bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Mutation Analysis of TMB‐High Colorectal Cancer: Insights Into Molecular Pathways and Clinical Implications
Authors: Chikaishi Yuko , Matsuoka Hiroshi , Sugihara Eiji , Takeda Mayu , Sumitomo Makoto , Yamada Seiji , Inaguma Gaku , Omura Yusuke , Cheong Yeongcheol , Kobayashi Yosuke , Nakauchi Masaya , Hiro Junichiro , Masumori Koji , Otsuka Koki , Nishihara Hiroshi , Suda Koichi , Saya Hideyuki , Takimoto Tetsuya
Published: January 2025

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is well characterized in terms of genetic mutations and the mechanisms by which they contribute to carcinogenesis. Mutations in APC, TP53, and KRAS are common in CRC, indicating key roles for these genes in tumor development and progression. However, for certain tumors with low frequencies of these mutations that are defined by tumor location and molecular phenotypes, a carcinogenic mechanism dependent on BRAF mutations has been proposed. We here analyzed targeted sequence data linked to clinical information for CRC, focusing on tumors with a high tumor mutation burden (TMB) in order to identify the characteristics of associated mutations, their relations to clinical features, and the mechanisms of carcinogenesis in tumors lacking the major driver oncogenes. Analysis of overall mutation frequencies confirmed that APC, TP53, and KRAS mutations were the most prevalent in our cohort. Compared with other tumors, TMB‐high tumors were more frequent on the right side of the colon, had lower KRAS and higher BRAF mutation frequencies as well as a higher microsatellite instability (MSI) score, and showed a greater contribution of a mutational signature associated with MSI. Ranking of variant allele frequencies to identify genes that play a role early in carcinogenesis suggested that mutations in genes related to the DNA damage response (such as ATM and POLE) and to MSI (such as MSH2 and MSH6) may precede BRAF mutations associated with activation of the serrated pathway in TMB‐high tumors. Our results thus indicate that TMB‐high tumors suggest that mutations of genes related to mismatch repair and the DNA damage response may contribute to activation of the serrated pathway in CRC.
Epistemological dimensions of Indigenous honey collection in the Kattunaicken community of South India
Authors: Sebastian Antony Jacob
Published: January 2025

Indigenous ecological knowledge (IEK) has proven effective in environmental governance, forest management, and sustainable development, yet it is threatened by globalization and rapid social–ecological changes. In southern India, I investigated the engagement of the Kattunaicken community with the forest, particularly through honey collection, to explore the connection between their Indigenous epistemological identity and their role in caring for the forest and its inhabitants. I conducted 48 interviews and accompanied 11 forest walks as part of walking ethnography with male community members, who are primarily involved in honey collection within the Wayanad district of Kerala. The Kattunaicken identity was intrinsically linked to their knowledge of the forest, with reciprocal epistemological interactions between the community and forest entities (trees, animals, and bees). Honey collection emerged as an epistemological endeavor, manifesting their Indigenous identity through the collective “knowing” of the forest that encompassed sensorial, ethical, and metaphysical dimensions that facilitated harmonious coexistence and care for the forest and its inhabitants. The Kattunaicken world of knowing challenges extractivist interpretations of nontimber forest product collection, emphasizing the importance of Indigenous epistemologies in shaping alternative knowledge construction for forest conservation. Their epistemological framework highlights care as an active process emerging from collective understanding and negotiation among all entities within their shared epistemic realm, fostering a harmonious coexistence that transcends conservation efforts.
Endoscopic submucosal dissection and photodynamic therapy of residual lesions after radiotherapy for esophageal cancer
Authors: Doi Takuya , Yamamoto Yoichi , Ono Hiroyuki
Published: January 2025

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Subgroup analysis by sex and baseline BMI in people with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2 in the phase 2 trial of survodutide, a glucagon/GLP‐1 receptor dual agonist
Authors: le Roux Carel W. , Steen Oren , Lucas Kathryn J. , Startseva Elena , Unseld Anna , Hussain Samina Ajaz , Hennige Anita M.
Published: January 2025

Aim

To explore the effects of sex and baseline body mass index (BMI) on the efficacy and safety of survodutide in people with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2.

Materials and Methods

Totally 387 people (aged 18–75 years, BMI ≥27 kg/m2, without diabetes) were randomized 1:1:1:1:1 to once‐weekly subcutaneous survodutide (0.6, 2.4, 3.6 or 4.8 mg) or placebo for 46 weeks (20‐week dose escalation; 26‐week dose maintenance). Participants were categorized according to sex and baseline BMI. Data were analysed descriptively for the full analysis set (FAS), according to dose assigned at randomization (planned treatment) using on‐treatment data or all data censored for COVID‐19‐related treatment discontinuations. (ClinicalTrials.gov number: NCT04667377).

Results

After 46 weeks of survodutide treatment, females had greater reductions in bodyweight and waist circumference than males. Participants with a lower baseline BMI had greater proportional reductions in bodyweight than those with a higher baseline BMI; the trend was reversed for reductions in waist circumference. Rates of adverse events (AEs) were comparable between subgroups for sex and baseline BMI. Nausea was the most frequently reported gastrointestinal AE in all subgroups.

