bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The impact of increased hepatic glucose production caused by empagliflozin on plasma glucose concentration in individuals with type 2 diabetes and nondiabetic individuals
Authors: Abdelgani Siham , Khattab Ahmed , Adams John , Baskoy Gozde , Triplitt Curtis , DeFronzo Ralph A. , Abdul‐Ghani Muhammad 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimTo examine the impact of increased hepatic glucose production (HGP) on the decrease in plasma glucose concentration caused by empagliflozin in individuals living with diabetes and in nondiabetic individuals.MethodsA total of 36 individuals living with diabetes and 34 nondiabetic individuals were randomized to receive, in double‐blind fashion, empagliflozin or matching placebo in a 2:1 treatment ratio. Following an overnight fast, HGP was measured with 3‐3H‐glucose infusion before, at the start of, and 3 months after therapy with empagliflozin.ResultsOn Day 1 of empagliflozin administration, the increase in urinary glucose excretion (UGE) in individuals with normal glucose tolerance was smaller than in those with impaired glucose tolerance and those living with diabetes, and was accompanied by an increase in HGP in all three groups. The amount of glucose returned to the systemic circulation as a result of the increase in HGP was smaller than that excreted by the kidney during the first 3 h after empagliflozin administration, resulting in a decrease in fasting plasma glucose (FPG) concentration. After 3 h, the increase in HGP was in excess of UGE, leading to a small increase in plasma glucose concentration, which reached a new steady state. After 12 weeks, the amount of glucose returned to the circulation due to the empagliflozin‐induced increase in HGP was comparable with that excreted by the kidney in all three groups.ConclusionThe balance between UGE and increase in HGP immediately after sodium‐glucose cotransporter‐2 (SGLT2) inhibition determined the magnitude of decrease in FPG and the new steady state which was achieved. After 12 weeks, the increase in HGP caused by empagliflozin closely matched the amount of glucose excreted by the kidneys; thus, FPG level remained stable despite the continuous urinary excretion of glucose caused by SGLT2 inhibition.
Oro‐dental trauma burden and mouthguard usage among contact sports players: A call for sports dentistry initiatives in Sri Lanka
Authors: Udayamalee Iresha , Amarasinghe Hemantha , Zhang Ping 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackground/AimContact sports‐related oro‐dental trauma contributes to a significant proportion of sports injuries among school children. Oro‐dental trauma imposes a detrimental impact on the oral health‐related quality of life. However, the burden of oro‐dental trauma among contact sports players and their practices of mouthguards remains a research gap in Sri Lanka. The current study bridges that while providing evidence for contextual changes such as initiating sports dentistry.Materials and MethodsThe study was conducted among 1340 adolescent contact sports players in Colombo district, Sri Lanka; 63.1% males and 36.9% females (age 13–18), who were enrolled in football, rugby, hockey, boxing, basketball, and martial arts in the school setting. A checklist was administered to obtain demographic information, sports practices, and the use of mouthguards. An oral examination was conducted for those who experienced oro‐dental trauma during the last 12 months.ResultsSelf‐reported oro‐dental trauma pooled prevalence of the contact sports players was 35.9% (95% CI = 33.3–38.5), with males' preponderance. Dental trauma was present in 23.8% (n = 319), while 15.8% were uncomplicated and 8% were complicated. Soft tissue injuries were present in 12.1% (n = 162). Oro dental trauma (ODT) was highly prevalent among boxing, rugby, and hockey players. Only 20.8% (n = 279) of players used mouthguards. However, 91.0% (n = 254) of them were using ready‐made mouthguards. Mouthguard use and the type of mouthguard showed statistically significant associations across the type of oro‐dental trauma among contact sports players.ConclusionsContact sports‐related oro‐dental trauma prevalence is as high as 35.9% among Colombo district school children in Sri Lanka. However, their level of mouthguard usage is shallow at 20.8%. Further research is necessary to investigate the reasons behind this, and national guidelines should be developed to prevent and manage sports‐related accidental injuries.
