bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Neuroprotective amyloid β N‐terminal peptides differentially alter human α7‐ and α7β2‐nicotinic acetylcholine (nACh) receptor single‐channel properties
Authors: Roberts Catherine F. , Cao Yiwei , Im Wonpil , Nichols Robert A. , Lukas Ronald J. , George Andrew A.
Published: May 2024

Background and Purpose

Oligomeric amyloid β 1‐42 (oAβ1‐42) exhibits agonist‐like action at human α7‐ and α7β2‐containing nicotinic receptors. The N‐terminal amyloid β1‐15 fragment (N‐Aβ fragment) modulates presynaptic calcium and enhances hippocampal‐based synaptic plasticity via α7‐containing nicotinic receptors. Further, the N‐Aβ fragment and its core sequence, the N‐amyloid‐beta core hexapeptide (N‐Aβcore), protect against oAβ1‐42‐associated synapto‐ and neurotoxicity. Here, we investigated how oAβ1‐42, the N‐Aβ fragment, and the N‐Aβcore regulate the single‐channel properties of α7‐ and α7β2‐nicotinic receptors.

Experimental Approach

Single‐channel recordings measured the impact of acetylcholine, oAβ1‐42, the N‐Aβ fragment, and the N‐Aβcore on the unitary properties of human α7‐ and α7β2‐containing nicotinic receptors expressed in nicotinic‐null SH‐EP1 cells. Molecular dynamics simulations identified potential sites of interaction between the N‐Aβ fragment and orthosteric α7+/α7‐ and α7+/β2‐ nicotinic receptor binding interfaces.

Key Results

The N‐Aβ fragment and N‐Aβcore induced α7‐ and α7β2‐nicotinic receptor single‐channel openings. Relative to acetylcholine, oAβ1‐42 preferentially enhanced α7β2‐nicotinic receptor single‐channel open probability and open‐dwell times. Co‐application with the N‐Aβcore neutralized these effects. Further, administration of the N‐Aβ fragment alone, or in combination with acetylcholine or oAβ1‐42, selectively enhanced α7‐nicotinic receptor open probability and open‐dwell times (compared to acetylcholine or oAβ1‐42).

Conclusions and Implications

Amyloid‐beta peptides demonstrate functional diversity in regulating α7‐ and α7β2‐nicotinic receptor function, with implications for a wide range of nicotinic receptor‐mediated functions in Alzheimer's disease. The effects of these peptides on α7‐ and/or α7β2‐nicotinic receptors revealed complex interactions with these subtypes, providing novel insights into the neuroprotective actions of amyloid β‐derived fragments against the toxic effects of oAβ1‐42.
Mitochondrial calcium overload contributes to cannabinoid‐induced paraptosis in hormone‐responsive breast cancer cells
Authors: de la Harpe A. , Beukes N. , Frost C.
Published: May 2024

Studies have shown that natural products can induce paraptosis in tumour cell lines. Paraptosis is characterized by cytoplasmic vacuolation arising from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) and mitochondria. The mechanism of paraptosis is unclear; however, dysregulation of Ca2+ homeostasis is believed to affect paraptosis induction. This study investigated the mechanism of cell death induced by a phytocannabinoid ratio in the MCF7 breast cancer cell line. The crystal violet assay was used to detect changes in viability and morphology changes were investigated using light and transmission electron microscopy. Various inhibitors, fluorescent staining with high‐content screening, and Western blot analysis were used to investigate different cell death mechanisms. The phytocannabinoid ratio induced significant cell death and cytoplasmic vacuolation in MCF7 cells; however, no apoptosis, necrosis, autophagy, or ferroptosis was detected. Vacuolation induced by phytocannabinoid treatment was inhibited by cycloheximide, suggesting paraptosis induction. The mechanism of paraptosis induction was investigated, and it was found that treatment (1) induced ER dilation and mitochondrial swelling, (2) induced significant ER stress and mitochondrial Ca2+ overload and dysfunction, which appeared to be mediated by the voltage‐dependent anion channel, and (3) significantly impaired all mitochondrial metabolic pathways. The data demonstrated that paraptosis induced by the cannabinoid ratio was mediated by Ca2+ flux from the ER to the mitochondria. These findings highlight a novel mechanism of cannabinoid‐induced cell death and emphasize the anti‐cancer potential of cannabinoid ratios, which exhibited enhanced effects compared to individual cannabinoids.
Evaluation of potential drug–drug interactions with medical cannabis
Authors: Ho Jessie Jia Yi , Goh Chenyi , Leong Caitlin Shen Ai , Ng Khuen Yen , Bakhtiar Athirah
Published: May 2024

Cannabis–drug interactions have caused significant concerns, mainly due to their role in the cytochrome P450 (CYP) enzyme‐mediated metabolic pathway of numerous medications. A systematic review was conducted to gain an overview of the potential interactions of cannabis with different drug classes by extracting pertinent information from published study data. From the inception of the study to October 1, 2023, we performed a systematic search of PubMed, Scopus, clinicaltrials.gov, and Web of Science. We included 54 out of 464 articles, and a total of 20 drug classes were identified to have interactions with medicinal cannabis. The cannabis–drug interactions were assessed and classified according to their probability and severity. The analysis revealed that antiepileptics had the most evidence of interaction with cannabis, followed by clobazam (CLB), warfarin, and tacrolimus. Generally, cannabis–drug interactions result in pharmacokinetic (PK) or pharmacodynamic (PD) changes. Therefore, careful monitoring should be performed to detect any unusual elevations in plasma levels. In addition, dose titrations or treatment withdrawal could help mitigate the adverse effects attributed to cannabis–drug interactions. Nevertheless, novel drugs are constantly emerging, and more research is needed to further identify potential interactions with cannabis.
Characterising methamphetamine/amphetamine use among opioid agonist therapy‐seeking adults with prescription‐type opioid use disorder in Canada
Authors: Langlois Jenna , Fairbairn Nadia , Jutras‐Aswad Didier , Le Foll Bernard , Lim Ron , Socías M. Eugenia
Published: May 2024