Conclusions

In people with a BMI ≥27 kg/m2, survodutide was associated with clinically meaningful reductions in bodyweight and waist circumference when compared with placebo, in prespecified subgroups based on sex and baseline BMI, and was tolerated at all doses tested.
Left Atrial Mechanics and Atrioventricular Coupling in Hypertension With Supra‐Normal Left Ventricular Ejection Fraction
Authors: Liu Chong , Xu Wen‐Jun , Tian Jia‐Wei
Published: January 2025

Objectives

Supra‐normal left ventricular ejection fraction (snLVEF) represents a heterogeneous group with distinct prognoses. Left atrial (LA) strain, measured by speckle tracking echocardiography (STE), is a validated prognostic indicator. This study aimed to evaluate LA and left ventricular (LV) mechanical strains in hypertensive patients with snLVEF.

Methods

This retrospective study included 101 patients (mean age 59.7 ± 8.4 years; 61.4% men) with primary arterial hypertension and preserved LVEF (≥50%). Patients were categorized into low‐normal LVEF (lnLVEF; 50%–59%), mid‐normal LVEF (mnLVEF; 60%–69%), and snLVEF (≥70%). LV global longitudinal strain (LVGLS) and LA strains during reservoir (LASr), conduit (LAScd), and contraction (LASct) phases were measured using STE.

Results

Relative wall thickness was significantly higher in snLVEF patients compared to mnLVEF (p < 0.01), with no difference in LVGLS (p = 0.933). Compared to mnLVEF, snLVEF patients had reduced LASr and LAScd (both p < 0.01) but preserved LASct (p = 0.057). In contrast, lnLVEF patients showed greater reductions in all phasic LA strains (all p < 0.01). Loess regression revealed an inverted U‐shaped relationship between LASr and LVEF, peaking at LVEF 65%–70%. The mitral E/e′mean ratio and LVGLS correlated moderately to strongly with LASr (r = −0.39 and r = −0.65, respectively; both p < 0.001).

Conclusion

Hypertensive patients with snLVEF exhibit impaired LA reservoir and conduit functions while maintaining pump function, suggesting snLVEF may be an intermediate stage between mnLVEF and lnLVEF as hypertension progresses. Further studies are needed to explore the prognostic potential of LA strain in this population.
Epilepsy and employment: A qualitative interview study with heads of human resources and occupational physicians in Austria — A call for legislative optimization according to the WHO Intersectoral Global Action Plan
Authors: Leitinger Markus , Klampfer Claudia , Obermeyr Leonie , Orav Kateriine , Damavandi Payam Tabaee , Alexa Michael , Thomschewski Aljoscha , Höfler Julia , Rossini Fabio , Kuchukhidze Giorgi , Kalss Gudrun , Mauritz Matthias , Poppert Kai‐Nicolas , Toma Andreea , Crespo‐Pimentel Bernardo , Bosque‐Varela Pilar , Kobulashvili Teia , Schwimmbeck Fabian , Trinka Eugen
Published: January 2025

Objective

People with epilepsy (PWEs) often face difficulties in obtaining or keeping employment. To determine the views on this topic of the heads of human resources (HHRs) and occupational physicians (OCPs).

Method

Twelve HHRs and five OCPs underwent a telephone interview concerning the opportunities and limitations of job applications for PWEs. The interviews were performed in May 2020, in the federal state of Salzburg, Austria, and they were analyzed using the qualitative method of content analysis (Kuckartz). The legal situation was investigated according to Global target 5.2 of the Intersectoral Global Action Plan (IGAP) on epilepsy and other neurological disorders 2022–2031 by WHO.

Results

Employers were confident that employees with epilepsy could be managed well in a positive company culture and with first responders in place. The Austrian law predisposes to uncertainty among both employers and employees. In particular, it allows only retrospective juridical clarification of health‐related questions in the job interview. The authors developed a classification system of workplaces, with “D0” (D‐zero) meaning no health or financial danger, for example, office workers and “D1” posing still no health hazard but includes regular work with cash, for example, salespersons. “D2” means potential medical implications for the person with epilepsy or any other person at the workplace, for example, industrial worker. Measures taken to abandon the risk in D2 workplaces, for example, a total sheath for a machine, leads to reclassification as “D2‐0.” With D2, OCPs evaluate the applicant's medical fitness for the job without disclosing medical details to the employer. The “compartment model of medical information in the job application process” guarantees that OCPs are the only persons who learn about the applicant's medical details.

Significance

The practical and simple classification of workplaces according to the D‐system, and the concept of making medical information accessible only to OCPs may diminish stigma and discrimination in the working world for PWEs.
Effect of experimentally induced endotoxaemia and meloxicam administration on the haemostatic system in donkeys
Authors: Perez‐Ecija Alejandro , Buzon‐Cuevas Antonio , Cara Carlos Gonzalez‐De , Aguilera‐Aguilera Raul , de las Heras Adelaida , Mendoza Francisco J.
Published: January 2025

Background

Endotoxaemia is a common condition in equids, frequently accompanied by alterations in haemostasis. Non‐steroidal anti‐inflammatory drugs, such as meloxicam, have been proven to alleviate some signs of endotoxaemia in donkeys. Neither the haemostatic response to induced endotoxaemia nor the effect of meloxicam in this regard have been described in donkeys.

Objectives

(a) To characterise the haemostatic changes in response to induced endotoxaemia in healthy donkeys, and (b) to assess the effect of meloxicam in these animals.

Study design

In vivo experiments.

