bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Miniature GPS tags reveal extensive movements by a threatened narrow‐space bat and highlight sensitivity to forest clearing
Authors: Gonsalves Leroy , Law Brad , Brassil Traecey , O'Loughlin Christopher , Kerr Isobel
Published: December 2024

An understanding of fine‐scale movements made by animals is critical for assessing localized habitat preferences and informing the scales over which land management should be applied. However, for cryptic species such as insectivorous bats that are highly mobile and active at night, it is difficult to collect these data. Nyctophilus corbeni serves as a case study for narrow‐space species as it is listed as threatened and nothing is known about its localized habitat preferences. We used miniature GPS tags to assess fine‐scale movements across three sites and 2 years (autumn 2020 and 2021) in the Pilliga forests in northwest New South Wales. Each site consisted of a mosaic of forest disturbances (e.g. timber harvesting / thinning regrowth, prescribed fires and wildfires, and cleared farmland). Bats made large movements in the non‐maternity season, with a maximum of ~21 km recorded as a one‐way movement on a given night. On average, the maximum distance travelled by tagged bats was 6.2 ± 1.4 km per night. Short‐term home (9884 ha) and core (2157 ha) ranges were extensive, but varied by sex, with ranges of females ~15 times larger than males. Bats crossed cleared land that was within close proximity (<2.3 km, but typically <~600 m) of large forest blocks (>100 ha). Based on availability of habitat types, bats selected for older regrowth and burnt forest and avoided cleared areas with scattered trees and also thinned forest, though the availability for the latter was low (<3 %). Flight speeds and the lack of clustering of GPS fixes in cleared landscapes suggest that limited foraging may occur there. Overall, our results highlight the sensitivity of the species to forest clearing and potentially to thinning, but also demonstrate the importance of maintaining large areas of forest and where possible, reforesting cleared areas that occur between smaller, more isolated forest blocks.
Can fieldwork driven by predictive species distribution models yield new rare or relevant geographic records? A case study with Neotropical snakes
Authors: Entiauspe‐Neto Omar M. , Dervanoski Darlan , Abegg Arthur Diesel
Published: December 2024

Understanding species distribution patterns has been a major quest in biodiversity research. Due to their secretive habits and rarity, snakes have been historically underrepresented in assessments of geographic distribution range. In this work, we employ a pipeline for predictive model‐based species sampling, using Neotropical snakes as a model organism. We employ species distribution models based on verified point records for five candidate snake species of probable occurrence to Rio Grande do Sul state, Brazil: Apostolepis dimidiata (Jan 1862), Erythrolamprus aesculapii (Linnaeus 1758), Helicops leopardinus (Schlegel 1837), Lygophis meridionalis (Schenkel 1901), and Micrurus corallinus (Merrem 1820). Based on the resulting models, we conducted fieldwork on areas with higher overlap of suitable ranges and probability of new records. Our study yields a new state record of A. dimidiata to Rio Grande do Sul and highlights the usefulness of species distribution models in eliciting priority areas for faunal assessments.
Service evaluation of R90 bleeding and platelet disorders gene panel in thrombocytopenia cases
Authors: Gurumurthy G. , Reynolds L. , Sutherland M. , Thachil J. , Grainger J.
Published: December 2024

This study examines the R90 bleeding and platelet disorders gene panel's utility in thrombocytopenia. The study analysed the correlations between the clinical features of patients with thrombocytopenia and genetic outcomes. The diagnostic yield was 46.6% (41/88) for the overall panel for all patients referred locally. Thrombocytopenia >12 months (95% CI = 19.0–191.0, p < 0.01), having a first‐degree relative with thrombocytopenia (16 vs. 7, p < 0.01) and a higher platelet count nadir (67.9 ± 35.0 vs. 39.4 ± 33.9 × 109/L, p < 0.05), were associated with genetic variants, suggesting these as indicators for genetic testing. This supports the R90's role in refining genetic testing criteria in thrombocytopenia.
A Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System version 2.1‐based predictive model for clinically significant prostate cancer diagnosis
Authors: Gelikman David G. , Azar William S. , Yilmaz Enis C. , Lin Yue , Shumaker Luke A. , Fang Andrew M. , Harmon Stephanie A. , Huang Erich P. , Parikh Sahil H. , Hyman Jason A. , Schuppe Kyle , Nix Jeffrey W. , Galgano Samuel J. , Merino Maria J. , Choyke Peter L. , Gurram Sandeep , Wood Bradford J. , Rais‐Bahrami Soroush , Pinto Peter A. , Turkbey Baris
Published: December 2024

Objectives

To develop and validate a Prostate Imaging‐Reporting and Data System (PI‐RADS) version 2.1 (v2.1)‐based predictive model for diagnosis of clinically significant prostate cancer (csPCa), integrating clinical and multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (mpMRI) data, and compare its performance with existing models.

Patients and Methods

We retrospectively analysed data from patients who underwent prospective mpMRI assessment using the PI‐RADS v2.1 scoring system and biopsy at our institution between April 2019 and December 2023. A ‘Clinical Baseline’ model using patient demographics and laboratory results and an ‘MRI Added’ model additionally incorporating PI‐RADS v2.1 scores and prostate volumes were created and validated on internal and external patients. Both models were compared against two previously published MRI‐based algorithms for csPCa using area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC) and decision curve analysis.

