bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance and the risk of thrombotic events: Results from iStopMM, a prospective population‐based screening study
Authors: Rögnvaldsson Sæmundur , Gasparini Alessandro , Thorsteinsdottir Sigrun , Sverrisdottir Ingigerdur , Eythorsson Elias , Long Thorir Einarsson , Palmason Robert , Vidarsson Brynjar , Onundarson Pall Torfi , Agnarsson Bjarni A. , Sigurdardottir Margret , Olafsson Isleifur , Thorsteinsdottir Ingunn , Oskarsson Jon Thorir , Jonsson Asbjorn , Palsson Runolfur , Indriðason Olafur Skuli , Olafsson Andri , Hultcrantz Malin , Durie Brian G. M. , Harding Stephen , Landgren Ola , Love Thorvardur Jon , Kristinsson Sigurdur Yngvi 
Published: December 2024

SummaryMonoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) is the asymptomatic precursor of multiple myeloma and related diseases but has also been associated with thrombosis. Prior studies have not been based on screened cohorts leading to bias. We assessed the risk of thrombosis in a cohort of 75 422 individuals over 40 years old who were screened for MGUS in Iceland. We also evaluated the association of M protein concentration with thrombotic risk. A total of 3668 participants had MGUS. After a median follow‐up of ~3.7 years, 124 venous and 252 arterial thrombotic events (10.3 and 21.0 per 1000 person years respectively) were observed in the MGUS group, compared to 1509 and 3471 in the non‐MGUS group (6.0 and 13.8 per 1000 person years respectively). After adjusting for multiple confounders, MGUS was associated with an increased risk of venous thrombosis (hazard ratio [HR] = 1.43; 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.19–1.73) but not arterial thrombosis (HR = 0.96; 95% CI: 0.87–1.13). M protein concentration was not associated with venous (p = 0.72) or arterial (p = 0.95) thrombosis. The findings show, in a screened cohort, that MGUS is associated with venous, but not arterial, thrombosis. Furthermore, they suggest that there is a subset of individuals with MGUS with subclinical monoclonal gammopathy of thrombotic significance.
A sparse latent class model incorporating response times
Authors: He Siqi , Culpepper Steven Andrew , Douglas Jeffrey A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractDiagnostic models (DM) have been widely used to classify respondents' latent attributes in cognitive and non‐cognitive assessments. The integration of response times (RTs) with DM presents additional evidence to understand respondents' problem‐solving behaviours. While recent research has explored using sparse latent class models (SLCM) to infer the latent structure of items based on item responses, the incorporation of RT data within these models remains underexplored. This study extends the SLCM framework to include RT, relaxing the conditional independence assumption between RT and latent attributes given individual speed. This adaptation provides a more flexible framework for jointly modelling RT and item responses. While the proposed model holds promise for applications in educational assessment, this study applied the model to the Fisher Temperament Inventory, yielding findings that provide a novel perspective on utilizing DM with RT in personality assessments. Additionally, a Gibbs sampling algorithm is proposed for parameter estimation. Results from Monte Carlo simulations demonstrate the algorithm's accuracy and efficiency.
A Stewardship Approach to Policy Practice and Capacity Renewal in Canada
Authors: Craft Jonathan 
Published: December 2024

AbstractOne of Canada's most significant public administration challenges is ensuring the public service possesses the capacity and modern practices needed for effective policymaking. This article argues that Canada's policy renewal efforts have been hampered by a lack of focused and coherent public service reform more generally. Informed by international best practice and an appreciation for Canada's unique public administration context and history, I argue that Canada must adopt a stewardship approach. I provide five actionable recommendations targeted at renewing and modernizing policy capacity. These include: creating a new unit responsible for managing public service renewal to be headed by a new deputy Clerk of the Privy Council, mandating regular systematic reviews of public service policy capacity, expanding the substantive focus of the Clerk's annual reports, developing an enterprise‐wide training strategy for policy professionals, and standardizing modern policymaking practices by embedding them in formal policymaking processes and instruments.
Overdue and Overdrawn: Internal Services, Administrative Debt, and the Government of Canada's Real Property File
Authors: Tweedie Jacky , Legault Randall , Thompson Philippe 
Published: December 2024

