bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Teachers’ responses to racism and racist bullying in Dutch primary schools
Authors: Sieben-Aduful Karen M. A. , Willems Roy A. , Völlink Trijntje , van der Wiel Nico , Sapouna Maria , de Bruijn Pieter , Blok Gemma , Bos Arjan E. R. , van Lankveld Giel
Published: January 2025

Background

Early in life, children with a non-White skin color, or a non-Western cultural or religious background, are susceptible of experiencing acts of racism. Since they spend a significant time of their daily life in school, teachers have a crucial role in providing a safe and bias-free environment for these children. However, teachers might find it challenging to react to bullying based on racism.

Aim

This study aims to investigate teachers’ experiences of and reactions to racist bullying among pupils in primary schools in The Netherlands. Additionally, this study aims to explore how racism is discussed in class.

Method

With nine semi-structured in-depth interviews teachers’ attitudes and reactions toward racist bullying were examined as well as their perceived competence and skills of handling this. In addition, teachers’ availability on tools to discuss racism in class was investigated as well. Data was analyzed using thematic analysis.

Results

The results show that teachers emphasize a safe class climate but find it challenging addressing racist incidents, for instance determining its severity, or coping with the external influences on pupils’ racist beliefs. Most teachers also expressed to not make a distinction between racist and interpersonal bullying. While teachers expressed that they talked about racism in the classroom, it seemed that they primarily talked about cultural diversity and not racism per se.

Conclusion

Dealing with racism and racist bullying is an important but complicated task for teachers. Providing teachers with appropriate tools to increase knowledge, awareness and skills will help them to understand the negative impact racism has on children. Further, the results implicate that a pro-active approach can stimulate teachers to critically reflect on their own racial identity, and on school methods, teaching resources and policies concerning racism.
Psychological, psychiatric, and behavioral sciences measurement scales: best practice guidelines for their development and validation
Authors: Stefana Alberto , Damiani Stefano , Granziol Umberto , Provenzani Umberto , Solmi Marco , Youngstrom Eric A. , Fusar-Poli Paolo
Published: January 2025

Psychiatric, psychological, and behavioral sciences scales provide quantitative representations of phenomena such as emotions, beliefs, functioning, and social role perceptions. Methodologists and researchers have criticized current scale development practices, emphasizing that inaccurate measurements can derail theory development and clinical decisions, thereby impeding progress in mental health research and practice. These shortcomings often stem from a lack of understanding of appropriate scale development techniques. This article presents a guide to scope, organize, and clarify the process of scale development and validation for psychological and psychiatric use by integrating current methodological literature with the authors’ real-world experience. The process is divided into five phases comprising 18 steps. In the Preliminary Phase, the need for a new scale is assessed, including a review of existing measures. In the Item Development Phase, the construct is defined, and an initial pool of items is generated, incorporating literature reviews, expert feedback, and target population evaluation to ensure item relevance and clarity. During the Scale Construction Phase, the scale is finalized through the administration of surveys to a large sample, followed by parallel analysis, exploratory factor, and item descriptive statistics to identify functional items. In the Scale Evaluation Phase, the dimensionality, reliability, and validity of the scale are rigorously tested using both classical and modern psychometric techniques. Finally, in the Finalization Phase, the optimal item sequence is decided, and a comprehensive inventory manual is prepared. In sum, this structured approach provides researchers and clinicians with a comprehensive methodology for developing reliable, valid, and user-friendly psychological, psychiatric, and behavioral sciences measurement scales.
An integral forward model of agency experience in thought and action
Authors: Lukitsch Oliver
Published: January 2025

Historically, Frith’s comparator model has been a seminal account of the sense of agency in thought and bodily action. According to this model, only thoughts and actions that are successfully predicted are experienced as agentive, thus providing a unified account of the sense of agency for mind and body. However, this unified model has since been rejected on the grounds that thinking and bodily action impose different constraints on the experience of agency and conscious prediction. While this is widely accepted, the predictive processing model of the sense of agency offers a new perspective that avoids previous arguments against a unified comparator model and paves the way for its reintroduction.
Poor sleep quality and associated factors among HIV-positive and negative postpartum women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia: a comparative cross-sectional study
Authors: Mihertabe Milen , Geremew Alehegn Bishaw , Fentie Elsa Awoke , Rtbey Gidey
Published: January 2025

Background

Poor sleep quality is common during the postpartum period due to nighttime feeding and frequent nocturnal awakenings of infants. In addition, the condition may worsen among postpartum women living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV), affecting their capacity to care for their child. Therefore, this study will provide baseline information by assessing the burden of poor sleep quality and associated factors among HIV-positive and negative postpartum women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia.

Objective

The aim of this study was to assess poor sleep quality and its associated factors among HIV-positive and negative postpartum women in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia in 2023.