Methods

Endotoxaemia was induced by LPS (20 ng/kg) infusion in six healthy adult Andalusian donkeys. All animals randomly received either an IV bolus of saline solution (untreated group) or meloxicam (0.6 mg/kg) after LPS infusion (PLI), with a 1‐month washout period between trials. Samples were collected at −30, 0, 30, 60, 90, 120, 180 and 360 min PLI for clotting times, antithrombin III, anti‐Xa activities, platelet and fibrinogen concentrations; and at −30, 90, 180 and 360 min PLI for viscoelastography (Sonoclot).

Results

LPS caused prothrombotic‐specific viscoelastographic changes (short activated clot time and elongated clot rate formation) and lower antithrombin III activities compared with reference range for this species. Prolonged prothrombin times were also seen at late timepoints in the experiment. Meloxicam administration resulted in no significant differences between groups.

Main limitations

Short sampling duration, only Andalusian donkeys.

Conclusions

Acute endotoxaemia induced hypercoagulability and initial signs of a consumptive coagulopathy in donkeys. Despite a more prolonged increase in anti‐Xa activity, meloxicam did not ameliorate most of these haemostatic changes.
AI Safety for Physical Infrastructures: A Collaborative and Interdisciplinary Approach
Authors: Farahmand Fariborz , Neu Richard W.
Published: January 2025

Where AI systems are increasingly and rapidly impacting engineering, science, and our daily lives, progress in AI safety for physical infrastructures is lagging. Most of the research and educational programs on AI safety do not consider that, in today's connected world, safety and security in physical infrastructures are increasingly entangled. This technical note sheds light, for the first time, on how computer science and engineering communities, for example, mechanical and civil, can collaborate on addressing AI safety issues in the physical infrastructures and the mutual benefits of this collaboration. We offer examples of how probabilistic views of engineers on safety can contribute to quantifying critical parameters such as “threshold” and “safety buffer” in the AI safety models, developed by the world‐leading computer scientists. We also offer examples of how novel AI and machine learning tools, for example, do‐operator, a mathematical operator for intervention (vs. conditioning); do‐calculus, machinery of causal calculus; and physics‐informed neural networks with a small number of samples can help fatigue and fracture research. We envision AI safety as a process, not an object, and contribute to realizing this vision by initiating a collaborative and interdisciplinary approach in establishing this process.
Dissolved Inorganic Carbon Evolution of Sediment Porewater in the Huixian Wetland, Southwest China
Authors: Li Jing , Pan Xiaodong , Chen Huanxiong , Huang Congming , Cheng Ruirui
Published: January 2025

Wetlands, as crucial terrestrial carbon reservoirs, have recently suffered severe degradation due to intense human activities. Lacustrine sediments serve as vital indicators for understanding wetland environmental changes. In the current paper, porewater samples were extracted from lacustrine sediment in three boreholes with a depth of ~75 cm in the Huixian karst wetland, southwest China, to study the chemical and dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) evolution under anthropogenic influence. Two boreholes are situated beneath the Mudong Lake, while the other one is in the degraded wetland area. The results show that porewater in the central region of Mudong Lake is natural HCO3–Ca type water and recharged by karst groundwater as evidenced by depleted 2H ‐18O isotopes. Methanogenesis prevails in this area, suggested by positive δ13C values ranging from 4.29‰ to 7.05‰. However, shallow porewater at the western edge of Mudong Lake and porewater in the degraded wetland exhibit significantly higher concentrations of NO3− and SO42−, resulting from the agricultural input and recharged groundwater influenced by oxidation of pyrite. These processes lead to a decrease in methane production and generate DIC through degradation of organic fertilizer and carbonate weathering by sulfuric acid, thereby significantly altering porewater δ13C values. Two types of DIC mixing processes were observed based on the increasing δ13C values with depth, which can be attributed to the unique karst groundwater subsystems. This work highlights the potential impact of human‐induced porewater chemical variations on the fate of DIC, particularly in karst wetland environments.
Extracellular vesicles of Candida albicans show dual effects on Enterococcus faecalis growth and virulence: A laboratory‐based investigation
Authors: Yang Sirui , Li Na , Wu Haoze , Zhang Mai , Wang Luoqianhui , Xiao Min , Cheng Xiaogang , Yu Qing
Published: January 2025

Aim

Previous studies have shown the important relationships between Enterococcus faecalis and Candida albicans in post‐treatment endodontic disease (PTED). However, the fungal–bacterial interactions and their possible functional routes are less understood. In this study, we investigated the effect of extracellular vesicles (EVs) derived from C. albicans on E. faecalis growth and pathogenicity.

Methodology

Candida albicans EVs were isolated from a yeast nitrogen base (YNB) medium, and their morphology, size distribution, and protein concentration were observed and identified. The effects of EVs on planktonic E. faecalis were evaluated using growth curves and colony‐forming unit counts, whereas the effects on E. faecalis biofilms were determined using scanning electron and confocal laser scanning microscopes. The ability of E. faecalis to resist a detrimental environment, infect dentinal tubules, and biofilm formation on gutta percha was examined. Additionally, the effect of EVs on cell invasion and cytotoxicity of E. faecalis were assessed. Statistical analysis was performed using one‐way analysis of variance, and p‐values of <.05 were considered significantly different.

