bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Long‐term stress exposure, cortisol level and cardiovascular activity and reactivity: Observations in patients with fibromyalgia
Authors: Reyes del Paso Gustavo A. , Duschek Stefan , Contreras‐Merino Ana M. , Davydov Dmitry M. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractPrevious research suggested that exposure to long‐lasting or repeated laboratory stressors may lead to rearrangement of cardiovascular control, with a shift of regulation mechanisms from dominant cardiac to dominant vascular influences between the early and late response phases, respectively. This study investigated whether similar rearrangement occurs during life stress accompanying chronic disease by analyzing also associations between cortisol level and cardiovascular variables in patients with fibromyalgia (FM). In 47 women with FM and 36 healthy women (HW), cardiovascular recordings were taken during active body posture changes (sitting, lying down, and standing). Moreover, hair cortisol concentration (HCC) was obtained. During standing, which involved orthostatic challenge, FM patients showed higher total peripheral resistance (TPR) but lower stroke volume (SV), cardiac output (CO), and baroreflex sensitivity than HW. During sitting and lying down, TPR was more closely associated with blood pressure (BP) than CO in FM patients; in contrast, CO was more closely associated with BP than TPR in HW. HCC correlated positively with TPR and BP in FM patients, but negatively with TPR and BP and positively with SV and CO in HW. Results suggest that chronic disease‐related stress is associated with alterations in cardiovascular regulation toward greater involvement of vascular than cardiac mechanisms in BP control. Stress‐related cortisol release may contribute to the long‐term rearrangement of autonomic regulation. At the behavioral level, the dominance of vascular over cardiovascular control may relate to reduced somatic mobilization during an active fight‐flight response in favor of passive and behaviorally immobile coping.
The past and future of the study of Islamic esotericism
Authors: Saif Liana 
Published: July 2024

AbstractThe study of Islamic esotericism, particularly the concept of al‐bāṭiniyya, remains fragmented. While often studied under various labels like “mysticism” and “occultism,” it is widely equated to Sufism. Scholars still hesitate to use the term al‐bāṭiniyya due to its historical pejorative connotations, linking it to extremist adherence to esotericism and sectarian views. Furthermore, al‐bāṭiniyya has faced marginalization because of its association with narratives of Islamic civilization's decline. Even when the decline narrative is challenged, esotericism is often depicted as an “intellectual defect.” This article examines the ways the “esoteric” and “esotericism” have been studied, particularly in relation to the study of Shīʿī esotericism and Sufism. It also highlights developments in the scholarship on Islam and esotericism, aiming to draw a picture of an emerging coherence in the study of “Islamic esotericism.” This is explored against the backdrop of twentieth‐century Islamic discourses that grappled with the place of esotericism within Islamic knowledge and pedagogy. Here, the focus is on the “Islamization of Knowledge” project and its key figures: Ismāʿīl al‐Fārūqī, Syed Naquib al‐Attas, and Seyyed Hossein Nasr.
Firm‐level prices, quality, and markups: The role of immigrant workers
Authors: Sabbadini Giulia 
Published: July 2024