Methods

A comparative cross-sectional study was conducted from 20 March to 20 May 2023, and a systematic random sampling technique was employed to obtain a total of 535 study subjects. An interviewer-administered questionnaire and chart review were used to collect the data. The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index was used to assess the outcome variable with a cutoff point ≥5. Binary logistic regression was employed to check the association of each independent variable with the outcome variable. Variables having a p-value of less than 0.05 in multivariable analysis were considered statistically significant and an adjusted odds ratio with a 95% confidence interval (CI) was computed.

Results

In this study, the overall prevalence of poor sleep quality among postpartum women was 56.3% [95% CI (51.9, 60.6)]. Poor sleep quality prevalence among HIV-positive and -negative women was 80% and 50.5%, respectively. Being HIV-positive [AOR = 2.38, 95% CI (1.31, 4.32)], being divorced [AOR = 4.5, 95% CI (1.55, 13)], and having a family history of mental illness [AOR = 1.89, 95% CI (1.16, 3.1)], depression [AOR = 1.93 (1.11, 3.3)], and anxiety [AOR = 2.76, 95% CI (1.8, 4.2)] among postpartum women and poor social support [AOR = 6, 95% CI (1.63, 22.4)] among HIV-positive women were significantly associated with poor sleep quality.

Conclusion and recommendation

This study revealed that the prevalence of poor sleep quality was higher among HIV-positive postpartum women compared to HIV-negative women. It would be better if professionals routinely assess postpartum women for sleep quality and focus on HIV-positive women.
Reasons for living and depressive symptomatology in young adults with and without suicide attempts: a moderated mediation approach
Authors: Brás Marta , Martins Cátia , Nunes Cristina , Jesus Saul Neves , Madeira Ana Rita , Carmo Cláudia
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Suicide is a public health problem worldwide, being the fourth leading cause of death in young adult population (15-29 years). Therefore, it is important to identify its risk and protective factors, and how they interact to develop more effective interventions. The present study aims to analyze the relation between depressive symptoms, hopelessness (risk factors) with reasons for living (protective factors) and suicidal ideation in young adults with and without previous suicide attempts.

Methods

A sample of 845 Portuguese young adults answered an online form which assessed suicidal ideation, hopelessness, depressive symptoms, and reasons for living. Mean comparisons, correlations, and moderated mediation analysis were computed.

Results

Individuals with a history of suicide attempt showed higher mean levels in risk factors, compared to individuals without suicide attempt. When no history of suicide attempt was present, ideation was positively and significantly correlated to depression and hopelessness, and negatively correlated to the reasons for living. Higher levels of depressive symptomatology predict lower levels of reasons for living. Mediation and moderation relations were assessed in a model and the history of suicide attempts showed a relevant role.

Conclusions

The evidence found in this study reinforce that reasons for living may play a preponderant role in suicidal ideation, that is as a negative mediator and therefore it can act as a protective factor.
DepITCM: an audio-visual method for detecting depression
Authors: Zhang Lishan , Liu Zhenhua , Wan Yumei , Fan Yunli , Chen Diancai , Wang Qingxiang , Zhang Kaihong , Zheng Yunshao
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Depression is a prevalent mental disorder, and early screening and treatment are crucial for detecting depression. However, there are still some limitations in the currently proposed deep models based on audio-video data, for example, it is difficult to effectively extract and select useful multimodal information and features from audio-video data, and very few studies have been able to focus on three dimensions of information: time, channel, and space at the same time in depression detection. In addition, there are challenges in utilizing other tasks to enhance prediction accuracy. The resolution of these issues is crucial for constructing models of depression detection.

Methods

In this paper, we propose a multi-task representation learning based on vision and audio for depression detection model (DepITCM).The model comprises three main modules: a data preprocessing module, the Inception-Temporal-Channel Principal Component Analysis Module(ITCM Encoder), and a multi-task learning module. To efficiently extract rich feature representations from audio and video data, the ITCM Encoder employs a staged feature extraction strategy, transitioning from global to local features. This approach enables the capture of global features while emphasizing the fusion of temporal, channel, and spatial information in finer detail. Furthermore, inspired by multi-task learning strategies, this paper enhances the primary task of depression classification by incorporating a secondary task (regression task) to improve overall performance.

Results

We conducted experiments on the AVEC2017 and AVEC2019 datasets. The results show that, in the classification task, our method achieved an F1 score of 0.823 and a classification accuracy of 0.823 on the AVEC2017 dataset, and an F1 score of 0.816 and a classification accuracy of 0.810 on the AVEC2019 dataset. In the regression task, the RMSE was 6.10 (AVEC2017) and 4.89 (AVEC2019), respectively. These results demonstrate that our method outperforms most existing methods in both classification and regression tasks. Furthermore, we demonstrate that the model proposed in this paper can effectively improve the performance of depression detection when using multi-task learning.

