tasks and communication with multiple surgical team members present. The most frequently reported reasons for missed care were staffing‐related (e.g. staff number, skill mix, fatigue and complacency) and affected teamwork. There were no significant differences in the frequency of missed care based on perioperative nurse roles. However, there were statistically significant differences between nurse management, circulating/instrument nurses and recovery room nurses in reasons for missed care.

Conclusions

Much of the missed care that occurs in the operating room is related to communication practices and processes, which has implications for patient safety.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Understanding the types of nursing care tasks being missed and the reasons for this missed care in the operating room may offer nurse managers deeper insights into potential strategies to address this situation.

Reporting Method

Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) Statement.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Begging calls and mouth colouration as predictors of breeding success in blue tits
Authors: Melero‐Romero P. , Garrido‐Bautista J. , Pérez‐Rodríguez L. , Ramos J. A. , Norte A. C. , Moreno‐Rueda G.
Published: February 2024

Nestlings normally exhibit a mix of traits that attract parental care, such as postural and vocal begging and carotenoid‐based mouth colouration. These signals are hypothesised to be signs of nestling needs (vocal begging) and quality (mouth colouration). Therefore, we hypothesised that broods, where nestlings beg for less time and display more saturated carotenoid‐based mouth colouration, would have lower nestling mortality. We tested these predictions in two wild blue tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) populations. The breeding success (here defined as the proportion of eggs that produced fledglings) was related to nestling mouth flanges' carotenoid‐based colour saturation. This means that blue tits that raised nestlings with more coloured flanges had a higher within‐population breeding success. Time spent in vocal begging, by contrast, was not associated with breeding success. Hence, our findings reveal that some communication signals displayed by nestlings (carotenoid‐based colouration) predict breeding success, in our study mostly reflecting the proportion of eggs that hatched, while begging intensity does not, probably because the former reflects a better maternal pre‐laying condition and nestling physiological status in the mid‐term.
Dissecting the genetic architecture of quantitative traits using genome‐wide identity‐by‐descent sharing
Authors: Fraimout Antoine , Guillaume Frédéric , Li Zitong , Sillanpää Mikko J. , Rastas Pasi , Merilä Juha
Published: February 2024

Additive and dominance genetic variances underlying the expression of quantitative traits are important quantities for predicting short‐term responses to selection, but they are notoriously challenging to estimate in most non‐model wild populations. Specifically, large‐sized or panmictic populations may be characterized by low variance in genetic relatedness among individuals which, in turn, can prevent accurate estimation of quantitative genetic parameters. We used estimates of genome‐wide identity‐by‐descent (IBD) sharing from autosomal SNP loci to estimate quantitative genetic parameters for ecologically important traits in nine‐spined sticklebacks (Pungitius pungitius) from a large, outbred population. Using empirical and simulated datasets, with varying sample sizes and pedigree complexity, we assessed the performance of different crossing schemes in estimating additive genetic variance and heritability for all traits. We found that low variance in relatedness characteristic of wild outbred populations with high migration rate can impair the estimation of quantitative genetic parameters and bias heritability estimates downwards. On the other hand, the use of a half‐sib/full‐sib design allowed precise estimation of genetic variance components and revealed significant additive variance and heritability for all measured traits, with negligible dominance contributions. Genome‐partitioning and QTL mapping analyses revealed that most traits had a polygenic basis and were controlled by genes at multiple chromosomes. Furthermore, different QTL contributed to variation in the same traits in different populations suggesting heterogeneous underpinnings of parallel evolution at the phenotypic level. Our results provide important guidelines for future studies aimed at estimating adaptive potential in the wild, particularly for those conducted in outbred large‐sized populations.
Lay theories of place effects
Authors: Borwein Sophie , Lucas Jack , Anderson Cameron
Published: February 2024

Combining research in political geography and social psychology, this article investigates lay theories of “place effects”—that is, ordinary citizens' beliefs about the effects that urban or rural places have on the individuals who live in them. We do so using a novel survey vignette embedded in a large‐scale survey of the Canadian public. Our results suggest that (1) citizens see rural identities as less malleable than urban identities, (2) lay theories of place effects depend on citizens' own place identities, and (3) lay theories of place effects are stronger for nonpolitical than for political place‐based characteristics. We also find that lay theories of place effects are associated with individual‐level characteristics that are connected to cosmopolitan‐communitarian divides, such as ideology and postsecondary education. We conclude with a discussion of the implications of our findings for the growing literature on urban–rural divides and for research on citizens' implicit theories of places and their political consequences.
Heterogeneity in the risk of cardiovascular disease mortality after the hypertensive disorders of pregnancy across mothers' lifetime reproductive history
Authors: Wyatt Sage , Kvalvik Liv Grimstvedt , Singh Aditi , Klungsøyr Kari , Østbye Truls , Skjærven Rolv
Published: February 2024

Background

Prior studies on maternal cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality and hypertensive disorders of pregnancy (HDP) have focused only on a woman's first birth and have not accounted for successive affected pregnancies.

