bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Lipoprotein(a) as a Causal Risk Factor for Cardiovascular Disease
Authors: Doherty Sean , Hernandez Sebastian , Rikhi Rishi , Mirzai Saeid , De Los Reyes Chris , McIntosh Scott , Block Robert C. , Shapiro Michael D. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Purpose of Review
Lipoprotein(a) [Lp(a)], an atherogenic low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C)-like molecule, has emerged as an important risk factor for the development of atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD). This review summarizes the evidence supporting Lp(a) as a causal risk factor for ASCVD and calcific aortic valve stenosis (CAVS).

Recent Findings
Lp(a) is largely (~ 90%) genetically determined and approximately 20% of the global population has elevated Lp(a). The unique structure of Lp(a) leads to proatherogenic, proinflammatory, and antifibrinolytic properties. Data from epidemiological, genome-wide association, Mendelian randomization, and meta-analyses have shown a clear association between Lp(a) and ASCVD, as well as CAVS. There are emerging data on the association between Lp(a) and ischemic stroke, peripheral arterial disease, and heart failure; however, the associations are not as strong.

Summary
Several lines of evidence support Lp(a) as a causal risk factor for ASCVD and CAVS. The 2024 National Lipid Association guidelines, 2022 European Atherosclerosis Society, and 2021 Canadian Cardiology Society guidelines recommend testing Lp(a) once in all adults to guide primary prevention efforts. Further studies on cardiovascular outcomes with Lp(a) targeted therapies will provide more insight on causal relationship between Lp(a) and cardiovascular disease.
“A Role Model Is Someone Who…” A Multi-institutional Study of Clinical Role Models According to Ethnic Minority and Majority Medical Students
Authors: Spaans Isabella , de Kleijn Renske , Groot Piet , Dilaver Gönül 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Purpose
It is a common conception that students who are culturally underrepresented in medicine (URiM) do not have enough representative role models. This study explores the role of ethnicity in medical students’ clinical role model definitions. The authors introduce a conceptual framework that outlines a four-stage process of role modeling: idealization, social comparison, composition, and (behavioral and symbolic) outcomes.

Method
In total, 363 Dutch medical students completed the statement “A role model is someone who…” Answers were coded based on the conceptual framework. Students also indicated if and how many role models they have (composition) and rated the ethnic similarity to their role model. URiM (N = 62) and non-URiM students (N = 301) were compared using χ
2- and t-tests.

Results
URiM and non-URiM students reported a similar number of role models and described the same stages of role modeling. However, URiM students rated the ethnic similarity to their role models lower than non-URiM peers. Additionally. students with less ethnically similar role models reported symbolic role model outcomes less frequently.

Conclusions
URiM and non-URiM students generally presented a very similar perception of clinical role models. However, URiM students identified less ethnically representative role models compared to non-URiM students, and the symbolic outcomes of role modeling appeared to be sensitive to this ethnic similarity. This discrepancy may limit the full benefits of role modeling for all students who do not have representative role models. To promote equitable learning experiences in medical education, it is recommended that future research on clinical role models continues to address the social context.
Einfluss von weiblichen Steroidhormonen auf die physische Aktivität von Frauen
Authors: Gerber Patrik , Weidlinger Susanna 
Published: February 2025