Assessing the existence of pantropical butterflies: A review of accurate taxonomy, biogeography and life history traits
Authors: Taberer Tabitha R. 
Published: December 2023

Abstract
Various biological groups include genera that occur in tropical regions of continents that are separated by thousands of kilometres of ocean. However, in such pantropical groups, the taxonomic classification is often erroneous so that some of these cases may rather represent convergent evolution of distantly related species. Once monophyly of pantropical genera is firmly established, we can ask how these groups have become globally spread and what traits facilitate reaching a wide distribution.
Some butterfly genera are considered pantropical and are a good system to ask such questions because we have a relatively large amount of information about their distribution, phylogeny and life history traits.
Phylogeographic analyses have revealed that dispersal across land bridges throughout the Cenozoic period was typical for butterflies and that older clades are typically more widely distributed across the globe than more recently diverged clades.
Results here also showed that certain life history traits, such as larval polyphagy and habitat generalism, correlate with a large range size in butterflies, although research biases towards temperate rather tropical regions exist.
This review emphasises the first and foremost need for accurate taxonomy to prove phylogenetic monophyly in pantropical genera. Only when these evolutionary relationships are firmly established can we improve our understanding of the driving forces of their distributions and range sizes.
I and thou in dialogue: Becoming more relational in couple therapy
Authors: Whiting Jason B. , Wendt Douglas M. , Eisert Brady C. , Fife Stephen T. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractCouple therapists have the unique and challenging opportunity of helping people find deeper connection in their intimate relationships. These clinicians apply therapeutic models and interventions designed to help couples. However, many of these models are derived from theoretical, scientific, and sociocultural traditions that conceptualize human phenomena as individualistic and reductionistic, and the language in these theories may not match clients' experiences, which include deeply relational phenomena such as love and loss. We review how Western scientific and sociocultural traditions have shaped conceptualization of problems and clinical intervention in couple therapy. In contrast, we provide an alternative, strongly relational framework for couple therapy that draws upon philosophical perspectives asserting that relational, rather than individual, experience is fundamental in human interaction. These ideas provide relational language which can influence how couple therapy is viewed and enacted. Specifically, we discuss how a strongly relational approach changes how therapists understand and intervene with conflict, abuse, love, and deception. This relational framework can help couples in their own goals to become more unified. Implications for the therapeutic relationship, interventions, and scholarship are provided.
Role of pandemic‐related experiences and maternal psychological distress in maternal rejection
Authors: İplikçi Ayşe Büşra , İlgün Yağmur , Memisoglu‐Sanli Aybegüm , Aydoğdu Sözen Ezgi , Sahin‐Acar Basak , Doğan Aysun , Tahiroglu Deniz , Berument Sibel Kazak 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectiveThe current study focuses on the indirect link between mothers' COVID‐19 pandemic‐related experiences of home chaos, pandemic‐related anxiety, social support, and perceived maternal rejection through maternal psychological distress (MPD).BackgroundThe COVID‐19 pandemic had striking effects on families, and parents with school‐aged children were especially considered more at risk. Yet, the growing research documented negative and positive outcomes for the parent–child relationship.MethodIn this two‐wave study, data were collected before (January–February 2020) and during the pandemic (November–December 2020) from 318 Turkish mothers (Mage = 37.13, SD = 5.67) with predominantly low educational attainment and children in Grades 1 to 11 (Mage = 11.57, SD = 3.05). MPD and perceived maternal rejection were measured before and during the pandemic. Maternal pandemic‐related anxiety, mothers' perceived social support, and chaos in the home environment were measured only during the pandemic. Structural equation modeling was used for analysis.ResultsAfter pre‐pandemic MPD and perceived maternal rejection were controlled, MPD was positively associated with rejection during the pandemic. Pandemic‐related anxiety and home chaos, but not social support, predicted maternal rejection through MPD.ConclusionMothers' COVID‐19–related experiences were related to increased MPD, which also predicted increased maternal rejection as perceived by children.ImplicationsThe results should be considered in developing programs for mothers facing stressful circumstances. In particular, we recommend programs that promote equal role division in the family, which could support maternal well‐being, alleviate MPD, and improve the mother–child relationship.
