bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Rising Indian Inequality After 1983
Authors: Vakulabharanam Vamsi
Published: November 2024

During the period (1983–2010), India witnessed its most sustained increase in inequality after independence until the present. This was also the period when India witnessed much higher growth rates than the previous decades. Two sets of government policies—business-friendly policies during the 1980s, and market-friendly policies from the launch of the liberalization era in 1991—caused this sustained increase, both in growth as well as inequality. The sequencing of these policies is important. Because business-friendly policies were introduced first, building on the consolidation of the business elites over the previous three decades (1947–93), the equalizing process that market reforms might have brought about for a certain period (as had happened in China in the early period after reform) did not occur in India. This chapter delineates the patterns of increased inequality since the 1980s and presents the underlying dynamics that consolidated two urban elite classes.
Concluding the Within-Country Inequality Framework and Brief Reflections on the Future
Authors: Vakulabharanam Vamsi
Published: November 2024

This chapter does three things. First, while existing within-country inequality frameworks such as Kuznets’ and Piketty’s offer powerful insights, this chapter shows a way to build on these frameworks. While learning from these frameworks, the chapter offers a different one that takes into account deep global crises (that are endogenous to capitalism) and their structuring role in determining patterns of inequality. It builds on the experiences of China and India to illustrate this argument. The experiences of China and India, especially after 1980, strongly resonate with this framework and help illustrate it. Second, the chapter provides a broad overview of what happened in China and India between 2010 and 2024. It describes the tendency in both these countries to externalize their economies, while their political regimes have become more authoritarian, even as both countries have witnessed a slowdown of output growth. The chapter then speculates about the future of these economies.
Optimizing influenza vaccine allocation: A predictive analytics approach for informed public health planning
Authors: Flaker Susan M , Holm Michelle , Gilmer Mary , Perry Adam , Martindale-Mathern Sonia
Published: November 2024

Purpose

Excessive purchasing of influenza vaccine can lead to costly overages and waste of resources. Insufficient quantities, however, can jeopardize population health. Our project aimed to use predictive analytics to determine the influenza vaccine quantities that would be needed for the next influenza season while minimizing vaccine waste and meeting patient care demands.

Methods

Several data sources were evaluated to develop a predictive analytics model to better estimate future influenza vaccine orders during upcoming influenza seasons. A retrospective analysis of influenza vaccine administrations over the last 4 influenza seasons allowed the team to develop an algorithm to predict influenza vaccine needs. Two regions within Mayo Clinic were selected to determine the validity of our ordering process. These 2 regions, identified as regions 3 and 5, ordered influenza vaccines based on the algorithm, while the other 3 regions acted as control groups, ordering though traditional methods based on purchasing data.

Results

Predictive analysis for the 2 intervention regions resulted in a savings of over $1 million when compared to traditional ordering methods. The model predicted that the quantity of vaccine ordered should be 17,574.16 and 9,164.29 quadrivalent influenza vaccines for regions 3 and 5, respectively. On the basis of actual administration data, 15,902 vaccines for region 3 and 9,016 vaccines for region 5 will be administered by the end of the season, both of which are less than the predicted amount needed, demonstrating the accuracy of the analytics.

Conclusion

Compared to the traditional ordering method, ordering using predictive analytics allowed the team to more accurately determine future order volumes and spend, yielding significant cost savings.
Meeting the accreditation standard through implementation of a multiprogram residency advisory committee and ongoing quality improvement
Authors: Rife Kelsey M , LeHew Colleen P , Stypa Katherine L , Wenzell Candice M
Published: November 2024

Purpose

To describe the process utilized by a large multiprogram residency site to expand preceptor engagement and establish ongoing quality improvement efforts in order to meet the program’s needs in response to evolving ASHP accreditation standards.

A multiprogram residency advisory committee (RAC) primarily composed of residency program leadership was formed to focus on aspects of program management and accreditation compliance that were not being addressed at the monthly all-preceptor meeting. The ASHP standard and a recent residency accreditation survey guided the RAC agenda, which led to the creation of a combined manual for the institution’s 5 residency programs and a preceptor manual. Preceptor engagement was improved through the establishment of local preceptor requirements, inclusion of preceptor representatives on the RAC, expansion of subcommittee opportunities, addition of a preceptor midpoint retreat, and optimization of the end-of-year preceptor retreat. Communication with residents and identification of continual improvement opportunities were improved through roundtables with residents, residency program directors, and the RAC chair; a monthly meeting with the rotating chief resident and RAC chair; and face-to-face exit interviews with the department’s chief of pharmacy. The RAC chair has been a key figure in coordinating program change to meet the ASHP standard as well as leading planning for subsequent ASHP surveys.

