bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA): A validation study among prisoners
Authors: Lima Pereira Vânia , Freitas Sandra , Simões Mário R. , Gerardo Bianca 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundThere are numerous scales for screening cognitive performance and thus identification of any potential deficits, but in spite of the vulnerability of the prison population to such problems, there has been no adequate validation of screening tools specifically for use with prisoners or others in the criminal justice system.AimTo validate the Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) for use with prisoners.Methods100 adult prisoners in one Portuguese prison were randomly invited by clinicians to take part in this study. A same size sample of community‐living adult non‐offenders of similar age was selected from the MoCA's normative study database in Portugal. For both groups, the key inclusion criterion was fluency in the Portuguese language. All participants completed the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) and the MoCA, both in Portuguese translation. Cronbach's alpha coefficient was calculated as an index of internal consistency and Pearson's r correlations calculated. Group performances were compared using independent samples t‐test. Covariance analysis (ANCOVA) was computed with level of education as covariate. To measure the magnitude of the effect, was used. A receiver operating characteristics curve analysis was computed to evaluate the discriminatory accuracy of MoCA and MMSE.ResultsThe MoCA showed a ‘reasonable’ internal consistency index (α = 0.75) as well as positive and significant correlations with the MMSE. As a cognitive measure, however, the MoCA showed consistently superior psychometric properties and higher discriminatory accuracy (MoCA = 89%) than the MMSE (65%). According to the Youden index, the optimal cut‐off point for the MoCA is below 24 points, whereas for the MMSE, it is below 27.ConclusionsThe MoCA is a valid cognitive screening tool for use with prisoners. Further validations against detailed cognitive evaluation would be a useful next step.
On the Reactivity of a NHC Nickel Bis‐Boryl Complex: Reductive Elimination and Formation of Mono‐Boryl Complexes
Authors: Tendera Lukas , Kuehn Laura , Marder Todd B. , Radius Udo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe synthesis of the first terminal mono‐boryl complexes of nickel, which are not stabilized by a pincer ligand, is reported. The reaction of the nickel bis‐boryl complex cis‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(Bcat)2] 1 (cat=1,2‐O2C6H4) with the small donor ligand PMe3 led to a complete ligand exchange at nickel with reductive elimination of B2cat2 and formation of the bis‐NHC adduct [B2cat2 ⋅ (iPr2ImMe)2] 3 and [Ni(PMe3)4] 2 as the metal‐containing species. Electrophilic attack of MeI on complex 1 or ligand dismutation of 1 with trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2Br2] led to loss of only one boryl ligand of 1 and afforded the nickel mono‐boryl complexes trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(Bcat)Br] 4 a and trans‐[Ni(iPr2ImMe)2(Bcat)I] 4 b.
Social media to disseminate circular economy information. An empirical analysis on Twitter
Authors: L'Abate Vitiana , Raimo Nicola , Albergo Francesco , Vitolla Filippo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIn recent years, to solve the problems related to sustainability, there is an increasing need for a transition from linear production and consumption systems to new models oriented toward reusing, reducing and recycling. In the academic field, several scholars have turned their attention to the adoption by companies of the new circular economy (CE) models. Due to the interest of a large number of stakeholders in issues related to the CE, several scholars have begun to explore the CE disclosure (CED) practices of companies. Despite this, studies on the topic are still limited. This study, under the lens of communication and stakeholder theories, aims, first, to examine the level of CE information disseminated by companies via Twitter and, second, to explore the impact of some firm characteristics on the level of CED. The econometric analysis, conducted on a sample of 141 companies belonging to the S&P 500 index, shows that the most profitable and most indebted companies disclose a greater amount of CE information through their official Twitter accounts. Furthermore, it demonstrates a lower propensity by energy companies to disclose CE information via Twitter compared to firms operating in other highly polluting sectors.
Employing bias current feedback in MIC transimpedance amplifier to increase bandwidth
Authors: Sohrabi Zahra , Behnazar Sara 
Published: August 2023

SummaryThis paper presents an inductorless transimpedance amplifier (TIA) that employs bias feedback technique in a MOS‐based immittance converter (MIC) to achieve high bandwidth. The bias feedback technique is analyzed and explored as a supplementary approach to reduce the input impedance in a current buffer structure. Employing this technique in a MIC‐based TIA structure provides an additional degree of freedom for the design and helps reduce the trade‐off between bandwidth and power. The proposed structure is designed and simulated in 0.18 μm CMOS technology considering a 1 pF photodiode capacitance. The post‐layout simulation results show that the TIA provides a transimpedance gain of 50.9 dBΩ, a bandwidth of 6.1 GHz, and an input‐referred current noise of 9.9 pA/√Hz. The circuit consumes 3.42 mW from a 1.8 V supply and occupies 0.0046 μm2 area. Results are compared with TIAs reported in the literature, which confirms the effectiveness of the proposed modified MIC structure.