Soil organic carbon loss decreases biodiversity but stimulates multitrophic interactions that promote belowground metabolism
Authors: Li Ye , Chen Zengming , Wagg Cameron , Castellano Michael J. , Zhang Nan , Ding Weixin 
Published: December 2023

AbstractSoil organic carbon (SOC) plays an essential role in mediating community structure and metabolic activities of belowground biota. Unraveling the evolution of belowground communities and their feedback mechanisms on SOC dynamics helps embed the ecology of soil microbiome into carbon cycling, which serves to improve biodiversity conservation and carbon management strategy under global change. Here, croplands with a SOC gradient were used to understand how belowground metabolisms and SOC decomposition were linked to the diversity, composition, and co‐occurrence networks of belowground communities encompassing archaea, bacteria, fungi, protists, and invertebrates. As SOC decreased, the diversity of prokaryotes and eukaryotes also decreased, but their network complexity showed contrasting patterns: prokaryotes increased due to intensified niche overlap, while that of eukaryotes decreased possibly because of greater dispersal limitation owing to the breakdown of macroaggregates. Despite the decrease in biodiversity and SOC stocks, the belowground metabolic capacity was enhanced as indicated by increased enzyme activity and decreased enzymatic stoichiometric imbalance. This could, in turn, expedite carbon loss through respiration, particularly in the slow‐cycling pool. The enhanced belowground metabolic capacity was dominantly driven by greater multitrophic network complexity and particularly negative (competitive and predator–prey) associations, which fostered the stability of the belowground metacommunity. Interestingly, soil abiotic conditions including pH, aeration, and nutrient stocks, exhibited a less significant role. Overall, this study reveals a greater need for soil C resources across multitrophic levels to maintain metabolic functionality as declining SOC results in biodiversity loss. Our researchers highlight the importance of integrating belowground biological processes into models of SOC turnover, to improve agroecosystem functioning and carbon management in face of intensifying anthropogenic land‐use and climate change.
Care as infrastructure: Rethinking working mothers' childcare crisis during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Li Meng , Laughlin Corrina 
Published: December 2023

AbstractDuring the COVID‐19 pandemic, the United States government promoted the idea of care as infrastructure to justify government spending on nonphysical infrastructures. In this article, we demonstrate the usefulness of adopting an infrastructure framework for researching care and caring through an analysis of working mothers' communication on Reddit in the early days of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Employing infrastructural inversion as a heuristic, we conceptualize the childcare crisis experienced by working mothers in many Western societies as an infrastructural disruption in which the cascading failure of childcare infrastructures exposed the background work of care as well as its vulnerability and invisibility. We also argue that, against this backdrop, an alternate infrastructure of digital caring emerged. However, this informal infrastructure was inadequate to sustain the needs of working mothers, and its emergence, in itself, provides proof of the need to value care as infrastructure. Ultimately, we showcase how conceptualizing care as infrastructure can enrich feminist theorization of care, and that centering care as infrastructure redresses the bias toward physical infrastructure in the scholarly literature.
