bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Inconvenient Truth: Challenges to Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in Social Work Education and Practice
Authors: Kwok Kim , Kwan Chi Kin , Lo Kai Chung 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Social work is recognised as a profession committed to promoting diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI). However, it is concerning that social work still faces significant challenges in achieving these critical goals. This qualitative study examines the systemic barriers encountered by ethnically diverse social workers in Hong Kong as they navigate social work education and frontline practice. Nineteen social workers from diverse ethnic backgrounds participated in focus group interviews. The findings revealed interconnected, systemic challenges to equity and inclusion in social work, ranging from individual biases to organisational barriers. This is the inconvenient truth that highlights the social work profession’s inadequate efforts to develop and implement comprehensive DEI strategies needed to confront inequalities and exclusion present in social work education and the workforce. By adopting a combined approach of the DEI and critical race theory (CRT) frameworks, this article expands the traditional diversity discourses in social work, moving beyond embracing superficial diversity and considering deep-seated systemic issues, such as racism, in order to address cultural differences. It also centres the voices of marginalised social workers in Hong Kong, challenging dominant narratives and enriching regional knowledge. The article concludes with recommendations to enhance inclusive social work education and the workforce.
Efficacy of renal denervation as an adjunct to pulmonary vein isolation for atrial fibrillation treatment: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Thavabalan Karish , Sheikh Majed , Phuah YuZhi , Rajput Sanjay K , Fatima Noor , Sutaria Aman , Bray Jonathan J H , Ahmad Mahmood , Glatzel Hannah , Ahmad Reubeen , Snell Lily , Kumar Niraj S , García-Pérez Carmen-Lucía , Candilio Luciano , Providencia Rui 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Aims
Catheter ablation, consisting of pulmonary vein isolation (PVI), is the most effective treatment modality for the management of symptomatic patients with atrial fibrillation (AF). Unfortunately, this procedure has a considerable relapse rate, ranging from 15 to 50% depending on AF type and other patient factors. Hypertension (HTN) is associated with a higher risk of developing AF and can also be managed with a catheter-based procedure—renal denervation (RDN). This meta-analysis aimed to compare the effect of PVI with and without RDN in hypertensive patients with AF.

Methods and results
OVID MEDLINE and Embase were searched on 1 February 2023 and trials that reported the effects of RDN on AF recurrence in hypertensive patients were included. A total of 637 patients across 8 randomised controlled trials were included. The results from the pooled analysis showed that when compared with PVI alone, RDN added to PVI: (1) Lowered AF recurrence [RR 0.67 (0.53, 0.85), P = 0.001, I2 = 23%, NNT = 5.9 patients]; (2) Reduced both systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure, with medium effect size, as reflected by standardised mean differences of 0.5 (P = 0.02, I2 = 80%) and 0.43 (P = 0.006, I2 = 60%), respectively; and (3) was not associated with a decrease in estimated glomerular filtration rate (+7.19 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = 0.15, I2 = 89%).

Conclusion
Adding RDN to PVI in patients with AF and resistant HTN was associated with a reduction of blood pressure levels and AF recurrence. Consideration to RDN should be given as an adjunctive treatment for patients with AF and resistant HTN.
European survey of diagnosis and management of the polycystic ovary syndrome: full report on the ESE PCOS Special Interest Group's 2023 Questionnaire
Authors: Livadas Sarantis , Yildiz Bulent O , Mastorakos George , Gambineri Alessandra , Pignatelli Duarte , Giorgino Francesco , Andersen Marianne Skovsager , Obermayer-Pietsch Barbara , Macut Djuro ,   ESE PCOS Special Interest Group, Macut Djuro , Gambineri Alessandra , Yildiz Bulent O , Pignatelli Duarte , Mastorakos George , Andersen Marianne Skovsager , Obermayer-Pietsch Barbara , Giorgino Francesco , Livadas Sarantis 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Although polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is a very common endocrinopathy, there are several issues related to this disorder which perplex clinicians in their everyday practice.

