bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Effect of material properties on emotion: a virtual reality study
Authors: Bertheaux Cyril , Zimmermann Eliott , Gazel Mathis , Delanoy Johanna , Raimbaud Pierre , Lavoué Guillaume
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Designers know that part of the appreciation of a product comes from the properties of its materials. These materials define the object’s appearance and produce emotional reactions that can influence the act of purchase. Although known and observed as important, the affective level of a material remains difficult to assess. While many studies have been conducted regarding material colors, here we focus on two material properties that drive how light is reflected by the object: its metalness and smoothness. In this context, this work aims to study the influence of these properties on the induced emotional response.

Method

We conducted a perceptual user study in virtual reality, allowing participants to visualize and manipulate a neutral object – a mug. We generated 16 material effects by varying it metalness and smoothness characteristics. The emotional reactions produced by the 16 mugs were evaluated on a panel of 29 people using James Russel’s circumplex model, for an emotional measurement through two dimensions: arousal (from low to high) and valence (from negative to positive). This scale, used here through VR users’ declarative statements allowed us to order their emotional preferences between all the virtual mugs.

Result

Statistical results show significant positive effects of both metalness and smoothness on arousal and valence. Using image processing features, we show that this positive effect is linked to the increasing strength (i.e., sharpness and contrast) of the specular reflections induced by these material properties.

Discussion

The present work is the first to establish this strong relationship between specular reflections induced by material properties and aroused emotions.
Improved patient safety with a simplified operating room to pediatric intensive care unit handover tool (PATHQS)
Authors: Subramonian D. , Krahn G. , Wlodarczak J. , Lamb L. , Malherbe S. , Skarsgard E. , Patel M.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Patient handover is a crucial transition requiring a high level of coordination and communication. In the BC Children's Hospital (BCCH) pediatric intensive care unit (PICU), 10 adverse events stemming from issues that should have been addressed at the operating room (OR) to PICU handover were reported into the patient safety learning system (PSLS) within 1 year. We aimed to undertake a quality improvement project to increase adherence to a standardized OR to PICU handover process to 100% within a 6-month time frame. In doing so, the secondary aim was to reduce adverse events by 50% within the same 6-month period.

Methods

The model for improvement and a Plan, Do, Study, Act method of quality improvement was used in this project. The adverse events were reviewed to identify root causes. The findings were reviewed by a multidisciplinary inter-departmental group comprised of members from surgery, anesthesia, and intensive care. Issues were batched into themes to address the most problematic parts of handover that were contributing to risk.

Intervention

A bedside education campaign was initiated to familiarize the team with an existing handover standard. The project team then formulated a new simplified visual handover tool with the mnemonic “PATHQS” where each letter denoted a step addressing a theme that had been noted in the pre-intervention work as contributing to adverse events.

Results

Adherence to standardized handover at 6 months improved from 69% to 92%. This improvement was sustained at 12 months and 3 years after the introduction of PATHQS. In addition, there were zero PSLS events relating to handover at 6 and 12 months, with only one filed by 36 months. Notably, staff self-reporting of safety concerns during handover reduced from 69% to 13% at 6 months and 0% at 3 years. The PATHQS tool created in this work also spread to six other units within the hospital as well as to one adult teaching hospital.

Conclusion

A simplified handover tool built collaboratively between departments can improve the quality and adherence of OR to PICU handover and improve patient safety. Simplification makes it adaptable and applicable in many different healthcare settings.
Clinical relevance and implementation into daily practice of pharmacist-prescribed medication for the management of minor ailments
Authors: Amador-Fernández Noelia , Botnaru Irina , Allemann Samuel Sebastian , Kälin Véronique , Berger Jérôme
Published: January 2024

Background: Autonomous pharmacist prescribing was legally introduced in Switzerland in 2019 with the reclassification from prescription medication to pharmacist prescribing of 105 medications for sixteen indications. Its aim was to limit medical consultations and healthcare costs.

Objectives: To evaluate the clinical relevance of the pharmacy prescribing medications compared to the over-the-counter medications (OTCs) and to evaluate its implementation into daily practice.

Methods: A comparison was undertaken by clinical pharmacists to evaluate chemical and galenical equivalences between pharmacy prescribing medications and OTCs using compendium. ch and pharmavista. ch. Then, a scoping review was carried out in October 2021 to determine clinical relevance according to clinical guidelines’ recommendations. Clinical relevance was completed by determining if pharmacy prescribing medications were part of a homogeneous therapeutic class (no differences in efficacy and safety considered in clinical guidelines, but rather inter-molecular differences) that included an OTC medication. To identify the most clinically relevant pharmacy prescribing medications, first-line treatments were considered. The implementation into daily practice in Swiss community pharmacies was evaluated through an online questionnaire distributed via e-mail from the national pharmacists’ association and LinkedIn®. It included 15 questions divided in: pharmacy demographics, experience on pharmacy prescribing, use of prescribing medications and opinion about the them.

