bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
A common cause for nystagmus in different congenital stationary night blindness mouse models
Authors: Hölzel Maj‐Britt , Kamermans Wouter , Winkelman Beerend H. J. , Howlett Marcus H. C. , De Zeeuw Chris I. , Kamermans Maarten 
Published: October 2023

AbstractIn Nyxnob mice, a model for congenital nystagmus associated with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), synchronous oscillating retinal ganglion cells (RGCs) lead to oscillatory eye movements, i.e. nystagmus. Given the specific expression of mGluR6 and Cav1.4 in the photoreceptor to bipolar cell synapses, as well as their clinical association with CSNB, we hypothesize that Grm6nob3 and Cav1.4‐KO mutants show, like the Nyxnob mouse, oscillations in both their RGC activity and eye movements. Using multi‐electrode array recordings of RGCs and measurements of the eye movements, we demonstrate that Grm6nob3 and Cav1.4‐KO mice also show oscillations of their RGCs as well as a nystagmus. Interestingly, the preferred frequencies of RGC activity as well as the eye movement oscillations of the Grm6nob3, Cav1.4‐KO and Nyxnob mice differ among mutants, but the neuronal activity and eye movement behaviour within a strain remain aligned in the same frequency domain. Model simulations indicate that mutations affecting the photoreceptor–bipolar cell synapse can form a common cause of the nystagmus of CSNB by driving oscillations in RGCs via AII amacrine cells.
imageKey points
In Nyxnob mice, a model for congenital nystagmus associated with congenital stationary night blindness (CSNB), their oscillatory eye movements (i.e. nystagmus) are caused by synchronous oscillating retinal ganglion cells.
Here we show that the same mechanism applies for two other CSNB mouse models – Grm6nob3 and Cav1.4‐KO mice.
We propose that the retinal ganglion cell oscillations originate in the AII amacrine cells.
Model simulations show that by only changing the input to ON‐bipolar cells, all phenotypical differences between the various genetic mouse models can be reproduced.
Association of prognostic nutritional index with the risk of all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes: NHANES 1999–2018
Authors: Ning Yachan , Pan Dikang , Guo Julong , Su Zhixiang , Wang Jingyu , Wu Sensen , Gu Yongquan 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionThere is little bulk clinical evidence on nutritional status and mortality in patients with diabetes. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between prognostic nutritional index (PNI) and all-cause mortality and cardiovascular mortality in adults with diabetes.Research design and methodsThis study included 5916 adult patients with diabetes from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2018. Cox proportional risk models were used to estimate risk ratios (HRs) and 95% CIs for all-cause mortality, cardiovascular disease (CVD) mortality.ResultsDuring a mean follow-up of 8.17 years, there were 1248 deaths from all causes and 370 deaths from CVD. After multivariate adjustment, the risk of all-cause mortality was reduced by 24%, 38%, and 28% in Q2 (49.0–52.99), Q3 (53.0–57.99), and Q4 (≥58.0), respectively, compared with Q1 (PNI<49.0). The risk of cardiovascular mortality was reduced by 30%, 27%, and 26%, respectively. Consistent results were observed in the subgroup analysis.ConclusionsLower serum PNI levels were significantly associated with higher all-cause and CVD mortality. These findings suggest that maintaining an appropriate range of serum PNI status may reduce the risk of death in patients with diabetes.
“For us, whatever we do is wrong, until we do something really good”: a qualitative study of the lived experiences of doctors from minority ethnic backgrounds in Scotland
Authors: Chopra Charu , Poobalan Amudha , Gibson Smith Kathrine , Youd Esther , Johnston Peter 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesTo evaluate the lived experiences of doctors from minority ethnic (ME) backgrounds during postgraduate medical training, in particular their experiences of discrimination (if any); any impact of intersectionality and perceptions on how ME doctors may be better supported in their learning and working environments.DesignThis was a qualitative study grounded in social constructivism, using semi-structured online individual interviews as the data collection method and an exploratory thematic analysis process.SettingParticipants were recruited from postgraduate specialist medical training programmes within one Deanery (Scotland Deanery) in the UK.ParticipantsFourteen doctors in postgraduate medical specialist training, who self-identified as being from a ME background, were recruited into the study.ResultsDoctors from ME backgrounds faced:Barriers to authentic interpersonal connections,with a perceived lack of social inclusion in the workplace community. ME doctors faced challenges in earning others’ trust and experienced microaggressions and exclusion behaviours that affected their self-confidence.Impacts on identity and sense of belonging, with perceived challenges in being understood across diverse cultures. Doctors felt negatively pre-judged (by patients and colleagues), with additional challenges of being pre-judged in contexts of intersectionality; and ME doctors felt they needed to conceal parts of their identity in order to assimilate.Unjust systems—a playing field that is not level,where doctors felt unsupported and unable to effectively report/challenge discrimination. ME doctors perceived a lack of appropriate adjustments to the learning environment (e.g., fuller orientation) as well as inequitable processes (e.g., job and academic opportunities for those requiring visas).ConclusionsFocused interventions to address unjust systems as well as improve intercultural awareness and understanding between all doctors may help to address some of the current inequities in medical education. Any such interventions require appropriate evaluation to determine their efficacy.