AbstractAdministrative debt is when successive waves of reform result in an accumulation of rusting‐out systems that are not optimized. This occurs when the drivers for change prioritize expediency, offering quick fixes rather than a focus on long‐term sustainable re‐design. This is the case for the federal government's Internal Services and is illustrated through a look at the Real Property function over time. This function has been routinely discounted when priorities and budgets are set. Resulting capability deficits are exposed periodically in audits and as part of higher profile reviews revealing gaps in the maintenance of asset integrity that put public‐facing program delivery at risk. We make the case that Internal Services are inseparable from how governments deliver public‐facing external programs. We suggest ways to close the information gaps contributing to this overall administrative debt.
Iconicity Emerges From Language Experience: Evidence From Japanese Ideophones and Their English Equivalents
Authors: Iida Hinano , Akita Kimi 
Published: December 2024

AbstractIconicity is a relationship of resemblance between the form and meaning of a sign. Compelling evidence from diverse areas of the cognitive sciences suggests that iconicity plays a pivotal role in the processing, memory, learning, and evolution of both spoken and signed language, indicating that iconicity is a general property of language. However, the language‐specific aspect of iconicity, illustrated by the fact that the meanings of ideophones in an unfamiliar language are hard to guess (e.g., shigeshige ‘staring at something’ in Japanese), remains to be fully investigated. In the present study, native speakers of Japanese and English rated the iconicity and familiarity of Japanese ideophones (e.g., gatagata ‘rattling’, butsubutsu ‘murmuring’) and their English equivalents (e.g., rattle, murmur). Two main findings emerged: (1) individuals generally perceived their native language as more iconic than their non‐native language, replicating the previous findings in signed language, and (2) the familiarity of words in their native language boosted their perceived iconicity. These findings shed a light on the language‐specific, subjective, and acquired nature of iconicity.
Liver Function Biomarkers and Lung Cancer Risk: A Prospective Cohort Study in the UK Biobank
Authors: Sun Xiangyu , Guo Zeqin , Zhang Yanpei , Liu Zhuangzhuang , Xiong Jingrong , Cai Mingliang , Tan Jiale , Lin Yan , Yu Zihang , Du Kunheng , Lu Enli , Xia Xiaolin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundAs the primary organ of metabolism and detoxification, the liver may contribute to the pathogenesis of lung cancer. We aimed to illuminate the intricate link between liver function biomarkers and lung cancer risk, as well as delineate the role of smoking behavior within this association.MethodsWe investigated the associations of seven liver function biomarkers levels (alkaline phosphatase [ALP], alanine transaminase [ALT], total bilirubin [TBIL], albumin [ALB], gamma‐glutamyltransferase [GGT], aspartate transaminase [AST], and total protein [TP]) with lung cancer risk across the UK Biobank (N = 337 499) through restricted cubic splines and Cox proportional hazards models. Moreover, Mendelian randomization (MR) was utilized to evaluate the causal effect of smoking behavior on these biomarkers. Then a lung cancer risk prediction model was developed among smokers by backward stepwise logistic regression.ResultsDuring a median follow‐up of 13.3 years, 3003 lung cancer cases were identified. We found ALP levels positively associated with lung cancer risk, whereas ALT, TBIL, ALB, and AST were inversely correlated; TP exhibited a U‐shaped association, whereas GGT displayed a mirrored J‐shaped relationship. These associations were amplified among smokers. MR analysis indicated that smoking behavior could increase ALP (odds ratio [OR]: 1.05) and GGT (OR: 1.15) levels while decreasing TBIL (OR: 0.92), ALB (OR: 0.92), and TP (OR: 0.96) levels. The lung cancer risk model incorporating these biomarkers in smokers demonstrated robust discrimination.ConclusionOur finding provides perspectives and evidences towards the intricate crosstalk between the hepatic and pulmonary systems, as well as the processes through which tobacco catalyzes lung carcinogenesis.
Fatal Spitz Melanoma With MAD1L1::BRAF Fusion: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Hiraki Tsubasa , Hirakawa Satoshi , Otsuki Yoshiro , Kajimoto Kazuyoshi , Goto Keisuke , Serizawa Masakuni 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTSpitz melanoma is extremely rare, and only a few cases of distant metastases have been reported. Herein, we describe a case of Spitz melanoma with multiple distant metastases. A 37‐year‐old woman presented with a 5.5‐mm‐diameter nodule on the right lower leg. She experienced multiple distant metastases, involving the lungs, liver, thyroid, stomach, ovary, bones, and skin, along with multiple lymph node metastases within 1 year. The patient succumbed to the disease 1 year and 6 months following the first excision. Histopathological examination revealed a dense distribution of large solid nests comprising large, atypical epithelioid melanocytes with abundant eosinophilic cytoplasm in the upper dermis. Diffuse PRAME and loss of p16 immunoexpression profiles were observed. Targeted DNA and Sanger sequencing revealed an in‐frame MAD1L1(e16)::BRAF(e9) fusion in both primary tumor and metastatic subcutaneous lesion. A review of previously reported cases confirmed as Spitz melanoma with distant metastases (n = 7) revealed a broad age range (11–71 years, median 46 years), high mortality (5/7), frequent BRAF fusions (6/7), and recurrent TERT promotor mutations and CDKN2A/B deletions. This report adds valuable insights into our understanding of the clinical and genetic characteristics of Spitz melanoma with distant metastases.
Exclusion of older persons from randomized controlled trials in type 2 diabetes: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Borysowski Jan , Kłosowska Danuta , Pączek Leszek , Ordak Michał , Franek Edward 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundPrevalence of type 2 diabetes increases with age. Both the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the European Medicines Agency (EMA) promote the enrollment of older patients to randomized controlled trials (RCTs) in diabetes. The objective of this study was to assess the eligibility criteria limiting the inclusion of older adults to RCTs in type 2 diabetes.Materials and MethodsThis cross‐sectional analysis of ClinicalTrials.gov included phase 2, 3 and 4 RCTs of drugs and biologicals, with enrollment ≥100, registered at ClinicalTrials.gov and started from 2014 through 2023.ResultsA total of 278/594 (46.8%) trials had a limit of 90 years of age or less (primary outcome). The odds of the age limits were higher in RCTs funded from non‐commercial sources (adjusted odds ratio (aOR), 2.83, 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.77–4.52; p < 0.001) and phase 2 trials (aOR, 2.38; 95% CI, 1.49–3.81; p < 0.001). A total of 542/594 (91.2%) trials had other relevant exclusion criteria, mostly those concerning comorbidities common in older patients (secondary outcome). However, none of the RCTs excluded patients with frailty which is a key factor determining the prognosis of older patients with diabetes. Only two trials enrolled solely older persons.ConclusionsMost RCTs in type 2 diabetes have the eligibility criteria limiting the enrollment of older patients. The age limits should be eliminated and patients should be excluded based on scientifically justified criteria especially those concerning comorbidities and frailty. Moreover, the benefits and harms of new drugs in older patients with multimorbidity and/or frailty should be assessed in dedicated phase 4 trials.
Endothelial dysfunction in adults with congenital heart disease: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Baroutidou Amalia , Dimitroulas Theodoros , Arvanitaki Alexandra , Grantza Triantafyllia , Otountzidis Nikolaos , Farmakis Ioannis T. , Karagiannidis Artemios G. , Kamperidis Vasileios , Ziakas Antonios , Sarafidis Pantelis , Giannakoulas George 
Published: December 2024