Results: Of the 105 pharmacy prescribing medications, 20 (19.0%) were first-line treatments without OTC equivalences. Six of them were OTCs reclassified for safety reasons. Ten medications (9.5%) showed a negative clinical relevance (they were not first-line therapeutic options to support pharmacist when managing patients or considered as to be avoided) compared to the OTCs available. For the questionnaire, 283 pharmacists from the German (40.3%), French (37.1%) and Italian-speaking regions (16.9%) answered. In the previous 6 months, 41.7% pharmacies had delivered 10–50 medications and 30.0% between 1 and 10 medications. In situations where patients could be equally treated with a pharmacy prescribing medication or OTC (with an identical OTC, similar OTC or an OTC for the same therapeutic group): 75.6%, 74.9% and 84.8% of pharmacists, respectively, would have chosen OTCs because it required less documentation and it did not require patients’ payment for the service. In addition, pharmacists’ lack of training was also mentioned as barrier for providing the service.

Conclusion: Most pharmacist prescribing medications do not present clinical advantages compared to OTCs. In addition, other barriers for implementation were also pharmacists’ training and patient medications costs.
Hypoxia inducible factor-1ɑ as a potential therapeutic target for osteosarcoma metastasis
Authors: Zhou Jianghu , Lan Fengjun , Liu Miao , Wang Fengyan , Ning Xu , Yang Hua , Sun Hong
Published: January 2024

Osteosarcoma (OS) is a malignant tumor originating from mesenchymal tissue. Pulmonary metastasis is usually present upon initial diagnosis, and metastasis is the primary factor affecting the poor prognosis of patients with OS. Current research shows that the ability to regulate the cellular microenvironment is essential for preventing the distant metastasis of OS, and anoxic microenvironments are important features of solid tumors. During hypoxia, hypoxia-inducible factor-1α (HIF-1α) expression levels and stability increase. Increased HIF-1α promotes tumor vascular remodeling, epithelial-mesenchymal transformation (EMT), and OS cells invasiveness; this leads to distant metastasis of OS cells. HIF-1α plays an essential role in the mechanisms of OS metastasis. In order to develop precise prognostic indicators and potential therapeutic targets for OS treatment, this review examines the molecular mechanisms of HIF-1α in the distant metastasis of OS cells; the signal transduction pathways mediated by HIF-1α are also discussed.
A comparison of deep learning segmentation models for synchrotron radiation based tomograms of biodegradable bone implants
Authors: Lopes Marinho André , Kazimi Bashir , Ćwieka Hanna , Marek Romy , Beckmann Felix , Willumeit-Römer Regine , Moosmann Julian , Zeller-Plumhoff Berit
Published: January 2024

Introduction: Synchrotron radiation micro-computed tomography (SRμCT) has been used as a non-invasive technique to examine the microstructure and tissue integration of biodegradable bone implants. To be able to characterize parameters regarding the disintegration and osseointegration of such materials quantitatively, the three-dimensional (3D) image data provided by SRμCT needs to be processed by means of semantic segmentation. However, accurate image segmentation is challenging using traditional automated techniques. This study investigates the effectiveness of deep learning approaches for semantic segmentation of SRμCT volumes of Mg-based implants in sheep bone ex vivo.

Methodology: For this purpose different convolutional neural networks (CNNs), including U-Net, HR-Net, U²-Net, from the TomoSeg framework, the Scaled U-Net framework, and 2D/3D U-Net from the nnU-Net framework were trained and validated. The image data used in this work was part of a previous study where biodegradable screws were surgically implanted in sheep tibiae and imaged using SRμCT after different healing periods. The comparative analysis of CNN models considers their performance in semantic segmentation and subsequent calculation of degradation and osseointegration parameters. The models’ performance is evaluated using the intersection over union (IoU) metric, and their generalization ability is tested on unseen datasets.

Results and discussion: This work shows that the 2D nnU-Net achieves better generalization performance, with the degradation layer being the most challenging label to segment for all models.
Adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) produces lasting, sex-specific changes in rat body fat independent of changes in white blood cell composition
Authors: Vore Andrew S. , Marsland Paige , Barney Thaddeus M. , Varlinskaya Elena I. , Landin Justine D. , Healey Kati L. , Kibble Sandra , Swartzwelder H. S. , Chandler Lawrence J. , Deak Terrence
Published: January 2024