Results

Candida albicans EVs were nanoparticles with bilayer membranes and with peak sizes of 111.9 and 230 nm. EVs exhibited a complex effect on E. faecalis and its biofilms; 5 μg/mL of EVs showed inhibitory effects whereas 0.156 μg/mL of EVs facilitated their growth. The EVs showed consistent effects on E. faecalis virulence. Notably, 5 μg/mL of EVs reduced the damage to RAW264.7 cells caused by E. faecalis, as well as the invasion ability of E. faecalis to macrophages and the intracellular survival ability of E. faecalis after macrophage phagocytosis, whereas 0.156 μg/mL of EVs had completely opposite effects.

Conclusion

Candida albicans EVs showed dual effects on E. faecalis growth and virulence in vitro, suggesting C. albicans EVs are involved in fungal–bacterial communication. Moreover, the inhibitory effects exhibited by 5 μg/mL of EVs in vitro may suggest a new agent for the control of E. faecalis.
Facebook Second‐Hand Marketplace Browsing Influence on Impulse Buying: A Mixed‐Methods Study
Authors: Husnain Mudassir , Zhang Qingyu , Salo Jari , Shahzad Muhammad Faisal , Hayat Khizar , Akhtar Muhammad Waheed
Published: January 2025

Growing evidence underscores the influence of several interactive factors on impulse buying in social commerce. However, the potential impact of situational and cognitive factors, such as immersion, serendipity, perceived scarcity, and deal proneness, is rarely studied within the emerging context of the Facebook second‐hand marketplace. Hence, this study explores the effect of Facebook second‐hand marketplace browsing on impulse buying with the incorporation of immersive experience. Additionally, following latent state–trait theory, the boundary role of serendipity, perceived scarcity, and deal proneness in influencing impulse buying is examined. Employing a mixed‐methods design, 684 respondents from the Facebook second‐hand marketplace communities were surveyed and structural equation modeling was applied for data analysis. Interviews with 23 consumers were conducted and analyzed using NVivo 8.0, and it was found that user immersive experience mediates the relationship between browsing and impulse buying. Results confirm the proposed interactive effects of serendipity, perceived scarcity, and deal proneness on impulse buying. This pioneering study enriches the social commerce literature by uncovering new areas and situational factors that influence impulse purchases of second‐hand goods and highlights the paradox that consumers' efforts to buy sustainably can be undermined by excessive impulsive behaviors. Practical insights are provided for promoting second‐hand consumption in social commerce.
Do Suppliers Care About Analyst Forecasts When Extending Trade Credit? A Quasi‐Natural Experiment
Authors: Xiong Jiacai , Ouyang Caiyue , Ge Wenxia
Published: January 2025

We examine whether suppliers care about analyst forecasts for their customers when making trade credit decisions. Using the suspension of the 2018 New Fortune Star Analyst Contest in China as an exogenous shock and employing difference‐in‐differences analyses, we find that after the suspension of this contest, there is a significant improvement in the information environment of firms followed mainly by analysts signing up for the 2018 contest, as evidenced by more accurate analyst earnings forecasts and lower bid‐ask spreads, and that suppliers extend more trade credit to these firms. Further analyses reveal that the effect of the suspension of this contest on trade credit is more pronounced for firms with higher information asymmetry, for firms whose future earnings are more challenging to forecast, for firms whose suppliers have higher information acquisition costs, and for firms followed by more competent analysts. These findings support the view that the star analyst contest distracts analysts and shed light on the benefits of suspending this contest.
Production of Sustainable Food Ingredients From Watermelon Wastes Using Drum‐Drying
Authors: Gorgulu Ahmet , Gorgulu Yasin Furkan
Published: January 2025

Watermelon is among the most widely cultivated fruits globally, yet it suffers a high waste rate of 45% due to its short shelf life. In 2023, global watermelon production reached 99.7 million tons, with China and Türkiye contributing 60.1 million and 3.5 million tons, respectively. This study explores the potential of processing discarded watermelons into long‐lasting food ingredients to mitigate waste and enhance sustainability. Two test samples were developed: one combining watermelon pulp with flour, and another incorporating both watermelon pulp and rind with flour. The research also highlights the underutilized potential of watermelon rind as a valuable food ingredient. Experiments using a drum dryer produced ingredients with a moisture content of 3.40–3.77 g/100 g and water activity of 0.361–0.37, ensuring an extended shelf life. The new ingredients, rich in sugars and dietary fiber, offer a sustainable, natural alternative for industrial applications and can be produced 15.8%–19.1% cheaper than the value of their components. Redirecting 45% of global watermelon waste into food ingredients could potentially offset 2.7 million tons of CO2e emissions globally and 94,500 tons of CO2e in Türkiye annually. This study not only provides a sustainable solution to watermelon waste but also emphasizes efficient agricultural land use, reduced carbon emissions, minimized water consumption, and higher‐quality product development. By transforming a frequently discarded by‐product into valuable food ingredients, this research supports global sustainability efforts and promotes innovative approaches to reducing food waste.
Local Happiness and Executive Compensation
Authors: Song Zilong , Zhang Wenwen , Liang Rixin , Sun Xu
Published: January 2025

How does happiness—an important nonmonetary benefit—affect executives' monetary compensation? Although previous studies have shown that some nonmonetary benefits—such as living quality, air pollution, and corporate social recognition—significantly affect managerial compensation, little is known about the impact of happiness on executive pay. Using a sample of Chinese companies from the year 2008 to 2021, we analyze happiness data at the city level to explore the relationship between happiness and corporate executive compensation. The results show that local happiness is significantly and negatively related to executive compensation. This finding remains robust when analyzed using alternative measures of variables and different estimation methods and when controlled for endogeneity concerns. We also document that executive needs and talent migration are channels through which happiness affects executive compensation. The additional heterogeneity analyses reveal that the negative relationship between happiness and executive compensation is more pronounced if a firm has strong bargaining power or is not state‐owned. The findings in this study highlight the importance of nonmonetary incentives in designing executive compensation packages and motivating executives.