Objective
To determine the current state of knowledge among European endocrinologists concerning the full spectrum of PCOS.

Methods
An online survey comprising 41 items covering various aspects of PCOS diagnosis and management was distributed to members of the European Society of Endocrinology.

Results
A total of 505 European endocrinologists (64% females), with a mean age of 47 ± 11.6 years, participated in the survey. The Rotterdam criteria were the primary diagnostic tool for 85% of respondents. Most referrals (87.1%) occurred between ages 20 and 40 years. Twenty-five percent of physicians have access to mass spectrometry for the evaluation of androgen levels. While an extended metabolic profile was commonly employed as part of the workup, there was uncertainty regarding chronic anovulation diagnosis. Diabetes, including gestational or type 2, was recognized as a significant risk factor with universal screening irrespective of BMI status. Lifestyle modification and metformin were considered as standard interventions by all participants alongside oral contraceptives, though there was significant discrepancy in treatment duration.

Conclusions
The Rotterdam diagnostic criteria are widely adopted for PCOS diagnosis among European endocrinologists. The current updated survey shows an emphasis on steroid profiling as an important part of diagnostic workup and a strong position held for recognition of PCOS as a metabolic condition with potentially serious implications. Current therapy thus shifted to the demand for prioritizing lifestyle interventions and metabolic therapies, either as monotherapy or in combination with standard hormone compounds.
In-silico trial emulation to predict the cardiovascular protection of new lipid-lowering drugs: an illustration through the design of the SIRIUS programme
Authors: Angoulvant Denis , Granjeon-Noriot Solène , Amarenco Pierre , Bastien Alexandre , Bechet Emmanuelle , Boccara Franck , Boissel Jean-Pierre , Cariou Bertrand , Courcelles Eulalie , Diatchenko Alizée , Filipovics Anne , Kahoul Riad , Mahé Guillaume , Peyronnet Emmanuel , Portal Lolita , Porte Solène , Wang Yishu , Steg Philippe Gabriel 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Introduction
Inclisiran, an siRNA targeting hepatic PCSK9 mRNA, administered twice-yearly (after initial and 3-month doses), substantially and sustainably reduced LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) in Phase III trials. Whether lowering LDL-C with inclisiran translates into a reduced risk of major adverse cardiovascular events (MACE) is not yet established. In-silico trials applying a disease computational model to virtual patients receiving new treatments allow to emulate large scale long-term clinical trials. The SIRIUS in-silico trial programme aims to predict the efficacy of inclisiran on CV events in individuals with established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (ASCVD).

Methods and results
A knowledge-based mechanistic model of ASCVD was built, calibrated, and validated to conduct the SIRIUS programme (NCT05974345) aiming to predict the effect of inclisiran on CV outcomes. The SIRIUS Virtual Population included patients with established ASCVD (previous myocardial infarction (MI), previous ischemic stroke (IS), previous symptomatic lower limb peripheral arterial disease (PAD) defined as either intermittent claudication with ankle-brachial index &lt;0.85, prior peripheral arterial revascularization procedure, or vascular amputation) and fasting LDL-C ≥ 70 mg/dL, despite stable (≥4 weeks) well-tolerated lipid-lowering therapies.
SIRIUS is an in-silico multi-arm trial programme. It follows an idealized crossover design where each virtual patient is its own control, comparing inclisiran to (i) placebo as adjunct to high-intensity statin therapy with or without ezetimibe, (ii) ezetimibe as adjunct to high-intensity statin therapy, (iii) evolocumab as adjunct to high-intensity statin therapy and ezetimibe.
The co-primary efficacy outcomes are based on the time to the first occurrence of any component of 3P-MACE (composite of CV death, nonfatal MI, or nonfatal IS) and time to occurrence of CV death over 5 years.