Early initiation of alcohol use during adolescence, and adolescent binge drinking are risk factors for the development of alcohol use disorder later in life. Adolescence is a time of rapid sex-dependent neural, physiological, and behavioral changes as well as a period of heightened vulnerability to many effects of alcohol. The goal of the present studies was to determine age-related changes in blood (leukocyte populations) and body composition across adolescence and early adulthood, and to investigate whether adolescent intermittent ethanol (AIE) exposure would alter the trajectory of adolescent development on these broad physiological parameters. We observed significant ontogenetic changes in leukocyte populations that were mirrored by an age-related increase in cytokine expression among mixed populations of circulating leukocytes. Despite these developmental changes, AIE did not significantly alter overall leukocyte numbers or cytokine gene expression. However, AIE led to sex-specific changes in body fat mass and fat percentage, with AIE-exposed male rats showing significantly decreased fat levels and female rats showing significantly increased fat levels relative to controls. These changes suggest that while AIE may not alter overall leukocyte levels, more complex phenotypic changes in leukocyte populations could underlie previously reported differences in cytokine expression. Coupled with long-term shifts in adipocyte levels, this could have long-lasting effects on innate immunity and the capacity of individuals to respond to later immunological and physiological threats.
High-quality Momordica balsamina genome elucidates its potential use in improving stress resilience and therapeutic properties of bitter gourd
Authors: Vinay N. D. , Singh Kalpana , Ellur Ranjith Kumar , Chinnusamy Viswanathan , Jaiswal Sarika , Iquebal Mir Asif , Munshi Anilabha Das , Matsumura Hideo , Boopalakrishnan G. , Jat Gograj Singh , Kole Chittaranjan , Gaikwad Ambika Baladev , Kumar Dinesh , Dey Shyam Sundar , Behera Tusar Kanti
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Momordica balsamina is the closest wild species that can be crossed with an important fruit vegetable crop, Momordica charantia, has immense medicinal value, and placed under II subclass of primary gene pool of bitter gourd. M. balsamina is tolerant to major biotic and abiotic stresses. Genome characterization of Momordica balsamina as a wild relative of bitter gourd will contribute to the knowledge of the gene pool available for improvement in bitter gourd. There is potential to transfer gene/s related to biotic resistance and medicinal importance from M. balsamina to M. charantia to produce high-quality, better yielding and stress tolerant bitter gourd genotypes.

Methods

The present study provides the first and high-quality chromosome-level genome assembly of M. balsamina with size 384.90 Mb and N50 30.96 Mb using sequence data from 10x Genomics, Nanopore, and Hi-C platforms.

Results

A total of 6,32,098 transposons elements; 2,15,379 simple sequence repeats; 5,67,483 transcription factor binding sites; 3,376 noncoding RNA genes; and 41,652 protein-coding genes were identified, and 4,347 disease resistance, 67 heat stress–related, 05 carotenoid-related, 15 salt stress–related, 229 cucurbitacin-related, 19 terpenes-related, 37 antioxidant activity, and 06 sex determination–related genes were characterized.

Conclusion

Genome sequencing of M. balsamina will facilitate interspecific introgression of desirable traits. This information is cataloged in the form of webgenomic resource available at http://webtom.cabgrid.res.in/mbger/. Our finding of comparative genome analysis will be useful to get insights into the patterns and processes associated with genome evolution and to uncover functional regions of cucurbit genomes.
Cloned genes and genetic regulation of anthocyanin biosynthesis in maize, a comparative review
Authors: Chachar Zaid , Lai RuiQiang , Ahmed Nazir , Lingling Ma , Chachar Sadaruddin , Paker Najeeba Parre , Qi YongWen
Published: January 2024

Anthocyanins are plant-based pigments that are primarily present in berries, grapes, purple yam, purple corn and black rice. The research on fruit corn with a high anthocyanin content is not sufficiently extensive. Considering its crucial role in nutrition and health it is vital to conduct further studies on how anthocyanin accumulates in fruit corn and to explore its potential for edible and medicinal purposes. Anthocyanin biosynthesis plays an important role in maize stems (corn). Several beneficial compounds, particularly cyanidin-3-O-glucoside, perlagonidin-3-O-glucoside, peonidin 3-O-glucoside, and their malonylated derivatives have been identified. C1, C2, Pl1, Pl2, Sh2, ZmCOP1 and ZmHY5 harbored functional alleles that played a role in the biosynthesis of anthocyanins in maize. The Sh2 gene in maize regulates sugar-to-starch conversion, thereby influencing kernel quality and nutritional content. ZmCOP1 and ZmHY5 are key regulatory genes in maize that control light responses and photomorphogenesis. This review concludes the molecular identification of all the genes encoding structural enzymes of the anthocyanin pathway in maize by describing the cloning and characterization of these genes. Our study presents important new understandings of the molecular processes behind the manufacture of anthocyanins in maize, which will contribute to the development of genetically modified variants of the crop with increased color and possible health advantages.
Untargeted metabolomics profiling of oat (Avena sativa L.) and wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) infested with wheat stem sawfly (Cephus cinctus Norton) reveals differences associated with plant defense and insect nutrition
Authors: Hager Megan S. , Hofland Megan L. , Varella Andrea C. , Bothner Brian , Budak Hikmet , Weaver David K.
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Wheat stem sawfly (WSS), Cephus cinctus Norton, is a major pest of common bread wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) and other cultivated cereals in North America. Planting of cultivars with solid stems has been the primary management strategy to prevent yield loss due to WSS infestation, however expression of this phenotype can vary depending on environmental conditions and solid stems hinder biological control of WSS via braconid parasitoids Bracon cephi (Gahan) and Bracon lissogaster Muesebeck. In the hollow stems of oat (Avena sativa L.), WSS larvae experience 100% mortality before they reach late instars, but the mechanisms for this observed resistance have not been characterized.

Objective

The objective of this study was to explore additional sources of resistance outside of the historic solid stem phenotype.