AbstractBackgroundAdults with congenital heart disease (ACHD) can face a lifelong risk of premature cardiovascular events. Endothelial dysfunction and arterial stiffness may be some of the key mechanisms involved. Early identification of endothelial damage in ACHD could be crucial to mitigate the adverse events. This systematic review and meta‐analysis aims to investigate micro‐ and macroangiopathy in ACHD.MethodsWe systematically searched four major electronic databases (PubMed, CENTRAL, Scopus and Web of Science), ClinicalTrials.gov and grey literature according to PRISMA guidelines. We included studies evaluating endothelial function with any semi‐ or non‐invasive method in ACHD and healthy controls. Studies exploring arterial stiffness indices and carotid intima‐media thickness were also investigated.ResultsIn total, 31 studies (1118 ACHD, 794 controls) were included in this systematic review. Brachial artery endothelium‐dependent (assessed via flow‐mediated dilatation, FMD) and ‐independent vasodilation (assessed via nitroglycerine‐mediated dilatation, NMD) were attenuated in ACHD versus controls (mean difference [MD] −2.5, 95% confidence intervals [CI] −3.7; −1.3 and MD −3.9, 95% CI −6.8; −1.0, respectively). ACHD also demonstrated impaired microvascular function, evaluated via peripheral arterial tonometry (PAT), with significantly lower reactive hyperemia index and PAT ratio compared to controls (MD −.26, 95% CI −.48; −.04 and MD −.4, 95% CI −.5; −.4, respectively). Regarding arterial stiffness, pooled analysis revealed non‐significant differences in pulse wave velocity between the study groups (standardized MD .2, 95% CI −.2; .6). However, the augmentation index was significantly higher in ACHD (standardized MD 1.6, 95% CI .8; 2.4).ConclusionsACHD exhibit impaired macro‐ and microvascular function and elevated arterial stiffness, factors that may be responsible for the increased adverse cardiovascular events in this population.
Revisiting the Quest for a Just, Participatory, and Sustainable Society
Authors: Conradie Ernst M. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThe themes of justice, participation, and sustainability emerged from the 5th Assembly of the World Council of Churches in Nairobi in 1975 in the context of addressing global inequalities and promoting a more equitable society, and were brought together in the search for a “Just, Participatory and Sustainable Society.” While underlining the need for theological reflection on justice, particularly in the context of historical injustices and contemporary global divides, this article questions whether “sustainability” still expresses an appropriate vision. With the shift to the Anthropocene, it proposes instead the concept of “habitability.” With habitability, the focus is on the flourishing of the habitat itself. Categories such as civilization, excellence, economic growth, sustainable development, mitigation and adaptation, human flourishing, sustainability as such, and even justice can no longer suffice, at least not on their own. What is required is a comprehensive transformation.
“Liturgy after the Liturgy”
Authors: Tsompanidis Stylianos 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis article examines the ecumenical context and in particular the development of the conciliar process for Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation (JPIC) that began at the World Council of Churches (WCC) assembly in 1983 in Vancouver and culminated at the World Convocation on Justice, Peace and the Integrity of Creation in 1990 in Seoul, Korea. It underlines that JPIC was intended not simply as another study and action programme, like other programmes within the social and ethical tradition of the WCC, but was oriented toward the centre of the faith and very being of the church, and thus also an ecclesiological issue. The article traces the JPIC process, the central ecclesiological and socio‐ethical questions it raised, and the difficulties and barriers it encountered. It also discusses the interest of the Orthodox in the process and focuses on the contribution and perspectives of the Orthodox Church in the conciliar process for JPIC. Finally, the article refers to the possibilities that are opening up to address the challenges of globalization.
The 1966 World Conference on Church and Society
Authors: Brown Stephen G. , Robra Martin 
Published: December 2024

