bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The utility of Martius fat pad in the repair of urogenital fistulae: review of current evidence
Authors: Kapriniotis Konstantinos , Loufopoulos Ioannis , Gresty Helena C.M. , Greenwell Tamsin J. , Ockrim Jeremy L. 
Published: March 2024

ObjectiveTo present the contemporary evidence on transvaginal urogenital fistulae (UGF) repair with Martius fat pad (MFP), compared to direct graftless fistula repair.MethodsWe reviewed all available studies reporting lower UGF repair via the transvaginal approach in MEDLINE, Embase, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials (CENTRAL). The primary outcome of interest was the fistula closure rates. When available, patients’ baseline characteristics, indications for surgery, and early and late postoperative complications with focus on MFP‐related complications are reported.Results and DiscussionIn obstetric fistulae, tissue interposition has been almost completely abandoned, with contemporary large series reporting closure rates of >90% with graftless repair, even for complex fistulae. Similarly, most simple, non‐irradiated iatrogenic fistulae can be closed safely without or with tissue interposition with success rates ranging between 86% and 100%. However, MFP is valuable in fistulae with difficulty achieving tension‐free and layered closure, with significant tissue loss, urethral involvement and with poorly vascularised tissues after radiotherapy, with reported success rates between 80% and 97% in those challenging situations.ConclusionA UGF repair should be individualised after considering the specific characteristics and complexity of the procedure. MFP interposition is probably unnecessary for the majority of low (obstetric) fistulae within otherwise healthy tissues. However, MFP may still have a place to maximise outcomes in low‐income settings, in select cases with higher (iatrogenic) fistulae, and in most cases with radiotherapy.
Large‐scale data decipher children's scale errors: A meta‐analytic approach using the zero‐inflated Poisson models
Authors: Hagihara Hiromichi , Ishibashi Mikako , Moriguchi Yusuke , Shinya Yuta 
Published: March 2024

AbstractScale errors are intriguing phenomena in which a child tries to perform an object‐specific action on a tiny object. Several viewpoints explaining the developmental mechanisms underlying scale errors exist; however, there is no unified account of how different factors interact and affect scale errors, and the statistical approaches used in the previous research do not adequately capture the structure of the data. By conducting a secondary analysis of aggregated datasets across nine different studies (n = 528) and using more appropriate statistical methods, this study provides a more accurate description of the development of scale errors. We implemented the zero‐inflated Poisson (ZIP) regression that could directly handle the count data with a stack of zero observations and regarded developmental indices as continuous variables. The results suggested that the developmental trend of scale errors was well documented by an inverted U‐shaped curve rather than a simple linear function, although nonlinearity captured different aspects of the scale errors between the laboratory and classroom data. We also found that repeated experiences with scale error tasks reduced the number of scale errors, whereas girls made more scale errors than boys. Furthermore, a model comparison approach revealed that predicate vocabulary size (e.g., adjectives or verbs), predicted developmental changes in scale errors better than noun vocabulary size, particularly in terms of the presence or absence of scale errors. The application of the ZIP model enables researchers to discern how different factors affect scale error production, thereby providing new insights into demystifying the mechanisms underlying these phenomena. A video abstract of this article can be viewed at https://youtu.be/1v1U6CjDZ1QResearch Highlights
We fit a large dataset by aggregating the existing scale error data to the zero–inflated Poisson (ZIP) model.
Scale errors peaked along the different developmental indices, but the underlying statistical structure differed between the in‐lab and classroom datasets.
Repeated experiences with scale error tasks and the children's gender affected the number of scale errors produced per session.
Predicate vocabulary size (e.g., adjectives or verbs) better predicts developmental changes in scale errors than noun vocabulary size.
Ecosystem functions and functional traits for the study of phytophagous scarab beetles (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae)
Authors: García‐Atencia Sandy , Bonilla‐Gómez Maria Argenis , Moreno Claudia E. 
