bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Importance of eDNA taphonomy and sediment provenance for robust ecological inference: Insights from interfacial geochemistry
Authors: Sand K. K. , Jelavić S. , Kjær K. H. , Prohaska A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRetrieval of modern and ancient environmental DNA (eDNA) from sediments has revolutionized our ability to study past and present ecosystems. Little emphasis has been placed, however, on the fundamentals of the DNA–sediment associations in environmental settings. Consequently, our understanding of mineralogic controls and geochemical processes that take place on the DNA–sediment interface, and its implications for eDNA taphonomy and provenance, remain extremely limited. Here, we apply interfacial geochemical principles to elucidate how depositional processes and the stability of DNA–sediment associations in different environments can influence our interpretation and identify possible interpretational biases arising from neglecting mineral and geochemical controls on eDNA taphonomy. We use atomic force microscopy to show how interfacial geochemical interactions drive DNA adsorption behavior and we outline how to increase the scope and resolution of ecological interpretations from eDNA by combining mineralogic composition information with experimental adsorption data. We bring the concepts together and propose how to integrate sediment provenance as well as mineralogic and geochemical principles in eDNA taphonomy analysis for improved reconstruction of past ecosystems and monitoring of modern ecosystems from eDNA data. We provide a conceptual understanding of how eDNA taphonomy and sediment provenance can be addressed and further applied to enhance the scope, resolution, and accuracy of modern and past ecological reconstructions based on eDNA data.
Challenges in using phosphorene as electrode material in lithium‐ion batteries
Authors: Boretti Alberto 
Published: March 2024

AbstractDespite its promising potential, phosphorene encounters substantial challenges that necessitate resolution before its practical implementation, particularly as an electrode material in batteries. Key hurdles encompass synthesis methods, scalability, stability, and seamless integration, alongside considerations of safety, cost, and standardization. While simulations and laboratory experiments showcase phosphorene's capabilities, tackling these challenges is imperative for transitioning from research to practical applications. Furthermore, fostering collaborative insights, mitigating redundancy, and catalyzing breakthroughs that extend beyond specific material‐design combinations are essential for delivering enhanced products being advanced through diverse materials and design pathways.
Futures trading costs and market microstructure invariance: Identifying bet activity
Authors: Hou Ai Jun , Nordén Lars L. , Xu Caihong 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMarket microstructure invariance (MMI) stipulates that trading costs of financial assets are driven by the volume and volatility of bets, but these variables are inherently difficult to identify. With futures transactions data, we estimate bet volume as the trading volume of brokerage firms that trade on behalf of their clients and bet volatility as the trade‐related component of futures volatility. We find that the futures bid–ask spread lines up with bet volume and bet volatility as predicted by MMI, and that intermediation by high‐frequency traders does not interfere with the MMI relation.
Improving detection of oral lesions: Eye tracking insights from a randomized controlled trial comparing standardized to conventional approach
Authors: Puladi Behrus , Coldewey Beatrice , Volmerg Julia S. , Grunert Kim , Berens Jeff , Rashad Ashkan , Hölzle Frank , Röhrig Rainer , Lipprandt Myriam 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundEarly detection of oral cancer (OC) or its precursors is the most effective measure to improve outcome. The reasons for missing them on conventional oral examination (COE) or possible countermeasures are still unclear.MethodsIn this randomized controlled trial, we investigated the effects of standardized oral examination (SOE) compared to COE. 49 dentists, specialists, and dental students wearing an eye tracker had to detect 10 simulated oral lesions drawn into a volunteer's oral cavity.ResultsSOE had a higher detection rate at 85.4% sensitivity compared to 78.8% in the control (p = 0.017) due to higher completeness (p < 0.001). Detection rate correlated with examination duration (p = 0.002).ConclusionsA standardized approach can improve systematics and thereby detection rates in oral examinations. It should take at least 5 min. Perceptual and cognitive errors and improper technique cause oral lesions to be missed. Its wide implementation could be an additional strategy to enhance early detection of OC.