Introduction

There has been a significant increase in methamphetamine/amphetamine use in North America, particularly among people who use opioids. Despite its association with several negative health consequences, the population of people who use methamphetamine/amphetamine with opioids is not well characterised. The aim of this study was to investigate correlates of methamphetamine/amphetamine use among adults with prescription‐type opioid use disorder (POUD) starting methadone or buprenorphine/naloxone as part of a pragmatic randomised treatment trial in Canada.

Methods

Multivariable logistic regression analyses were used to determine factors associated with baseline methamphetamine/amphetamine use (measured by urine drug test [UDT]) among participants of a pan‐Canadian pragmatic trial conducted between 2017 and 2020 comparing supervised methadone versus flexible take‐home dosing buprenorphine/naloxone models of care in people with POUD (e.g., licit or illicit, including fentanyl, prescribed or not).

Results

The sample included 269 participants, of which 142 (52.8%) had positive baseline methamphetamine/amphetamine UDT. In the multivariable model, positive fentanyl UDT (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 13.21, 95% confidence interval [CI] 6.45, 28.30), non‐fatal overdose in the last 6 months (AOR 2.26, CI 1.01, 5.17) and a lifetime history of opioid agonist therapy exposure prior to study entry (AOR 2.30, CI 1.09, 4.87) remained positively associated with baseline methamphetamine/amphetamine use.

Discussion and Conclusions

In this sample of people with POUD, methamphetamine/amphetamine use was associated with markers of complex and severe OUD, including overdose risk. This suggests the need for targeted interventions to optimise treatment outcomes and prevent future overdoses in this population.

Clinical Trial Registration: Available at: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03033732.
Effectiveness and safety of belantamab mafodotin in patients with relapsed or refractory multiple myeloma in real‐world setting: The ALFA study
Authors: Roussel Murielle , Texier Nathalie , Nael Virginie , Bitetti Jacopo , Paka Prani , Kerbouche Naima , Sail Lynda , Colin Xavier , Leleu Xavier
Published: May 2024

Objectives

The aim of this noninterventional, retrospective ALFA study was to describe belantamab mafodotin effectiveness and safety in patients with relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in a real‐world setting in France.

Methods

Response rate, progression‐free survival (PFS), overall survival (OS), and safety were assessed.

Results

Among the 184 patients initiating belantamab mafodotin treatment, the overall response rate was 32.7% (≥very good partial response [VGPR] 20.4%, partial response [PR] 12.3%). The median PFS (mPFS) was 2.4 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9, 3.3), and median OS (mOS) was 8.8 months (95% CI: 6.3, 11.6). According to best response, mPFS was 20.6 months (95% CI: 12.1, not reached [NR]) in patients with ≥VGPR and 7.1 months (95% CI: 4.6, 9.4) in patients with PR; mOS was NR in patients with ≥VGPR and 17.5 months (95% CI: 7.7, NR) in patients with PR. For both OS and PFS, no differences were found in subgroups of interest. The adverse events (AEs) reported in 159 patients (86.4%) were mostly ocular AEs.

Conclusions

ALFA, the largest real‐world cohort conducted so far, confirms the results of belantamab mafodotin as reported in the DREAMM‐2 clinical trial. The clinical benefit is significant as long as the patient is a responder.
Reorganization of dopamine circuitry in the anterior corpus callosum between early adolescence and adulthood in the mouse
Authors: Caldwell Megan , Mendoza Josue Criollo , Jiang Xin Yan Zhu , Alarcon Colin , Ayo‐Jibunoh Vanessa , Louis Shelby , Maronna Daniel , Darwish Rania , Tomaio Jaquelyn , Mingote Susana , Yetnikoff Leora
Published: May 2024

The maturation of forebrain dopamine circuitry occurs over multiple developmental periods, extending from early postnatal life until adulthood, with the precise timing of maturation defined by the target region. We recently demonstrated in the adult mouse brain that axon terminals arising from midbrain dopamine neurons innervate the anterior corpus callosum and that oligodendrocyte lineage cells in this white matter tract express dopamine receptor transcripts. Whether corpus callosal dopamine circuitry undergoes maturational changes between early adolescence and adulthood is unknown but may be relevant to understanding the dramatic micro‐ and macro‐anatomical changes that occur in the corpus callosum of multiple species during early adolescence, including in the degree of myelination. Using quantitative neuroanatomy, we show that dopamine innervation in the forceps minor, but not the rostral genu, of the corpus callosum, is greater during early adolescence (P21) compared to adulthood (>P90) in wild‐type mice. We further demonstrate with RNAscope that, as in the adult, Drd1 and Drd2 transcripts are expressed at higher levels in oligodendrocyte precursor cells (OPCs) and decline as these cells differentiate into oligodendrocytes. In addition, the number of OPCs that express Drd1 transcripts during early adolescence is double the number of those expressing the transcript during early adulthood. These data further implicate dopamine in axon myelination and myelin regulation. Moreover, because developmental (activity‐independent) myelination peaks during early adolescence, with experience‐dependent (activity‐dependent) myelination greatest during early adulthood, our data suggest that potential roles of dopamine on callosal myelination shift between early adolescence and adulthood, from a developmental role to an experience‐dependent role.
Effects of rTMS to primary motor cortex and cerebellum on balance control in healthy adults
Authors: Parikh Vyoma , Medley Ann , Goh Hui‐Ting
Published: May 2024

