bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Role of the Ask Gap in Gender Pay Inequality
Authors: Roussille Nina
Published: February 2024

The gender ask gap measures the extent to which women ask for lower salaries than comparable men. This article studies its role in generating wage inequality, using novel data from an online recruitment platform for full-time engineering jobs: Hired.com. To use the platform, job candidates must post an ask salary, stating how much they want to make in their next job. Firms then apply to candidates by offering them a bid salary, solely based on the candidate’s résumé and ask salary. If the candidate is hired, a final salary is recorded. After adjusting for résumé characteristics, the ask gap is 2.9%, the bid gap is 2.2%, and the final offer gap is 1.4%. Further controlling for the ask salary explains the entirety of the residual gender gaps in bid and final salaries. To further provide evidence of the causal effect of the ask salary on the bid salary, I exploit an unanticipated change in how candidates were prompted to provide their ask. For some candidates in mid-2018, the answer box used to solicit the ask salary was changed from an empty field to an entry prefilled with the median bid salary for similar candidates. I find that this change drove the ask, bid, and final offer gaps to zero. In addition, women did not receive fewer bids or final offers than men did due to the change, suggesting they faced little penalty for demanding comparable wages.
Towards a sustainable and responsible model for monitoring open science and research—analysis of the Finnish model for monitoring open science and research
Authors: Himanen Laura , Nykyri Susanna
Published: February 2024

Advancing and supporting the development of open science practices is of global interest, and subsequently also the monitoring of the ongoing developments is more and more on the agenda. In Finland, monitoring open science has a relatively long history, and the first evaluation of research performing and research funding organisations took place already in 2015. The system has evolved over the years, and in 2019 the responsibility for monitoring was transferred from the Ministry of Education and Culture to the research community. This article looks at the latest monitoring, conducted in Spring 2022 from the point of view of its compliance with the principles of responsible research assessment. To structure the analysis we have used the SCOPE framework designed to enable planning and conducting evaluations responsibly. As a conclusion we find there are four main challenges in the current model for monitoring open science in Finland: 1) the model leaves very little room for internal discussion or decision-making within organisations, 2) the model focuses too much on organizational developments and largely ignores national and international developments, 3) the model essentially reduces very complex issues into numbers, and 4) the organisations are monitored against a set of objectives without giving them enough time to realize expected reforms.
Risk of cardiovascular disease decreases over time in psoriatic arthritis but not in spondylarthritis: meta-analysis of longitudinal studies
Authors: Gouze Hélène , Aegerter Philippe , Gouyette Yasmine , Breban Maxime , D’Agostino Maria Antonietta
Published: February 2024

Objective

SpA and PsA represent two frequent inflammatory rheumatic disorders characterized by an increased burden on quality of life due to the association of several comorbidities, especially cardiovascular disease (CVD). The estimated prevalence of CVD ranges from 12 to 19% and differs between the two diseases, however, the incidence of CVD is not completely known. We aimed to systematically review the literature and perform a meta-analysis of controlled observational studies to assess the incidence rate of CVD over time in SpA and PsA.

Methods

We performed a systematic literature review (SLR) of longitudinal studies with a study period of at least 5 years, including SpA/PsA patients and general population. The main outcome was the occurrence of CVD, including ischaemic heart disease, stroke and death from CV causes. We then performed a random-effects model for meta-analysis.

Results

The SLR included 34 articles, mainly focused on the association between SpA/PsA and CVD. Twenty-four articles were then selected for the meta-analysis. The overall incidence of CVD was increased in PsA [hazard ratio (HR) 1.28 (95% CI 1.15, 1.43)] and in SpA [HR 1.45 (95% CI 1.22, 1.72)] compared with the general population, with consistency across the different types of CVDs. Interestingly the incidence tended to decrease over time in PsA but not in SpA.

Conclusion

The SLR and meta-analysis confirmed the increased incidence of CVD in both SpA and PsA patients compared with the general population, although the increase seems to be less prominent in PsA than in SpA. Future studies are needed to confirm our findings.
Multiple serum biomarkers associate with mortality and interstitial lung disease progression in systemic sclerosis
Authors: Parker Matthew James Sinclair , Jee Adelle S , Hansen Dylan , Proudman Susanna , Youssef Peter , Kenna Tony J , Stevens Wendy , Nikpour Mandana , Sahhar Joanne , Corte Tamera J
Published: February 2024

Objectives

To investigate the prognostic utility of 28 serum biomarkers in systemic sclerosis (SSc), SSc-associated interstitial lung disease (SSc-ILD) and clinically relevant disease subgroups.

Methods

Participants with sera, high-resolution CT and lung function within 12 months of baseline were identified from the Australian Scleroderma Cohort Study. Baseline was the time of serum collection. Twenty-seven of the prespecified 28 serum biomarkers were analysed and biomarker associations with mortality and ILD progression were investigated in univariable and multivariable analyses, including within disease subgroups and combined with established risk factors for poorer prognosis in SSc.