Results

A total of 1319 patients across internal and external cohorts were included. Our ‘MRI Added’ model demonstrated significantly improved discriminative ability (AUCinternal 0.88, AUCexternal 0.79) compared to our ‘Clinical Baseline’ model (AUCinternal 0.75, AUCexternal 0.68) (P < 0.001). The ‘MRI Added’ model also showed higher net benefits across various clinical threshold probabilities and compared to a ‘biopsy all’ approach, it reduced unnecessary biopsies (defined as biopsies without Gleason Grade Group ≥2 csPCa) by 27% in the internal cohort and 10% in the external cohort at a risk threshold of 25%. However, there was no significant difference in predictive ability and reduction in unnecessary biopsies between our model and comparative ones developed for PI‐RADS v2 and v1.

Conclusion

Our PI‐RADS v2.1‐based mpMRI model significantly enhances csPCa prediction, outperforming the traditional clinical model in accuracy and reduction of unnecessary biopsies. It proves promising across diverse patient populations, establishing an updated, integrated approach for detection and management of prostate cancer.
Anatomical adaptations of mangroves to the intertidal environment and their dynamic responses to various stresses
Authors: Madhavan Chithra , Meera Suraj Prasannakumari , Kumar Ajay
Published: December 2024

Mangroves are intertidal plants that survive extreme environmental conditions through unique adaptations. Various reviews on diverse physiological and biochemical stress responses of mangroves have been published recently. However, a review of how mangroves respond anatomically to stresses is lacking. This review presents major mangrove anatomical adaptations and their modifications in response to dynamic environmental stresses such as high salinity, flooding, extreme temperatures, varying light intensities, and pollution. The available research shows that plasticity of Casparian strips and suberin lamellae, variations in vessel architecture, formation of aerenchyma, thickening of the cuticle, and changes in the size and structure of salt glands occur in response to various stresses. Mangrove species show different responses correlated with the diversity and intensity of the stresses they face. The flexibility of these anatomical adaptations represents a key feature that determines the survival and fitness of mangroves. However, studies demonstrating these mechanisms in detail are relatively scarce, highlighting the need for further research. An in‐depth understanding of the structural adaptations of individual mangrove species could contribute to appropriate species selection in mangrove conservation and restoration activities.
Amyloid‐related imaging abnormalities in a woman with apolipoprotein E ε4 homozygotes treated with lecanemab for Alzheimer's disease
Authors: Noguchi‐Shinohara Moeko , Komatsu Junji , Ono Kenjiro
Published: December 2024

Background

Lecanemab (Leqembi®) is an anti‐amyloid monoclonal antibody used for the treatment of Alzheimer's disease (AD). However, side effects may occur with lecanemab, including amyloid‐related imaging abnormalities (ARIA), especially in patients with apolipoprotein E ε4 (APOE4) homozygous.

Case Presentation

A 69‐year‐old woman had a 2‐year history of worsening memory symptoms and was diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment due to AD. Because she carries two copies of the E4 allele of APOE, her doctor did not recommend lecanemab treatment. However, she strongly desired lecanemab treatment and received four infusions of lecanemab. She had no symptoms or neurological abnormalities, but a head MRI before the fifth infusion showed moderate radiographic ARIA; therefore, she was admitted and treated with steroids. One month later, a head MRI showed the ARIA had disappeared.

Conclusion

The indications of lecanemab treatment for patients with APOE4 homozygous must be carefully considered due to the higher risk of ARIA.
OptimAAPP, a smartphone insulin dose calculator for carbohydrate, fat, and protein: A cross‐over, randomised controlled trial in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes using multiple daily injection therapy
Authors: Smith Tenele A. , Venkatesh Nisha , Roem Kerryn , Lu Jean C. , Netzer Emma , Medioli Adrian , Szwec Stuart , O'Neal David N. , King Bruce R. , Smart Carmel E.
Published: December 2024

Aims

To (1) evaluate the efficacy of OptimAAPP, a smartphone insulin dose calculator for carbohydrate, fat, and protein in managing glycaemia compared with carbohydrate counting in adolescents and adults with type 1 diabetes using flexible multiple daily injection therapy (MDI, ≥4 injections/day) and (2) assess user acceptability of OptimAAPP.

Methods

In this free‐living trial, participants aged 12–50 years were randomised to use carbohydrate counting or OptimAAPP for meal insulin dose calculation for 3 months, then use the alternate method for 3 months. The primary outcome, time‐in‐range (3.9–10.0 mmol/L) was measured in weeks 3–4 of each arm using continuous glucose monitoring. The acceptability of OptimAAPP was assessed at end intervention using a purpose‐designed questionnaire.

