bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Application of physical, chemical, and biological preservation strategies and their effect on the shelf life of different types of cooked hams
Authors: Blanco‐Lizarazo Carla María , Sierra‐Cadavid Andrea , Ospina‐E Juan Camilo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractImprovement of hygiene practices and process control in meat product facilities is an ongoing topic of importance. Consequently, the meat industry must explore alternatives to extend the shelf‐life of meat products. This study aimed to assess the effectiveness of chemical, biological, and physical strategies at the formulation, pre‐packaging, and post‐packaging stages, respectively, to extend the shelf‐life of cooked ham. Three strategies were tested on different formulations of cooked ham: (1) inclusion of organic acid salts with and without buffered vinegar in the formulation, (2) application of biopreservation cultures during pre‐packaging for the four developed formulations, and (3) high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) applied to two pork ham formulations during post‐packaging with and without buffered vinegar. The effect of these strategies was evaluated by measuring shelf life based on lactic acid bacteria (LAB) and mesophilic counts, monitoring pH kinetics, and conducting sensory evaluations focused on indicators of spoilage such as milkiness and swelling. Results revealed that the HPP strategy was the most effective, significantly extending the shelf life of cooked pork ham up to 97 days, with no significant differences observed when combined with buffered vinegar. In contrast, the use of organic acid salts with or without buffered vinegar did not significantly extend the shelf life compared to control hams without preservatives (p > 0.05). Furthermore, significant variations in shelf life were found between batches and types of ham (p < 0.05). Notably, the biopreservation strategy led to a reduction in shelf life reduction.Practical applicationsSliced‐packaged ham is highly susceptible to spoilage, and previous studies investigating the application of organic acid salts, biopreservation cultures, and physical interventions have demonstrated limited effectiveness in extending shelf life under industrial and Colombian market conditions. Moreover, some of these approaches have resulted in alterations to the product's sensory attributes. Consequently, there is a critical need to evaluate alternative strategies that can be easily implemented with current technology, are cost‐effective, acceptable to consumers, and can be validated in an industrial setting. Furthermore, it is crucial to investigate the potential synergistic effects of combining high hydrostatic pressure processing (HPP) with chemical interventions, such as buffered vinegar. Implementing these measures holds the potential to minimize food waste and contribute to enhancing food security. Additionally, the findings of this study present a hypothesis that can contribute to understanding the variations in spoilage between pork and turkey hams.
Endoscopic ultrasound‐guided hepaticoduodenostomy versus percutaneous drainage for right intrahepatic duct dilatation in malignant hilar obstruction
Authors: Cho Sung Hyun , Song Tae Jun , Oh Dongwook , Park Do Hyun , Seo Dong‐Wan , Lee Sung Koo 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackground and AimEndoscopic ultrasound (EUS)‐guided biliary drainage is being increasingly performed as an alternative to percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) to treat malignant hilar obstruction (MHO) after failed endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). However, no study has compared EUS‐guided hepaticoduodenostomy (EUS‐HDS) with PTBD for right intrahepatic duct (IHD) obstruction after failed ERCP in patients with unresectable MHO.MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed the data of consecutive patients with right IHD obstruction developed by unresectable MHO who underwent EUS‐HDS or PTBD after a previous placement of a stent in the left and/or right IHD between March 2018 and October 2021. Technical success, clinical success, stent or tube‐related adverse events, frequency of reintervention, and stent patency were evaluated.ResultsA total of 42 patients (18 EUS‐HDS, 24 PTBD) were analyzed. Both groups did not show significant differences in technical success (EUS‐HDS, 94% vs PTBD, 100%; P = 0.429), clinical success (83% vs 83%; P = 0.999), early adverse events (24% vs 46%; P = 0.144), and stent or tube‐related late adverse events (29% vs 54%; P = 0.116). During follow‐up, the EUS‐HDS group had a longer median duration of patency (131 days vs 58.5 days; P = 0.041), and lower mean frequency of reinterventions per patient (0.35 vs 1.92; P = 0.030) than the PTBD group.ConclusionsEUS‐HDS showed comparable efficacy and safety to PTBD for drainage of the right biliary system and produced longer duration of patency and lower frequency of reinterventions in patients with unresectable MHO.