Zusammenfassung
Körperliche Aktivität ist für die Gesundheit essenziell. Es ist bekannt, dass erhebliche Unterschiede in Bezug auf die tatsächlich ausgeführte körperliche Aktivität zwischen menschlichen Individuen bestehen. Neben sozialen und kulturellen Faktoren könnten auch weibliche Geschlechtshormone wie Östrogen und Progesteron eine Rolle in Bezug auf die physische Aktivität spielen. Tierstudien zeigen, dass Östrogen die körperliche Aktivität über die Aktivierung bestimmter Gehirnregionen über das Melanocortinsystem fördert. Bei Mäusen und Ratten steigt die Aktivität bei hohen Östrogenspiegeln. Ähnliche Effekte wurden auch bei Kühen und Frettchen beobachtet. Bei Primaten, wie den Rhesusaffen, konnte bisher kein solcher Zusammenhang festgestellt werden. Beim Menschen sind die Ergebnisse uneinheitlich. Einzelne Studien deuten auf leicht erhöhte Aktivitätsniveaus während der Ovulation hin, jedoch bleibt ein klarer Zykluseffekt aus. Auch Hormonersatztherapien (HRT) in der Menopause zeigen keinen einheitlichen Einfluss auf das Ausmass körperlicher Aktivität. Die Forschung zum Einfluss von Geschlechtshormonen auf die körperliche Aktivität von Frauen weist erhebliche Lücken auf. Viele Studien sind veraltet, haben kleine Probandenzahlen und nutzen oft ungenaue Messmethoden wie Selbsteinschätzungen. Unterschiede in den Ergebnissen zwischen Studien könnten zudem auf Variationen in der Dauer, Dosierung und Art der hormonellen Therapien zurückzuführen sein. Technologische Fortschritte wie Smartwatches erlauben eine genauere Datenerhebung. Zukünftige Studien sind notwendig, um der Frage nach dem Einfluss von Sexualsteroiden auf die körperliche Aktivität genauer nachzugehen.
Development of ecofriendly, biodegradable electrically conductive double-layer bio-hydrogel nanocomposite for sustainable medical device applications
Authors: Vafa Zohre Jafari , Zare Ehsan Nazarzadeh , Eslam Mohammad Reza Fadavi , Makvandi Pooyan 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Electrotherapy devices used for pain relief and muscle recovery often face challenges because traditional electrode materials are not biodegradable, causing environmental issues and being less compatible with the body. While current conductive hydrogels show potential, they usually lack the combination of good electrical performance, biodegradability, and body-friendliness needed for sustainable medical devices. To address these challenges, this study presents a novel, eco-friendly, electrically conductive double-layer nanocomposite bio-hydrogel developed using tragacanth gum (TG) and polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), enhanced with carboxylated graphene (GrF) and polypyrrole (PPy). The innovative double-layer design represents a significant advancement over single-layer hydrogels, demonstrating reduced impedance and a substantial increase in conductivity (up to 4.99 × 10⁵ times) at frequencies relevant to electrotherapy applications. Specifically, the tragacanth gum/polyvinyl alcohol/carboxylated graphene@polypyrrole (TPG@PPy) bio-hydrogel exhibited a AC conductivity enhancement of up to 1.5 times compared to the tragacanth gum/polyvinyl alcohol@polypyrrole (TP@PPy) bio-hydrogel at frequency of 80 Hz. Additionally, the material’s high biodegradability, with up to 49% mass loss over 60 days in soil, confirms environmental safety. These results show that the double-layer bio-hydrogel could be a better, eco-friendly option for future electrotherapy devices, making it different from current conductive hydrogels.