Results

A total of 407 participants were identified, 252 (61.9%) with SSc-ILD. The median (interquartile range) follow-up after biomarker measurement was 6.31 (3.11–9.22) years. Sixteen biomarkers were associated with increased mortality. High levels of VCAM-1 were most strongly associated with mortality [hazard ratio (HR) 3.55; 95% CI 2.37–5.33; P < 0.001]. Five additional biomarkers had an HR >2: SP-D (2.28, 1.57–3.31; P < 0.001), E-selectin (2.19, 1.53–3.14; P < 0.001), IL-6 (2.15, 1.50–3.09; P < 0.001), MMP-3 (2.05, 1.42–2.95; P < 0.001) and ET-1 (2.03, 1.40–2.92; P < 0.001). Eleven biomarkers were independently associated with mortality following adjustment for sex, age and baseline forced vital capacity (FVC%predicted). Three biomarkers were associated with ILD progression at 1-year follow-up: CXCL4 (odds ratio 2.67, 1.46–4.88; P = 0.001), MMP-1 (2.56, 1.43–4.59; P = 0.002) and ET-1 (2.18, 1.24–3.83; P = 0.007).

Conclusion

Multiple biomarkers, especially VCAM-1, E-selectin, SP-D and CXCL4, provide prognostic utility beyond that of established risk factors for patients with SSc.
Building trust takes time: limits to arbitrage for blockchain-based assets
Authors: Hautsch Nikolaus , Scheuch Christoph , Voigt Stefan
Published: February 2024

A blockchain replaces central counterparties with time-consuming consensus protocols to record the transfer of ownership. This settlement latency slows cross-exchange trading, exposing arbitrageurs to price risk. Off-chain settlement, instead, exposes arbitrageurs to costly default risk. We show with Bitcoin network and order book data that cross-exchange price differences coincide with periods of high settlement latency, asset flows chase arbitrage opportunities, and price differences across exchanges with low default risk are smaller. Blockchain-based trading thus faces a dilemma: Reliable consensus protocols require time-consuming settlement latency, leading to arbitrage limits. Circumventing such arbitrage costs is possible only by reinstalling trusted intermediation, which mitigates default risk.
Trial-level ERPs predicted behavioral responses during self-referential processing in late childhood
Authors: Liu Pan , Yang Xiao , Tan Jaron X Y
Published: February 2024

Self-referential information is uniquely salient and preferentially processed even in children. The literature has used the self-referent encoding task (SRET) combined with event-related potentials (ERPs) to study self-referential processing and its associations with youth psychopathology. However, it is unclear how the ERP and behavioral indices of SRET are associated with each other, although this knowledge can promote our mechanistic understanding of this construct and its role in psychopathology. We examined this question in 115 9- to 12-year-old children, a critical period for the development of self-related concepts. By applying a multilevel modeling approach to the trial-level data of SRET, we disaggregated the between- and within-person variability and observed within-person, but not between-person, effects of the P2 and late positive potential (LPP) on behavioral responses: a larger P2 on a given trial predicted a faster response in this trial; a larger LPP on a given trial predicted a higher likelihood of endorsing the word of this trial. We provided novel evidence on how the within-person variability of the ERPs predicted the overt responses of the SRET in children. These findings inform our mechanistic knowledge of self-referential processing and shed light on a better understanding of the role of self-referential processing in the development of psychopathology.
Non-psychotic Outcomes in Young People at Ultra-High Risk of Developing a Psychotic Disorder: A Long-Term Follow-up Study
Authors: Spiteri-Staines Anneliese E , Yung Alison R , Lin Ashleigh , Hartmann Jessica A , Amminger Paul , McGorry Patrick D , Thompson Andrew , Wood Stephen J , Nelson Barnaby
Published: February 2024

Background

The majority of individuals at ultra-high risk (UHR) for psychosis do not transition to a full threshold psychotic disorder. It is therefore important to understand their longer-term clinical and functional outcomes, particularly given the high prevalence of comorbid mental disorders in this population at baseline.

Aims

This study investigated the prevalence of non-psychotic disorders in the UHR population at entry and long-term follow-up and their association with functional outcomes. Persistence of UHR status was also investigated.

Study design

The sample comprised 102 UHR young people from the Personal Assessment and Crisis Evaluation (PACE) Clinic who had not transitioned to psychosis by long-term follow-up (mean = 8.8 years, range = 6.8–12.1 years since baseline).

Results

Eighty-eight percent of participants at baseline were diagnosed with at least one mental disorder, the majority of which were mood disorders (78%), anxiety disorders (35%), and substance use disorders (SUDs) (18%). This pattern of disorder prevalence continued at follow-up, though prevalence was reduced, with 52% not meeting criteria for current non-psychotic mental disorder. However, 35% of participants developed a new non-psychotic mental disorder by follow-up. Presence of a continuous non-psychotic mental disorder was associated with poorer functional outcomes at follow-up. 28% of participants still met UHR criteria at follow-up.