Clinical trial registration: This article does not address clinical trials.
Anthropometric and Angular Measurements in Healthy Persian Females in Comparison to the Golden Ratio
Authors: Jokar Farideh , Hadibarhaghtalab Maryam , Kasraei Hengameh , Parvar S. Yasamin , Seifi Vahid , Jahromi Zahra Vojdani
Published: January 2025

Introduction

Anthropology is the scientific exploration of the human body morphology. The present study aims to establish the anthropometric norms among young Persian ethnic women and compare them with golden proportion, a mathematical formula in facial esthetics.

Methods

This cross‐sectional study was performed on Persian women between July 2020 and January 2021. Persian women were randomly selected based on the inclusion criteria of the study. Two standard photos were taken of each participant in profile and frontal angle, and then the anthropometric ratios were extracted and compared in different groups.

Results

Two hundred twenty‐five Persian women aged 20–50 years with an average age of 32.4 ± 7.09 were included. The golden ratio in Fars ethnicity was 1.79 ± 0.24. Forehead height I significantly increased with age (p value = 0.03). Philtrum length also showed a significant age‐related increase (p value = 0.001). Lower and upper lip heights increased with age (p value = 0.002). Our results revealed statistically significant differences in the mean labial fissure width among the three age groups (p value = 0.009). Lower vermilion height significantly decreased with increasing age (p value = 0.028). The mentolabial and nasal dorsum angles exhibited significant differences among the age groups (p value = 0.002). Furthermore, the jaw and chin angles were notably lower in the younger age groups (p value = 0.047 and 0.001, respectively). When comparing different ethnicities, the Turk ethnicity stood out as having a significantly higher chin angle.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the present study challenges the universality of the golden ratio, with Persian females demonstrating a closer adherence to a ratio of 1.75 and recommending a modified golden ratio for Middle Eastern. Our findings also highlight the importance of considering age‐related changes in cosmetic interventions, particularly lip and forehead dimensions.
Mothers and grandmothers: Rethinking motherhood in the context of intergenerational caregiving
Authors: Hanser Amy , Zhang Yijia
Published: January 2025

Objective

This study examines how the intergenerational caregiving exchanges from grandmother (maternal and paternal) to mother influence early motherhood experiences and childcare practices.

Background

Motherhood scholarship often neglects the influence of grandmothers on how women mother, or when acknowledging caregivers like grandmothers often fails to consider the potentially ambivalent ways grandmother caregiving affects mothers. Research on intergenerational support, however, documents the tension between solidarity and ambivalence characterizing care exchanges within families. More attention should be paid to understanding the complex ways grandmother participation intersects with a woman's motherhood experience.

Methods

This study asks how intergenerational caregiving by grandmothers shapes a woman's experiences of early motherhood, utilizing qualitative interview data with 34 Chinese immigrant mothers about their postpartum experiences, conducted in Canada between 2018 and 2019.

Results

Data revealed that grandmother care was an important, though often ambivalent, element of Chinese immigrant mothers' experience of new motherhood. New mothers sought to assert their autonomy and competence while simultaneously sharing mothering duties with grandmothers, whose interventions and care labor could simultaneously provoke feelings of guilt, gratitude, and resentment. Women assumed motherhood roles and identities at the same time they navigated the tensions between family solidarity and a desire for mothering autonomy.

Conclusion

Highlighting the significant but ambivalent role grandmothers can play in a woman's transition to motherhood demonstrates the importance of bringing grandmothers into how contemporary motherhood is understood.
Impact of Swallowing Assessment Using the Hyodo‐Komagane Score on the Severity of Dysphagia and Medical Staff Workload
Authors: Matsuyama Kota , Igarashi Takeshi , Nozawa Miki , Kashima Kazutaka , Goto Hiroki , Uemura Saeko , Yamauchi Tomohiko , Ito Makoto , Kanazawa Takeharu
Published: January 2025

Background

The goal of dysphagia treatment is to ensure a safe and effective reduction in both dysphagia severity and medical staff workload.

Objective

To investigate the correlation of the Hyodo‐Komagane score with dysphagia severity and medical staff workload.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study included 96 patients who were referred from other departments for swallowing evaluation from January to April 2021. The correlation between the Hyodo‐Komagane score and dysphagia severity was assessed using the Food Intake LEVEL Scale (FILS) score, and its effect on the reduction in medical staff workload was examined using the feeding assistance level of the referred patients.

Results

This study included 96 hospitalised patients, comprising 15 patients with neuromuscular diseases, eight patients with cardiovascular diseases, 12 patients with head and neck diseases (excluding otolaryngological diseases), 34 patients with internal medicine diseases and 27 patients with cerebrovascular diseases, who underwent swallowing evaluation. The FILS score and feeding assistance level significantly improved at discharge compared with that at referral. A significant correlation was observed between the FILS score and feeding assistance level. The Hyodo‐Komagane score was correlated with the feeding assistance level at discharge but not at referral.