Results

An intention‐to‐treat analysis of 41 participants, mean age 28 ± 12 years and HbA1c 56 ± 10 mmol/mol (7.3 ± 0.9%) found no significant difference in glycaemic outcomes when using OptimAAPP compared with carbohydrate counting including time‐in‐range (70.5 vs. 67.6%, p = 0.102), above range (24.5% vs. 28.0%, p = 0.068), below range (4.9% vs. 4.4%, p = 0.318), and coefficient of variation (32.2% vs. 33.3%, p = 0.136). There was no severe hypoglycaemia. Participants reported that OptimAAPP was easy to use (79%), and they were confident in giving the recommended doses (82%). Barriers to use were the small food database and the time associated with food entry.

Conclusions

In adolescents and adults using flexible MDI therapy, OptimAAPP use did not produce glycaemic outcomes that were significantly different from carbohydrate counting. Participant views of OptimAAPP indicate a high level of acceptability. Increasing the size of the food database will likely enhance the user experience.
Multitrophic assembly influences β‐diversity across a tripartite system of flowering plants, bees, and bee‐gut microbiomes
Authors: Argueta‐Guzmán Magda , McFrederick Quinn S. , Spasojevic Marko J.
Published: December 2024

Theoretical frameworks of terrestrial community assembly often focus on single trophic levels (e.g. plants) without considering how complex interdependencies across different trophic levels influence assembly mechanisms. Yet, when multiple trophic levels are considered (e.g. plant–pollinator, plant–microbe interactions) the focus is typically on network analyses at local spatial scales. As spatial variation in biodiversity (β‐diversity) is increasingly being recognized for its relevance in understanding community assembly and conservation, considering how β‐diversity at one trophic level may be influenced by assembly processes that alter abundance and composition of interacting communities at a different trophic level (multitrophic dependency) is critical. Here, we build on single trophic level community assembly frameworks to explore the assembly processes affecting β‐diversity in multitrophic communities comprising flowering plants, their bee pollinators, and the corresponding bee‐gut microbiota to better understand the importance of multitrophic dependency in community assembly. Using distance‐based redundancy analysis and variation partitioning, we investigated community assembly processes across three interconnected trophic levels in two ecological regions in southern California: the Santa Monica Mountains and three islands of the Channel Island Archipelago. We found that the deterministic effects of multitrophic dependency are stronger on directly connected trophic levels than on indirectly connected trophic levels (i.e. flowers explain bee communities and bees explain bee‐gut bacteria communities, but flowers weakly explain variation in bee‐gut bacteria communities). We also found notable regional variation, where multitrophic dependency was weaker on the Channel Islands as ecological drift was more pronounced. Our results suggest that integrating the influence of multitrophic dependency on community assembly is important for elucidating drivers of β‐diversity and that multitrophic dependency can be determined by the regional context in which β‐diversity is measured. Taken together, our results highlight the importance of considering multiscale perspectives – both multitrophic and multiregional – in community assembly to fully elucidate assembly processes.
Stomatal Clogging by Aerosol Particles in Necrotised Pinus thunbergii Needles
Authors: Park Junhyung , Seo Dahye , Ahn Hyojun , Kim Ki Woo
Published: December 2024

Fine structures were investigated on Pinus thunbergii needles in the coastal area of Seocheon, Korea. Both asymptomatic and necrotised needles were collected and subjected to electron microscopy and X‐ray microanalysis. Particles of varying sizes and shapes covered both the asymptomatic and necrotised needles. The ratio of clogged stomata to open stomata was significantly higher in necrotised needles. X‐ray microanalysis revealed particles composed of aluminium, calcium and silicon. However, sodium chloride crystals were rarely observed. These results suggest that needle necrosis in pine species may be associated with stomatal clogging by aerosol particles.
Clinicopathological features and prognosis of alpha‐fetoprotein‐producing colorectal adenocarcinoma
Authors: Cheng Yuqing , Zhang Xinwen , Li Ting , He Chongfang , Yang Haojun , Zhou Xiaoli , Huang Qin
Published: December 2024

Aims

Alpha‐fetoprotein (AFP)‐producing colorectal adenocarcinoma (AFPCRA) is uncommon, with obscure clinicopathological features and prognosis.

Methods and Results

In this retrospective comparison study on surgically resected colorectal adenocarcinomas (CRA, n = 2389), we investigated and compared clinicopathological and prognostic features between AFPCRA cases with elevated pre‐operative serum AFP levels, as the AFPCRA study group (n = 49, 2.1%), and the exact sex‐, age‐ and stage‐matched CRA cases as the control group at a 1:2 ratio during the study period from 2011 to 2021. The AFPCRA group was further divided into low and high serum AFP‐level subgroups at the cut‐off of 8.4 ng/ml. Compared to the control group, the AFPCR group showed a significantly higher frequency in extramural venous invasion, intermediate/high tumour budding grade, poor tumour differentiation, liver and distant metastases, mixed and hepatoid adenocarcinomas. The 5‐year overall survival rate was significantly lower in the AFPCRA group (69.2%) than in the control (87.2%) (P = 0.002). The high AFP‐level AFPCRA subgroup displayed a significantly higher prevalence of the left colon location than the low AFP‐level subgroup. Risk factors of overall survival for the AFPCRA group included lymphovascular, perineural and extramural venous invasion, poor tumour differentiation, tumour budding grade, distant metastasis, pN, pM and pathological summary stages, while distant metastasis was the only independent prognostic risk factor.