Conclusion

Through the establishment of a multiprogram RAC and a RAC chair, our program has been able to engage a large preceptor group that is dedicated to continual improvement and provides the ability to dynamically respond to ASHP’s progressing guidance for pharmacy residency programs.
p-IgGen: a paired antibody generative language model
Authors: Turnbull Oliver M , Oglic Dino , Croasdale-Wood Rebecca , Deane Charlotte M
Published: November 2024

A key challenge in antibody drug discovery is designing novel sequences that are free from developability issues—such as aggregation, polyspecificity, poor expression, or low solubility. Here, we present p-IgGen, a protein language model for paired heavy-light chain antibody generation. The model generates diverse, antibody-like sequences with pairing properties found in natural antibodies. We also create a finetuned version of p-IgGen that biases the model to generate antibodies with 3D biophysical properties that fall within distributions seen in clinical-stage therapeutic antibodies.

Availability and implementation

The model and inference code are freely available at www.github.com/oxpig/p-IgGen. Cleaned training data are deposited at doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.13880874.
Disabling pansclerotic morphoea: a century of discovery
Authors: Hua Vivian K , Chang Johanna , Laxer Ronald M , Broderick Lori
Published: November 2024

Background

Disabling pansclerotic morphoea (DPM) is a rare systemic inflammatory disorder at the severe end of the localized scleroderma spectrum. It primarily affects children < 14 years old. DPM is characterized by rapid sclerosis with circumferential involvement that frequently extends to the fascia, muscle and bone. Disease progression often involves the development of sclerotic plaques, chronic skin ulcers and painful joint contractures, leading to patient immobility and a high mortality rate. Internal organ fibrosis is typically absent. The aggressive and systemic nature of DPM leads patients to seek multidisciplinary care. Current treatments are targeted toward immunomodulation and measures to preserve mobility while limiting infection, but they often have limited efficacy.

Objectives

To summarize all patients with DPM reported in the English-language literature, common clinical symptoms, laboratory investigations and treatments reported to date.

Methods

A literature search was conducted on PubMed and Google Scholar. All English-language original articles, case reports, abstracts and letters to the editor were included. Each publication was reviewed for diagnosis, clinical presentation, available laboratory/histological studies, treatment and outcome.

Results

We identified 52 reports comprising 86 patients published up to December 2023. Assessment of published cases suggested that the number of treatments does not influence disease outcome and that female patients are younger at the time of reported death.

Conclusions

Clinician familiarity and awareness of common DPM symptoms are important for an accurate and early diagnosis. Knowledge of treatments that have been reported to be effective in mitigating disease progression may be helpful in expanding the available treatment options.
The bidirectional brain–cochlea axis: a scaffold for neurologic disease-associated hearing loss
Authors: Di Stadio Arianna , Frohman Elliot M , Messineo Daniela , Brenner Michael J , Bernitsas Evanthia
Published: November 2024

This scientific commentary refers to ‘Beyond the cochlea: exploring the multifaceted nature of hearing loss in primary mitochondrial diseases’, by Koohi et al. (https://doi.org/10.1093/braincomms/fcae374).
Multiple purple-coloured plaques in a paediatric Asian patient with skin of colour
Authors: Schembri Christian , Dimech Yana Marie , Betts Alexandra , Galea Nathalie , Borg Charles Joseph , Mercieca Liam , Aquilina Mark Anthony , Warrington Adriana
Published: November 2024

We present the intriguing case of a previously healthy 12-year-old Asian boy. His presentation to the paediatric emergency department included fever, malaise, weight loss, night sweats and a rash over 4 weeks. He had an exceptionally rare diagnosis, leading to a unique medical journey and diagnostic challenges.
General dermatology and dermatology in primary healthcare
Authors: Kaur Aneet , Chirantan S , Dev Tanvi , Kanumilli Pradeep , Pallavi Pallavi
Published: November 2024

A young boy with high-output diarrhoea, who was extremely lethargic and irritable, presented with unusual perianal plaques extending to the thighs. Close clinical examination and basic laboratory investigation confirmed the diagnosis. Appropriate treatment resulted in rapid resolution of the skin lesions and improvement in his altered mental status within 72 h.
Loss of quality of life and increased societal costs in patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy: the AFFECT-HCM study
Authors: Schoonvelde Stephan A C , Wiethoff Isabell , Zwetsloot Peter-Paul , Hirsch Alexander , Knackstedt Christian , Germans Tjeerd , Sikking Maurits , Schinkel Arend F L , van Slegtenhorst Marjon A , Verhagen Judith M A , de Boer Rudolf A , Evers Silvia M A A , Hiligsmann Mickaël , Michels Michelle
Published: November 2024

Introduction

Hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM) is the most prevalent inherited cardiac disease. The impact of HCM on quality of life (QoL) and societal costs remains poorly understood. This prospective multi-centre burden of disease study estimated QoL and societal costs of genotyped HCM patients and genotype-positive phenotype-negative (G+/P−) subjects.

