bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Editorial: Another brick in the CDST wall: Authors' reply
Authors: Kim Kyuwon , Ye Byong Duk
Published: May 2024

LINKED CONTENT

This article is linked to Kim et al papers. To view these articles, visithttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.17989andhttps://doi.org/10.1111/apt.18023.
The identities of employed students: Striving to reduce distinctiveness from the typical student
Authors: Grozev Vladislav H. , Easterbrook Matthew J.
Published: May 2024

Endorsement of the employed student identity can provide social support for employed students or protection from negative intergroup comparisons. However, not much is known about what identity aspects or characteristics comprise the employed student identity and how they become important and central to that identity. Using data from 215 employed university students in the UK, we investigated two research questions (RQ's) in this mixed‐method study. RQ1. What are the identity aspects that participants ascribe to the employed student identity? RQ2. Are identity aspects that distinguish employed from non‐employed students, and are considered more suitable for employed versus non‐employed students, more central and more important to the employed students’ self‐concept? A thematic analysis categorized the identity aspects that participants self‐generated into 14 distinct categories, with the most important categories being hard‐working, being organized, having motivation, and discipline. Multilevel analyses of identity aspects within individuals revealed that distinctiveness was negatively associated with the importance and centrality of aspects, whereas suitability for employed students was positively associated with the importance and centrality of aspects. We offer practical value through revealing important identity aspects which inoculate employed students against negative intergroup comparisons, and theoretical value through suggesting future avenues for employed students’ identity construction.

Public Significance Statement

Being an employed student carries a social cost but defining as one can help in obtaining social support or protecting from negative comparisons with non‐employed students. We identify fourteen categories of aspects that can define oneself as an employed student (e.g., motivation, hard work) with employed students experiencing those aspects which are more suitable to them as more identity‐defining, and those aspects which differentiate them from non‐employed students as less identity‐defining.
Trust in cervical screening and attributions of blame for interval cancers following a national controversy
Authors: Poluektova Olga , Robertson Deirdre A. , Papadopoulos Alexandros , Lunn Peter D.
Published: May 2024

Objectives

This study investigated levels of trust and attributions of blame in connection with a cervical screening programme following a controversy related to the programme's audit, incorporating an experimental test of the effectiveness of new information materials.

Design

We compared responses in Ireland (N = 872) to equivalent responses in Scotland (N = 400). Participants in Ireland were randomly assigned to either a treatment group that received the information materials or a control group that did not. Participants then responded to questions about their trust in cervical screening and to whom they would attribute blame in a range of scenarios describing women diagnosed with cervical cancer between screening rounds.

Results

Results showed that the control group in Ireland had lower trust and attributed higher blame towards screening services than participants in Scotland. However, exposure to information materials in the treatment group improved trust and reduced blame.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that public controversies influence perceptions of screening programmes and underscore the importance of transparent, choice‐based communication in mitigating these effects. The findings have valuable implications for screening services worldwide as all screening programmes will have associated false negative and false positive results.
White men can't jump, but do they still get picked first? Race and player selection in the NBA draft, 1980–2021
Authors: Pizarro Milian Roger , Wijesingha Rochelle
Published: May 2024

Despite excelling at recruiting Black players, studies have repeatedly produced evidence of racial discrimination in the National Basketball Association (NBA). Through this study, we re‐examine the topic of racial discrimination within the NBA through an analysis of the Association's annual entry draft. Using a novel dataset, we statistically model the relationship between player race and draft pick number using pooled data from 1980 to 2021. Overall, we find only limited evidence of racial discrimination. These findings are generally robust to sub‐sample analyses, alternative specifications of our race variable, and alternate statistical modeling techniques. However, analyses performed on sub‐samples of draft picks that participated in the NBA combine—and for whom we have measurements of player athleticism—produce some evidence of racial discrimination. Through such models we estimate that Black players are picked roughly three picks later in the draft. We consider the implications of these findings for contemporary theorizing about racial discrimination in the NBA and more mainstream labor markets.
The impact of daratumumab pretreatment on multiple myeloma patients undergoing autologous transplantation
Authors: Shimazu Yutaka , Kanda Junya , Suzuki Kazuhito , Wada Akinori , Kikuchi Taku , Ikeda Takashi , Tsukada Nobuhiro , Miwa Akiyoshi , Itagaki Mitsuhiro , Kako Shinichi , Nishiwaki Kaichi , Ota Shuichi , Fujiwara Shin‐ichiro , Kataoka Keisuke , Doki Noriko , Sawa Masashi , Hiramoto Nobuhiro , Nishikawa Akinori , Imai Toshi , Ichinohe Tatsuo , Kanda Yoshinobu , Atsuta Yoshiko , Kawamura Koji
Published: May 2024