Discussion

Although depression detection through multimodality has shown good results in previous studies. However, multi-task learning can utilize the complementary information between different tasks. Therefore, our work combines multimodal and multi-task learning to improve the accuracy of depression detection. Previous studies have mostly focused on the extraction of global features while ignoring the importance of local features. Based on the problems of previous studies, we have made corresponding improvements to provide a more comprehensive and effective solution for depression detection.
The long-term impact of childhood sexual assault on depression and self-reported mental and physical health
Authors: Akinyemi Oluwasegun , Ogundare Temitope , Fasokun Mojisola , Ogunyankin Fadeke , Ugochukwu Nkemdirim , Ajisafe Walia , Ikugbayigbe Seun , Eze Oluebubechukwu , Hughes Kakra , Michael Miriam
Published: January 2025

Background

Childhood trauma, including sexual assault (CSA), is a known risk factor for adverse mental health outcomes. This study quantifies the impact of CSA on the likelihood of being diagnosed with depression in adulthood, as well as its influence on poor mental and physical health days.

Methods

We analyzed data from the Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System (BRFSS) (2016–2023), comprising 321,106 respondents. The primary exposure was self-reported CSA, while the main outcomes were depression diagnosis, poor mental health days, and poor physical health days. Covariates included race, gender, marital status, employment, age, education, state, year, language spoken at home, metropolitan status, and urban residence. We employed Inverse Probability Weighting (IPW) to estimate the Average Treatment Effect (ATE), controlling for confounders and incorporating state and year fixed effects. Sampling weights ensured national representativeness, and robust standard errors accounted for clustering by state.

Results

In a matched cohort of 15,150 individuals with CSA and 15,150 controls, the CSA group had an average age of 50.3 ± 16.3 years, with most being White (69.3%) and female (76.7%). CSA was significantly associated with an increased risk of depression diagnosis, with a 22.1 percentage-point increase for those with one CSA experience (ATE = 0.221, 95% CI: 0.192–0.250, p < 0.001) and a 24.4 percentage-point increase for those with multiple CSA experiences (ATE = 0.244, 95% CI: 0.222–0.266, p < 0.001). CSA also impacted mental health. Those with a single CSA exposure reported 2.8 more days of poor mental health per month (ATE = 2.829, 95% CI: 2.096–3.398, p < 0.001), while those with multiple exposures reported 4.2 more days (ATE = 4.175, 95% CI: 3.609–4.740, p < 0.001) compared to controls. Regarding physical health, individuals with one CSA exposure reported 1.5 additional poor physical health days (ATE = 1.538, 95% CI: 0.788–2.289), while those with multiple exposures experienced 2.6 additional days (ATE = 2.587, 95% CI: 1.941–3.232).

Conclusion

This study provides robust evidence that CSA significantly increases the likelihood of depression in adulthood and leads to more poor mental and physical health days. The findings underscore the cumulative impact of multiple CSA exposures on health outcomes and emphasize the need for trauma-informed healthcare, early intervention, and public health strategies to mitigate the long-term consequences of CSA.
Incidence and influencing factors of subsyndromal delirium in elderly patients with pancreatic surgery: a prospective study
Authors: Xu Hui-Qing , Wang Yun , Xia Ning-Ning , Pan Kuei-Ching
Published: January 2025

Objective

To prospectively investigatethe incidence and influencing factors of Subsyndromal delirium (SSD) in elderly patients undergoing pancreatic surgery.

Methods

According to a prospective observational study, elderly patients (aged ≥60 years) who underwent pancreatic surgery in the pancreatic center of our hospital from August 2023 to February 2024 were selected. Patients were divided into SSD and Normal groups based on the evaluation of the Delirium Rating Scale-revised-98 in the first 1-4 days postoperatively. Multivariate logistic regression was performed to determine the influencing factors, and subject operating characteristic curves were used to assess the predictive effect of risk factors for subsyndromal delirium.

Results

A total of 179 elderly pancreatic surgery patients were included in this study. 67 elderly patients developed subsyndromal delirium with an incidence of 37.43%. Multivariable Logistic regression revealed that risk factors for SSD included age, age-adjusted Charlson Comorbidity Index (aCCI), and postoperative fever, while and education level with senior high school or above was found to be protective factors. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve showed that the combination of age and aCCI predicted SSD in elderly pancreatic surgery patients (Area Under Curve = 0.815, 95% Confidence Interval: 0.752 - 0.878), with sensitivity and specificity of 80.6% and 75.9%, respectively.