Conclusion

The Hyodo‐Komagane score may optimise rehabilitation and reduce dysphagia severity and medical staff workload, indicating its useful effect on dysphagia severity and medical staff labour.
Application of Orofacial Muscle Strength Measurement to Screen for Penetration/Aspiration Risk in Older Adults With Sarcopenia: A Diagnostic Accuracy Study
Authors: Hwang Na‐Kyoung , Yoon Tae‐Hyung , Park Ji‐Su
Published: January 2025

Background

Early identification of penetration/aspiration (P/A) risk in older adults with sarcopenia is crucial to prevent complications and maintain quality of life.

Purpose

To evaluate the diagnostic utility of orofacial muscle strength measurements for predicting the risk of P/A in older adults with sarcopenia.

Methods

In this observational and prospective study, we collated consecutive data from community‐dwelling older adults diagnosed with sarcopenia at a musculoskeletal disorder clinic. Altogether, 54 participants underwent orofacial muscle strength measurements (the index test) using the Iowa Oral Performance Instrument and a videofluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) (the reference test) to evaluate for the presence of P/A. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to determine orofacial muscle strength based on P/A.

Results

Overall, 34 patients showed penetration in the VFSS, although none of the patients showed signs of aspiration. The cut‐off for tongue strength to identify the risk of P/A was ≤ 20.5 kPa, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.75 and 0.74, respectively; the area under the curve (AUC) was 0.88. The cut‐off for buccinator strength was ≤ 19.5 kPa, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.65 and 0.68, respectively, with an AUC of 0.69. The cut‐off for lip muscle strength was ≤ 18.5 kPa, with a sensitivity and specificity of 0.65 and 0.71, respectively, with an AUC of 0.69.

Conclusion

The evaluation of buccinator and lip muscle strength did not demonstrate sufficient diagnostic utility for detecting the risk of P/A in older patients with sarcopenia; however, tongue strength showed reliable diagnostic utility for identifying the risk of P/A.
Automatic tiny crack positioning and width measurement with parallel laser line‐camera system
Authors: Li Chaobin , Su R. K. L.
Published: January 2025

Quantifying tiny cracks is crucial for assessing structural conditions. Traditional non‐contact measurement technologies often struggle to accurately measure tiny crack widths, especially in hard‐to‐access areas. To address these challenges, this study introduces an image‐based, handheld parallel laser line‐camera (PLLC) system designed for automated tiny crack localization and width measurement from multiple angles and safe distances. Established by processing parallel laser strips, the camera coordinate system addresses crack positioning and pixel scale distortion challenges typical in non‐perpendicular photography. The determined pixel scale enables accurate width measurement. An improved U‐Net model automatically identifies crack pixels, enhancing detection accuracy. Additionally, the newly developed Equal Area algorithm enables the sub‐pixel width measurement of tiny cracks. Comprehensive laboratory and field testing demonstrates the system's accuracy and feasibility across various conditions. This PLLC system achieves quantitative tiny crack detection in one shot, significantly enhancing the efficiency and utility of on‐site inspections.
Factors related to cough strength before tracheal extubation in post‐cardiac surgery patients: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Zhang Yan , Lin Zheng , Chen Yuhong , Hong Liang , Chen Jing , Wu Zhongkang , Shen Xiao
Published: January 2025

Background

Tracheal extubation failure after cardiac surgery is associated with diminished cough strength, albeit the information on cough strength in post‐cardiac surgery patients is limited.

Aim

To investigate the cough strength in patients after cardiac surgery before tracheal extubation and the related influencing factors.

Study Design

A cross‐sectional study was designed, with adherence to the STROBE guidelines. The participants were 528 patients undergoing open‐heart cardiac surgery who were admitted to the Cardio Surgical Centre in a tertiary hospital in Nanjing, China, from August 2022 to September 2023. Cough peak flow (CPF) ≤60 L/min set as the cut‐off value for evaluating diminished cough strength before tracheal extubation. Univariate analysis and multiple linear regression analysis were used to analyse the related influencing factors.

Results

The mean CPF was 130.70 ± 50.58 L/min. A total of 76 (14.4%) patients exhibited a CPF of ≤60 L/min. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that gender (B = 14.266, t = 2.456, p = .014), inspiratory capacity (IC) (B = 0.013, t = 3.755, p < .001), preoperative CPF (B = 0.086, t = 3.903, p < .001), muscle strength (B = 12.423, t = 4.242, p < .001), preoperative exercise regimen (B = 16.716, t = 4.236, p < .001) and pain levels (B = −8.115, t = −5.794, p < .001) significantly contributed to cough strength.

Conclusions

Female gender, lower upper limb muscle strength, higher pain levels, lower preoperative CPF and IC, and the absence of systematic exercise were found to be associated with diminished cough strength.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Cough strength provides important auxiliary data in extubation decision‐making. In addition, understanding its relevant factors can help identify the high‐risk group of tracheal extubation failure and can help provide a strong theoretical basis for the development of personalized interventions.
Effectiveness of non‐pharmacological interventions to prevent enteral nutrition intolerance in ICU patients: A network meta‐analysis
Authors: Yang Ni , Xu Yuan , Zhou Xinyi , Guo Shuli , Deng Haibo , Sun Jianhua , Liu Ying , Shao Manna , Ma Yufen
Published: January 2025

Background

Enteral nutrition is beneficial for improving the clinical outcomes of intensive care unit patients. However, enteral nutrition intolerance is a common complication in intensive care unit patients undergoing enteral nutrition.