Identification and characterization of Hand2 upstream genomic enhancers active in developing stomach and limbs
Authors: Ferguson Chloe A. , Firulli Beth A. , Zoia Matteo , Osterwalder Marco , Firulli Anthony B. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe bHLH transcription factor HAND2 plays important roles in the development of the embryonic heart, face, limbs, and sympathetic and enteric nervous systems. To define how and when HAND2 regulates these developmental systems, requires understanding the transcriptional regulation of Hand2.ResultsRemarkably, Hand2 is flanked by an extensive upstream gene desert containing a potentially diverse enhancer landscape. Here, we screened the regulatory interval 200 kb proximal to Hand2 for putative enhancers using evolutionary conservation and histone marks in Hand2‐expressing tissues. H3K27ac signatures across embryonic tissues pointed to only two putative enhancer regions showing deep sequence conservation. Assessment of the transcriptional enhancer potential of these elements using transgenic reporter lines uncovered distinct in vivo enhancer activities in embryonic stomach and limb mesenchyme, respectively. Activity of the identified stomach enhancer was restricted to the developing antrum and showed expression within the smooth muscle and enteric neurons. Surprisingly, the activity pattern of the limb enhancer did not overlap Hand2 mRNA but consistently yielded a defined subectodermal anterior expression pattern within multiple transgenic lines.ConclusionsTogether, these results start to uncover the diverse regulatory potential inherent to the Hand2 upstream regulatory interval.
“But the reality is it's happening”: A qualitative study of eating disorder providers about psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy
Authors: Downey Amanda E. , Boyd Maxine , Chaphekar Anita V. , Woolley Joshua , Raymond‐Flesch Marissa 
Published: August 2023

AbstractObjectiveThis study invited providers who care for patients with eating disorders to inform engagement, communication, and collaboration with psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy interventions.MethodMedical and mental health providers who treat patients with eating disorders were recruited via professional referral networks and participant driven sampling from across California to participate in one of five focus groups. Discussion topics included prior knowledge of psychedelic therapy, interest/concerns related to psilocybin therapy, and opportunities for collaboration. Study team members completed iterative rounds of coding with a grounded theory approach.ResultsA total of 32 participants reported a range of familiarity with psychedelics. Some raised concerns about the risks of administering psilocybin to malnourished patients and to those with psychological comorbidities. Despite these concerns, participants were hopeful to see psilocybin therapy as a treatment for patients with eating disorders. In anticipating challenges, providers had concerns about equity in access to care among publicly insured and non‐English speaking patients. They requested opportunities for continuing education about psilocybin therapy.DiscussionOur findings demonstrate provider interest in psilocybin therapy for the treatment of patients with eating disorders. As psilocybin therapy interventions are developed, providers caring for patients with eating disorders value collaboration to improve longitudinal patient outcomes.Public SignificanceThis study invited healthcare providers of patients with eating disorders to discuss their thoughts around the use of psilocybin‐assisted psychotherapy in this population. Findings will help inform emerging psilocybin therapy clinical trials with the goal of successful translation and adoption in real world clinical settings.
Macroevolutionary constraints on global microbial diversity
Authors: Fishman Ford J. , Lennon Jay T. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBiologists have long sought to quantify the number of species on Earth. Often missing from these efforts is the contribution of microorganisms, the smallest but most abundant form of life on the planet. Despite recent large‐scale sampling efforts, estimates of global microbial diversity span many orders of magnitude. It is important to consider how speciation and extinction over the last 4 billion years constrain inventories of biodiversity. We parameterized macroevolutionary models based on birth–death processes that assume constant and universal speciation and extinction rates. The models reveal that richness beyond 1012 species is feasible and in agreement with empirical predictions. Additional simulations suggest that mass extinction events do not place hard limits on modern‐day microbial diversity. Together, our study provides independent support for a massive global‐scale microbiome while shedding light on the upper limits of life on Earth.