Conclusion

The incidence of subsyndromal delirium after elderly pancreatic surgery was as high as 37.43%. Effective assessment and prevention of subsyndromal delirium are crucial. In the early postoperative period, special attention should be given to elderly patients with more preoperative comorbidities and lower education levels, and their temperature should be monitored in a timely manner.
The causal impact of smoking behavior on osteoarthritis: a Mendelian randomization analysis
Authors: Xiao Qiang , Dong Susu , Tan Yafen , Zhang Xuan , Yao Lu , Li Qiuping , Wang Tianli
Published: January 2025

Objective

Although smoking and osteoarthritis (OA) have been linked in a number of studies, the exact cause of the association is still unknown and the conclusion is controversial. The purpose of this study was to use Mendelian randomization (MR) analysis to investigate the causal relationship between smoking phenotypes and OA risk from a genetically informed standpoint.

Methods

As instrumental variables (IVs) based on single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), this study used the summary-level data of corresponding genome-wide association study (GWAS) for five smoking phenotypes involving 1,694,781 samples. The outcomes comprised both a discovery and a replication cohort. The discovery MR analysis involved 12 OA traits (177,517 cases and 649,173 controls) while the replication MR analysis incorporated an additional OA GWAS dataset consisting of 36,185 cases and 135,185 controls. The main analytic approach we used was the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method. MR Egger, Weighted median, Weighted mode, and Simple mode were among the other methods that were tested. We conducted meta-analysis to combine the MR results. To confirm the robustness of the results, sensitivity analysis using Leave-One-Out (LOO), level pleiotropy testing (MR Egger intercept test and MR-PRESSO), and heterogeneity testing were performed.

Results

Summary-level MR analysis revealed a positive correlation between genetic predisposition for smoking and the likelihood of developing OA. The meta-analysis merge showed that smoking initiation increased the risk of knee OA by 20%, hip OA by 16%, and knee/hip OA by 19% (all p < 0.001). Similarly, lifetime smoking elevated the risk of knee OA by 101%, hip OA by 55%, and knee/hip OA by 84% (all p < 0.001). The sensitivity analysis’s findings reinforced the reliability of these findings.

Conclusion

According to our research, smoking increases the likelihood of developing OA from a genetic standpoint. Reducing tobacco use could, therefore, be beneficial in lowering the incidence of OA.
Factors influencing health service utilization among 19,869 China’s migrant population: an empirical study based on the Andersen behavioral model
Authors: Song Yalin , Liu Jingru , Yan Shuming , Ma Mingze , Tarimo Clifford Silver , Chen Yiyang , Lai Yanhong , Guo Xinghong , Wu Jian , Ye Beizhu
Published: January 2025

Background

With the surge in population migration across China, particularly from rural to urban regions, the migrant population encounters unique challenges in accessing healthcare services. This study addresses the gap in health service utilization among migrants, specifically examining their engagement with basic public health services and the factors that impact these interactions.

Methods

In the year 2023, a cross-sectional survey was carried out among 19,869 migrants in China, employing a multi-stage stratified sampling technique for participant recruitment. The analysis was guided by the Andersen Health Service Utilization Model, examining predisposing, enabling, and needing factors related to health service utilization. Chi-square test and multivariate logistic regression were used to explore the group difference and the associations between demographic characteristics and utilization of health service.

Results

The study revealed significant underutilization of health services among the migrant communities, with only a minority having established health records or engaged with family doctors. Additionally, there existed a notable disparity in health education and the proactive pursuit of health knowledge. Age, gender, educational level, socioeconomic status, employment status, and proximity to healthcare facilities significantly influenced health service utilization. Notably, healthier lifestyle choices correlated with the increased involvement in health services.

Conclusion

The findings highlight a substantial need for targeted health policy interventions and healthcare system reforms to enhance the accessibility and utilization of health services among the migrant population in China. Promoting education on health services, improving healthcare infrastructure, and addressing the unique needs and barriers encountered by migrants are crucial measures for achieving equitable health outcomes.
Determining the cultural safety of chronic disease interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians: a scoping review
Authors: Woodall Hannah , Larkins Sarah , Pinidiyapathirage Janani , Ward Raelene , Evans Rebecca
Published: January 2025

Objectives

To assess how the cultural safety of primary care-based chronic disease interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australians is determined.

Methods

Scoping review of peer-reviewed evaluations of chronic disease interventions for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander patients, in which cultural safety is an outcome. Searches included Scopus, Informit, OVID Medline, Emcare and CINAHL including all articles published until September 2023.

Results

Searches identified 2,225 articles. 1,854 articles underwent title and abstract screening, with 97 progressing to full text review. Twenty articles met the inclusion criteria. 75% (n = 15) of articles determined cultural safety based solely on Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples’ perspectives, with community acceptance as the most common means of determining cultural safety. In the analysed studies, elements contributing to cultural safety included practitioner behaviour (n = 15), knowledge (n = 6), skills (n = 1) and attitudes (n = 4), partnership with community (n = 4) and culturally safe services (n = 5), and graphics and artwork (n = 6). The inconsistent terminology and lack of definitions made comparison of studies challenging.

