bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Trance, posture, and tobacco in the Casas Grandes shamanic tradition: Altered states of consciousness and the interaction effects of behavioral variables
Authors: VanPool Christine S. , Lee Laura , Robear Paul , VanPool Todd L. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractHere, we describe how Casas Grandes Medio period (AD 1200 to 1450) shamanic practices of the North American Southwest used tobacco shamanism, a ritual stance called the Tennessee Diviner (TD) posture, and cultural expectations to generate trance experiences of soul flight and divination. We introduce a conceptual model that holds that specific trance experiences are the emergent result of human minds interacting with additional factors including entheogens, cultural expectations, physiological states, postures/movement, and sound/stimulation. Experimental and ethnographic evidence indicates initiating trance with either tobacco intoxication or the TD posture accompanied with a rapidly beating drum or rattle corresponds with perceptions of soul flight, transformation, and divination/information acquisition. Both have similar results but pairing them together as they were during the Medio period likely helped ensure the culturally desired trance experiences. This practice of mutually reinforcing factors was likely part of tobacco‐based shamanism found in other New World cultures as well. We suggest our general model can be applied to other contexts to examine how various aspects of trance induction interact to produce the cultural patterns (and resulting cosmological and spiritual frameworks) anthropologists have documented in other cultures.
Treatment rates and factors associated with direct‐acting antiviral therapy for insured patients with hepatitis C‐related hepatocellular carcinoma – A real‐world nationwide study
Authors: Kam Leslie Y. , Yeo Yee Hui , Ji Fanpu , Henry Linda , Cheung Ramsey , Nguyen Mindie H. 
Published: November 2023

SummaryBackgroundSince the inception of the interferon‐free direct‐acting antiviral agents (DAAs) for hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection, guidelines as to who should receive this potentially curative treatment have evolved. Treatment with DAAs is now considered for all patients except for those considered moribund.AimTo determine the DAA treatment rate for patients with HCV‐related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC).MethodsThis was a retrospective study from January 2015 to March 2021 of a national sample of privately insured patients with HCV‐related HCC using Optum's Clinformatics® Data Mart (CDM) Database – a large, de‐identified, adjudicated claims database.ResultsWe identified 3922 patients with HCV‐related HCC: 922 (23.5%) received DAA. Compared to untreated patients, DAA‐treated patients were younger (65.2 ± 7.5 vs. 66.4 ± 7.5 years, p < 0.001), more frequently saw a gastroenterology/infectious disease (GI/ID) physician (41.2% vs. 34.2%), and had decompensated cirrhosis (56% vs. 53%, p = 0.001). In multivariable analysis, younger age (HR: 0.98, 95% CI: 0.97–0.99, p < 0.001), GI/ID care (HR: 3.06, 95% CI: 2.13–4.51, p < 0.001), and having cirrhosis (compensated: HR: 1.60, 95% CI: 1.18–2.21, p = 0.003; decompensated: HR: 1.45, 95% CI: 1.07–1.98, p = 0.02) were associated with receiving DAA treatment, but not sex, race, or ethnicity. DAA‐treated patients had significantly higher 5‐year survival than untreated patients (47.2% vs. 35.2%, p < 0.001). Following adjustment for age, sex, race/ethnicity, Charlson Comorbidity Index, and HCC treatment, receiving DAA treatment was associated with lower mortality (aHR: 0.61, 95% CI: 0.53–0.69, p < 0.001).ConclusionDAA treatment remains underutilised in insured patients with HCV‐related HCC; fewer than one in four patients received treatment. Seeing a specialist and having decompensated cirrhosis were predictors for DAA treatment; additional efforts are needed to increase awareness of HCV treatment.
Children's right to play in times of war
Authors: Glos Aleksandra 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis paper discusses children's right to play and its bioethical importance for children affected by war. Against the background of the current military conflicts, it analyses physical, psychological, and institutional factors that limit children's right to play in a situation involving armed conflict. Considering that the lack of institutional support of play for children affected by war constitutes a failure to fulfil our societal and political obligation under Article 31 of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child, this paper analyses the understanding of play adopted in this legal instrument. In line with the distinctions made in the Convention, it discusses the importance of play for children's life and survival, for their health and well‐being, as well as for the recovery of trauma experienced by children affected by armed conflict. It thereby aims to contribute to the recognition and protection of this right on the grounds of bioethics and healthcare.
Ethical challenges in accessing and providing healthcare for Syrian refugees in Türkiye
Authors: Barış Maide , Sert Gürkan , Önder Orhan 
Published: November 2023

