bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Continuous auditory feedback promotes fine motor skill learning in mice
Authors: Xiao Dongsheng , Balbi Matilde 
Published: February 2025

Motor skill learning enables organisms to interact effectively with their environment, relying on neural mechanisms that integrate sensory feedback with motor output. While sensory feedback, such as auditory cues linked to motor actions, enhances motor performance in humans, its mechanism of action is poorly understood. Developing a reliable animal model of augmented motor skill learning is crucial to begin dissects the biological systems that underpin this enhancement. We hypothesized that continuous auditory feedback during a motor task would promote complex motor skill acquisition in mice. We developed a closed-loop system using DeepLabCut for real-time markerless tracking of mouse forepaw movements with high processing speed and low latency. By encoding forepaw movements into auditory tones of different frequencies, mice received continuous auditory feedback during a reaching task requiring vertical displacement of the left forepaw to a target. Adult mice were trained over four days with either auditory feedback or no feedback. Mice receiving auditory feedback exhibited significantly enhanced motor skill learning compared to controls. Clustering analysis of reaching trajectories showed that auditory feedback mice established consistent reaching trajectories by Day 2 of motor training. These findings demonstrate that real-time, movement-coded auditory feedback effectively promotes motor skill learning in mice. This closed-loop system, leveraging advanced machine learning and real-time tracking, offers new avenues for exploring motor control mechanisms and developing therapeutic strategies for motor disorders through augmented sensory feedback.Significance StatementEnhancing motor skill learning can greatly improve therapeutic options for patients suffering from motor disorders. Our study demonstrates that continuous, movement-coded auditory feedback markedly accelerates complex motor skill acquisition in mice. By providing real-time auditory cues linked to specific forepaw movements through a closed-loop system—without the need for invasive markers—this approach offers a novel method for investigating the neural mechanisms of motor learning in neuroscience. It also opens new avenues for developing therapeutic strategies for motor function rehabilitation.
Brain-wide impacts of sedation on spontaneous activity and auditory processing in larval zebrafish
Authors: Favre-Bulle Itia A. , Muller Eli , Lee Conrad , Scholz Leandro A. , Arnold Joshua , Munn Brandon , Wainstein Gabriel , Shine James M. , Scott Ethan K. 
Published: February 2025

Despite their widespread use, we have limited knowledge of the mechanisms by which sedatives mediate their effects on brain-wide networks. This is, in part, due to the technical challenge of observing activity across large populations of neurons in normal and sedated brains. In this study, we examined the effects of the sedative dexmedetomidine, and its antagonist atipamezole, on spontaneous brain dynamics and auditory processing in zebrafish larvae, a stage when sex differentiation has not yet occurred. Our brain-wide, cellular-resolution calcium imaging reveals the brain regions involved in these network-scale dynamics and the individual neurons that are affected within those regions. Further analysis reveals a variety of dynamic changes in the brain at baseline, including marked reductions in spontaneous activity, correlation, and variance. The reductions in activity and variance represent a "quieter" brain state during sedation, an effect inducing highly correlated evoked activity in the auditory system to stand out more than it does in un-sedated brains. We also observe a reduction in the persistence of auditory information across the brain during sedation, suggesting that the removal of spontaneous activity leaves the core auditory pathway free of impingement from other non-auditory information. Finally, we describe a less dynamic brain-wide network during sedation, with a higher energy barrier and a lower probability of brain state transitions during sedation. In total, our brain-wide, cellular-resolution analysis shows that sedation leads to quieter, more stable, and less dynamic brain, and that against this background, responses across the auditory processing pathway become sharper and more prominent.Significance StatementAnimals’ brain states constantly fluctuate in response to their environment and context, leading to changes in perception and behavioral choices. Alterations in perception, sensorimotor gating, and behavioral selection are hallmarks of numerous neuropsychiatric disorders, but the circuit- and network-level underpinnings of these alterations are poorly understood.Pharmacological sedation alters perception and responsiveness and provides a controlled and repeatable manipulation for studying brain states and their underlying circuitry. Here, we show that sedation of larval zebrafish with dexmedetomidine reduces brain-wide spontaneous activity and locomotion but leaves portions of brain-wide auditory processing and behavior intact. We describe and computationally model changes at the levels of individual neurons, local circuits, and brain-wide networks that lead to altered brain states and sensory processing during sedation.
Emergency Ultra-Deep Hypothermia in Cardiac Arrest Induced by Blood Loss (Experimental Study on Nonhuman Primates)
Authors: Reva Victor A. , Samakaeva Anastasia R. , Shelukhin Daniil A. , Orlov Sergey V. , Potemkin Vladimir D. , Bulgin Dmitry V. , Gracheva Galina Y. , Shchegolev Alexey V. 
Published: February 2025