Published: March 2024

Abstract
Owing to the rapid and ongoing anthropogenic changes impacting ecosystem functions and their interplay with biodiversity, there is a growing focus on assessing insect functional diversity. This emphasis helps to unravel key roles of insects on ecosystem processes and to identify the assembly mechanisms that regulate species coexistence.
The ecological functions of phytophagous scarab beetles (Scarabaeidae) have been relatively unexplored, and potential functional traits are scattered throughout the literature. Species within this group exhibit diverse lifestyles, forms and sizes. They exploit various resources such as decomposing wood, foliage, roots and flowers, with a small subset identified as predators. Although many of their representatives are significant agricultural pests, information on their contributions in natural ecosystems has not been consolidated.
This study reviews the ecological functions potentially carried out by phytophagous scarab beetles and proposes functional traits to be incorporated into studies of functional diversity. Through this, the goal is to integrate the scattered information, stimulate the generation of questions that go beyond classical ecological theory and contribute to advancing our knowledge of their ecosystem functions, as well as the foundations for understanding community structure. We propose to use trophic groups to define functions such as bioturbation, organic matter decomposition, biological control and potential pollination.
A simplified list of functional traits was obtained by conducting correlation analyses using a trait matrix from a region in northern Colombia. This represents a significant advance for the study of traits within the framework of functional ecology, applicable to territorial planning and biodiversity conservation.
Pathways from the superior colliculus and the nucleus of the optic tract to the posterior parietal cortex in macaque monkeys: Functional frameworks for representation updating and online movement guidance
Authors: Ugolini Gabriella , Graf Werner 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThe posterior parietal cortex (PPC) integrates multisensory and motor‐related information for generating and updating body representations and movement plans. We used retrograde transneuronal transfer of rabies virus combined with a conventional tracer in macaque monkeys to identify direct and disynaptic pathways to the arm‐related rostral medial intraparietal area (MIP), the ventral lateral intraparietal area (LIPv), belonging to the parietal eye field, and the pursuit‐related lateral subdivision of the medial superior temporal area (MSTl). We found that these areas receive major disynaptic pathways via the thalamus from the nucleus of the optic tract (NOT) and the superior colliculus (SC), mainly ipsilaterally. NOT pathways, targeting MSTl most prominently, serve to process the sensory consequences of slow eye movements for which the NOT is the key sensorimotor interface. They potentially contribute to the directional asymmetry of the pursuit and optokinetic systems. MSTl and LIPv receive feedforward inputs from SC visual layers, which are potential correlates for fast detection of motion, perceptual saccadic suppression and visual spatial attention. MSTl is the target of efference copy pathways from saccade‐ and head‐related compartments of SC motor layers and head‐related reticulospinal neurons. They are potential sources of extraretinal signals related to eye and head movement in MSTl visual‐tracking neurons. LIPv and rostral MIP receive efference copy pathways from all SC motor layers, providing online estimates of eye, head and arm movements. Our findings have important implications for understanding the role of the PPC in representation updating, internal models for online movement guidance, eye‐hand coordination and optic ataxia.
Evaluation of an Impulse‐Response Emulator for Groundwater Contaminant Transport Modeling
Authors: Heerspink Brent P. , Fienen Michael N. , Reeves Howard W. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThere is a significant need to develop decision support tools capable of delivering accurate representations of environmental conditions, such as ground and surface water solute concentrations, in a timely and computationally efficient manner. Such tools can be leveraged to assess a large number of potential management strategies for mitigating non‐point source pollutants. Here, we assess the effectiveness of the impulse‐response emulation approach to approximate process‐based groundwater model estimates of solute transport from MODFLOW and MT3D over a wide range of model inputs and parameters, with the goal of assessing where in parameter space the assumptions underlying this emulation approach are valid. The impulse‐response emulator was developed using the sensitivity analysis utilities in the PEST++ software suite and is capable of approximating MODFLOW/MT3D estimates of solute transport over a large portion of the parameter space tested, except in cases where the Courant number is above 0.5. Across all runs tested, the highest percent errors were at the plume fronts. These results suggest that the impulse‐response approach may be suitable for emulation of solute transport models for a wide range of cases, except when high‐resolution outputs are needed, or when very low concentrations at plume edges are of particular interest.