Methods and results

Participants were categorized into three groups based on genotype and phenotype: (i) G+/P− [left ventricular (LV) wall thickness <13 mm], (ii) non-obstructive HCM [nHCM, LV outflow tract (LVOT) gradient <30 mmHg], and (iii) obstructive HCM (oHCM, LVOT gradient ≥30 mmHg). We assessed QoL with EQ-5D-5L and Kansas City Cardiomyopathy Questionnaires (KCCQ). Societal costs were measured using medical consumption (Medical Consumption Questionnaire) and productivity cost (iMTA Productivity Cost Questionnaire) questionnaires. We performed subanalyses within three age groups: <40, 40–59, and ≥60 years. From three Dutch hospitals, 506 subjects were enrolled (84 G+/P−, 313 nHCM, 109 oHCM; median age 59 years, 39% female). HCM (both nHCM and oHCM) patients reported reduced QoL vs. G+/P− subjects (KCCQ: 88 vs. 98, EQ-5D-5L: 0.88 vs. 0.96; both P < 0.001). oHCM patients reported lower KCCQ scores than nHCM patients (83 vs. 89, P = 0.036). Societal costs were significantly higher in HCM patients (€19,035/year vs. €7385/year) compared with G+/P− controls, mainly explained by higher healthcare costs and productivity losses. Being symptomatic and of younger age (<60 years) particularly led to decreased QoL and increased costs.

Conclusion

HCM is associated with decreased QoL and increased societal costs, especially in younger and symptomatic patients. oHCM patients were more frequently symptomatic than nHCM patients. This study highlights the substantial disease burden of HCM and can aid in assessing new therapy cost-effectiveness for HCM in the future.
Artificial neural networks and medieval music
Authors: Fresquet Xavier
Published: November 2024

This article delves into the integration of deep learning and medieval musicology. The article explores the use of deep learning in analyzing and transcribing medieval music manuscripts, offering insights into historical musical styles and compositions. It addresses the challenges and opportunities of applying AI in medieval musicology, and provides a critical analysis of deep learning’s potential in enhancing our understanding of medieval music heritage. The discussion encompasses the study of medieval music and its cultural context, emphasizing the significance of manuscripts, treatises and iconography in musicological research. The integration of digital humanities and computational advancements in medieval musicology is highlighted, revealing how technological progress has been incorporated systematically into the study of complex cultural objects.
How the educational level of confidants impacts our political attitudes?
Authors: Jeroense Thijmen , Spierings Niels , Tolsma Jochem
Published: November 2024

The role of an individual’s educational level in shaping their political attitudes is very well documented. Also, social networks formed by both our strong and weak ties are generally segregated by educational level. Dove-tailing these two observations raised the question of whether the educational level of one’s confidants also independently impacts an individual’s political attitudes; however, this question has gotten hardly any attention. Therefore, we theorize and study the role of education in the core discussion network, including the question under what conditions the influence of our confidant’s education on our political attitudes is especially strong. Empirically, we use a random intercept cross-lagged panel model to disentangle selection effects from the influence effects of interest. We find a small but robust influence effect of confidants’ educational attainment on political attitudes of ego. However, confidants’ influence does not depend on the degree of dyadic political discussion, confidant newness, and dyadic similarity.
Centrally adjudicated vs. investigator-reported outcomes in randomized heart failure trials
Authors: Wandel Simon , Desai Akshay S , Chen Chien-Wei , McMurray John J V , Packer Milton , Solomon Scott D , Pfeffer Marc A , Felker G Michael , Zannad Faiez , Petrie Mark C , Jhund Pardeep S , Attari Zenab , Mueller-Velten Guenther , Lefkowitz Martin , Soergel David , Gimpelewicz Claudio
Published: November 2024

Background and Aims

Heart failure endpoints in cardiovascular outcome trials are commonly identified through centralized adjudication of investigator-reported events. It remains unclear whether central adjudication improves the accuracy of treatment effect estimates in terms of log[hazard ratios (HR)].

Methods

Data from seven cardiovascular outcome trials with >1000 patients that included centrally adjudicated heart failure outcomes were utilized to assess (i) the concordance between investigator-reported and centrally adjudicated heart failure and cardiovascular death events; (ii) rates of subsequent all-cause mortality following positively vs. negatively adjudicated heart failure events; and (iii) the correlation of log(HR) based on centrally adjudicated vs. investigator-reported events.

Results

Positive adjudication rates for investigator-reported events varied widely across trials, but were generally higher for cardiovascular death (range: 87.9%–99.2%) than for heart failure hospitalization (range: 61.6%–88.0%). The risk for subsequent all-cause death was similar for positively and negatively adjudicated heart failure hospitalizations. Log(HR) correlated well for cardiovascular death [R2 = .80, 95% credible interval (CrI): 0.53–0.93] and the composite of cardiovascular death or heart failure hospitalization (R2 = .79, 95% CrI: 0.46–0.93), but less for heart failure hospitalization (R2 = .57, 95% CrI: 0.10–0.83).