Graphical Abstract
Experiences of Moderation, Moderators, and Moderating by Online Users Who Engage with Self-Harm and Suicide Content
Authors: Haime Zoë , Kennedy Laura , Grace Lydia , Biddle Lucy 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Despite the growing role of content moderation online, particularly in mental health spaces, there is limited research into the effectiveness of platform practices and a lack of user-driven evidence for regulatory guidance. This study aimed to explore user accounts of moderation related to self-harm and suicide (SH/S) content online, including their experiences of being moderated and perspectives on moderation practices. Additionally, where participants were also moderators, their experiences of moderating SH/S content were explored. 14 participants were interviewed at baseline, n = 8 at 3-months and n = 7 at 6-months. They also completed daily diaries of online use between interviews. Thematic analysis was used to explore perspectives. Three key themes were identified: ‘content reporting behaviour’, exploring factors influencing decisions to report content; ‘perceptions of having content blocked’, exploring experiences and speculative accounts of SH/S content moderation; and ‘content moderation and moderators’, examining participant views on moderation approaches and their experiences of moderating. This study revealed challenges in moderating SH/S content online, and highlighted inadequacies with current procedures. Participants struggled to self-moderate online SH/S spaces, showing the need for proactive platform-level strategies. Additionally, whilst the lived experience of moderators was valued, associated risks emphasised the need for supportive measures. Policymakers and industry leaders should prioritise transparent and consistent moderation practices.
Dual impact of Nd3+ doping on CeO2 abrasives: enhancing chemical and mechanical effects in chemical–mechanical polishing
Authors: Zhang Yesheng , Lei Hong , Zhang Jianhua , Luo Liqiang 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
As the demand for advanced optical glass technology increases, improving polishing slurries to enhance material removal rate and reduce surface roughness has become a priority. Cerium oxide is the most widely used abrasive for glass polishing, and its polishing rate is regarded to increase as the surface Ce3⁺ content rises. To improve this, Nd3+-doped cerium oxide was prepared using a molten salt method. Morphological and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS) analyses showed that the Nd3+ doping increased Ce3⁺ content and transformed the particles into an octahedral structure. Additionally, Nd3⁺ doping enhanced the mechanical action, as evidenced by an increased friction coefficient and reduced contact angle. When the doping amount is 4%, Ce3⁺ content and material removal rate peaked at 47.87 nm/min, while the doping amount is 8%, mechanical and chemical synergy achieved the lowest surface roughness of 1.38 nm.
Adapting WHO Rapid Response Teams Advanced Training Program to Saudi Arabia’s Public Health Needs: A Systematic Process
Authors: Alahmari Asma , Tabche Celine , Adawi Abdu , Alanazi Salma , Alfallaj Lenah , Aljumah Mohammed , Alkahtani Haya , Atwan Zeenah , Shami Sahar , Sulaimani Ghofran , Rawaf Salman , Alkhorisi Ahmad 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objectives
To enhance the emergency response preparedness of public health professionals in Saudi Arabia, the World Health Organization Rapid Response Team Advanced Training Package (WHO RRT ATP) was adapted. It was designed to align with local cultural and operational contexts.

Methods
A 2-day workshop was conducted involving experts who reviewed and modified the adapted WHO RRT ATP training materials. The process was structured into 7 phases: needs assessment, stakeholder analysis, cultural tailoring, content adaptation, module selection, implementation planning, and evaluation framework development.

Results
Key challenges revealed included inadequate hospital coordination, shortage of trained personnel and medical services, and insufficient knowledge of disease transmission. Core training modules were adapted, and supplementary materials were reviewed. Key considerations included addressing existing gaps, cultural sensitivity, and current outbreak trends in KSA. Participants’ feedback showed high satisfaction, with 86.7% of participants providing a mean rating of 4.77 on day 1 and 80% of participants giving an average rating of 4.67 on day 2 on a Likert scale of 1-5.

Conclusions
Cultural and country needs were key factors in the workshop’s successful outcomes. The adapted training program is anticipated to significantly enhance the preparedness of health care professionals in KSA to manage public health emergencies.
Preparing for Inclusion of Agricultural Workers in Climate-Related and Other Public Health Emergencies: A Quantitative Content Analysis of County Emergency Preparedness Plans, Eastern North Carolina, 2022-2023
Authors: Iyore Efosa V. E. , Braswell Quinton , Flores Rosas Adrian , Lee Joseph G. L. , Sesay Mahdi , Russell Kelli , LePrevost Catherine E. , Garzón Lariza , Dollar Nathan T. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objective
Agricultural workers such as migrant and seasonal farmworkers are a population uniquely vulnerable to the negative effects of climate-related disasters. The primary aim of this study was to assess how counties in eastern North Carolina (NC) incorporated best practices related to agricultural workers in emergency preparedness planning.

Methods
The authors conducted a quantitative content analysis of 47 emergency preparedness plans from 41 eastern NC counties between November 2022 and March 2023. The research team developed a codebook based on recommended best practices from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Farmworker Advocacy Network, Federal Emergency Management Agency, and National Center for Farmworker Health. Best practices included having materials in Spanish language, mapping vulnerable populations, and garnering input from agricultural workers.

