bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Confessions in the Criminal Process
Authors: Ho Hock Lai 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThis article undertakes a theoretical exploration of the roles that confessions can play in the criminal process and of the importance that is placed on their voluntariness. It draws on contemporary and historical sources, as well as materials from different legal systems and traditions. Three possible perspectives on the topic are identified: the moral, the epistemic and the political. Adopting each of these perspectives in turn, I set out three distinct dimensions of confessions in the criminal process. In my account of each dimension, voluntariness is construed in the light of a particular understanding of confessions that is conceptually tied to a particular understanding of the criminal process. The conclusion remarks on the interplay of the three dimensions.
Variants of uncertain significance in prenatal microarrays: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Mardy AH , Wiita AP , Wayman BV , Drexler K , Sparks TN , Norton ME 
Published: July 2020

ObjectiveTo categorise the variants of uncertain significance found with prenatal chromosomal microarray and determine the proportion of such variants that are associated with a well‐known phenotype in order to establish how often they remain truly of uncertain significance.DesignRetrospective cohort study.SettingThe University of California, San Francisco.PopulationAll patients with a variant of uncertain significance on prenatal microarray between 2014 and 2018.MethodsEach variant was classified as a copy number variant that (a) contains Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM)‐annotated disease‐causing genes (‘OMIM morbid genes’); (b) confers autosomal recessive carrier status; (c) is associated with incomplete penetrance; (d) is >1 Mb in size without OMIM morbid genes; (e) demonstrates mosaicism; or (f) contains significant regions of homozygosity. For each variant of uncertain significance, we examined the existing literature to determine whether the predicted phenotype(s) was known.Main outcome measurePrevalence and classification of variants and how much information is available regarding the likelihood of an affected phenotype.ResultsOf 970 prenatal microarrays, 55 (5.8%) had at least one variant of uncertain significance. The most common were copy number variants containing OMIM morbid genes (36.8%). In all, 48 (84.2%) were associated with a known phenotype; 55 (96.5%) had data available regarding the likelihood of an affected phenotype.ConclusionsThe prevalence of variants of uncertain significance with prenatal microarray was 5.8%. In the large majority of cases, data were available regarding the predicted phenotype.Tweetable abstractVariants of uncertain significance occur in 5.8% of prenatal microarrays. In the overwhelming majority of cases, outcome information is available.
Public insurance expansions and mental health care availability
Authors: Blunt Elson Oshman , Maclean Johanna Catherine , Popovici Ioana , Marcus Steven C. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractObjectiveTo provide new evidence on the effects of large‐scale public health insurance expansions, associated with the Affordable Care Act (ACA), on the availability of specialty mental health care treatment in the United States. We measure availability with the probability that a provider accepts Medicaid.Data Source/Study SettingThe National Mental Health Services Survey (N‐MHSS) 2010‐2018.Study DesignA quasi‐experimental differences‐in‐differences design using observational data.Data CollectionThe N‐MHSS provides administrative data on the universe of specialty mental health care providers in the United States. Response rates are above 90 percent in all years. Data cover 85 019 provider/year observations.Principal FindingsACA‐Medicaid expansion increases the probability that a provider accepts Medicaid by 1.69 percentage points, 95 percent confidence interval: [0.0017,0.0321], which corresponds to an increase from 87.27 percent pre‐expansion to 90.27 percent postexpansion in expansion states or a 1.94 percent increase. We observe spillovers to Medicare, although this finding is sensitive to specification.ConclusionsThis study provides evidence on the impact of ACA‐Medicaid expansion on accepted forms of payment for specialty mental health care treatment. Findings suggest that expansion increases availability of providers who deliver valuable care for enrollees with severe mental illness. These findings may help policy makers reflecting on the future directions of the US health care delivery system.