The anti‐CD38 antibody daratumumab (Dara) has been reported to improve the prognosis of multiple myeloma (MM) patients, but its use before autologous stem cell transplantation (ASCT) remains controversial. To clarify the prognostic impact of Dara before ASCT on MM, we performed a retrospective observational analysis. We analyzed 2626 patients who underwent ASCT between 2017 and 2020. In the comparison between patients not administered Dara (Dara– group) and those administered Dara (Dara+ group), the 1‐year progression‐free survival (PFS) rates were 87.4% and 77.3% and the 1‐year overall survival (OS) rates were 96.7% and 90.0%, respectively. In multivariate analysis, age <65 years (p = 0.015), low international staging system (ISS) stage (p < 0.001), absence of unfavorable cytogenic abnormalities (p < 0.001), no Dara use before ASCT (p = 0.037), and good treatment response before ASCT (p < 0.001) were independently associated with superior PFS. In matched pair analysis, the PFS/OS of the Dara– group were also significantly superior. For MM patients who achieved complete or very good partial response (CR/VGPR) by Dara addition before ASCT, both PFS and OS significantly improved. However, in patients who did not achieve CR/VGPR before ASCT, the PFS/OS of the Dara+ group were significantly inferior to those of the Dara– group.
Unpacking conservation easements' assessed land use designations and their implications for realizing biodiversity protection
Authors: Dyckman Caitlin S. , McMahan Chris , Overby Anna Treado , Fouch Nakisha , Ogletree Scott , Self Stella W. , White David L. , Lauria Mickey , Baldwin Robert F.
Published: May 2024

Native ecosystem and biodiversity loss from land use conversion into human‐modified landscapes are evident in the United States and globally. In addition to public land conservation, there is an increase in private land conservation through conservation easements (CEs) across exurban landscapes. Not every CE was established strictly for biodiversity protection and permitted land uses can increase human modification. No research of which we are aware has examined the actual tax assessor's land use designations (LUDs) through time. We constructed granular CE datasets (GCED) of CEs and their parcels' tax assessment LUDs for 1997–2008/2009, based on original data from 12 counties in six US states. Using the GCED, we examined patterns in the LUDs, with implications for land uses that could impact CE biological outcomes. We show that LUDs on exurban private conservation lands were predominately residential and agricultural, with increased residential over time. Critically, the LUDs lack a biological conservation exempt designation/category. There is no consistent trend in association between the primary CE reason and its parcel's LUD, suggesting that they coincide in some circumstances but in others, the CE may be a response to contravene the LUD. The majority of the first CE reasons are focused on open space preservation, except in some counties where agricultural land uses and agricultural CEs are associated. The economically and human‐focused LUD is one of many social factors that should be considered in a classification system for private land conservation and CEs more specifically. These results prompt the land conservation, conservation biology, and environmental planning communities to explore assessed land uses' impact on biodiversity conservation objectives.
Impact of prior COVID‐19 infection on allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation outcomes
Authors: Siniaev Aleksandr , Popova Marina , Rogacheva Yulia , Ianbukhtina Valeria , Kulagin Egor , Vladovskaya Maria , Bondarenko Sergey , Moiseev Ivan , Kulagin Alexander D.
Published: May 2024

There are limited data on outcomes of allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (allo‐HSCT) in recipients with prior COVID‐19 infection. This single‐center retrospective study included 54 adult patients who received allo‐HSCT from July 2020 to September 2021 after previous COVID‐19 infection and 122 control group patients without a history of COVID‐19 who underwent HSCT during the same period, with a median follow‐up of 17 months. Median time from COVID‐19 to allo‐HSCT was 211 days. The incidence of main complications in the post‐transplant period was not significantly different between the two groups: deep vein thrombosis (p = .85), TMA (p = .8), VOD (p = .25), bloodstream infections (p = .21), pneumonia of any etiology (p = .41), viral infections (p = .85), invasive fungal disease (p = .08). The 2‐year non‐relapse mortality, relapse incidence, overall survival, and progression‐free survival also were comparable in the study and the control groups: 22% (95% CI 10.5–36.2) versus 26.3% (95% CI 18.7–34.6) p = .4; 15.6% (95% CI 7.3–26.9) versus 23.6% (95% CI 16.0–32.3) p = .39; 67.9% (95% CI 50.4–80.3) versus 59.8% (95% CI 50.2–68.1) p = .24 and 62.3% (95% CI 45.5–75.3) versus 49.9% (95% CI 40.0–59.1) p = .18, respectively. The history of previous COVID‐19 infection did not affect the results of allo‐HSCT.
Bureaucratic Culture and Innovation
Authors: Li Shigang , She Kexin , Zhang Li
Published: May 2024

This study explores the effects of bureaucratic culture on innovation. We define bureaucratic culture as a culture in which power and officials are held in the highest regard. Using panel data of publicly listed Chinese manufacturing firms from 2007 to 2015, we found that bureaucratic culture negatively correlated with firms' patent output. A mechanism analysis shows that bureaucratic culture hindered corporate innovation by reducing firms' research and development inputs and decreasing innovation efficiency. Furthermore, we provided evidence that anti‐corruption campaigns and the development of formal institutions could neutralize the negative impact of bureaucratic culture on corporate innovation. This study is the first to investigate quantitatively the causal effect of bureaucratic culture on corporate innovation and it can deepen the understanding of the relationship between culture and innovation in China. We speculate that promoting a creative culture, particularly one that fosters entrepreneurial spirit, is of utmost importance.
Spatial Structure of Peer Networks and Academic Achievement Based on a Random Control Trial Experiment
Authors: Feng Shilan , Tan Ya , Wang Zhi , Zhang Qinghua
Published: May 2024

