bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The Border Patrol’s Migrant Death Undercounting in South Texas
Authors: Leutert Stephanie 
Published: October 2024

Executive Summary For the past 25 years, the Border Patrol has tracked migrant deaths along the US-Mexico border. For nearly the same amount of time, it has also faced criticisms that it failed to capture the true number of migrant deaths in its tally. This article focuses on these undercounting criticisms and asks two questions: (1) How many documented migrant death cases are left out of Border Patrol’s official data? And (2) what factors lead to the Border Patrol’s migrant death undercounting? In particular, the article focuses on three South Texas counties: Brooks County, Kenedy County, and Maverick County. To answer the research questions, this article relies on comparative data analysis. In particular, it compares two person-level datasets: the Border Patrol’s dataset on migrant deaths from 2009 to 2017 and county-level records from the Brooks County Sheriff’s Office, the Kenedy County Sheriff’s Office, and Maverick County Justices of the Peace over the same period. It then attempts to match each county-level record to a recorded death in the Border Patrol’s dataset. Using this process, the article quantifies migrant death undercounting in South Texas, highlights geographic and temporal trends, and tracks the uncounted cases’ specific characteristics. From 2009 to 2017, this comparative data analysis confirmed that the Border Patrol was undercounting migrant deaths across the three South Texas counties. Specifically, the article finds that the Border Patrol failed to include 139 cases, which totaled 19 percent of the counties’ 749 recorded migrant deaths during the study period. This undercounting ranged from 16 percent in Brooks County to 24 percent in Maverick County and 29 percent in Kenedy County, with fluctuating rates over time. The uncounted cases also had specific characteristics. In particular, they were more likely to be skeletal remains, lack an identification, and be discovered by an external entity. These characteristics highlight the various factors behind the Border Patrol’s undercounting, such as issues with the Border Patrol’s migrant death definition, inconsistent data collection from external entities, and the agency’s low prioritization of migrant death tracking. To address and remedy the Border Patrol’s migrant death undercounting requires tackling each underlying factor. First and foremost, this article recommends that the Border Patrol fully train its agents on the agency’s migrant death definition and ensure consistent and standardized outreach to external entities. Further, it recommends that the Border Patrol improve its migrant death count’s accuracy through additional operational changes. These proposed changes include making “accurate migrant death counts” an official objective for the Border Patrol’s Missing Migrant Program, prioritizing a two-way information-sharing process with county-level officials, retroactively including missed migrant deaths in the official count, and publishing more detailed person-level data on migrant deaths.
Determinants of Disaster Competencies Among Jordanian Nurses in Public Hospitals
Authors: Alhamory Sajeda , Khalaf Inaam , Alshraideh Jafar Alasad , Sumaqa Yasmeen Abu , Rayan Ahmad , kawafha Mariam , Al Maghaireh Dua'a Fayiz , Jakalat Suad , Abu-abbas Manar , Al-Ma'ani Mohammad , Aldalaeen Muamar O. 
Published: October 2024

Introduction In the last decade, disasters increased by 60% worldwide. These occurrences have resulted in approximately two million deaths and 4.2 million injuries and left 33 million people homeless. Nurses are part of the front-line response team and should be critical during disasters. For nurses to respond competently, they must have the knowledge and skills to provide comprehensive and holistic care to the populations affected by disasters. Objectives This study aims to assess the level of competencies among nurses providing disaster care and identify their predictors. Method A descriptive correlation design was utilized to measure and predict nursing competencies in providing care to individuals amid disasters. An electronic form of disaster response competencies assessment survey was distributed to 400 nurses working at three public hospitals in the central region of Jordan. Results Jordanian nurses reported a moderate level of competencies in providing care for individuals. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis revealed that disaster training, disaster education, sex, and real disaster experience significantly predict nurses’ competencies. Conclusion With the increasing frequency of disasters, nurses should be adequately prepared to respond to disasters competently to relieve the negative consequences of these events on the affected individuals.
The Meaning of Family's Adaptation Experiences Among Schizophrenia Caregivers in the Tidal Flood Areas in Indonesia: A Phenomenology Study
Authors: Budiarto Eka , Mustikasari  
Published: October 2024