Both the primary motor cortex (M1) and the cerebellum are crucial for postural stability and deemed as potential targets for non‐invasive brain stimulation (NIBS) to enhance balance performance. However, the optimal target remains unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the role of M1 and the cerebellum in modulating balance performance in young healthy adults using facilitatory 5 Hz repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS). Twenty‐one healthy young adults (mean age = 27.95 ± 1.15 years) received a single session of 5 Hz rTMS on M1 and the cerebellum in a cross‐over order with a 7‐day washout period between the two sessions. Three balance assessments were performed on the Biodex Balance system SD: Limits of Stability (LOS), modified Clinical Test of Sensory Interaction on Balance (mCTSIB), and Balance Error Scoring System (BESS). No significant effect of rTMS was found on the LOS. The effect of rTMS on the mCTSIB was mediated by stimulation target, proprioception, and vision (p = .003, ηp2 = 0.37). Cerebellar rTMS improved the mCTSIB sway index under eyes closed‐foam surface condition (p = .02), whereas M1 rTMS did not result in improvement on the mCTSIB. The effect of rTMS on the BESS was mediated by stimulation target, posture, and proprioception (p = .049, ηp2 = 0.14). Cerebellar rTMS enhanced reactive balance performance during most sensory deprived conditions.
Depth versus surface: A critical review of subdural and depth electrodes in intracranial electroencephalographic studies
Authors: Wu Shasha , Issa Naoum P. , Rose Sandra L. , Haider Hiba A. , Nordli Douglas R. , Towle Vernon L. , Warnke Peter C. , Tao James X.
Published: May 2024

Intracranial electroencephalographic (IEEG) recording, using subdural electrodes (SDEs) and stereoelectroencephalography (SEEG), plays a pivotal role in localizing the epileptogenic zone (EZ). SDEs, employed for superficial cortical seizure foci localization, provide information on two‐dimensional seizure onset and propagation. In contrast, SEEG, with its three‐dimensional sampling, allows exploration of deep brain structures, sulcal folds, and bihemispheric networks. SEEG offers the advantages of fewer complications, better tolerability, and coverage of sulci. Although both modalities allow electrical stimulation, SDE mapping can tessellate cortical gyri, providing the opportunity for a tailored resection. With SEEG, both superficial gyri and deep sulci can be stimulated, and there is a lower risk of afterdischarges and stimulation‐induced seizures. Most systematic reviews and meta‐analyses have addressed the comparative effectiveness of SDEs and SEEG in localizing the EZ and achieving seizure freedom, although discrepancies persist in the literature. The combination of SDEs and SEEG could potentially overcome the limitations inherent to each technique individually, better delineating seizure foci. This review describes the strengths and limitations of SDE and SEEG recordings, highlighting their unique indications in seizure localization, as evidenced by recent publications. Addressing controversies in the perceived usefulness of the two techniques offers insights that can aid in selecting the most suitable IEEG in clinical practice.
Influence mechanism of Ni2O3 doping on leakage current of SnO2 varistor ceramics
Authors: Sun Fei , Zhao Hongfeng , Miao Kui
Published: May 2024

The doping of Ni2O3 has significantly enhanced the electrical properties and density of SnO2–Co3O4–Cr2O3–Nb2O5 varistor ceramics. The leakage current density is reduced to 4.73 µA/cm2, the nonlinear coefficient is 37, and the voltage gradient is 549 V/mm. The undoped varistor ceramics exhibited a considerably higher leakage current of 48.04 µA/cm2. The performance improvement comes from alterations in grain boundary parameters. The doping of an appropriate amount of Ni improves the grain boundary barrier of SnO2 varistor ceramics and makes samples obtain higher grain boundary resistance, which hinders the leakage current path and results in excellent nonohmic characteristics. The stable grain boundary barrier structure dominated by Ni enables the sample to obtain stable power loss performance under long‐term direct current (DC) bias.
Mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance of TiB2‒B4C composite ceramic tool materials at microscopic scale
Authors: Wang Dong , Ding Zhengwei , Zhang Chao , Zhao Jianwen , Lei Yuyang , Zhang Geng , Zheng Guang
Published: May 2024

A finite model incorporating microstructure was developed to investigate the thermal shock resistance of TiB2‒B4C composite ceramic cutting tool materials. Numerical simulations were conducted to analyze changes in the transient temperature field and thermal stress field during the thermal shock process. TiB2‒B4C composite ceramic tool materials were fabricated using discharge plasma sintering technology. With different B4C contents, different sintering temperatures and holding times as study variables, optimization of the sintering process parameters and ceramic material components was achieved through testing the mechanical and microscopic morphology of the ceramics. Thermal shock water quenching experiments were performed, and the strength‐decay method was employed to assess the thermal shock resistance of TiB2‒B4C ceramics. The findings indicate that the optimal sintering conditions are temperature of 1700°C and holding time of 5 min. The TiB2‒B4C ceramic material containing 20 vol% B4C exhibits superior comprehensive mechanical properties and thermal shock resistance, and its relative density, fracture toughness, hardness, and flexural strength were 99.3%, 6.8 MPa m1/2, 22.8 GPa, and 598 MPa, respectively. The critical thermal shock temperature difference falls within the range of 400°C‒500°C.
Nurse burnout: It is an urgent issue affecting the profession
Authors: Ginaldi Lia , Azzellino Gianluca , D'Olimpio Alessia , Grilli Vanessa , De Martinis Massimo
Published: May 2024