Healthcare costs for legally adjudicated elder mistreatment victims in comparison to non‐mistreated older adults
Authors: Zhang Hao , Bao Yuhua , Baek Daniel , Clark Sunday , Elman Alyssa , Hancock David , Chang E‐Shien , Jeng Philip , Gassoumis Zach , Fettig Nicole , Zhang Yiye , Wen Katherine , Lachs Mark S. , Pillemer Karl , Rosen Tony 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundElder mistreatment (EM) is associated with adverse health outcomes and healthcare utilization patterns that differ from other older adults. However, the association of EM with healthcare costs has not been examined. Our goal was to compare healthcare costs between legally adjudicated EM victims and controls.MethodsWe used Medicare insurance claims to examine healthcare costs of EM victims in the 2 years surrounding initial mistreatment identification in comparison to matched controls. We adjusted costs using the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services Hierarchical Condition Categories (CMS‐HCC) risk score.ResultsWe examined healthcare costs in 114 individuals who experienced EM and 410 matched controls. Total Medicare Parts A and B healthcare costs were similar between cases and controls in the 12 months prior to initial EM detection ($11,673 vs. $11,402, p = 0.92), but cases had significantly higher total healthcare costs during the 12 months after initial mistreatment identification ($15,927 vs. $10,805, p = 0.04). Adjusting for CMS‐HCC scores, cases had, in the 12 months after initial EM identification, $5084 of additional total healthcare costs (95% confidence interval [$92, $10,077], p = 0.046) and $5817 of additional acute/subacute/post‐acute costs (95% confidence interval [$1271, $10,362], p = 0.012) compared with controls. The significantly higher total costs and acute/sub‐acute/post‐acute costs among EM victims in the post‐year were concentrated in the 120 days after EM detection.ConclusionsOlder adults experiencing EM had substantially higher total costs during the 12 months after mistreatment identification, driven by an increase in acute/sub‐acute/post‐acute costs and focused on the period immediately after initial EM detection.
What Do (and Don't) Forecasters Know About U.S. Inflation?
Authors: RYNGAERT JANE 
Published: December 2023

AbstractThis paper contributes to and extends our current understanding of information frictions in expectations. I first propose a new framework for estimating noisy information using individual forecasts. I further extend this framework to incorporate misperceptions on the part of economic agents about the persistence of the underlying process being forecasted. Applying this framework to the U.S. inflation, forecasts of professional forecasters suggest a systematic overestimation on the part of forecasters of the persistence of inflation in addition to the presence of noisy signals. Using a structural model that incorporates both noisy signals and misperceptions of persistence, I quantify the relative importance of each channel in accounting for the expectations formation process of these agents. The results indicate that, even for professional forecasters, there are multiple forces that generate economically significant deviations from full information.
Sudden Shift to Telehealth in COVID‐19: A Retrospective Cohort Study of Disparities in Use of Telehealth for Prenatal Care in a Large Midwifery Service
Authors: Smith Denise C. , Thumm E. Brie , Anderson Jessica , Kissler Katherine , Reed Sean M. , Centi Sophia M. , Staley Alyse W. , Hernandez Teri L. , Barton Amy J. 
Published: December 2023

IntroductionThe coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic created disruption in health care delivery, including a sudden transition to telehealth use in mid‐March 2020. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the mode of prenatal care visits and predictors of telehealth use (provider‐patient messaging, telephone visits, and video visits) during the COVID‐19 pandemic among those receiving care in a large, academic nurse‐midwifery service.MethodsWe conducted a retrospective cohort study of those enrolled for prenatal care in 2 nurse‐midwifery clinics between 2019 and 2021 (n = 3172). Use outcomes included number and type of encounter: in‐person and telehealth (primary outcome). Comparisons were made in frequency and types of encounters before and during COVID‐19. A negative binomial regression was fit on the outcome of telehealth encounter count, with race/ethnicity, age, language, parity, hypertension, diabetes, and depression as predictors.ResultsWhen comparing pre–COVID‐19 (before March 2020) with during COVID‐19 (after March 2020), overall encounters increased from 15.9 to 19.5 mean number of encounters per person (P < .001). The increase was driven by telehealth encounters; there were no significant differences for in‐person prenatal visit counts before and during the pandemic period. Direct patient‐provider messaging was the most common type of telehealth encounter. Predictors of telehealth encounters included English as primary language and diagnoses of diabetes or depression.DiscussionNo differences in the frequency of in‐person prenatal care visits suggests that telehealth encounters led to more contact with midwives and did not replace in‐person encounters. Spanish‐speaking patients were least likely to use telehealth‐delivered prenatal care during the pandemic; a small, but significant, proportion of patients had no or few telehealth encounters, and a significant proportion had high use of telehealth. Integration of telehealth in future delivery of prenatal care should consider questions of equity, patient and provider satisfaction, access, redundancies, and provider workload.