Methods

Here, we use an untargeted metabolomics approach to examine the response of the metabolome of two cultivars of oat and four cultivars of spring wheat to infestation by WSS. Using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS), differentially expressed metabolites were identified between oat and wheat which were associated with the phenylpropanoid pathway, phospholipid biosynthesis and signaling, the salicylic acid signaling pathway, indole-3-acetic acid (IAA) degradation, and biosynthesis of 1,4-benzoxazin-3-ones (Bxs). Several phospho- and galacto- lipids were found in higher abundance in oat, and with the exception of early stem solidness cultivar Conan, both species experienced a decrease in abundance once infested. In all wheat cultivars except Conan, an increase in abundance was observed for Bxs HMDBOA-glc and DIBOA-β-D-glucoside after infestation, indicating that this pathway is involved in wheat response to infestation in both solid and hollow stemmed cultivars. Differences between species in compounds involved in IAA biosynthesis, degradation and inactivation suggest that wheat may respond to infestation by inactivating IAA or altering the IAA pool in stem tissue.

Conclusion

We propose that the species differences found here likely affect the survival of WSS larvae and may also be associated with differences in stem architecture at the molecular level. Our findings suggest pathways to focus on for future studies in elucidating plant response to WSS infestation.
Transcriptome analysis reveals the molecular mechanisms of rubber biosynthesis and laticifer differentiation during rubber seed germination
Authors: Hu Bin , Yang Na , Zhou Zaihui , Shi Xiangyu , Qin Yunxia , Fang Yongjun , Long Xiangyu
Published: January 2024

The molecular mechanisms underlying the initiation of natural rubber synthesis and laticifer differentiation have not been fully elucidated. In this study, we conducted a time-series transcriptome analysis of five rubber tree tissues at four stages of seed germination. A total of 161,199 DEGs were identified between the two groups, including most 16,673 DEGs (A3 vs B3 and A3 vs C3) and lest 1,210 DEGs (C2 vs D2). We found that the maturation of the seed is accompanied by the formation of laticifer cells in cotyledon. Meanwhile, the analysis of hormones related genes expression may provide effective clues for us to promote the differentiation of laticifer cells in seeds by hormones in the future. In this study, hormone-related gene enrichment analyses revealed that IAA, GA, and CTK were activated in laticifer containing tissues. Similarly, GO and GEGG analysis showed that hormone pathways, especially the auxin pathway, are enriched. Gene expression clustering was analyzed using the short time-series expression miner (STEM), and the analysis revealed four distinct trends in the gene expression profiles. Moreover, we enriched transcription factor (TF) enrichment in cotyledon and embryonic axis tissues, and the MYB type exhibited the most significant difference. Furthermore, our findings revealed that genes related to rubber synthesis exhibited tissue-specific expression patterns during seed germination. Notably, key genes associated with rubber biosynthesis, specifically small rubber particle protein (SRPP) and cis-prenyltransferase (CPT), exhibited significant changes in expression in cotyledon and embryonic axis tissues, suggesting synchronous rubber synthesis with seed germination. Our staining results reveled that laticifer cells were exits in the cotyledon before seed imbibition stage. In conclusion, these results lay the foundation for exploring the molecular mechanisms underlying laticifer differentiation and rubber synthesis during seed germination, deepening our understanding of the initiation stages of rubber biosynthesis and laticifer differentiation.
Randomized controlled trials of mind–body interventions for posttraumatic stress disorder: a systematic review
Authors: Kaplan Josh , Somohano Vanessa C. , Zaccari Belle , O’Neil Maya E.
Published: January 2024

Mind–body interventions (MBIs) include mindfulness-based interventions (MiBIs), meditation- and mantra-based interventions (MMIs), and movement-based interventions (MoBIs). These approaches have demonstrated preliminary efficacy in improving posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) symptoms. However, previous systematic reviews and meta-analyses have noted that this area of research is limited by inadequate comparator conditions, heterogeneity of measurement, and absence of objective outcome measures. For these reasons, an updated review of the highest-quality evidence available is warranted. We used the Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (AHRQ)-funded evidence tables for the PTSD-Repository to identify relevant studies and assess the risk of bias as follows: The search was conducted between June 2018 and June 2022, and databases included PTSDpubs (formerly PILOTS), Ovid® MEDLINE®, Cochrane CENTRAL, Embase®, the Cumulative Index to Nursing and Allied Health Literature (CINAHL®), SCOPUS, and PsycINFO®. Twenty-six randomized controlled trials met our inclusion criteria. After identifying studies and retrieving risk of bias information from the PTSD-Repository evidence tables, we extracted additional data and synthesized the evidence. The strength of evidence was rated as low for MiBIs and MMIs, largely due to contradicting results, inconsistent use of active versus passive comparators, and high risk of bias. The strength of evidence for MoBIs was rated as moderate due to individual studies consistently favoring the intervention and a relatively large number of studies and participants. Of the 26 included studies, only two included objective outcome measures. Implications for future MBI research and clinical applications for treating PTSD are discussed.
The effectiveness of Balint group work on the quality of work life, resilience, and nurse–patient communication skills among psychiatric nurses: a randomized controlled trial
Authors: Yousefzadeh Negar Kiani , Dehkordi Mansoureh Kiani , Vahedi Mohsen , Astaneh Ali Nazeri , Bateni Fatemeh Sadat
Published: January 2024

Background

Balint group training has gained popularity in medical practices as an intervention designed to enhance the quality of life, well-being, and communication skills of healthcare practitioners. Psychiatric nurses, in particular, encounter distinct challenges and stressors inherent in their profession, necessitating the development and implementation of effective interventions to assist them in coping with the difficulties they experience. In this vein, the current study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of Balint group training on quality of work life, resilience, and nurse–patient communication skills among psychiatric nurses.