Results
Of the 47 plans evaluated, most lacked inclusion of agricultural workers in emergency preparedness planning. Furthermore, plans demonstrated few relevant best practices that address agricultural workers’ specific challenges in preparation for and recovery from climate-related disasters.

Conclusions
Public emergency preparedness plans in eastern NC rarely include mention of recommended best practices related to agricultural workers. Local emergency preparedness officials should consider collaboration with advocacy groups, community health workers, and federal emergency management agencies to build disaster resilience.
From counting stations to city-wide estimates: data-driven bicycle volume extrapolation
Authors: Kaiser Silke K. , Klein Nadja , Kaack Lynn H. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Shifting to cycling in urban areas reduces greenhouse gas emissions and improves public health. Access to street-level data on bicycle traffic would assist cities in planning targeted infrastructure improvements to encourage cycling and provide civil society with evidence to advocate for cyclists’ needs. Yet, the data currently available to cities and citizens often only comes from sparsely located counting stations. This paper extrapolates bicycle volume beyond these few locations to estimate street-level bicycle counts for the entire city of Berlin. We predict daily and average annual daily street-level bicycle volumes using machine-learning techniques and various data sources. These include app-based crowdsourced data, infrastructure, bike-sharing, motorized traffic, socioeconomic indicators, weather, holiday data, and centrality measures. Our analysis reveals that crowdsourced cycling flow data from Strava in the area around the point of interest are most important for the prediction. To provide guidance for future data collection, we analyze how including short-term counts at predicted locations enhances model performance. By incorporating just 10 days of sample counts for each predicted location, we are able to almost halve the error and greatly reduce the variability in performance among predicted locations.
Racial and ethnic disparities in central line-associated bloodstream infections (CLABSI) in hospitalized patients: a risk-adjusted analysis
Authors: Tripathi Sandeep , Walter Taylor , McGarvey Jeremy 
Published: February 2025

Abstract

Objective:
To compare the risk and exposure-adjusted central line-associated bloodstream infection (CLABSI) rates between racial and ethnic groups.

Design:
Retrospective cohort study.

Setting:
15 network hospitals in Illinois and Michigan (Part of OSF HealthCare).

Patients:
Patients of all age groups who had a central line inserted and removed during the same hospitalization between 01/2018 and 06/2023.

Methods:
CLABSI rates/1000 Central line days of the four major racial and ethnic categories (Hispanic, non-Hispanic White [NHW], non-Hispanic Black [NHB], and non-Hispanic others) were analyzed by generalized Poisson regression. Confounding variables included in the regression model based on a directed acyclic graph and included age group, insurance class, language, ICU admission, diagnostic cohorts (obesity, diabetes, dialysis, cancer, neutropenia), and line usage (blood products, chemotherapy, total parenteral nutrition).

Results:
27,674 central lines (244,889 catheter days) on 23,133 unique patients (median age 64 years, 8% pediatric patients) were included in the analysis. Overall, the CLABSI rate was 1.070/1000 Central line days. 76% of the study population was NHW, 17% NHB, and 4% Hispanic. After adjusting for confounding variables, Hispanic patients had higher CLABSI rates than NHW (IRR 1.89, 95% CI 1.15–3.10, P = .013). No significant difference was observed in the CLABSI rates between NHW and NHB patients.