Conclusion

This review underscores the importance of adopting the Australian Health Practitioner Regulation Agency (AHPRA) definition of cultural safety to standardise terminology and explore the many elements of cultural safety. It is recommended that cultural safety is defined by the community targeted by the intervention. Identification of elements of cultural safety will guide future interventions and reduce reliance on community acceptance as an indirect measure of cultural safety. If chronic diseases interventions are to effectively impact health equity, it is vital to understand cultural safety within these settings.
State and county level legislative approaches to address racial/ethnic health inequities in Maryland (2012–2021)
Authors: Walelo Makeda , White Whilby Kellee
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Public policies and legislative approaches are used to address racial health inequities. While most recent studies examine federal and state-level legislative activity, a paucity of analyses characterize policies enacted in a single state and across local jurisdictions. To address this gap, we identify racial health equity policies in the state of Maryland and describe key features and themes.

Methods

A legal mapping study and content analysis was conducted. Maryland policies and legislative activity adopted at the state or county level (2012–2021) were identified by systematically searching Westlaw and state and county government legislative databases. Information for each policy was ascertained and analyzed to identify content domains.

Results

We identified 22 state-level policies and 10 county-level policies and actions that explicitly addressed racial health inequities. Six domains were identified: healthcare and public health cultural competence; disease-specific care and outcomes; access to healthcare services; social determinants of health; collection action and research infrastructure; and structural racism. At the state- and county- level, most policies pertained to the healthcare and public health cultural competence domain. Of Maryland’s 24 counties, only 8 (33%) passed health equity policies and implemented equity-specific policy priorities.

Conclusion

This study provides a snapshot of the Maryland policy landscape and suggests an increasing prioritization of equity policy at the state and county levels. While policies address issues ranging from cultural competence to structural racism, policy content differed by level of jurisdiction. Future efforts to critically evaluate the impact of specific policies on health inequities are needed.
Appearance-related distress impacts psychological symptoms in Chinese patients with cleft lip
Authors: Yang Yichun , Yang Renjie , Wang Jiaying , Xie Zhuojun , Zong Yuan , Xia Weiyao , Du Meijun , Zhang Shiming , Yin Jiayi , Chen Jiali , Shi Bing , Gong Caixia , Huang Hanyao
Published: January 2025

Background

This study aimed to explore the characteristics of appearance-related distress and the relationship between appearance-related distress, anxiety and depression symptoms in Chinese patients with cleft lip (CL).

Methods

The Derriford Appearance Scale 59 (DAS-59), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), and Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) were used to screen for appearance-related distress, anxiety, and depression symptoms in Chinese patients with CL, respectively.

Results

A total of 63 patients with CL, comprising 43 unilateral and 20 bilateral cases, and 64 individuals without CL in the control group were included in the study. Appearance-related distress was compared between patients with CL and non-cleft individuals. The relationship between appearance-related distress and two psychological symptoms was estimated. The DAS-59 scores in patients with CL were significantly higher than those in non-cleft individuals. The DAS-59 scores in patients with CL who had anxiety or depression symptoms were significantly higher than those without symptoms, and the DAS-59 scores were correlated with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores. After adjustment for demographic variables, the DAS-59 scores were also positively associated with GAD-7 and PHQ-9 scores in patients with CL.

Conclusion

More significant appearance-related distress was observed in Chinese patients with CL compared to the control group, but it did not exhibit a correlation with the patients’ diagnosis (unilateral or bilateral), sex, age, or other demographic characteristics. Furthermore, appearance-related distress plays a significant role in psychological symptoms and may serve as a predictor of anxiety and depressive symptoms.
Housing insecurity pathways to physiological and epigenetic manifestations of health among aging adults: a conceptual model
Authors: Bhat Aarti C. , Fenelon Andrew , Almeida David M.
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Housing insecurity is a social determinant of health, as evidenced by its associations with mental, physical, and biological outcomes. The scientific understanding of the mechanisms by which housing insecurity is associated with health is still limited. This review adapts existing stress process models to propose a conceptual model illustrating potential pathways linking the specific stressor of housing insecurity to physiological and epigenetic manifestations of stress among aging adults.

Methods

This narrative review examines literature across multiple fields, including public health, psychology, and sociology. The literature selected for this review was identified through scientific databases including Web of Science, PubMed, JSTOR, and Google Scholar; primarily peer-reviewed empirical studies, literature reviews, and research reports published in English between 1981 and 2024; and principally based in the United States context. A synthesis of this literature is presented in a proposed conceptual model.

Results

The literature supports the existence of two main predictors of housing insecurity: sociodemographic characteristics and the historical/current context. The main mediating pathways between housing insecurity and manifestations of stress include health behaviors, psychosocial resources, and structural resources. Moderating factors affecting the associations between housing insecurity and manifestations of stress include government assistance, chronic discrimination/unfair treatment, and individual differences. These interdependent mediating and moderating mechanisms affect stressor reactivity, a proximal manifestation of stress, which contributes to the physiological and epigenetic distal manifestations of stress in aging adults.