AbstractTaking as its starting point the 1966 World Conference on Church and Society in Geneva, which marked the beginnings of a fundamental change in the understanding of ecumenical social ethics within the World Council of Churches (WCC), this article discusses the role of the conference in this shift in perspective from the idea of the “responsible society” to the emergence of a form of postcolonial ecumenism. It traces the emergence of the responsible society as a guiding principle for the WCC and, in particular, the role in this of the US social ethicist Paul Abrecht, as well as how a focus on rapid social change helped strengthen and consolidate churches in Africa, Asia, and Latin America. These churches would then articulate the beginnings of a postcolonial understanding of ecumenical social ethics at the Geneva conference, which would in turn lead to the development of new programmes on social justice after the WCC's 4th Assembly in Uppsala in 1968. The article concludes by discussing the tension between the two guiding principles in the decade that followed the Uppsala assembly.
The Integrin Receptors: From Discovery to Structure to Medicines
Authors: Arnaout M. Amin 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTInnate immune cells perform vital tasks in detecting, seeking, and eliminating invading pathogens, thus ensuring host survival. However, loss of function of these cells or their overactive response to tissue injury often causes serious ailments. It is, therefore, crucial to understand at a basic level how these cells function in health and disease. A major step toward this goal came from studies I conducted in the late 1970s investigating the cause of life‐threatening bacterial infections in a pediatric patient. This work led us to trace this disease to the inability of the patient's neutrophils to seek and clear infections due to an inherited deficiency in leukocyte adhesion caused by the loss of a plasma membrane glycoprotein complex now known as CD11/CD18 or β2 integrins. I followed this work by determining the 3‐dimensional structures of integrins. These studies provided the foundation for understanding the unique properties of integrins in mediating bidirectional cell adhesion signaling and enabled a structure‐guided design of compounds to dial down overactive integrins in common disorders, including thromboinflammatory and autoimmune diseases.
Regret aversion and asset pricing anomalies in the Chinese stock market
Authors: Wang Yajie , Yang Jiayu 
Published: December 2024