Orthostatic blood pressure changes do not influence cognitive outcomes following intensive blood pressure control
Authors: Jiang Chao , Zhao Manlin , Li Mingxiao , Wang Zhiyan , Bai Yu , Guo Hang , Li Sitong , Lai Yiwei , Wang Yufeng , Gao Mingyang , He Liu , Guo Xueyuan , Li Songnan , Liu Nian , Jiang Chenxi , Tang Ribo , Long Deyong , Sang Caihua , Du Xin , Dong Jianzeng , Anderson Craig S. , Ma Changsheng 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundEffects of intensive blood pressure (BP) control on cognitive outcomes in patients with excess orthostatic BP changes are unclear. We aimed to evaluate whether orthostatic BP changes modified the effects of BP intervention on cognitive impairment.MethodsWe analyzed 8547 participants from the Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial Memory and cognition IN Decreased Hypertension. Associations between orthostatic BP changes and incident cognitive outcomes were evaluated by restricted cubic spline curves based on Cox models. The interactions between orthostatic BP changes and intensive BP intervention were assessed.ResultsThe U‐shaped associations were observed between baseline orthostatic systolic BP changes and cognitive outcomes. However, there were insignificant interactions between either change in orthostatic systolic BP (P for interaction = 0.81) or diastolic BP (P for interaction = 0.32) and intensive BP intervention for the composite outcome of probable dementia or mild cognitive impairment (MCI). The hazard ratio of intensive versus standard target for the composite cognitive outcome was 0.82 (95% CI 0.50–1.35) in those with an orthostatic systolic BP reduction of >20 mmHg and 0.41 (95% CI 0.21–0.80) in those with an orthostatic systolic BP increase of >20 mmHg. Results were similar for probable dementia and MCI. The annual changes in global cerebral blood flow (P for interaction = 0.86) consistently favored intensive BP treatment across orthostatic systolic BP changes.ConclusionIntensive BP control did not have a deteriorating effect on cognitive outcomes among hypertensive patients experiencing significant postural BP changes.
Development of beliefs in a just world among Chinese early adolescents and the predictive role of family factors: A three‐wave longitudinal study
Authors: Sun Peng , Yao Xiaonan , Yuan Mingliang , Kou Yu 
Published: December 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis study explored how belief in a just world (BJW) develops among Chinese adolescents and the predictive role of family factors.BackgroundThe development of BJW in adolescence is an important but understudied topic, especially in non‐Western contexts.MethodUsing a three‐wave longitudinal design, 1525 participants (48% girls; Mage = 12.47) were recruited to report their BJW, childhood SES, only‐child or not, and parental psychological control in Wave 1 (Wave 2: N = 1262; Wave 3: N = 1124).ResultsThe mean slope for personal BJW is positive and significant, but not significant for general BJW. Childhood SES predicted initial level of personal and general BJW and the rate of growth of personal BJW. Only‐child predicted initial level and the growth rate of personal BJW. Parental psychological control negatively predicted personal and general BJW at three time points.ConclusionPersonal BJW increased during the observation period, whereas general BJW was stable. Individuals with lower levels of childhood SES had lower initial personal and general BJW but a higher growth rate in personal BJW than those with higher SES. Individuals having siblings had lower levels of initial personal BJW but a higher growth rate in personal BJW than those from only‐child family. Parental psychological control may exert consistent and contemporaneous negative effect on BJW across time.
