bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Teletherapy to address language disparities in deaf and hard-of-hearing children: study protocol for an inclusive multicentre clinical trial
Authors: Naugle Kendyl , Stephans Jihyun , Lazar Ann , Kearns Joy M , Coulthurst Sarah , Tebb Kathleen P , Chan Dylan K 
Published: August 2024

IntroductionChildren who are deaf or hard-of-hearing (DHH) are at risk for speech and language delay. Language outcomes are worse in DHH children from lower socioeconomic backgrounds, due in part to disparities in access to specialised speech-language therapy. Teletherapy may help improve access to this specialised care and close this language gap. Inclusion of diverse DHH children in prospective randomised clinical trials has been challenging but is necessary to address disparities and pursue hearing health equity. Stakeholder input regarding decisions on study design elements, including comparator groups, masking, assessments and compensation, is necessary to design inclusive studies. We have designed an inclusive, equitable comparativeness effectiveness trial to address disparities in paediatric hearing health. The specific aims of the study are to determine the effect of access to and utilisation of speech-language teletherapy in addressing language disparities in low-income children who are DHH.Methods and analysisAfter stakeholder input and pilot data collection, we designed a randomised clinical trial and concurrent longitudinal cohort trial to be conducted at four tertiary children’s hospitals in the USA. Participants will include 210 DHH children aged 0–27 months. 140 of these children will be from lower income households, who will be randomised 1:1 to receive usual care versus usual care plus access to supplemental speech-language teletherapy. 70 children from higher income households will be simultaneously recruited as a comparison cohort. Primary outcome measure will be the Preschool Language Scales Auditory Comprehension subscale standard score, with additional speech, language, hearing and quality of life validated measures as secondary outcomes.Ethics and disseminationThis study was approved by the Institutional Review Boards of the participating sites: the University of California, San Francisco (19-28356), Rady Children’s Hospital (804651) and Seattle Children’s Hospital (STUDY00003750). Parents of enrolled children will provide written informed consent for their child’s participation. Professional and parent stakeholder groups that have been involved throughout the study design will facilitate dissemination and implementation of study findings via publication and through national and regional organisations.Trial registration numberNCT04928209.
Perspectives of parents with lived experience of cytomegalovirus infection, on universal newborn screening for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) in Canada: a patient-led qualitative study
Authors: Beaulieu Laija , Bruce Marcia , Tiedemann Barbara , Chishti Rabea , Iyiola Iqmat , Penny Sarah , Leroux Caroline , Nielssen Ingrid , Santana Maria Jose , Castillo Eliana 
Published: August 2024

ObjectiveTo understand parental perspectives regarding universal newborn screening (UNS) for congenital cytomegalovirus (cCMV) in Canada.DesignA qualitative, patient-led study using the Patient and Community Engagement Research approach consisting of online focus groups and in-depth individual interviews to understand parental preferences regarding UNS for cCMV. Data were analysed iteratively using inductive thematic analysis and narrative story analysis.SettingCanada-wide study conducted via video conference from October to December 2023.Patients12 participants from five Canadian provinces who self-identified as 18 years of age or older and as having parental lived experience with cytomegalovirus (CMV) or cCMV participated in the study.ResultsWe identified three themes: (1) attitudes about UNS for cCMV, including participants’ unanimous support for UNS and confirmation that parental anxiety is not a deterrent for screening, (2) cCMV diagnosis, including the importance of coupling cCMV diagnosis with access to treatment and medical support and (3) awareness of cCMV, where participants shared their frustration about the lack of public and pregnant people’s awareness of cCMV.ConclusionsParental anxiety is not a deterrent for UNS for cCMV. Children with cCMV and their families deserve every opportunity to attain their best possible outcomes. UNS offers children with cCMV access to early intervention if they need it, and also helps to raise awareness and education to prevent future CMV infections.
How can we better engage female athletes? A novel approach to health and performance education in adolescent athletes
Authors: Roche Megan , McIntyre Abby , Oliver Carolyn , Sainani Kristin , Boyd Tatum , Stoner Austin , Kraus Emily 
Published: August 2024

