bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with transdermal alcohol concentration from the SCRAM biosensor among persons living with and without HIV
Authors: Richards Veronica L. , Liu Yiyang , Orr Jessica , Leeman Robert F. , Barnett Nancy P. , Bryant Kendall , Cook Robert L. , Wang Yan 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundTransdermal alcohol biosensors can objectively monitor alcohol use by measuring transdermal alcohol concentration (TAC). However, it is unclear how sociodemographic and clinical factors that influence alcohol metabolism are associated with TAC. The main aim of this study was to examine how sociodemographic factors (sex, age, race/ethnicity) and clinical factors (body mass index, liver enzymes: alanine aminotransferase [ALT] and aspartate transaminase [AST]), alcohol use disorder, and HIV status were associated with TAC while controlling for level of alcohol use.MethodsWe analyzed data from a prospective study involving contingency management for alcohol cessation among persons living with and without human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) that used the Secure Continuous Remote Alcohol Monitoring (SCRAM) biosensor. Forty‐three participants (Mage = 56.6 years; 63% male; 58% people living with HIV) yielded 183 SCRAM‐detected drinking days. Two indices derived from SCRAM: peak TAC (reflecting level of intoxication) and TAC area under the curve (TAC‐AUC; reflecting alcohol volume)—were the main outcomes. Self‐reported alcohol use (drinks/drinking day) measured by Timeline Followback was the main predictor. To examine whether factors of interest were associated with TAC, we used individual generalized estimating equations (GEE), followed by a multivariate GEE model to include all significant predictors to examine their associations with TAC beyond the effect of self‐reported alcohol use.ResultsNumber of drinks per drinking day (B = 0.29, p < 0.01) and elevated AST (B = 0.50, p = 0.01) were significant predictors of peak TAC. Positive HIV status, female sex, elevated AST, and number of drinks per drinking day were positively associated with TAC‐AUC at the bivariate level, whereas only self‐reported alcohol use (B = 0.85, p < 0.0001) and female sex (B = 0.67, p < 0.05) were significant predictors of TAC‐AUC at the multivariate level.ConclusionsHIV status was not independently associated with TAC. Future studies should consider the sex and liver function of the participant when using alcohol biosensors to measure alcohol use.
Alcohol use and dysglycemia among people living with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) in the Alcohol & Metabolic Comorbidities in PLWH: Evidence Driven Interventions (ALIVE‐Ex) study
Authors: Primeaux Stefany D. , Simon Liz , Ferguson Tekeda F. , Levitt Danielle E. , Brashear Meghan M. , Yeh Alice , Molina Patricia E. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundAt‐risk alcohol use is a common and costly form of substance misuse that is highly prevalent among people living with HIV (PLWH). The goal of the current analysis was to test the hypothesis that PLWH with at‐risk alcohol use are more likely to meet the clinical criteria for prediabetes/diabetes than PLWH with low‐risk alcohol use.MethodsA cross‐sectional analysis was performed on measures of alcohol and glycemic control in adult PLWH (n = 105) enrolled in a prospective, interventional study (the ALIVE‐Ex Study (NCT03299205)) that investigated the effects of aerobic exercise on metabolic dysregulation in PLWH with at‐risk alcohol use. The Alcohol Use Disorders Identification Test (AUDIT), Timeline Followback, and phosphatidylethanol (PEth) level were used to measure alcohol use. Participants were stratified into low‐risk (AUDIT score < 5) and at‐risk alcohol use (AUDIT score ≥ 5). All participants underwent an oral glucose tolerance test and measures of glycemic control− the Homeostatic Model Assessment of Insulin Resistance (HOMA‐IR) and Matsuda Index − were correlated with alcohol measures and compared by AUDIT score group using mixed‐effects linear and logistic regression models, adjusting for age, sex, race, body mass index (BMI), and viral load.ResultsIn response to the glucose challenge, participants with at‐risk alcohol use (n = 46) had higher glucose levels and were five times more likely to meet criteria for prediabetes/diabetes (OR: 5.3 (1.8, 15.9)) than participants with an AUDIT score < 5. Two‐hour glucose values were positively associated with AUDIT score and PEth level and a higher percentage of PLWH with at‐risk alcohol use had glucose values ≥140 mg/dl than those with low‐risk alcohol use (34.8% vs. 10.2%, respectively).ConclusionIn this cohort of PLWH, at‐risk alcohol use increased the likelihood of meeting the clinical criteria for prediabetes/diabetes (2‐h glucose level ≥140 mg/dl). Established determinants of metabolic dysfunction (e.g., BMI, waist–hip ratio) were not associated with greater alcohol use and dysglycemia, suggesting that other mechanisms may contribute to the impaired glycemic control observed in this cohort.