Rural and urban differences in disparities in substance use and substance use disorders affecting sexual minority populations
Authors: Dyar Christina , Morgan Ethan 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackgroundSexual minority populations are at elevated risk for substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) compared to heterosexual populations. These disparities are theorized to be amplified for rural sexual minority populations due to their increased exposure to minority stress and reduced access to sexual minority communities. However, there is a lack of research examining differences in SU disparities affecting sexual minority populations by urbanicity, and little research has examined differences in SUD treatment utilization by sexual minority status or urbanicity.MethodsWe utilized data from 2015 to 2019 National Survey on Drug Use and Health to examine disparities in SU, SUD, SUD treatment utilization, and unmet SUD treatment need between sexual minority and heterosexual populations and test whether such disparities vary by urbanicity.ResultsResults indicate that disparities in SU and SUD affecting sexual minority populations generalize across urbanicities. A subset of disparities differed by urbanicity, and the direction of these differences varied, with some disparities being stronger in urban than rural populations and vice versa. Despite elevated treatment utilization among some sexual minority groups, disparities in unmet SUD treatment need were prevalent across urbanicities and sexual identity groups.ConclusionsStudy findings highlight the ubiquity of disparities in SU, SUD, and unmet SUD treatment need affecting rural and urban sexual minority populations, while also demonstrating nuanced differences in disparities by urbanicity. The persistence of disparities in unmet SUD treatment need emphasizes the need for future research to identify factors contributing to this disparity and for policies that alleviate these disparities.
The Futures of English: Introduction from the UK
Authors: Gagnier Regenia 
Published: December 2023

AbstractWill students raised on social media still read English literature?What is the role of English/American literature in the PRC, India, Australasia, the USA?What is the role of English language in relation to other global and local languages?What is the role of decolonising efforts?How do our respective state apparatuses affect language and literature teaching?Part I ‘International Perspectives on English Language and Literature’ summarises the global spread of English since the eighteenth century and outlines the concerns of the special issue: the global futures of English language and literature in information society in Africa, Australia, India, the PRC, Europe and the UK, and the USA; the role of decolonising efforts; and the role of our respective state apparatuses in higher education policy. Part II, ‘English Studies in Britain Today’, discusses the findings of the recent (June 2023) British Academy reportEnglish Studies Provision in UK Higher Education, including the decline in literary studies among students and the rise of Creative Writing in part in response to political‐economic rhetoric. Part III, ‘Global and World Englishes’, returns to global and transnational practices beyond Britain and Europe to argue for more inclusive, decolonising practices around world literatures. We might take the lived histories of global and world Englishes to transcend both romantic revolutionary and far‐right exclusionary nationalisms in literary and language studies in favour of more cosmopolitan, multilingual, and convivial approaches.
NAFLD and NASH are obesity‐independent risk factors in COVID‐19: Matched real‐world results from the large PINC AI™ Healthcare Database
Authors: Brozat Jonathan F. , Ntanios Fady , Malhotra Deepa , Dagenais Simon , Katchiuri Nino , Emir Birol , Tacke Frank 
Published: December 2023

AbstractBackground & AimsNon‐alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non‐alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) are potential risk factors for severe pneumonia and other infections. Available data on the role of NAFLD/NASH in worsening outcomes for COVID‐19 are controversial and might be confounded by comorbidities.MethodsWe used the PINC AI™ Healthcare Data Special Release (PHD‐SR) to identify patients with COVID‐19 (ICD‐10) at approximately 900 hospitals in the United States. We performed exact matching (age, gender, and ethnicity) for patients with or without NAFLD/NASH, adjusting for demographics (admission type, region) and comorbidities (e.g., obesity, diabetes) through inverse probability of treatment weighting and then analysed hospitalisation‐related outcomes.ResultsAmong 513 623 patients with SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19), we identified 14 667 with NAFLD/NASH who could be matched to 14 667 controls. Mean age was 57.6 (±14.9) years, 50.8% were females and 43.7% were non‐Hispanic whites. After matching, baseline characteristics (e.g., age, ethnicity, and gender) and comorbidities (e.g., hypertension, obesity, diabetes, and cardiovascular disease) were well balanced (standard difference (SD) <.10), except for cirrhosis and malignancies. Patients with COVID‐19 and NAFLD/NASH had higher FIB‐4 scores, a significantly longer hospital length of stay (LOS) and intensive care LOS than controls (9.4 vs. 8.3 days, and 10.4 vs. 9.3, respectively), even after adjusting for cirrhosis and malignancies. Patients with COVID‐19 and NAFLD/NASH also had significantly higher risk of needing invasive mandatory ventilation (IMV) (odds ratio 1.0727; 95% CI 1.0095–1.1400). Other outcomes were similar in both groups.ConclusionsIn this large real‐world cohort of patients hospitalised for COVID‐19 in the United States, NAFLD/NASH were obesity‐independent risk factors for complicated disease courses.