AbstractIn this article, I study export quality as a channel through which immigrant workers affect the export prices and markups of French manufacturing firms. I find that the share of immigrant workers in a local labor market is positively associated with firm‐level export prices and quality and that this quality advantage translates to higher markups. I present evidence for the mechanism accounting for these relationships and find that the presence of immigrant workers is positively associated with firms importing higher‐price (higher‐quality) intermediate inputs, which are key to producing higher‐price (higher‐quality) exports. The hypothesized economic mechanism is that immigrant workers help firms overcome informational barriers to sourcing higher‐price (higher‐quality) inputs from abroad. I provide evidence consistent with immigrant workers having specialized knowledge of the upstream market.
Automating Video‐Based Two‐Dimensional Motion Analysis in Sport? Implications for Gait Event Detection, Pose Estimation, and Performance Parameter Analysis
Authors: Mundt Marion , Colyer Steffi , Wade Logan , Needham Laurie , Evans Murray , Millett Emma , Alderson Jacqueline 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTBackgroundTwo‐dimensional (2D) video is a common tool used during sports training and competition to analyze movement. In these videos, biomechanists determine key events, annotate joint centers, and calculate spatial, temporal, and kinematic parameters to provide performance reports to coaches and athletes. Automatic tools relying on computer vision and artificial intelligence methods hold promise to reduce the need for time‐consuming manual methods.ObjectiveThis study systematically analyzed the steps required to automate the video analysis workflow by investigating the applicability of a threshold‐based event detection algorithm developed for 3D marker trajectories to 2D video data at four sampling rates; the agreement of 2D keypoints estimated by an off‐the‐shelf pose estimation model compared with gold‐standard 3D marker trajectories projected to camera's field of view; and the influence of an offset in event detection on contact time and the sagittal knee joint angle at the key critical events of touch down and foot flat.MethodsRepeated measures limits of agreement were used to compare parameters determined by markerless and marker‐based motion capture.ResultsResults highlighted that a minimum video sampling rate of 100 Hz is required to detect key events, and the limited applicability of 3D marker trajectory‐based event detection algorithms when using 2D video. Although detected keypoints showed good agreement with the gold‐standard, misidentification of key events—such as touch down by 20 ms resulted in knee compression angle differences of up to 20°.ConclusionThese findings emphasize the need for de novo accurate key event detection algorithms to automate 2D video analysis pipelines.
DNA Methylation and Its Effects on TRIM29 Gene Expression in the Equine Sarcoid Tissue
Authors: Ewelina Semik‐Gurgul , Anna Zaborowska , Rafał Pędziwiatr , Maciej Witkowski 
Published: July 2024

ABSTRACTSarcoids are the most frequently diagnosed dermatological tumour in horses. It is a disease that can affect various species of equids, such as donkeys, mules and zebras. This type of tumour can develop in all horse breeds, regardless of age and gender. Treatment options depend on many factors, such as the type of lesion, location, extent, owner preference and financial considerations. In the present study, we investigated the TRIM29 expression, the methylation status of its first exon and its involvement in the formation of equine sarcoids. Bisulfite sequencing PCR (BSP) was used to determine DNA methylation at CpG sites and real‐time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) was used to detect TRIM29 expression level. Our results showed that TRIM29 is significantly downregulated in lesional samples (FC = −3.72; p < 0.001). Furthermore, TRIM29 expression was significantly correlated (R = −0.73; p < 0.001) with hypermethylation of its specific CpG sites in the first exon of this gene. Our research has demonstrated that the identification of increased methylation of CpG sequences in horse sarcoids, along with the decreased expression of the TRIM29 gene, is an important step towards understanding the molecular mechanisms underlying the disease. These findings can serve in the future as a diagnostic biomarker for horse sarcoids and help in detecting the disease.
Presumed renal arterial aneurysm in a cat
Authors: Lojszczyk Anna , Kimicka Aleksandra 
Published: July 2024

AbstractA 3‐year‐old cat was presented for an abdominal ultrasound examination with apathy and anemia. The US revealed the enlargement of the left kidney with a hypoechoic subcapsular thickening. An abnormal, tortuous vessel was visible in the medulla with arterial flow on pulsed‐wave Doppler examination. The CT examination confirmed the ultrasound findings and a presumptive diagnosis of the intraparenchymal renal aneurysm was made. Four days later, the cat presented again with a worsening of its condition. The US features were suggestive for that of an aneurysm rupture.
Molecular detection of Coxiella burnetii in ticks collected from animals and the environment in Uganda
Authors: Eneku Wilfred , Erima Bernard , Byaruhanga Anatoli Maranda , Cleary Nora , Atim Gladys , Tugume Titus , Ukuli Qouilazoni Aquino , Kibuuka Hannah , Mworozi Edison , Tweyongyere Robert , Douglas Christina E. , Koehler Jeffrey W. , von Fricken Michael E. , Wabwire‐Mangen Fred , Byarugaba Denis K. 
Published: July 2024