Methods

Thirty psychiatric nurses from Razi Hospital in Tehran were recruited via the purposeful sampling method in 2022 and were randomly assigned to either the Balint group, consisting of eight weekly one-hour training sessions, or a control group. Participants completed the Walton Quality of Work Life Questionnaire, Connor-Davidson Resilience Scale, and Communication Skills Scale before and after the intervention. The data were analyzed using the Analysis of Covariance (ANCOVA).

Results

The study found no significant differences between the Balint group and the control group in terms of quality of work life, resilience, and nurse–patient communication skills.

Conclusion

Findings suggest that Balint group training was not an effective intervention for improving the well-being and communication skills of psychiatric nurses. However, the study highlights the need for further investigation into the potential factors that may explain the lack of significant gains and offers insights for future research in this area.
The absence of one’s intimate partner promotes dyadic competition through enhanced interbrain synchronization between opponents
Authors: Jia Shuyu , Meng Yujia , Gao Yuan , Ao Lihong , Yang Lei , Wang He , Liu Yingjie
Published: January 2024

Competition is a common occurrence in life, but the influence of intimate relationships on people’s competitiveness remains unknown. Grounded in Darwin’s theory of sexual selection, this study utilized EEG hyperscanning technology to investigate the influence of the presence of romantic partners and the gender of competitors on the interbrain synchronization of female individuals during competitive contexts. The research results showed that in competitive interactions, there was a significant increase in Theta and Alpha frequency band activity between females and their competitors. Interbrain synchronization was strongest when their partners were not nearby and females competed with same gender competitors. The research results indicate that intimate companionship has an impact on the early alertness and late cognitive execution mechanisms of female individuals in competition, and due to intimate relationships, females pay more attention to same-gender competitors. This study demonstrates that the presence of intimate partners can affect a female’s competitive state and brain synchronization with opponents of different genders, improving the theoretical explanation of intimate relationships and competitive interactions.
The relationship between ostracism and negative risk-taking behavior: the role of ego depletion and physical exercise
Authors: Chen Fang , Wang Jinhong , Gao Heng , Zeng Yadi , Li Ziwei , Zou Hongyu
Published: January 2024

Background

As a major public health problem globally, negative risk-taking behavior of college students may be related to their ostracism experience, but the reason for this association is unclear. Based on the limited resource theory, combined with the integrative model of athletic performance, we tested a moderated mediation model in which ego depletion mediated the association between ostracism and risk-taking, and physical exercise moderated the mediation process to examine the mechanisms underlying the association between ostracism and negative risk-taking behavior.

Methods

One thousand three hundred seven students (43% female) from four universities in China were recruited using cluster random sampling. The experience of being ostracized, ego depletion, physical exercise level, and negative risk-taking behavior were measured through an anonymous online questionnaire in “www.sojump.com.”

Results

After controlling for gender and grade in college, ostracism was positively related to negative risk-taking behavior; ego depletion mediated this relationship; and physical exercise level attenuated these direct and indirect relationships.

Conclusion

The results highlight individual risk and protective factors associated with negative risk-taking behavior, and provide new perspectives on ways to prevent and reduce college students’ negative risk-taking behavior.
Adapting the ADVANCE group program for digitally-supported delivery to reduce intimate partner violence by men in substance use treatment: a feasibility study
Authors: Gilchrist Gail , Dheensa Sandi , Johnson Amy , Henderson Juliet , Radcliffe Polly , Dwyer Georges , Turner Richard , Thomson Kate , Papastavrou Brooks Cat , Love Beverly , Zenasni Zohra , Berbary Cassandra , Carter Ben , Parrott Steve , Li Jinshuo , Easton Caroline , Bergman Ciara , Feder Gene , Gilchrist Elizabeth
Published: January 2024

Introduction

COVID-19 restrictions created barriers to “business as usual” in healthcare but also opened the door to innovation driven by necessity. This manuscript (1) describes how ADVANCE, an in-person group perpetrator program to reduce intimate partner violence (IPV) against female (ex)partners by men in substance use treatment, was adapted for digitally-supported delivery (ADVANCE-D), and (2) explores the feasibility and acceptability of delivering ADVANCE-D to men receiving substance use treatment.