Postpartum stress in the first 6 months after delivery: a longitudinal study in Nantong, China
Authors: Wang Yanchi , Gu Jian , Gao Yuehong , Lu Yi , Zhang Feng , Xu Xujuan 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesThe objective is to to explore the longitudinal change trajectories of postpartum stress and its related factors.DesignA longitudinal study with follow-ups from 42 days to 6 months after delivery.Settings and participantsA total of 406 postpartum women were recruited at baseline (42 days after delivery) from 6 hospitals in Nantong, Jiangsu Province, China, and followed up at 3 and 6 months. After the follow-ups, 358 postpartum women were retained for further analysis.MethodsPostpartum stress was evaluated using the Maternal Postpartum Stress Scale (MPSS) at baseline (42 days) and 3 and 6 months after delivery. MPSS has three dimensions, such as: personal needs and fatigue, infant nurturing and body changes and sexuality. Postpartum depression and anxiety were measured using the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale and the short-form Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale, respectively. The MPSS scores were normalised using a rank-based inverse normal transformation.ResultsPostpartum stress decreased significantly after 3 months, and postpartum stress reduced further after 6 months. Additionally, the scores for all three dimensions reduced after 6 months, while infant nurturing reduced after both 3 and 6 months. Older age (β=0.028, p=0.049), higher education level (β=0.153, p=0.005) and higher body mass index (BMI) (β=0.027, p=0.008) of the postpartum women were significantly associated with higher postpartum stress levels in corresponding dimensions at 42 days. Older age was also associated with higher postpartum stress at 3 (β=0.030, p=0.033) and 6 months (β=0.050, p<0.001) in the dimension of personal needs and fatigue. Postpartum stress levels were significantly higher in women with depression or anxiety symptoms.ConclusionsPostpartum stress continuously declined from 42 days to 6 months after delivery. Postpartum women with older age, higher education levels, higher BMI and anxiety or depression symptoms should be the target population for early intervention.
Effect of exercise interventions on brain-derived neurotrophic factor expression in people with overweight and obesity: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Leung Wilson Kin Chung , Yau Suk Yu , Suen Lorna Kwai Ping , Lam Simon Ching 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionEpidemic obesity (‘globobesity’) has led to a considerable rise in the prevalence and incidence of many disabling conditions, including cognitive dysfunction. Recent evidence has suggested that habitual exercise can alleviate the deleterious effects of obesity on cognitive functioning across the lifespan. Given that there is a potential link among obesity, exercise, cognitive health and brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), this systematic review aims to critically appraise interventional trials on exercise and BDNF and to estimate the pooled effect of exercise training on BDNF levels among healthy individuals with overweight and obesity.Methods and analysisSix electronic databases—PubMed, MEDLINE, EMBASE, Web of Science, Ovid Nursing Database and SPORTDiscus—will be searched from their inception through December 2022. Only interventional studies, including randomised controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies, with full text available and reported in English will be included. The primary outcomes will be changes in BDNF levels among healthy subjects with overweight and obesity following either acute or chronic bouts of exercise interventions. Two reviewers will independently conduct data extraction and risk of bias assessment for included trials using the Physiotherapy Evidence Database Scale. We will produce a narrative synthesis, with findings categorised by sex, age groups and types of exercise training. Data will be extracted and pooled for meta-analyses using random-effects models.Ethics and disseminationNo formal ethical approval is required for this systematic review. The findings of this review will be disseminated through peer-reviewed publications.PROSPERO registration numberCRD42023414868.
Caring for children with new medical technology at home: parental perspectives
Authors: Pitch Natalie , Shahil Anam , Mekhuri Samantha , Ambreen Munazzah , Chu Stephanie , Keilty Krista , Cohen Eyal , Orkin Julia , Amin Reshma 
Published: October 2023