Conclusions

The study adds to the evidence base that a substantial proportion of UHR individuals who do not transition to psychosis experience persistent attenuated psychotic symptoms and persistent and incident non-psychotic disorders over the long term. Long-term treatment and re-entry into services is indicated.
Textualism as a Theory of Interpretation of Legal Norms in the Context of Doctrinal Views
Authors: Serediuk Vitalii , Shutak Illya , Onyshchuk Ihor
Published: February 2024

The relevance of the study is due to the problem of establishing the accuracy of the content of legal norms. Accordingly, there is a need to define a new way to explain, apply, and understand them. The purpose of the article is to carry out a theoretical and legal analysis of textualism as a theory of interpretation of legal norms. The research used such methods as analysis, deduction, induction, comparative analysis, and others. Taking the research through the prism of the doctrine of textualism in the interpretation of legal norms, the authors demonstrated that the effectiveness of this method is capable of restoring the semantic content of the text, which helps to clarify the meaning of the norms effectively and consistently. They found that the method under study could be applicable in legal practice to disclose the construction of legal norms, which multiply chances to provide accurate disclosure of the legal content of the norm. The practical value of the results lies in the identification of a new way of interpreting the norms, which will provide a future opportunity to increase the level of effective law enforcement of the current legislation.
Judicial Review Challenges to Secondary Legislation in England and Wales: Courting Controversy
Authors: Mills Alistair
Published: February 2024

The importance of secondary legislation in England and Wales cannot be understated. Its significance dwarfs the amount of political scrutiny which it receives. Secondary legislation can be subject to judicial review, but this may raise difficult constitutional issues. A potentially controversial ground of judicial review is that secondary legislation is contrary to the purposes of the enacting primary legislation. Examination of litigation regarding legal aid regulations shows how the courts’ view as to the purposes of such legislation can differ, revealing the essentially political choices which the courts have to make. There is however a way that will assist the courts in limiting such controversy if they find secondary legislation to be unlawful: they can order that the secondary legislation be quashed only from a future date, which would give Parliament or the executive time to address the legal defect identified. This encourages dialogue rather than conflict between the legal and executive branches of the constitution.
Black Women as Superwomen? The Mental Health Effects of Superwoman Schema, Socioeconomic Status, and Financial Strain
Authors: Erving Christy L , McKinnon Izraelle I , Thomas Tobin Courtney S , Van Dyke Miriam E , Murden Raphiel , Moore Reneé H , Booker Bianca , Vaccarino Viola , Lewis Tené T
Published: February 2024

Informed by Black feminist thought and intersectionality, Superwoman Schema (SWS) is a construct that captures a collective response of Black women to racial and gender marginalization by highlighting expectations that they exude strength, suppress emotions, resist vulnerability, succeed despite limitations, and help others to their own self-neglect. Using a sample of Black women (N = 390) in early-midlife (between 30 and 46 years old; M = 37.54 years; SD = 4.29), this study integrates the intersectionality framework and the stress process model to examine the independent and interactive effects of SWS endorsement as well as socioeconomic status (SES) and financial strain on Black women’s mental health. Study results reveal that SWS dimensions “emotion suppression” and “obligation to help others” are associated with elevated depressive symptoms. In addition, net worth and financial strain, but not traditional measures of socioeconomic status such as education and income, moderate the association between SWS endorsement and depressive symptoms. Specifically, the association between SWS and depressive symptoms is strongest among Black women reporting negative net worth or high financial strain (e.g., not being able to make ends meet). Broader implications and future research directions are discussed.
A Phase I Dose-Escalation Clinical Trial to Assess the Safety and Efficacy of Umbilical Cord-Derived Mesenchymal Stromal Cells in Knee Osteoarthritis
Authors: Matas Jose , García Cynthia , Poblete Daniela , Vernal Rolando , Ortloff Alexander , Luque-Campos Noymar , Hidalgo Yessia , Cuenca Jimena , Infante Catalina , Cadiz Maria Ignacia , Khoury Maroun , Luz-Crawford Patricia , Espinoza Francisco
Published: February 2024

Osteoarthritis (OA) is the most common degenerative joint disease. Mesenchymal stromal cells (MSC) are promising cell-based therapy for OA. However, there is still a need for additional randomized, dose-dependent studies to determine the optimal dose and tissue source of MSC for improved clinical outcomes. Here, we performed a dose-dependant evaluation of umbilical cord (UC)-derived MSC (Celllistem) in a murine model and in knee OA patients. For the preclinical study, a classical dose (200.000 cells) and a lower dose (50.000 cells) of Cellistem were intra-articularly injected into the mice knee joints. The results showed a dose efficacy response effect of Cellistem associated with a decreased inflammatory and degenerative response according to the Pritzker OARSI score. Following the same approach, the dose-escalation phase I clinical trial design included 3 sequential cohorts: low-dose group (2 × 106 cells), medium-dose group (20 × 106), and high-dose group (80 × 106). All the doses were safe, and no serious adverse events were reported. Nonetheless, 100% of the patients injected with the high-dose experienced injection-related swelling in the knee joint. According to WOMAC total outcomes, patients treated with all doses reported significant improvements in pain and function compared with baseline after 3 and 6 months. However, the improvements were higher in patients treated with both medium and low dose as compared to high dose. Therefore, our data demonstrate that the intra-articular injection of different doses of Cellistem is both safe and efficient, making it an interesting therapeutic alternative to treat mild and symptomatic knee OA patients.

Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03810521.
Conditioned Medium From Stem Cells of Human Exfoliated Deciduous Teeth Alleviates Mouse Osteoarthritis by Inducing sFRP1-Expressing M2 Macrophages
Authors: Xia Linze , Kano Fumiya , Hashimoto Noboru , Liu Yao , Khurel-Ochir Tsendsuren , Ogasawara Naoko , Ding Cheng , Xu Yang , Hibi Hideharu , Iwasaki Tomonori , Tanaka Eiji , Yamamoto Akihito
Published: February 2024

Intravenous administration of conditioned medium from stem cells of human exfoliated deciduous teeth (SHED-CM) regenerates mechanically injured osteochondral tissues in mouse temporomandibular joint osteoarthritis (TMJOA). However, the underlying therapeutic mechanisms remain unclear. Here, we showed that SHED-CM alleviated injured TMJ by inducing anti-inflammatory M2 macrophages in the synovium. Depletion of M2 by Mannosylated Clodrosome abolished the osteochondral repair activities of SHED-CM. Administration of CM from M2-induced by SHED-CM (M2-CM) effectively ameliorated mouse TMJOA by inhibiting chondrocyte inflammation and matrix degradation while enhancing chondrocyte proliferation and matrix formation. Notably, in vitro, M2-CM directly suppressed the catabolic activities while enhancing the anabolic activities of interleukin-1β-stimulated mouse primary chondrocytes. M2-CM also inhibited receptor activator of nuclear factor NF-κB ligand-induced osteoclastogenesis in RAW264.7 cells. Secretome analysis of M2-CM and M0-CM revealed that 5 proteins related to anti-inflammation and/or osteochondrogenesis were enriched in M2-CM. Of these proteins, the Wnt signal antagonist, secreted frizzled-related protein 1 (sFRP1), was the most abundant and played an essential role in the shift to anabolic chondrocytes, suggesting that M2 ameliorated TMJOA partly through sFRP1. This study suggests that secretome from SHED exerted remarkable osteochondral regeneration activities in TMJOA through the induction of sFRP1-expressing tissue-repair M2 macrophages.
Microbial water quality investigation through flow cytometry fingerprinting: from source to tap
Authors: Claveau Leila , Hudson Neil , Jarvis Peter , Jeffrey Paul , Hassard Francis
Published: February 2024

Ensuring the quality of treated drinking water is crucial for preventing potential health impacts, regulatory fines, and reputation damage. Traditional culture-based microbiological methods often fail to capture the heterogeneity of the bacterial communities in drinking water. This study employed daily interstage monitoring and flow cytometry (FCM) analysis over a period of one year to investigate the dynamics of water treatment processes and service reservoirs. The objective of this study was to test the utility of FCM fingerprints for aiding in microbial event detection. We found that the chlorine concentration contact time was pivotal for microbial log reduction across the treatment works. FCM fingerprints exhibited significant deviations during operational events, such as process interruptions, but did not correlate with the presence of bacterial indicator organisms in the distributed and tap water. Furthermore, the diversity of bacterial fingerprints, quantified by the Bray–Curtis dissimilarity index, served as an indicator for identifying potentially poor microbial water quality. In chlorinated waters with low cell counts, the background signal shows potential as a metric to differentiate between different water sources, thereby offering the possibility to characterize breakthrough events in these circumstances that challenge most other microbial analytical methods. Interestingly, groundwater from simpler treatment works showed a higher occurrence of bacterial indicators, whereas surface water works had a lower incidence. These findings underpin the importance of appropriate disinfection even for “low-risk” source waters and the added value that the statistical interpretation of FCM data can offer objective decision making.
“I Was Told to Think Like a Middle-Aged White Woman”: A Survey on Identity and the Association of Social Work Boards Exam
Authors: Torres Maria Elena , Maguire Sunny , Kogan Jennie
Published: February 2024

The release of the 2022 Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) exam passage rate report confirmed what many test takers who failed their exam believe. The ASWB exams are biased, with differential passage rates based on the test taker’s race, age, and “English as a second language” status. However, the report only offered basic descriptive statistics and lacked insight into the test takers’ experience. The present study addresses this gap. Results are from a 2022 survey of individuals who had taken the ASWB master’s level licensing exam (N = 1,045) highlighting test taker identity and experience. Thirty percent of the study sample identified as neurodivergent, 29.1 percent as primary caregivers, and 27.1 percent as Black, Indigenous, or persons of color. White respondents had the highest first-attempt passing rates (95.7 percent), followed by Latinx and Black respondents (84.9 percent and 78.2 percent, respectively). Forty-four respondents reported taking the test three or more times before passing. Among this group, 52 percent identified as Black, 25 percent as White, and 18 percent as Latinx. Respondents were asked how they felt their identity impacted their experience, and three interrelated themes emerged: privilege, challenges, and critique of the exam. Respondents discussed the impact of having or not having privilege; the emotional, physical, and financial challenges of preparing for the exam; and the ways in which they experienced the exam as biased.
Exploring Social Work Practitioners’ Perspectives on the Contributors to Burnout since the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Childs Tasha M , Iachini Aidyn L , Reitmeier Melissa , Browne Teri , DeHart Dana , Bengel Ala , Haynesworth My’Ashia
Published: February 2024

Burnout has a historic and disproportionate impact on social workers and is one important contributor to the ongoing health and behavioral health workforce crisis in the United States. Little is known, however, about social workers’ experiences of burnout and their perceptions of factors that contribute to burnout since the COVID-19 pandemic. This study sought to explore this by answering the following research questions: (a) To what extent are social workers in South Carolina experiencing burnout? and (b) What do South Carolina social workers view as the top reasons for burnout in their professional role? Seventy social work practitioners and leaders from South Carolina completed an online survey during Fall 2022 that included the Copenhagen Burnout Inventory and an open-ended question focused on identifying their perceptions of the top three reasons for burnout in the profession. Findings suggest that social workers in this study are experiencing moderate levels of burnout since the COVID-19 pandemic and report primarily organizational (83 percent) contributors to burnout. They also identified individual (36 percent), systemic (29 percent), and interpersonal (27 percent) contributors to burnout. Implications are discussed related to policy and practice responses to prevent and address burnout among social workers.
Applying a Novel Approach to Understanding Social Worker Job Retention during the Pandemic
Authors: Kranke Derrick Alan , Kranke Bridget , Solorzano Emily , Gioia Debbie , Dobalian Aram
Published: February 2024

