bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Burden of severe periodontitis and edentulism in 2021, with projections up to 2050: The Global Burden of Disease 2021 study
Authors: Nascimento Gustavo G. , Alves‐Costa Silas , Romandini Mario 
Published: August 2024

AbstractAimTo (i) assess the prevalence, incidence, and burden of severe periodontitis and edentulism in 2021, and (ii) forecast their rates in 2050.MethodsPrevalence, incidence, and Years Lived with Disability (YLDs) for severe periodontitis and edentulism in 2021 were gathered globally, covering 204 countries, seven super regions, and 21 regions from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) 2021 study. Prevalence, incidence, and YLDs due to periodontitis and edentulism to 2050 were projected using mixed‐effects models with the socio‐demographic index as the main covariate.ResultsIn 2021, over 1 billion people were affected by severe periodontitis (1066.95 million; 95% UI: 896.55–1234.84), with a global age‐standardized prevalence of 12.50% (10.53–14.49). South Asia had the highest prevalence rate, at 17.57% (14.73; 20.14). Edentulism affected 353 million people globally (300.60–416.20), resulting in an age‐standardized prevalence of 4.11% (3.50; 4.83). The highest edentulism prevalence was found in Latin America and the Caribbean, at 7.39% (6.44; 8.39). By 2050, more than 1.5 billion people (+44.32%) are projected to have severe periodontitis, and over 660 million (+84.40%) to be edentulous. In the same year, 19.67% (130.23 million) of the edentulous people worldwide will be located in China. Severe periodontitis is expected to move up one position, and edentulism nine positions, among the most impactful Level 4 diseases/conditions affecting YLDs worldwide by 2050.ConclusionSevere periodontitis and edentulism remain major public health challenges in 2021, with the number of affected individuals projected to rise significantly in the coming decades.
Sleep disruption and sleep position: Increased wake frequency in supine predicts lateral position preference
Authors: Rayward Lionel , Ho Selina W. K. , Green Daniel , Little J. Paige 
Published: August 2024

SummaryLittle is known about the physiological and biomechanical factors that determine individual preferences in lying posture during sleep. This study investigated relationships between position preference and position‐specific arousals, awakenings, limb movements and limb movement arousals to explore the mechanisms by which biomechanical factors influence position preference. Forty‐one mature‐aged adults underwent 2 nights of at‐home polysomnography ~2 weeks apart, on a standardised firm foam mattress, measuring nocturnal sleep architecture and position. The lateral supine ratio and restlessness indices specific to lateral and supine positions including limb movement index, limb movement arousal index, arousal index, wake index, respiratory arousal index and apnea–hypopnea index were calculated and analysed via linear mixed‐effects regression. In the supine position, all restlessness indices were significantly increased compared with the lateral position, including a 379% increase in respiratory arousals (β = 7.0, p < 0.001), 108% increase in arousal index (β = 10.3, p < 0.001) and 107% increase in wake index (β = 2.5, p < 0.001). Wake index in the supine position increased significantly with more lateral sleep (β = 1.9, p = 0.0013), and significant correlation between lateral supine ratio polysomnography 1 and lateral supine ratio polysomnography 2 (β = 0.95, p < 0.001) indicated strong consistency in sleep preference. Overall, the findings suggest that some individuals have low tolerance to supine posture, represented by a comparatively high wake index in the supine position, and that these individuals compensate by sleeping a greater proportion in the lateral position.
Hepatitis C treatment outcome among people in prison: The SToP‐C study
Authors: Ryan Hannah , Dore Gregory J. , Grebely Jason , Byrne Marianne , Cunningham Evan B. , Martinello Marianne , Lloyd Andrew R. , Hajarizadeh Behzad 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsHepatitis C virus (HCV) burden is higher among people in prison given high prevalence of injecting drug use. This study evaluated direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) treatment outcome in prisons.MethodsThe Surveillance and Treatment of Prisoners with hepatitis C (SToP‐C) study enrolled individuals incarcerated in four Australian prisons (2017–2019). Participants with detectable HCV RNA were offered sofosbuvir‐velpatasvir for 12 weeks. Sustained virological response (SVR) was assessed in intention‐to‐treat (ITT; participants commencing treatment and due for SVR assessment before study close) and per‐protocol (PP; participants with documented treatment completion and SVR assessment) populations.ResultsAmong 799 participants with HCV, 324 (41%) commenced treatment (94% male; median age, 32 years; median duration of incarceration, 9 months). In ITT population (n = 310), 201 had documented treatment completion (65% [95% CI: 59–70]), and 137 achieved SVR (ITT‐SVR: 44% [95% CI: 39–50]). In PP population (n = 143), 137 achieved SVR (PP‐SVR: 96% [95% CI: 91–98]). Six participants had quantifiable HCV RNA at SVR assessment from treatment failure (n = 2) or reinfection (n = 4). Release or inter‐prison transfer was common reasons for no documented treatment completion (n = 106/109 [97%]) and no SVR assessment (n = 57/58 [98%]). In ITT analysis, longer incarceration was associated with increased SVR (adjusted OR per month 1.03 [95% CI: 1.01–1.04]).ConclusionAmong participants who completed DAA treatment and were assessed for SVR, treatment outcome was consistent with non‐prison clinical studies. However, most individuals did not complete treatment or lacked study‐documented treatment outcome due to release or transfer. Strategies to accommodate dynamic prisoner populations are required to ensure continuity of HCV care, including treatment completion and post‐treatment care.
Nestling sex and behaviour determine the host preference of insect vectors in avian nests
Authors: García‐del Río Marina , Castaño‐Vázquez Francisco , Martínez Javier , Martínez‐de la Puente Josué , Cantarero Alejandro , García‐Velasco Javier , Merino Yago , Merino Santiago 
Published: August 2024