AbstractAimsCoxiella burnetii is a highly infectious organism that is easily spread through aerosols causing Q fever in humans. Ticks can harbour and transmit C. burnetii to animals, contributing to disease maintenance. Our aim was to examine the presence of C. burnetii in ticks in Uganda.Methods and ResultsIn this study, ticks were collected from five Ugandan districts and tested by real‐time PCR for C. burnetii (Coxiella outer membrane protein 1 gene). A total of 859 tick pools (9602 individual ticks) were tested, and pool positivity for C. burnetii was 5.5% (n = 47). Pooled prevalence differed by district; the highest was Luwero (7.3%), then Gulu (6.6%), and Kasese had the lowest (1.3%). However, district variation was not statistically significant (Fisher's exact = 0.07). Ticks collected from dogs and cats had the highest positivity rates [23/47, (48.9%)] followed by livestock (cattle, goats, sheep, and pigs) [18/47, (38.3%)] and vegetation [6/47, (12.8%)]. Haemaphysalis elliptica had the highest infection rates, followed by Rhipicephalus appendiculatus, Amblyomma variegatum and Rhipicephalus decoloratus had similar prevalence.ConclusionsAlthough ticks are not the primary transmitters of C. burnetii to humans, pathogen detection in ticks can be an indirect indicator of risk among animal hosts. Vulnerable populations, including occupations with close animal contact such as farming, butchery, and veterinary practice, have an increased risk of C. burnetii exposure. Veterinarians and clinicians should be aware that C. burnetii may cause human and animal illness in these regions.
Methodological approaches in graded dental ceramics: a scoping review protocol
Authors: Gali Sivaranjani , Gururaja Suhasini , Karuveettil Vineetha , Janakiram Chandrashekhar 
Published: July 2024

Objectives:
This review will map the various methodological approaches used in graded dental ceramics and distinguish their material characteristics and properties. The aim is to identify gaps in the development and application of grading in dental ceramic systems.

Introduction:
The advantage of functionally graded materials is the absence of the weakest link, with no distinct boundaries, thereby eliminating the possibility of stress concentrations at the interfaces. Functionally graded materials are well established in nature, such as in human teeth, bone, and the bio-tissues of plants and animals. This concept has also been explored in dental ceramics to enhance fatigue resistance and strength.

Inclusion criteria:
This review will include observational studies and interventional studies, such as in vitro and experimental studies, on functionally graded dental ceramic systems. Studies that use finite element analysis to evaluate stress distributions, and studies on the mechanical performance of graded dental ceramics, irrespective of the type of ceramic material, design, or thickness of graded layers, will be considered.

Method:
The review will follow the JBI methodology for scoping reviews and the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews. MEDLINE (PubMed), Scopus, ProQuest Dissertations and Theses (EBSCOhost), Cochrane CENTRAL, and Google Scholar will be searched for English language studies. The search strategy will be based on MeSH terms and free-text specific terms, and will be adapted for each database. Two independent reviewers will screen titles and abstracts, and extract data from selected sources. The data extracted from the selected studies will be analyzed and presented in the form of tables and figures.