Methods

Firstly, the person-based approach and mHealth development framework were used to iteratively adapt ADVANCE for digitally-supported delivery including conceptualization, formative research, and pre-testing. Then, a non-randomized feasibility study was conducted to assess male participants’ eligibility, recruitment, and attendance rates and uptake of support offered to their (ex)partners. Exploratory analyses on reductions in IPV perpetration (assessed using the Abusive Behavior Inventory; ABI) and victimization (using the revised ABI; ABI-R) at the end of the program were performed. Longitudinal qualitative interviews with participants, their (ex)partners, and staff provided an understanding of the program’s implementation, acceptability, and outcomes.

Results

The adapted ADVANCE-D program includes one goal-setting session, seven online groups, 12 self-directed website sessions, and 12 coaching calls. ADVANCE-D includes enhanced risk management and support for (ex)partners. Forty-five participants who had perpetrated IPV in the past 12 months were recruited, forty of whom were offered ADVANCE-D, attending 11.4 (SD 9.1) sessions on average. Twenty-one (ex)partners were recruited, 13 of whom accepted specialist support. Reductions in some IPV perpetration and victimization outcome measures were reported by the 25 participants and 11 (ex)partners interviewed pre and post-program, respectively. Twenty-two participants, 11 (ex)partners, 12 facilitators, and 7 integrated support service workers were interviewed at least once about their experiences of participation. Overall, the program content was well-received. Some participants and facilitators believed digital sessions offered increased accessibility.

Conclusion

The digitally-supported delivery of ADVANCE-D was feasible and acceptable. Remote delivery has applicability post-pandemic, providing greater flexibility and access. Given the small sample size and study design, we do not know if reductions in IPV were due to ADVANCE-D, time, participant factors, or chance. More research is needed before conclusions can be made about the efficacy of ADVANCE-D.
Increasing and sustaining blood-borne virus screening in Spain and Portugal throughout the COVID-19 pandemic: a multi-center quality improvement intervention
Authors: Vaz-Pinto Inês , Ortega Enrique , Chivite Ivan , Butí María , Turnes-Vázquez Juan , Magno-Pereira Vítor , Rocha Miguel , Garrido Jorge , Esteves-Santos Catarina , Guimaraes Mafalda , Mourão Tomás , Martínez Roma María , Guilera Vanessa , Llaneras-Artigues Jordi , Barreira-Díaz Ana , Pérez Cachafeiro Santiago , Daponte Angueira Sandra , Xavier Elisa , Vicente Mariana , Garrido Gema , Heredia Maria Teresa , Medina Diogo , García Deltoro Miguel
Published: January 2024

Background

Around 57,000 people in Spain and Portugal currently living with HIV or chronic hepatitis C are unaware of their infection. The COVID-19 pandemic severely disrupted screening efforts for these infections. We designed an intervention to increase and sustain opportunistic blood-borne virus (BBV) screening and linkage to care (SLTC) by implementing the TEST model.

Methods

The Plan Do Study Act (PDSA) method of quality improvement (QI) was implemented in 8 healthcare organizations (HCOs), including four hospitals, two clusters of community health centers, and two community-based organizations (CBOs). Baseline assessment included a review of BBV SLTC practices, testing volume, and results 12 months before the intervention. Changes in BBV testing rates over time were measured before, during, and after the COVID-19 lockdowns in 2020. A mixed ANOVA model was used to analyze the possible effect on testing volumes among HCOs over the three study periods.

Intervention

BBV testing was integrated into normal clinical flow in all HCOs using existing clinical infrastructure and staff. Electronic health record (EHR) systems were modified whenever possible to streamline screening processes, implement systemic institutional policy changes, and promote QI.

Results

Two years after the launch of the intervention in screening practices, testing volumes increased by 116%, with formal healthcare settings recording larger increases than CBOs. The start of the COVID-19 lockdowns was accompanied by a global 60% decrease in testing in all HCOs. Screening emergency department patients or using EHR systems to automate screening showed the highest resilience and lowest reduction in testing. HCOs recovered 77% of their testing volume once the lockdowns were lifted, with CBOs making the fullest recovery. Globally, enhanced screening techniques enabled HCOs to diagnose a total of 1,860 individuals over the research period.

Conclusions

Implementation of the TEST model enabled HCOs to increase and sustain BBV screening, even during COVID-19 lockdowns. Although improvement in screening was noted in all HCOs, additional work is needed to develop strong patient linkage to care models in challenging times, such as global pandemics.
Current status and influencing factors of activation of older patients with chronic disease
Authors: Yiran Zhu , Yan Zhang , Lijun Xing , Xizheng Li , Xinjie Zhang , Yutong Tian
Published: January 2024

Objective

We aimed to investigate the status and influencing factors of activation of older patients with chronic disease.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional study, using the general information questionnaire, Patient Activation Measure, the Chinese version of the e-Health Literacy Scale, and the Health Empowerment Scale for the Elderly with Chronic Disease. By the convenience sampling method, 289 older patients with chronic disease were selected from January to April 2023 in a Class A tertiary hospital in Zhengzhou.

Results

The mean score of the Patient Activation Measure for older patients with chronic disease was 65.94 ± 13.35. The association of influencing factors such as religion, family income, health empowerment, e-health literacy, and patient activation was investigated.