The nursing profession is going through a profound crisis, and staff burnout is a frequent and worrying aspect. As suggested by Xie et al., there are good prospects for undertaking improvement paths. We agree with the authors' suggestions and add further ideas for a change of direction and the renewal of the nursing profession.
Combining convolution neural networks with long‐short term memory layers to predict Parkinson's disease progression
Authors: Frasca Maria , Torre Davide La , Pravettoni Gabriella , Cutica Ilaria
Published: May 2024

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurological condition that occurs in nearly 1% of the world's population. The disease is manifested by a sharp drop in dopamine production, resulting from the death of the related producing cells in an area of the midbrain called the substantia nigra. Early diagnosis and accurate staging of the disease are essential to apply the appropriate therapeutic approaches to slow cognitive and motor decline. At present, there is not a singular blood test or biomarker accessible for diagnosing PD or monitoring the progression of its symptoms. Clinical professionals identify the disease by assessing the symptoms, which, however, may vary from case to case, as well as their progression speed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRIs) have been used for the past three decades to diagnose and distinguish between PD and other neurological conditions.

However, to the best of our knowledge, no neural network models have been designed to identify the disease stage. This paper aims to fill this gap. Using the “Parkinson's Progression Markers Initiative” dataset, which reports the patient's MRI and an indication of the disease stage, we developed a model to identify the level of progression. The images and the associated scores were used for training and assessing different deep learning models. Our analysis distinguished four distinct disease progression levels based on a standard scale (Hoehn and Yah scale). The final architecture consists of the cascading of a 3D‐CNN network, adopted to reduce and extract the spatial characteristics of the MRI for efficient training of the successive LSTM layers, aiming at modeling the temporal dependencies among the data. Before training the model, the patient's MRI is preprocessed to correct acquisition errors by applying image registration techniques, to extract irrelevant content from the image, such as nonbrain tissue (e.g., skull, neck, fat). We also adopted template‐based data augmentation techniques to obtain a balanced dataset about progression classes. Our results show that the proposed 3D‐CNN + LSTM model achieves state‐of‐the‐art results by classifying the elements with 91.90 as macro averaged OVR AUC on four classes.
Spillover effects of organizational support for patient and workplace safety on safety outcomes: The mediating role of safety compliance
Authors: Seo Ja Kyung , Lee Seung Eun
Published: May 2024

Aim(s)

To investigate spillover effects of organizational support for patient and workplace safety on safety outcomes and to examine the mediating role of safety compliance in these relationships.

Design

A cross‐sectional, correlational survey design.

Methods

This study analysed data from 1255 nurses in 34 Korean hospitals. A structured questionnaire was used including items from the Hospital Survey on Patient Safety Culture and Safety Compliance scales. Data were collected between February and June 2022. We employed structural equation modelling (SEM) for analysis with a significance level set at 0.05.

Results

Organizational support for patient and workplace safety showed direct impacts on patient and workplace safety outcomes. Findings supported our hypotheses regarding spillover effects, as organizational support for patient safety was related to enhanced workplace safety and organizational support for workplace safety was associated with improved patient safety. SEM analysis showed safety compliance's mediating role. When the distribution of serial indirect effects was examined, three out of eight indirect pathways were statistically significant.

Conclusion

Improving organizational support for patient safety can lead to better workplace safety outcome, and enhancing support for workplace safety can result in better patient safety outcome. Given this mutually beneficial relationship, healthcare organizations should simultaneously promote safety in both areas rather than focusing on just one.

Implications for the Profession and/or Patient Care

Study results highlight the need to recognize the interconnected nature of patient and workplace safety in order to achieve better overall safety outcomes.

Impact

This study shows that organizational safety efforts for patients and workers are interconnected and mutually beneficial. The study's results have both theoretical and practical implications in demonstrating that organizational support for both patient and workplace safety plays a strong role in promoting nurses' safety compliance and improving overall safety outcomes.

Reporting Method

STROBE checklist.

Patient Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
3D printed kombucha biomaterial as a tissue scaffold and L929 cell cytotoxicity assay
Authors: Bağlan İlkyaz , Yanbakan Edagül , Tuncel Tuğba , Koçak Sezgin Ayşe , Bozoğlan Emirhan , Berikten Derya , Kar Fatih
Published: May 2024