Conclusions

Positive adjudication rates were lower for heart failure events than cardiovascular death, but even negatively adjudicated heart failure events are prognostically important. Central adjudication of events did not alter the results (precision or estimated log(HR)), though some variation was observed, depending on the indication. The results suggest that the decision to pursue centralized adjudication of heart failure events in a specific trial may need to be individualized.
Emergence of dauer larvae in Caenorhabditis elegans disrupts continuity of host-microbiome interactions
Authors: Bodkhe Rahul , Trang Kenneth , Hammond Sabrina , Jung Da Kyung , Shapira Michael
Published: November 2024

Nematodes are common in most terrestrial environments, where populations are often known to undergo cycles of boom and bust. Useful in such scenarios, nematodes present developmental programs of diapause, giving rise to stress-resistant larvae and enabling dispersal in search of new resources. Best studied in Caenorhabditis elegans, stress resistant dauer larvae emerge under adverse conditions, primarily starvation, and migrate to new niches where they can resume development and reproduce. Caenorhabditis elegans is a bacterivore but has been shown to harbor a persistent and characteristic gut microbiome. While much is known about the gut microbiome of reproducing C. elegans, what dauers harbor is yet unknown. This is of interest, as dauers are those that would enable transmission of microbes between nematode generations and geographical sites, maintaining continuity of host-microbe interactions. Using culture-dependent as well as sequencing-based approaches, we examined the gut microbiomes of dauers emerging following population growth on ten different natural-like microbially diverse environments as well as on two defined communities of known gut commensals and found that dauers were largely devoid of gut bacteria. These results suggest that host gut-microbiome interactions in C. elegans are not continuous across successive generations and may reduce the likelihood of long-term worm-microbe coevolution.
Refining penalized ridge regression: a novel method for optimizing the regularization parameter in genomic prediction
Authors: Montesinos-López Abelardo , Montesinos-López Osval A , Lecumberry Federico , Fariello María I , Montesinos-López José C , Crossa José
Published: November 2024

The popularity of genomic selection as an efficient and cost-effective approach to estimate breeding values continues to increase, due in part to the significant saving in phenotyping. Ridge regression is one of the most popular methods used for genomic prediction; however, its efficiency (in terms of prediction performance) depends on the appropriate tunning of the penalization parameter. In this paper we propose a novel, more efficient method to select the optimal penalization parameter for Ridge regression. We compared the proposed method with the conventional method to select the penalization parameter in 14 real data sets and we found that in 13 of these, the proposed method outperformed the conventional method and across data sets the gains in prediction accuracy in terms of Pearson's correlation was of 56.15%, with not-gains observed in terms of normalized mean square error. Finally, our results show evidence of the potential of the proposed method, and we encourage its adoption to improve the selection of candidate lines in the context of plant breeding.
A comprehensive review and update on acute severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding in Crohn’s disease: a management algorithm
Authors: Tu Tong , Chen Mengqi , Zeng Zhirong , Lin Jianming , Chen Luohai , Liu Caiguang , Zhuang Xiaojun
Published: November 2024

Acute severe lower gastrointestinal bleeding is a rare but potentially fatal complication of Crohn's disease (CD), affecting between 0.6% and 5.5% of CD patients during their lifelong disease course. Managing bleeding episodes effectively hinges on vital resuscitation. Endoscopic evaluation and computed tomography play crucial roles in accurate identification and intervention. Fortunately, most bleeding episodes can be successfully managed through appropriate conservative treatment. Medical therapies, particularly infliximab, aim to induce and maintain mucosal healing and serve as the leading treatment approach. Minimally invasive procedures, such as endoscopic hemostasis and angio-embolization, can achieve immediate hemostasis. Surgical treatment is only considered a last resort when conservative therapies fail. Despite achieving hemostasis, the risk of rebleeding ranges from 19.0% to 50.5%. The objective of this review is to provide a comprehensive and updated overview of the clinical manifestations, diagnostic methods, therapeutic approaches, and prognostic outcomes associated with acute severe gastrointestinal bleeding in CD. Furthermore, we aimed to propose a management algorithm to assist clinicians in the effective management of this condition.
Gasdermin E mediates pyroptosis in the progression of hepatocellular carcinoma: a double-edged sword
Authors: Lu Yan , Xu Junnv , Lin Haifeng , Zhu Mingyue , Li Mengsen
Published: November 2024

Hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) is the most common type of primary liver cancer worldwide. It usually develops due to viral hepatitis or liver cirrhosis. The molecular mechanisms involved in HCC pathogenesis are complex and incompletely understood. Gasdermin E (GSDME) is a tumor suppressor gene and is inhibited in most cancers. Recent studies have reported that, unlike those in most tumors, GSDME is highly expressed in liver cancer, and GSDME expression in HCC is negatively associated with prognosis, suggesting that GSDME may promote HCC. However, antitumor drugs can induce pyroptosis through GSDME, killing HCC cells. Therefore, GSDME may both inhibit and promote HCC development. Because functional studies of GSDME in HCC are limited, the precise molecular mechanisms of GSDME in liver cancer remain unclear. In this article, we have reviewed the role, related mechanisms, and clinical importance of GSDME at the onset and development of HCC to provide a theoretical foundation to improve the clinical diagnosis and treatment of liver cancer.
Resilience factors affecting long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami among older adults
Authors: Yazawa Aki , Li Xiaoyu , Shiba Koichiro , Okuzono Sakurako S , Hikichi Hiroyuki , Aida Jun , Kondo Katsunori , Kawachi Ichiro
Published: November 2024

Objectives

We examined long-term trajectories of depressive symptoms among older adults following exposure to the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. We further characterized the pre- and post-disaster social relationship factors that predicted membership in each trajectory group.

Method

Data from four time points (including pre-disaster data) were used to analyze the depression trajectories of 2,033 survivors through a group-based trajectory model. Multinomial logistic analysis was used to investigate the social relationship factors (i.e., social interactions with neighbors, social support, social participation, and social cohesion) that predicted membership to each trajectory group.

Results

Five distinct trajectories of depressive symptoms were identified; stably not depressed (12.4%), increased after the disaster (14.2%), decreased after the disaster (8.8%), persistent mild depressive symptoms (28.1%) and persistent severe depressive symptoms (36.5%). Compared to those who were stably not depressed, those who experienced an increase in symptoms were more likely to experience housing damage and not to participate in social activities. Compared to those who were stably mildly depressed, those who experienced a decrease in symptoms had higher pre-disaster social interactions with neighbors as well as higher post-disaster social support. Adults with persistent severe symptoms were physically, psychologically, and socially vulnerable preceding the disaster.

Discussion

The study revealed the heterogeneity of older adults experiencing depressive symptoms in the wake of major disaster. Those who experienced increased symptoms after the disaster showed a chronic rather than temporary rise, while those with pre-disaster depressive symptoms showed sustained symptoms regardless of disaster-related trauma.
One-way reflection waveform inversion with depth-dependent gradient pre-conditioning
Authors: Abolhassani Siamak , Hoogerbrugge Leo , Verschuur Dirk Jacob
Published: November 2024

Reflection waveform inversion (RWI) is a technique that uses pure reflection data to estimate subsurface background velocity, relying on evolving seismic images. Conventional RWI operates in a cyclic workflow, with two key components in each cycle—migration and reflection tomography. Conventional RWI may result in suboptimal background velocity estimation, partly due to limited or unresolved resolution within each component in each cycle. While gradient pre-conditioning with the reciprocal of Hessian information helps resolve this issue in both components of RWI, it becomes impractical for a large number of model parameters. One-way reflection waveform inversion (ORWI) is a reflection waveform inversion technique in which the forward modelling scheme operates in one direction (downward and then upward) via virtual parallel depth levels within the medium. Leveraging the ORWI framework, we decompose and reduce the linear Hessian operator (also known as the approximate Hessian or Gauss–Newton Hessian) into multiple smaller suboperators. In particular, the diagonal blocks of the monofrequency approximate Hessian operators, each corresponding to a single depth level within the medium, are extracted and inverted to pre-condition the corresponding monofrequency gradients in both the migration and reflection tomography components of ORWI. This depth-dependent gradient pre-conditioning transforms standard ORWI into a high-resolution, yet computationally feasible version aimed at addressing suboptimal velocity estimation, referred to as high-resolution ORWI. The effectiveness of the proposed approach is demonstrated through successful applications to synthetic data examples.
Becoming eligible for long-term care insurance in China brought more ageing at home: evidence from a pilot city
Authors: Chen Zeyuan , Zhou Hui , Ma Xiang
Published: November 2024

Person-centered long-term care systems, integral to healthy ageing, should empower older people to achieve ageing in place. Yet evidence on the impact of the design of long-term care systems on older people’s choice of place of ageing, especially that from developing countries, is limited. Taking the introduction of Long-Term Care Insurance (LTCI) in City X of China as a policy shock, we examined the impact of becoming eligible for LTCI on program beneficiaries’ choice of place of ageing—institution or home—before they started to receive any actual benefit. Based on our analysis of the administrative data of all LTCI applicants between July 2017 and September 2020 from City X, we found that becoming eligible for LTCI increased an older-person’s probability of choosing home as her place of ageing even before she received any benefit by ∼16%, and this positive impact was larger for those insured, of higher education level, or of higher disability grade. By bringing more ageing in place, LTCI in City X promoted healthy ageing. Our study suggests that the specifics of the LTCI program, such as who could receive subsidies, family values, and family members’ engagement in the labor market, could all work together to shape the substitution pattern between home and institutional care.
The effect of face-to-face and online education provided to individuals with atrial fibrillation on medication adherence and satisfaction
Authors: Küçükballi Harun , Fertelli Tülay Kars
Published: November 2024