Conclusion

The patient activation of older patients with chronic disease was at a middle level. Patients without religion and from high-income families tended to have a higher level of patient activation. Improving health empowerment and e-health literacy levels promotes patient activation and enhances their self-health management ability.
Incidence of erectile dysfunction among middle-aged and aging sexual minority men living with or without HIV
Authors: Mustapha Aishat , Polanka Brittanny M. , Maini Mansi , Ware Deanna P. , Li Xiuhong , Hart Trevor A. , Brown Todd , Palella Frank , Gorbach Pamina M. , Ho Ken , Plankey Michael
Published: January 2024

Introduction

Erectile dysfunction (ED) has been established as a comorbidity among men living with HIV, but comparisons by HIV serostatus of ED incidence in a longitudinal follow-up cohort of men are lacking. We sought to evaluate the incidence of ED spanning a period of 12 years in a longitudinal cohort of sexual minority men (SMM) living with and without HIV.

Methods

We analyzed ED incidence data for 625 participants in the longitudinal Multicenter AIDS Cohort Study from visits spanning October 2006 to April 2019.

Results

SMM living with HIV were more likely to have incident ED compared with those living without HIV (rate ratio: 1.41; 95% CI: 1.14–1.75). Older age, current diabetes, cumulative cigarette use, and cumulative antidepressant use were associated with increased incidence of ED in the entire sample. Self-identifying as Hispanic, current diabetes, and cumulative antidepressant use were positively associated with ED incidence among SMM living with HIV. Cumulative cigarette use was positively associated with greater ED incidence only among SMM living without HIV.

Discussion

In summary, age (full sample/ with HIV), current diabetes (full sample/with HIV), cumulative cigarette use (full sample/without HIV), and cumulative antidepressant use (full sample/with HIV) were associated with increased ED incidence. Skillful management of diabetes and careful titration of antidepressants, along with smoking cessation practices, are recommended to mitigate ED in this population.
Association of early life adversity with cardiovascular disease and its potential mechanisms: a narrative review
Authors: Tan Huiying , Zhou Huiting , Chen Jingmei , Ren Huixia , Guo Yi , Jiang Xin
Published: January 2024

Strong epidemiological evidence has shown that early life adversity (ELA) has a profound negative impact on health in adulthood, including an increased risk of cardiovascular disease, the leading cause of death worldwide. Here, we review cohort studies on the effects of ELA on cardiovascular outcomes and the possible underlying mechanisms. In addition, we summarize relevant studies in rodent models of ELA. This review reveals that the prevalence of ELA varies between regions, time periods, and sexes. ELA increases cardiovascular health risk behaviors, susceptibility to mental illnesses, and neuroendocrine and immune system dysfunction in humans. Rodent models of ELA have been developed and show similar cardiovascular outcomes to those in humans but cannot fully replicate all ELA subtypes. Therefore, combining cohort and rodent studies to further investigate the mechanisms underlying the association between ELA and cardiovascular diseases may be a feasible future research strategy.
Research on the structure function recognition of PLOS
Authors: Liu Jiangfeng , Zhao Zhixiao , Wu Na , Wang Xiyu
Published: January 2024

Purpose

The present study explores and investigates the efficiency of deep learning models in identifying discourse structure and functional features and explores the potential application of natural language processing (NLP) techniques in text mining, information measurement, and scientific communication.

Method

The PLOS literature series has been utilized to obtain full-text data, and four deep learning models, including BERT, RoBERTa, SciBERT, and SsciBERT, have been employed for structure-function recognition.

Result

The experimental findings reveal that the SciBERT model performs outstandingly, surpassing the other models, with an F1 score. Additionally, the performance of different paragraph structures has been analyzed, and it has been found that the model performs well in paragraphs such as method and result.

Conclusion

The study's outcomes suggest that deep learning models can recognize the structure and functional elements at the discourse level, particularly for scientific literature, where the SciBERT model performs remarkably. Moreover, the NLP techniques have extensive prospects in various fields, including text mining, information measurement, and scientific communication. By automatically parsing and identifying structural and functional information in text, the efficiency of literature management and retrieval can be improved, thereby expediting scientific research progress. Therefore, deep learning and NLP technologies hold significant value in scientific research.
Balancing beauty and science: a review of facial implant materials in craniofacial surgery
Authors: Kauke-Navarro Martin , Knoedler Leonard , Knoedler Samuel , Deniz Can , Stucki Lars , Safi Ali-Farid
Published: January 2024