AbstractThis paper discusses the impact of regret aversion on Chinese stock market returns from the asset pricing perspective. From the intertemporal investment and consumption analytical framework, a representative investor determines the optimal wealth allocation by perceiving the stock's “expected rate of return” and “regret effect” to maximize utility. The simulation results show that the expected returns present a downward convex shape with the change in regret aversion. Using China's A‐share market data, the empirical tests confirm the mechanism and different bull and bear market signals. Our findings reveal regret aversion in the A‐share market, and “market return” is an essential measuring indicator, which improves the consumption‐based Capital Asset Pricing Model (CCAPM) empirical results by more minor pricing errors and equity premiums. Comparatively, the variations in cross‐sectional stock returns during bull markets illustrate the herd behavior prevalent in the Chinese market, and the cross‐sectional data observed in bear markets demonstrate a superior fitting effect.
The National Burden of Influenza‐Associated Respiratory Illness Across Levels of Severity in Egypt, 2016–2019
Authors: Fahim Manal , Deghedy Ola , Alim Walaa , Kamel Reham , Hassan Hossam , Mohsen Amira , Attia Rania , Abou El Naja Hala , Afifi Salma , Tempia Stefano , Kandeel Amr 
Published: December 2024

ABSTRACTIntroductionInfluenza burden (IB) estimates are crucial for monitoring disease trends, allocating limited resources, and promoting influenza vaccination. However, IB in Egypt is poorly understood. This study estimates the mean‐seasonal IB in Egypt, across levels of severity by age and regions using sentinel surveillance data between 2016 and 2019.MethodsInfluenza surveillance was implemented among patients hospitalized with severe acute respiratory infection (SARI) at eight sentinel hospitals across Egypt. We estimated the influenza‐associated SARI hospitalization in two governorates and then extrapolated nationally using the World Health Organization (WHO)–recommended methods. Thereafter, we estimated IB‐associated mild/moderate illness and deaths using IB pyramid tool developed by WHO and the John Hopkins Center for Health Security. Rates were reported per 100,000 population.ResultsThe estimated mean seasonal number of influenza‐associated mild/moderate illness, hospitalized noncritically and critically ill patients, and deaths was 16,425,938 (95% CI: 1,150,888–40,409,614), 30,335 (95% CI: 9971–670,288), 9110 (95% CI: 580–16,321), and 2660 (95% CI: 154–9908), respectively. The highest rate of influenza‐associated mild/moderate illness was among aged 5–14 year (22,932; 95% CI: 825–25,546.3), whereas the highest rates of severe influenza were among aged > 65 years (hospitalizations: 159.4, 95% CI: 121.7–205.0; deaths: 56.0, 95% CI: 0.6–111.0). Children aged < 5 years also experience high rates of influenza‐associated hospitalization (52.0, 95% CI: 43.0–62.0).ConclusionsThe WHO method estimated a high burden of severe influenza among aged ≥ 65 and aged < 5 years in Egypt. To reduce severe IB, increased influenza vaccine uptake together with enhanced immunization strategies implementations among the elderly and children are warranted.
Toward germanate ceramics Li2AGeO4:Nd3+ (A = Zn, Mg) emitting near‐infrared radiation
Authors: Pisarska Joanna , Bednarska‐Adam Nikola , Kuwik Marta , Goryczka Tomasz , Macalik Bogusław , Pisarski Wojciech A. 
Published: December 2024

AbstractGermanate ceramics Li2ZnGeO4:Nd3+ and Li2MgGeO4:Nd3+ have been studied for near‐infrared (IR) luminescence applications. The phase identification showed that both ceramic compounds crystallized in a monoclinic lattice, characteristic of a broad family of germanate olivines. Near‐IR luminescence spectra have been analyzed for Li2AGeO4:Nd3+ (A = Zn, Mg) under different excitation wavelengths. Near‐IR emission bands observed in the second biological window correspond to the ceramic host as well as 4F3/2 → 4I11/2 and 4F3/2 → 4I13/2 transitions of Nd3+ ions, respectively. Based on luminescence spectra and their decays, several spectroscopic parameters for un‐doped and Nd3+‐doped ceramic samples were determined. The experimental results for germanate olivines containing Nd3+ ions suggest that ceramic host gives important contribution to near‐IR luminescence at second biological window.