Tissue engineering includes the construction of tissue‐organ scaffold. The advantage of three‐dimensional scaffolds over two‐dimensional scaffolds is that they provide homeostasis for a longer time. The microbial community in Symbiotic culture of bacteria and yeast (SCOBY) can be a source for kombucha (kombu tea) production. In this study, it was aimed to investigate the usage of SCOBY, which produces bacterial cellulose, as a biomaterial and 3D scaffold material. 3D printable biomaterial was obtained by partial hydrolysis of oolong tea and black tea kombucha biofilms. In order to investigate the usage of 3D kombucha biomaterial as a tissue scaffold, “L929 cell line 3D cell culture” was created and cell viability was tested in the biomaterial. At the end of the 21st day, black tea showed 51% and oolong tea 73% viability. The cytotoxicity of the materials prepared by lyophilizing oolong and black tea kombucha beverages in fibroblast cell culture was determined. Black tea IC50 value: 7.53 mg, oolong tea IC50 value is found as 6.05 mg. Fibroblast viability in 3D biomaterial + lyophilized oolong and black tea kombucha beverages, which were created using the amounts determined to these values, were investigated by cell culture Fibroblasts in lyophilized and 3D biomaterial showed viability of 58% in black tea and 78% in oolong tea at the end of the 7th day. In SEM analysis, it was concluded that fibroblast cells created adhesion to the biomaterial. 3D biomaterial from kombucha mushroom culture can be used as tissue scaffold and biomaterial.
Validation of MELD 3.0 in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis using prospective KACLiF cohort
Authors: Lim Jihye , Kim Jung Hee , Kim Sung‐Eun , Han Seul Ki , Kim Tae Hyung , Yim Hyung Joon , Jung Young Kul , Song Do Seon , Yoon Eileen L. , Kim Hee Yeon , Kang Seong Hee , Chang Young , Yoo Jeong‐Ju , Lee Sung Won , Park Jung Gil , Park Ji Won , Jeong Soung Won , Suk Ki Tae , Kim Moon Young , Kim Sang Gyune , Kim Won , Jang Jae Young , Yang Jin Mo , Kim Dong Joon ,   The Korean Acute on‐Chronic Liver Failure (KACLiF) Study Group
Published: May 2024

Background and Aim

The Model for End‐Stage Liver Disease (MELD) is a reliable prognostic tool for short‐term outcome prediction in patients with end‐stage liver disease. MELD 3.0 was introduced to enhance the predictive accuracy. This study assessed the performance of MELD 3.0, in comparison to MELD and MELD‐Na, in patients with alcoholic liver cirrhosis.

Methods

This multicenter prospective cohort study comprised patients with alcoholic cirrhosis admitted for acute deterioration of liver function in the Republic of Korea between 2015 and 2019. This study compared the predictive abilities of MELD, MELD‐Na, and MELD 3.0, for 30‐day and 90‐day outcomes, specifically death or liver transplantation, and explored the factors influencing these outcomes.

Results

A total of 1096 patients were included in the study, with a mean age of 53.3 ± 10.4 years, and 82.0% were male. The mean scores for MELD, MELD‐Na, and MELD 3.0 at the time of admission were 18.7 ± 7.2, 20.6 ± 7.7, and 21.0 ± 7.8, respectively. At 30 and 90 days, 7.2% and 14.1% of patients experienced mortality or liver transplantation. The areas under the receiver operating characteristic curves for MELD, MELD‐Na, and MELD 3.0 at 30 days were 0.823, 0.820, and 0.828; and at 90 days were 0.765, 0.772, and 0.776, respectively. Factors associated with the 90‐day outcome included concomitant chronic viral hepatitis, prolonged prothrombin time, elevated levels of aspartate transaminase, bilirubin, and creatinine, and low albumin levels.

Conclusion

MELD 3.0 demonstrated improved performance compared to previous models, although the differences were not statistically significant.
A geriatric game to strengthen older adult healthcare delivery and outcomes
Authors: Jurivich Donald A. , Van Eck Richard N. , Wood Joseph R. , Snustad Dakota , Holloway Jeremy , Langendoen David , Hughes Marc , Galynker Benjamin , Brewster Scott , Manocha Gunjan D.
Published: May 2024

Background

Serious games enhance learner engagement and knowledge, yet few medical education games target older adults' healthcare. Addressing this gap, we developed Geri‐POP (Geriatrics Population Health), focusing on the Age‐Friendly Health System (AFHS) framework and Geriatric 4Ms.

Methods

Geri‐POP, a healthcare game is aimed at educating health profession learners about the AFHS framework. Geri‐POP employs plan–do–study–act cycles of rapid improvement to apply AFHS principles and explore evidence‐based geriatric practices within the game environment while garnering points for insight, trust and outcomes. Faculty and medical students were surveyed for feedback on an alpha version of Geri‐POP.

Results

Players manage patient panels across three age groups (65–74, 75–84, and 85 years and older) while engaging in plan–do–study–act (PDSA) cycles, applying Geriatric 4Ms (What Matters, Medications, Mentation, and Mobility), and refining strategies based on resource utilization, health outcomes, and real‐time feedback. Alpha testing of the game received mixed perceptions on graphics, with faculty endorsing the game for training and integration into the curriculum, while students prioritize academic commitments. Suggestions include enhancing graphics and refining dialogue for a more professional tone.

Conclusions

Geri‐POP demonstrates the potential of gamifying older adult population health and quality improvement around AFHS. Feedback on a prototype game revealed different attitudes between faculty and students, thus emphasizing the importance of game development as an iterative process that accounts for educator and learner‐centric needs. A future consideration is whether the game informs user's clinical practices and changes healthcare outcomes for older adults.
Initiative to deprescribe high‐risk drugs for older adults presenting to the emergency department after falls
Authors: Selman Katherine , Roberts Ellen , Niznik Joshua , Anton Greta , Kelley Casey , Northam Kalynn , Teresi Brittni B. , Casey Martin F. , Busby‐Whitehead Jan , Davenport Kathleen
Published: May 2024

Background

Over 35 million falls occur in older adults annually and are associated with increased emergency department (ED) revisits and 1‐year mortality. Despite associations between medications and falls, the prevalence of fall risk‐increasing drugs remains high. Our objective was to implement an ED‐based medication reconciliation for patients presenting after falls and determine whether an intervention targeting high‐risk medications was related to decreased future falls.