RTN4B‐mediated suppression of Sirtuin 2 activity ameliorates β‐amyloid pathology and cognitive impairment in Alzheimer's disease mouse model
Authors: Wang Yan , Yang Jing‐Qi , Hong Ting-Ting , Sun Yuan‐Hong , Huang Hai‐Li , Chen Feng , Chen Xiong‐Jin , Chen Hui‐Yi , Dong Shan‐Shan , Cui Li‐Li , Yang Tie‐Lin 
Published: July 2020

AbstractSirtuin 2 (SIRT2) is an NAD+ dependent deacetylase that is the most abundant sirtuin protein in the brain. Accumulating evidence revealed the role of SIRT2 in a wide range of biological processes and age‐related diseases. However, the pivotal mechanism of SIRT2 played in Alzheimer's disease (AD) remains unknown. Here, we report that pharmacological inactivation of SIRT2 has a beneficial effect in AD. The deacetylase inhibitor of SIRT2 rescued the cognitive impairment in amyloid precursor protein/presenilin 1 transgenic mouse (APP/PS1 mouse), and the BACE1 cleavage was weakened to reduce the β‐amyloid (Aβ) production in the hippocampus. Moreover, we firstly identified that Reticulon 4B (RTN4B) played a crucial role between SIRT2/BACE1 regulation in AD. RTN4B, as a deacetylation substrate for SIRT2, the deacetylation by SIRT2 drived the ubiquitination and degradation of RTN4B and then the disturbed RTN4B interacted with and influenced the expression of BACE1. When we overexpressed RTN4B in neurons of the hippocampus in the AD mouse model, the abnormal Aβ accumulation and cognitive impairment were ameliorated, consistent with the results of SIRT2 inhibition in vivo. Moreover, we showed that the regulatory effect of SIRT2 on BACE1 is dependent on RTN4B. When RTN4B was knocked down, the effects of SIRT2 inhibition on the BACE1 level, Aβ pathology, and AD‐liked behaviors were also blocked. Collectively, we provide evidence that SIRT2 may be a potential target for AD; the new found SIRT2/RTN4B/BACE1 pathological pathway is one of the critical mechanisms for the improvement of SIRT2 on AD.
Perceived safety of smoking a few cigarettes during pregnancy and provider advice in a sample of pregnant smokers from Romania
Authors: Jaber Rana , Blaga Oana M. , Dascal Marina D. , Meghea Cristian I. 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimsTo assess the prevalence of the perceived safety of smoking a few (generally fewer than five per day) cigarettes during pregnancy and identify associated factors in a sample of pregnant smokers in Romania, a middle‐income country.Design and SettingCross‐sectional design with a convenience sample using a polled data set collected between 2016 and 2019 in the formative and baseline phases of the Quit Together randomized control trial (RCT) in Romania. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered by research assistants in clinics in the formative phase and self‐administered through the study website at the RCT baseline.ParticipantsA total of 217 pregnant smokers (mean age = 28.5 ± 5.8) enrolled in the formative and RCT phases of the research project.MeasurementsThe main outcome was the perceived safety of smoking a few cigarettes during pregnancy (generally fewer than five per day). Covariates included the health‐care providers’ advice towards smoking tobacco cigarettes during pregnancy, socio‐demographics, the presence of depression and anxiety symptoms and level of nicotine dependence.FindingsMore than 35% of participants agreed that smoking a few cigarettes during pregnancy was safe for them and their baby. The perceived safety of smoking a few cigarettes during pregnancy was significantly associated with being told by health‐care providers that it is acceptable to continue to smoke cigarettes in small amounts [odds ratio (OR) = 3.08; 95% CI = 1.35–6.99; P < 0.01], perceived harm reduction of smoking light cigarettes (OR = 2.67; 95% CI = 1.19–5.97; P = 0.02) and moderate to severe depression and anxiety score (OR = 0.34; 95% CI = 0.13–0.84; P = 0.02).ConclusionsMore than one‐third of pregnant Romanian women appear to believe that smoking ‘a few’ cigarettes during pregnancy is safe for them and their fetuses. Those who are told by their health‐care providers that it is acceptable to smoke in small amounts during pregnancy have higher odds of perceiving smoking ‘a few’ cigarettes during pregnancy as safe compared with other pregnant Romanian women.