AbstractSexual differences in pathogen prevalence in wildlife often arise from varying susceptibility influenced by factors such as sex hormones and exposure to pathogens. In the case of vector‐borne pathogens, host selection by insect vectors determines the exposure of hosts to infections, largely affecting the transmission of these infectious diseases. We identify the blood‐feeding patterns of insect vectors in Blue Tit (Cyanistes caeruleus) nestlings in a 3‐year study. Blood from both nestlings and insect vectors (Culicoides spp. and Simuliidae) captured inside nest‐boxes were used to molecularly determine the sex of the host. We then compared the sex‐ratios of the nestlings that had been bitten and those of the complete brood in each nest. We found that males were bitten more frequently than females in 2021, when males weighed less in comparison to other years. Additionally, we molecularly identified bitten nestlings individually by genotyping the DNA of blood obtained from both, the vector's abdomen and nestlings of each brood in 2022. Nestlings more frequently bitten by vectors were males, weighed less and were closest to the nest entrance. To our knowledge this is the first study identifying the nestling selection by insect vectors in bird nests under natural conditions. These results contribute to understanding the mechanisms of host selection by insect vectors, shedding light on pathogen transmission and offering insights into the observed sex‐biased infections in wildlife populations.
The last days of Aporia crataegi (L.) in Britain: Evaluating genomic erosion in an extirpated butterfly
Authors: Whitla Rebecca , Hens Korneel , Hogan James , Martin Geoff , Breuker Casper , Shreeve Timothy G. , Arif Saad 
Published: August 2024

AbstractCurrent rates of habitat degradation and climate change are causing unprecedented declines in global biodiversity. Studies on vertebrates highlight how conservation genomics can be effective in identifying and managing threatened populations, but it is unclear how vertebrate‐derived metrics of genomic erosion translate to invertebrates, with their markedly different population sizes and life histories. The Black‐veined White butterfly (Aporia crataegi) was extirpated from Britain in the 1920s. Here, we sequenced historical DNA from 17 specimens collected between 1854 and 1924 to reconstruct demography and compare levels of genomic erosion between extirpated British and extant European mainland populations. We contrast these results using modern samples of the Common Blue butterfly (Polyommatus icarus); a species with relatively stable demographic trends in Great Britain. We provide evidence for bottlenecks in both these species around the period of post‐glacial colonization of the British Isles. Our results reveal different demographic histories and Ne for both species, consistent with their fates in Britain, likely driven by differences in life history, ecology and genome size. Despite a difference, by an order of magnitude, in historical effective population sizes (Ne), reduction in genome‐wide heterozygosity in A. crataegi was comparable to that in P. icarus. Symptomatic of A. crataegi's disappearance were marked increases in runs‐of‐homozygosity (RoH), potentially indicative of recent inbreeding, and accumulation of putatively mildly and weakly deleterious variants. Our results provide a rare glimpse of genomic erosion in a regionally extinct insect and support the potential use of genomic erosion metrics in identifying invertebrate populations or species in decline.
Anesthetic‐sparing effect of dexmedetomidine during total intravenous anesthesia for children undergoing dental surgery: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Lee Victor C. L. , Ridgway Randa , West Nicholas C. , Görges Matthias , Whyte Simon D. 
Published: August 2024