ObjectivesThis qualitative descriptive study explores the experiences of family caregivers (FCs) of children with medical complexity who are initiated on new medical technology in the hospital and transition to new daily life at home. The study aims to investigate FCs’ response and readiness for medical technology use, the value of education and transition support and the challenges associated with managing new medical technology in the home.Study designA qualitative descriptive approach was used to conduct and analyse 14 semistructured interviews with a group of FCs composed of 11 mothers and 3 fathers. Content analysis was used to analyse transcripts of the caregiver interviews. The study was conducted at a tertiary paediatric hospital in Toronto, Canada.ResultsOur study revealed three main themes: FC’s response and readiness for medical technology use, the value of education and transition support for initiation of new medical technology and the challenges associated with managing new medical technology in the home. FCs expressed emotional distress related to coping with the realisation that their child required medical technology. Although the theoretical and hands-on practice training instilled confidence in families, FCs reported feeling overwhelmed when they transitioned home with new medical technology. Finally, FCs reported significant psychological, emotional and financial challenges while caring for their technology-dependent child.ConclusionsOur study reveals the unique challenges faced by FCs who care for technology-dependent children. These findings highlight the need to implement a comprehensive education and transition programme that provides longitudinal support for all aspects of care.
Classification of the tumor immune microenvironment and associations with outcomes in patients with metastatic melanoma treated with immunotherapies
Authors: Adegoke Nurudeen A , Gide Tuba N , Mao Yizhe , Quek Camelia , Patrick Ellis , Carlino Matteo S , Lo Serigne N , Menzies Alexander Maxwell , Pires da Silva Ines , Vergara Ismael A , Long Georgina , Scolyer Richard A , Wilmott James S 
Published: October 2023

BackgroundTumor microenvironment (TME) characteristics are potential biomarkers of response to immune checkpoint inhibitors in metastatic melanoma. This study developed a method to perform unsupervised classification of TME of metastatic melanoma.MethodsWe used multiplex immunohistochemical and quantitative pathology-derived assessment of immune cell compositions of intratumoral and peritumoral regions of metastatic melanoma baseline biopsies to classify TME in relation to response to anti-programmed cell death protein 1 (PD-1) monotherapy or in combination with anti-cytotoxic T-cell lymphocyte-4 (ipilimumab (IPI)+PD-1).ResultsSpatial profiling of CD8+T cells, macrophages, and melanoma cells, as well as phenotypic PD-1 receptor ligand (PD-L1) and CD16 proportions, were used to identify and classify patients into one of three mutually exclusive TME classes: immune-scarce, immune-intermediate, and immune-rich tumors. Patients with immune-rich tumors were characterized by a lower proportion of melanoma cells and higher proportions of immune cells, including higher PD-L1 expression. These patients had higher response rates and longer progression-free survival (PFS) than those with immune-intermediate and immune-scarce tumors. At a median follow-up of 18 months (95% CI: 6.7 to 49 months), the 1-year PFS was 76% (95% CI: 64% to 90%) for patients with an immune-rich tumor, 56% (95% CI: 44% to 72%) for those with an immune-intermediate tumor, and 33% (95% CI: 23% to 47%) for patients with an immune-scarce tumor. A higher response rate was observed in patients with an immune-scarce or immune-intermediate tumor when treated with IPI+PD-1 compared with those treated with PD-1 alone.ConclusionsOur study provides an automatic TME classification method that may predict the clinical efficacy of immunotherapy for patients with metastatic melanoma.
Opioid tapering after surgery and its association with patient-reported outcomes and behavioral changes: a mixed-methods analysis
Authors: Brooke Benjamin Sands , Bayless Kimberlee , Anderson Zachary , Holeman Teryn A , Zhang Chong , Hales Julie , Buys Michael J 
Published: October 2023