Oral isotretinoin with desloratadine compared with oral isotretinoin alone in the treatment of moderate to severe acne: a randomized, assessor‐blinded study
Authors: Hazarika Neirita , Yadav Piyush , Bagri Manmohan , Chandrasekaran Divya , Bhatia Riti 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundOur aim was to measure the effectiveness of oral isotretinoin with desloratadine compared with oral isotretinoin alone in treating moderate to severe acne at a tertiary care teaching hospital in North India. In this study, 90 patients with moderate to severe acne were enrolled to participate based on their fulfilling the inclusion criteria.MethodsA randomized, assessor‐blinded, parallel‐arm study was conducted. Randomization was done using computer‐generated tables to allocate treatments in a 1:1 ratio. A low‐dose oral isotretinoin at a dose of 0.3 mg/kg/day with tab desloratadine at 5 mg/day was applied to the study group and compared against the same patients going without the dosage when controls were conducted. Follow‐up was at 4, 8, and 12 weeks.ResultsThe primary outcome was an improved global acne grading system (GAGS) score and decreased acne lesion count. Secondary outcome: patient satisfaction with treatment. The 90 participants were randomized and 15 participants dropped out of the study, leaving 75 participants for intention to treat analysis (n = 41, n = 30). At week 12, the GAGS score and acne lesion count between the study and control groups were comparable (P > 0.05). Pruritus reported was 9.76% in the study versus 33.33% in the control group (P = 0.018). Also, 53.66% of participants reported “excellent” treatment satisfaction in the study group versus 36.67% in the control group.ConclusionsThe addition of desloratadine to an isotretinoin regimen has a role in reducing disease and therapy‐related pruritus in acne and leads to improved patient satisfaction.
Intersecting pathways: evaluating inflammatory markers and metabolism in chronic spontaneous urticaria with a multi‐marker approach
Authors: Metin Zuhal , Akca Hanife Merve , Tur Kaan , Akogul Serkan 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundChronic spontaneous urticaria (CSU) is an inflammatory skin disease with intricate mechanisms. This study comprehensively assessed markers from diverse metabolic pathways, including novel inflammatory indicators, to evaluate their potential for diagnosing and monitoring CSU.Materials and methodsIn the study involving 90 CSU patients and 90 healthy controls, the levels of albumin, high‐density lipoprotein (HDL), fibrinogen, uric acid, D‐dimer, C‐reactive protein (CRP), and white blood cells (WBC) values were analyzed. The D‐dimer/albumin ratio (DAR), fibrinogen/albumin ratio (FAR), and uric acid/HDL ratio (UHR), considered novel inflammatory markers, were calculated. The Urticaria Activity Score 7 (UAS7) was also calculated. Pearson chi‐squared test, Mann–Whitney U test, Spearman correlation coefficient, and univariate logistic regression analysis were employed for data analysis.ResultsIn the patient group, significant elevations were observed in DAR, FAR, fibrinogen, CRP, D‐dimer, and UHR values. Additionally, albumin, HDL, and uric acid values exhibited significant decreases. HDL and albumin provided the most accurate results in the univariate logistic regression analysis. CRP had less accuracy, FAR exhibited greater accuracy than fibrinogen, and DAR demonstrated higher accuracy than D‐dimer. There was no statistically significant correlation between the UAS7 and parameters. The considerable correlation of CRP with other parameters, except D‐dimer, was also remarkable.ConclusionsIndicators from diverse metabolic pathways, including albumin, HDL, uric acid, fibrinogen, D‐dimer, and CRP, can be valuable in assessing CSU. In particular, FAR and DAR are emerging as potential markers to consider in the assessment of CSU.
