bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effects of left bundle branch block on echocardiographic coronary flow assessment: A systematic review
Authors: Donelli Davide , Antonelli Michele , Gurgoglione Filippo Luca , Lazzeroni Davide , Tuttolomondo Domenico , Niccoli Giampaolo , Cortigiani Lauro , Gaibazzi Nicola 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThis systematic review investigates the diagnostic and prognostic utility of coronary flow reserve (CFR) assessment through echocardiography in patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB), a condition known to complicate the clinical evaluation of coronary artery disease (CAD). The literature search was performed on PubMed, EMBASE, Web of Science, Scopus, and Google Scholar, was guided by PRISMA standards up to March 2024, and yielded six observational studies that met inclusion criteria. These studies involved a diverse population of patients with LBBB, employing echocardiographic protocols to clarify the impact of LBBB on coronary flow dynamics. The findings emphasize the importance of CFR in stratifying cardiovascular risk and guiding clinical decision‐making in patients with LBBB. Pooled results reveal that patients with LBBB and significant left anterior descending (LAD) artery stenosis exhibited a marked decrease in stress‐peak diastolic velocity (MD = ‐19.03 [‐23.58; ‐14.48] cm/s; p < .0001) and CFR (MD = ‐.60 [‐.71; ‐.50]; p < .0001), compared to those without significant LAD lesions, suggesting the efficacy of stress echocardiography CFR assessment in the identification of clinically significant CAD among the LBBB population. This review highlights the clinical relevance of echocardiography CFR assessment as a noninvasive tool for evaluating CAD and stratifying risk in the presence of LBBB and underscores the need for standardized protocols in CFR measurement.
How to decide what to do: Why you're already a realist about value
Authors: Kirwin Claire 
Published: June 2024

AbstractMetaethical realists and anti‐realists alike have typically assumed that deliberation about what to do is, at least sometimes, properly settled by the agent's evaluative attitudes—what she wants, likes, or values—rather than by any objective source of value out in the world. I argue that this picture of deliberation is not one that the deliberating agent herself can accept. Seen from within the first‐person perspective, the agent's own evaluative attitudes are not encountered as descriptive psychological facts, but are rather “transparent” to the external world, conceived as a place already suffused with normative significance: they are her finding the relevant parts of the world to be desirable, valuable, and so on. And from the agent's own point of view, these attitudes can do the normative work involved in settling deliberation only because and insofar as they are understood as in this way a warranted response to this desirability or value. Attitudes that the agent does not experience as transparent in this way are attitudes from which she is alienated, and as such she cannot understand them as authoritative over her deliberation. What this means, I argue, is that deliberation about what to do involves a commitment to a particularly substantive form of metaethical realism.
Random permutation‐based linear regression for cancelable biometrics
Authors: Singh Onkar , Jaiswal Ajay , Kumar Nitin , Kumar Naveen 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe security of biometric data in biometric‐based authentication systems is a significant concern. Cancellable biometrics aim to generate templates that can be replaced by new templates if compromised. We propose a new approach for generating cancellable biometric templates based on linear regression with random permutation. Our approach generates a virtual image for every biometric image by applying linear regression. In the next step, the cancellable biometric template is produced by randomly permuting each virtual image depending on a key assigned to each individual. If the template is compromised, it can be cancelled, and a new template can be generated by altering the key. Our method has shown superior performance compared to existing random permutation‐based methods in terms of authentication accuracy across six databases, encompassing face, iris, and ear, even when dealing with low‐resolution images. It performed well on challenging databases like UBIRIS and Georgia Tech, demonstrating the robustness of the proposed approach.
Effect of trace element arsenic on the high cycle fatigue properties and the carbide uniformity in high carbon chromium bearing steel
Authors: Dong Shuaijun , Wu Yongjin , Zhang Chaolei , Wang Shuize , Wu Guilin , Gao Junheng , Wu Honghui , Zhao Haitao , Mao Xinping 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn this paper, the mechanical properties and microstructures of bearing steels with arsenic contents of 30, 40, and 120 ppm have been investigated. The results show that As‐40 steel has the highest tensile strength but lower fatigue strength than As‐120 steel. The fatigue crack propagation rate of As‐120 steel is relatively low, mainly due to the increase in ΔKth. After quenching and tempering, As‐120 steel has larger prior austenite grains and more undecomposed, elongated carbides appear, reducing the uniformity of the steel. For carbides with an aspect ratio greater than 2, they cannot grow by the Oswald mechanism of spontaneous migration but are spheroidized by self‐cracking. The undissolved elongated carbides have a lower chemical potential, which increases the diffusion tendency of arsenic in the matrix. SIMS and EPMA analyses show that there is no significant distortion of the trace element arsenic.
Fish assemblage and functional trait responses to small‐dam removal
Authors: Bower Luke M. , Marion Cathy A. , Scott Mark , Kubach Kevin , Gelder Andrew 
Published: June 2024