What are interviews for? A qualitative study of employment interview goals and design
Authors: Wingate Timothy G. , Bourdage Joshua S. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe employment interview is among the most versatile of staffing tools. Yet, the interview is rarely studied as a multipurpose tool. If the interview is used to serve multiple goals, then the interview can be effective (i.e., valid), and effectively designed, in multiple ways. The current study uses qualitative methodology to develop an inductive theory of interview goals and design based on conversational interviews with 29 experienced professional interviewers. Transcript data were analyzed with template analysis grounded in a postpositive epistemology and objectivist ontology. Results suggested that the interview is primarily used to serve three broad goals: performing a targeted assessment, making a positive impression, and informing the applicant. Interviewers reported a variety of strategies for adapting the interview to achieve and balance these goals. In short, findings suggest that the interview is used in multiple ways that have received very little research attention. These findings imply that the concept of interview validity should be expanded to include multiple interviewing goals, and that interview design should be understood as a complex function of these goals. Further implications for the research, theory, and practice of employment interviews are discussed.
Investigating the causal relationship between human blood/urine metabolites and periodontal disease using two‐sample Mendelian randomization
Authors: Yin Xinhai , Wu Yadong , Song Jukun 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground and AimsThe aim is to investigate the cause‐and‐effect connection between metabolites found in blood/urine and the likelihood of developing periodontal disease (PD) through the utilization of a two‐sample Mendelian randomization (MR) method.MethodsUsing an inverse variance weighted (IVW) method and two additional two‐sample MR models, we examined the relationship between blood/urine metabolites and PD by analyzing data from a comprehensive metabolome‐based genome‐wide association study and the Genome‐Wide Association Studies (GWAS) of PD. To assess the consistency and dependability of the findings, diversity, cross‐effects, and sensitivity analyses were conducted.ResultsOut of the 35 metabolites found in blood and urine, a total of eight metabolites (C‐reactive protein, Potassium in urine, Urea, Cystatin C, Non‐albumin protein, Creatinine, estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate, and Phosphate) displayed a possible causal connection with the risk of dental caries/PD using the inverse variance weighted (IVW) method (p < 0.05). This includes five metabolites in the blood and three in the urine. No metabolites were statistically significant in IVW MR models (p < 3.68 × 10−4). Even after conducting sensitivity analysis with the leave‐one‐out method and removing the confounding instrumental variables, the impact of these factors on dental caries/PD remained significant.ConclusionBased on the available evidence, it is not possible to establish a significant causal link between the 35 blood metabolites and the likelihood of developing dental caries and PD.
Bayesian collapsed Gibbs sampling for a stochastic volatility model with a Dirichlet process mixture
Authors: Wu Frank C. Z. 
Published: March 2024

SummaryThis paper replicates the results of the stochastic volatility–Dirichlet process mixture (SV‐DPM) models proposed in Jensen and Maheu (2010) in both a narrow and a wide sense. By using a normal‐Wishart prior and the collapsed Gibbs sampling method, our algorithm can be applied for more general settings, and it is more efficient for sampling the Dirichlet process mixture. For the stochastic volatility component, we adopt the method in Chan (2017) to further increase the overall efficiency of our algorithm. Using the same dataset, we obtain mixed results. Some of the results have significant differences. If we use recent time period dataset, which includes the COVID‐19 pandemic period, the log market portfolio volatility seems to increase in terms of the number of clusters and size of magnitude.
Influence of optical clearing agents on the scattering properties of human nail bed and blood microrheological properties: In vivo and in vitro study
Authors: Moldon P. A. , Ermolinskiy P. B. , Lugovtsov A. E. , Timoshina P. A. , Lazareva E. N. , Surkov Yu. I. , Gurfinkel Y. I. , Tuchin V. V. , Priezzhev A. V. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractOptical clearing agents (OCAs) are substances that temporarily modify tissue's optical properties, enabling better imaging and light penetration. This study aimed to assess the impact of OCAs on the nail bed and blood using in vivo and in vitro optical methods. In the in vivo part, OCAs were applied to the nail bed, and optical coherence tomography and optical digital capillaroscopy were used to evaluate their effects on optical clearing and capillary blood flow, respectively. In the in vitro part, the collected blood samples were incubated with the OCA and blood aggregation properties were estimated using diffuse light scattering techniques. The results indicate that OCAs significantly influence the optical properties of the nail bed and blood microrheology. These findings suggest that OCAs hold promise for improving optical imaging and diagnostics, particularly for nail bed applications, and can modify blood microrheology.