Methods

This was an observational prospective cohort study at a single site in the United States. Adults 65 years and older presenting to the ED after falls had a pharmacist review their medicines. Pharmacists made recommendations to taper, stop, or discuss medications with the primary clinician. At 3, 6, and 12 months, we recorded the number of fall‐related return ED visits and determined if recommended medication changes had been implemented. We compared the rate of return visits of patients who had followed the medication change recommendations and those who received recommendations but had no change in their medications using chi‐square tests.

Results

A total of 577 patients (mean age 81 years, 63.6% female) were enrolled of 1509 potentially eligible patients. High‐risk medications were identified in 310 patients (53.7%) who received medication recommendations. High‐risk medications were associated with repeat fall‐related visits at 12 months (risk difference 8.1% [95% confidence interval 0.97–15.0]). A total of 134 (43%) patients on high‐risk medications had evidence of medication modification. At 12 months, there was no statistically significant difference in return fall visits between patients who had modifications to medications compared with those who had not implemented changes (p = 0.551).

Conclusions

Our findings identified opportunities for medication optimization in over half of emergency visits for falls and demonstrated that medication counseling in the ED is feasible. However, evaluation of the effect on future falls was limited.
On the Welfare Costs of Perceptions Biases
Authors: MONTAG HUGH
Published: May 2024

Are households harmed by inaccurate inflation beliefs? This paper analyzes two established inflation perceptions biases and evaluates their welfare effects. Using French survey data I study the frequency bias, where households overweight goods that they purchase frequently, and the level bias, where households consistently overestimate current inflation. To evaluate the associated welfare losses, I incorporate biased inflation perceptions into a model with a nominal bond subject to inflation risk. Only the level bias significantly reduces welfare and asset accumulation. Removing the perception bias reduces the welfare loss, suggesting that inaccurate perceptions can harm households beyond affecting expectations.
Fiscal Policy, Government Ideology, and Economic Activity: Evidence from OECD Countries
Authors: COULOMBE RAPHAELLE G.
Published: May 2024

This study explores the role played by a country's political environment in the origin and effect of government spending. Using a rich data set that contains time‐varying ideological party positions, I show that both government ideology and the timing of elections are key determinants of government spending shocks and Granger‐cause government spending shocks estimated from traditional structural vector autoregressive (SVAR) models that ignore political considerations. I find that the magnitude of the spending multiplier depends on the political context: highly polarized countries have smaller multipliers relative to countries with a low degree of polarization, and established democracies have smaller multipliers than younger democracies.
Social Safety for Black Women in Perinatal Health Care: A Concept Analysis
Authors: Murrell Kadeeja S. , Fleury Julie
Published: May 2024

Introduction

Non‐Hispanic Black women and their infants experience the worst pregnancy‐related outcomes in the United States. Social safety is a health‐relevant resource found in environments communicating safety, connectedness, inclusion, and protection. Approaches promoting social safety may be particularly relevant to preventing adverse perinatal health outcomes among Black women. However, there remains a lack of conceptual clarity. The purpose of this concept analysis was to provide a theoretical clarification of the concept social safety for Black women within perinatal health care.

Methods

PubMed, PsycINFO, and CINAHL were searched using Boolean search strategy. Retrieved articles were managed in Zotero. Duplicates were removed, and each article was assessed and categorized by both investigators. Articles reporting Black women's perinatal health care experiences were included. Thematic analysis guided by Rodgers’ evolutionary method identified defining attributes, antecedents, and consequences of social safety in perinatal care for Black women.

Results

Social safety for Black women is defined as the process of feeling understood, respected, cared for, and in control in perinatal health care settings that make space, care for, and recognize strengths, thereby cultivating safety and empowerment.

Discussion

Social safety offers actionable insights for practice and research that have the potential to drive positive change in perinatal care delivery for Black women. Developing interventions and measurements that are valid, reliable, and reflect social safety are essential to promote positive experiences and equity in health care practices and policies.
Was Hannah Twynnoy Killed by a Tiger in England in 1703? A Historical Sociological Approach
Authors: David Matthew
Published: May 2024

This paper approaches globalization through the lens of folk lore, myth, and John Law's hopeful monsters, focusing on Hannah Twynnoy, a woman allegedly killed by a tiger in Malmesbury (England) in 1703. Hannah's death was taken up three hundred years later as a metaphor for globalization when local factory jobs were relocated to a ‘tiger economy’ (Malaysia). Taken to manifest Thomas Hobbes of Malmesbury's ‘state of nature’, Hannah's story also illustrates the reverse. Globalization can fragment and deregulate, but globalization assembles and regulates to. Hannah's gravestone and burial records blend real and virtual, local, and global; the genealogy of ‘tigers’ challenges Michel Foucault; and questions regarding blame echo across centuries, in ongoing conflict over agency and causation (as per Edmund Evans). Is globalisation a ‘jungle out there’? No. Local factory jobs did go. Nevertheless, sustaining global intellectual property regulation means the company employs more people in Malmesbury today than before manufacturing relocated. After it was announced that local jobs would be ‘eaten up’ by a ‘tiger economy’, a spate of alien big cat (ABC) sightings near Malmesbury did express what Susan Lepselter calls the inchoate injuries of class and power. Indeed, experiencing such fabulous things did resonate with something real.
Temporal and spatial diversity and abundance of cryptophytes in San Diego coastal waters
Authors: Rammel Tristin , Nagarkar Maitreyi , Palenik Brian
Published: May 2024