AbstractBackgroundDexmedetomidine, an α2‐adrenergic agonist, reduces propofol and remifentanil requirements when used as an adjunct to total intravenous anesthesia in adults, but studies in a pediatric population are sparse. This study investigates the magnitude of dose‐sparing effects of a postinduction dexmedetomidine bolus on propofol and remifentanil requirements during pediatric surgery.MethodsIn this randomized, double‐blind, controlled trial, children aged 2–10 years undergoing elective dental surgery were assigned to one of four groups: placebo, 0.25 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine, 0.5 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine, and 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine. Maintenance with fixed‐ratio propofol and remifentanil total intravenous anesthesia followed a bispectral index (BIS)‐guided algorithm designed to maintain a stable depth of anesthesia. The primary outcomes were time‐averaged maintenance infusion rates of propofol and remifentanil. Secondary outcomes in the postanesthetic care unit included sedation scores, pain scores, and time to discharge.ResultsData from 67 patients were available for analysis. The median [interquartile range] propofol infusion rate was lower in the 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine group (180 [164–185] mcg/kg/min) versus placebo (200 [178–220] mcg/kg/min): percent change −10.0%; 95% CI −2.4 to −19.8; p = 0.013. The remifentanil infusion rate was also lower in the 1 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine group (0.089 [0.080, 0.095] mcg/kg/min) versus placebo (0.103 [0.095, 0.106] mcg/kg/min): percent change, −13.7%; 95% CI −5.47 to −21.0; p = .022. However, neither propofol nor remifentanil infusion rates were significantly different in the 0.25 or 0.5 mcg/kg dexmedetomidine groups. In the postanesthesia care unit, there were no differences in pain or sedation scores, and time to discharge was not significantly prolonged in any dexmedetomidine group.ConclusionDexmedetomidine 1 mcg/kg reduced the propofol and remifentanil requirements during maintenance of anesthesia in children when administered as a postinduction bolus.Trials RegistrationClinicalTrials.gov: NCT03422978, date of registration 2018‐02‐06.
Evidence for central sensitization as classified by the central sensitization inventory in patients with pain and hypermobility
Authors: Desai Mehul J. , Brestle Mason , Jonely Holly 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIntroductionPain is a very common complaint among patients with hypermobile Ehlers‐Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Hypermobility Spectrum Disorders (HSDs). Often challenging to treat, insights into the underpinnings of pain in this population have been fleeting. Central sensitization (CS) has been postulated as a potential etiological factor.MethodsIn this retrospective study, 82 consecutive patients with hEDS/HSDs were reviewed. Demographic information and Central Sensitization Inventory (CSI) results were collected.Results71 of 82 (86.5%) patients demonstrated CS. Scores ranged from 12 to 94 with a median of 56. Pain scores as measured on the numerical rating scale (NRS) ranged from 2 to 10 with a mean and median of 6.ConclusionA large percentage of patients with pain and a diagnosis of hEDS/HSDs demonstrated evidence of central sensitization as measured using the CSI. The CSI is simple to administer. The CSI may provide clinical insights that are key to successfully managing patients with hEDS/HSDs. Further research is needed to explore the ability to classify pain phenotypes in this patient population and the impact on precision medicine.
Wittgenstein on mathematics
Authors: Maddy Penelope 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe mature Wittgenstein's groundbreaking analyses of sense and the logical must—and the powerful new method that made them possible—were the result of a multi‐year process of writing, re‐arranging, re‐writing and one large‐scale revision that eventually produced the Philosophical Investigations and RFM I. In contrast, his struggles during the same period with questions of arithmetic and higher mathematics remained largely in first‐draft form, and he drops the topic entirely after 1945. In this paper, I argue that Wittgenstein's new method can be applied to the cases of arithmetic and set theory and that the result is innovative, recognizably Wittgensteinian, and independently appealing. I conclude by acknowledging the reasons Wittgenstein himself might have had to resist applying his own proven method to the case of mathematics—particularly to set theory—and by indicating why I think those reasons are ultimately unsound.
The predictors of social exclusion in Afghan immigrants in Türkiye
Authors: Karakaya Cihangir , Başcillar Mehmet , Metin Ahmet , Çetinkaya Ali 
Published: August 2024