The survival rate of critically injured individuals with severe blood loss and cardiac arrest is close to zero.Aim. To evaluate the feasibility of using emergency ultra-deep hypothermia (EUDH) in an experimental model of cardiac arrest induced by blood loss in nonhuman primates.Materials and Methods. Five male olive baboons (Papio anubis), weighing 19.8 (18.8–23.8) kg, were subjected to severe blood loss leading to cardiac arrest. After 1 minute of observation and 3 minutes of cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR), aortic arch cooling was initiated using extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) with a 4°C solution to achieve a nasopharyngeal temperature of 10°C. Whole-body cooling followed until a rectal temperature of 16°C was reached. Balloon catheters were used to disconnect the upper and lower halves of the body. Once the target temperatures were reached, the ECMO circuit was turned off and an open laparotomy was performed to simulate damage control strategies. One hour after cardiac arrest, slow rewarming began at a rate of 1°C per 10 minutes to 1°C per hour, accompanied by reinfusion of previously collected blood. After return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC), sustained breathing, and tracheal extubation, the animals were transferred to a vivarium.Results. During deep hypothermia, cerebral oximetry values remained within normal limits in all animals. Sustained ROSC was recorded in 4 of 5 animals at temperatures between 22–25°C. Two animals survived to the end of the experiment but died after extubation, 44 and 19 hours after the start of the experiment. Cooling rates for survivors were 7–11 minutes compared to 23–37 minutes for non-survivors. Causes of death included systemic hypoperfusion with subsequent reperfusion syndrome as evidenced by progressive lactate elevation, elevated creatine phosphokinase levels, cerebral edema, myocardial ischemia, and transient coagulopathy.Conclusion. EUDH supports adequate cerebral perfusion during temporary circulatory arrest. Recovery of cardiac activity and, in some cases, awakening are achievable during the rewarming phase. Causes of death and possible corrective measures require further investigation.
Constructing Effective Network Political Communication: Theoretical Models and Ukrainian Practices
Authors: Kostyrev Andrey 
Published: February 2025

This article explores the construction of effective social networks for political communication, by combining theoretical modeling with empirical validation through practices adopted by Ukrainian officials. It introduces a framework grounded in structural functionalism, social network constructivism, and normative value approaches with the objective to evaluate the role of trust, engagement, and network structure in enhancing communication effectiveness. The article proposes valuence as a metric for assessing the influence of political actors within online platforms and validates its applicability by using case studies of Telegram and Viber channels. The article’s findings reveal that well-designed network configurations, by balancing centralization for trust-building and decentralization for engagement, can significantly enhance political communication outcomes. The study contributes to the theory and practice of networked political communication, offering actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners.
Reduction of Overall Antibiotic Utilization Rate in a Level IV Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
Authors: Paul Reema , Vyas Dipen , Quinones Cardona Vilmaris , Gilfillan Margaret , Young Megan , Pough Kimberly , Carey Alison J. 
Published: February 2025

OBJECTIVE
Antibiotics are the most frequently prescribed pharmacologic agents in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). Antibiotic treatment for suspected or culture-negative sepsis surpasses that for culture-proven infection. Therefore, we sought to reduce our overall antibiotic utilization rate (AUR), defined by total antibiotic days per 1000 patient days (DOT/1000-PD), by 20% within a 4-year period (by December 2023).

METHODS
A multidisciplinary team was convened to develop an antibiotic stewardship quality improvement initiative in our 39-bed level IV NICU. Consensus guidelines for antibiotic duration for common indications were developed. Interventions included educational sessions, antibiotic stop dates, and antibiotic necessity documentation in the electronic health record to standardize provider justification for antibiotic prescription and duration.

RESULTS
A total of 552 infants were included in the analysis, 137 in the baseline and 415 in the postintervention period. Overall AUR decreased by 50% from 278 to 140 DOT/1000-PDs. AUR related to culture-negative sepsis diagnoses decreased by 64% from 22 to 8 DOT/1000-PDs. The percent of antibiotic therapy reinitiation within 2 weeks remained unchanged.