This paper investigates whether changing the seating arrangement in a classroom can facilitate positive spillovers from top‐performing students to others, using a field experiment conducted in a Chinese high school. Among study groups with balanced abilities, the treatment altered the spatial distribution by assigning the two top students to seats in the spatial center of each group. In the reference groups where students were allowed to choose their own seating arrangements, the lowest performing were significantly less likely to sit next to a top student than they would be under a random assignment. The results suggest that, in the treated groups, there could be enhanced academic spillovers from the top students. The treatment especially benefited the two lowest performing students in science subjects. In contrast, the treatment exerted negative effects on the test scores of the two middle‐performing students, due to a disruption mechanism. The results suggest that the spatial layout of a peer network can have a significant impact on learning outcomes.
An analysis of semaphorin‐mediated cellular interactions in the Caenorhabditis elegans epidermis using the IR‐LEGO single‐cell gene induction system
Authors: Suzuki Motoshi , Takagi Shin
Published: May 2024

One of the major functions of the semaphorin signaling system is the regulation of cell shape. In the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans, membrane‐bound semaphorins SMP‐1/2 (SMPs) regulate the morphology of epidermal cells via their receptor plexin, PLX‐1. In the larval male tail of the SMP‐PLX‐1 signaling mutants, the border between two epidermal cells, R1.p and R2.p, is displaced anteriorly, resulting in the anterior displacement of the anterior‐most ray, ray 1, in the adult male. To elucidate how the intercellular signaling mediated by SMPs regulates the position of the intercellular border, we performed mosaic gene expression analyses by using infrared laser‐evoked gene operator (IR‐LEGO). We show that PLX‐1 expressed in R1.p and SMP‐1 expressed in R2.p are required for the proper positioning of ray 1. The result suggests that SMP signaling promotes extension, rather than retraction, of R1.p. This is in contrast to a previous finding that SMPs mediate inhibition of cell extension of vulval precursor cells, another group of epidermal cells of C. elegans, indicating the context dependence of cell shape control via the semaphorin signaling system.
Associations of clinical, psychological, and sociodemographic characteristics and ecological momentary assessment completion in the 10‐week Hypo‐METRICS study: Hypoglycaemia MEasurements ThResholds and ImpaCtS
Authors: Zaremba Natalie , Martine‐Edith Gilberte , Divilly Patrick , Søholm Uffe , Broadley Melanie , Ali Namam , Abbink Evertine J. , de Galan Bastiaan , Cigler Monika , Mader Julia K. , Brosen Julie , Pedersen‐Bjergaard Ulrik , Vaag Allan , Evans Mark , Renard Eric , McCrimmon Rory J. , Heller Simon , Speight Jane , Pouwer Frans , Amiel Stephanie A. , Choudhary Pratik ,   for the Hypo‐RESOLVE Consortium
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Reporting of hypoglycaemia and its impact in clinical studies is often retrospective and subject to recall bias. We developed the Hypo‐METRICS app to measure the daily physical, psychological, and social impact of hypoglycaemia in adults with type 1 and insulin‐treated type 2 diabetes in real‐time using ecological momentary assessment (EMA). To help assess its utility, we aimed to determine Hypo‐METRICS app completion rates and factors associated with completion.

Methods

Adults with diabetes recruited into the Hypo‐METRICS study were given validated patient‐reported outcome measures (PROMs) at baseline. Over 10 weeks, they wore a blinded continuous glucose monitor (CGM), and were asked to complete three daily EMAs about hypoglycaemia and aspects of daily functioning, and two weekly sleep and productivity PROMs on the bespoke Hypo‐METRICS app. We conducted linear regression to determine factors associated with app engagement, assessed by EMA and PROM completion rates and CGM metrics.

Results

In 602 participants (55% men; 54% type 2 diabetes; median(IQR) age 56 (45–66) years; diabetes duration 19 (11–27) years; HbA1c 57 (51–65) mmol/mol), median(IQR) overall app completion rate was 91 (84–96)%, ranging from 90 (81–96)%, 89 (80–94)% and 94(87–97)% for morning, afternoon and evening check‐ins, respectively. Older age, routine CGM use, greater time below 3.0 mmol/L, and active sensor time were positively associated with app completion.

Discussion

High app completion across all app domains and participant characteristics indicates the Hypo‐METRICS app is an acceptable research tool for collecting detailed data on hypoglycaemia frequency and impact in real‐time.
Development and first‐stage validation of a digital version of the Digit Symbol Substitution test for use in assessing cognitive function in older people with diabetes
Authors: Segev Omri , Raz Itamar , Gerstein Hertzel C. , Aviezer Hillel , Sela Yael , Cukierman Dani , Shankar Rahul , Natovich Rachel , Cukierman‐Yaffe Tali
Published: May 2024

Aims

To describe the development and report the first‐stage validation of a digital version of the digit symbol substitution test (DSST), for assessment of cognitive function in older people with diabetes.

Materials and Methods

A multidisciplinary team of experts was convened to conceptualize and build a digital version of the DSST and develop a machine‐learning (ML) algorithm to analyse the inputs. One hundred individuals with type 2 diabetes (aged ≥ 60 years) were invited to participate in a one‐time meeting in which both the digital and the pencil‐and‐paper (P&P) versions of the DSST were administered. Information pertaining to demographics, laboratory measurements, and diabetes indices was collected. The correlation between the digital and P&P versions of the test was determined. Additionally, as part of the validation process, the performance of the digital version in people with and without known risk factors for cognitive impairment was analysed.