AbstractImmigrants may experience many psychosocial problems when migrating from a home to a host country, including social isolation. Social exclusion is also important among the problems experienced by immigrants. This study aims to determine the factors affecting Afghan immigrants' perceived social exclusion in Türkiye. Accordingly, a cross‐sectional study was conducted on 211 Afghan immigrants (Mage = 30.66, SD = 9), 24% of whom were females. The socio‐demographic information form, social exclusion scale, self‐esteem rating scale, and life satisfaction scale were used to collect data in this study. The findings showed that Turkish language proficiency, the length of residence in Türkiye, working status in Türkiye, life satisfaction, and negative self‐esteem were predictor factors for social exclusion. Considering the results, suggestions to decision‐makers and mental health professionals to reduce the perceived social exclusion of Afghan immigrants are discussed.
What does the public really know about dementia? A community‐based cross‐sectional survey in Turkiye
Authors: Akyol Merve Aliye , Güney Seda , Özgül Ecem , Akpinar Söylemez Burcu , Küçükgüçlü Özlem 
Published: August 2024

AbstractDespite the increasing burden of dementia, there has been no evaluation of the level of dementia knowledge among the general public in Turkiye. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate the public's knowledge regarding dementia and the factors predicting this knowledge. This is a community‐based cross‐sectional study.A survey was conducted with 1106 participants between April and August 2023.The research tools were demographic characteristics form, a Turkish version of the dementia knowledge assessment scale (DKAS‐T), and a form focusing on sociodemographic information and questions related to the degree of dementia knowledge. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, correlation, and multiple regression.The mean score on the DKAS‐T was 12.32 ± 6.05 (min: 0 points, max: 33 points) out of 34. The sample recorded an incorrect response for less than half of the items in the dementia knowledge scale. Adjusted R2 was used as explanatory power. Moreover, the results of the multiple regression analysis identified various factors that significantly predicted dementia knowledge scores: age, prior education about dementia, experience of caring for a PwD, interaction with a PwD, and self‐reported risk of being diagnosed with dementia in the future. These variables accounted for 18.1% of the total variance of dementia knowledge.Dementia is not well known in the public. The finding underscores the need for targeted educational initiatives to enhance dementia knowledge in the Turkish population. Interventions should focus on addressing specific areas of deficiency identified in the DKAS‐T.
Exploring the cardiovascular health behaviors of college students and the areas that need increased public health efforts
Authors: Barron Keri , Ford Cassandra D. , Dunlap Sarah 
Published: August 2024

AbstractIntroductionCardiovascular disease (CVD) is a leading cause of death worldwide among adults. Traditionally, the disease has been considered as a condition affecting older adults. However, its risk factors (e.g., poor diet, sedentary behavior, inadequate sleep, and obesity) are increasingly being identified in younger populations. There is a need to increase the evidence of CVD risk factors in this population to further support preventive programs in this demographic.Objective(s)This study investigates the prevalence of CVD risk factors in young adult, college students.DesignData was used from the American College Health Association's National College Health Assessment (ACHA‐NCHA) II‐C.SampleThe sample included data from 426,259 students, ages 18–25.MeasurementsData was reviewed on race, nutrition, physical activity, tobacco use, sleep, weight, and history of chronic disease. Descriptive statistics were utilized to examine the prevalence of CVD risk factors.ResultsThere was a notable prevalence of CVD risk factors, such as insufficient nutrition, obesity, insufficient physical activity, and inadequate sleep, among college students.ConclusionsCVD‐related risk factors are on the rise within this demographic. There is a pressing need for the expansion of public health initiatives aimed at enhancing CVD awareness and prevention among college students.
Various extracts of the brown seaweed Cystoseira barbata with different compositions exert biostimulant effects on seedling growth of wheat
Authors: Mutlu‐Durak Hande , Arikan‐Algul Yagmur , Bayram Engin , Haznedaroglu Berat Z. , Kutman Umit Baris , Kutman Bahar Yildiz 
Published: August 2024