The job demands–resources (JD-R) theory explicates factors that facilitated social worker burnout prepandemic. Authors believe the JD-R theory can illustrate how certain factors facilitated social worker job retention in the novel context of the pandemic because a sizable group of social workers resisted burnout-related turnover. Disseminating these factors can benefit the profession. Qualitative cross-sectional data were elicited from a semistructured interview about experiences of U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) outpatient social workers (N = 13) who provided care during the pandemic. Authors conducted content analysis and coded the text into six themes of factors that facilitated retention: (1) commitment to serving veteran population, (2) job flexibility, (3) supportive colleagues, (4) leadership support, (5) maintaining normal routines, and (6) trusting in scientific/evidence-based practices. Application of the JD-R theory illustrated how social workers utilized specific resources that balanced job demands during the pandemic and facilitated job retention. Future work should apply the JD-R theory among larger samples of VA social workers, as well as non-VA social workers, in the context of the pandemic, for comparative purposes. Authors conclude with policy implications related to the impact of permanently allowing telework options and job flexibility options among social workers.
Caregiving and Obesity among Black American Adults
Authors: Ellis Katrina R , Raji Dolapo , Pennings Jacquelyn S , Thorpe Roland J , Bruce Marino A
Published: February 2024

Black American adults often report higher rates of obesity and caregiving compared with other racial or ethnic groups. Consequently, many Black American caregivers and care recipients are obese or have obesity-related chronic conditions (e.g., diabetes, hypertension). This study investigated associations between caregiving and obesity among Black Americans, including the role of health behaviors and chronic conditions. The sample included data from 2015 and 2017 Behavioral Risk Factor Surveillance System for non-Hispanic Black (NHB) or African American adult caregivers (n = 2,562) and noncaregivers (n = 7,027). The association between obesity (dependent variable) and caregiving status, fruit consumption, vegetable consumption, physical activity, and number of chronic conditions (independent variables) were evaluated using hierarchical binomial logistic regressions. Caregiving, being female, and chronic conditions were associated with higher odds of obesity, while physical activity was associated with lower odds of obesity. Physical activity, diet, and chronic conditions did not account for differences in obesity among caregiving and noncaregiving Black Americans. Increasing understanding of health behaviors and chronic disease burden of NHB caregivers has implications for programs aiming to improve obesity-related outcomes for caregivers and recipients. Future research should investigate multilevel factors that contribute to observed differences.
Clockor2: Inferring Global and Local Strict Molecular Clocks Using Root-to-Tip Regression
Authors: Featherstone Leo A , Rambaut Andrew , Duchene Sebastian , Wirth Wytamma
Published: February 2024

Molecular sequence data from rapidly evolving organisms are often sampled at different points in time. Sampling times can then be used for molecular clock calibration. The root-to-tip (RTT) regression is an essential tool to assess the degree to which the data behave in a clock-like fashion. Here, we introduce Clockor2, a client-side web application for conducting RTT regression. Clockor2 allows users to quickly fit local and global molecular clocks, thus handling the increasing complexity of genomic datasets that sample beyond the assumption of homogeneous host populations. Clockor2 is efficient, handling trees of up to the order of 104 tips, with significant speed increases compared with other RTT regression applications. Although clockor2 is written as a web application, all data processing happens on the client-side, meaning that data never leave the user’s computer. Clockor2 is freely available at https://clockor2.github.io/.
Comparative transcriptomics of the chilling stress response in two Asian mangrove species, Bruguiera gymnorhiza and Rhizophora apiculata
Authors: Short Aidan W , Sebastian John Sunoj V , Huang Jie , Wang Guannan , Dassanayake Maheshi , Finnegan Patrick M , Parker John D , Cao Kun-Fang , Wee Alison K S
Published: February 2024

Low temperatures largely determine the geographic limits of plant species by reducing survival and growth. Inter-specific differences in the geographic distribution of mangrove species have been associated with cold tolerance, with exclusively tropical species being highly cold-sensitive and subtropical species being relatively cold-tolerant. To identify species-specific adaptations to low temperatures, we compared the chilling stress response of two widespread Indo-West Pacific mangrove species from Rhizophoraceae with differing latitudinal range limits—Bruguiera gymnorhiza (L.) Lam. ex Savigny (subtropical range limit) and Rhizophora apiculata Blume (tropical range limit). For both species, we measured the maximum photochemical efficiency of photosystem II (Fv/Fm) as a proxy for the physiological condition of the plants and examined gene expression profiles during chilling at 15 and 5 °C. At 15 °C, B. gymnorhiza maintained a significantly higher Fv/Fm than R. apiculata. However, at 5 °C, both species displayed equivalent Fv/Fm values. Thus, species-specific differences in chilling tolerance were only found at 15 °C, and both species were sensitive to chilling at 5 °C. At 15 °C, B. gymnorhiza downregulated genes related to the light reactions of photosynthesis and upregulated a gene involved in cyclic electron flow regulation, whereas R. apiculata downregulated more RuBisCo-related genes. At 5 °C, both species repressed genes related to CO2 assimilation. The downregulation of genes related to light absorption and upregulation of genes related to cyclic electron flow regulation are photoprotective mechanisms that likely contributed to the greater photosystem II photochemical efficiency of B. gymnorhiza at 15 °C. The results of this study provide evidence that the distributional range limits and potentially the expansion rates of plant species are associated with differences in the regulation of photosynthesis and photoprotective mechanisms under low temperatures.
Single centre analysis of factors influencing surgical treatment of splenic trauma in children
Authors: Zhao Jun Gang , Hao Chen-Xiang , Xu Yong-Gen , Liu Feng , Zhu Guo-Ji
Published: February 2024