Conclusions

AFPCRA was rare and may be associated with aggressive behaviour and poor prognosis. These preliminary findings in this single‐centre study remain to be validated by future studies with larger samples.
Targeting Tn Antigen Suppresses Aberrant O‐Glycosylation‐Elicited Metastasis in Breast Cancer
Authors: Du Tan , Dong Xichen , Tan Jingyu , Chen Xiangyu , Liu Jian , Wen Tao , Ru Xiaoli
Published: December 2024

The Tn antigen, a truncated O‐glycan representing aberrant mucin‐type O‐glycosylation, is frequently observed in human breast cancer. However, the functional role of Tn antigen in breast cancer metastasis remains insufficiently investigated. This study aimed to elucidate the expression profile of Tn antigen in breast cancer and its potential as a therapeutic target for inhibiting metastasis. Immunohistochemical staining was performed to determine the levels of Tn antigen expression in breast cancer tissues and its clinical relevance was analyzed accordingly. Tn‐positive breast cancer cell lines were generated through disruption of the Cosmc gene. The functional roles of Tn antigen in breast cancer metastasis were studied in both in vitro and in vivo models. Western blotting and immunofluorescence staining were employed to investigate the molecular mechanisms by which Tn antigen promotes breast cancer metastasis. Our findings revealed that Tn antigen was prevalent in breast carcinomas, particularly within metastatic lesions. Tn antigen expression was positively correlated with lymph node metastasis and poorer patient survival. Tn antigen‐expressing breast cancer cells exhibited enhanced invasiveness and metastasis, along with significant activation of EMT and FAK signaling pathways. Targeting Tn‐positive cells with HPA (Helix pomatia agglutinin) demonstrated the suppression of invasive and metastatic capabilities, EMT program, and FAK signaling in vitro, as well as reduced pulmonary metastasis in a xenotransplant mouse model. This study reveals that Tn antigen‐mediated aberrant O‐glycosylation plays a contributing role in breast cancer metastasis, which may serve as a potential therapeutic target in clinical practice.
Assessment of image quality on the diagnostic performance of clinicians and deep learning models: Cross‐sectional comparative reader study
Authors: Oloruntoba A. I. , Asghari‐Jafarabadi M. , Sashindranath M. , Ingvar Å. , Adler N. R. , Vico‐Alonso C. , Niklasson L. , Caixinha A. L. , Hiscutt E. , Holmes Z. , Assersen K. B. , Adamson S. , Jegathees T. , Bertelsen T. , Velasco‐Tamariz V. , Helkkula T. , Kristiansen S. , Toholka R. , Goh M. S. , Chamberlain A. , McCormack C. , Vestergaard T. , Mehta D. , Nguyen T. D. , Ge Z. , Soyer H. P. , Mar V
Published: December 2024

Background

Skin cancer is a prevalent and clinically significant condition, with early and accurate diagnosis being crucial for improved patient outcomes. Dermoscopy and artificial intelligence (AI) hold promise in enhancing diagnostic accuracy. However, the impact of image quality, particularly high dynamic range (HDR) conversion in smartphone images, on diagnostic performance remains poorly understood.

Objective

This study aimed to investigate the effect of varying image qualities, including HDR‐enhanced dermoscopic images, on the diagnostic capabilities of clinicians and a convolutional neural network (CNN) model.

Methods

Eighteen dermatology clinicians assessed 303 images of 101 skin lesions that were categorized into three image quality groups: low quality (LQ), high quality (HQ) and enhanced quality (EQ) produced using HDR‐style conversion. Clinicians participated in a two part reader study that required their diagnosis, management and confidence level for each image assessed.

Results

In the binary classification of lesions, clinicians had the greatest diagnostic performance with HQ images, with sensitivity (77.3%; CI 69.1–85.5), specificity (63.1%; CI 53.7–72.5) and accuracy (70.2%; CI 61.3–79.1). For the multiclass classification, the overall performance was also best with HQ images, attaining the greatest specificity (91.9%; CI 83.2–95.0) and accuracy (51.5%; CI 48.4–54.7). Clinicians had a superior performance (median correct diagnoses) to the CNN model for the binary classification of LQ and EQ images, but their performance was comparable on the HQ images. However, in the multiclass classification, the CNN model significantly outperformed the clinicians on HQ images (p < 0.01).

Conclusion

This study highlights the importance of image quality on the diagnostic performance of clinicians and deep learning models. This has significant implications for telehealth reporting and triage.
Assessing scientific knowledge on Ecuadorian bony fishes from a scientometric perspective
Authors: Robalino‐Mejía Carlos , García‐Rada Elka , Mejía Diego
Published: December 2024