Cryptophytes (class Cryptophyceae) are bi‐flagellated eukaryotic protists with mixed nutritional modes and cosmopolitan distribution in aquatic environments. Despite their ubiquitous presence, their molecular diversity is understudied in coastal waters. Weekly 18S rRNA gene amplicon sequencing at the Scripps Institution of Oceanography pier (La Jolla, California) in 2016 revealed 16 unique cryptophyte amplicon sequence variants (ASVs), with two dominant “clade 4” ASVs. The diversity of cryptophytes was lower than what is often seen in other phytoplankton taxa. One ASV represented a known Synechococcus grazer, while the other one appeared not to have cultured representatives and an unknown potential for mixotrophy. These two dominant ASVs were negatively correlated, suggesting possible niche differentiation. The cryptophyte population in nearby San Diego Bay was surveyed in 2019 and showed the increasing dominance of a different clade 4 ASV toward the back of the bay where conditions are warmer, saltier, and shallower relative to other areas in the bay. An ASV representing a potentially chromatically acclimating cryptophyte species also suggested that San Diego Bay exerts differing ecological selection pressures than nearby coastal waters. Cryptophyte and Synechococcus cell abundance at the SIO Pier from 2011 to 2017 showed that cryptophytes were consistently present and had a significant correlation with Synechococcus abundance, but no detectable seasonality. The demonstrated mixotrophy of some cryptophytes suggests that grazing on these and perhaps other bacteria is important for their ecological success. Using several assumptions, we calculated that cryptophytes could consume up to 44% (average 6%) of the Synechococcus population per day. This implies that cryptophytes could significantly influence Synechococcus abundance.
The impact of stress on the risk decision‐making process
Authors: Liu Yisi , Wu Yan , Yang Qiwei
Published: May 2024

The effect of stress on risk‐taking or risk‐averse behavior in decision‐making has been inconclusive in previous research, with few studies revealing the underlying neural mechanisms. This study employed event‐related potentials technique and combined a social cold pressor assessment test with a mental arithmetic task to induce stress responses, aiming to investigate the influence of exogenous stress on the risk decision‐making process. Stress induction results indicated that, in addition to raising heart rate and blood pressure, stress responses were accompanied by enhanced negative emotions, diminished positive emotions, and alterations in neural activity. The outcomes of risk decision‐making showed that stress did not significantly affect risk preference or time of choice but did reduce the feedback‐related negativity/reward positivity, with a particularly significant effect observed for large outcomes. Stress also altered the amplitude of the P3 component, with stress decreasing the P3 value for winning outcomes relative to losing outcomes. The study suggests that understanding how stress affects risk preference should consider the emotional valence induced by stress. Contrary to the reward sensitivity hypothesis, stress weakened reward sensitivity. Stress led to changes in the allocation of cognitive resources for outcome evaluation: compared to negative outcomes, stress reduced cognitive resources for positive outcomes, which might be related to the enhanced negative emotions induced by stress. The study highlights the importance of focusing on the subjective emotional experience induced by stress in future research on stress and risk decision‐making.
Materializing the public sphere in American religious history
Authors: Baysa Michael
Published: May 2024

This article reviews scholarship in American religious history around the concept of the public sphere. Considering that the public sphere was readily aligned with the productions of the printing press, ‘materializing’ surveys works that have relied upon, expanded, and critiqued print's centraility to early American religious public culture. Recent attention to materiality has also encouraged greater attention to contingencies, locality of circulation, and specificity of audiences in our studies of public texts that would trouble technological determinisms that readily aligned Protestant ascendance, secular modernity, and print publishing with democratization. The essay concludes with new questions regarding print culture, calls for greater multimedia approaches to our study of media objects, and posits the importance of critically evaluating what we count as public or private in our historical narratives about religious communities.
Connecting the dots: Tracing the tuberculosis–diabetes link across time
Authors: Barry Simone E.
Published: May 2024

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High‐throughput lipidomic profiles sampled with electroporation‐based biopsy differentiate healthy skin, cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma, and basal cell carcinoma
Authors: Louie Leetal , Wise Julia , Berl Ariel , Shir‐az Ofir , Kravtsov Vladimir , Yakhini Zohar , Shalom Avshalom , Golberg Alexander , Vitkin Edward
Published: May 2024

Background

The incidence rates of cutaneous squamous cell carcinoma (cSCC) and basal cell carcinoma (BCC) skin cancers are rising, while the current diagnostic process is time‐consuming. We describe the development of a novel approach to high‐throughput sampling of tissue lipids using electroporation‐based biopsy, termed e‐biopsy. We report on the ability of the e‐biopsy technique to harvest large amounts of lipids from human skin samples.

Materials and Methods

Here, 168 lipids were reliably identified from 12 patients providing a total of 13 samples. The extracted lipids were profiled with ultra‐performance liquid chromatography and tandem mass spectrometry (UPLC‐MS‐MS) providing cSCC, BCC, and healthy skin lipidomic profiles.