Discussion and implications

The prevalence of housing insecurity among aging adults is growing in the United States, with significant implications for public health and health disparities, given the growing percentage of aging adults in the population. Further empirical testing of the mediating and moderating mechanisms proposed in the conceptual model will elucidate how housing insecurity is connected to health and provide insight into preventive strategies to ameliorate the adverse effects of housing insecurity on biological health among aging adults.
Variations in vitamin D status among Chinese children aged 1–6 years during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Qiao Yongfeng , Wang Xiaoqin , Ma Yanfen , Hu Jian
Published: January 2025

Background

Vitamin D deficiency has been a critical global health issue within the pediatric population. Closed-off management brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic has drastically impacted outdoor activities and sunlight exposure, however, whether it indirectly further exacerbated the vitamin D deficiency has not been largely investigated, especially among children in China. The purpose of this study was to evaluate 25(OH)D concentrations in children before and during the COVID-19 lockdown and to analyze the factors influencing their vitamin D status.

Methods

A cross-sectional survey included children aged 1–6 years from Han Zhong Central Hospital in the southern Shanxi Province of China. This study examined healthy children from a pediatric health care department over two periods: before COVID-19 (March 2019–February 2020), and during COVID-19 (March 2020–February 2021). Total 25(OH)D concentrations were compared between the two observation periods. Vitamin D status was determined by 25(OH)D concentrations: deficient (<20 ng/ml), insufficient (20–29 ng/ml), and sufficient (30–100 ng/ml).

Results

The study involved 6,780 children, with 52.8% being 1-year-olds, 23.1% being 2-year-olds, and 24.1% being 3 to 6-year-olds. Boys and girls were 52.8 and 47.2%, respectively. The actual prevalence of deficiency in vitamin D nutritional status among children was 2.8%, with 87.1% of cases in those aged 3 to 6 years. Vitamin D insufficiency was 18.3%, affecting 54.8% of the same demographic. The average of 25(OH)D concentration were 38.2 ± 9.8 ng/ml, significantly varying by age and season. 25(OH)D concentrations decreased with age, from 42.3 ± 8.8 ng/ml at 1-year-olds to 37.4 ± 8.2 ng/ml at 2-year-olds, and further to 30.2 ± 8.1 ng/ml at 3 to 6-year-olds. Seasonal variations showed that 25(OH)D concentrations were higher in spring (38.7 ± 10.1 ng/ml), summer (38.7 ± 10.0 ng/ml), and fall (38.6 ± 9.2 ng/ml) in comparison to winter (36.0 ± 9.8 ng/ml). Additionally, the concentrations of 25(OH)D in spring exhibited a decrease during the COVID-19 pandemic (37.9 ± 10.3 ng/ml) in comparison to the pre-pandemic measurements (39.3 ± 9.9 ng/ml) (p = 0.008), while winter concentrations increased from (35.1 ± 10.4 ng/ml) to (37.9 ± 10.3 ng/ml) during the pandemic (p = 0.002).

Conclusion

The research indicated that vitamin D deficiency is uncommon among Chinese children, with 25(OH)D concentrations experiencing a notable decline in those aged 3–6 years. The findings suggested a potential need for tailored supplementation strategies and possibly higher doses for this age group, along with monitoring 25(OH)D concentrations to evaluate supplementation effectiveness. COVID-19-related restrictions minimally affected children’s 25(OH)D concentrations, revealing the nutritional implications of the pandemic.
Strengthening health systems to tackle oral diseases in Africa: Africa centers for disease control and prevention’s role
Authors: Foláyan Moréniké Oluwátóyìn , Ishola Adeyinka Ganiyat , Bhayat Ahmed , El Tantawi Maha , Ndembi Nicaise
Published: January 2025

Oral diseases remain a significant public health challenge in Africa. Despite their prevalence, oral health is often overlooked in national health agendas and universal health coverage frameworks. This manuscript explores the crucial role of the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) in strengthening health systems to address the growing oral health problem in Africa. A rapid review of the literature was conducted in databases like PubMed and ScienceDirect identified 18 relevant studies focusing on workforce size, retention, distribution, patient access, and system outcomes. The analysis revealed severe workforce shortages, uneven distribution, and systemic neglect, particularly in rural areas. Promising interventions included dental education programs, task-shifting to mid-level workers, and mobile dental units. Key recommendations emphasize integrating oral health into national policies, addressing inequities, expanding training, and improving infrastructure and workforce retention through incentives. By leveraging its position and resources, the Africa CDC can take strategic actions to strengthen surveillance and data-driven policy development, provide technical assistance to Africa Union Member States for health system integration, support capacity building for oral health workforce development, promote preventive and community-based oral health interventions, facilitate cross-border collaboration and knowledge sharing, mobilize resources and funding for oral health programs, and support the local production of oral health products. These all aligns with the institution’s new public health order for Africa’s health security and one of the institutions’ 2023–2027 goals.
Precise and interpretable neural networks reveal epigenetic signatures of aging across youth in health and disease
Authors: Martínez-Enguita David , Hillerton Thomas , Åkesson Julia , Kling Daniel , Lerm Maria , Gustafsson Mika
Published: January 2025