In vivo healing of low temperature deproteinized bovine bone xenograft in a rabbit cranial model
Authors: Abdelmoneim Dina , Coates Dawn Elizabeth , Schmidlin Patrick , Botter Sander , Li Kai Chun , Porter Gemma Claire , Seo Benedict , Duncan Warwick John 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe physicochemical properties of grafting materials affect the quality of the osteointegration, resorption rate, and the new bone (NB) formation. This study assessed the physicochemical properties and integration of a low temperature deproteinized bovine bone xenograft (BBX), referred to as optimized MoaBone® (OMB). This novel BBX was physiochemically characterized both pre and post chemical bleaching and sterilization by gamma irradiation. OMB was compared to two commercial BBX; Bio‐Oss® (BO) and MoaBone® (MB) using a rabbit cranial model. Residual graft and NB were quantified using histology and micro‐computed tomography. Results showed that chemical treatment and gamma irradiation had limited effect on the surface texture. A significant decrease in the collagen content was detected post chemical treatment and in the carbonate content post gamma irradiation. There was no evidence of inflammatory infiltrate, necrosis, or connective tissue encapsulation, and a significant increase of NB in all grafted sites as compared to untreated defects could be observed. However, there was no statistically significant difference between the grafted sites. We conclude that chemical treatment and terminal sterilization strongly impact the final graft's properties. OMB graft showed equivalence with BO for in vivo bone formation and potentially results in lower levels of graft retention.
A brief mindfulness‐based intervention, sleep quality, sleep duration, and fatigue among nurses: A randomized controlled trial
Authors: Al‐Hammouri Mohammed Munther , Rababah Jehad A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractAimsThe purpose of the current study was to investigate the effectiveness of a mindfulness‐based intervention in improving sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue among Jordanian nurses.Design and MethodsA randomized controlled trial was used to conduct this study. Data from 123 nurses (60 nurses in the interventional group and 63 nurses in the control group) were collected and analyzed. The primary outcome measures were compared between the intervention and control groups using repeated measure MANOVA to assess changes in sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue over time.ResultsThe results showed that there was a statistically significant multivariate effect of the intervention on the linear combination of the dependent variables (sleep duration, sleep quality, and fatigue) (V = 0.23, F (3, 119) = 12.02, p < .001) with Partial η2 of 0.23. Follow‐up analysis showed that the intervention group had lower sleep disturbances (Mean difference = −6.53, CI = −7.79 to −5.26) and less fatigue (Mean difference = −13.36, CI = −17.24 to −9.47) than the control group.ConclusionsThe current study showed that the mindfulness‐based intervention effectively addresses sleep quality and fatigue in nurses, which in turn is expected to positively impact the health care system.Clinical RelevanceMindfulness‐based interventions effectively address sleep quality and fatigue associated with nurses' job performance and outcomes. Implementing brief mindfulness‐based interventions is crucial as they can be self‐implemented and fit into nurses' busy schedules.