IntroductionOpioid tapering after surgery is recommended among patients with chronic opioid use, but it is unclear how this process affects their quality of life. The objective of this study was to evaluate how opioid tapering following surgery was associated with patient-reported outcome measures related to pain control and behavioral changes that affect quality of life.MethodsWe conducted an explanatory sequential mixed-methods study at a VA Medical Center among patients with chronic opioid use who underwent a spectrum of orthopedic, vascular, thoracic, urology, otolaryngology, and general surgery procedures between 2018 and 2020. Patients were stratified based on the extent that opioid tapering was successful (complete, partial, and no-taper) by 90 days after surgery, followed by qualitative interviews of 10 patients in each taper group. Longitudinal patient-reported outcome measures related to pain intensity, interference, and catastrophizing were compared using Kruskal Wallis tests over the 90-day period after surgery. Qualitative interviews were conducted among patients in each taper group to identify themes associated with the impact of opioid tapering after surgery on quality of life.ResultsWe identified 211 patients with chronic opioid use (92% male, median age 66 years) who underwent surgery during the time period, including 42 (20%) individuals with complete tapering, 48 (23%) patients with partial tapering, and 121 (57%) patients with no taper of opioids following surgery. Patients who did not taper were more likely to have a history of opioid use disorder (10%—partial, 2%—complete vs 17%—no taper, p<0.05) and be discharged on a higher median morphine equivalent daily dose (52—partial, 30—complete vs 60—no taper; p<0.05) than patients in the partial and complete taper groups. Pain interference (−7.2—partial taper and −9.8—complete taper vs −3.5—no taper) and pain catastrophizing (−21.4—partial taper and −16.5—complete taper vs −1.7—no taper) scores for partial and complete taper groups were significantly improved at 90 days relative to baseline when compared with patients in the no-taper group (p<0.05 for both comparisons), while pain intensity was similar between groups. Finally, patients achieving complete and partial opioid tapering were more likely to report improvements in activity, mood, thinking, and sleep following surgery as compared with patients who failed to taper.ConclusionsPartial and complete opioid tapering within 90 days after surgery among patients with chronic opioid use was associated with improved patient-reported measures of pain control as well as behaviors that impact a patient’s quality of life.
Searching for saturation in forward dijet production at the LHC
Authors: van Hameren A. , Kakkad H. , Kotko P. , Kutak K. , Sapeta S. 
Published: October 2023

AbstractWe review recent results for forward jests at the LHC and EIC as obtained within small-x Improved Transverse Momentum Dependent factorization (ITMD). In addition to elementary overview of various approaches to perturbative QCD at high energy, including High Energy Factorization, Color Glass Condensate and ITMD, we describe the Monte Carlo implementation and discuss the existing and unpublished phenomenological results for forward dijets.
Supernova calibration by gravitational waves
Authors: Lu Xuchen , Gong Yungui 
Published: October 2023