The information capacity of adolescent alcohol consumption indicators along a continuum of severity: A cross‐national comparison of sixteen Central and Eastern European countries
Authors: Horváth Zsolt , Qirjako Gentiana , Pavlova Daryna , Taut Diana , Vaičiūnas Tomas , Melkumova Marina , Várnai Dóra , Vieno Alessio , Demetrovics Zsolt , Urbán Róbert , Németh Ágnes 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundBecause there is high variability among European countries in prevalence levels of various alcohol consumption measures, the informational value of adolescent's alcohol consumption indicators is uncertain. The present study aimed to examine information capacity and measurement invariance of different alcohol consumption indicators in adolescents from countries of the former Soviet (Eastern) Bloc in Central and Eastern Europe (CEE).MethodsData were collected in 16 CEE countries, as part of the 2013/2014 wave of the Health Behavior in School‐aged Children study. Data from adolescents (age 15) who reported having consumed alcohol at least once in their lifetime were analyzed. Four binary items selected for analysis measured the presence or absence of alcohol consumption in the last 30 days, lifetime drunkenness, weekly drinking frequency, and binge drinking on a typical occasion. Multiple group confirmatory factor analysis and item response theory analysis were used to examine the data.ResultsIn most of the included countries, alcohol consumption in the last 30 days and lifetime drunkenness were indicative at lower severity levels, while binge drinking and weekly drinking frequency were informative at higher levels of alcohol use severity. A low proportion of the estimated intercepts and factor loadings were noninvariant, which indicated approximate cross‐national invariance of these indicators.ConclusionsAdolescent alcohol consumption indicators are informative for different severity levels and enable cross‐nationally invariant measurement. However, different indicators suggested the presence of diverging drinking cultures in the CEE regions, with the highest discrimination capacity at the lower and higher ends of the continuum of alcohol use severity.
Maternal choline supplementation in a rat model of periconceptional alcohol exposure: Impacts on the fetus and placenta
Authors: Steane Sarah E. , Fielding Arree M. , Kent Nykola L. , Andersen Isabella , Browne Daniel J. , Tejo Ellen N. , Gårdebjer Emelie M. , Kalisch‐Smith Jacinta I. , Sullivan Mitchell A. , Moritz Karen M. , Akison Lisa K. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractBackgroundMaternal choline supplementation in rats can ameliorate specific neurological and behavioral abnormalities caused by alcohol exposure during pregnancy. We tested whether choline supplementation ameliorates fetal growth restriction and molecular changes in the placenta associated with periconceptional ethanol exposure (PCE) in the rat.MethodsSprague Dawley dams were given either 12.5% ethanol (PCE) or 0% ethanol (Con) in a liquid diet from 4 days prior to 4 days after conception. At day 5 of pregnancy, dams were either placed on a standard chow (1.6 g choline/kg chow) or an intermediate chow (2.6 g choline/kg chow). On day 10 of pregnancy, a subset of the intermediate dams were placed on a chow further supplemented with choline (7.2 g choline/kg chow), resulting in 6 groups. Fetuses and placentas were collected on day 20 of pregnancy for analysis.ResultsCholine supplementation resulted in increased fetal weight at late gestation, ameliorating the deficits due to PCE. This was most pronounced in litters on a standard chow during pregnancy. Choline also increased fetal liver weight and decreased fetal brain:liver ratio, independent of alcohol exposure. Placental weight was reduced as choline levels in the chow increased, particularly in female placentas. This resulted in a greater ratio of fetal:placental weight, suggesting increased placental efficiency. Global DNA methylation in the placenta was altered in a sex‐specific manner by both PCE and choline. However, the increased glycogen deposition in female placentas, previously reported in this PCE model, was not prevented by choline supplementation.ConclusionsOur results suggest that choline has the potential to ameliorate fetal growth restriction associated with PCE and improve placental efficiency following prenatal alcohol exposure. Our study highlights the importance of maternal nutrition in moderating the severity of adverse fetal and placental outcomes that may arise from prenatal alcohol exposure around the time of conception.
