bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of department chair gender on paid parental leave across American anaesthesiology residencies
Authors: Morah Ofodile , Khosa Faisal 
Published: November 2024

BackgroundResidency training and parenthood are conflicting pursuits for many residents, as both often occur during similar years of life. Online policy about paid parental leave for residents is important for not only mitigating this dilemma, but also ensuring that the associated health benefits can be fully capitalised on.PurposeInvestigate the extent of advertised paid parental leave for anaesthesiology residencies in the USA and to explore whether this had an association with the gender of the department chair for these programmes. Analysis of Canadian anaesthesiology residencies was performed to assess whether a nation with federally protected paid parental leave yielded disparate rates of advertised paid parental leave.MethodsAll accredited US anaesthesiology residency programme websites were reviewed to determine the gender of the department chair and the existence of advertised paid parental leave for residents. χ2analysis was used to determine if there was a statistically significant association between the gender of anaesthesiology residency department chairs and paid parental leave advertised. Rates of advertised paid parental leave were compared with those seen in Canadian anaesthesiology residencies.ResultsUS anaesthesiology residency department chairs were 84% (137/164) men. Of the men-led programmes, 42% (58/137) advertised paid parental leave, while 70% (19/27) of women-led programmes advertised such benefits (p<0.05). Overall, 47% of (77/164) of US anaesthesiology residencies advertised paid parental leave, while 76% (13/17) of Canadian anaesthesiology residencies advertised paid parental leave (p<0.05).ConclusionIn the USA, anaesthesiology residencies with department chairs held by women had a higher rate of advertised paid parental leave. Such findings call attention to the potential downstream effects of lacking diversity in leadership within medicine. When compared with the USA, Canada was found to have higher rates of advertised paid parental leave across their anaesthesiology residencies, potentially highlighting the impact of federal legislature on medical residents.
Umbilical Cord–Derived Mesenchymal Stem Cells Improve Ornidazole‐Induced Asthenozoospermia in Rats via Activation of the AKT/mTOR Pathway
Authors: Huang GaoBo , Quan Li , Li Qi , Zhou Xiao , Han Mei , Peng Fang , Gong YanFei 
Published: November 2024