Nrf2 pre‐recruitment at Enhancer 2 is a hallmark of H2O2‐induced epigenetic transcriptional memory in the HMOX1 gene in human umbilical artery endothelial cells
Authors: Carrasco‐Wong Ivo , Längst Gernot , Sobrevia Luis , Casanello Paola 
Published: March 2024

AbstractMaternal obesity (MO) is a significant cause of increased cardiometabolic risk in offspring, who present endothelial dysfunction at birth. Alterations in physiologic and cellular redox status are strongly associated with altered gene regulation in arterial endothelium. However, specific mechanisms by which the pro‐oxidant fetal environment in MO could modulate the vascular gene expression and function during the offspring's postnatal life are elusive. We tested if oxidative stress could reprogram the antioxidant‐coding gene's response to a pro‐oxidant challenge through an epigenetic transcriptional memory (ETM) mechanism. A pro‐oxidant double‐hit protocol was applied to human umbilical artery endothelial cells (HUAECs) and EA.hy 926 endothelial cell lines. The ETM acquisition in the HMOX1 gene was analyzed by RT‐qPCR. HMOX1 mRNA decay was evaluated by Actinomycin‐D treatment and RT‐qPCR. To assess the chromatin accessibility and the enrichment of NRF2, RNAP2, and phosphorylation at serin‐5 of RNAP2, at HMOX1 gene regulatory regions, were used DNase HS‐qPCR and ChIP‐qPCR assays, respectively. The CpG methylation pattern at the HMOX1 core promoter was analyzed by DNA bisulfite conversion and Sanger sequencing. Data were analyzed using two‐way ANOVA, and p < 0.05 was statistically significant. Using a pro‐oxidant double‐hit protocol, we found that the Heme Oxygenase gene (HMOX1) presents an ETM response associated with changes in the chromatin structure at the promoter and gene regulatory regions. The ETM response was characterized by a paused‐RNA Polymerase 2 and NRF2 enrichment at the transcription start site and Enhancer 2 of the HMOX1 gene, respectively. Changes in DNA methylation pattern at the HMOX1 promoter were not a hallmark of this oxidative stress‐induced ETM. These data suggest that a pro‐oxidant milieu could trigger an ETM at the vascular level, indicating a potential epigenetic mechanism involved in the increased cardiovascular risk in the offspring of women with obesity.
Pharmacokinetics and Tolerability of a Single Dose of Apraglutide, a Novel, Long‐Acting, Synthetic glucagon‐like peptide‐2 Analog With a Unique Pharmacologic Profile, in Individuals With Impaired Renal Function
Authors: Greig Gérard , Youssef Nader N , Bolognani Federico 
Published: March 2024

AbstractRenal impairment is a common complication in patients with short bowel syndrome with intestinal failure (SBS‐IF). Glucagon‐like peptide‐2 analogs, such as apraglutide, have been developed as a treatment option for SBS‐IF. This study assessed the potential for apraglutide overexposure in individuals with severely impaired renal function versus healthy volunteers with normal renal function. In this phase 1, open‐label, multicenter, nonrandomized, parallel‐group study, a single dose of apraglutide 5 mg was administered subcutaneously to individuals with severely impaired renal function (<30 mL/min/1.73 m2) and healthy volunteers with normal renal function (≥90 mL/min/1.73 m2). Primary pharmacokinetic endpoints were maximum observed concentration (Cmax) and exposure to apraglutide (area under the curve [AUC] from time 0 to infinity [AUCinf], and AUC from time 0 to the last quantifiable concentration [AUClast]). Each group comprised 8 individuals. Results show that patients with severe renal impairment do not have increased apraglutide exposure. Apraglutide achieved a lower Cmax and AUCinf in individuals with severe renal impairment versus those with normal renal function (Cmax = 36.9 vs 59.5 ng/L; AUCinf = 3100 vs 4470 h · ng/mL, respectively). The respective geometric mean ratios were 0.620 and 0.693 for Cmax and AUCinf, and the upper bound of their 90% confidence intervals were <2, indicating patients with severe renal impairment were not overexposed to apraglutide versus those with normal renal function. Adverse events were mild or moderate in severity. Apraglutide does not require dose reduction for any degree of renal impairment and could be used in a broader patient population of renally impaired patients without dose adjustment.