Effect of high variation in transcript expression on identifying differentially expressed genes in RNA‐seq analysis
Authors: Cui Weitong , Xue Huaru , Geng Yifan , Zhang Jing , Liang Yajun , Tian Xuewen , Wang Qinglu 
Published: August 2021

SummaryGreat efforts have been made on the algorithms that deal with RNA‐seq data to enhance the accuracy and efficiency of differential expression (DE) analysis. However, no consensus has been reached on the proper threshold values of fold change and adjusted p‐value for filtering differentially expressed genes (DEGs). It is generally believed that the more stringent the filtering threshold, the more reliable the result of a DE analysis. Nevertheless, by analyzing the impact of both adjusted p‐value and fold change thresholds on DE analyses, with RNA‐seq data obtained for three different cancer types from the Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database, we found that, for a given sample size, the reproducibility of DE results became poorer when more stringent thresholds were applied. No matter which threshold level was applied, the overlap rates of DEGs were generally lower for small sample sizes than for large sample sizes. The raw read count analysis demonstrated that the transcript expression of the same gene in different samples, whether in tumor groups or in normal groups, showed high variations, which resulted in a drastic fluctuation in fold change values and adjustedp‐values when different sets of samples were used. Overall, more stringent thresholds did not yield more reliable DEGs due to high variations in transcript expression; the reliability of DEGs obtained with small sample sizes was more susceptible to these variations. Therefore, less stringent thresholds are recommended for screening DEGs. Moreover, large sample sizes should be considered in RNA‐seq experimental designs to reduce the interfering effect of variations in transcript expression on DEG identification.
Improving the safety and quality of end‐of‐life in an Australian private hospital setting: An audit of documented end‐of‐life care
Authors: Saunders Rosemary , Seaman Karla , Glass Courtney , Gullick Karen , Andrew Julie , Davray Ashwini 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectiveThis study reviewed the audit outcomes of the documented end‐of‐life care in a private hospital against the Australian Commission on Safety and Quality in Health Care's five recommended processes of care (Essential Elements (EE) 1‐5).MethodsA retrospective database review of deaths over a three‐year period was undertaken. This was followed by a sequential medical record audit (n = 100) to evaluate the end‐of‐life care documented in the three days preceding death.ResultsThere were 997 deaths from 2015 to 2017. The audit found communication to family the patient was dying (91%) and to the patient (36%) (EE1); evidence of specialist referral (68%) (EE2); assessment of the ability to eat/drink in the last 72 hours (86%) (EE3); advance care directives (13%) and hospital resuscitation plans (92%) (EE4); and response to patient or family concerns (100%) (EE5).ConclusionsComponents of the processes of care of the Essential Elements need to be addressed to improve patient‐centred communication and shared decision‐making.
Secretoglobins in the big picture of immunoregulation in airway diseases
Authors: Mootz Martine , Jakwerth Constanze A. , Schmidt‐Weber Carsten B. , Zissler Ulrich M. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe proteins of the secretoglobin (SCGB) family are expressed by secretory tissues of barrier organs. They are embedded in immunoregulatory and anti‐inflammatory processes of airway diseases. This review particularly illustrates the immune regulation of SCGBs by cytokines and their implication in the pathophysiology of airway diseases. The biology of SCGBs is a complex topic of increasing importance, as they are highly abundant in the respiratory tract and can also be detected in malignant tissues and as elements of immune control. In addition, SCGBs react to cytokines, they are embedded in Th1 and Th2 immune responses, and they are expressed in a manner dependent on cell maturation. The big picture of the SCGB family identifies these factors as critical elements of innate immune control at the epithelial barriers and highlights their potential for diagnostic assessment of epithelial activity. Some members of the SCGB family have so far only been superficially examined, but have high potential for translational research.
Gender Stereotypes Influence Children’s STEM Motivation
Authors: Master Allison 
Published: August 2021

AbstractChildren’s memberships in social groups have profound effects on their motivation. Stereotypes about social groups shape children’s beliefs about what is expected for their group members. These beliefs can influence children’s developing beliefs about themselves (self‐perceptions). In this article, I review research on how gender stereotypes influence children’s motivation in science, technology, engineering, and math (STEM), including ability beliefs and sense of belonging. When children belong to a gender group that is negatively stereotyped in a STEM field, they may doubt their own capabilities and whether they belong in that field, making it harder for them to develop interest over time. Developmentally, the influence of gender stereotypes on motivation begins during preschool and strengthens during late childhood. I also address the consequences of different kinds of stereotypes and why some children are more influenced by stereotypes than others. Understanding this process in childhood will help researchers design effective interventions to remedy educational inequities in STEM.
Does water fluoridation influence ethnic inequalities in caries in Brazilian children and adolescents?