CONCLUSION
Implementation of NICU antibiotic consensus guidelines supported by evidence-based education on culture-negative sepsis diagnosis can effectively reduce antibiotic use in a safe manner, despite a heterogenous, high acuity, level IV NICU population. Multidisciplinary team support and standardization of antibiotic justification in the electronic health record can be coupled to reinforce compliance with established guidelines to promote long-lasting antibiotic reduction.
El registro de plaguicidas, el capital y el Estado en Costa Rica: regulando desde el atasco
Authors: Castro Vargas Soledad , Werner Marion 
Published: February 2025

El uso significativo de plaguicidas en Costa Rica, así como el auge de monocultivos que estos agroquímicos apoyan, exacerban las tensiones entre extracción y preservación centrales para el modelo de desarrollo del país. Exploramos estas tensiones a través de un estudio del registro de plaguicidas del país, el proceso regulador para aprobar ingredientes activos y formulados para su uso. Tras casi dos décadas de reformas, se reconoce que el registro no funciona: la mayoría de los plaguicidas usados en el país se encuentran en un limbo administrativo y se han aprobado relativamente pocas moléculas nuevas. A partir de extensas entrevistas y un análisis político en profundidad, construimos cuatro fases de reforma y utilizamos un enfoque estratégico-relacional del Estado para analizar este proceso. Conceptualizamos la paralización del registro como una forma de gobernanza que denominamos regulación por impasse, un acuerdo reproducido a través de disputas dentro y entre los ministerios competentes, organismos jurídicos y otras autoridades reguladoras en relación con las estrategias y contextos cambiantes de las fuerzas políticas, económicas y sociales más amplias. Argumentamos que la hegemonía se mantiene tenuemente a través de la propia disputa del registro, mientras revela la condición profundamente desgastada del modelo de desarrollo costarricense.
Conceptual transfer: The impact of addressee location on Spanish-English bilinguals' nominal demonstratives
Authors: Shin Naomi , Lease Sarah 
Published: February 2025

AbstractSpanish demonstratives encode speaker-referent and addressee-referent distance, displaying a sociocentric conceptualization of space. By contrast, English demonstratives encode speaker-referent distance, but not addressee-referent distance, reflecting a speaker-based egocentric conceptualization of space. To test the hypothesis that bilinguals transfer the way that space is encoded from one language into another, 41 Spanish-English bilinguals and 19 English-speaking monolinguals completed an elicited production puzzle task in which the addressee's position was manipulated: the experimenter either sat next to or across from the participant. The bilingual participants comprised two groups: 19 bilinguals who arrived in the U.S. as adults (“Adult Arrivals”) and 22 who were raised in the U.S. (“U.S.-raised”). Mixed-effects binary logistic regressions demonstrate that the Adult Arrivals were more likely to use esta ‘this’ rather than esa ‘that’ when the experimenter was across from rather than next to the participant, displaying a sociocentric conceptualization of space. By contrast, experimenter position did not impact the English monolinguals' demonstratives. Mirroring the English monolinguals, the U.S.-raised bilinguals' demonstratives were not conditioned by experimenter position – neither in English nor in Spanish – suggesting that these bilinguals transferred an egocentric conceptualization of space from English into Spanish. The findings contribute to our understanding of how bilingualism affects the cognitive processes invoked when using demonstratives and how age of onset of bilingualism and language dominance mediate such conceptual transfer.
Pattern of skin diseases seen in the dermatology clinic of Rivers State University Teaching Hospital, Port Harcourt, Nigeria
Authors: Amaewhule Mary N. 
Published: February 2025

Background: Skin diseases are a source of significant health concern worldwide. Understanding its epidemiology is important for effective healthcare planning. In our hospital, this study is the first of its kind. This study examines the pattern and trends of skin diseases as seen in RSUTH.
Methods: Medical records of patients seen in the dermatology clinic of RSUTH between August 2020 and August 2021 were retrieved, recorded and analyzed with SPSS version 27.
Results: The total number of patients seen during this period was 294. However, 4 were excluded due to insufficient data leaving 290 persons. Of these, 189 were females, while 101 were males. Age range is between 6 months and 88 years Mean age is 31.6692±16.87406. Commonest group of skin disorders is infectious skin diseases, commonest diagnosis is Dermatophytosis followed by Acne vulgaris. The least diagnosed disorders are nail disorders and autoimmune disorders.
Conclusions: A wide variety of skin diseases were seen in the subjects during the period of study. Dermatophytosis was the commonest skin disease seen while nail disorders was the least prevalent.
Fear of Childbirth/Tokophobia: Implications for Childbirth Educators
Authors: Bowles Betty Carlson , Gibson Marty 
Published: February 2025