Prognostic significance of C‐reactive protein in unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma treated with atezolizumab and bevacizumab
Authors: Kaneko Shun , Asahina Yasuhiro , Murakawa Miyako , Ueyama Shunsuke , Maeyashiki Chiaki , Watanabe Hideki , Kusano‐Kitazume Akiko , Sato Ayako , Uchidate Kozue , Asakawa Takehito , Watanabe Sho , Iizuka Yasuhiro , Shibata Isamu , Oooka Shinya , Karakama Yuko , Fujii Takashi , Watabe Taro , Akahoshi Keiichi , Tanabe Minoru , Inada Kento , Mochida Tomohiro , Watakabe Keiya , Shimizu Taro , Tsuchiya Jun , Miyoshi Masato , Kitahata‐Kawai Fukiko , Nitta Sayuri , Nakagawa Mina , Kakinuma Sei , Okamoto Ryuichi ,   Ochanomizu Liver Conference Study Group
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimC‐reactive protein (CRP) is both an inflammatory and prognostic marker in various cancers. This study aimed to elucidate the characteristics of CRP and the prognostic factors in patients who were administered with atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (ATZ + BEV) for unresectable hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsA total of 213 patients who received ATZ + BEV for HCC from November 2020 to March 2023 at 15 hospitals were enrolled in this retrospective study. The prognosis was analyzed by subdividing the patients based on baseline characteristics, radiologic response, and treatment lines. Accuracy of survival prediction was assessed using CRP, alpha fetoprotein (AFP), C‐reactive protein and alpha fetoprotein in immunotherapy (CRAFITY), and Glasgow Prognostic Score.ResultsCompared with patients with baseline CRP <1 mg/dL, those with baseline CRP ≥1 mg/dL (n = 45) had a significantly higher baseline albumin–bilirubin score and AFP levels, significantly lower disease control rate (62.2%), and significantly shorter median overall survival (hazards ratios 2.292; 95% confidence interval 1.313–5.107; log‐rank test, p < 0.001). Multivariate analysis identified CRP ≥1 mg/dL, AFP ≥100 ng/mL, and modified albumin–bilirubin grade as the significant prognostic factors. The baseline CRP, AFP, CRAFITY, and Glasgow Prognostic Score demonstrated higher discrimination for 1‐year survival prediction after first‐line ATZ + BEV administration, compared with beyond second line, with area under the receiver operating characteristic curves of 0.759, 0.761, 0.805, and 0.717, respectively.ConclusionsCRP was a significant biomarker in patients treated with ATZ + BEV for HCC. Elevated CRP levels may indicate aggressive cancer progression and potential resistance to ATZ + BEV therapy.
Knowledge‐based representation: Patient engagement in drug development
Authors: Egher Claudia , Zvonareva Olga 
Published: December 2023

AbstractIntroductionRecently, different actors have intensified their efforts to make drug development more participatory. They have produced many frameworks, tools and dedicated fora, where patients are portrayed as relevant stakeholders to be involved throughout the entire drug development trajectory. To better understand what such participatory efforts entail, in this article, we investigate how patient representation is configured in drug development and what patients can engage as representatives in this field.MethodsThis is a qualitative study based on the thematic analysis of 40 semistructured interviews with different stakeholders in the field and three patient engagement How‐To guides (HTGs) complemented by observations of two sessions of the Patient Engagement Open Forum (PEOF) and a patient expert training of the European Patients' Academy on Therapeutic Innovation (EUPATI).FindingsThe emerging practices of patient engagement in drug development configure representation as hinging upon three types of knowledge—drug development knowledge, autobiographical knowledge and community knowledge—and a specific set of skills. We discern a new kind of representation based on these findings, termed ‘knowledge‐based representation’, which appears to more accurately describe how patients are expected to represent others in drug development.ConclusionEven though knowledge‐based representation may be understood as an attempt to downplay the political aspects of representation in favour of its epistemic elements, the political processes involved in patient representation in drug development cannot be ignored. The extent to which reliance on knowledge‐based representation will contribute to democratic decision‐making is likely to depend on the resources needed to develop the types of knowledge relevant to representation work and on how these types of knowledge are determined.Patient or Public ContributionPatient representatives and practitioners in the field of patient engagement (including 13 interviewees, representatives of EUPATI and HTG developers) gave feedback on the interpretation of the findings during a multistakeholder workshop we organised. We also sent an interviewee an extended draft and discussed it during an online meeting. Claudia Egher presented these findings at a PEOF session in June 2023, which further contributed to their validation.