AbstractWorldwide, where the demand for novel and greener solutions for sustainable agricultural production is increasing, the use of eco‐friendly products such as seaweed‐derived biostimulants as pre‐sowing treatment represent a promising and important approach for the future. Cystoseira barbata, a brown seaweed species abundant in the Mediterranean Region, was collected from the Marmara Sea and subjected to water, alkali, and acidic extractions, and the biostimulant activity of these extracts was tested on wheat (Triticum durum cv. Saricanak‐98) using different rates through application to the seeds or germination medium (substrate) applications. The different extracts were characterized by mineral, total phenolic, free amino acid, mannitol, polysaccharide, antioxidant concentrations and hormone‐like activity. The effects of the extracts on growth parameters, root morphology, esterase activity, and mineral nutrient concentrations of wheat seedlings were investigated. Our results suggest that the substrate application was more effective in enhancing the seedling performance compared to the seed treatment. High rates of seaweed extracts applied to substrates increased the shoot length and fresh weight of wheat seedlings by up to 20 and 25%, respectively. The substrate applications enhanced the root fresh weights of wheat seedlings by up to 25% when compared to control plants. Among the biostimulant extract applications, the water extract at the highest rate yielded the most promising results in terms of the measured parameters. Cystoseira barbata extracts with different compositions can be used as effective biostimulants to boost seedling growth. The local seaweed biomass affected by mucilage problems, has great potential as a bioeconomy resource and can contribute to sustainable practices for agriculture.
Toward Understanding Mechanistic Regulation of Body Size and Growth Control in Bivalve Mollusks
Authors: Mokrani Ahmed , Li Jian‐an , Li Qi , Liu Shikai 
Published: August 2024

ABSTRACTBivalves possess a pair of valves connected to a stretchable ligament that facilitates the opening and closing of the shell. The growth bioprocess commences when the supplemental materials secreted from the edge are added to the early‐constructed shell. Here, we endeavor to provide a glimpse into physiological responses, mechanistic control, and omics applications toward understanding this complex trait. In the first section, we review studies that have been performed to investigate the effects of food availability, temperature, salinity, contaminants, and climate change in natural ecosystems and under experimental conditions. These conditions affect some internal promotors and alter the concentration of particular neuropeptides and neurotransmitters that induce neuroendocrinal signals crucial for regulating this peculiar process. Besides, we provide a predicted concept for organs' size control and maintaining body size homeostasis via intertwining networks, including the Hippo pathway. On the other hand, we discuss the findings of studies employing genomics, transcriptomics, proteomics, and metabolomics approaches to uncover the mechanistic modulation of growth‐related traits in different bivalve species. We recommend further research to decipher organ size control and its intricate relationship with the entire body homeostasis. Future genetic dissection studies are also recommended to identify new key genes with a major effect that profoundly influences this trait, facilitating their potential editing to develop new strains with enhanced growth rates.
Counterfactual power and genuine choice
Authors: Kuźniar Adrian 
Published: August 2024

AbstractThe article introduces a distinction between weak and strong counterfactual power and shows that as far as the metaphysical aspect of choice is concerned, T. Merricks's examples do not undermine the proposition that strong counterfactual power over a fact suffices for having a genuine choice about that fact. This is relevant to debates about logical fatalism, theological incompatibilism and nomological (determinism) incompatibilism. If strong counterfactual power is sufficient for having a choice, then in each of the main arguments for the mentioned stances, the negation of the argument's conclusion entails the negation of its key premise. It is further argued that those key premises cannot be justified by the fixity of the past because the latter holds only to the extent warranted by the asymmetry of counterfactual dependence between the past and the future. Therefore, the pastness of such facts as that propositions about our acts were true before we were born, and that God believed then that we would perform those acts, does not provide any reason to believe that we do not have a choice about those facts. Fatalists and incompatibilists assume in their arguments something that has yet to be justified.