Results

The ML model yielded an overall accuracy of 89.1%. A strong correlation was found between the P&P and digital versions (r = 0.76, p < 0.001) of the DSST, as well as between the ML model and the manual reading of the digital DSST (r = 0.99, p < 0.001).

Conclusions

This study describes the development of and provides first‐stage validation data for a newly developed digital cognitive assessment tool that may be used for screening and surveillance of cognitive function in older people with diabetes. More studies are needed to further validate this tool, especially when self‐administered and in different clinical settings.
Conservatism and justified attachment
Authors: Quigley Travis
Published: May 2024

Value conservatism is the thesis that there is a distinctive reason to preserve valuable things even when a (somewhat) more valuable thing might be created by their destruction. I offer an account that improves on the current literature in response to Cohen's “Rescuing Conservatism.” In short, we become psychologically attached to valuable things that make up part of our lives; the same holds true, interestingly, with things of relatively neutral value. Severing attachments is painful. This yields a reason to favor an object that someone is attached to over an object that no one is attached to. But an analysis is only part of a theory of conservatism: we also need to know whether such conservatism is justified. I argue that Cohen's idea of “accepting the given” can be read to yield such a justification: it is valuable to maintain some moderate disposition to accept what one already has. This attachment‐based account of conservatism displays a number of attractive theoretical features, including accounting for the impulse to restore past valuables and providing a framework for judging conservatism excessive.
Robust anomaly detection in industrial images by blending global–local features
Authors: Pei Mingjing , Liu Ningzhong , Xia Shifeng
Published: May 2024

Industrial image anomaly detection achieves automated detection and localization of defects or abnormal regions in images through image processing and deep learning techniques. Currently, utilizing the approach of reverse knowledge distillation has yielded favourable outcomes. However, it is still a challenge in terms of the feature extraction capability of the image and the robustness of the decoding of the student network. This study first addresses the issue that the teacher network has not been able to extract global information more effectively. To acquire more global information, a vision transformer network is introduced to enhance the model's global information extraction capability, obtaining better features to further assist the student network in decoding. Second, for anomalous samples, to address the low similarity between features extracted by the teacher network and features restored by the student network, Gaussian noise is introduced. This further increases the probability that the features decoded by the student model match normal sample features, enhancing the robustness of the student model. Extensive experiments were conducted on industrial image datasets AeBAD, MvtecAD, and BTAD. In the AeBAD dataset, under the PRO performance metric, the result is 89.83%, achieving state‐of‐the‐art performance. Under the AUROC performance metric, it reaches 83.35%. Similarly, good results were achieved on the MvtecAD and BTAD datasets. The proposed method's effectiveness and performance advantages were validated across multiple industrial datasets, providing a valuable reference for the application of industrial image anomaly detection methods.
Shaping pollinator diversity through coffee agroforestry management: A meta‐analytical approach
Authors: Centeno‐Alvarado Diego , Lopes Ariadna Valentina , Arnan Xavier
Published: May 2024

Pollinator diversity plays an important role in improving the resilience of pollination services. However, agricultural intensification is causing declines in pollinator diversity. Such losses could be mitigated and even reversed by agroforestry systems, whose structural complexity exceeds that of intensive agricultural systems. Research, primarily conducted in tropical regions, suggests that efficiently managing agroforestry systems can increase pollinator diversity.

We performed a global meta‐analysis to explore how coffee agroforestry management practices affect the diversity of bee pollinators. We employed 137 sets of results from 20 studies that had been conducted at widely distributed locations across four of the seven continents. More specifically, we investigated the impact of augmenting floral resources (60 sets of results) and shade‐tree cover (43 sets of results) and reducing the distance to natural forests (34 sets of results). Additionally, we examined key moderating factors, including climatic conditions, pollinator sociality, the metrics used to describe pollinator diversity, pollinator sampling methods, the metrics used to characterise the effects of management practices and floral resource type.

We observed that bee pollinator diversity broadly increased as local floral resources increased in tropical coffee agroforestry systems. Shade‐tree cover and proximity to natural forests did not broadly influence bee pollinator diversity. However, the strength and direction of the relationships between the agroforestry management practices and bee pollinator diversity were moderated by different factors, mainly climatic conditions and pollinator sociality.

Our findings underscore the importance of managing coffee agroforestry systems to maximise bee diversity, which is crucial for coffee plant pollination. The broader objective should be to ensure the availability of resources that promote pollinator fitness, effective pollination and, as a consequence, crop yields.
Effect of hydrogen flow rate on properties of silicon oxycarbide thin films via hot wire chemical vapor deposition
Authors: Garcia Balderas Ivan Enrique , Morales Ruiz Crisoforo , Rosendo Andres Enrique , Perez Cruz Maria Ana , Gastellou Hernandez Erick , Galeazzi Isasmendi Reina , Coyopol Solis Antonio , García Salgado Godofredo , Romano Trujillo Roman
Published: May 2024