Perspectives/conclusion
The SIRIUS in-silico trial programme will provide early insights regarding potential effect of inclisiran on MACE in ASCVD patients, several years before the availability of the results from ongoing CV outcomes trials (ORION-4 and VICTORION-2-P).

Clinical trial registration
Clinicaltrials.gov identifier: NCT05974345
Genome-wide association studies from spoken phenotypic descriptions: a proof of concept from maize field studies
Authors: Yanarella Colleen F , Fattel Leila , Lawrence-Dill Carolyn J 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
We present a novel approach to genome-wide association studies (GWAS) by leveraging unstructured, spoken phenotypic descriptions to identify genomic regions associated with maize traits. Utilizing the Wisconsin Diversity panel, we collected spoken descriptions of Zea mays ssp. mays traits, converting these qualitative observations into quantitative data amenable to GWAS analysis. First, we determined that visually striking phenotypes could be detected from unstructured spoken phenotypic descriptions. Next, we developed two methods to process the same descriptions to derive the trait plant height, a well-characterized phenotypic feature in maize: (1) a semantic similarity metric that assigns a score based on the resemblance of each observation to the concept of ‘tallness’ and (2) a manual scoring system that categorizes and assigns values to phrases related to plant height. Our analysis successfully corroborated known genomic associations and uncovered novel candidate genes potentially linked to plant height. Some of these genes are associated with gene ontology terms that suggest a plausible involvement in determining plant stature. This proof-of-concept demonstrates the viability of spoken phenotypic descriptions in GWAS and introduces a scalable framework for incorporating unstructured language data into genetic association studies. This methodology has the potential not only to enrich the phenotypic data used in GWAS and to enhance the discovery of genetic elements linked to complex traits but also to expand the repertoire of phenotype data collection methods available for use in the field environment.
Chromosome-Scale Assembly and Annotation of Eight Arabidopsis thaliana Ecotypes
Authors: Kileeg Zachary , Wang Pauline , Mott G Adam 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The plant Arabidopsis thaliana is a model system used by researchers through much of plant research. Recent efforts have focused on discovering the genomic variation found in naturally occurring ecotypes isolated from around the world. These ecotypes have come from diverse climates and therefore have faced and adapted to a variety of abiotic and biotic stressors. The sequencing and comparative analysis of these genomes can offer insight into the adaptive strategies of plants. While there are a large number of ecotype genome sequences available, the majority were created using short-read technology. Mapping of short-reads containing structural variation to a reference genome bereft of that variation leads to incorrect mapping of those reads, resulting in a loss of genetic information and introduction of false heterozygosity. For this reason, long-read de novo sequencing of genomes is required to resolve structural variation events. In this article, we sequenced the genomes of eight natural variants of A. thaliana using nanopore sequencing. This resulted in highly contiguous assemblies with &gt;95% of the genome contained within five contigs. The sequencing results from this study include five ecotypes from relict and African populations, an area of untapped genetic diversity. With this study, we increase the knowledge of diversity we have across A. thaliana ecotypes and contribute to ongoing production of an A. thaliana pan-genome.
Effect of Soundscape Augmentation on Behavioral Symptoms in People With Dementia: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial
Authors: Talebzadeh Arezoo , Botteldooren Dick , Thomas Pieter , Stewart Steven , Van de Velde Dominique , De Vriendt Patricia , Devos Paul , Iaboni Andrea 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background and Objectives
Sound is an important environmental factor that influences the expression of behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia. Recent research on the effect of soundscape has shown promising results in improving environmental impact on people with dementia. However, no controlled studies have aimed to quantify the effects of soundscape intervention on resident outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the feasibility and impact of a soundscape intervention on people with dementia and behavioral symptoms.

Research Design and Methods
Pilot single-blind repeated-measures randomized controlled trial of an augmented soundscape intervention. Participants were people with dementia in a hospital-based specialized dementia unit. Participants were randomized to an augmented soundscape intervention delivered in their room in the morning and evening or treatment as usual, with 2 baseline weeks and 4 weekly post-randomization assessments of the primary and secondary behavioral outcomes.