ABSTRACTMost women experience childbirth with a positive outlook. However, some women have perceptions of trauma, invasive exams, loss of control, and violation of privacy in childbirth, leading to disgust, aversion, and fear. Severe fear of childbirth (FOC) is calledtokophobia, which can profoundly affect the experience and outcomes of pregnancy, childbirth, and mothering. This article will raise awareness of FOC/tokophobia by reviewing its presentation and predisposing characteristics, recognizing its impacts and outcomes, and encouraging referrals to medical/psychological caregivers for early diagnosis and treatment. It will review ways childbirth educators can support those women with this condition, give realistic expectations of childbirth, and promote a safe and secure atmosphere to allay fear and support them through this stressful experience.
Impact of Simulation-Based Learning on Learning Loss Among Nursing Students: A Quasi-Experimental Study
Authors: Alshammari Alkadi , Innab Adnan , Nahari Ahmed , Alanazi Homoud , Alanazi Raeed , Almukhaini Ghada 
Published: February 2025

Nursing students faced learning losses during the COVID-19 pandemic due to the transition to virtual classes, inadequate communication, and reliance on virtual clinical training as a prerequisite for clinical practice. This study aimed to investigate the extent of learning loss experienced by nursing students and examine the impact of simulation-based learning (SBL) on mitigating this learning loss and on students’ confidence, satisfaction, and performance before and after the SBL program. This quasi-experimental study used a within- and between-subjects design. Data were collected from January 2022 to May 2023 from 177 nursing students before and after the SBL program. The Learning Loss scale and Simulation Training Evaluation Questionnaire were used. Substantial learning losses were observed in nurses’ knowledge, professional attitude, and skills before the intervention. The intervention group had significantly higher knowledge, professional attitude, and professional skills than the control group. The intervention significantly improved nursing students’ confidence, expectations/satisfaction, and performance. The regression model revealed that age and weeks in internship were significant predictors of learning loss. Prior distance education experience did not show any significant association with learning loss. Thus, SBL is useful in crisis situations; it enhances nursing students’ knowledge, professional attitudes, and professional skills. Course designers should consider integrating SBL into nursing curricula as an innovative teaching strategy to compensate for possible learning losses. This approach will help prepare graduates to enter the workforce with the ability to quickly adapt and practice confidently in clinical settings to ensure patient safety.
International Financial Reporting Standards for Small and Medium-sized Enterprises and the quality of financial reporting: South African Perspective
Authors: Sirembe Ndivhuwo , Moyo Vusani , Oseifuah Emmanuel Kojo 
Published: February 2025

Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs) are essential to the South African economy. The corporations Act of South Africa (71 of 2008) mandates that corporations adhere to either complete International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) or IFRS for Small and Medium-sized Entities (SMEs). The International Accounting Standards Board (IASB) established IFRS for SMEs in 2009 as an alternative framework for qualifying firms, providing an option in lieu of the comprehensive IFRS standards. Notwithstanding its deployment, the impact of IFRS for SMEs on financial reporting quality (FRQ) in South Africa has not been extensively examined. The research involved a sample of twenty accounting firms, with five businesses chosen from each municipality to manage Annual Financial Statements (AFS) for five SMEs each, culminating in a total of 100 SMEs. Due to the absence of a universally accepted metric for evaluating FRQ, the study utilised three previously established measures together with an aggregate measure. The research employed Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) Regression analysis to investigate trends in FRQ over two time periods: 2010-2014 and 2015-2019. Findings demonstrate no substantial enhancement in FRQ among Vhembe SMEs over time. Discretionary accruals exhibited stability, indicating consistent reporting quality. The results underscore the significance of accrual accounting and standardised methodologies, enhancing the quality and dependability of financial data for stakeholders. This research offers essential insights for accountants, business proprietors, investors, and regulatory entities, highlighting the beneficial effects of IFRS for SMEs on the quality of financial reporting among South African SMEs.
Investigating factors that encumber old mutual protect covers in South Africa
Authors: Ndwamai Reginald M. , Sirembe Ndivhuwo , Tshikovhi Ambani 
Published: February 2025

This study examines the obstacles to the adoption of Old Mutual Protect Covers in South Africa through a quantitative methodology. The study seeks to ascertain critical variables—namely income level, education level, and faith in insurance companies—that affect the probability of acquiring certain insurance products. Data was gathered via a structured survey of 500 South African people and analysed utilising SPSS version 29.0, focussing on Pearson correlation and regression analysis. The results indicate substantial favourable correlations among income level, education level, and faith in insurance firms with the use of Old Mutual Protect Covers. These findings indicate that socio-economic considerations and customer confidence are pivotal in the acquisition of insurance. The report continues with recommendations for Old Mutual to improve awareness and trust among lower-income and less-educated demographics to boost the adoption of their Protect Covers. The study's limitations and recommendations for future research are also addressed.