Introduction Caring for patients who have schizophrenia in tidal floods requires more effort than patients who have schizophrenia in non-tidal flood areas. Family caregivers are required to manage stress and burden through adaptation to roles and the environment. Objective The purpose of this study was to explore the meaning of family adaptation experiences of those who care for patients with schizophrenia in a tidal flood area. Methods This research is a qualitative research with a descriptive phenomenology. The sampling technique used purposive sampling, and the number of participants was 10. The data collection used in-depth interview techniques. The Colaizzi method was used to analyze data. Results The adaptation experience meaning of family caregivers obtained four themes: (1) forms of family caregiver responses; (2) patient engagement as a way to provide quality care at home by family caregivers; (3) family caregivers’ difficulties in utilizing health services; and (4) resources for family caregivers. Conclusion The meaning of adaptation is whether the family caregivers feel the impact of their role and have difficulty utilizing health services in caring for patients. Despite this, family caregivers still try to continue to involve patients in daily activities and look for sources of support that are useful for them. Recommendation The physical and psychological well-being of family caregivers also need to be improved to support optimal care for patients who have schizophrenia by family caregivers at home.
Physical Activity, Functional Status, and Quality of Life Among Older Adults in India
Authors: Arjunan Porkodi , Annamalai Manjula , Subramaniam Aruna , Arulappan Judie 
Published: October 2024

Introduction Physical activity and social engagement protect older adults against functional decline and improve their quality of life. Physical inactivity poses an increased risk for noncommunicable diseases. Globally, one in four adults is physically inactive. Enhancing the physical activity of older adults is crucial not only for increasing their life expectancy but also for improving their functional status and quality of life. Objective This study aimed to evaluate the physical activity, functional status, and quality of life of older adults attending the medical outpatient department of a tertiary care hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu, India. Methods The study adopted a descriptive cross-sectional research design. A total of 100 female and male patients above 65 years of age with comorbid conditions attending the medical outpatient department participated in the study. The sociodemographic and clinical characteristics of these patients were assessed. In addition, the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity, Katz Index of Independence in Activities of Daily Living, Lawton Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale, and Older People Quality of Life Questionnaire were used to measure the physical activity, functional status, and quality of life of patients. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics. Results Among the participants, only 17% were active, and 35% were underactive for regular light activities. Approximately 81% did not perform any activity to improve their muscle strength or flexibility. In 56% of the participants, disability was present. The majority mentioned that they experienced difficulties in preparing food and shopping. Regarding the quality of life of the participants, the mean ± standard deviation score was 77.38 ± 9.03. Significant results were found in the domains of independence, control over life, and freedom. The overall quality of life was not related to leisure and activities, financial circumstances, the Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale score, the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity 2 score, and the Rapid Assessment of Physical Activity 1 score. The quality of life was weakly related to emotional and psychological well-being, control over life, home and neighborhood, freedom, independence, and social relationships. Conclusion Limited physical activity and poor functional status impact the quality of life of older adults. Therefore, educational and physical interventions should be implemented at the hospital and community levels to improve the physical activity, functional status, and quality of life of older adults.
Evaluation of a pilot implementation of a digital cognitive behavioral therapy platform for isolated older adults in county mental health services
Authors: Hernandez-Ramos Rosa , Schueller Stephen M. , Borghouts Judith , Palomares Kristina , Eikey Elizabeth , Schneider Margaret , Stadnick Nicole A. , Zheng Kai , Mukamel Dana B. , Sorkin Dara H. 
Published: October 2024

Background Technology-enabled services (TESs) have the potential to increase access to mental healthcare. However, little research has focused on how TESs can be integrated into publicly funded service settings. As part of the state-wide Help@Hand project, Marin County conducted a pilot implementation of myStrength, a digital cognitive behavioral therapy platform, to explore its potential to reduce loneliness among isolated older adults. We evaluated the pilot impact using the Reach, Effectiveness, Adoption, Implementation, and Maintenance (RE-AIM) framework. Method A single-site 6-month pilot implementation recruited English ( n = 15) and Spanish-speaking ( n = 15) isolated older adults who received a digital literacy course followed by 8 weeks of myStrength access and human support. We evaluated factors related to reach, effectiveness, adoption, and implementation using the perspectives of users and County staff. Descriptive statistics were used to examine reach, adoption, and implementation. Nonparametric tests, including Friedman and Wilcoxon signed-rank, were used to examine effectiveness. Results Reach: Compared to overall county demographics, platform users were majority female (93.1% vs. 50.5%), ethnoracialized (62.1% vs. 24.2%), and of lower socioeconomic status ( Mdn = $35,000 vs. $131,008). Effectiveness: Users reported a significant ( z = −2.62, p < .001) decrease in loneliness. Adoption: Users logged into myStrength an average of 10 times and completed 33 activities during the 8 weeks of myStrength use. Implementation: Each pilot staff ( N = 20) spent an average of 19.8 hr ( SD = 16.51) supporting users’ use of myStrength during the pilot. Pilot staff reported several adaptations to meet the needs of users. Conclusions Successes included reaching the target population, reducing loneliness, and user adoption. However, pilot staff invested significant time to support those with lower digital literacy skills. As such, although TESs may address unmet needs, their use with underserved populations may require upfront and ongoing support provided by the settings where they are implemented. Plain Language Summary Title Testing a New Digital Therapy Tool for Isolated Older Adults in County Mental Health Services.
Adiponectin deficiency is a critical factor contributing to cognitive dysfunction in obese mice after sevoflurane exposure
Authors: Chu John Man Tak , Chiu Suki Pak Wing , Wang Jiaqi , Chang Raymond Chuen Chung , Wong Gordon Tin Chun 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
The number of major operations performed in obese patients is expected to increase given the growing prevalence of obesity. Obesity is a risk factor for a range of postoperative complications including perioperative neurocognitive disorders. However, the mechanisms underlying this vulnerability are not well defined. We hypothesize that obese subjects are more vulnerable to general anaesthesia induced neurotoxicity due to reduced levels of adiponectin. This hypothesis was tested using a murine surgical model in obese and adiponectin knockout mice exposed to the volatile anaesthetic agent sevoflurane.