Results
The soundscape intervention was feasible in terms of recruitment, retention, and delivery of the intervention. There were improvements in the neuropsychiatric inventory total scores over time in both groups (−5.89, 95%CI −8.45 to −3.28, p &lt; .001), but no differences between groups. There were no significant group, time, or group × time differences for the Pittsburgh Agitation Scale (PAS) total score. For the PAS-resisting care subscale, there was a significant group × time difference, with a greater reduction in the soundscape group over the study period (−0.81, 95% CI −1.59 to −0.03, p = .042).

Discussion and Implications
In this pilot study, soundscape augmentation was a feasible and effective nonpharmacological approach to reducing resistance to care in people with dementia, although it did not improve neuropsychiatric symptoms more globally. Further studies with larger samples and of longer duration are needed to investigate the long-term effects of augmented sonic environments on people with dementia.

Clinical Trials Registration Number
NCT04809545
MOBFinder: a tool for mobilization typing of plasmid metagenomic fragments based on a language model
Authors: Feng Tao , Wu Shufang , Zhou Hongwei , Fang Zhencheng 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundMobilization typing (MOB) is a classification scheme for plasmid genomes based on their relaxase gene. The host ranges of plasmids of different MOB categories are diverse, and MOB is crucial for investigating plasmid mobilization, especially the transmission of resistance genes and virulence factors. However, MOB typing of plasmid metagenomic data is challenging due to the highly fragmented characteristics of metagenomic contigs.ResultsWe developed MOBFinder, an 11-class classifier, for categorizing plasmid fragments into 10 MOB types and a nonmobilizable category. We first performed MOB typing to classify complete plasmid genomes according to relaxase information and then constructed an artificial benchmark dataset of plasmid metagenomic fragments (PMFs) from those complete plasmid genomes whose MOB types are well annotated. Next, based on natural language models, we used word vectors to characterize the PMFs. Several random forest classification models were trained and integrated to predict fragments of different lengths. Evaluating the tool using the benchmark dataset, we found that MOBFinder outperforms previous tools such as MOBscan and MOB-suite, with an overall accuracy approximately 59% higher than that of MOB-suite. Moreover, the balanced accuracy, harmonic mean, and F1-score reached up to 99% for some MOB types. When applied to a cohort of patients with type 2 diabetes (T2D), MOBFinder offered insights suggesting that the MOBF type plasmid, which is widely present in Escherichia and Klebsiella, and the MOBQ type plasmid might accelerate antibiotic resistance transmission in patients with T2D.ConclusionsTo the best of our knowledge, MOBFinder is the first tool for MOB typing of PMFs. The tool is freely available at https://github.com/FengTaoSMU/MOBFinder.
CAT: a computational anatomy toolbox for the analysis of structural MRI data
Authors: Gaser Christian , Dahnke Robert , Thompson Paul M , Kurth Florian , Luders Eileen , the Alzheimer's Disease Neuroimaging Initiative  
Published: August 2024