Abstract

Dams are one of the greatest threats to freshwater biodiversity and efforts to remove dams to restore riverine systems are increasing. However, dam‐removal studies have primarily focused on taxonomic responses to large dam removals with little work on the functional trait responses of fish to small‐dam removals; such a focus limits the application of results in regions with different taxonomic compositions.

We explored taxonomic and functional trait responses of fish assemblages to two small‐dam removals over 10 years using a Multiple Before After Control Impact design at a dammed and an undammed river. Eight life‐history traits were used to calculate functional diversity (RaoQ) and determine the position of each fish species within a multivariate life‐history space relative to three life‐history strategy endpoints: opportunistic, periodic, and equilibrium. The distance of each species relative to these endpoints was used to calculate community weighted means (CWM), allowing us to examine the shift in life‐history strategy of a given assemblage after dam removal. Based on life‐history theory, we predicted a decrease in the CWM of equilibrium strategists and an increase in the CWM opportunistic strategists after dam removal.

For the dammed river, we observed changes in assemblage structure at both the control and impact sites driven primarily by shifts from a lentic to lotic assemblage, with the most apparent change occurring in the formerly impounded sites. These changes tended to occur within 1 year, suggesting rapid colonization by lotic species after habitat change. By contrast, no change in assemblage structure was found for the undammed river, suggesting that dam removal was the primary driver of the shifts in assemblage structure observed in the dammed river. We found no change in the CWM of periodic strategists or RaoQ of all life‐history traits at any site after dam removal.

Based on CWM, life‐history strategies shifted in response to dam removal at impounded sites where equilibrium strategists decreased and opportunistic strategists tended to increase after the impounded sites changed from a stable lentic environment to an unstable lotic environment, supporting predictions made by life‐history theory.

Our results suggest that small‐dam removal may provide ecological benefits by restoring fish assemblages to a more natural riverine state and reversing the negative effects of dam construction on the ecosystem. We demonstrate that combining both trait‐based and taxonomic approaches can improve our ecological understanding of the impacts of dam removal on fish assemblages and provide relevant data for local management.
Association of oral frailty with medical expenditure in older Japanese adults: The study of late‐stage older adults in Tottori (START Tottori)
Authors: Arai Eri , Watanabe Yutaka , Nakagawa Sayuri , Ohara Yuki , Iwasaki Masanori , Hirano Hirohiko , Ikebe Kazunori , Ono Takahiro , Iijima Katsuya , Adachi Akira , Watanabe Takao , Yamazaki Yutaka 
Published: June 2024