Objectives

The objective of this study is to identify mothers' risk of CVD mortality considering lifetime reproductive history.

Methods

We used data from the Medical Birth Registry of Norway, the Norwegian Cause of Death Registry, and the Norwegian National Population Register to identify all mothers who gave birth from 1967 to 2020. Our outcome was mothers' CVD death before age 70. The primary exposure was the lifetime history of HDP. The secondary exposure was the order of HDP and gestational age at delivery of pregnancies with HDP. We used Cox regression models to estimate hazard ratio (HR) and 95% confidence interval (CI), adjusting for education, mother's age, and year of last birth. These models were stratified by the lifetime number of births.

Results

Among 987,378 mothers, 86,294 had HDP in at least one birth. The highest CVD mortality, relative to mothers without HDP, was among those with a pre‐term HDP in their first two births, although this represented 1.0% of mothers with HDP (HR 5.12, 95% CI 2.66, 9.86). Multiparous mothers with term HDP in their first birth only had no increased risk of CVD relative to mothers without HDP (36.9% of all mothers with HDP; HR 1.12, 95% CI 0.95, 1.32). All other mothers with HDP had a 1.5‐ to 4‐fold increased risk of CVD mortality.

Conclusions

This study identified heterogeneity in the risk of CVD mortality among mothers with a history of HDP. A third of these mothers are not at higher risk compared to women without HDP, while some less common patterns of HDP history are associated with severe risk of CVD mortality.
Genome‐wide identification of DREB1 transcription factors in perennial ryegrass and functional profiling of LpDREB1H2 in response to cold stress
Authors: Wang Weiliang , Sun Tianxiao , Fang Zhengfu , Yang Di , Wang Yanping , Xiang Lin , Chan Zhulong
Published: February 2024

Perennial ryegrass (Lolium perenne L.) is an outstanding turfgrass and forage cultivated in temperate regions worldwide. However, poor tolerance to extreme cold, heat, or drought limits wide extension and cultivation. DEHYDRATION‐RESPONSIVE ELEMENT BINDING FACTOR1s (DREB1s) play a vital role in enhancing plant tolerance to abiotic stress, specifically for low‐temperature stress. In this study, a total of 24 LpDREB1 family members were identified from the released genome of perennial ryegrass. Phylogenetic analysis showed that the LpDREB1 genes are divided into 7 groups that have close relationships with rice homologues. Conserved motif analysis revealed that members within the same group have similar conserved motif compositions. All LpDREB1s lack introns, and the promoter sequences of LpDREB1 genes contain multiple cis‐acting elements associated with stress response, phytohormone signal transduction and plant growth and development. The majority of LpDREB1 genes were upregulated by drought, submergence, heat and cold stress treatments, including LpDREB1H2. Further investigation showed that LpDREB1H2 is localized in the nucleus. Overexpression of LpDREB1H2 in Arabidopsis induced the expression of cold‐responsive (COR) genes, increased the levels of osmotic adjusting substances, and enhanced antioxidant enzyme activities, thus improving the cold tolerance of Arabidopsis. This study lays a foundation for further understanding the function of LpDREB1 genes in perennial ryegrass and provides insights for plant stress tolerance breeding.
The effect of nitrogen source and levels on hybrid aspen tree physiology and wood formation
Authors: Renström Anna , Choudhary Shruti , Gandla Madhavi Latha , Jönsson Leif J. , Hedenström Mattias , Jämtgård Sandra , Tuominen Hannele
Published: February 2024

Nitrogen can be taken up by trees in the form of nitrate, ammonium and amino acids, but the influence of the different forms on tree growth and development is poorly understood in angiosperm species like Populus. We studied the effects of both organic and inorganic forms of nitrogen on growth and wood formation of hybrid aspen trees in experimental conditions that allowed growth under four distinct steady‐state nitrogen levels. Increased nitrogen availability had a positive influence on biomass accumulation and the radial dimensions of both xylem vessels and fibers, and a negative influence on wood density. An optimal level of nitrogen availability was identified where increases in biomass accumulation outweighed decreases in wood density. None of these responses depended on the source of nitrogen except for shoot biomass accumulation, which was stimulated more by treatments complemented with nitrate than by ammonium alone or the organic source arginine. The most striking difference between the nitrogen sources was the effect on lignin composition, whereby the abundance of H‐type lignin increased only in the presence of nitrate. The differential effect of nitrate is possibly related to the well‐known role of nitrate as a signaling compound. RNA‐sequencing revealed that while the lignin‐biosynthetic genes did not significantly (FDR <0.01) respond to added NO3−, the expression of several laccases, catalysing lignin polymerization, was dependent on N‐availability. These results reveal a unique role of nitrate in wood formation and contribute to the knowledge basis for decision‐making in utilizing hybrid aspen as a bioresource.
Fasting and its implications for fish welfare in Atlantic salmon aquaculture
Authors: Hvas Malthe , Kolarevic Jelena , Noble Chris , Oppedal Frode , Stien Lars Helge
Published: February 2024