Objective: Mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) have been highly confirmed for their critical role in the treatment of different diseases. This study focuses on the mechanism of umbilical cord–derived MSCs (UC‐MSCs) in the treatment of ornidazole (ORN)‐induced asthenozoospermia (AS) in rats via the AKT/mTOR pathway.Methods: An animal model of AS was established in ORN‐induced rats, followed by treatment of UC‐MSCs and rapamycin (autophagy activator) or MK‐2206 (AKT inhibitor). The sperm motility, concentration, and viability of rats were measured by an automatic sperm analyzer. Hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining was conducted to observe the pathological injury of testicular tissue in rats. Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) assay was utilized to evaluate the apoptosis rate of testicular cells. Western blot analysis was performed to determine the expression of apoptosis‐related proteins, autophagy‐related proteins, and AKT, p‐AKT, mTOR, and p‐mTOR. The rate of light chain 3 (LC3)–positive cells in testicular tissue was detected by immunohistochemistry (IHC).Results: In ORN‐induced AS rats, sperm motility, concentration, and viability as well as the number of mesenchymal cells and spermatogenic cells were significantly decreased, spermatogenic tubule space, apoptosis rate, and cleaved caspase‐3, LC3II/I, Beclin‐1, and LC3‐positive cell rates were increased, and Bcl2 was downregulated. UC‐MSCs could improve sperm quality and testicular injury in AS rats by inhibiting excessive autophagy. Besides, UC‐MSCs could activate the AKT/mTOR pathway. Moreover, inhibition of the AKT/mTOR pathway partially reversed the therapeutic effect of UC‐MSCs on ORN‐induced AS rats.Conclusion: UC‐MSCs inhibit autophagy and improve sperm quality in AS rats through the AKT/mTOR pathway, highlighting a new idea for the treatment of AS.
Number Attraction in Pronoun Production
Authors: Kandel Margaret , Wyatt Cassidy R. , Phillips Colin 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Pronoun production involves at least two processes: (i) deciding to refer to a referent with a pronoun instead of a full NP and (ii) determining the pronoun’s form. In the present study, we assess whether the second of these processes occurs as a by-product of the first process—namely, does accessing the message-level representation of the referent provide access to the features required to determine pronoun form, meaning that pronouns should be robust to errors, or are pronoun features determined through an agreement operation with the antecedent, in which case they may be susceptible to agreement attraction, similar to subject–verb agreement. Prior lab experiments suggest that pronouns display number attraction at a similar rate to verbs. However, in contrast to verb attraction errors, there is no documentation of systematic pronoun attraction errors in corpora of natural speech. Our study builds upon prior lab work by eliciting pronoun sentences using a scene description paradigm that engages the pronominalization processes involved in natural speech. Across three experiments, we observed small but reliable number attraction effects for pronouns, suggesting that pronoun form is not always determined from the message-level representation of the referent. The elicited error rates were smaller than those previously observed for verbs in a similar scene-description paradigm; this smaller error rate helps to reconcile the apparent discrepancy between pronoun number attraction error rates observed in and outside the lab. The results suggest that pronoun form is determined (at least at times) through an agreement process referencing the features of the linguistic antecedent.
When New Experience Leads to New Knowledge: A Computational Framework for Formalizing Epistemically Transformative Experiences
Authors: Ongchoco Joan Danielle K. , Davis Isaac M. , Jara-Ettinger Julian , Paul L. A. 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
The discovery of a new kind of experience can teach an agent what that kind of experience is like. Such a discovery can be epistemically transformative, teaching an agent something they could not have learned without having that kind of experience. However, learning something new does not always require new experience. In some cases, an agent can merely expand their existing knowledge using, e.g., inference or imagination that draws on prior knowledge. We present a computational framework, grounded in the language of partially observable Markov Decision Processes (POMDPs), to formalize this distinction. We propose that epistemically transformative experiences leave a measurable “signature” distinguishing them from experiences that are not epistemically transformative. For epistemically transformative experiences, learning in a new environment may be comparable to “learning from scratch” (since prior knowledge has become obsolete). In contrast, for experiences that are not transformative, learning in a new environment can be facilitated by prior knowledge of that same kind (since new knowledge can be built upon the old). We demonstrate this in a synthetic experiment inspired by Edwin Abbott’s Flatland, where an agent learns to navigate a 2D world and is subsequently transferred either to a 3D world (epistemically transformative change) or to an expanded 2D world (epistemically non-transformative change). Beyond the contribution to understanding epistemic change, our work shows how tools in computational cognitive science can formalize and evaluate philosophical intuitions in new ways.
Survivor Health Connection Project: Understanding Experiences of Accessing Health Care Among Those Affected by Intimate Partner Violence During the COVID-19 Pandemic
Authors: Hendrix Ellen , Segebrecht Jane , Thomas Kris , Branch Tracy , Dawson Shawndell 
Published: November 2024

Objectives: Intimate partner violence (IPV) has short- and long-term health effects, including physical injuries and traumatic brain injury, as well as sexual, reproductive, and mental health issues. However, accessing necessary health care is often challenging for IPV survivors and became even more difficult during the COVID-19 pandemic. We examined access to health care among those affected by IPV during the COVID-19 pandemic to better connect survivors to health and social support services. Methods: The Health Resources and Services Administration’s Office of Women’s Health partnered with its Bureau of Primary Health Care, the Administration for Children and Families’ Office of Family Violence Prevention and Services, and the National Domestic Violence Hotline (Hotline) on the 2-year Survivor Health Connection Project. The Hotline administered 2 surveys to its contacts: a 2-question postinteraction survey from March 29, 2021, through September 30, 2022, and a longer focused survey in 2021 and 2022 that measured barriers and restrictions to accessing health care, telehealth safety, and interactions with health care providers. Results: Of 9918 respondents to the postinteraction survey, 6173 (62.2%) reported current health needs related to their abusive experience. Nearly half of 242 respondents to the 2021 survey (n = 106, 43.8%) indicated that the frequency or intensity of abuse increased during the COVID-19 pandemic, and 157 of 338 respondents to the 2022 survey (46.4%) reported that their partner had controlled and/or restricted their access to health care. Participants described barriers to accessing health care, including finances, health insurance coverage, and transportation. Conclusions: Findings illuminate opportunities to further support the health and social needs of those experiencing IPV, including continued coordination of efforts across health care and social service delivery partners.
Morphological remodeling of the repaired sigmoid sinus bone wall in patients with pulsatile tinnitus after successful surgical reconstruction: an ultra-high-resolution CT study
Authors: Dai Chihang , Zhao Pengfei , Wang Guopeng , Ding Heyu , Lv Han , Gong Shusheng , Wang Zhenchang 
Published: November 2024