This randomized controlled study was conducted to investigate effects of face-to-face education and tele-education given to individuals with atrial fibrillation (AF) taking oral anticoagulants on their medication compliance and satisfaction levels. The study sample comprised 150 individuals. Of them, 50 were assigned to the control group, 50 to experimental Group 1, and 50 to experimental Group 2. Data were collected with the Descriptive Information Form, Medication Compliance Notification Scale, and Duke Anticoagulation Satisfaction Scale (DASS). Intervention Group 1 was given face-to-face education. Intervention Group 2 was given tele-education. The control group underwent no intervention. The scales were administered to all the groups twice. Intragroup analysis demonstrated that the Medication Compliance Notification Scale score of the face-to-face education group increased significantly in the final measurement compared to those of the control group and tele-education group. Intergroup analysis demonstrated that the DASS scores of the three groups significantly differed. The difference stemmed from intervention Group 1. Face-to-face education given to individuals with AF on oral anticoagulants improved their medication compliance and medication satisfaction levels. Nurses should primarily use face-to-face education in the care and education programs of individuals with AF.
Unmasking deception: deepfake regulation in the context of South African law, could a rethinking of performers’ protection rights be the answer?
Authors: Gotora Ngonidzaishe T
Published: November 2024

The limitless capabilities of the Internet allow for the widespread sharing of media and information. Technological progress has empowered tech enthusiasts to develop software that can interchange faces, superimposing the likenesses of any individual onto others in videos. These advanced technologies now leverage Artificial Intelligence (AI) to produce videos and photos so realistic they’re often indistinguishable from authentic footage. The term ‘deepfakes’ has emerged as a key descriptor for these creations. While there are harmless applications of this technology, it has also been exploited for creating deepfake pornography. Such illicit use often involves the unauthorized use of personal images from social media to create pornographic content without the subject’s consent, profoundly impacting victims’ lives. Most of the research on non-consensual dissemination of explicit content has been focussed on the distribution or on the criminal blackmailing of individuals with existing, unfabricated content. This article aims to address the gap in research on nonconsensual deepfake pornography and existing image-based offences from a South African law perspective. It analyses the existing legal frameworks and whether they can provide adequate recourse to victims of non-consensual explicit deepfakes. This article asserts that the current legal framework falls short of the threat of the use of deepfakes in nonconsensual sharing of intimate images or videos. Amid the discussion, this article recommends a principled strategy for a well-rounded regulatory reaction to deepfakes, which are described as artificial performances generated through AI technologies. This strategy is applied practically by suggesting the utilization of South Africa’s performers’ rights legislation and policies as an appropriate mechanism for deepfake regulation.
17β-Estradiol Ameliorates Postoperative Cognitive Dysfunction in Aged Mice via miR-138-5p/SIRT1/HMGB1 Pathway
Authors: Zhang Ying , Liu Meinv , Yu Dongdong , Wang Jing , Li Jianli
Published: November 2024

Background

Postoperative cognitive dysfunction (POCD) is a common neurological complication in older patients and correlated with adverse outcomes. 17β-estradiol treatment was reported to provide neuroprotective protection in various neurologic disorders, but whether it attenuated POCD was unknown. The purpose of this study was to explore the effects of 17β-estradiol treatment on POCD and its mechanisms.

Methods

We generated a POCD model in 15-month-old mice via laparotomy, followed by subcutaneous injection of 17β-estradiol, intraperitoneal injection of EX527 (a Sirtuin 1 [SIRT1] inhibitor), or bilateral hippocampal injection of miR-138-5p-agomir. Morris water maze test and open field test were applied to evaluate the cognitive function. The neuronal apoptosis in the hippocampus was detected using the terminal transferase dUTP nick end labeling assay. Meanwhile, the levels of interleukin-1β (IL-1β) and microglia activation were measured by enzymelinked immunosorbent assay and immunofluorescence, respectively. Western blot was utilized to assess the expression of SIRT1 and high mobility group box 1 (HMGB1) protein, and gene expression of miR-138-5p was determined through quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction.

Results

Behavioral tests showed that 17β-estradiol treatment improved cognitive function in aged POCD mice. In addition, 17β-estradiol attenuated neuronal apoptosis and microglia activation as well as IL-1β expression in the hippocampus. Nonetheless, injection with EX527 abolished the beneficial impacts of 17β-estradiol against POCD. Furthermore, miR-138-5p was verified to bind with SIRT1, which regulated the expression of HMGB1. After treatment with 17β-estradiol, miR-138-5p expression was reduced in the hippocampus, and the neuroprotective influence of 17β-estradiol on aged POCD mice was reversed after administration of miR-138-5p-agomir.