KLF transcription factors in bone diseases
Authors: Wang Haixia , Han Juanjuan , Dmitrii Gorbachev , Ning Ke , Zhang Xin‐an 
Published: March 2024

AbstractKrüppel‐like factors (KLFs) are crucial in the development of bone disease. They are a family of zinc finger transcription factors that are unusual in containing three highly conserved zinc finger structural domains interacting with DNA. It has been discovered that it engages in various cell functions, including proliferation, apoptosis, autophagy, stemness, invasion and migration, and is crucial for the development of human tissues. In recent years, the role of KLFs in bone physiology and pathology has received adequate attention. In addition to regulating the normal growth and development of the musculoskeletal system, KLFs participate in the pathological process of the bones and joints and are intimately linked to several skeletal illnesses, such as osteoarthritis (OA), rheumatoid arthritis (RA), osteoporosis (OP) and osteosarcoma (OS). Consequently, targeting KLFs has emerged as a promising therapeutic approach for an array of bone disorders. In this review, we summarize the current literature on the importance of KLFs in the emergence and regulation of bone illnesses, with a particular emphasis on the pertinent mechanisms by which KLFs regulate skeletal diseases. We also discuss the need for KLFs‐based medication‐targeted treatment. These endeavours offer new perspectives on the use of KLFs in bone disorders and provide prognostic biomarkers, therapeutic targets and possible drug candidates for bone diseases.
Prescribing in pregnant women with inflammatory bowel disease and its relationship to congenital malformations in Japan
Authors: Takahashi Sayumi , Kakuta Yoichi , Obara Taku , Ishikawa Tomofumi , Nagai Hiroshi , Shimoyama Yusuke , Naito Takeo , Moroi Rintaro , Shiga Hisashi , Mano Nariyasu , Kinouchi Yoshitaka , Masamune Atsushi 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackground and AimInflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently affects younger patients and poses various challenges concerning pregnancy and childbirth. Maintaining good disease control throughout pregnancy is crucial, but expectant and pregnant patients may worry about the fetal impact of medications, leading to treatment discontinuation due to uncertainty about this issue. This study investigated the real‐world drug‐prescribing practices for pregnant patients with IBD in Japan and their potential connection to major congenital malformations (MCMs).MethodsOverall, 277 female IBD patients who gave birth between 2010 and 2019 were selected from the JMDC claims database. The prescribing patterns of IBD medications and MCMs in the patients' offspring were analyzed.ResultsAmong pregnant IBD patients, 74.4% received at least one medication from 90 days before pregnancy to 90 days after delivery. Trends in medication prescriptions during pregnancy in 2010–2019 revealed consistent use of oral 5‐ASA, variable use of topical medications, a decrease in systemic steroids, and an increase in biologics. The prevalence of MCMs in children born to IBD‐affected mothers did not differ significantly between those who did and did not receive IBD medications (8.6% vs 6.8%). Although circulatory system MCMs were slightly more common in the IBD medication group (4.9% vs 1.4%), this difference was not significant. Logistic regression analysis did not reveal an association between MCM risk and first‐trimester use of IBD medications, including corticosteroids and biologics.ConclusionsThis study provides insights into medication patterns in pregnant IBD patients and suggests no increased risk of MCMs associated with first‐trimester IBD medication use.
Hospice providers serving assisted living residents: Association of higher volume with lower quality
Authors: Guo Wenhan , Temkin‐Greener Helena , McGarry Brian E. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundAssisted living (AL) community caregivers are known to report lower quality of hospice care. However, little is known about hospice providers serving AL residents and factors that may contribute to, and explain, differences in quality. We examined the association between hospice providers' AL patient‐day volume and their quality ratings based on Hospice Item Set (HIS) and Consumer Assessment of Healthcare Providers and Systems (CAHPS) Hospice Surveys.MethodsThis cross‐sectional study employed information from the Medicare Compare website and Medicare claims data. Medicare‐eligible AL residents were identified using previously validated methods and merged with hospice claims. Linear probability models adjusting for county fixed effects were used to examine the association between hospice provider AL volume, measured as the share of annual hospice patient days from AL residents, and quality measures obtained from HIS and CAHPS. Models controlled for hospice providers' profit status and daily patient census.ResultsHigher AL‐volume hospice providers were 7 percentage points more likely to have caregivers reporting lower median scores on domains of pain assessment, dyspnea treatment, and emotional support. Their caregivers also reported lower scores in team communications and training family to provide care. Higher AL‐volume hospice providers also were 5 percentage points less likely to get higher aggregated scores from all CAHPS domains and 7 percentage points less likely to have higher HIS composite scores.ConclusionsHospice providers serving higher volumes of AL patient days had lower quality scores. In order to identify targeted opportunities for quality improvement, research is needed to understand why lower quality providers are concentrated in the AL market.