This study explores the impact of hydrogen flow as a carrier gas on silicon oxycarbide thin films produced via hot wire chemical vapor deposition (HWCVD) using tetraethyl orthosilicate as a precursor. Systematically varying the hydrogen flow rates, the influence on thin film composition, microstructure, and optical properties is investigated. Employing diverse characterization techniques, such as X‐ray diffraction, field‐emission scanning electron microscopy (FE‐SEM), energy‐dispersive X‐ray spectroscopy, Fourier‐transform infrared (FTIR), X‐ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), ellipsometry, and photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy, it is revealed that there is a correlation between hydrogen flow rate and thin film elemental composition. Higher hydrogen flow rates result in increased silicon content and reduced contributions of oxygen and carbon. FE‐SEM images show agglomerates with improved homogeneity at higher flow rates. FTIR spectra highlight distinctive vibrational modes, including Si–H bonds. XPS confirms the emergence of Si–H bonds at elevated hydrogen flow rates. Ellipsometry indicates increased thickness and refractive index. PL spectra exhibit a broadband across the visible spectrum, influenced by hydrogen‐related defects and electronic transitions. This study provides findings for optimizing HWCVD parameters to tailor thin films for specific applications, emphasizing the important role of hydrogen flow as a carrier gas.
Food safety in Laos: status, current challenges and opportunities
Authors: Thompson Leah R. , Sipes Patricia , Ebner Paul , Soukhavong Somphone , Shively Gerald
Published: May 2024

This article reviews available evidence on food safety and foodborne illness in Laos, especially as it relates to human nutrition. There is a distinct lack of research in Laos surrounding bacterial, viral, parasitic and chemical foodborne contaminants, which contribute to significant yet avoidable public health problems. Viral and chemical foodborne contaminants are especially under researched. Major challenges include undeveloped reporting systems for outbreaks, zoonotic foodborne pathogens, antimicrobial resistance, resource constraints and communicating food safety risks to diverse ethnic groups. Evidence‐based food safety policy in Laos requires improved surveillance and reporting, identification of evidence gaps within food value chains, assessments of risks and cost‐effective approaches, and supporting partnerships with neighbouring countries. Specific suggestions for targeted research involve conducting longitudinal studies to ascertain long‐term public health impacts, continuing to identify foodborne etiologic agents and transmission routes in Laos and implementing interdisciplinary, One Health approaches to address complex problems more sustainably.
The performance of large language models on quantitative and verbal ability tests: Initial evidence and implications for unproctored high‐stakes testing
Authors: Hickman Louis , Dunlop Patrick D. , Wolf Jasper Leo
Published: May 2024

Unproctored assessments are widely used in pre‐employment assessment. However, widely accessible large language models (LLMs) pose challenges for unproctored personnel assessments, given that applicants may use them to artificially inflate their scores beyond their true abilities. This may be particularly concerning in cognitive ability tests, which are widely used and traditionally considered to be less fakeable by humans than personality tests. Thus, this study compares the performance of LLMs on two common types of cognitive tests: quantitative ability (number series completion) and verbal ability (use a passage of text to determine whether a statement is true). The tests investigated are used in real‐world, high‐stakes selection. We also examine the performance of the LLMs across different test formats (i.e., open‐ended vs. multiple choice). Further, we contrast the performance of two LLMs (Generative Pretrained Transformers, GPT‐3.5 and GPT‐4) across multiple prompt approaches and “temperature” settings (i.e., a parameter that determines the amount of randomness in the model's output). We found that the LLMs performed well on the verbal ability test but extremely poorly on the quantitative ability test, even when accounting for the test format. GPT‐4 outperformed GPT‐3.5 across both types of tests. Notably, although prompt approaches and temperature settings did affect LLM test performance, those effects were mostly minor relative to differences across tests and language models. We provide recommendations for securing pre‐employment testing against LLM influences. Additionally, we call for rigorous research investigating the prevalence of LLM usage in pre‐employment testing as well as on how LLM usage affects selection test validity.
Respiratory Syncytial Virus and Influenza Infections in Children in Ulaanbaatar, Mongolia, 2015–2021
Authors: Do Lien Anh Ha , Tsedenbal Naranzul , Khishigmunkh Chimidregzen , Tserendulam Bazarkhuu , Altanbumba Lkhagvadorj , Luvsantseren Dashtseren , Ulziibayar Munkhchuluun , Suuri Bujinlkham , Narangerel Dorj , Tsolmon Bilegtsaikhan , Demberelsuren Sodbayar , Pell Casey L , Manna Sam , Satzke Catherine , Nguyen Cattram , Mungun Tuya , von Mollendorf Claire , Badarch Darmaa , Mulholland Kim
Published: May 2024

Background

Data available for RSV and influenza infections among children < 2 years in Mongolia are limited. We present data from four districts of Ulaanbaatar from April 2015 to June 2021.

Methods

This study was nested in an enhanced surveillance project evaluating pneumococcal conjugate vaccine (PCV13) impact on the incidence of hospitalized lower respiratory tract infections (LRTIs). Our study was restricted to children aged < 2 years with arterial O2 saturation < 93% and children with radiological pneumonia. Nasopharyngeal (NP) swabs collected at admission were tested for RSV and influenza using qRT‐PCR. NP swabs of all patients with radiological pneumonia and of a subset of randomly selected NP swabs were tested for S. pneumoniae (S.p.) by qPCR and for serotypes by culture and DNA microarray.