Background Sigmoid sinus wall reconstruction (SSWR) is an effective treatment for pulsatile tinnitus (PT). However, follow-up postoperative imaging manifestations have not been extensively reported. Purpose To evaluate the morphological changes in patients with PT after successful SSWR using ultra-high-resolution computed tomography (U-HRCT). Material and Methods Data were retrospectively analyzed from 10 patients with PT who underwent successful SSWR primarily with autologous bone powder. U-HRCT scans were performed within 3 days of surgery and repeated 6 months later. The integrity, relative density, extent, and shape of the repaired wall were analyzed. The chi-square test was used to compare the categorical variables and the Phi (φ) coefficient was used to represent the magnitude of the correlation. Results Among the 10 patients with PT, 1 (10%) achieved complete coverage of the defect with the residual bone, 8 (80%) had partial coverage, and 1 (10%) showed complete separation. A gap between the repaired wall and residual bone in the initial U-HRCT was linked to incomplete defect coverage in the subsequent U-HRCT scan ( P < 0.001, φ = 0.903). The repaired wall shrank from the periphery to the center and the density increased. The repaired wall compressed into the sigmoid sinus retracts over time, reshaping into a naturally curved sigmoid sinus sulcus. Conclusion Morphological remodeling is a typical characteristic of the repaired sigmoid sinus wall in patients with PT. Short-term incomplete repair may imply incomplete coverage of the defect in the future, but this is not correlated with recurrence.
Who Is Afraid of …? A Spell Against the Evil Eye (pBM EA10563)
Authors: Beck Susanne 
Published: November 2024

The fear of the evil eye is common throughout the world and found in many cultures. Interestingly, there are only a few examples known from ancient Egypt, even if sources such as the Temple Library of Edfu state that there existed rituals against the evil eye. The following article presents papyrus BM EA10563, which contains a new spell against the evil eye, before all known attestations are presented in chronological order and discussed. [Formula: see text]
Baseline Inflammation but not Exercise Modality Impacts Exercise-induced Kynurenine Pathway Modulation in Persons With Multiple Sclerosis: Secondary Results From a Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Kupjetz Marie , Patt Nadine , Joisten Niklas , Ueland Per Magne , McCann Adrian , Gonzenbach Roman , Bansi Jens , Zimmer Philipp 
Published: November 2024

Background: The kynurenine pathway (KP) is an important hub in neuroimmune crosstalk that is dysregulated in persons with multiple sclerosis (pwMS) and modulated by exercise in a modality-specific manner. Objectives: To compare changes in the KP metabolite profile of pwMS (1) following combined treatments including either high-intensity interval training (HIIT) or moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) during a 3-week multimodal rehabilitation, (2) to evaluate exercise response in relation to baseline systemic inflammation, and (3) to investigate associations of kynurenines with physical capacity and clinical outcomes. Methods: For this secondary analysis of a randomized controlled trial, serum concentrations of kynurenines at baseline and after 3 weeks were determined using targeted metabolomics (LC-MS/MS). Exercise-induced changes in the KP metabolite profile according to treatment and baseline systemic inflammation (neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) <3.12 versus ⩾3.12) were investigated using covariance analyses. Results: Regardless of treatment, concentrations of tryptophan and most kynurenines decreased over time. Quinolinic acid concentration increased ( p < .001). Participants with low and high NLR revealed differential exercise-induced changes in concentrations of kynurenines and NLR. The systemic inflammation markers neopterin ( p = .015) and NLR ( p < .001) decreased in the whole group and in participants with high NLR, respectively. Conclusions: Combined treatments including HIIT or MICT do not differentially modulate the KP metabolite profile, with both reducing concentrations of most kynurenines. Baseline systemic inflammation may impact exercise-induced changes in the KP metabolite profile and anti-inflammatory effects of exercise in pwMS. Trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov (identifier: NCT04356248)
Persistent postsurgical pain in hip fracture patients. A prospective longitudinal study with multifaceted assessment
Authors: Nomoto Yutaro , Nishi Yuki , Nakagawa Koichi , Goto Kyo , Kondo Yutaro , Yamashita Junichiro , Morita Kaoru , Kataoka Hideki , Sakamoto Junya , Okita Minoru 
Published: November 2024