ObjectsThis study aimed to determine the association between annual medical expenses and oral frailty in later‐stage older adults (aged ≥ 75 years). No studies have investigated the association between medical costs and oral frailty, which would elucidate the association between oral frailty and the deterioration of mental and overall physical function.Materials and MethodsIn this cross‐sectional study, 2190 adults (860 men and 1330 women aged 75–94 years) covered by the Medical System for the Elderly and residing in Tottori Prefecture, Japan, between April 2016 and March 2019, were included. Participants were classified into three groups: healthy, pre‐orally frail or orally frail, based on dental health screening findings. The medical and dental expenses over the years, number of days of consultations and comorbidities were obtained from the Japanese Health Insurance Claims Database.ResultsThe number of days of medical and dental consultations and annual medical expenses for outpatient care differed among the three study groups. A significant association was observed between oral frailty and high annual expenses for outpatient medical and dental care. Oral frailty was associated with higher medical expenses in participants with poor masticatory function. Higher and lower dental expenses were associated with subjective poor masticatory function and subjective impairment of swallowing function respectively.ConclusionMedical and dental expenses for orally frail older adults are high, indicating that oral frailty may be related to the occurrence and severity of diseases other than oral health issues. Future studies should examine the mechanism by which oral weakness affects physical and mental functions.
Impact of diabetes on mortality and hospitalization after dementia diagnosis: Health insurance claims data analysis
Authors: Matsunaga Masaaki , Tanihara Shinichi , He Yupeng , Yatsuya Hiroshi , Ota Atsuhiko 
Published: June 2024

AimJapan faces a public health challenge of dementia, further complicated by the increasing complications from diabetes within its rapidly aging population. This study assesses the impact of diabetes on mortality and hospitalization among individuals aged ≥75 years with new dementia diagnoses.MethodsWe analyzed administrative claims data in Japan from 73 324 individuals aged ≥75 years with dementia, of whom 17% had comorbid diabetes. Dementia and diabetes were identified from the International Classification of Diseases, Tenth Revision codes. We used Kaplan–Meier survival analysis, Cox proportional hazards analysis, and population attributable fractions (PAFs) to evaluate the impact on mortality and hospitalization after dementia diagnosis.ResultsOne‐year mortality and 1‐year hospitalization probabilities in individuals with dementia and diabetes (10.3% and 31.7%, respectively) were higher than those without diabetes (8.3% and 25.4%, respectively). The adjusted hazard ratios for individuals with diabetes, as compared to those without, were 1.126 (95% confidence interval [CI], 1.040–1.220) for mortality and 1.191 (95% CI, 1.140–1.245) for hospitalization. The PAFs from the comorbidity of dementia and diabetes were 2.2% for mortality and 3.1% for hospitalization. Subgroup analysis showed that the PAFs were highest in men aged 75–79 years and women aged 80–84 years for mortality and in individuals aged 75–79 for hospitalization.ConclusionDuring the early postdiagnosis period, comorbid diabetes increases mortality and hospitalization risks in older adults with dementia. The variation in disease burden across age groups underscores the need for age‐specific health care strategies to manage comorbid diabetes in individuals with dementia. Geriatr Gerontol Int 2024; 24: 773–781.
Trans and gender diverse offenders’ experiences of custody: A systematic review of empirical evidence
Authors: Evans Sally M. , Jones Bethany A. , McDermott Daragh T. 
Published: June 2024

AbstractLiterature regarding trans and gender diverse (TGD) prisoners’ experiences of prison custody is limited. Reviewing international literature enables a better understanding of these experiences and how effectively TGD policies are implemented. This systematic review employed PRISMA and ENTREQ guidelines to enhance transparency in reporting the synthesis of qualitative and mixed‐methods research. Seventeen papers were included and through meta‐ethnographic synthesis three overarching themes emerged: structural, interpersonal and intrapersonal. Recommendations include reducing reliance on survival strategies by TGD prisoners through implementation of policies which meet TGD prisoners’ needs and to enabling better informed decision making regarding housing. Further research into lived experiences would allow for a better understanding of what currently works, how services could be improved, and identify potential training needs.
IL‐2 amplifies quantitative TCR signalling inputs to drive Th1 and Th2 differentiation
Authors: Al‐Aghbar Mohammad Ameen , Espino Guarch Meritxell , van Panhuys Nicholas 
Published: June 2024