Which older adults are at highest risk of prescribing cascades? A national study of the gabapentinoid–loop diuretic cascade
Authors: Growdon Matthew E. , Jing Bocheng , Morris Earl J. , Deardorff W. James , Boscardin W. John , Byers Amy L. , Boockvar Kenneth S. , Steinman Michael A. 
Published: March 2024

AbstractBackgroundPrescribing cascades are important contributors to polypharmacy. Little is known about which older adults are at highest risk of experiencing prescribing cascades. We explored which older veterans are at highest risk of the gabapentinoid (including gabapentin and pregabalin)–loop diuretic (LD) cascade, given the dramatic increase in gabapentinoid prescribing in recent years.MethodsUsing Veterans Affairs and Medicare claims data (2010–2019), we performed a prescription sequence symmetry analysis (PSSA) to assess loop diuretic initiation before and after gabapentinoid initiation among older veterans (≥66 years). To identify the cascade, we calculated the adjusted sequence ratio (aSR), which assesses the temporality of LD relative to gabapentinoid initiation. To explore high‐risk groups, we used multivariable logistic regression with prescribing order modeled as a binary dependent variable. We calculated adjusted odds ratios (aORs), measuring the extent to which factors are associated with one prescribing order versus another.ResultsOf 151,442 veterans who initiated a gabapentinoid, there were 1,981 patients who initiated a LD within 6 months after initiating a gabapentinoid compared to 1,599 patients who initiated a LD within 6 months before initiating a gabapentinoid. In the gabapentinoid–LD group, the mean age was 73 years, 98% were male, 13% were Black, 5% were Hispanic, and 80% were White. Patients in each group were similar across patient and health utilization factors (standardized mean difference <0.10 for all comparisons). The aSR was 1.23 (95% CI: 1.13, 1.34), strongly suggesting the cascade's presence. People age ≥85 years were less likely to have the cascade (compared to 66–74 years; aOR 0.74, 95% CI: 0.56–0.96), and people taking ≥10 medications were more likely to have the cascade (compared to 0–4 drugs; aOR 1.39, 95% CI: 1.07–1.82).ConclusionsAmong older adults, those who are younger and taking many medications may be at higher risk of the gabapentinoid–LD cascade, contributing to worsening polypharmacy and potential drug‐related harms. We did not identify strong predictors of this cascade, suggesting that prescribing cascade prevention efforts should be widespread rather than focused on specific subgroups.
Verification of policy information and citizen attitudes toward government under COVID‐19 pandemic: Evidence from survey experiment in South Korea
Authors: Song Junmo , Kang Jeong‐han , Cho Yoon Jik 
Published: March 2024

AbstractThis study examines how citizens' attitudes toward government are affected by verifying or correcting their prior knowledge of governmental policy concerning the COVID‐19 pandemic. Using a survey experiment, we asked respondents about their knowledge of the stimulus check provided by local governments in South Korea. We then provided the correct answer to half of the respondents at random. For outcome variables, we measured satisfaction with the stimulus check, trust in the government, and intention to pay extra taxes. We found that only verifying correct prior knowledge, not correcting incorrect knowledge, improved respondents' attitudes. Subgroup analysis revealed that the verification effect occurred specifically among those whose income remained stable during the pandemic, regardless of whether their political orientation was congruent with their local government. Our findings suggest that rather than publicly releasing policy‐related information to citizens indiscriminately, verifying the information through closer communication with well‐informed citizens can be a more effective strategy to improve citizens' policy efficacy and attitudes toward the government.