Results

Among 5705 patients, 2113 (37.0%) and 386 (6.8%) had RSV and influenza infections, respectively. Children aged 2–6 months had a higher percentage of very severe RSV infection compared to those older than 6 months (42.2% versus 31.4%, p‐value Fisher's exact = 0.001). S.p. carriage was detected in 1073/2281 (47.0%) patients. Among S.p. carriage cases, 363/1073 (33.8%) had S.p. and RSV codetection, and 82/1073 (7.6%) had S.p. and influenza codetection. S.p. codetection with RSV/influenza was not associated with more severe LRTIs, compared to only RSV/influenza cases.

Conclusion

In Mongolia, RSV is an important pathogen causing more severe LRTI in children under 6 months of age. Codetection of RSV or influenza virus and S.p. was not associated with increased severity.
The Detection of Influenza Virus Before and During the COVID‐19 Pandemic in Cameroon
Authors: Monamele Gwladys Chavely , Tsafack Desmon Toutou , Bilounga Chanceline Ndongo , Njankouo Ripa Mohamadou , Nsangou Yogne Christian , Munshili Njifon Hermann Landry , Nkom Felix , Tamoufe Ubald , Esso Linda , Koro Koro Fancioli , Perraut Ronald , Njouom Richard
Published: May 2024

Background

Influenza and severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) are both respiratory viruses with similar clinical manifestations and modes of transmission. This study describes influenza data before and during the coronavirus disease pandemic (COVID‐19) in Cameroon and SARS‐CoV‐2 data during the pandemic period.

Methods

The study ran from 2017 to 2022, and data were divided into two periods: before (2017–2019) and during (2020–2022) the COVID‐19 pandemic. Nasopharyngeal samples collected from persons with respiratory illness were tested for influenza using the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) typing and subtyping assays. During the COVID‐19 pandemic, the respiratory specimens were simultaneously tested for SARS‐CoV‐2 using the DaAn gene protocol or the Abbott real‐time SARS‐CoV‐2 assay. The WHO average curve method was used to compare influenza virus seasonality before and during the pandemic.

Results

A total of 6246 samples were tested. Influenza virus detection rates were significantly higher in the pre‐pandemic period compared to the pandemic period (30.8% vs. 15.5%; p < 0.001). Meanwhile, the SARS‐CoV‐2 detection rate was 2.5%. A change in the seasonality of influenza viruses was observed from a bi‐annual peak before the pandemic to no clear seasonal pattern during the pandemic. The age groups 2–4 and 5–14 years were significantly associated with higher influenza positivity rates in both pre‐pandemic and pandemic periods. For SARS‐CoV‐2, all age groups above 15 years were the most affected population.

Conclusion

The COVID‐19 pandemic had a significant impact on the seasonal influenza by changing the seasonality of the virus and reducing its detection rates.
Activation pattern of the coronary sinus facilitates the differentiation for ventricular outflow tract arrhythmias
Authors: Mi Li‐Jie , Weng Si‐Xian , Sun Qi , Zhang Hong‐Da , Ding Lei , Zhang Ai‐Kai , Tang Min
Published: May 2024

Introduction

The accuracy of surface ECG algorithms for predicting the origin of outflow tract ventricular arrhythmias (OT‐VAs) might be questioned. Intracardiac electrograms recorded at anatomic landmarks could provide new predictive insights. We aim to evaluate the efficacy of a novel criterion utilizing the activation pattern of the coronary sinus (CS) in localizing OT‐VAs, including VAs originating from the right ventricular outflow tract (RVOT), endocardial left ventricular outflow tract (Endo‐LVOT), and epicardial left ventricular outflow tract (Epi‐LVOT).

Methods

We measured the ventricular activation time of the mitral annulus (MA) from the onset of the earliest QRS complex of VAs to the initial deflection over the isoelectric line at local signals, namely the QRS‐MA interval. The activation at 3 and 12 o'clock of the MA was recorded as the QRS‐MA3 and QRS‐MA12 intervals, respectively. Their predictive values were compared to previous ECG algorithms.

Results

A total of 68 patients with OT‐VAs were enrolled (51 for development and 17 for validation). From early to late, the ventricular activation sequences at MA12 were as follows: Epi‐LVOT, Endo‐LVOT, and RVOT. In LBBB morphology OT‐VAs, the QRS‐MA12 interval was significantly earlier for LVOT origins than RVOT origins. In the combined cohort of development and validation cohort, a cut‐off value of ≤10 ms predicted the LVOT origin with a sensitivity of 100% and specificity of 78%. The QRS‐MA12 interval ≤ −24 ms additionally predicted epicardial LVOT sites of origin.

Conclusions

The QRS‐MA interval could accurately differentiate the OT‐VAs localization.
An overview of artificial intelligence based applications for assisting digital data acquisition and implant planning procedures
Authors: Revilla‐León Marta , Gómez‐Polo Miguel , Sailer Irena , Kois John C. , Rokhshad Rata
Published: May 2024

Objectives

To provide an overview of the current artificial intelligence (AI) based applications for assisting digital data acquisition and implant planning procedures.

Overview

A review of the main AI‐based applications integrated into digital data acquisitions technologies (facial scanners (FS), intraoral scanners (IOSs), cone beam computed tomography (CBCT) devices, and jaw trackers) and computer‐aided static implant planning programs are provided.