Aims

We aimed to assess the effectiveness of non‐pharmacological interventions in preventing enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients and to identify the optimal non‐pharmacological interventions.

Study Design

Seven databases were searched to obtain randomized controlled trials involving non‐pharmacological interventions to prevent enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients. Network meta‐analysis was performed using Stata18.0 software, and the integrated data were investigated with odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (95% CI).

Results

A total of 16 randomized controlled trials involving 10 non‐pharmacological interventions and 1765 intensive care unit patients were included. Compared with routine enteral nutrition care, network meta‐analysis showed that bundled care [OR = 0.93, 95% CI (0.32–1.53)] (p = .003), intra‐abdominal pressure monitoring [OR = 1.68, 95%CI (1.19–2.16)] (p < .001), acupuncture [OR = 2.69, 95%CI (1.64–3.73)] (p < .001), pectin‐added intermittent enteral nutrition [OR = 1.13, 95%CI (0.48–1.77)] (p = .001), multidisciplinary nutritional treatment model [OR = 1.98, 95%CI (0.87–3.10)] (p < .001), abdominal massage [OR = 2.42, 95%CI (1.50–3.34)] (p < .001) and intermittent feeding with semisolid nutrients [OR = 2.08, 95%CI (0.19–3.97)] (p = .031) were effective in preventing enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients. The ranking probabilities of the interventions indicated that acupuncture (89.4%) was the optimal non‐pharmacological intervention for preventing enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients, followed by abdominal massage (83.4%).

Conclusions

Acupuncture and abdominal massage are recommended to prevent enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients. Moreover, more high‐quality trials are needed to investigate the reliability of evidence levels for different non‐pharmacological interventions.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

This study provided evidence for intensive care nurses that acupuncture is the optimal intervention to improve enteral nutrition intolerance in intensive care unit patients among the 10 interventions. However, unique clinical circumstances should be considered. Therefore, we recommend that intensive care nurses also use abdominal massage when acupuncture is not available.
Recurrent peripheral intravenous catheterization in neonates: A case series
Authors: Hall Stephanie , Larsen Emily , Cobbald Linda , Marsh Nicole , McLaughlin Linda , Takashima Mari , Ware Robert S. , Ulman Amanda , August Deanne
Published: January 2025

Neonatal peripheral intravenous catheters (PIVCs) can be difficult to insert, often requiring multiple attempts, with each attempt causing pain and delaying treatment. The aim of this study was describe the clinical characteristics of neonates requiring multiple PIVCs during hospitalization. A secondary case series of neonates requiring three or more PIVCs during their admission were identified from a cohort admitted to an Australian Neonatal Unit between October 2020 and February 2021. Data were collected at PIVC insertion and removal; with variables including patient characteristics (weight, gestational age, acuity) and device characteristics (treatment indication, location), and outcomes (completion of treatment or failure). Outcomes are reported descriptively. In total, 19 of 248 (7.6%) neonates received three or more PIVCs (n = 101 PIVCs). Median gestation and weight were 26.6 weeks (interquartile‐range [IQR] 24.6–28.6 weeks) and 728 grams (IQR 640‐1050 g), respectively; all neonates required intensive care admission. The most common anatomical location was the hand (41.5%, n = 42). The maximum number of PIVCs required by a single patient was 12. The median dwell time was 49 h (IQR 35.0–73.5 h), with maximum dwell 263 h. In total, 57% (n=58/101 PIVCs) failed from complications, and 58% (n=59) of failed PIVCs required re‐insertion. Despite common clinician perceptions that large babies require more PIVCs, our results found extremely low birth weight babies required frequent cannulation, with many PIVCs failing prior to treatment completion. There is a need for further investigation regarding decision‐making, advanced inserter skills and optimization of alternate vascular access device selection for this vulnerable population. Clinical teams caring for neonates, particularly those of low birth weight and/or gestation, are recommended to take extra time considering the device they choose to insert, and the inserting clinicians. The aim of these recommendations is to reduce the number of treatment failures and device complications causing preventable treatment delays and ongoing injuries in neonatal critical care.
Multiple, Single Trait GWAS and Supervised Machine Learning Reveal the Genetic Architecture of Fraxinus excelsior Tolerance to Ash Dieback in Europe
Authors: Doonan James M. , Budde Katharina B. , Kosawang Chatchai , Lobo Albin , Verbylaite Rita , Brealey Jaelle C. , Martin Michael D. , Pliura Alfas , Thomas Kristina , Konrad Heino , Seegmüller Stefan , Liziniewicz Mateusz , Cleary Michelle , Nemesio‐Gorriz Miguel , Fussi Barbara , Kirisits Thomas , Gilbert M. Thomas P. , Heuertz Myriam , Kjær Erik Dahl , Nielsen Lene Rostgaard
Published: January 2025