AbstractHubble tension is one of the most important problems in cosmology. Although the local measurements on the Hubble constant with Type Ia supernovae (SNe Ia) are independent of cosmological models, they suffer the problem of zero-point calibration of the luminosity distance. The observations of gravitational waves (GWs) with space-based GW detectors can measure the luminosity distance of the GW source with high precision. By assuming that massive binary black hole mergers and SNe Ia occur in the same host galaxy, we study the possibility of re-calibrating the luminosity distances of SNe Ia by GWs. Then we use low-redshift re-calibrated SNe Ia to determine the local Hubble constant. We find that we need at least 7 SNe Ia with their luminosity distances re-calibrated by GWs to reach a 2% precision of the local Hubble constant. The value of the local Hubble constant is free from the problems of zero-point calibration and model dependence, so the result can shed light on the Hubble tension.
Cosmological constraints in covariant f(Q) gravity with different connections
Authors: Shi Jiaming 
Published: October 2023

AbstractRecently it has been shown that the cosmological dynamics of covariant f(Q) gravity depend on different affine connections. In this paper, two specific f(Q) models are investigated with SNe+CC+BAO+QSO observational data, and the spatial curvature of the universe is studied in covariant f(Q) gravity. It is found that the parameters $${\mathcal {X}}_0$$

X
0

and $${\mathcal {X}}'_0$$

X

0
′

characterizing affine connections significantly affect the behavior of the effective equation of state $$w_Q$$

w
Q

and may drive it across the phantom divide line. These results imply some inertial effects of the universe change the cosmic dynamics. However based on the Bayesian evidence, the zero inertial effect is more favored in the flat universe. Moreover, a closed universe is favored not only in the $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model but also in covariant f(Q) gravity. The f(Q) models have less support evidence than the $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model in the non-flat universe.
Insight into manta ray behaviour using animal-borne Crittercams
Authors: Pelletier Nicole A. , Knochel Anna M. , Stewart Joshua D. , Froman Niv , Smith Taylor R. , Marshall Greg , Abernathy Kyler , Hawkins Julie , Stevens Guy M.W. 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Animal-borne video cameras equipped with depth and temperature sensors were deployed on 16 reef manta rays (Mobula alfredi) in Raa Atoll, Maldives and 12 oceanic manta rays (Mobula birostris) in the Revillagigedo Archipelago, Mexico. These deployments provided descriptive behavioural data that give vital context to existing biotelemetry data and enabled a comparison of the social dynamics between the two manta ray species. Overall, cruising was the most dominant daytime behaviour recorded for both species. For M. alfredi, cleaning was the second most common behaviour, followed by courtship and feeding. No courtship behaviour was recorded for M. birostris. Across M. alfredi and M. birostris deployments, individuals spent an average of 43 and 8% of recorded time interacting with conspecifics, respectively. Sociability was higher in M. alfredi than M. birostris, however the findings should be interpreted with caution beyond the two deployment populations and times. Crittercams captured multiple courtship events of M. alfredi at depths greater than recreational scuba diving limits and captured previously undocumented interspecific interactions with M. mobular. Crittercam deployments also recorded M. alfredi travelling in groups and hugging the contours of the ocean floor, possibly as a tactic to reduce predation risk and/or improve swimming efficiency, enforcing the importance of this novel technology as a valuable tool to gain new insight into the ecological drivers of habitat use by these species. Lastly, these quantitative and descriptive results provide context for future hypothesis-driven research questions using animal-borne video cameras for mobulid rays.
An ethogram method for the analysis of human distress-related behaviours in the aftermath of public conflicts
Authors: Pallante Virginia , Ejbye-Ernst Peter , Rosenkrantz Lindegaard Marie 
Published: October 2023

Abstract
Research on other than human animals has widely documented the behavioural expression of distress in a conflict context. In humans, however, this remains largely unknown due to the lack of direct access to real-life conflict events. Here, we took the aftermath of 76 video recorded street conflicts and applied the ethological method to explore the distress-related behavioural cues of previous antagonists. Drawing on observations on nonhuman behaviour and inductively identified behaviours, we developed and inter-coder reliability tested an ethogram for the behavioural repertoire of distress. We further quantitively analysed the behaviours with a correlation matrix and PCA, that revealed that the behaviours we observed were not displayed in combination with each other, showing a variability in how people express distress. Since both human and nonhuman primates react to conflict situations with similar expressions of distress, we suggest a comparative approach to understand the evolutionary roots of human behaviour.