Conclusions

The main AI‐based application integrated in some FS's programs involves the automatic alignment of facial and intraoral scans for virtual patient integration. The AI‐based applications integrated into IOSs programs include scan cleaning, assist scanning, and automatic alignment between the implant scan body with its corresponding CAD object while scanning. The more frequently AI‐based applications integrated into the programs of CBCT units involve positioning assistant, noise and artifacts reduction, structures identification and segmentation, airway analysis, and alignment of facial, intraoral, and CBCT scans. Some computer‐aided static implant planning programs include patient's digital files, identification, labeling, and segmentation of anatomical structures, mandibular nerve tracing, automatic implant placement, and surgical implant guide design.
Not all sources of uncertainty are worth resolving: A value of information approach for uncertainty reduction in flood risk management
Authors: Velandia Juan , Alfonso Leonardo
Published: May 2024

Flood risk management faces challenging decisions to balance between reducing disastrous flood consequences and different societal goals such as development. The inherent complexity and limited data often lead to significant uncertainties in decision‐making, potentially resulting in suboptimal resource allocation. Consequently, there may be value in aiming to reduce uncertainty, minimizing the possibility of selecting deemed efficient decisions because of deficiencies in the current knowledge. To address this, a novel methodology is proposed, integrating Bayesian uncertainty with value of information concepts, commonly employed in healthcare economics. This methodology assesses the implications of current uncertainty and identifies worthwhile sources for resolution prior making decisions. Validation in a synthetic case study and application in a real case (Zapayan wetland in the Magdalena River, Colombia) demonstrate the method's efficacy. Results show that the proposed method can help apprising if the available information is enough to make a decision, or if more information should be obtained. For example, for the synthetic case, resolving the sources of uncertainty with extra information does not significantly improve the expected utility, so a decision could be made based on existing information. For the real case, reducing the uncertainty related to the exposed assets should be targeted first, by an information gathering activity, before deciding.
Children's social–emotional learning as emotional labor: Recognizing children's contributions
Authors: Ruiz Karina
Published: May 2024

In the United States, the dominant contemporary understanding of childhood is one that is cultivated through children's role as dependents, served by adults who are their providers. This framework obscures how children contribute to society through their learning and practice. This paper proposes a reconsideration of children's learning to advance the theoretical conceptualization of emotional labor so that children's contributions can be recognized. To advance an expansion of how adults understand what children's contributions to society are, I frame their social–emotional learning as the practice of emotional labor, not as them simply obtaining the skills of emotional intelligence. In doing so, I advocate for seeing children as more than learners, but also as contributors and producers.
Sestrin2 remedies neuroinflammatory response by inhibiting A1 astrocyte conversion via autophagy
Authors: Pan Zhenguo , Yu Xiaoyu , Wang Weiwei , Shen Kai , Chen Jianwei , Zhang Yunfeng , Huang Rongrong
Published: May 2024

Most central nervous diseases are accompanied by astrocyte activation. Autophagy, an important pathway for cells to protect themselves and maintain homeostasis, is widely involved in regulation of astrocyte activation. Reactive astrocytes may play a protective or harmful role in different diseases due to different phenotypes of astrocytes. It is an urgent task to clarify the formation mechanisms of inflammatory astrocyte phenotype, A1 astrocytes. Sestrin2 is a highly conserved protein that can be induced under a variety of stress conditions as a potential protective role in oxidative damage process. However, whether Sestrin2 can affect autophagy and involve in A1 astrocyte conversion is still uncovered. In this study, we reported that Sestrin2 and autophagy were significantly induced in mouse hippocampus after multiple intraperitoneal injections of lipopolysaccharide, with the elevation of A1 astrocyte conversion and inflammatory mediators. Knockdown Sestrin2 in C8‐D1A astrocytes promoted the levels of A1 astrocyte marker C3 mRNA and inflammatory factors, which was rescued by autophagy inducer rapamycin. Overexpression of Sestrin2 in C8‐D1A astrocytes attenuated A1 astrocyte conversion and reduced inflammatory factor levels via abundant autophagy. Moreover, Sestrin2 overexpression improved mitochondrial structure and morphology. These results suggest that Sestrin2 can suppress neuroinflammation by inhibiting A1 astrocyte conversion via autophagy, which is a potential drug target for treating neuroinflammation.

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Impact of primary tumor resection in the management of metastatic well‐differentiated neuroendocrine tumors of the small bowel and pancreas
Authors: Russo Ashley , DiPeri Timothy , Dumitra Teodora , Tseng Joshua , Pletcher Eric , Justo Monica , Chen Courtney , Nissen Nicholas , Amersi Farin , Gong Jun , Hendifar Andrew , Gangi Alexandra
Published: May 2024