Conclusion:
Disparities in hospital-associated conditions persist even after controlling for patient-level risk factors and exposures, with Hispanic patients at the highest risk.
Long edges in Galton–Watson trees
Authors: Bocharov Sergey , Harris Simon C. 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
We establish a number of results concerning the limiting behaviour of the longest edges in the genealogical tree generated by a continuous-time Galton–Watson process. Separately, we consider the large-time behaviour of the longest pendant edges, the longest (strictly) interior edges, and the longest of all the edges. These results extend the special case of long pendant edges of birth–death processes established in Bocharov et al. (2023).
Neighborhoods on Cerro Amole, Oaxaca: Models for a Mixtec Cabecera
Authors: Whittington Stephen L. , Frykholm Soren 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Intermediate levels of social organization—above the household but below the entire settlement, city, or polity—are notoriously difficult to pinpoint in archaeological contexts, but they nevertheless represent a crucial frontier for building new archaeological theory to understand daily social life in the past. Ethnographic research demonstrates that informants recognize units such as the “neighborhood” and consider them important. In Mesoamerica, organizational units such as the Mixtec siqui, Aztec calpulli, and Maya cuchcabal were often formally recognized in social, military, and economic systems. Here, a neighborhood case study is presented from San Pedro Teozacoalco in Oaxaca, Mexico. The site known as Iglesia Gentil, which is located atop a mountain today called Cerro Amole, was the cabecera, or administrative center, of Chiyo Cahnu, an important Postclassic Mixtec polity. Using distributions of architecture and artifacts across the site based on data collected with GPS units from 2013 to 2017, three complementary GIS-based models are evaluated for their ability to define neighborhoods at Iglesia Gentil. The best is based on least cost paths modified by Tobler's hiking function.
The (un)changing face of ICJ advocacy
Authors: Vagle Iben 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
Despite the growing recognition of representation as a fundamental principle in global governance, the ICJ Bar continues to exhibit pronounced gender imbalances. This study adopts an empirical frame of reference to scrutinise the gender and professional composition of legal teams appearing before the ICJ over the last decade. It involves a systematic examination of oral proceedings in contentious cases before the Court between 2013 and 2023, breaking down the gender and professional role of counsel for each party in every case. The manifest invisibility of women in international courtrooms challenges the perceived neutrality of the international legal system and raises the question; is international law gendered? This article posits that the predominance of male and academic perspectives delimits the interpretation and application of international law as issues and viewpoints that could strengthen the adjudicatory process are at risk of being overlooked. Thus, the findings herein seek to contribute to a nuanced and holistic discourse that not only informs academic scholarship, but also empowers practitioners to navigate the complexities of the ever-evolving international legal order. The integration of representative voices and heterogeneous perspectives in representations to the Court is a cornerstone of a legitimate, equitable, and effective international system. This article calls for a concerted effort by the international community to diversify the faces of ICJ advocacy.
Norm Localization and Democratic Backlash: Taiwan Marriage-Equality Debates in 2017–2019
Authors: Lai Christina 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACT
Taiwan’s achievement in passing a marriage-equality law in 2019 and the democratic backlash against LGBTQ+ rights deserve scholarly attention in Asia and beyond. Specifically, Taiwan’s road to marriage equality led to these empirical puzzles: What explains the conservative shift in Taiwan’s public perceptions toward LGBTQ+ rights? How would the backlash against LGBTQ+ rights impact Taiwan’s democracy? What does Taiwan’s experience inform us about norm localization and LGBTQ+ politics in Asia and beyond?
The strategic framing of the Christian right—that is, the symbolic use of family and its localization of conservative values using Confucian norms—enabled them to couch their religious beliefs and facilitate collective action among different groups. This study offers a culture-based explanation of how the Christian right successfully established a single-issue coalition against LGBTQ+ rights. The article is organized as follows. First, it engages current literature on discourse analysis, norms contestation, and contentious politics. Second, the study proposes a two-part framework for understanding how the Christian right effectively constructs their conservative claims to gain public support. A comparative analysis of the discourse from the conservative and progressive sides sheds light on how their narratives shaped the marriage-equality debate. Third, it addresses how this countermovement impacts Taiwan’s democracy and human rights.
ON DEFORMATION THEORY IN HIGHER LOGARITHMIC GEOMETRY
Authors: Lundemo Tommy 
Published: February 2025

Abstract
We initiate the study of deformation theory in the context of derived and higher log geometry. After reconceptualizing the ‘exactification’-procedures in ordinary log geometry in terms of Quillen’s approach to the cotangent complex, we construct an “tangent bundle’ over the category of log ring spectra. The fibers recover the categories of modules over the underlying ring spectra, and the resulting cotangent complex functor specializes to log topological André–Quillen homology on each fiber. As applications, we characterize log square-zero extensions and derive a log variant of étale rigidity, applicable to some tamely ramified extensions of ring spectra.