Background Some patients with postoperative hip fractures (HF) experience persistent severe pain. In this longitudinal study, we examined the characteristics of patients with persistent pain after HF surgery, and the factors influencing pain intensity. Methods We conducted an 8-week prospective study in patients with postsurgical HF. Verbal rating scale (VRS), and multifaceted outcomes, including pressure pain threshold (PPT) (affected site and biceps), were evaluated at 2, 4, and 8 weeks postoperatively. Patients were divided into mild (VRS ≤1) and severe (VRS ≥2) groups according to pain intensity at 8 weeks postoperatively. Statistical analyses were performed using two-way ANOVA and decision-tree analysis. Results VRS, PPT at the affected site and biceps, and physical activity (PA) time were significantly lower in the severe group than in the mild group 2 weeks postoperatively. VRS, PPT at the affected site, pain catastrophizing (PCS)-13, and the Tampa Scale for Kineshiophobia (TSK)-11 did not show significant improvements in the severe group. Decision tree analysis revealed that the VRS and PCS-13 at 4 weeks, PA time at 2 weeks, and TSK-11 change between 4 weeks and 2 weeks were factors influencing severe pain intensity at 8 weeks after HF surgery. Conclusion Persistent severe pain after HF surgery was characterised by high peripheral and central sensitisation, pain catastrophizing, and reduced PA at 2 weeks after HF surgery. In addition, early pain intensity, pain catastrophizing, and PA may be hierarchically influential factors for persistent pain 8 weeks after HF surgery.
The economic burden of diagnostic uncertainty on rare disease patients
Authors: Willmen Lukas , Völkel Lukas , Willmen Tina , Deckersbach Thilo , Geyer Siegfried , Wagner Annette Doris 
Published: November 2024

Abstract
Background
It often takes a long time before a rare disease is diagnosed. Without a diagnosis, the right therapy often cannot be carried out and without the right therapy, the patients are denied the opportunity for a cure or relief from their symptoms.
In addition, rare diseases can also have economic consequences for those affected. This study aimed to investigate the extent to which a rare disease affects the income and work performance of the patients concerned and whether the use of AI in diagnostics would have the potential to reduce economic losses.

Methods
The work performance and income of 71 patients of the outpatient clinic for rare inflammatory systemic diseases with renal involvement at Hannover Medical School were analyzed during the course of the disease. The WHO Health and Work Performance Questionnaire (HPQ) was used to collect data. During the patient interviews, the questionnaire was completed four times: at the onset of the first symptoms, when a diagnostic decision support system (DDSS) would have suggested the correct diagnosis, at the time of diagnosis and at the current status.

Results
With the onset of the diagnostic odyssey, the monthly net income of the patients under study dropped by an average of 5.32% due to lower work performance or work absenteeism. With the correct diagnosis, the original or even a better income of 11.92% could be achieved. Loss of income due to illness was more massive in patients with a rare disease with joint, muscle and connective tissue involvement than in patients with rare vasculitides. If a DDSS had been used, the loss of income would have been 2.66% instead of the actual 5.32%.

Conclusion
Rare diseases resulted in temporary or existing income losses in 28.17% of the patients. Losses in work performance and income were related to the type of disease and were more pronounced in patients with joint, muscle or connective tissue disease than in patients with rare vasculitides.
The use of a DDSS may have the potential to reduce the negative income effects of patients through earlier correct diagnosis.