“Emotional stress is more detrimental than the virus itself”: A qualitative study to understand HIV testing and pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) use among internal migrant men in South Africa
Authors: Nardell Maria Francesca , Govathson‐Mandimika Caroline , Garnier Salomé , Watts Ashley , Babalola Dolapo , Ngcobo Nkosinathi , Long Lawrence , Lurie Mark N. , Miot Jacqui , Pascoe Sophie , Katz Ingrid T. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractIntroductionSouth Africa has one of the highest rates of internal migration on the continent, largely comprised of men seeking labour in urban centres. South African men who move within the country (internal migrants) are at higher risk than non‐migrant men of acquiring HIV yet are less likely to test or use pre‐exposure prophylaxis (PrEP). However, little is known about the mechanisms that link internal migration and challenges engaging in HIV services.MethodsWe recruited 30 internal migrant men (born outside Gauteng Province) during August 2022 for in‐depth qualitative interviews at two sites in Johannesburg (Gauteng) where migrants may gather, a factories workplace and a homeless shelter. Interviewers used open‐ended questions, based in the Theory of Triadic Influence, to explore experiences and challenges with HIV testing and/or PrEP. A mixed deductive inductive content analytic approach was used to review data and explain why participants may or may not use these services.ResultsMigrant men come to Johannesburg to find work, but unreliable income, daily stress and time constraints limit their availability to seek health services. While awareness of HIV testing is high, the fear of a positive diagnosis often overshadows the benefits. In addition, many men lack knowledge about the opportunity for PrEP should they test negative, though they express interest in the medication after learning about it. Additionally, these men struggle with adjusting to urban life, lack of social support and fear of potential stigma. Finally, the necessity to prioritize work combined with long wait times at clinics further restricts their access to HIV services. Despite these challenges, Johannesburg also presents opportunities for HIV services for migrant men, such as greater anonymity and availability of HIV information and services in the city as compared to their rural homes of origin.ConclusionsBringing HIV services to migrant men at community sites may ease the burden of accessing these services. Including PrEP counselling and services alongside HIV testing may further encourage men to test, particularly if integrated into counselling for livelihood and coping strategies, as well as support for navigating health services in Johannesburg.
Ultrasonography for the Detection of Osteomyelitis in Pediatric Patients With Soft Tissue Infection
Authors: Hosokawa Takahiro , Deguchi Kuntaro , Takei Haruka , Sato Yumiko , Tanami Yutaka , Oguma Eiji 
Published: March 2024

ObjectivesTo demonstrate the usefulness of ultrasonography for differentiating soft tissue infections with or without osteomyelitis in pediatric patients who underwent ultrasonography and subsequent magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).MethodsTwenty‐three patients were classified into 2 groups: 12 patients with and 11 patients without osteomyelitis based on MRI. Osteomyelitis using ultrasound is characterized by the presence of bone cortex irregularity and/or subperiosteal abscess formation. The diagnostic performance of ultrasonography for detecting osteomyelitis and subperiosteal abscess formation was compared with that of MRI. Diagnostic accuracy, sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were calculated with 95% confidence intervals (CIs).ResultsOf 12 osteomyelitis cases, 11 had abnormal bone marrow enhancement (one residual case did not undergo contrast enhancement study) and 5 had subperiosteal abscesses. The diagnostic accuracy of ultrasonography for osteomyelitis was 82.6% (number of correct diagnosis of osteomyelitis/total number = 19/23; 95% CI, 61.2–95.0) and for detecting periosteal abscess was 95.7% (number of correct diagnosis of periosteal abscess/total number = 22/23; 95% CI, 78.1–99.9), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography for detecting osteomyelitis were 66.7% (95% CI, 34.9–90.1) and 100% (95% CI, 71.5–100), respectively. The sensitivity and specificity of ultrasonography for detecting periosteal abscess were 80% (95% CI, 28.4–99.5), and 100% (95% CI, 81.5–100), respectively. One‐third of osteomyelitis cases could not be detected using ultrasonography.ConclusionsUltrasonography may be useful for diagnosing osteomyelitis in pediatric patients; however, the technique appears limited by low sensitivity. However, it is more accurate for diagnosis of periosteal abscess in these patients.