Bony fishes play a pivotal role in Ecuador's social, economic, and ecological aspects. However, the current state of scientific knowledge on this group remains poorly understood. This study aims to assess the scientific output related to Ecuadorian bony fishes, identifying both well‐researched and understudied areas. A scientometric analysis was conducted using the Scopus database, evaluating 265 peer‐reviewed publications on marine and freshwater bony fishes. The results revealed that 55.5% of studies focused on marine environments, 41.9% on freshwater ecosystems, and 2.6% on mixed environments. The earliest study was published more than 130 years ago, with a marked increase in research output since 2018. Geographic and regional disparities in research efforts were evident, with the Galapagos Islands hosting the highest number of studies at the provincial level and the coastal region leading in regional publications. Additionally, there has been a notable increase in the participation of women in research over time; however, it remains significantly below parity. English was the dominant language in these publications. On average, the delay between data collection and publication was 8.43 years, which may lead to outdated or ineffective management decisions. This underscores the importance of continually updating data to ensure the accuracy of conservation status assessments. Both marine and freshwater species that were endemic have been less studied compared to non‐endemic species. Most of the studied species were categorized as “least concern,” although a significant proportion of species classified as “data deficient” have started to be investigated by Ecuadorian researchers. The categories “endangered” and “near threatened” were the least studied, highlighting the urgent need for conservation initiatives targeting these vulnerable taxa. Biases in the number of studies among families, species, and geographic distribution indicate the need to expand research efforts to underrepresented taxa and regions. This analysis underscores the necessity of diversifying methodologies and broadening the research focus to more comprehensively address the challenges associated with the conservation and management of bony fishes in Ecuador.
Role of Ultrasound Application in the Production, Processing, and Preservation of Edible Flowers: A Review
Authors: Benimana Fidele , Kawata Kentaro , Kong Fanbin , Roy Anupam , Mohan Anand
Published: December 2024

Edible flowers, with their abundance of nutrients, low‐calorie count, and beneficial compounds, are seen as a choice for a diet. However, the high moisture content in edible flowers makes it challenging to store, transport, and process edible flowers effectively, resulting in shelf‐life processing difficulties and increased risk of spoilage. Ultrasound technology has become popular in food processing due to its versatility in cleaning, preserving, freezing, and thawing emulsions formation and drying. This article review explores using ultrasound to improve the production and processing of edible flowers. The review discusses the impact of ultrasound on the drying process, extracting bioactive compounds, and extending the postharvest lifespan while enhancing the overall preservation of edible flowers. Ultrasonic technology has the advantage of promoting the development of the edible flower industry.
Older adult and caregiver needs for patient‐centered outcomes research training in medication optimization
Authors: Brandt Nicole , Lee Merton , Wang Sabrina , Genuit Andrew , Isetts Brian , Cooke Catherine E.
Published: December 2024

Background

Improved health outcomes and lower costs have been reported with pharmacist‐led patient‐centered approaches to medication optimization in older adults, but heterogeneity in studies has complicated assessments of how well these approaches have worked. Among the challenges in advancing care from patient‐centered research is uncertainty in how well research questions have matched patients' care needs. One strategy is to engage patients, ideally as equal partners, in the preparation, execution, and dissemination of research. The objective of this study was to survey older adults, caregivers, researchers, and pharmacists to better understand the needs for training on patient‐centered outcomes research (PCOR) focusing on medication optimization in older adults.

Methods

A 12‐member Community Council was formed to guide the project and to build capacity for engaging older adults, caregivers, researchers, and pharmacists in medication‐related patient‐centered outcomes research. The Community Council consisted of individuals from three regions: Hawaii, Midwest, and Mid‐Atlantic. The Council created a needs assessment survey that was deployed electronically.

Results

There were 93 Elder Care Network participants who were asked to complete the needs assessment survey and 74 surveys were received resulting in a response rate of 80% but only 68 were completed and included in the analysis. Explaining what PCOR is, sharing examples of how members of the community can participate in research, discussing how community members can work with research teams to answer questions, and helping respondents understand how research can affect them were the top responses.

Conclusions

Work of the Elder Care Medicine Network illustrates the importance of understanding the ongoing needs for education that are customized to meet the needs and preferences reported by older adults, caregivers, compared to clinicians and researchers.
Association between visual impairment and recurrent hospitalizations in older US adults
Authors: Nagarajan Niranjani , Leziak Karolina , Zhou Yunshu , Mumby Rachel , Hu Mengyao , Ferrante Lauren E. , De Lott Lindsey B. , Rein David B. , Ehrlich Joshua R.
Published: December 2024

Background

Visual impairment (VI) is common in older adults and is associated with adverse health outcomes. However, the association between objectively assessed VI and recurrent hospitalization remains unclear.

Objective

To investigate the association of different domains of visual function with recurrent hospitalization in older adults in the United States.

Methods

We used data from Round 11 of the National Health and Aging Trends Study (NHATS), a nationally representative survey of Medicare beneficiaries, which included objective measures of distance and near visual acuity and contrast sensitivity. Using multivariable logistic regression models, we analyzed the association between VI (distance and near acuity <20/40, contrast sensitivity <1 SD below the sample mean) and prior year hospitalization and estimated marginal predicted probabilities of any (≥1) and recurrent (>1) hospitalization. Models were adjusted for demographic factors and comorbid medical conditions and accounted for NHATS complex survey design.