Common ash (Fraxinus excelsior) is under intensive attack from the invasive alien pathogenic fungus Hymenoscyphus fraxineus, causing ash dieback at epidemic levels throughout Europe. Previous studies have found significant genetic variation among genotypes in ash dieback susceptibility and that host phenology, such as autumn yellowing, is correlated with susceptibility of ash trees to H. fraxineus; however, the genomic basis of ash dieback tolerance in F. excelsior requires further investigation. Here, we integrate quantitative genetics based on multiple replicates and genome‐wide association analyses with machine learning to reveal the genetic architecture of ash dieback tolerance and of phenological traits in F. excelsior populations in six European countries (Austria, Denmark, Germany, Ireland, Lithuania, Sweden). Based on phenotypic data of 486 F. excelsior replicated genotypes we observed negative genotypic correlations between crown damage caused by ash dieback and intensity of autumn leaf yellowing within multiple sampling sites. Our results suggest that the examined traits are polygenic and using genomic prediction models, with ranked single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) based on GWAS associations as input, a large proportion of the variation was predicted by unlinked SNPs. Based on 100 unlinked SNPs, we can predict 55% of the variation in disease tolerance among genotypes (as phenotyped in genetic trials), increasing to a maximum of 63% when predicted from 9155 SNPs. In autumn leaf yellowing, 52% of variation is predicted by 100 unlinked SNPs, reaching a peak of 72% using 3740 SNPs. Based on feature permutations within genomic prediction models, a total of eight nonsynonymous SNPs linked to ash dieback crown damage and autumn leaf yellowing (three and five SNPs, respectively) were identified, these were located within genes related to plant defence (pattern triggered immunity, pathogen detection) and phenology (regulation of flowering and seed maturation, auxin transport). We did not find an overlap between genes associated with crown damage level and autumn leaf yellowing. Hence, our results shed light on the difference in the genomic basis of ADB tolerance and autumn leaf yellowing despite these two traits being correlated in quantitative genetic analysis. Overall, our methods show the applicability of genomic prediction models when combined with GWAS to reveal the genomic architecture of polygenic disease tolerance enabling the identification of ash dieback tolerant trees for breeding or conservation purposes.
A Retrospective Review of Oral N‐Acetylcysteine for Habit‐Driven Cutaneous Disorders
Authors: Zarowin Diana H. , Buros Stein Amy , Sheppard Sarah E. , Treat James R.
Published: January 2025

Oral N‐acetylcysteine (NAC) has shown efficacy for debilitating habit‐driven and neuropsychiatric disorders in small, mostly adult studies. We retrospectively evaluated the therapeutic use and safety of oral NAC in 93 children from the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. This study supports the use of oral NAC for habit‐driven skin, hair, and nail abnormalities in pediatric patients.
Health‐Promoting Behaviors and Its Relationship With Anxiety, Depression, and Social Support Among Nursing Students in Saudi Arabia: A Cross‐Sectional Study
Authors: Alharbi Abdulhafith , Alkubati Sameer A. , Alshahrani Yousef , Pasay‐an Eddieson , Alshara Ammar
Published: January 2025

Objectives

This study aimed to assess the levels and determinants of health‐promoting behaviors (HPBs) and their correlations between HPBs, anxiety, depression, and social support among nursing students.

Design and Methods

A cross‐sectional, correlational study was performed from March to June 2024 with 268 nursing students in the College of Nursing at the University of Hail using a self‐structured questionnaire. Data were analyzed using t‐test, one‐way analysis of variance, Pearson's correlation, and multiple stepwise regression.

Results

The mean score of nursing students on the HPLP‐II scale was 2.60 ± 0.47 overall, with the spiritual growth subscale scoring the highest (3.05 ± 056) and physical activity scoring the lowest (2.25 ± 0.75). More than a quarter of the students were classified into the borderline range for anxiety (28.4%) and depression (26.9%). In comparison, 19.4% and 16% of the students experienced anxiety and depression, respectively. There were significant weak negative correlations between the HPBs and anxiety (r = −0.396; p < 0.001) and between social support and anxiety (r = −0.335; p < 0.001). Likewise, there were significant weak negative correlations between HPBs and depression (r = −0.343; p < 0.001) and between social support and depression (r = −0.313; p < 0.001). In contrast, significant weak positive correlations were observed between HPBs and social support (r = 0.354; p < 0.001) and between anxiety and depression (r = 0.380; p < 0.001). Multiple linear regression analysis of factors affecting HPBs, anxiety, depression, and social support showed that the model was significant for all (p = 0.026, p = 0.005, p < 0.001, p = 0.003, respectively).

Conclusion

Although students reported a satisfactory level of HPBs, especially for spiritual growth and social relations, nutrition and physical activity require attention. The presence of anxiety and depression affected a substantial proportion of the students, especially those from lower socioeconomic status, and studying in the early years of the study. Family income, occupation, and education level have been reported to have a significant impact on health outcomes.
Denial and misinformation in defense of the tar sands: The case of a Canadian think tank
Authors: Haney Timothy J.
Published: January 2025

Literatures within the sociology of science and environmental sociology often focus on climate change denial, misinformation, and the role of think tanks in fueling public skepticism. This work draws our attention to the arguments these organizations make and how they communicate doubt to the public. Less often have they focused on the ways that particular, locally emplaced organizations defend the material interests of the fossil fuel industry. This paper draws upon existing literature to perform a discourse analysis of the public communication (newsletters, press releases, website, blog, YouTube videos, and social media posts) of a Canadian think tank called Friends of Science based in Calgary, Alberta—the economic hub of Canada's tar sands. Through the analysis, I show how this organization works to cast doubt on anthropogenic climate change, communicates this doubt to the public, and slips from communicating about scientific matters—their stated goal—into matters of social, economic, and political advocacy. I show how this is done instrumentally in ways that protect the economic and social interests of Alberta's oil industry.