Patients with gastroenteropancreatic (GEP) neuroendocrine tumors (NET) often present with advanced disease. Primary tumor resection (PTR) in the setting of unresectable metastatic disease is controversial. Most studies evaluating the impact of PTR on overall survival (OS) have been performed using large population‐based databases, with limited treatment related data. This study aims to determine whether PTR improves OS and progression‐free survival (PFS) in patients with metastatic well‐differentiated GEP‐NET. This is a retrospective single‐institution study of patients with metastatic well‐differentiated GEP‐NET between 1978 and 2021. The primary outcome was OS. The secondary outcome was PFS. Chi‐squared tests and Cox regression were used to perform univariate and multivariate analyses (MVA). OS and PFS were estimated using the Kaplan–Meier method and log‐rank test. Between 1978 and 2021, 505 patients presented with metastatic NET, 151 of whom had well‐differentiated GEP‐NET. PTR was performed in 31 PNET and 77 SBNET patients. PTR was associated with improved median OS for PNET (136 vs. 61 months, p = .003) and SBNET (not reached vs. 79 months, p<.001). On MVA, only higher grade (HR 3.70, 95%CI 1.49–9.17) and PTR (HR 0.21, 95%CI 0.08–0.53) influenced OS. PTR resulted in longer median PFS for patients with SBNET (46 vs. 28 months, p = .03) and a trend toward longer median PFS for patients with PNET (20 vs. 13 months, p = .07). In patients with metastatic well‐differentiated GEP‐NET, PTR is associated with improved OS and may be associated with improved PFS and should be considered in a multidisciplinary setting. Future prospective studies are needed to validate these findings.
Functional and morphological divergence in the forelimb musculoskeletal system of scratch‐digging subterranean mammals (Rodentia: Bathyergidae)
Authors: Montoya‐Sanhueza Germán , Bennett Nigel C. , Šumbera Radim
Published: May 2024

Whether the forelimb‐digging apparatus of tooth‐digging subterranean mammals has similar levels of specialization as compared to scratch‐diggers is still unknown. We assessed the scapular morphology and forelimb musculature of all four solitary African mole rats (Bathyergidae): two scratch‐diggers, Bathyergus suillus and Bathyergus janetta, and two chisel‐tooth diggers, Heliophobius argenteocinereus and Georychus capensis. Remarkable differences were detected: Bathyergus have more robust neck, shoulder, and forearm muscles as compared to the other genera. Some muscles in Bathyergus were also fused and often showing wider attachment areas to bones, which correlate well with its more robust and larger scapula, and its wider and medially oriented olecranon. This suggests that shoulder, elbow, and wrist work in synergy in Bathyergus for generating greater out‐forces and that the scapula and proximal ulna play fundamental roles as pivots to maximize and accommodate specialized muscles for better (i) glenohumeral and scapular stabilization, (ii) powerful shoulder flexion, (iii) extension of the elbow and (iv) flexion of the manus and digits. Moreover, although all bathyergids showed a similar set of muscles, Heliophobius lacked the m. tensor fasciae antebrachii (aiding with elbow extension and humeral retraction), and Heliophobius and Georychus lacked the m. articularis humeri (aiding with humeral adduction), indicating deeper morphogenetic differences among digging groups and suggesting a relatively less specialized scratch‐digging ability. Nevertheless, Heliophobius and Bathyergus shared some similar adaptations allowing scratch‐digging. Our results provide new information about the morphological divergence within this family associated with the specialization to distinct functions and digging behaviors, thus contributing to understand the mosaic of adaptations emerging in phylogenetically and ecologically closer subterranean taxa. This and previous anatomical studies on the Bathyergidae will provide researchers with a substantial basis on the form and function of the musculoskeletal system for future kinematic investigations of digging behavior, as well as to define potential indicators of scratch‐digging ability.
Patient‐related decisional regret: An evolutionary concept analysis
Authors: Chehade Mireille , Mccarthy Margaret M. , Squires Allison
Published: May 2024

Background

Health‐related decision‐making is a complex process given the variability of treatment options, conflicting treatment plans, time constraints and variable outcomes. This complexity may result in patients experiencing decisional regret following decision‐making. Nonetheless, literature on decisional regret in the healthcare context indicates inconsistent characterization and operationalization of this concept.

Aim(s)

To conceptually define the phenomenon of decisional regret and synthesize the state of science on patients' experiences with decisional regret.

Design

A concept analysis.

Methods

Rodgers' evolutionary method guided the conceptualization of this review. An interdisciplinary literature search was conducted from 2003 until 2023 using five databases, PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycINFO and Web of Science. The search informed how the concept manifested across health‐related literature. We used PRISMA‐ScR checklist to guide the reporting of this review.

Results

Based on the analysis of 25 included articles, a conceptual definition of decisional regret was proposed. Three defining attributes underscored the negative cognitive‐emotional nature of this concept, post‐decisional experience relating to the decision‐making process, treatment option and/or treatment outcome and an immediate or delayed occurrence. Antecedents preceding decisional regret comprised initial psychological or emotional status, sociodemographic determinants, impaired decision‐making process, role regret, conflicting treatment plans and adverse treatment outcomes. Consequences of this concept included positive and negative outcomes influencing quality of life, health expectations, patient‐provider relationship and healthcare experience appraisal. A conceptual model was developed to summarize the concept's characteristics.

Conclusion

The current knowledge on decisional regret is expected to evolve with further exploration of this concept, particularly for the temporal dimension of regret experience. This review identified research, clinical and policy gaps informing our nursing recommendations for the concept's evolution.

No Patient or Public Contribution

This concept analysis examines existing literature and does not require patient‐related data collection. The methodological approach does not necessitate collaboration with the public.