AbstractThe activation of CD4+ T‐cells in a T cell receptor (TCR)‐dependent antigen‐specific manner is a central characteristic of the adaptive immune response. In addition to ensuring that CD4+ T‐cells recognise their cognate antigen during activation, TCR‐mediated signalling can also direct the outcome of differentiation. In both in vivo and in vitro model systems, strong TCR signalling has been demonstrated to drive Th1 differentiation, whereas weak TCR signalling drives Th2 responses. During the process of differentiation, TCR signal strength acts as a quantitative component in combination with the qualitative effects imparted by cytokines to polarise distinct T‐helper lineages. Here, we investigated the role of interleukin 2 (IL‐2) signalling in determining the outcome of TCR‐dependent differentiation. IL‐2 production was initiated as an early response to TCR‐induced activation and was regulated by the strength of TCR signalling initially received. In the absence of IL‐2, TCR dependent differentiation was found to be abolished. However, proliferative responses and early markers of activation were maintained, including the upregulation of GATA3, Tbet and Foxp3 at 24 h post‐stimulation. Demonstrating that IL‐2 signalling has a key role in stabilising and amplifying lineage‐specific transcirption factor expression during differentiation. Further, activation of IL‐2‐deficient T‐cells in the presence of exogenous cytokines was sufficient to restore differentiation whilst maintaining transcriptional signatures imparted during initial TCR signalling. Combined, our data demonstrate that the integration of quantitative TCR‐dependent signalling and qualitative IL‐2 signalling is essential for determining the fate of CD4+ T‐cells during differentiation.
Structure–property relations of silicon oxycarbides studied using a machine learning interatomic potential
Authors: Leimeroth Niklas , Rohrer Jochen , Albe Karsten 
Published: June 2024

AbstractSilicon oxycarbides show outstanding versatility due to their highly tunable composition and microstructure. Consequently, a key challenge is a thorough knowledge of structure–property relations in the system. In this work, we fit an atomic cluster expansion potential to a set of actively learned density‐functional theory training data spanning a wide configurational space. We demonstrate the ability of the potential to produce realistic amorphous structures and rationalize the formation of different morphologies of the turbostratic free carbon phase. Finally, we relate the materials stiffness to its composition and microstructure, finding a delicate dependence on Si‐C bonds that contradicts commonly assumed relations to the free carbon phase.
SiOC foam‐aerogel composites: Optimal balance of lightness and excellent thermal insulation
Authors: Icin Oyku , Abebe Adane Muche , Soraru Gian Domenico , Vakifahmetoglu Cekdar 
Published: June 2024

AbstractFoam‐aerogel composites are synthesized in polymeric, hybrid, and ceramic states by completing the open cells of the foam with a solution forming a wet gel, carbon dioxide (CO2) supercritically dried, and pyrolyzed. Thermal diffusivity measurements are conducted using the laser flash, and for mechanical performance, cold crushing tests are done to obtain compressive strengths. Samples possess a range of specific surface area (SSA) values up to ∼650 m2/g contingent upon the material state, that is, polymeric, hybrid, or ceramic. While SSA values can be deliberately altered, almost all samples demonstrated a total porosity of ∼90 vol%, with superb specific compressive strength reaching around 2 MPa. In addition to adjustable surface characteristics granting hydrophobic and hydrophilic features, the study revealed the potential use of these foam‐aerogel composites as thermal insulators with low thermal conductivities of 0.02 W·m−1·K−1 at RT and 0.05 W·m−1·K−1 at 500°C. When exposed directly to a butane flame gun with a flame temperature reaching ∼1200°C, from the backside of a 5 mm‐thick foam‐aerogel composite, only ∼200°C is recorded, which is lower than a comparable commercial insulator panel tested under the same conditions.
Determination of the relationship between parents' health literacy and fever management of their children: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Menekşe Dilek , Tiryaki Öznur , Çınar Nursan 
Published: June 2024