Results

The sample included 2960 respondents aged 71 and older (median age 81 years; 45% male, 82% non‐Hispanic White). The predicted probability of hospitalization for those with any type of VI was 19.2% (15.9–22.6) versus 16.7% (14.9–18.6) for those without VI. The predicted probability of recurrent hospitalization for those with any type of VI was 7.2% (4.8–9.7) versus 4.1% (3.1–5.2) for those without VI. Near VI was significantly associated with recurrent hospitalization (OR = 2.04 [1.6, 3.61], p = 0.02), independent of other visual function measures, while other types of VI were not.

Conclusion

Near VI is significantly associated with recurrent hospitalization in older US adults. Future studies should determine whether improving near vision affects the likelihood of recurrent hospitalization.
Incidence and Associated Factors of Postoperative Delirium in Adults Undergoing Cardiac Surgery With Cardiopulmonary Bypass: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Guo Yating , Li Chengyang , Mu Yan , Wu Tingting , Lin Xiuxia
Published: December 2024

Background

Delirium is one of the most common and serious complications after cardiac surgery with cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB). A comprehensive assessment of independent risk factors for postoperative delirium (POD) is essential for early detection and prevention.

Aims and Objectives

To investigate the incidence and independent associated factors of POD in adults undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB.

Design

Prospective cohort design.

Methods

A total of 203 patients were enrolled in this study from October 2022 to December 2023 in China. Richmond agitation and sedation scale (RASS) and confusion assessment method‐intensive care unit (CAM‐ICU) were used for assessing delirium symptom. This study analysed various factors for POD, including demographic, physical, psychological, social, spiritual and environmental aspects. Using logistic regression analysis to identify the independent associated factors.

Results

A totla of 60.1% (n = 122) of patients had POD. Of these cases, 86 (70.5%) were hypoactive delirium, 4 (3.3%) were hyperactive delirium and 32 (26.2%) were mixed delirium. Advanced age (OR = 1.069, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.031–1.107; p < 0.001), preoperative depression (OR = 1.847, 95% CI: 1.246–2.736; p = 0.002), postoperative albumin level (OR = 0.921, 95% CI: 0.851–0.997; p = 0.042) and duration of mechanical ventilation (OR > 1.000, 95% CI: 1.000–1.001; p < 0.001) were independent predictors of POD.

Conclusions

The incidence of POD in patients undergoing cardiac surgery with CPB was high. This study identified advanced age, preoperative depression, postoperative albumin level and duration of mechanical ventilation as significant and independent predictors of POD.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

The study's findings highlight the urgent necessity for improved clinical vigilance and proactive management strategies.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Longitudinal trajectories of sleep inertia among intern nurses with shift work in China: Prevalence, risk factors and outcomes
Authors: Ma Zijuan , Wang Dongfang , Yu Zhijun , Zhang Xiangting , Wu Wenxuan , Zhao Shaochen , Li Yang , Li Yuanyuan , Fan Yunge , Fan Fang
Published: December 2024

There is a growing consensus regarding the significant individual differences in responses to sleep inertia. However, little is known about the longitudinal trajectories of sleep inertia. Therefore, we aimed to investigate the incidence rates of sleep inertia, longitudinal trajectories, influencing factors and outcomes among intern nurses with shift work. A total of 1079 intern nurses with shift work completed online surveys at 2 weeks (T1) and 16 weeks (T2) after their clinical internship, respectively. The demographics and willingness to continue working as nurses, circadian type, sleep problems and emotional problems were measured. Hierarchical logistic regressions were used to examine predictors for the distinct longitudinal trajectory of sleep inertia, and binary logistic regressions were used to examine the predictive effects of trajectory memberships of sleep inertia on mental health problems (daytime sleepiness, anxiety, depression) at follow‐up. Overall, the incidence rates of severe sleep inertia increased significantly from 20.4% at T1 to 25.3% at T2 among intern nurses with shift work. All participants were classified into four trajectory memberships. Multiple factors were significant predictors of distinct trajectories of sleep inertia. Additionally, individuals with deteriorated and persistent‐high sleep inertia were more likely to develop mental health problems at the subsequent point. Sleep inertia is prevalent among intern nurses with shift work, and its distinct change patterns were associated with multiple risk factors and various adverse outcomes. Therefore, these factors should be considered when designing individualized and appropriate interventions for sleep inertia among medical staff.
A K‐Net‐based deep learning framework for automatic rock quality designation estimation
Authors: Yu Sihao , Wong Louis Ngai Yuen
Published: December 2024

Rock quality designation (RQD) plays a crucial role in the design and analysis of rock engineering. The traditional method of measuring RQD relies on manual logging by geologists, which is often labor‐intensive and time‐consuming. Thus, this study presents an autonomous framework for expeditious RQD estimation based on two‐dimensional corebox photographs. The scale‐invariant feature transform (SIFT) algorithm is employed for rapid image calibration. A K‐Net‐based model with dynamic semantic kernels, conditional on their actual activations, is proposed for rock core segmentation. It surpasses other prevalent models with a mean intersection over union of 95.43%. The automatic RQD estimation error of our proposed framework is only 1.46% compared to manual logging results, demonstrating its exceptional reliability and effectiveness. The robustness of the framework is then validated on an additional test set, proving its potential for widespread adoption in geotechnical engineering practice.
Bumble bee niche overlap along an elevation gradient: how traits can inform novel competitive pressures under climate change
Authors: Barthell Kaitlyn , Resasco Julian
Published: December 2024