ObjectivesTo evaluate the impact of a video series versus online pamphlets/blog posts on Female Athlete Triad (Triad) and Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport (REDs) knowledge in high school female runners.MethodsRunners from 10 US schools were cluster-randomised into groups to either watch videos or read pamphlets on Triad/REDs, nutrition, menstrual cycle, bone health and mental health. Changes in knowledge and interest were assessed using generalised estimating equations.ResultsForty-five runners were in the video intervention group (mean age=16.0) and 39 in the control (mean age=15.7). Both groups showed knowledge gains for all topics, except for mental health, where knowledge was already high. The intervention group’s knowledge increase (means=75.7 and 93.3) was not significantly higher than the control’s (means=77.9 and 93.6) (p=0.149). However, the intervention group had stronger scores on behavioural impact, information novelty and interest (means=3.77, 3.93 and 4.14) compared with the control’s (means=3.36, 3.48 and 3.52) (p≤0.05, p≤0.05 and p≤0.001).ConclusionBoth videos and pamphlets improved knowledge of Triad/REDs and female athlete science, however videos had a greater influence on athletes’ engagement and behavioural intentions.
Age-related patterns of microbial dysbiosis in multiplex inflammatory bowel disease families
Authors: Jacobs Jonathan P , Spencer Elizabeth A , Helmus Drew S , Yang Julianne C , Lagishetty Venu , Bongers Gerold , Britton Graham , Gettler Kyle , Reyes-Mercedes Pamela , Hu Jianzhong , Hart Amy , Lamousé-Smith Esi , Wehkamp Jan , Landers Carol , Debbas Philip , Torres Joana , Colombel Jean-Frederic , Cho Judy , Peter Inga , Faith Jeremiah , Braun Jonathan , Dubinsky Marla 
Published: August 2024

ObjectiveIBD is characterised by dysbiosis, but it remains unclear to what extent dysbiosis develops in unaffected at-risk individuals. To address this, we investigated age-related patterns of faecal and serum markers of dysbiosis in high-risk multiplex IBD families (two or more affected first-degree relatives).DesignFaecal and serum samples were collected from multiplex IBD and control families (95 IBD, 292 unaffected, 51 controls). Findings were validated in independent cohorts of 616 and 1173 subjects including patients with IBD, infants born to mothers with IBD and controls. 16S rRNA gene sequencing and global untargeted metabolomics profiling of faeces and serum were performed.ResultsMicrobial and metabolomic parameters of dysbiosis progressively decreased from infancy until age 8. This microbial maturation process was slower in infants born to mothers with IBD. After age 15, dysbiosis steadily increased in unaffected relatives throughout adulthood. Dysbiosis was accompanied by marked shifts in the faecal metabolome and, to a lesser extent, the serum metabolome. Faecal and serum metabolomics dysbiosis indices were validated in an independent cohort. Dysbiosis was associated with elevated antimicrobial serologies but not with faecal calprotectin. Dysbiosis metrics differentiated IBD from non-IBD comparably to serologies, with a model combining calprotectin, faecal metabolomics dysbiosis index and serology score demonstrating highest accuracy.ConclusionThese findings support that dysbiosis exists as a pre-disease state detectable by faecal and serum biomarkers for IBD risk prediction. Given the expansion of disease-modifying agents and non-invasive imaging, the indices developed here may facilitate earlier diagnoses and improved management in at-risk individuals.
Persistence of residual shunt at 6 and 12 months after transoesophageal echocardiography-guided percutaneous closure of a patent foramen ovale for cryptogenic stroke
Authors: Witte Lars S , el Bouziani Abdelhak , Beijk Marcel A M , Robbers-Visser Danielle , Coutinho Jonathan M , Tijssen Jan G P , Straver Bart , Bouma Berto J , de Winter Robbert J 
Published: August 2024