Objective

This study aims to investigate determinants impacting the surgical management of splenic trauma in paediatric patients by scrutinizing age distribution, etiological factors and concomitant injuries. The analysis seeks to establish a foundation for delineating optimal operative timing.

Methods

A cohort of 262 paediatric cases presenting with splenic trauma at our institution from January 2011 to December 2021 underwent categorization into either the conservative or operative group.

Results

Significantly disparate attributes between the two groups included age, time of presentation, blood pressure, haemoglobin levels, blood transfusion requirements, thermal absorption, American Association for the Surgery of Trauma (AAST) classification and associated injuries. Logistic regression analysis revealed age, haemoglobin levels, AAST classification and blood transfusion as autonomous influencers of surgical intervention (OR = 1.024, 95% CI: 1.011–1.037; OR = 1.067, 95% CI: 1.01–1.127; OR = 0.2760, 95% CI: 0.087–0.875; OR = 7.873, 95% CI: 2.442–25.382; OR = 0.016, 95% CI: 0.002–0.153). The AAST type and age demonstrated areas under the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve of 0.782 and 0.618, respectively.

Conclusion

Age, haemoglobin levels, AAST classification and blood transfusion independently influence the decision for surgical intervention in paediatric patients with splenic trauma. Age and AAST classification emerge as viable parameters for assessing and prognosticating the likelihood of surgical intervention in this patient cohort.
Evolution of the syrinx of Apodiformes, including the vocal-learning Trochilidae (Aves: Strisores)
Authors: Legendre Lucas J , Rodríguez-Saltos Carlos A , Eliason Chad M , Clarke Julia A
Published: February 2024

The vocal organ of birds, the syrinx, represents a key innovation in the evolutionary history of vertebrate communication. Three major avian clades: passerines, parrots, and hummingbirds, independently acquired both specialized syringeal structures and vocal-production learning, between which a functional relationship has been proposed but remains poorly understood. In hummingbirds, the syrinx has never been studied comparatively alongside non-learning relatives in the parent clade Strisores. Here we describe the anatomy of the syrinx in three swift species using enhanced-contrast computed tomography, which reveals structures previously unreported in the clade. We also tested for correlations between syringeal and acoustic traits in a sample of hummingbirds and swifts using phylogenetically informed regressions. The swift syrinx presents lateral labia located on the first pair of bronchial half-rings, which are present in hummingbirds and may be ancestral to Strisores. The further enlarged lateral labia of hummingbirds are found to be significantly correlated to the reduction in length of their trachea and m. tracheolateralis. Acquisition of intrinsic muscles and loss of the sternotrachealis muscle co-occur with these shifts. We recover a significant negative correlation between tracheal elongation and maximum vocalization frequency, suggesting that tracheal shortening in hummingbirds facilitated the acquisition of high-frequency vocalizing.
Does Medicare Insurance Mitigate Racial/Ethnic Disparities in Access to Lumbar Spinal Surgery When Compared to Commercial Insurance?
Authors: Herrera Michael M. , Tiao Justin , Rosenberg Ashley , Zubizarreta Nicole , Poeran Jashvant , Chaudhary Saad B.
Published: February 2024

Study Design:

Retrospective cohort study.

Objective:

Compare disparities in lumbar surgical care utilization in Commercially insured versus Medicare patients.

Summary of Background Data:

While disparities in spinal surgery have been previously described, less evidence exists on effective strategies to mitigate them. Theoretically, universal health care coverage under Medicare should improve health care access.

Materials and Methods:

Utilizing National Inpatient Sample data (2003–2018), we included inpatient lumbar discectomy or laminectomy/fusion cases in black, white, or Hispanic patients aged 18–74 years, with Commercial or Medicare insurance. A multivariable Poisson distribution model determined race/ethnicity subgroup-specific rate ratios (RRs) of patients undergoing lumbar surgery compared to their respective population distribution (using US Census data) based on race/ethnicity, region, gender, primary payor, and age (Commercially insured age subgroups: 18–39, 40–54, and 55–64 y; Medicare age subgroup: 65–74 y).

Results:

Of the 2,310,956 lumbar spine procedures included, 88.9%, 6.1%, and 5.0% represented white, black, and Hispanic patients, respectively. Among Commercially insured patients, black and Hispanic (compared to white) patients had lower rates of surgical care utilization; however, these disparities decreased with increasing age: black (RR=0.37, 95% CI: 0.37–0.38) and Hispanic patients (RR=0.53, 95% CI: 0.52–0.54) aged 18–39 years versus black (RR=0.72, 95% CI: 0.71–0.73) and Hispanic patients (RR=0.64, 95% CI: 0.63–0.65) aged 55–64 years. Racial/ethnic disparities persisted in Medicare patients, especially when compared to the neighboring age subgroup that was Commercially insured: black (RR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.60–0.62) and Hispanic patients (RR=0.61, 95% CI: 0.60–0.61) under Medicare.