Abstract
A large range of sophisticated brain image analysis tools have been developed by the neuroscience community, greatly advancing the field of human brain mapping. Here we introduce the Computational Anatomy Toolbox (CAT)—a powerful suite of tools for brain morphometric analyses with an intuitive graphical user interface but also usable as a shell script. CAT is suitable for beginners, casual users, experts, and developers alike, providing a comprehensive set of analysis options, workflows, and integrated pipelines. The available analysis streams—illustrated on an example dataset—allow for voxel-based, surface-based, and region-based morphometric analyses. Notably, CAT incorporates multiple quality control options and covers the entire analysis workflow, including the preprocessing of cross-sectional and longitudinal data, statistical analysis, and the visualization of results. The overarching aim of this article is to provide a complete description and evaluation of CAT while offering a citable standard for the neuroscience community.
Growing divergence between Medicare Advantage plan bids and payments to plans
Authors: McCormack Grace , Trish Erin 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
As the Medicare Advantage (MA) program grows in enrollment and costs, there has been increasing concern that federal payments to MA plans exceed necessary levels. Estimates suggest that, in 2023, MA plans were paid up to 6% more per enrollee than would have been spent had that beneficiary instead enrolled in traditional Medicare (TM). We evaluated the factors driving this overpayment, characterizing trends in MA benchmarks, bids, and total payments from pre-Affordable Care Act (pre-ACA) levels through 2023. We found that, despite an overall decrease in risk-adjusted bids relative to average risk-adjusted TM enrollee costs, total payments to plans have modestly increased since 2015. Decomposing these trends into various factors in the MA payment formula, we found that divergent trends in benchmarks and bids are, in part, due to the increasing influence of payment adjustments, such as quartile spending adjustments, quality bonus payments, and risk adjustment. Our results suggest that current payment rules have contributed to overpayments and policy reform may be necessary.
Anarchy as Architect: Competitive Pressure, Technology, and the Internal Structure of States
Authors: MacInnes Morgan , Garfinkel Ben , Dafoe Allan 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The internal institutional structures of states greatly impact their citizens’ welfare. However, states are not at complete liberty to adopt any internal form. Competitive pressure arising from anarchy limits the range of viable domestic institutions to those that do not impose a significant disadvantage. We argue that technological change can alter the relative competitiveness of different state forms and, by extension, improve or degrade human welfare. We empirically support this argument through a macrohistorical survey of competitively significant technologies. We conclude that the true costs of international anarchy are greater than commonly appreciated, as competitive pressure may force states to evolve into forms detrimental to the welfare of their inhabitants. Moreover, the adoption of state forms that improve human well-being is often driven by technological change as much as human agency. Finally, the invention of seemingly beneficial technologies may decrease human well-being by improving the competitiveness of inegalitarian state forms.
Promoting antifungal stewardship through an antifungal multidisciplinary team in a paediatric and adult tertiary centre in the UK
Authors: Soni Shuchita , Hettle David , Hutchings Stephanie , Wade Susan , Forrest-Jones Kate , Sequeiros Iara , Borman Andrew , Johnson Elizabeth M , Harding Irasha 
Published: August 2024

Abstract

Background
Invasive fungal infections (IFIs) present significant challenges, especially among immunocompromised patients, with associated high morbidity, mortality and significant economic impact. Diagnostic difficulties and the emergence of antifungal resistance necessitates enhanced antifungal stewardship (AFS) efforts.

Methods
We report outcomes from a review of our multidisciplinary approach to AFS, based in a 1300-bed teaching hospital in the South-West of England. Retrospectively reviewing all adult and paediatric cases over 12 months in 2022, we investigated demographics, diagnosis, antifungal therapy and adherence to AFS advice, including clinical, mycological, financial and teamwork metrics. Data were extracted from our AFS database, supported by pharmacy records.

Results
The AFS multidisciplinary team (MDT) reviewed 111 patients, with 30 day and 1 year mortality of 22.7% and 35.4%, respectively. IFIs classified as proven accounted for 26%, with fungal pathogens identified in 36.3% of cases. Antifungal consumption (by 25.1%) and expenditure (by 59.9%) decreased from 2018 to 2022. The AFS MDT issued 324 recommendations, with a 93% acceptance rate.

Conclusions
Our approach to AFS, centred around a weekly MDT, demonstrated improvements in IFI management, antifungal consumption and cost-efficiency. This single-centre study highlights the value of a comprehensive, collaborative approach to AFS involving experts in mycology, infection, radiology, antifungal therapies and clinical teams. The programme’s success in paediatric and adult populations and the near-universal acceptance of its recommendations show its potential as a model for replication. It represents a model for enhancing patient care and AFS practices, with future directions aimed at expanding service reach and the integration of further rapid diagnostic modalities.