BackgroundYoung patients suffering from cryptogenic stroke alongside a patent foramen ovale (PFO) are often considered for percutaneous device closure to reduce the risk of stroke recurrence. Residual right-to-left shunt after device closure may persist in approximately a quarter of the patients at 6 months, and some may close at a later time point. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and persistence of residual right-to-left shunt after percutaneous PFO closure.MethodsConsecutive patients undergoing transoesophageal echocardiography-guided PFO closure for cryptogenic stroke between 2006 and 2021, with echocardiographic follow-up including contrast bubble study and Valsalva manoeuvre, were enrolled. Follow-up transthoracic echocardiography was performed at 6 months and repeated at 12 months in case of residual right-to-left shunt. Primary outcomes included the prevalence and grade of residual right-to-left shunt at 6 and 12 months after percutaneous PFO closure.Results227 patients were included with a mean age of 43±11 years and 50.2% were women. At 6-month follow-up, 72.7% had no residual right-to-left shunt, 12.3% small residual right-to-left shunt, 6.6% moderate residual right-to-left shunt and 8.4% large residual right-to-left shunt. At 12-month follow-up, the presence of residual right-to-left shunt in all patients was 12.3%, of whom 6.6% had small residual right-to-left shunt, 2.6% had moderate residual right-to-left shunt and 3.1% had large residual right-to-left shunt.ConclusionsResidual right-to-left shunts are common at 6 months after percutaneous closure of PFO. However, the majority are small and two-thirds of residual right-to-left shunts achieve complete closure between 6 and 12 months.
Photon-Driven Manifold Sampling
Authors: Lee Fei , Jhang Jia-Wun , Chang Chun-Fa 
Published: August 2024

Complex lighting phenomenon such as the caustics often arises from specular chains of varying lengths. Thanks to recent advancement in specular light transport, we are able to address most effects caused by shorter specular chains using root-finding techniques. However, finding longer chains of valid specular interaction still remains problematic due to the curse of dimensionality. This creates a difficulty for methods that depend on random sampling to navigate the path space.
In this paper, we present Photon-Driven Manifold Sampling (PMS), an unbiased method designed for sampling multi-bounce caustics, derived from Specular Manifold Sampling (SMS). We achieve efficient caustic rending through the combination of photon mapping and path space manifold exploration. Our method, inspired by recent advancements in path reusing techniques, caches multi-bounce caustic photons with the aim of reusing their vertices to seed local exploration via manifold walk. This eliminates the necessity for additional random sampling in seed path sampling as seen in alternative methods that took the guiding approach. Our results highlight a notable decrease in variance compared to other state-of-the-art techniques and demonstrate the adaptability to intricate specular chains.
KRAS-Driven Tumorigenesis and KRAS-Driven Therapy in Pancreatic Adenocarcinoma
Authors: Than Minh T. , O’Hara Mark , Stanger Ben Z. , Reiss Kim A. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDAC) is associated with significant morbidity and mortality and is projected to be the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths by 2030. Mutations in KRAS are found in the vast majority of PDAC cases and plays an important role in the development of the disease. KRAS drives tumor cell proliferation and survival through activating the MAPK pathway to drive cell cycle progression and to lead to MYC-driven cellular programs. Moreover, activated KRAS promotes a protumorigenic microenvironment through forming a desmoplastic stroma and by impairing antitumor immunity. Secretion of granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor and recruitment of myeloid-derived suppressor cells and protumorigenic macrophages results in an immunosuppressive environment while secretion of secrete sonic hedgehog and TGFβ drive fibroblastic features characteristic of PDAC. Recent development of several small molecules to directly target KRAS marks an important milestone in precision medicine. Many molecules show promise in preclinical models of PDAC and in early phase clinical trials. In this review, we discuss the underlying cell intrinsic and extrinsic roles of KRAS in PDAC tumorigenesis, the pharmacologic development of KRAS inhibition, and therapeutic strategies to target KRAS in PDAC.
Trimethylamine
N
-Oxide and Related Gut Microbe-Derived Metabolites and Incident Heart Failure Development in Community-Based Populations
Authors: Tang W.H. Wilson , Lemaitre Rozenn N. , Jensen Paul N. , Wang Meng , Wang Zeneng , Li Xinmin S. , Nemet Ina , Lee Yujin , Lai Heidi T.M. , de Oliveira Otto Marcia C. , Fretts Amanda M. , Sotoodehnia Nona , DiDonato Joseph A. , Bäckhed Fredrik , Psaty Bruce M. , Siscovick David S. , Budoff Matthew J. , Mozaffarian Dariush , Hazen Stanley L. 
Published: August 2024

BACKGROUND:

Growing evidence indicates that trimethylamine
N
-oxide, a gut microbial metabolite of dietary choline and carnitine, promotes both cardiovascular disease and chronic kidney disease risk. It remains unclear how circulating concentrations of trimethylamine
N
-oxide and its related dietary and gut microbe-derived metabolites (choline, betaine, carnitine, γ-butyrobetaine, and crotonobetaine) affect incident heart failure (HF).