AbstractTürkiye hosts approximately 3.6 million Syrian refugees, which accounts for roughly 4.5% of Türkiye's population. This places undeniable pressure on public institutions, particularly on healthcare services. The objective of this study is to document the healthcare structure for Syrian refugees and various challenges faced by Syrians when seeking healthcare and to highlight the ethical concerns emerging from those challenges. To achieve this, we conducted a comprehensive review of several qualitative studies and reports conducted by various organizations and institutions, specifically focusing on health or including a dedicated chapter on health issues, published between 2011 and 2023. Following an extensive analysis of the secondary literature, we classified the challenges into three categories: procedural, cultural, and psychosocial. We argue that each of these challenges is linked to overarching medical ethics concerns. Finally, we propose three possible means to mitigate the challenges Syrians experience in accessing and uptake of healthcare services in Türkiye.
Developing translational bioethics—Suggestions for ways forward
Authors: Frith Lucy 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis paper will take as its starting point the premise that developing translational bioethics is a worthwhile endeavour. I will develop an account of translational bioethics and discuss what implications this would have for the wider discipline of bioethics and argue that this would be a useful development for bioethics. The paper will conduct a form of ‘translational meta‐bioethics analysis’, in the words of Bærøe. I will argue that if we are serious about instituting translational bioethics, then it will need to look and be organised in a very different way from current bioethics research, this will be a radically different form of bioethics from what we currently have. In this paper I will sketch what translational bioethics might look like. My proposal here is not that translational bioethics should supplant existing ways of doing bioethics, but rather that it should be an addition to it, another subdiscipline of bioethics.
Digenic inheritance accounts for phenotypic variability in amelogenesis imperfecta
Authors: Yang Yi , Qin Man , Zhao Yuming , Wang Xin 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAmelogenesis imperfecta (AI) represents a group of clinically and genetically heterogeneous disorders that affect enamel formation and mineralization. Although AI is commonly considered a monogenic disorder, digenic inheritance is rarely reported. In this study, we recruited two nonconsanguineous Chinese families exhibiting diverse phenotypes of enamel defects among affected family members. Digenic variants were discovered in both probands. In family 1, the proband inherited a paternal frameshift variant in LAMA3 (NM_198129.4:c.3712dup) and a maternal deletion encompassing the entire AMELX gene. This resulted in a combined hypoplastic and hypomineralized AI phenotype, which was distinct from the parents' manifestations. In family 2, whole‐exome sequencing analysis revealed the proband carried a maternal heterozygous splicing variant in COL17A1 (NC_000010.11 (NM_000494.3): c.4156 + 2dup) and compound heterozygous variants in RELT (paternal: NM_032871.4:c.260A > T; maternal: NM_032871.4:c.521 T > G). These genetic changes caused the abundant irregular enamel defects observed in the proband, whereas other affected family members carrying heterozygous variants in both COL17A1 and RELT displayed only horizontal grooves as their phenotype. The pathogenicity of the novel COL17A1 splice site variant was confirmed through RT‐PCR and minigene assay. This study enhances our understanding by highlighting the potential association between the co‐occurrence of variants in two genes and variable phenotypes observed in AI patients.
Association between IL10 rs1800896 polymorphism and risk of pediatric asthma: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhou Zhihong , Zhang Hui , Yuan Yuanhong 
Published: November 2023