Comprehensive evaluation of ocular complications in atopic dermatitis: insights from a contemporary cohort study in Korean population
Authors: Seo Yuri , Han Jinu , Kim Min J. , Cha Nu‐Ree , Kim Jihee 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundAtopic dermatitis (AD) is a chronic inflammatory skin disorder associated with various systemic and ocular complications. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence, risk factors, and clinical characteristics of ocular complications in a cohort of Korean AD patients.MethodsA retrospective review of medical records was conducted for AD patients who visited the dermatology and ophthalmology clinics at the same institution. Demographic data, clinical characteristics, and types of ocular complications were recorded. Logistic regression analysis was performed to identify factors associated with ocular complications.ResultsA total of 212 AD patients were included in the study. The intraocular complications had a prevalence of 1.9%, whereas ocular surface diseases were observed more frequently, with prevalence of 13.2%. Among the ocular complications, blepharitis was the most prevalent, followed by atopic keratoconjunctivitis. Subcapsular cataract, atrophic hole, and retinal detachment were also observed. The head and neck score in the Eczema Area and Severity Index (EASI) emerged as a significant predictor for intraocular complications, independent of age, gender, total EASI score, and family history. No significant association was found between total EASI score and ocular surface disease.ConclusionThis study provides insights into the prevalence and risk factors of ocular complications in Korean AD patients. The head and neck score in EASI was identified as a significant predictor for intraocular complications. These findings emphasize the importance of comprehensive evaluation and interdisciplinary care for AD patients, particularly in identifying and managing potential vision‐threatening complications.
Qualitative systematic review: The lived experiences of males in the nursing profession on gender discrimination encounters
Authors: Ng Matthew , See Celine , Ignacio Jeanette 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimsThis review aims to synthesise the best available evidence exploring the lived experiences of males in the nursing profession on gender discrimination encounters.BackgroundThe underrepresentation of males within the nursing profession could potentially cause discrimination and stereotypes against them, causing barriers to entry into, and retention within, the profession. With a shortage in manpower, the deterrence of males to nursing might exacerbate the existing manpower shortage. This review consolidates and highlights the lived experiences of males in the profession.MethodsThe review was synthesised according to the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analyses (PRISMA) checklist. Employing the meta‐synthesis approach, two independent reviewers conducted critical appraisal and data extraction of included studies, using the standard Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Instrument for Qualitative Research and a standardised data extraction form, respectively.ResultsTwenty‐three studies were included. Extracted findings were aggregated into 14 categories and synthesised into three themes: stereotypes, discrimination and challenges faced by males.DiscussionThe synthesised findings showed that male nurses faced gender discrimination in multiple facets. These caused them to have difficulty in carrying out their nursing duties, missing out of clinical opportunities and causing them multiple social and mental stressors.ConclusionThis review informed the discriminatory experiences faced by males within the nursing profession. With males already underrepresented within this profession, it is imperative for interventions, policies and research to be made to address this issue to improve experiences of male nurses, thereby limiting the deterrence of males into the profession.ImplicationsFindings of this study showed that males are being stereotyped and discriminated, resulting in challenges faced solely because of their gender. Effective interventions and policies could be implemented to alleviate the negative experiences.
On the Most Effective Use of Continuous Auxiliary Variables in Regression Estimation in Survey Sampling
Authors: Merkouris Takis 
Published: December 2023

SummaryAuxiliary variables with known population totals are extensively used in survey sampling to construct generalised regression (GR) estimators or optimal regression (OR) estimators of totals or means of study variables. This article explores the possibility of improving the efficiency of such estimators when continuous auxiliary variables are used in the regression estimation jointly with appropriate power functions of them, provided that the values of the auxiliary variables are known for all units in the population. The efficiency gain is determined analytically in the case of the OR estimator. A practical criterion for choosing the power functions that maximise the efficiency gain, involving the coefficient of determination in the regression fit of the study variable, is proposed for both the OR estimation and the more practicable, but generally less efficient, GR estimation. Furthermore, the effect of adding a power function of a continuous auxiliary variable in regression estimation is investigated when this variable is also used at the design stage. A simulation study shows that the joint use of a continuous auxiliary variable and a power function of it chosen according to the proposed criterion may improve considerably the efficiency of OR estimation, and much more the efficiency of GR estimation.