Design, synthesis and antiamoebic activity of dysprosium‐based nanoparticles using contact lenses as carriers against Acanthamoeba sp.
Authors: Kusrini Eny , Sabira Klanita , Hashim Fatimah , Abdullah Nurul Aliah , Usman Anwar , Putra Nandy , Prasetyanto Eko Adi 
Published: July 2020

AbstractPurposeContact lenses have direct contact with the corneal surface and can induce sight‐threatening infection of the cornea known as Acanthamoeba keratitis. The objective of this study was to evaluate the dysprosium‐based nanoparticles (Dy‐based NPs), namely Fe3O4‐PEG‐Dy2O3 nanocomposites and Dy(OH)3 nanorods, as an active component against Acanthamoeba sp., as well as the possibility of their loading onto contact lenses as the drug administering vehicle to treat Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).MethodsThe Dy‐based NPs were synthesized, and they were loaded onto commercial contact lenses. The loading content of the NPs and their release kinetics was determined based on the absorbance of their colloidal solution before and after soaking the contact lenses. The cytotoxicity of the NPs was evaluated, and the IC50 values of their antiamoebic activity against Acanthamoeba sp. were determined by MTT colorimetric assay, followed by observation on the morphological changes by using light microscopy. The mechanism of action of the Dy‐based NPs against Acanthamoeba sp. was evaluated by DNA laddering assays.ResultsThe loading efficiencies of the Dy‐based NPs onto the contact lens were in the range of 30.6–36.1% with respect to their initial concentration (0.5 mg ml–1). The Dy NPs were released with the flux approximately 5.5–11 μg cm–2 hr–1, and the release was completed within 10 hr. The emission of the NPs consistently showed a peak at 575 nm due to Dy3+ ion, offering the possible monitoring and tracking of the NPs. The SEM images indicated the NPs are aggregated on the surface of the contact lenses. The DNA ladder assay suggested that the cells underwent DNA fragmentation, and the cell death was due most probably to necrosis, rather than apoptosis. The cytotoxicity assay of Acanthamoeba sp. suggested that Fe3O4‐PEG, Fe3O4‐PEG‐Dy2O3, Dy(NO3)3.6H2O and Dy(OH)3 NPs have an antiamoebic activity with the IC50 value being 4.5, 5.0, 9.5 and 22.5 μg ml–1, respectively.ConclusionsOverall findings in this study suggested that the Dy‐based NPs can be considered as active antiamoebic agents and possess the potential as drugs against Acanthamoeba sp. The NPs could be loaded onto the contact lenses; thus, they can be potentially utilized to treat Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK).
Reactions to male‐favouring versus female‐favouring sex differences: A pre‐registered experiment and Southeast Asian replication
Authors: Stewart‐Williams Steve , Chang Chern Yi Marybeth , Wong Xiu Ling , Blackburn Jesse D. , Thomas Andrew G. 
Published: July 2020

Two studies investigated (1) how people react to research describing a sex difference, depending on whether that difference favours males or females, and (2) how accurately people can predict how the average man and woman will react. In Study 1, Western participants (N = 492) viewed a fictional popular‐science article describing either a male‐favouring or a female‐favouring sex difference (i.e., men/women draw better; women/men lie more). Both sexes reacted less positively to the male‐favouring differences, judging the findings to be less important, less credible, and more offensive, harmful, and upsetting. Participants predicted that the average man and woman would react more positively to sex differences favouring their own sex. This was true of the average woman, although the level of own‐sex favouritism was lower than participants predicted. It was not true, however, of the average man, who – like the average woman – reacted more positively to the female‐favouring differences. Study 2 replicated these findings in a Southeast Asian sample (N = 336). Our results are consistent with the idea that both sexes are more protective of women than men, but that both exaggerate the level of same‐sex favouritism within each sex – a misconception that could potentially harm relations between the sexes.