AbstractIntroductionAsthma is a common chronic condition in children. Several studies have explored the potential association between IL10 rs1800896 polymorphism and the risk of asthma in children, but the findings have been inconsistent. To address these discrepancies, we conducted a systematic review and meta‐analysis to assess the relationship between IL10 rs1800896 polymorphisms and the susceptibility to pediatric asthma.MethodsA literature search was conducted in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CNKI databases to identify eligible studies through April 2022. Meta‐analysis was then performed using five genetic models: dominant, recessive, homozygous, heterozygous, and allele.ResultsA total of 12 studies comprising 1645 cases along with 1447 controls were included in this meta‐analysis. It was found that rs1800896 was not associated significantly with susceptibility to childhood asthma in all genetic models investigated. Subgroup analysis based on the ethnic background of the subjects revealed that rs1800896 was significantly linked to a lower risk of pediatric asthma among Asians in the homozygous model (OR = 0.311, 95% CI = 0.152–0.637, P = 0.001) and in the recessive model (OR = 0.585, 95% CI = 0.405–0.846, P = 0.004), whereas no significant relationship was observed in Egyptians (P > 0.05).ConclusionIn conclusion, IL10 rs1800896 polymorphism may be useful as a predictive marker for childhood asthma in Asians, although further studies are needed to validate the study results.
Association between neighborhood‐based material deprivation and liver transplant waitlist registrants demographics and mortality
Authors: Cullaro Giuseppe , Ge Jin , Lee Brian P. , Lai Jennifer C. , Wadhwani Sharad I. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBackground & aimsLiver transplantation for alcohol‐related liver disease (ARLD) has increased. We examined temporal trends in ARLD listing practices by neighborhood deprivation and evaluated the impact of neighborhood deprivation on waitlist mortality.MethodsWe included all adults > 18 years listed 2008‐2019 in the UNOS registry. Our primary exposure was the neighborhood socioeconomic deprivation index based on patients’ listing zip codes. We determined temporal trends in an ARLD listing diagnosis. We modeled ARLD listing diagnosis using logistic regression and waitlist mortality using Cox proportional hazards models.ResultsThe waitlist contained an increasing proportion of patients listed with ARLD over the study period; however, this rate increased the least for patients from the most deprived tertile (p < .001). Patients from the most deprived tertile were the least likely to be listed with ARLD (OR: .97, 95CI: .95‐.98). In our adjusted model, patients from the most deprived tertile had an increased hazard of waitlist mortality (OR: 1.10, 95CI: 1.06‐1.14).ConclusionNeighborhood deprivation was associated with a decreased likelihood of being listed with ARLD, suggesting that transplant for ARLD is inequitably available. The increased mortality associated with neighborhood deprivation demands future work to uncover the underlying reasons for this disparity.
tRNA‐derived fragments are altered in diabetes
Authors: Ng N. , Gibriel H. A. Y. , Halang L. , Jirström E. , Ioana J. A. , Burke M. , Byrne M. M. , Prehn J. H. M. 
Published: November 2023

AbstractAimsMaternally inherited diabetes and deafness (MIDD) is a rare form of adult‐onset diabetes that can be difficult to diagnose due to its variable clinical phenotype. Transfer RNA‐derived small fragments are a novel, emerging class of small non‐coding RNAs (sncRNAs) that have significant potential as serum biomarkers due to their stress‐induced generation, abundance, stability and ease of detection.MethodsWe investigated the levels of tiRNA 5'ValCAC (alone and in combination with miR‐23b‐3p) identified from small RNA sequencing studies in serum samples from healthy controls, type 1 diabetes, type 2 diabetes and MIDD subjects.ResultsSerum levels of 5'ValCAC were reduced in MIDD and type 2 diabetes subjects compared to controls. Type 2 diabetes subjects had higher serum levels of miR‐23b‐3p compared to all other subjects. Receiver Operating Characteristic analysis showed the potential of 5'ValCAC and miR‐23b‐3p as MIDD biomarkers, with the combination showing excellent separation from type 2 diabetes subjects.ConclusionsThis is the first report showing altered serum levels of tiRNAs in diabetes subjects. The combined use of 5'ValCAC and miR‐23b‐3p as serum biomarkers could potentially differentiate between MIDD subjects and type 2 diabetes subjects.
Non‐lunge feeding behaviour of humpback whales associated with fishing boats in Norway
Authors: Iwata Takashi , Aoki Kagari , Miller Patrick J. O. , Biuw Martin , Williamson Michael J. , Sato Katsufumi 
Published: November 2023