METHODS:
We evaluated 11 768 participants from the Cardiovascular Health Study and the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis with serial measures of metabolites. Cox proportional hazard models were used to examine the associations between metabolites and incident HF, adjusted for cardiovascular disease risk factors.

RESULTS:

In all, 2102 cases of HF occurred over a median follow-up of 15.9 years. After adjusting for traditional risk factors, higher concentrations of trimethylamine
N
-oxide (hazard ratio, 1.15 [95% CI, 1.09–1.20];
P
<0.001), choline (hazard ratio, 1.44 [95% CI, 1.26–1.64];
P
<0.001), and crotonobetaine (hazard ratio, 1.24 [95% CI, 1.16–1.32];
P
<0.001) were associated with increased risk for incident HF. After further adjustment for renal function (potential confounder or mediator), these associations did not reach Bonferroni-corrected statistical significance (
P
=0.01, 0.049, and 0.006, respectively). Betaine and carnitine were nominally associated with a higher incidence of HF (
P
<0.05). In exploratory analyses, results were similar for subtypes of HF based on left ventricular ejection fraction, and associations appeared generally stronger among Black and Hispanic/Latino versus White adults, although there were no interactions for any metabolites with race.

CONCLUSIONS:

In this pooled analysis of 2 well-phenotyped, diverse, community-based cohorts, circulating concentrations of gut microbe-derived metabolites such as trimethylamine
N
-oxide, choline, and crotonobetaine were independently associated with a higher risk of developing HF.

REGISTRATION:

URL:
https://www.clinicaltrials.gov/
; Unique identifiers: NCT00005133 and NCT00005487.
Variability in personalities at sex, population, and taxon-levels in two European lacertid lizards
Authors: Sacchi Roberto , Cominetti Dario , Scali Stefano , Zuffi Marco A.L. , Mangiacotti Marco 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The variability in behavioural syndromes at different scale levels (e.g., within population or among species) is relevant in ecological and evolutionary patterns. It provides the basis on which natural selection can act to promote evolutionary processes. Additionally, behavioural syndromes can be seen as a form of pre-adaptation, favouring a species’ ability to cope with novel selective pressures, establish in new habitats, enhancing population stability, and dealing with deseases and parasites. We assessed repeatability (two replicates for individual) for five behavioural traits (activity, boldness including components of exploration and escape, sociability, and foraging activity) and tested the occurrence of behavioural syndromes in both sexes of three taxa of lacertid lizards: two clades of the common wall lizard (Podarcis muralis maculiventris and P. m. nigriventris), and the Italian wall lizard (Podarcis siculus). All behavioural traits except sociability were repeatable in all the three taxa. Our findings clearly reveal the occurrence of a behavioural syndrome related to the propensity to move through and explore new enviroments, escape from predation risk, and successfully capture prey. We also provide empirical evidence for higher repeatability of behaviours in males compared to females, as well as differences in behavioural syndromes at the taxon-level. These results support the occurrence of personality in both common and Italian wall lizards, highlighting marked variability in personality across different scales. This variability could ultimately reflect the interaction between the specific needs inherent in both sexes within each species, and the environmental/competitive context in which these needs are fulfilled.
Thermoregulation and activity patterns of three species of snakes with different lifestyles in central Mexico
Authors: Figueroa-Huitrón Ricardo , Díaz-Martínez Elia Fernanda , Méndez de la Cruz Fausto Roberto , Pérez-Mendoza Hibraim Adán 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Temperature is closely linked to the various lifestyles of reptiles, considerably influencing many aspects of their behaviour. Species with contrasting foraging modes or associated with different microhabitats are expected to thermoregulate in distinct ways. We sought to describe the thermal ecology of three model snake species, highlighting how their distinct lifestyles account for variation in thermoregulatory strategies. We chose the fossorial Conopsis lineata, the terrestrial Crotalus polystictus, and the semi-aquatic Thamnophis melanogaster. Following the protocol proposed by Hertz et al. (1993), we gathered data on body and operative temperatures in the field and preferred temperatures () in the laboratory. The three species exhibited a wide range of , with differences between lower and upper limits ranging from 6.4°C to 8°C. The E index of effectiveness of thermoregulation was 0.685 for C. polystictus, 0.644 for C. lineata, and 0.486 for T. melanogaster. These results indicate that C. lineata and C. polystictus are precise and active thermoregulators. C. lineata has cryptic and fossorial habits, and we propose that its efficient thermoregulation likely results from the strategic selection of thermally favourable retreat sites. Contrary to what we predicted, T. melanogaster turned out to be the least accurate thermoregulator. Its semiaquatic lifestyle can help it to maintain beneficial body temperatures with less effort since aquatic environments are more thermally homogeneous. Overall, our study shows that lifestyle affects thermoregulation to an extent in these species, but that the thermal environments they inhabit also plays a key role in delimiting their thermoregulatory strategies.
Acoustics of parental and hybridogenetic water frogs (Pelophylax: Amphibia: Ranidae): a tool for monitoring an invasive species
Authors: Gomes de Almeida Filipe , Ciavatti François , Pulido Angélica , Gendre Thomas , Geniez Philippe , Eble Aimeric , Leblanc Elise , Mansier Yoann , Martinossi-Allibert Ivain , Raymond Blaise , Pineau Adrien , Demay Jérémie , Crochet Pierre-André 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
The Pelophylax genus comprises two main hybridogenetic systems resulting from hybridization between Pelophylax ridibundus and other species: the P. lessonae-esculentus (LE) system and the P. perezi-grafi (PG) system, whose distribution ranges lie partly (LE) or entirely (PG) outside the natural distribution of P. ridibundus. The introductions and subsequent expansions of P. ridibundus in many areas naturally inhabited by these hybridogenetic systems have led to their decrease or local extinction. One of the major impediments to efficient population surveys and conservation measures for these systems is the difficulties of reliable species identification due to their similar morphology and poorly documented vocalizations, especially for the PG system. Our aim in this work was to design a reliable method of acoustic identification to distinguish the taxa composing the hybridogenetic systems from P. ridibundus and to assess the possibility of separating the PG and LE systems by their vocalizations. Our acoustic identification methods proved highly accurate to separate the PG and LE systems from P. ridibundus but only a fraction of the PG and LE calls can be identified.
Native African Bishops: Emerging Voices on the Eve of Vatican II (1959–1960)
Authors: Nnabugwu Chidiebere Obiora 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Some scholars have advanced timidity and conformism as typifying the contributions of young missionary churches, such as the Catholic Church in Africa at the antepreparatory phase of the Second Vatican Council. It has further been suggested that these features are more characteristic of the native prelates than their foreign missionary counterparts. This article, focusing on the vota of the indigenous African bishops, contests this stance to say that boldness, broad-mindedness, keen desire for adaptation, aggiornamento [updating], and reform were not lacking in the responses of these natives. Through a close study of the vota of these African-born prelates, the present essay demonstrates that these nascent native clergy found their voice right from the antepreparatory phase of Vatican II, and manifested their acute awareness of the reforms and adaptations they expected from the Council. Perceptible signs of reticence and timidity should thus be seen more as a general feature that could be identified with some individual bishops and prelates in all continents.
Towards the Empowerment of the Vanquished
Authors: Zou Tao , Asaah Augustine H. 
Published: August 2024

Abstract
Against the background of the 19th century British domination of Ghana, Ayi Kwei Armah’s The Healers (1978) depicts the restorative activities of a group of traditional health practitioners. The paper seeks to place African Indigenous Knowledge Systems at the heart of the resistance to colonialism and imperialism. The paper resorts to a close reading of the narrative guided by perspectives on recuperation provided by Armah, Amilcar Cabral, and Christel N. Temple. Traditional medicinal expertise, ecological awareness, cultural memory, and anthroponymy, as bearers of African Indigenous Knowledge Systems, coalesce to discredit the metropolitan miscomception of Africa as a tabula rasa, thereby infusing confidence into subalternized Blacks towards the dream of a reunified continent. The paper concludes that resistance to the empire entails politics and ethics of healing, empowerment, continuous mental decolonization, and commitment to African reunification.