Results

Comparative analysis identified 27 differentially expressed lipids (p < 0.05). The general profile trend is low diglycerides in both cSCC and BCC, high phospholipids in BCC, and high lyso‐phospholipids in cSCC compared to healthy skin tissue samples.

Conclusion

The results contribute to the growing body of knowledge that can potentially lead to novel insights into these skin cancers and demonstrate the potential of the e‐biopsy technique for the analysis of lipidomic profiles of human skin tissues.
Food metaphors and humour in Nigerian online interaction
Authors: Adegoju Adeyemi
Published: May 2024

This article explores the complementary role of Cultural Linguistics in making up for the inadequacies of linguistics‐oriented theories of humour in unpacking culturally embedded meanings in humorous discourse. On the basis of purposively sampled internet memes, it analyses different types of cultural presuppositions in some food metaphors that netizens in Nigerian online interaction appropriate to negotiate gender and class identities, which reflect inherent beliefs, shared values and communicative practices in the Nigerian world. It applies Sharifian’s categorisation of the analytical tools of Cultural Linguistics―cultural schemas, cultural categories and cultural metaphors. The article concludes that mental spaces and conceptual blending are instrumental in forging a holistic conceptual approach, which can account for not only the linguistic but also cultural and discursive meanings of humour as an essentially social and interactional phenomenon.
Students are not Customers of the University – The Analysis of Marketization and the Metaphor of Students in Higher Education
Authors: Yu Xinhe
Published: May 2024

In this article, it discusses the marketization of higher education, during which a metaphor of students appears. When students are viewed as customers of universities, the teaching of teachers will be influenced and students themselves will be deprived opportunities of being critical learners. The marketization in Chinese context is specifically analyzed to further demonstrate it is unnecessary to treat students as university customers. Although it will be hard and impossible for higher education to become complete public goods, there is no need to offer students some identities in advance which may cause the deprivation of students’ own choices and pure learning motivations. This article argues the unnecessity of viewing students as customers of university and urges more research to focus on students’ and teachers’ voices about their identities in higher education.
Economías populares e inclusión productiva para beneficiarios con vivienda gratuita en Cali, Jamundí y Popayán*
Authors: Gómez Sánchez Andrés Mauricio , Fajardo Hoyos Claudia Liceth , Cadena Durán Olga Lucía
Published: May 2024

Este documento aborda la dinámica de las economías populares en algunos proyectos de vivienda gratuita en Colombia como Llano Verde (Cali), El Rodeo II (Jamundí) y Valle del Ortigal (Popayán), con el fin de sugerir rutas de inclusión productiva que tengan en cuenta las habilidades y destrezas de las personas que allí habitan y sus propuestas. La información utilizada proviene del instrumento aplicado en los tres proyectos y de talleres participativos. Con la información cuantitativa se estimó un modelo multivariado por mínimos cuadrados ordinarios (MCO) para determinar los factores que inciden en los ingresos de las familias. Se concluyó que las apuestas que se implementen en las tres ciudades deberán tener enfoque diferencial;  además, se encontró que los ingresos de los habitantes tienen una alta dependencia de los subsidios del Estado, en especial en Jamundí.
Aspectos por corregir en los seguros médicos del Perú
Authors: Núñez del Pardo Simons Alonso
Published: May 2024

El presente artículo es una lista de propuestas para mejorar los seguros médicos en el Perú. En una segunda parte, brevemente, se comenta el artículo ‘Algunos apuntes prácticos sobre Derecho de seguros en el Perú’ de Rafael Corzo y Eduardo Wiese
Bonos sobre catástrofes del banco mundial. Descripción de las principales transacciones hasta la fecha
Authors: Pérez-Fructuoso María José
Published: May 2024

Los bonos sobre catástrofes son una solución financiera alternativa a los mecanismos tradicionales de cobertura del riesgo catastrófico. Por esta razón, el Banco Mundial ha desarrollado un programa de emisión de estos instrumentos financieros (Programa MultiCat) cuyo objetivo es ayudar a las economías emergentes a asegurar estos riesgos de manera eficiente y permitir a los inversores obtener elevadas rentabilidades no correlacionadas con los activos financieros tradicionales. En este artículo se realiza una descripción de estos productos diseñados por el Banco Mundial y se desarrollan las principales características de algunas de las transacciones más importantes con Cat bonds realizadas por este organismo hasta la fecha.
Contextos poco informativos y contextos epistémicamente redundantes. Una revisión desde Claude Shannon y Luciano Floridi al problema de la personalización algorítmica
Authors: Chibey Rivas Tamara Jesús , Silva Jorge Francisco
Published: May 2024

A partir de la teoría matemática de la información (TMI) de Shannon y algunas sugerencias de Luciano Floridi en torno a los desafíos de la revolución tecnológica, este artículo indaga los efectos epistémicos de entornos redundantes. Para lograr aquel propósito, se revisan los conceptos de información y redundancia de la TMI que luego se relaciona con la figura literaria del cuervo de Poe. En primera instancia, se expone la TMI y se analiza la información en tanto su transmisibilidad. A continuación, se reconfigura el problema de la información en el contexto de algoritmos de plataformas digitales y se vincula la personalización del contenido con la redundancia. Después, se proponen los conceptos de espacios poco informativos y de espacios epistémicamente redundantes para dar cuenta de las condiciones de homogeneidad generadas por entornos hiperpersonalizados. Finalmente, se realiza una pequeña propuesta en torno a la medición de la redundancia.