AbstractTop marine predators, such as odontocetes, pinnipeds, and seabirds, are known to forage around fishing boats as fishermen aggregate and/or discard their prey. Recently, incidents of humpback whales interacting with fishing boats have been reported. However, whether humpback whales utilise discard fish as a food source and how they forage around fishing boats is unknown. This study reports, for the first time, the foraging behaviour of a humpback whale around fishing boats. Three whales were tagged using a suction‐cup tag containing a video camera, and a behavioural data logger in the coastal area of Tromsø, Norway. Video data from one tagged whale showed that the whale remained in close vicinity of fishing boats for 43 min, and revealed the presence of large numbers of dead fish, fish‐eating killer whales, fishing boats, and fishing gear. In waters with large numbers of dead fish, the whale raised its upper jaw, a motion associated with engulfing discard fish from fishing boats, and this feeding behaviour differed markedly from lunge‐feeding observed in two other whales in the same area. This behaviour was defined as “pick‐up feeding”. No lunge feeding was seen on the data logger when the whale foraged around fishing boats. This study highlights a novel humpback whale foraging strategy: low energy gain from scattered prey but also low energy costs as high‐energy lunge feeding is not required.
Transient analysis of a cracked functionally graded magneto‐electro‐elastic rectangular finite plane under anti‐plane mechanical and in‐plane electric and magnetic impacts
Authors: Ayatollahi Mojtaba , Abdel‐Wahab Magd , Hashemi Seyyed Mohammad Moein 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThe transient anti‐plane problem of a functionally graded magneto‐electro‐elastic (FGMEE) rectangular plane weakened by several embedded and edge cracks under various boundary conditions is solved. First, the solutions to the dynamic magneto‐electro‐elastic dislocation in the finite rectangular domain are derived by employing Laplace and finite Fourier cosine transforms. The solutions can be utilized to construct the singular integral equations in Laplace transform domain for FGMEE rectangular plane with multiple embedded and edge cracks. The integral equations arising from dislocation solutions have Cauchy‐type singularities with unknown dislocation density functions. These unknown functions may be obtained by reducing the integral equations into a system of linear algebraic equations, hereby, the dynamic stress intensity factors (DSIFs) for several arbitrarily embedded and edge cracks are obtained. The overshoots of dynamic stress intensity factors are shown to be intensely affected by the rectangular plane dimensions, length and position of the cracks, loading parameter, and negative or positive gradient index.
Impacts of a century of land‐use change on the eutrophication of large, shallow, prairie Lake Manitoba in relation to adjacent Lake Winnipeg (Manitoba, Canada)
Authors: Gushulak Cale A. C. , Mezzini Stefano , Moir Katherine E. , Simpson Gavin L. , Bunting Lynda , Wissel Björn , Engstrom Daniel R. , Laird Kathleen R. , St. Amand Ann , Cumming Brian F. , Leavitt Peter R. 
Published: November 2023

Abstract

Evaluation of large lake response to centennial changes in land use and climate can be complicated by high spatial and hydrological complexity within their catchments, particularly in regions of low relief. Furthermore, large lakes can exhibit abrupt changes in structure and function that obscure causes of eutrophication.

We provide the first quantification of historical trends in lake production, cyanobacterial abundance, sediment geochemistry and diatom composition since c. 1800 in Lake Manitoba, the 29th largest lake in the world, and compared them to Lake Winnipeg, a morphologically similar, adjacent basin with a 10‐fold larger catchment and an abrupt increase in production around 1990.

Before 1900, Lake Manitoba was mesotrophic, with low sedimentary concentrations of carbon, phosphorus, nitrogen, cyanobacteria and algal pigments, as well as assemblages of low‐light‐adapted benthic diatoms. Analysis of pigment time‐series with hierarchical generalised additive models revealed that Lake Manitoba eutrophied during 1900–1930 as a consequence of the development of intensive agriculture within its local catchment, but thereafter exhibited stable cyanobacterial densities with limited expansion of N2‐fixing cyanobacteria despite persistent eutrophication.

Lake Manitoba did not undergo an abrupt change as seen in Lake Winnipeg.

These findings suggest that catchment size had little influence on water quality degradation and that nutrient influx from proximal agricultural sources was sufficient to initially degrade these large prairie lakes. The abrupt change in Lake Winnipeg around 1990 required additional intensification of local land use that did not occur in the Lake Manitoba catchment.
The elusive role of urban form, centrality and scale in the absence of a metropolitan planning agenda: Central European perspective
Authors: Malý Jiří , Lichter Marek , Krejčí Tomáš 
Published: November 2023