Authors: Bomfim Rafael Aiello , Watt Richard G. , Tsakos Georgios , Heilmann Anja , Frazão Paulo 
Published: August 2021

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the influence of community water fluoridation on ethnic inequalities in untreated dental caries among children and adolescents in Brazil while taking the human development context into account.MethodsData from a nationwide Brazilian epidemiological population oral health survey were used (SB Brazil 2010). Outcomes were caries prevalence measured by the proportion of individuals with one or more untreated decayed teeth and caries severity defined by the mean number of untreated decayed teeth (DT). Three different contexts were considered: 1—cities with no water fluoridation; 2—cities with water fluoridation and low Human Development Index (HDI); and 3—cities with water fluoridation and high HDI. The exposure was ethnic/racial group (White, Pardo, Black) and covariates were age, sex and household income. Multilevel logistic and negative binomial regressions were performed with 6696 children (aged 5 years) and 11 585 adolescents (aged 12 and 15‐19 years).ResultsFor both children and adolescents, ethnic differences in caries prevalence and mean DT were found in the nonfluoridated cities with low HDI and also in cities with high HDI, most of which were fluoridated. For example in nonfluoridated cities with low HDI, 5‐year‐old Pardo children were more likely to have untreated decay (OR = 1.22; 95% CI: 1.02, 1.46) and had more decayed teeth (RR = 1.18; 95% CI: 1.04, 1.34) than their White counterparts after adjusting for sex and household income. No statistically significant differences were observed in fluoridated cities with low HDI.ConclusionWater fluoridation appears to be associated with reduced ethnic inequalities in dental caries prevalence and mean DT among children and adolescents in more disadvantaged settings.
Reptile pet trade in Brazil: A regulatory approach to sustainable biodiversity conservation
Authors: Fonseca Érica , Zank Caroline , Cechin Sonia Zanini , Both Camila 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe pet trade is the main cause of the growing number of exotic reptiles worldwide, posing a risk for invasion emergence and species extinction. In this study, we identify and analyze the obstacles involved in controlling the native and exotic reptile trade in Brazil to identify the main gaps and limitations in this regard. We propose measures that will aid in the planning of public policies that are more effective to protect native fauna. The pet trade regulation in Brazil is currently guided by poorly implemented policies. The main problems are associated with failures in legislation and enforcement, corruption, and lack of resources. As a result, the illegal trade control, current efforts for the sustainable use of biodiversity, and the prevention of the introduction of exotic species are insufficient. We recommend a multidisciplinary approach, based on actions to reduce legislation deficiencies and inconsistencies, intensification of inspection actions, and investment in educational actions aimed at raising societal awareness.
Generalized nonlinear models can solve the prediction problem for data from species‐stratified use‐availability designs
Authors: Johnson Nels G. , Williams Matthew R. , Riordan Erin C. 
Published: August 2021

AbstractAimHabitat suitability modelling methods for presence‐only species data are limited in their ability for making true predictions and are therefore often misused in ecological applications. A use‐availability design—also known as a case–control design with contaminated controls—combines presence‐only species data with a background sample of covariates where the species presence/absence is unknown. Assuming a log link function for the true probability of presence/absence, the use‐availability data then can be analysed as a logistic regression model with a biased estimate of the intercept. Due to the biased intercept, the model is unable to make true predictions. Instead, ranking the “pseudo‐predictions” from the model with biased intercept provides a viable alternative for making predictive inference in single‐species models. We show the ranks are no longer conserved across species when such a single‐species model is extended to multiple species, limiting predictive inference.InnovationBy assuming a logit link function for the true probabilities of the presence/absence data, the resulting model allows for predictive inference even when extended to multiple species. We provide theoretical details justifying both fully Bayesian and large background sample asymptotic Bayesian generalized nonlinear model approaches.Main conclusionsWe illustrate how multiple species can be analysed using these approaches in R and Stan software using presence‐only data for foundational shrubland taxa occurring in California, USA. Predictive inference highlights differences in habitat suitability rankings among individual species and among infraspecific taxa within a single species, improving the application of habitat suitability models for ecological restoration of southern California shrublands.
Patient capability: Justice and grassroots healthcare delivery in China
Authors: Wang Yu , Wu Xuesong , Yin Mei , Jin Linya 
Published: August 2021

AbstractThe current reform of China’s healthcare system focuses mainly on two dimensions: the promotion of primary healthcare and the improvement of quality of grassroots healthcare (GH). Specifically, the reforms are aimed at meeting the needs of patients in the grassroots areas (PGAs) through the provision of universal healthcare and hierarchical diagnosis and treatment (HDT). In practice, however, disparities in health outcomes between the grassroots and upper levels persist. The gaps between increased health coverage and heightened barriers to accessing quality medical care in the grassroots areas are growing ever larger. What explains this paradox is the limited capability of PGAs to transform healthcare resources into better health‐seeking behaviors and health outcomes, resulting in injustice that is built into the system, which is neither ethical nor fair. Using Amartya Sen’s capability approach (CA) to explore issues of justice in relation to China’s GH system and its performance, we suggest that an institutional structure, one that focuses on promoting universal coverage in the grassroots areas, although necessary, is by itself insufficient in promoting justice and equality in accessing healthcare. Institutional disparities in the healthcare system and China’s household registration policy, constructed according to the rural–urban divide, have also produced injustices. We argue that greater attention should be given to meeting the medical needs of PGAs and empowering them with greater choice, permitting them a higher level of freedom and agency, and thus remedying the problems that we describe. We conclude with policy recommendations aimed at improving justice within the system.