Genomic variation in montane bumblebees in Scandinavia: High levels of intraspecific diversity despite population vulnerability
Authors: Liu Yuanzhen , Olsson Anna , Larva Tuuli , Cantwell‐Jones Aoife , Gill Richard J. , Cederberg Björn , Webster Matthew T. 
Published: December 2023

AbstractPopulations of many bumblebee species are declining, with distributions shifting northwards to track suitable climates. Climate change is considered a major contributing factor. Arctic species are particularly vulnerable as they cannot shift further north, making assessment of their population viability important. Analysis of levels of whole‐genome variation is a powerful way to analyse population declines and fragmentation. Here, we use genome sequencing to analyse genetic variation in seven species of bumblebee from the Scandinavian mountains, including two classified as vulnerable. We sequenced 333 samples from across the ranges of these species in Sweden. Estimates of effective population size (NE) vary from ~55,000 for species with restricted high alpine distributions to 220,000 for more widespread species. Population fragmentation is generally very low or undetectable over large distances in the mountains, suggesting an absence of barriers to gene flow. The relatively high NE and low population structure indicate that none of the species are at immediate risk of negative genetic effects caused by high levels of genetic drift. However, reconstruction of historical fluctuations in NE indicates that the arctic specialist species Bombus hyperboreus has experienced population declines since the last ice age and we detected one highly inbred diploid male of this species close to the southern limit of its range, potentially indicating elevated genetic load. Although the levels of genetic variation in montane bumblebee populations are currently relatively high, their ranges are predicted to shrink drastically due to the effects of climate change and monitoring is essential to detect future population declines.
Molecular refinement of pilocytic astrocytoma in adult patients
Authors: Bode Helena , Kresbach Catena , Holdhof Dörthe , Dorostkar Mario M. , Harter Patrick N. , Hench Jürgen , Frank Stephan , Suwala Abigail K. , Schweizer Leonille , Eckhardt Alicia , Neyazi Sina , Bockmayr Michael , Wefers Annika K. , Schüller Ulrich 
Published: December 2023

AbstractAimPilocytic astrocytomas (PA) in adults are rare and may be challenging to identify based only on histomorphology. Compared to their paediatric counterparts, they are reportedly molecularly more diverse and associated with a worse prognosis. We aimed to describe the characteristics of adult PAs more precisely by comprehensively profiling a series of 79 histologically diagnosed adult cases (≥18 years).MethodsWe performed global DNA methylation profiling and DNA and RNA panel sequencing and integrated the results with clinical data. We further compared the molecular characteristics of adult and paediatric PAs that had a significant match to one of the established PA methylation classes in the Heidelberg brain tumour classifier.ResultsThe mean age in our cohort was 33 years, and 43% of the tumours were located supratentorially. Based on methylation profiling, only 39% of the cases received a significant match to a PA methylation class. Sixteen per cent matched a different tumour type, and 45% had a Heidelberg classifier score <0.9 with an affiliation to diverse established methylation classes in t‐SNE analyses. Although the KIAA1549::BRAF fusion was found in 98% of paediatric PAs, this was true for only 27% of histologically defined and 55% of adult PAs defined by methylation profiling.ConclusionsA particularly high fraction of adult tumours with histological features of PA do not match current PA methylation classes, indicating ambiguous histology and an urgent need for molecular profiling. Moreover, even in adult PAs with a match to a PA methylation class, the distribution of genetic drivers differs significantly from their paediatric counterparts (p < 0.01).