AbstractThis paper explores the implementation of grand spatial planning narratives such as the compact city and polycentricity in planning practice. The effects of overlapping scales on the application of spatial imaginaries in metropolitan space are examined. Using post‐socialist space, the research enriches the geographical context of metropolitan studies. On the basis of a spatial analysis of metropolitan form and centrality and a textual analysis of the relevant spatial plans of three Czech metropolitan areas, the key features in efforts of planning polycentric and compact metropolitan areas are identified as “Administrative blindness”, “(De)centralization ambiguity”, and “Reactive passivity”. By identifying the limits of translating spatial visions into the practical language of statutory regional and land‐use plans, the paper contributes to the debate on the effectiveness of metropolitan planning based on the specific context of Central Europe.
Age‐associated effects of intradialytic exercise on physical function and nutritional status in patients receiving ambulatory hemodialysis: A multicenter cohort study
Authors: Takahashi Ren , Yabe Hiroki , Ishikawa Hideaki , Hibino Takashi , Yamaguchi Tomoya , Morishita Sayumi , Kono Kenichi , Moriyama Yoshifumi , Yamada Tetsuya 
Published: November 2023

AbstractIntroductionIntradialytic exercise is essential for improving physical function for older patients. This study aimed to examine the relationship between the effects of exercise therapy and aging.MethodsThis multicenter cohort study included 1176 patients aged 40–89 years, who participated in an intradialytic exercise program, comprising stretching and resistance training, three times per week for 12 months. Isometric knee extension strength (IKES), 10‐m walking speed, Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), and Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) were measured at baseline and after 12 months. The patients were divided according to age as follows: 40–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80–89 years. A linear mixed‐effects model examined the improvement within‐group and between‐control differences, as the 40–59 age group was the control group.FindingsThe 40–59, 60–69, 70–79, and 80–89 age groups comprised 180, 317, 466, and 213 participants, respectively. Within‐group differences, all the age groups significantly improved IKES and SPPB. The 10‐m walking speed [0.02 (0.02) m/s] and GNRI [0.38 (0.33)] did not improved only in the 80–89 age group despite other age groups significantly improved. Between‐control differences, IKES of the 70–79 age group [−0.24 (−0.42 to −0.06) %] was significantly lower improvement than control. GNRI of all the older groups were significantly smaller improvement than control (p < 0.05).DiscussionThe older group demonstrated difficulty in improving walking ability and nutritional status compared with the younger groups. Clinicians need to consider the difference in effectiveness due to age and prescribe intradialytic exercises accordingly.
Immunostimulatory effects of Hsp70 fragments and Hsp27 in design of novel HIV‐1 vaccine formulations
Authors: Milani Alireza , Akbari Elahe , Pordanjani Parisa Moradi , Jamshidi Fateme , Ghayoumi Shahrzad , Sadeghi Seyed Amir , Bolhassani Azam 
Published: November 2023

AbstractBackgroundHeat shock proteins (HSPs) as an adjuvant induce antigen‐specific immunity through facilitating antigen presentation and stimulating T cells. In this study, the immunostimulatory properties of two major fragments of Hsp70 (N‐Hsp70(aa 1–387) with ATPase property and C‐Hsp70 (aa 508–641) with peptide‐binding capacity) and the full length of Hsp27 as vaccine adjuvants were evaluated to boost HIV‐1 Nef antigen‐specific immunity in both in vitro and in vivo experiments.MethodsAt first, the nanoparticles harbouring DNA fusion constructs (i.e. N‐Hsp70‐Nef, C‐Hsp70‐Nef and Hsp27‐Nef) complexed with HIV Rev (34–50) cell‐penetrating peptide were generated to deliver DNA into the cells. Then, the recombinant Nef, Hsp27‐Nef, N‐Hsp70‐Nef and C‐Hsp70‐Nef proteins were generated in E.coli expression system. Next, the immunostimulatory properties of these fusion constructs were evaluated in both in vitro and in vivo studies. Finally, the secretion of main cytokines from single‐cycle replicable (SCR) HIV‐1 virion‐exposed splenocytes was investigated.ResultsOur data showed that the stable and non‐toxic DNA/Rev nanoparticles could successfully deliver the genes of interest into the cells. Moreover, higher secretion of antibodies and cytokines was detected in mice receiving the Hsp‐Nef constructs than in mice receiving Nef antigen. The C‐Hsp70 was also superior for inducing Nef‐specific Th1 and CTL immunity compared with N‐Hsp70 and Hsp27. The T‐cell activity was maintained in the SCR‐exposed splenocytes, especially the splenocytes of mice receiving the C‐Hsp70‐Nef regimen.ConclusionAltogether, these findings demonstrate the significance of Hsps as enhancers of antigen‐specific immunity. Notably, the C‐Hsp70 region showed better adjuvant properties for inducing cellular immunity in the improvement of HIV‐1 therapeutic vaccines.