The fatigue crack growth behaviour of 2524‐T3 aluminium alloy in an Al2O3 particle environment
Authors: Chen Yuqiang , Tang Zhenheng , Pan Suping , Liu Wenhui , Song Yufeng , Liu Yang , Zhu Biwu 
Published: July 2020

AbstractThe effect of the Al2O3 dust environment on the crack propagation behaviour of 2524‐T3 Al alloy was investigated. The results show that the Al2O3 dust environment reduces the fatigue crack growth rate (FCGR) of alloy especially at low ΔK. Many Al2O3 particles are deposited and stuck in the crack during fatigue loading which promotes crack closure, while this effect is gradually weakened with the increase of ΔK. The deposited Al2O3 particles induce the disorderly arranged slip bands (SBs) ahead of the crack tip which deflects the crack path making it more tortuous in the Al2O3 dust.
Clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of haemophilic pseudotumor: A retrospective analysis of thirty‐four patients
Authors: Lin Shiyuan , Tong Kai , Wang Gang , Zhong Ziyi , Cao Shenglu , Feng Zihang 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimsHaemophilic pseudotumor (HPT) is a rare but challenging complication of haemophilia. This study was intended to provide our experience about clinical characteristics and surgical treatment of HPT.MethodsClinical medical records were retrieved from the Hemophilia Center, Nanfang Hospital, to identify the patients who had been surgically treated from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2017 with a definite diagnosis of HPT. Their clinical features, surgical management, outcomes and complications after surgery were analysed.ResultsWe identified 34 patients with HPT who had surgical treatment over a 12‐year period and five of them had multiple HPTs. The incidence of HPT at this centre was 2.3% over the dozen years. A previous trauma leading to the development of HPT was reported in 18 cases (52.9%). The HPT affected only soft tissue in 7 patients, bone and soft tissue in 25 ones and joint in 2 ones. Preoperative infection and fistula formation happened in ten patients, two of whom were related to abdominal HPTs. Enterococcus faecalis was cultured in five cases with fistula formation. HPT associated with pathological fracture was observed in five cases, two of whom were treated by external fixation and 3 by HPT resection and metallic internal fixation. Amputation was performed for nine patients, 6 of whom had preoperative infection and fistula formation. Their follow‐up duration averaged 4.2 ± 2.9 years (range, from 1 to 13.5 years) after surgery. Of all our cases, three suffered from postoperative infection, five from recurrence of HPT and two with external fixation from fracture non‐union.ConclusionsHPT patients with preoperative infection had worse prognosis than those without. Surgical treatment plus intensive replacement therapy was effective for HPT but with a high rate of complications. HPT resection and metallic internal fixation rather than external fixation should be recommended for HPT patients with pathological fracture.
Shared decision making in surgery: A scoping review of the literature
Authors: Niburski Kacper , Guadagno Elena , Mohtashami Sadaf , Poenaru Dan 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundShared decision making (SDM) has been increasingly implemented to improve health‐care outcomes. Despite the mixed efficacy of SDM to provide better patient‐guided care, its use in surgery has not been studied. The aim of this study was to systematically review SDM application in surgery.DesignThe search strategy, developed with a medical librarian, included nine databases from inception until June 2019. After a 2‐person title and abstract screen, full‐text publications were analysed. Data collected included author, year, surgical discipline, location, study duration, type of decision aid, survey methodology and variable outcomes. Quantitative and qualitative cross‐sectional studies, as well as RCTs, were included.ResultsA total of 6060 studies were retrieved. A total of 148 were included in the final review. The majority of the studies were in plastic surgery, followed by general surgery and orthopaedics. The use of SDM decreased surgical intervention rate (12 of 22), decisional conflict (25 of 29), and decisional regret (5 of 5), and increased decisional satisfaction (17 of 21), knowledge (33 of 35), SDM preference (13 of 16), and physician trust (4 of 6). Time increase per patient encounter was inconclusive. Cross‐sectional studies showed that patients prefer shared treatment and surgical treatment varied less. The results of SDM per type of decision aid vary in terms of their outcome.ConclusionSDM in surgery decreases decisional conflict, anxiety and surgical intervention rates, while increasing knowledge retained decisional satisfaction, quality and physician trust. Surgical patients also appear to prefer SDM paradigms. SDM appears beneficial in surgery and therefore worth promoting and expanding in use.