Trial registration
Retrospectively registered.
A study of novel telephone sequence spaces and some geometric properties
Authors: Yaying Taja 
Published: November 2024

AbstractFor a nonnegative integer k, let $\mathcal {T}_{k}$

T
k

denote the kth telephone number. Consider the matrix $\mathfrak{T}=(\mathfrak {T}_{kr})$
T
=
(

T

k
r

)
given by $$\begin{aligned} \mathfrak {T}_{kr}= \textstyle\begin{cases} \dfrac{r\mathcal {T}_{r-1}}{\mathcal {T}_{k+1}-1}, & 0\leq r\leq k, \\ 0 , & r>k, \end{cases}\displaystyle \end{aligned}$$

T

k
r

=

{

r

T

r
−
1

T

k
+
1

−
1

,

0
≤
r
≤
k
,

0
,

r
>
k
,

where $k,r=0,1,2,\dots $
k
,
r
=
0
,
1
,
2
,
…
Using the matrix $\mathfrak{T}$
T
, we define matrix domains $\mathscr{T}_{p}:=(\ell _{p})_{\mathfrak{T}}$

T
p

:
=

(

ℓ
p

)

T

for $0 < p < \infty $
0
<
p
<
∞
and $\mathscr{T}_{\infty}:=(\ell _{\infty})_{\mathfrak{T}}$

T
∞

:
=

(

ℓ
∞

)

T

. In this context, we construct a Schauder basis for $\mathscr{T}_{p}$

T
p

and identify their α-, β-, and γ-duals. We also derive various results pertaining to matrix transformations from the spaces $\mathscr{T}_{p}$

T
p

and $\mathscr{T}_{\infty}$

T
∞

to traditional spaces such as $\ell _{\infty}$

ℓ
∞

, c, $c_{0}$

c
0

, and $\ell _{1}$

ℓ
1

. Additionally, we explore several geometric attributes of the spaces $\mathscr{T}_{p}$

T
p

and $\mathscr{T}_{\infty}$

T
∞

, including the approximation property, D-P property, Hahn–Banach extension property, and rotundity.
Distribution grid monitoring based on feature propagation using smart plugs
Authors: Grafenhorst Simon , Förderer Kevin , Hagenmeyer Veit 
Published: November 2024

AbstractSmart home power hardware makes it possible to collect a large number of measurements from the distribution grid with low latency. However, the measurements are imprecise, and not every node is instrumented. Therefore, the measured data must be corrected and augmented with pseudo-measurements to obtain an accurate and complete picture of the distribution grid. Hence, we present and evaluate a novel method for distribution grid monitoring. This method uses smart plugs as measuring devices and a feature propagation algorithm to generate pseudo-measurements for each grid node. The feature propagation algorithm exploits the homophily of buses in the distribution grid and diffuses known voltage values throughout the grid. This novel approach to deriving pseudo-measurement values is evaluated using a simulation of SimBench benchmark grids and the IEEE 37 bus system. In comparison to the established GINN algorithm, the presented approach generates more accurate voltage pseudo-measurements with less computational effort. This enables frequent updates of the distribution grid monitoring with low latency whenever a measurement occurs.
A new S-box pattern generation based on chaotic enhanced logistic map: case of 5-bit S-box
Authors: El Gaabouri Ismail , Senhadji Mohamed , Belkasmi Mostafa , El Bhiri Brahim 
Published: November 2024

AbstractCryptography plays consistently an essential role in securing any sort of communications or data broadcast over the network. Since the security of any designed block cipher algorithm is related to its Substitution box (S-box), several efforts have been made by researchers to design a vigorous S-box that maintains flawlessly the cost, performance, and security trade-off. From the literature, we can find a variety of input–output sizes of S-boxes, each of which has its benefits and drawbacks. Therefore, this work introduces a new S-box pattern generation based on the chaotic enhanced logistic map where its chaotic behavior offers good randomness ability, a fact that enhances its unpredictability. In our realization, the intention was the generation of a 5-bit Sbox due to its suitability and cost-effectiveness to be integrated into lightweight cryptosystems. Moreover, the S-box security strength is proved by testing it through numerous cryptanalysis measurements. We can mention non-linearity, bijectivity, linearity, differential cryptanalysis, boomerang attacks resilience, Avalanche effect, and algebraic attacks resilience. The results show that our proposition provides good resistance to the aforementioned attacks and even shows superiority over its 5-bit competitors in terms of non-linearity, differential, Boomerang, and algebraic attack resistance.