Review registration:
Open Science Framework: https://osf.io/ahsp7
Fourier-Based Function Generation of Four-Bar Linkages With an Improved Sampling Points Adjustment and Sylvester's Dialytic Elimination Method
Authors: Qian Yahui , Zhong Hong , Tan Chin-An , Wang Liangmo 
Published: July 2024

Abstract
Four-bar linkages are critical fundamental elements of many mechanical systems, and their design synthesis is often mathematically complicated with iterative numerical solutions. Analytical methods based on Fourier coefficients can circumvent these difficulties but have difficulties with sampling points adjustment and solutions of the design equations in previous studies. In this paper, an improved Fourier-based analytical synthesis method is presented, which transforms the function generation synthesis of planar four-bar linkages into a problem of solving design equations. Calculation of the Fourier coefficients is discussed, including the discretization of the prescribed function and an improved sampling points adjustment method. It is shown that the Fourier coefficients can be computed efficiently and accurately by discretizing the prescribed function with a small number of sampling points. The proposed sampling adjustment method overcomes the difficulty of easily resulting in non-Grashof solutions by considering the complete period of the prescribed function. An improved Sylvester's dialytic elimination method is presented to solve design equations. The method reduces the computation time and avoids cumbersome procedures without generating additional invalid solutions. Several examples are presented to demonstrate the advantages of the proposed synthesis method, which is easy-understanding and efficient, and yields more accurate solutions than available synthesis methods.
Exploring communication preferences and risk thresholds of clinicians and parents of febrile infants under 90 days presenting to the emergency department: a qualitative study
Authors: Wilson Kathryn , Umana Etimbuk , McCleary David , Waterfield Thomas , Woolfall Kerry 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundFebrile infants under 3 months of age are at higher risk of invasive bacterial illness (IBI) when compared with older children. Increasingly sequential assessment based on age, clinical appearance and biomarkers is used to determine the risk of IBI, and appropriateness of invasive procedures such as lumbar puncture. The purpose of this qualitative study is to report parents and clinicians’ opinions on communication of risks and benefits of sequential assessment and tailored treatment.Methods18 parents enrolled in the Febrile Infant Diagnostic Assessment and Outcomes study and seven clinicians from England, Wales and Northern Ireland were purposively selected to participate in virtual qualitative interviews. Data were analysed thematically.ResultsTailored treatment plans were widely supported. Confidence in the clinician was central to parents’ attitude towards management recommendations. Parents’ decision-making preferences change throughout their child’s clinical journey, with an initial preference for clinician-led decisions evolving towards collaborative decision-making as their stress and anxiety reduce. There were widespread differences in preferences for how risk was discussed. Parents self-reported poor retention of information and felt communication adjuncts helped their understanding. Clinicians were generally positive about the use of clinical decision aids as a communication tool, rather than relying on them for decision-making.DiscussionParents want to feel informed, but their desire to be involved in shared decision-making evolves over time.Clinicians appear to use their clinical judgement to provide individualised information, evolving their communication in response to perceived parental needs.Poor information retention highlights the need for repetition of information and use of communication adjuncts.Trial registration numberNCT05259683.
Growth and respiratory status at 3 years of age after moderate preterm, late preterm and early term births: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study
Authors: Hirata Katsuya , Ueda Kimiko , Ikehara Satoyo , Tanigawa Kanami , Wada Kazuko , Kimura Tadashi , Ozono Keiichi , Sobue Tomotaka , Iso Hiroyasu 
Published: July 2024

Objective
To assess the association between gestational age at birth and the risk of growth failure and respiratory symptoms at 3 years of age.

Design
Cohort study using the Japan Environment and Children’s Study database.

Patients
A total of 86 158 singleton infants born without physical abnormalities at 32–41 weeks of gestation were enrolled between January 2011 and March 2014.

Main outcome measures
Growth failure (weight <10th percentile and height <10th percentile) and respiratory symptoms (asthma and wheezing) at 3 years of age.

Methods
Logistic regression analysis was used to evaluate the risk of growth failure and respiratory symptoms in the moderately preterm, late preterm and early term groups compared with the full-term group after adjusting for socioeconomic and perinatal factors. Multiple imputation was used to reduce the attrition bias related to missing data.