Methods
Obese mice were bred by subjecting C57BL/6 mice to a high fat diet. Cognitive function, neuroinflammatory responses and neuronal degeneration were assessed in both obese and lean mice following exposure to 2 h of sevoflurane to confirm sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity. Thereafter, to confirm the role of adiponectin deficiency in, adiponectin knockout mice were established and exposed to the sevoflurane. Finally, the neuroprotective effects of adiponectin receptor agonist (AdipoRon) were examined.

Results
Sevoflurane triggered significant cognitive dysfunction, neuroinflammatory responses and neuronal degeneration in the obese mice while no significant impact was observed in the lean mice. Similar cognitive dysfunction and neuronal degeneration were also observed in the adiponectin knockout mice after sevoflurane exposure. Administration of AdipoRon partially prevented the deleterious effects of sevoflurane in both obese and adiponectin knockout mice.

Conclusions
Our findings demonstrate that obese mice are more susceptible to sevoflurane-induced neurotoxicity and cognitive impairment in which adiponectin deficiency is one of the underlying mechanisms. Treatment with adiponectin receptor agonist ameliorates this vulnerability. These findings may have therapeutic implications in reducing the incidence of anaesthesia related neurotoxicity in obese subjects.
An epidemiological and spatiotemporal analysis of visceral leishmaniasis in West Pokot, Kenya, between 2018 and 2022
Authors: van Dijk Norbert J. , Amer Sherif , Mwiti Daniel , Schallig Henk D. F. H. , Augustijn Ellen-Wien 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Visceral leishmaniasis (VL) remains a significant public health concern in West Pokot County, Kenya, where a large outbreak between 2020 and 2022 emphasised the need for improved VL control strategies. However, these measures are partially hampered by limited insight into the geographical distribution of cases and localised outbreaks of the disease. This study aimed to describe the epidemiology and spatiotemporal patterns of VL in West Pokot between 2018 and 2022, in order to map the spread of VL transmission and identify regions that should be prioritised for control interventions.

Methods
VL patient demographics and village of residence were retrieved from admission records of Kacheliba Sub-County Hospital in West Pokot, Kenya. The temporal trend in VL admissions between 2018 and 2022 was analysed using seasonal decomposition analysis. To describe the spatial distribution of VL cases, geographic coordinates of villages of residence were collected from pre-established databases, and VL incidence was mapped at the sub-location level. Hotspot analysis was performed per study year to identify villages with high VL incidence, and scan statistics were applied to detect spatiotemporal clusters of VL cases during the study period.

Results
A total of 1948 VL patients were reported between 2018 and 2022. The annual number of cases increased from 245 in 2019 to 598 in 2022, and VL admissions were generally higher at the start of the wet seasons. 70% of the VL cases could be georeferenced, and mapping of VL incidence revealed high case rates in the east of West Pokot during the complete study period. The eastern villages Lotongot and Chepaywat were marked as VL hotspots at a 99% confidence level in all study years. In addition, five significant spatiotemporal clusters were detected in the east and north, suggestive of local VL outbreaks in these regions.

Conclusions
The increase in VL hospital admissions during the study period stresses the need for enhanced VL control and outbreak mitigation in West Pokot. These control measures should be focused on the hotspot regions in the east of the county.
Epidemic of multiple Treponema pallidum strains in men who have sex with men in Japan: efficient multi-locus sequence typing scheme and indicator biomarkers
Authors: Sato Wakana , Sedohara Ayako , Koga Michiko , Nakagama Yu , Yotsuyanagi Hiroshi , Kido Yasutoshi , Adachi Eisuke 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
The challenges in culturing Treponema pallidum have hindered molecular-biological analysis. This study aims to establish a molecular epidemiological analysis of syphilis among Japanese men who have sex with men (MSM) and to investigate the relationship between bacteremia and associated pathophysiology.