Periods of fasting occur for a multitude of reasons in Atlantic salmon aquaculture. Feed withdrawal is widely used prior to transport, parasite treatments, preslaughter and for depuration purposes in recirculating aquaculture systems. Voluntary fasting is a coping response when fish have poor health or are exposed to poor farm environments. Owing to increased attention to animal welfare in aquaculture, concerns have been raised regarding ethical issues when farmed fish are subjected to fasting. However, thorough science‐based recommendations for fasting and feed‐withdrawal regimes have been lacking. The purpose of this review is to provide a synthesis of the various causes for fasting in Atlantic salmon aquaculture and evaluate their associated welfare implications so that guidelines for appropriate practices can be formulated. To interpret impacts, we describe biological responses and tolerance limits to fasting in Atlantic salmon and consider adaptations in the wild. Fry and parr are highly sensitive to feed withdrawal. However, post‐smolts and adults are well‐adapted to endure prolonged fasting without experiencing compromised functionality or health. Here, short periods of feed withdrawal prior to operations should therefore not constitute significant welfare concerns. Serious concerns are instead associated with voluntary fasting that may continue for weeks. We emphasize that environmental extremes that exceed appetite impairing thresholds must be avoided. Additionally, farmed fish should not be subjected to practices that lead to chronic stress that induce cessation of appetite. Diseases or parasites that impair appetite should also be mitigated. Fasting is here a symptom rather than a cause for poor welfare.
Next‐generation sequencing using tissue specimen collected with a 1.1 mm‐diameter cryoprobe in patients with lung cancer
Authors: Kim Mi‐Hyun , Kim Soo Han , Lee Geewon , Mok Jeongha , Lee Min Ki , Song Ju Sun , Eom Jung Seop
Published: February 2024

Background and Objective

Next‐generation sequencing (NGS) analysis is considered standard for lung cancer diagnosis in clinical practice. Little is known about the feasibility of NGS using tumour tissue sampled with a 1.1 mm‐diameter cryoprobe. We aimed to investigate the suitability of specimens obtained by transbronchial cryobiopsy (TBC) using a 1.1 mm‐diameter cryoprobe for NGS analysis.

Methods

Patients with lung cancer who underwent TBC using a 1.1 mm‐diameter cryoprobe for NGS testing between October 2020 and April 2023 were enrolled. A 4.0‐ or 3.0 mm‐diameter bronchoscope with radial probe endobronchial ultrasound and virtual bronchoscopic navigation was used to detect peripheral lung lesions. All procedures were performed under fluoroscopic guidance. Data were analysed retrospectively.

Results

A total of 56 patients underwent TBC using a 1.1 mm cryoprobe for NGS testing, during the study period. Most patients (98%) were in the advanced stage of lung cancer (recurrent or inoperable disease of stages III or IV). The diagnostic yield of NGS for DNA and RNA sequencing was 95% each (53 of 56). Moderate bleeding was noted in three patients (5%) and none of the study patients developed life‐threatening complications, such as pneumothorax or lung infection.

Conclusion

TBC using a 1.1 mm‐diameter cryoprobe is a useful and safe tool for NGS analysis, for both DNA and RNA sequencing.

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The Swedish version of the Alabama parenting questionnaire: Psychometric evaluation and norm data
Authors: Basaran Sumeyye , Jernkrok Sandra Q. , van den Berg Ronald , Högström Jens
Published: February 2024

The Alabama parenting questionnaire (APQ) is a commonly used instrument for assessing parenting practices and evaluating treatment outcomes of parent‐training interventions targeting child conduct problems. In the present study we translated and developed a Swedish version of the APQ parent version and tested it on a community sample of 799 parents of children between 6 and 15 years with diverse socioeconomic backgrounds. Data were collected through an online survey distributed through school newsletters and social media. Exploratory factor analysis (EFA) suggested a five‐factor model with 23 items. Four of these factors correspond to the subscales suggested in the original version of the APQ: inconsistent discipline, poor monitoring, involvement, and positive parenting. The fifth subscale from the original APQ, corporal punishment, did not show up as a factor in our data sample. Instead, a new factor, which we refer to as contingency management, was revealed. A confirmatory factor analysis further suggested some misalignment between the original APQ subscale structure and our sample, which we interpret as a signal that the instrument may need refinement to better reflect contemporary parenting methods in diverse cultural contexts. Despite this limitation, and with the exclusion of the corporal punishment subscale, which should be employed judiciously, our results suggest that the Swedish version of the APQ can be a useful instrument in measuring parenting practices in Sweden. We present norm data stratified by child age, which practitioners and researchers can use as a reference for assessment of parenting practices in the Swedish population.