Climate change‐induced range shifts can disrupt interactions among species by moving them in and out of ecological communities. These disruptions can include impacts on competition for shared resources. Bumble bees (Bombus spp.) are important pollinators shifting their range upwards in elevation in response to climate change. These shifts could lead to altered competition among species and threaten co‐existence. This could be particularly worrying at the tops of mountain ranges where bumble bees may no longer be able to move up to higher elevations to track climate change. To better understand this issue, we investigated changes in diet niche overlap among bumble bee species along a 2296 m elevation gradient in the southern Rocky Mountains. Additionally, we investigated how morphological and phenological traits impact diet composition (flower species visited) among bumble bee species and explored a simple simulation to understand how the continued upward movement of bumble bee species under climate change into the mountaintop may affect trait overlap of newly co‐occurring species. We found that diet niche overlap among bumble bee species increased with elevation. We also found that differences in morphological and phenological traits (body size, tongue length, date of activity) were correlated with differences in diet composition among bumble bee species. Finally, we described how the co‐occurrence of bumble bee species from lower elevations with mountaintop species would lead to increased trait overlap and likely more species sharing similar flowers. These shifts could lead to increased competition for high‐elevation restricted species on mountaintops and exacerbate the effects of climate change on high‐elevation bumble bees.
520 nm and 660 nm light‐emitting diodes modulates pancreatic development and beta cell functions in zebrafish embryos
Authors: Üstündağ Ünsal Veli , Ünal İsmail , Cansız Derya , Beler Merih , Kanagaraj Naveen Krishna , Kumar Amrish Rajendra , Peravali Ravindra , Emekli‐Alturfan Ebru
Published: December 2024

Green and Red LEDs increase insulin production, but their comparative effects on pancreatic and beta cell development are unclear. Zebrafish embryos were divided into three groups: Control (n = 60), Green (G) (n = 60), and Red (R) (n = 60), then irradiated for three days (14 hours/day) with 0.5 W/cm2 G (λpeak = 520 nm, 180 mA) and R (λpeak = 660 nm, 210 mA). At the end of 72 h, pancreatic and beta cells, circadian rhythm, and oxidative stress gene were analyzed using RT‐PCR. Malondialdehyde, nitric oxide, superoxide dismutase, and glutathione levels were also evaluated. In the Red group, pancreatic area increased by ~97.13% compared to the Control group and by approximately ~62.16% compared to the G group (both p < 0.0001), and no significant difference in beta cell area (p = 0.964). G group insulin expression increased 2.31‐fold compared to R group (p < 0.0001). Red LED treatment increased MDA levels (p < 0.001), oxidative stress (fth1b, nqo1) (p < 0.0001), and per1b during the photophase (p < 0.0001) compared to G group. R LED treatment increases oxidative stress and disrupts circadian rhythm, leading to reduced insulin secretion. The positive effects of G LED treatment have potential for metabolic syndrome, diabetes, and pancreatic diseases.
Planting the Seeds of Innovation: Established Companies' Startup Cooperation Capability, Its Mechanisms, and Innovation Outcomes
Authors: Richter Nele , Zacharias Nicolas A.
Published: December 2024

The phenomenon of established companies engaging in startup cooperation in expectance of improving their innovativeness has increased extensively within the last few years. While some companies benefit considerably, others seem to fail at startup cooperation. Bridging cooperation research and dynamic capabilities, this paper sheds light on established companies' startup cooperation capability as important dynamic capability to succeed at startup cooperation. We conceptualize startup cooperation capability adapting alliance capability approaches from traditional cooperation research to fit startup cooperation. Furthermore, this study examines how startup cooperation capability impacts established companies' success in finding potential new startup partners and the efficiency with which startup cooperation activities are coordinated. Through these mechanisms, the study analyzes how startup cooperation capability consequently improves new product innovativeness. In addition, we investigate the moderating effects of resource availability as well as company formalization. To test the hypotheses, we analyze survey data from 195 startup cooperation managers who work at established companies by applying covariance‐based structural equation modeling. The results suggest that startup cooperation capability has a positive impact on outreach success, which in turn positively affects new product innovativeness. The relationship between startup cooperation capability and outreach success is strengthened by resource availability. In contrast, startup cooperation capability is negatively associated with coordination efficiency, and this effect is weakened by the influence of company formalization. Summed up, the study shows that startup cooperation capability can improve the innovation outcomes of startup cooperation and illustrates how it can help established companies to pursue startup cooperation successfully.
When culture becomes relevant in intercultural lingua franca communication
Authors: Stadler Stefanie
Published: December 2024