Is it worth it?: The experiences of persons with multiple sclerosis as they access health care to manage their condition
Authors: Pétrin Julie , Donnelly Catherine , McColl Mary‐Ann , Finlayson Marcia 
Published: July 2020

AbstractBackgroundPeople with multiple sclerosis (MS) require complex care throughout life. Canadians with MS are high users of health‐care services, yet still report unmet health‐care needs and low satisfaction with services received.ObjectiveThis study aimed to investigate the health‐care access experiences of Ontarians with MS as they manage their condition.Design and ParticipantsInterpretive description guided data collection and analysis. Forty‐eight people living across seven communities participated. Thirty‐eight participated in one of five focus groups; the remaining 10 participated in an individual semi‐structured interview.ResultsParticipants described the experience of accessing care as a decisional process, guided by a form of cost‐benefit analysis. The process determined whether seeking conventional health‐care services ‘is worth it’. Most participants felt that the energy and resources required to access the health‐care system outweighed their expected outcomes, based on past experiences. Participants who did not see the benefit of care seeking turned to self‐treatment, use of complementary and alternative services, and engaged in patterns of health‐care avoidance until a crisis arose.Discussion and ConclusionFindings suggest that a renewed effort to promote patient‐centred care and a biopsychosocial approach may improve the health‐care access experiences of persons with MS and reduce service avoidance.
The need for and value of nurse and midwife prescribing: Findings from an Irish research investigation
Authors: Wilson Donna M. , Fahy Anne , Nam Mavis A. , Murphy Jill 
Published: July 2020

AbstractAimThe aim of this study is to determine the need for and value of nurse and midwife prescribing in Ireland as identified by these prescribers—the people most able to provide relevant insights and information.BackgroundSince 2007, nurses and midwives in Ireland who have passed an additional educational program can prescribe medicinal products relative to their clinical practice areas. Research evidence of efficacy is needed now for prescribing sustainability in Ireland and to encourage, if successful, the adoption or expansion of frontline nurse/midwife prescribing rights in other countries.DesignA qualitative study was undertaken.MethodsInterviews with registered nurse and midwife prescribers were conducted in 2017 until data saturation. Constant‐comparative coding and categorization of data revealed themes and categories, with explanatory quotes for research trustworthiness and credibility purposes.ResultsSix data themes emerged: (a) more than just writing prescriptions; (b) highly individualized evidence‐based specialist care; (c) assured, timely and rapid accessibility to needed care; (d) health system and healthcare efficiency gains; (e) satisfaction with nurse/midwife prescriber services and (f) quality care improvements.ConclusionNurse/midwife prescribing in Ireland was identified as needed, safe, effective and cost‐effective. Prescribing permitted accessible, thorough and proactive holistic health promotive care to be provided in nurse‐ or midwife‐led outpatient clinics.
An Extensive Comparison of Some Well‐Established Value at Risk Methods
Authors: Calmon Wilson , Ferioli Eduardo , Lettieri Davi , Soares Johann , Pizzinga Adrian 
Published: July 2020

SummaryIn the last two decades, several methods for estimating Value at Risk have been proposed in the literature. Four of the most successful approaches are conditional autoregressive Value at Risk, extreme value theory, filtered historical simulation and time‐varying higher order conditional moments. In this paper, we compare their performances under both an empirical investigation using 80 assets and a large Monte Carlo simulation. From our analysis, we conclude that most of the methods seem not to imply huge numerical difficulties and, according to usual backtests and performance measurements, extreme value theory presents the best results most of the times, followed by filtered historical simulation.