Methods
We used whole blood specimens from syphilis-diagnosed individuals in Tokyo, collected between February 2019 and June 2022. All individuals were MSM, and most were people with HIV (97.2%). We used a multi-locus sequence typing (MLST) scheme for epidemiological analysis. Sequences for MLST (TP0136, TP0548, and TP0705) were obtained.

Results
Out of 71 whole blood samples, 26 samples (36.6%) were positive for TP0136, and we sequenced three loci for MLST in 22 samples (31.0%). The most frequently detected sequence type (ST) was ST3 (n = 9), followed by ST6 (n = 6). Phylogenetic analysis revealed that 12 samples belonged to the SS14-like group (60%), and 8 samples belonged to the Nichols-like group (40%). Treponema pallidum subsp. endemicum (TEN), the cause of bejel was detected in three samples (12%). There was a significant association between TP0136 detection rate and C- reactive protein (CRP) (77.0% at a cut-off:0.5 mg/dL).

Conclusion
Both SS14-like and Nichols-like strains were circulating concurrently, and TEN could have been sexually transmitted among MSM with HIV. Elevated CRP may indicate the presence of the pathogen in the blood.
Serum L-selectin levels as predictive markers for chronic major depressive disorder progression
Authors: Yun Yeeun , Mun Sora , Lee Seungyeon , Kang Hee-Gyoo , Lee Jiyeong 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
Major depressive disorder (MDD) exhibits a recurrence rate of up to 70%. Frequent recurrence can lead to chronic depression, which has considerable personal and societal consequences. This study aims to identify a serum protein biomarker to predict MDD recurrence and progression to chronicity.

Methods
Serum samples from the MDD with single episode group (MDD-S), MDD with recurrence group (MDD-R), and a healthy control group were collected. Non-targeted analysis of the serum proteome was conducted using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Statistically significant common proteins when comparing the three groups were chosen. The selected marker candidates were subsequently validated through multiple response monitoring (MRM), incorporating a healthy control, MDD-S, MDD-R(2) (two episodes), and MDD-R(> 2) (more than two episodes) groups.

Results
L-selectin levels showed an upward trend in the MDD-R group compared to the healthy control and MDD-S groups. MRM validation revealed a decreased tendency for L-selectin in the MDD-R(> 2) group, indicative of a chronic state, versus the healthy control and MDD-S groups. The receiver operating characteristic analysis highlighted L-selectin as the chosen biomarker due to its classification efficacy for the MDD-R(> 2) group.

Conclusion
L-selectin emerged as a predictive biomarker for MDD recurrence and its potential evolution into chronic depression. This marker offers insights into changes in leukocyte-mediated inflammatory responses characteristic of chronic depression. Consequently, it may forecast the transition from acute to chronic inflammation in depressive patients.
A rare cause of respiratory distress in preterm infants: a case report of acquired subglottic cysts
Authors: Barchi Luca , Russo Giulia , Donvito Sara , Barbato Giulia , Leo Francesco , Iannella Elisa , Ghidini Angelo , Iughetti Lorenzo , Gargano Giancarlo 
Published: October 2024

Abstract
Background
The Subglottic Cysts (SGCs) are a rare cause of respiratory distress in infants. Typical risk factors include male gender, extreme prematurity, gastro-oesophageal reflux and invasive ventilation, the latter being associated with mucosal damage and blockage of the subglottic cysts’ ducts. We describe a case of acquired subglottic cysts in a premature infants presented with respiratory distress.

Case presentation
A premature male infant was born at 25 weeks + 2 days with a history of monochorionic diamniotic twin pregnancy with twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome. During hospitalization, invasive mechanical ventilation was necessary for a total of 18 days; the patient was discharged at postmenstrual age of 40 weeks + 1 day in good condition. At 43 weeks post-menstrual age, he presented to our department with mixed stridor and worsening of respiratory dynamics. A laryngotracheoscopy evaluation was performed. The exam showed the presence of multiple SGCs causing an almost complete obstruction of the airway. Because of the significant reduction of the airway’s patency, the child underwent a tracheotomy and thereafter cysts’ removal using cold steel microinstruments. A better airway patency was restored although a slight glottic edema persisted. The histopathology confirmed the benign nature of the lesions. Successive controls showed a completely patent airway and absence of SGCs.

Conclusion
In conclusion, SGCs should be considered in preterm infants with respiratory distress previously intubated, which cannot be explained by the most common causes. Early diagnosis and treatment are fundamental to reducing the morbidity and mortality associated with this disease.