Facial reconstruction and augmentation, integral in facial plastic surgery, address defects related to trauma, tumors infections, and congenital skeletal deficiencies. Aesthetic considerations, including age-related facial changes, involve volume loss and diminished projection, often associated with predictable changes in the facial skeleton. Autologous, allogeneic, and alloplastic implants are used to address these concerns. Autologous materials such as bone, cartilage, and fat, while longstanding options, have limitations, including unpredictability and resorption rates. Alloplastic materials, including metals, polymers, and ceramics, offer alternatives. Metals like titanium are biocompatible and used primarily in fracture fixation. Polymers, such as silicone and polyethylene, are widely used, with silicone presenting migration, bony resorption, and visibility issues. Polyethylene, particularly porous polyethylene (MedPor), was reported to have one of the lowest infection rates while it becomes incorporated into the host. Polyether-ether-ketone (PEEK) exhibits mechanical strength and compatibility with imaging modalities, with custom PEEK implants providing stable results. Acrylic materials, like poly-methylmethacrylate (PMMA), offer strength and is thus mostly used in the case of cranioplasty. Bioceramics, notably hydroxyapatite (HaP), offer osteoconductive and inductive properties, and HaP granules demonstrate stable volume retention in facial aesthetic augmentation. Combining HaP with other materials, such as PLA, may enhance mechanical stability. 3D bioprinting with HaP-based bioinks presents a promising avenue for customizable and biocompatible implants. In conclusion, various materials have been used for craniofacial augmentation, but none have definitively demonstrated superiority. Larger randomized controlled trials are essential to evaluate short- and long-term complications comprehensively, potentially revolutionizing facial balancing surgery.
The impact of the administration of red ginseng (Panax ginseng) on lipid metabolism and free fatty acid profiles in healthy horses using a molecular networking approach
Authors: Kwak Young Beom , Yoo Hye Hyun , Yoon Jungho
Published: January 2024

This study investigated the potential benefits of the administration of red ginseng (RG) on lipid metabolism and the profiles of individual free fatty acids (FFAs) in healthy horses. Eight healthy horses, raised under similar conditions, were randomly divided into two groups, each comprising four horses. The experimental group received powdered RG (600 mg/kg/day) mixed with a carrier, and the control group received only the carrier. The parameters associated with lipid metabolism and probable adverse effects were evaluated in both groups after 3 weeks. The computational molecular networking (MN) approach was applied to analyze the FFA profiles. The results indicated that RG administration significantly reduced blood triglyceride levels in the experimental group. Analysis of the FFAs using MN revealed significant decreases in specific types of FFAs (C12:0, dodecanoic acid; C14:0, myristric acid; C18:1, oleic acid; C18:2, linoleic acid). RG consumption did not produce significant adverse effects on the renal, hepatic, and immune functions. Thus, RG was found to effectively modulate lipid metabolism and the levels of individual FFAs. The application of the MN for the analysis of FFAs represents a novel approach and can be considered for future research.
O pozornej synonimii na przykładzie czasowników fałszu
Authors: Zaucha Joanna
Published: January 2024

This article aims to identify the mechanisms determining a seeming synonymy. It is based on the observation of sentence contexts containing falsehood verbs. The first part of this article indicates the semantic differences occurring between four language units: wprowadzić [kogoś] w błąd (to mislead [someone]), oszukać [kogoś] (to deceive [someone]), zwieść [kogoś] (to delude [someone]), and okłamać [kogoś] (to lie [to someone]). It is followed by the discussion of the sentence contexts in the form of the conditional mood with various combinations of seeming synonyms. The conclusion coming from the analysis is that semantic opposiƟtions are neutralised due to specific characteristics of the syntactic context and the mechanism of “silent denial” as described by A. Bogusławski (2003, 2021). The necessary condiƟtion for neutralisation to occur is preserving the identity of the themes of the characteristics included in the contents of the verbs. Contextual synonymy will not arise if any of the predicates included in the conditional mood fails to characterise the theme in a given respect
O niereferencjalnych kontekstach użycia zaimka ten
Authors: Wołk Mariola
Published: January 2024

This article analyses the Polish pronoun ten (‘this’) located next to proper names in contexts such as ten Martynowski, ten Marek, ten Gdańsk, ten Giewont. Due to its occurrence in immediately next to two expressions which primarily function as exponents of specific reference, one can put forward a hypothesis that the investigated pronoun is not applied in its referential function in this type of settngs. Thus, it ceases to be a demonstrative pronoun, and assumes linguistic properties other than its basic ones. The aim of this study is to determine the linguistic nature of such occurrences of ten, also in reference to the thesis prevailing in the relevant literature, which, among other aspects, concerns the expressive value of such applications of the pronoun. The combinations of ten with proper names selected for analysis will be juxtaposed with non-obligatory occurrences of this pronoun next to nouns (as, for example, in the sentence: Na tym wczorajszym indyku można sobie było zęby połamać (You could break your teeth on that turkey yesterday).
Jak można chronologizować najnowsze dzieje polszczyzny
Authors: Dubisz Stanisław
Published: January 2024

The term najnowsze dzieje polszczyzny / najnowsze dzieje języka polskiego (the latest history of the Polish language) has been in use since the late 1970s and the early 1980s. It has brought problems concerning the chronologisation and internal periodisation of that period in the history of the Polish language. The participants of the discourse, which has continued since the early 1990s, include linguists such as Antoni Furdal, Krystyna Kleszczowa, Stanisław Borawski, Stanisław Dubisz, Irena Bajerowa, Ewa Woźniak. Their publications clearly evidence the need for distinguishing the period in the periodisation of the Polish language, while differing as to its specific timeframe, distinction criteria, and internal periodisation. This study aims to compile the data, present the history of the discourse, and make a summary proposal.