Conclusions:

Disparities in surgical care utilization among black and Hispanic patients persist regardless of health care coverage, and an expansion of Medicare eligibility alone may not comprehensively address health care disparities.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
The Burden of Back and Neck Strains and Sprains in Professional Baseball Players
Authors: Makhni Melvin C. , Curriero Frank C. , Yeung Caleb M. , Leung Eric , Kvit Anton , Ahmad Christopher S. , Lehman Ronald A.
Published: February 2024

Study Design:

A retrospective case series study.

Objective:

To analyze the epidemiology of diagnoses of back and neck strains and sprains among Major League (MLB) and Minor League (MiLB) Baseball players.

Background:

Baseball players perform unique sets of repetitive movements that may predispose to neck and back strains and sprains. Data are lacking concerning the epidemiology of these diagnoses in this population.

Materials and Methods:

De-identified data on neck/back strains and sprains were collected from all MLB and MiLB teams from 2011 to 2016 using the MLB-commissioned Health and Injury Tracking System database. Diagnosis rates of conditions related to cervical, thoracic, and lumbar musculature and their impact on days missed due to injury, player participation, and season or career-ending status were assessed. Injury rates were reported as injuries per 1000 athlete exposures (AEs).

Results:

There were 3447 cases of neck/back strains and sprains in professional baseball players from 2011 to 2016. Seven hundred twenty-one of these occurred in MLB versus 2726 in MiLB. Of injuries 136 were season-ending (26 in MLB, 110 in MiLB); 22 were career-ending (2 in MLB, 20 in MiLB). The total days missed were 39,118 (8838 from MLB and 30,280 from MiLB). Excluding season or career-ending injuries, the mean days missed were 11.8 (12.7 and 11.6 in MLB and MiLB, respectively). The median days missed were 4 (3 and 5 in MLB and MiLB, respectively). Combining MLB and MiLB, the pitcher injury rate was 1.893 per 1000 AEs versus 0.743 per 1000 Aes for other position players (P < 0.0001).

Conclusion:

There was a high incidence of neck/back strains and sprains in MLB and MiLB players, with nearly 40,000 aggregate days missed in our 6-year study period. The median days missed were lower than the mean days missed, indicating rightward outliers. Pitchers had over double the rates of injuries compared with other position players.

Level of Evidence:

Level III.
Antihypertensive Effect of Sodium-Glucose Cotransporter 2 Inhibitors and Glucagon-like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonists
Authors: Tadic Marijana , Cuspidi Cesare
Published: February 2024

An increasing body of evidence shows that new antidiabetic drugs—particularly sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors and glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists—have a beneficial effect on cardiovascular outcome. The majority of these studies have been performed in patients with heart failure and the results have shown first positive effect on blood pressure (BP) reduction. These effects are more pronounced with SGLT2 inhibitors than with GLP-1 receptor agonists. However, the reasons and mechanisms of action inducing BP reduction are still not sufficiently clear. Proposed mechanisms of SGLT2 inhibitors involve the natriuretic effect, modification of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system, and/or the reduction in the sympathetic nervous system. GLP-1 receptor agonists have several mechanisms that are related to glycemic, weight, and BP control. Current data show that SGLT2 inhibitors have a stronger antihypertensive effect than GLP-1 receptor agonists, which is mainly related to their renal effect. Briefly, SGLT2 inhibitors increase the response to diuretics and decrease the meal-related antinatriuretic pressure by lowering post-prandial hyperglycemia and hyperinsulinemia and prevent proximal sodium reabsorption. SGLT2 inhibitors can be used as second-line therapy in patients with diabetes mellitus or heart disease and concomitant hypertension. This article aims to summarize current knowledge regarding the antihypertensive effect of SGLT2 inhibitors and GLP-1 receptor agonists.
Home Blood Pressure Monitoring and Its Association With Blood Pressure Control Among Hypertensive Patients With High Cardiovascular Risk in China
Authors: Li Jiaying , Tian Aoxi , Liu Jiamin , Ge Jinzhuo , Peng Yue , Su Xiaoming , Li Jing
Published: February 2024

Objective:

Home blood pressure monitoring (HBPM) is viewed as a facilitating factor in the initial diagnosis and long-term management of treated hypertension. However, evidence remains scarce about the effectiveness of HBPM use in the real world. This study aimed to examine the associations of HBPM use with blood pressure (BP) control and medication adherence.

Methods:

This prospective cohort study included hypertensive patients with high cardiovascular risk who were aged ≥50 years. At baseline, information about types of BP monitor, frequency of HBPM, perception of anti-hypertensive treatment, and measured office BP were collected. During the 1-year follow-up (visits at 1, 2, 3, 6, and 12 months), information on medication adherence was collected at each visit. The 2 major outcomes were BP control at baseline and medication adherence during the 1-year follow-up. A log-binomial regression model was used to examine the association between frequency of HBPM and outcomes, stratified by the perceptions of anti-hypertensive treatment.