Introduction

DNA methylation (DNAm) age clocks are powerful tools for measuring biological age, providing insights into aging risks and outcomes beyond chronological age. While traditional models are effective, their interpretability is limited by their dependence on small and potentially stochastic sets of CpG sites. Here, we propose that the reliability of DNAm age clocks should stem from their capacity to detect comprehensive and targeted aging signatures.

Methods

We compiled publicly available DNAm whole-blood samples (n = 17,726) comprising the entire human lifespan (0–112 years). We used a pre-trained network-coherent autoencoder (NCAE) to compress DNAm data into embeddings, with which we trained interpretable neural network epigenetic clocks. We then retrieved their age-specific epigenetic signatures of aging and examined their functional enrichments in age-associated biological processes.

Results

We introduce NCAE-CombClock, a novel highly precise (R2 = 0.978, mean absolute error = 1.96 years) deep neural network age clock integrating data-driven DNAm embeddings and established CpG age markers. Additionally, we developed a suite of interpretable NCAE-Age neural network classifiers tailored for adolescence and young adulthood. These clocks can accurately classify individuals at critical developmental ages in youth (AUROC = 0.953, 0.972, and 0.927, for 15, 18, and 21 years) and capture fine-grained, single-year DNAm signatures of aging that are enriched in biological processes associated with anatomic and neuronal development, immunoregulation, and metabolism. We showcased the practical applicability of this approach by identifying candidate mechanisms underlying the altered pace of aging observed in pediatric Crohn’s disease.

Discussion

In this study, we present a deep neural network epigenetic clock, named NCAE-CombClock, that improves age prediction accuracy in large datasets, and a suite of explainable neural network clocks for robust age classification across youth. Our models offer broad applications in personalized medicine and aging research, providing a valuable resource for interpreting aging trajectories in health and disease.
Cyberinfrastructure for machine learning applications in agriculture: experiences, analysis, and vision
Authors: Waltz Lucas , Katari Sushma , Hong Chaeun , Anup Adit , Colbert Julian , Potlapally Anirudh , Dill Taylor , Porter Canaan , Engle John , Stewart Christopher , Subramoni Hari , Shearer Scott , Machiraju Raghu , Ortez Osler , Lindsey Laura , Nandi Arnab , Khanal Sami
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Advancements in machine learning (ML) algorithms that make predictions from data without being explicitly programmed and the increased computational speeds of graphics processing units (GPUs) over the last decade have led to remarkable progress in the capabilities of ML. In many fields, including agriculture, this progress has outpaced the availability of sufficiently diverse and high-quality datasets, which now serve as a limiting factor. While many agricultural use cases appear feasible with current compute resources and ML algorithms, the lack of reusable hardware and software components, referred to as cyberinfrastructure (CI), for collecting, transmitting, cleaning, labeling, and training datasets is a major hindrance toward developing solutions to address agricultural use cases. This study focuses on addressing these challenges by exploring the collection, processing, and training of ML models using a multimodal dataset and providing a vision for agriculture-focused CI to accelerate innovation in the field.

Methods

Data were collected during the 2023 growing season from three agricultural research locations across Ohio. The dataset includes 1 terabyte (TB) of multimodal data, comprising Unmanned Aerial System (UAS) imagery (RGB and multispectral), as well as soil and weather sensor data. The two primary crops studied were corn and soybean, which are the state's most widely cultivated crops. The data collected and processed from this study were used to train ML models to make predictions of crop growth stage, soil moisture, and final yield.

Results

The exercise of processing this dataset resulted in four CI components that can be used to provide higher accuracy predictions in the agricultural domain. These components included (1) a UAS imagery pipeline that reduced processing time and improved image quality over standard methods, (2) a tabular data pipeline that aggregated data from multiple sources and temporal resolutions and aligned it with a common temporal resolution, (3) an approach to adapting the model architecture for a vision transformer (ViT) that incorporates agricultural domain expertise, and (4) a data visualization prototype that was used to identify outliers and improve trust in the data.