AbstractAimsThe research was conducted to determine the practices of parents regarding the fever management of their children and reveal the relationship between their health literacy (HL) and fever management of their children.DesignCross‐sectional study was used.MethodsThis study was carried out with 242 parents. The data were collected using the Parent Descriptive Information Form, Turkish HL Scale‐32 and Parents' Fever Management Scale between September 2021 and September 2022. The data were evaluated with the SPSS program, using percentages, averages, Pearson's correlation and regression analysis.ResultsThe mean age of the parents was 31.87 ± 6.59. The parents' mean Parents' Fever Management Scale score was 36.22. It means that parents had high fever management practice. Their mean Turkish HL Scale‐32 total score was 34.43. 51.6% of the parents had a problematic or insufficient HL level. In the cases of fever, 61.2% of the parents stated that they took off the child's clothes, 69.0% measured temperature from the armpit, and 55.4% gave antipyretics according to the doctor's prescription. There is a statistically significant positive correlation between the Parents' Fever Management Scale and Turkish HL Scale‐32. It is observed that 8.2% of the change in parents' fever management is explained by HL.ConclusionThe study found that with an increase in parents' HL, fever management of their children also increased.Implications for the Profession and/or Patient CareEmerging evidence showed that developing parents' HL knowledge and skills could be an option/approach in fever management. It should be a basic nursing skill that to provide HL support to parents.Reporting MethodThis study adhered to the relevant cross‐sectional STROBE (the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology) guidelines.Patient or Public ContributionNo patient or public contribution.
Characterization of unique pattern of immune cell profile in patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma through flow cytometry and machine learning
Authors: Liao Li‐Jen , Tsai Chien‐Chen , Li Po‐Yu , Lee Cheng‐Yun , Lin Shian‐Ren , Lai Wan‐Yu , Chen I‐Yu , Chang Chiung‐Fang , Lee Jan‐Mou , Chiu Yen‐Ling 
Published: June 2024

AbstractIn patients with nasopharyngeal carcinoma (NPC), the alteration of immune responses in peripheral blood remains unclear. In this study, we established an immune cell profile for patients with NPC and used flow cytometry and machine learning (ML) to identify the characteristics of this profile. After isolation of circulating leukocytes, the proportions of 104 immune cell subsets were compared between NPC group and the healthy control group (HC). Data obtained from the immune cell profile were subjected to ML training to differentiate between the immune cell profiles of the NPC and HC groups. We observed that subjects in the NPC group presented higher proportions of T cells, memory B cells, short‐lived plasma cells, IgG‐positive B cells, regulatory T cells, MHC II+ T cells, CTLA4+ T cells and PD‐1+ T cells than subjects in the HC group, indicating weaker and compromised cellular and humoral immune responses. ML revealed that monocytes, PD‐1+ CD4 T cells, memory B cells, CTLA4+ CD4 Treg cells and PD‐1+ CD8 T cells were strongly contributed to the difference in immune cell profiles between the NPC and HC groups. This alteration can be fundamental in developing novel immunotherapies for NPC.
External intervention and responsive adaptation by the community: Experiences of improving house quality in an urban slum
Authors: Chowdhooree Imon , Islam Ishrat 
Published: June 2024

AbstractNon‐governmental organizations (NGOs), governmental organizations, or other entities may run their projects as external interventions within a community to reduce disaster risks and adapt to future climatic events. These external interventions may influence the community to take further adaptation measures for enhancing community resilience. The spontaneous adaptation process, referring as responsive adaptation, needs to be identified and acknowledged. This research aims to investigate the impacts of external interventions on the responsive adaptation process by studying a riverside flood‐prone urban slum in Bangladesh. This settlement experienced a site development project, primarily run by an NGO, that allowed several modifications to the built environment, mainly targeting flood risks. Selected tools of participatory rural appraisal (PRA) or participatory urban appraisal (PUA) methods were employed to obtain data about the community's initiatives for further development. The results show that the site development project, especially its impacts on reducing flood risks, has influenced community members to invest in improving the condition of their individual houses. As a means of responsive adaptation, the conscious developments of their houses contribute to enhancing the resilience level. Through exploring the community's initiatives, this research identifies that the engagement of communities with their knowledge and investments can extend the success of the external intervention.