Results
The respective adjusted ORs (95% CI) of growth failure and respiratory symptoms for the moderate preterm, late preterm and early term groups compared with the full-term group were as follows: weight <10th percentile, 2.29 (1.48–3.54), 1.43 (1.24–1.71) and 1.20 (1.12–1.28); height <10th percentile, 2.34 (1.59–3.45), 1.42 (1.25–1.60) and 1.15 (1.09–1.22); asthma, 1.63 (1.06–2.50), 1.21 (1.04–1.41) and 1.16 (1.09–1.23); and wheezing, 1.39 (1.02–1.90), 1.37 (1.25–1.51) and 1.11 (1.06–1.17).

Conclusion
Moderate preterm, late preterm and early term births were associated with a higher risk of growth failure and respiratory symptoms at 3 years of age than full-term births, with an inverse dose-response pattern.
Birth defects in a rural province in Papua New Guinea
Authors: Toti Anna , Vetuna Beryl , Kalit Veronica , Duke Trevor 
Published: July 2024

BackgroundGlobally, birth defects are the fourth most common cause of neonatal mortality. They cause substantial morbidity, and often long-term disability. Despite this, the impact of birth defects on public health has received little attention in low- and middle-income countries.AimsTo report the types, incidence and geographic distribution of birth defects in the East New Britain Province of Papua New Guinea.MethodsData were collected over 3 years on newborns with birth defects seen at Rabaul Hospital, born anywhere in the province. Each affected newborn was examined, the anomaly diagnosed and classified. The exact home location was recorded to understand geospatial distribution. To calculate incidence, data were collected on all newborns with a congenital anomaly in a cohort of 2000 consecutive live births at Rabaul Hospital in 2019.ResultsOver 3 years, 2018–2020, 137 newborns with birth defects were identified, born in any part of the province. Congenital heart defects, hydrocephalus, microcephaly, craniofacial anomalies, imperforate anus, trachea-oesophageal fistula and diaphragmatic hernia were the most common anomalies. Eight cases of Down syndrome and other chromosomal anomalies were identified. The incidence in 2019 was 14 per 1000 live births. Geographic mapping showed the highest number of cases in the region on the Gazelle Peninsula, the area around the active volcanos.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into the incidence and types of birth defects in a rural island province and showed it was possible to map geospatial distribution to further explore epidemiology.
Evaluation of the effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound in pain and dysfunction for knee osteoarthritis: a double-blind, randomised controlled trial protocol
Authors: Chen Tingxi , He Yu , Xia Shenglin , Zhou Fenghua , Yuan Xiangnan , Liu Xueyong 
Published: July 2024

IntroductionOsteoarthritis (OA) is the most common joint disorder among musculoskeletal conditions. Non-surgical treatment is the standard therapy for knee OA (KOA). Ultrasound therapy is recommended for alleviating pain and dysfunction from OA, but high-quality scientific evidence for its effectiveness in OA treatment is still lacking.Therefore, we want to analyse whether combining conventional physical therapy with low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) can enhance the efficacy of conventional therapy, thus improving symptoms in patients with KOA.Methods and analysisThis randomised controlled trial aims to recruit 200 patients diagnosed with KOA, aged 38 years or above, who meet the clinical diagnostic criteria for KOA. Patients will be randomly assigned in a 1:1 ratio to either a LIPUS treatment group or a sham ultrasound treatment control group. The 2-week treatment will consist of five sessions per week and evaluations will take place at baseline, on the day of the last intervention and 1 month post intervention. The main outcome measures will be the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities’ scores. Secondary outcome indicators will be the Numerical Pain Rating Scale, the Lequesne scale, the time up and go test and the range of motion of the knee. An intention-to-treat analysis will be performed for dropouts and missing data.Ethics and disseminationThe study was approved by the ethics committee of Shengjing Hospital of China Medical University (2023PS592K). Findings will be disseminated to participants and made available to peer-reviewed journals.Trial registration numberThe trial was registered on the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry platform (chictr.org.cn) on 22 March 2023, with the registration ID ChiCTR2300069643.