Literature has argued that (a) culture makes intercultural communication more prone to miscommunication and that (b) culture is a non‐issue in intercultural communication. The former has been linked to differences in cultural norms and communicative practices, while the latter has been attributed to the existence of cultural differences even in intracultural communication. While it is true that culture is not always a relevant factor in intercultural communication, it is also true that culture can cause a rift between interactants. In this paper, I explore when culture becomes a relevant factor in intercultural lingua franca communication and under what circumstances interactants make reference to cultural differences. Drawing on data from a wide variety of intercultural encounters observed in informal interactions collected across East Asia and South‐East Asia, this paper examines the relevance of culture in intercultural communication and looks at how interactants construe their identity as situated in their respective cultural backgrounds.
Finite Element Analysis of Layered Hollow Tapered Roller Bearings: Identifying Optimal Hollowness for Stress Reduction
Authors: Joshi Rajesh , Bassan Gurmitsingh
Published: December 2024

Tapered roller bearings with hollow rollers offer improved roller stiffness, enhanced speeds, and lower running temperatures due to better lubrication. Designing precise tapered roller bearings with hollow rollers is crucial. This study introduces a novel design of a layered hollow roller element aimed at minimizing contact pressure and stresses within the bearing, using a finite element analysis approach. The study successfully employs elastic finite element analysis to determine the optimal hollowness level for the proposed design. The investigation covers hollowness levels from 30% to 80% for the rollers. The minimum contact pressure and von Mises stress were found to be 492.63 and 710.63 N/mm2, respectively. Results indicate that the optimal hollowness, yielding minimum stresses and contact pressure, is at 36%. These design modifications have potential applications in manufacturing industries where bearings are extensively used.
The reconstruction of coastal carbonate sequence stratigraphy: A modern-systems approach
Authors: Rivers John M. , Dalrymple Robert W.
Published: December 2024

Sequence stratigraphy is the primary tool used by sedimentologists to predict bed-scale flow properties of both marine carbonate reservoirs (associated with carbon sequestration and hydrocarbon recovery) and groundwater aquifer systems. Coastal carbonate sequence stratigraphic models have been predicated upon the existence of parasequences, shallowing-upward successions bounded by marine flooding surfaces. Transgressive deposits in such models have been assumed to be mostly absent, whereas regressive deposits are presumed to form through the successive basinward stepping of shoals and their associated lagoons over open platforms. A review of modern coastal systems calls these assumptions into question. Transgressive deposits are substantive. In particular, in situ lagoonal and tidal-flat deposits left behind by overriding landward-migrating barriers are common across Holocene carbonate platforms. Furthermore, regressive deposits are not represented by prograding shoals and lagoons, but by lagoonal abandonment, and grainy shoreface progradation capped by strandplains, with overlying accommodation restricted to swales where only thin, discontinuous, intertidal mud flats form. We present a novel sequence-stratigraphic model based on these modern-systems observations with significant implications for subsurface geobody connectivity and fluid-flow prediction.
Supplemental Material: Change in dominant orbital cycles led to warm excursions during the middle–late Eocene cooling
Authors: ma yiquan , al. et
Published: December 2024

Details about proxies and time series analysis.
Immune checkpoint inhibitors and the liver: balancing therapeutic benefit and adverse events
Authors: De Martin Eleonora , Fulgenzi Claudia A M , Celsa Ciro , Laurent-Bellue Astrid , Torkpour Aria , Lombardi Pasquale , D’Alessio Antonio , Pinato David J
Published: December 2024

Immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI) have led to breakthrough improvements in the management of malignancy including hepatocellular (HCC) and biliary tract cancer, improving decades-old standards of care and increasing patient survival. In both liver tumour types, which commonly arise in the context of liver inflammation and underlying functional impairment, the lack of validated predictors of response underscores the need to balance predicted gains in survival with risk of treatment-related hepatoxicity and decompensation of underlying chronic liver disease.

In addition, the liver is implicated in the toxicity associated with ICI therapy for non-liver cancers, which exhibits a high degree of variability in presentation and severity. An accurate assessment is mandatory for the diagnosis and management of ICI-induced liver injury.

In this Recent Advances article, we provide an overview of the mechanisms of efficacy and toxicity of anticancer immunotherapy in liver tumours and liver toxicity in extrahepatic malignancies.

We compare and contrast characteristics, management strategies and outcomes from immune-related liver injury in patients with chronic hepatitis/cirrhosis or with an underlying healthy liver and discuss the latest findings on how toxicity and decompensation may impact the outlook of patients with liver tumours and extrahepatic malignancies offering insights into the future directions of clinical research and practice in the field.
Perturbation of mRNA splicing in liver cancer: insights, opportunities and challenges
Authors: Jia Qi , Sun Xiaoxiao , Li Haoyu , Guo Jianglong , Niu Kongyan , Chan Kui Ming , Bernards René , Qin Wenxin , Jin Haojie
Published: December 2024

Perturbation of mRNA splicing is commonly observed in human cancers and plays a role in various aspects of cancer hallmarks. Understanding the mechanisms and functions of alternative splicing (AS) not only enables us to explore the complex regulatory network involved in tumour initiation and progression but also reveals potential for RNA-based cancer treatment strategies. This review provides a comprehensive summary of the significance of AS in liver cancer, covering the regulatory mechanisms, cancer-related AS events, abnormal splicing regulators, as well as the interplay between AS and post-transcriptional and post-translational regulations. We present the current bioinformatic approaches and databases to detect and analyse AS in cancer, and discuss the implications and perspectives of AS in the treatment of liver cancer.