Discussion

Further work will be aimed at maturing the CI components and implementing them on high performance computing (HPC). There are open questions as to how CI components like these can best be leveraged to serve the needs of the agricultural community to accelerate the development of ML applications in agriculture.
Scaled RTLS BRDF model extended to high zenith angles
Authors: Lyapustin Alexei , Wang Yujie , Korkin Sergey , Schaaf Crystal , Wang Weile , Wang Zhuosen
Published: January 2025

The Ross-Thick Li-Sparse (RTLS) model provides a good description of the surface bidirectional reflectance distribution function (BRDF) for zenith angles (ZA) up to ∼60°–70°. At higher zenith angles, the behaviour of the RTLS model is not well constrained. This becomes a limiting factor for the processing of geostationary satellite data covering the full range of solar and view zenith angles. Here, we propose a scaled sRTLS model extending the zenith angle range to ∼80°–84° and demonstrate an improved performance based on examples from the processing of GOES-16 ABI data using MAIAC algorithm.
Associations of sleep quality and fall risk among older adult outpatients at Thai Binh Medical University Hospital, Northern Vietnam
Authors: Diep Nguyen The , Tuan Doan Anh , Van Nguyen Tien , Anh Hoang Minh , Cu Dao Huy
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Poor sleep quality negatively impact health, reducing quality of life and increasing disease risk. For the elderly, poor sleep quality lead to fatigue and reduced mobility, increasing the risk of falls. In Vietnam, no studies have explored the relationship between sleep quality and fall risk in the elderly. This study aimed to determine the correlation between sleep quality and fall risk among the elderly, providing knowledge for fall prevention in this population in Vietnam.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 404 elderly patients who visited and were treated as outpatients at Thai Binh University Hospital from October 2023 to June 2024. Direct interviews were conducted using the Fall Risk Questionnaire (FRQ) from STEADI-CDC-2017 (USA), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) with a cut-off score of 7 to assess sleep quality. The FRQ tool used a cut-off score of 4 to evaluate fall risk.

Results

The percentage of elderly at risk of falls was 19.6%. The average PSQI score was 11.0 ± 2.7, with 358 (88.6%) elderly patients showing poor sleep quality. Logistic regression analysis showed that higher PSQI scores in the elderly significantly correlated with an increased risk of falls (OR = 1.16, 95% CI: 1.02–1.32, p = 0.03). Elderly individuals with the highest PSQI scores had a higher risk of falls compared to those with the lowest PSQI scores.

Conclusion

Poor sleep quality are closely related to fall risk among the elderly, alongside other factors such as religion, education, comorbidities, and participation in recreational activities.
Exploring vestibular stimulation to reduce the influence of cybersickness on virtual reality experiences
Authors: Smith Shamus P. , Nalivaiko Eugene , Owen Sam , Depireux Didier , Flynn Mark
Published: January 2025

Introduction

There is increasing use of head-worn displays to support immersive virtual reality (VR) experiences. However, users of such technology often encounter motion sickness-like effects, commonly termed cybersickness. The unpleasant effects of cybersickness can limit the duration of VR technology usage and deter return use after only one bad experience. One explanation of cybersickness is that it is a physiological responses to perceived differences between the visual and vestibular stimulation provided via VR technology and the user’s current body positioning and movement, i.e., a mismatch between visual and vestibular senses.

Methods

An exploratory user study is described that investigates the use of technology to influence vestibular cues and change experiences of cybersickness. A vestibular stimulation device using bone conduction was applied to users experiencing cybersickness induced by a VR roller-coaster in a head-worn display. Three conditions were tested: a control group without the device and two groups with the device configured to different vibration force levels.

Results

Results showed that users with the stronger vibration level, when compared to a control group, had different virtual environment experiences with longer ride durations and lower reported nausea scores.

Discussion

Although limited by participant numbers, the results are promising for applying vestibular stimulation to positively influence cybersickness experiences in head-worn displays. Given the spreading application of VR technologies and the need to mitigate cybersickness, there is a need to further evaluate the efficacy of such devices.
Grazing increased alpine grassland soil respiration rates on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Mao Yahui , Du Yangong , Chen Kelong
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Grazing activities were intensive in alpine grasslands and may alter the soil respiration rates across the Tibetan Plateau. However, grazed alpine grassland soil respiration rates and their underlying driving mechanisms remain unclear across the Tibetan Plateau.

Methods

In this study, we synthesized data from 38 groups to clarify the response of CO2 emission rates to different grazing intensities.

Results

The effect size was 0.039 ± 0.051 of grazed activity on the ecosystem respiration rates, indicating that grazing increased respiration rates by 3.99%. Furthermore, effect sizes were −0.146 ± 0.209 and 0.076 ± 0.046 in alpine steppes and alpine meadows, respectively, indicating a 13.58% reduction and a 7.90% increase. The effect sizes were 0.051 ± 0.112, 0.029 ± 0.075, and 0.055 ± 0.089 in light, moderate, and high grazing intensity, respectively. Moderate grazing mitigated grassland CO2 emission rates compared with light and high grazing. Both air temperature and soil organic carbon significantly increased grassland ecosystem respiration rate, explaining 38.47% and 22.57% of variance heterogeneity.

Discussion

In addition, both future global warming and increasing soil organic carbon would increase alpine grassland CO2 emission rates on the Tibetan Plateau.