Conclusions

17β-estradiol treatment exerted neuroprotection effects on POCD in aged mice, which might be relevant to alleviating neuroinflammation via miR-138-5p/SIRT1/HMGB1 pathway.
The Grainger Test Challenged? Thomas v Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust
Authors: Murray James
Published: November 2024

This note analyses the decision of the Employment Appeal Tribunal (EAT) (Sheldon J) of Thomas v Surrey and Borders Partnership NHS Foundation Trust and Brett. The central message of the case is that English Nationalism with an anti-Islamic, anti-immigrant tinge does not deserve legal protection as a philosophical belief under s.10 Equality Act 2010. Thomas raises an interesting point of principle regarding the question of whether the fifth limb of the Grainger v Nicholson test—namely whether philosophical beliefs are worthy of respect in a democratic society, compatible with human dignity or are in conflict with the fundamental rights of others (fifth limb)—should be expanded to exclude from protection beliefs espousing intolerance or discrimination, and provides helpful clarity on how tribunals may take into account material beyond what is pleaded by the claimant in order to ascertain what the true nature of a purported philosophical belief may be. The note concludes that the former point is a move which should be resisted given the importance of rights under Articles 9 and 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, and also critiques the reasoning of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in countenancing this possibility. It also concludes that the latter point will be of particular interest to practitioners who plead these sort of cases before the tribunals and predicts respondents to be bolder in their use of extraneous material to interrogate the nature of a claimant’s beliefs beyond what is pleaded or contained in their witness statements. The note also concludes that tribunals can also have more confidence, in light of Thomas, in relying on such material in their judgments without excessive caution that they have blurred the lines of overreliance on manifestations of beliefs as opposed to focusing on the beliefs themselves.
A cross-sectional study of point-of-care lactate testing in integrated community care management (ICCM) for children with acute respiratory illness in rural uganda
Authors: Matte Michael , Koyama Natsumi , Giandomenico Dana , Baguma Emmanuel , Kibaba Georget , Ntaro Moses , Reyes Raquel , Mulogo Edgar M , Boyce Ross M , Ciccone Emily J
Published: November 2024

Background

Integrated community case management (iCCM) programs leverage lay village health workers (VHWs) to carry out the initial evaluation of children with common conditions including malaria, pneumonia and diarrhea. Therefore, it is imperative that VHWs are able to identify children who are critically ill and require referral to a health facility. Elevated venous lactate levels have been associated with severe illness and adverse health outcomes, including death. However, lactic acidosis may not be recognized in rural settings because it is not routinely measured outside of hospitals and research studies. Point-of-care lactate tests may help identify patients in need of a higher level of care and improve VHWs’ ability to make timely and appropriate referrals.

Methods

The study was a cross-sectional evaluation of children aged <5 y presenting to VHWs in rural southwestern Uganda with complaints of fever and cough. Demographics, clinical presentation, evaluation, management and disposition were recorded. VHWs were trained and instructed to perform lactate testing using a point-of-care assay in eligible participants.

Results

During the study period, 238 children were enrolled and completed an initial assessment. Of the 204 participants included in the analysis, 113 (55.4%) were female, and the median (IQR) age was 23 (9–36) months. Most participants, 139/200 (69.5%), had negative results on the malaria rapid diagnostic test. The median lactate level was 2.1 mmol/L; 12% (24/204) had a lactate ≥3.5 mmol/L and only nine participants (4.4%) had a lactate ≥5 mmol/L. Having a lactate level above either cut-off was not associated with the presence of danger signs at presentation.

Conclusions

Few children presenting with fever and cough to VHWs in western Uganda had elevated lactate levels. However, most of the children with elevated lactate levels did not otherwise satisfy established iCCM criteria based on physical examination findings for referral to a health facility. Therefore, while elevated lactate was not associated with danger signs in this small study, it is possible that there is under-recognition of severe illness using current iCCM guidelines.
Prey Cue Preferences Among Northern Cottonmouths (Agkistrodon piscivorus) Acclimated to Different Year-Long Diets: Genetics or Experienced-Based Plasticity?
Authors: Lutterschmidt William I , Perelman Zander E , Roth Eric D , Weidler J M
Published: November 2024

Synopsis

Chemoreception and recognition of specific prey are important sensory modalities for optimizing foraging success in snakes. Field observations suggest that cottonmouths are generalists, despite the specific epithet of the species (piscivorus) suggesting a fish prey preference. Because chemo-recognition of specific prey may reveal interesting evolutionary context for foraging strategy and if prey preference is either genetically or environmentally controlled, we investigated the prey cue preference of three experimental groups of Agkistrodon piscivorus (Northern Cottonmouths) with different diet histories. Two groups of captive snakes were acclimated to year-long diets of either fish (n = 11) or mice (n = 9) and a third group of recently wild-caught individuals served as a field diet group (n = 16). We investigated possible differences among diet history (fish, mouse, and field) and prey cue preference (control, fish, and mouse) and present results showing a significant difference among diet history with field snakes having significantly lower tongue-flick response. We also found a significant difference among prey cues, snakes within all diet histories showed a lower tongue-flick response to only the control scent cue. Both captive and field snakes showed no prey cue preference for either fish or mice. Because captive snakes did not show increased prey cue preference to their respective diet history, prey preference may be under genetic influence and not experience-based. Additionally, the lack of prey preference for fish or mice in the recently captured snakes in the field-diet group provides supporting evidence that A. piscivorus are generalists and opportunistic predators.
Microbiome science of human excrement composting
Authors: Meilander Jeff , Caporaso J Gregory
Published: November 2024