Results:

A total of 5,363 hypertensive patients were included in the analysis. The age was (64.6 ± 7.2) years, and 41.2% (2,208) were female. Of the total patients, 85.9% (4,606) had a home BP monitor and 47.8% (2,564) had an incorrect perception of anti-hypertensive treatment. Overall, 24.2% (1,299) of patients monitored their BP daily, 37.6% (2,015) weekly, 17.3% (926) monthly, and 20.9% (1,123) less than monthly. At baseline, the systolic BP and diastolic BP were (146.6 ± 10.8) mmHg and (81.9 ± 10.6) mmHg, respectively, and 28.5% (1,527) of patients had their BP controlled. Regardless of whether the patients had correct or incorrect perceptions of anti-hypertensive treatment, there is no significant association between HBPM frequency and BP control at baseline. During the 1-year follow-up, 23.9% (1,280) of patients had non-adherence to medications at least once. In patients with an incorrect perception of anti-hypertensive treatment, those monitoring BP most frequently (daily) had the highest non-adherence rate (29.9%, 175/585). Compared with those monitoring their BP less than monthly, patients who monitored their BP daily were more likely not to adhere to anti-hypertensive medications (adjusted relative risk = 1.38, 95% confidence interval: 1.11–1.72, P = 0.004).

Conclusions:

HBPM performance among hypertensive patients in China is, in general, sub-optimal. No association was observed between using HBPM alone and hypertension control, indicating that the effects of HBPM could be conditional. Patients’ misconceptions about anti-hypertensive treatment may impair the role of BP monitoring in achieving medication adherence. Fully incorporating the correct perception of hypertension into the management of hypertensive patients is needed.
Salivary Therapeutic Monitoring of Buprenorphine in Neonates After Maternal Sublingual Dosing Guided by Physiologically Based Pharmacokinetic Modeling
Authors: Alsmadi Mo'tasem M.
Published: February 2024

Background:

Opioid use disorder (OUD) during pregnancy is associated with high mortality rates and neonatal opioid withdrawal syndrome (NOWS). Buprenorphine, an opioid, is used to treat OUD and NOWS. Buprenorphine active metabolite (norbuprenorphine) can cross the placenta and cause neonatal respiratory depression (EC50 = 35 ng/mL) at high brain extracellular fluid (bECF) levels. Neonatal therapeutic drug monitoring using saliva decreases the likelihood of distress and infections associated with frequent blood sampling.

Methods:

An adult physiologically based pharmacokinetic model for buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine after intravenous and sublingual administration was constructed, vetted, and scaled to newborn and pregnant populations. The pregnancy model predicted that buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine doses would be transplacentally transferred to the newborns. The newborn physiologically based pharmacokinetic model was used to estimate the buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine levels in newborn plasma, bECF, and saliva after these doses.

Results:

After maternal sublingual administration of buprenorphine (4 mg/d), the estimated plasma concentrations of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine in newborns exceeded the toxicity thresholds for 8 and 24 hours, respectively. However, the norbuprenorphine bECF levels were lower than the respiratory depression threshold. Furthermore, the salivary buprenorphine threshold levels in newborns for buprenorphine analgesia, norbuprenorphine analgesia, and norbuprenorphine hypoventilation were observed to be 22, 2, and 162 ng/mL.

Conclusions:

Using neonatal saliva for buprenorphine therapeutic drug monitoring can facilitate newborn safety during the maternal treatment of OUD using sublingual buprenorphine. Nevertheless, the suitability of using adult values of respiratory depression EC50 for newborns must be confirmed.
Resilience and related factors in caregivers of adult cancer patients: a systematic review
Authors: Mollaei Fereshteh , Sharif Nia Hamid , Pouralizadeh Moluk , Karkhah Samad , Javadi-Pashaki Nazila , Ghorbani Vajargah Pooyan
Published: February 2024

Background:

This systematic review aimed to investigate resilience and its related factors in caregivers of adult patients with cancer.

Materials and methods:

A systematic search of online electronic databases including Scopus, PubMed, Web of Science, Iranmedex, and Scientific Information Database (SID) was performed using keywords extracted from Medical Subject Headings such as “Psychological Resilience”, “Caregiver”, and “Cancer” from the earliest to 6 June 2023. The quality of the studies included in this review was evaluated using the appraisal tool for cross-sectional studies (AXIS tool).

Results:

A total of 2735 caregivers of cancer patients participated in 15 studies. The majority of the studies found that caregivers of cancer patients had high levels of resilience. Factors related to the resilience of cancer patients’ caregivers included caregivers’ social support, caregivers’ quality of life, patients’ resilience, caregivers’ family function, patients’ performance, caregivers’ age, caregivers’ health status, caregivers’ self-esteem, caregivers post-traumatic growth, caregivers religious, caregivers hope, caregivers positive affect, patients age, patients social support, patients resilience support, patients quality of life, caregivers’ anxiety, caregivers’ depression, caregivers’ burden, caregivers level of education, caregivers financial problem, caregivers memory, caregivers negative affect, caregivers post-traumatic stress disorder, maternal distress, and patients post-traumatic stress disorder.

Conclusion:

Therefore, healthcare administrators and policymakers can enhance the resilience of caregivers and the quality of care they provide by instituting ongoing training initiatives focused on evaluating mental well-being and implementing coping strategies for managing stress and depression.