Linear waste management systems are unsustainable and contribute to environmental degradation, economic inequity, and health disparities. Among the array of environmental challenges stemming from anthropogenic impacts, the management of human excrement (human feces and urine) stands as a significant concern. Over two billion people do not have access to adequate sanitation, signifying a global public health crisis. Composting is the microbial biotechnology aimed at cycling organic waste, including human excrement, for improved public health, agricultural productivity and safety, and environmental sustainability. Applications of modern microbiome omics and related technologies have the capacity to support continued advances in composting science and praxis. In this article, we review literature focused on applications of microbiome technologies to study composting systems and reactions. The studies we survey generally fall into the categories of animal manure composting, biosolids composting, and human excrement composting. We review experiments utilizing microbiome technologies to investigate strategies for enhancing pathogen suppression and accelerating the biodegradation of organic matter. Additionally, we explore studies focused on the bioengineering potential of microbes as inoculants to facilitate degradation of toxins, such as pharmaceuticals or per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances. The findings from these studies underscore the importance of advancing our understanding of composting processes through the integration of emerging microbiome omics technologies. We conclude that work to-date has demonstrated exciting basic and applied science potential from studying compost microbiomes, with promising implications for enhancing global environmental sustainability and public health.
Partisanship in the Trump Trade War: Evidence from County-Level Crop Planting Data
Authors: Carcelli Shannon , Park Kee Hyun
Published: November 2024

Abstracts

In 2018, the US–China trade war drove down the price of many US agricultural goods. While many farmers responded by planting alternative crops instead, others continued planting the low-value crops, with a high cost to their bottom line and resulting in a large number of agricultural bankruptcies. Why did some farmers disregard their own economic interests and plant low-value crops during the trade war? We argue that political preferences partially explain farmer behavior. Matching geo-referenced crop data to product-level sanctions lists from China, we calculate county-level changes in the planting of crops affected by the tariffs. We find that counties with a higher Trump vote share in the 2016 election were significantly less likely to change planting decisions due to the trade war. This suggests that partisanship may affect the economy more broadly than previously realized.
Introduction: The Art and Aesthetics of Capitalism
Authors: Zinkin Melissa
Published: November 2024

The introduction provides an overview of the topic of the special issue, which is the relationship between art and capitalism. It includes summaries of the articles included in the issue and indicates possible areas for future research.
Quantitatively assessing the impact of the quality of SNOMED CT subtype hierarchy on cohort queries
Authors: Hao Xubing , Li Xiaojin , Huang Yan , Shi Jay , Abeysinghe Rashmie , Tao Cui , Roberts Kirk , Zhang Guo-Qiang , Cui Licong
Published: November 2024

Objective

SNOMED CT provides a standardized terminology for clinical concepts, allowing cohort queries over heterogeneous clinical data including Electronic Health Records (EHRs). While it is intuitive that missing and inaccurate subtype (or is-a) relations in SNOMED CT reduce the recall and precision of cohort queries, the extent of these impacts has not been formally assessed. This study fills this gap by developing quantitative metrics to measure these impacts and performing statistical analysis on their significance.

Material and Methods

We used the Optum de-identified COVID-19 Electronic Health Record dataset. We defined micro-averaged and macro-averaged recall and precision metrics to assess the impact of missing and inaccurate is-a relations on cohort queries. Both practical and simulated analyses were performed. Practical analyses involved 407 missing and 48 inaccurate is-a relations confirmed by domain experts, with statistical testing using Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Simulated analyses used two random sets of 400 is-a relations to simulate missing and inaccurate is-a relations.

Results

Wilcoxon signed-rank tests from both practical and simulated analyses (P-values < .001) showed that missing is-a relations significantly reduced the micro- and macro-averaged recall, and inaccurate is-a relations significantly reduced the micro- and macro-averaged precision.

Discussion

The introduced impact metrics can assist SNOMED CT maintainers in prioritizing critical hierarchical defects for quality enhancement. These metrics are generally applicable for assessing the quality impact of a terminology’s subtype hierarchy on its cohort query applications.

Conclusion

Our results indicate a significant impact of missing and inaccurate is-a relations in SNOMED CT on the recall and precision of cohort queries. Our work highlights the importance of high-quality terminology hierarchy for cohort queries over EHR data and provides valuable insights for prioritizing quality improvements of SNOMED CT's hierarchy.