A spatially explicit modeling framework to guide management of subsidized avian predator densities
Authors: O'Neil Shawn T. , Coates Peter S. , Webster Sarah C. , Brussee Brianne E. , Dettenmaier Seth J. , Tull John C. , Jackson Pat J. , Casazza Michael L. , Espinosa Shawn P. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAnthropogenic resource subsidization across western ecosystems has contributed to widespread increases in generalist avian predators, including common ravens (Corvus corax; hereafter, raven). Ravens are adept nest predators and can negatively impact species of conservation concern. Predation effects from ravens are especially concerning for greater sage‐grouse (Centrocercus urophasianus; hereafter, sage‐grouse), which have experienced prolonged population decline. Our objectives were to quantify spatiotemporal patterns in raven density, evaluate sage‐grouse nest success concurrent with fluctuating raven densities, and demonstrate a spatially explicit decision support tool to guide management applications to appropriate conflict areas. We combined ~28,000 raven point count surveys with data from more than 900 sage‐grouse nests between 2009 and 2019 within the Great Basin, USA. We modeled variation in raven density using a Bayesian hierarchical distance sampling approach with environmental covariates on detection and abundance. Concurrently, we modeled sage‐grouse nest survival using a hierarchical frailty model as a function of raven density and other environmental covariates that influence the risk of nest failure. Raven density commonly exceeded 0.5 ravens km−2and increased at low elevations with more anthropogenic development and/or agriculture. Reduced sage‐grouse nest survival was strongly associated with elevated raven density (e.g., >0.5 ravens km−2) and varied with topographic ruggedness, shrub cover, and burned areas. For conservation application, we developed a spatially explicit planning tool that predicts nest survival under current and reduced raven numbers within the Great Basin to help direct management actions to localized areas where sage‐grouse nests are at highest risk of failure. Our modeling framework can be generalized to multiple species where spatially registered abundance and demographic data are available.
HBTU Mediated Synthesis of α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Lactams from E‐α,β‐Unsaturated γ‐Amino Acids
Authors: Singh Manjeet , Nalawade Sachin A. , Kumar DRGKoppalu. R. Puneeth , Veeresh Kuruva , Pahan Saikat , Dey Sanjit , Gopi Hosahudya N. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams have been found in many biologically active peptide natural products. Due to their biological activities, extensive efforts have been made in the literature to synthesize the α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams. Here, we are reporting the spontaneous transformation of E‐α,β‐unsaturated γ‐amino acids into α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactam through in‐situ activation of free carboxylic acid using peptide coupling reagent HBTU and base DIPEA at room temperature. The transformation also involves the E→Z isomerization of α,β‐unsaturated γ‐amino acids. The reaction is also compatible with the peptides consisting of E‐α,β‐unsaturated amino acids at the C‐terminus. The α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams were isolated in very good yields. Even though the reaction required very mild conditions, the products were isolated in the form of a racemic mixture. However, the products can be separated under a chiral environment. No α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams were observed if the reaction was performed in the presence of free amines. In addition, no racemization was observed during the peptide synthesis. The analysis of the reactions of various substrates revealed that amide NH and γ‐CH are important for lactamization. No α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactams or E→Z isomerization products were observed in the case of N‐Me‐(E)‐α,β‐unsaturated γ‐amino acids, whereas in the case of E‐α,β‐unsaturated γ,γ‐dimethyl amino acid α,β‐unsaturated γ‐lactam was isolated, however, with low yield.
Size separation of sodium dodecyl sulfate–proteins by capillary electrophoresis in dilute and ultra‐dilute dextran solutions
Authors: Auer Felicia , Guttman Andras 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSDS capillary gel electrophoresis is a widely used in the biopharma and the biomedical fields for rapid size separation of proteins. However, very limited information is available on the use of dilute and ultra‐dilute sieving matrices for SDS–protein analysis. Here, background electrolytes (BGEs) containing 1%–0% dextran were used in borate‐based BGE to separate a protein sizing ladder (PSL) ≤225 kDa and the intact and subunit forms of a therapeutic monoclonal antibody (mAb). The separation performance for the PSL and mAb components differed significantly with decreasing dextran concentration. Ferguson and reptation plots were used to elucidate the separation mechanism. Highly diluted dextran solutions resulted in linear Ferguson plots for both solute types (cf. Ogston theory) in spite of this model assumes a rigid pore structure, thus cannot describe the separation mechanism in ultra‐dilute polymer solutions with no reticulations. The saddle differences between the resolution of the PSL and the intact/subunit mAb forms in ultra‐dilute dextran‐borate matrices suggested the importance of shape selectivity, manifested by the adequate separation of the SDS covered intact as well as light and heavy chain subunits of the therapeutic mAb even at zero dextran concentration.
The effects of purslane consumption on lipid profile and C‐reactive protein: A systematic review and dose–response meta‐analysis
Authors: Jafari Naser , Bahreini Nazgol , Dehghani Azadeh , Lak Yasin , Mirmohammadali Seyedeh Nooshan , Samavat Simin , Shami Amirhossein , Karimizand Mohammad , Goudarzi Mohammad Ali , Asbaghi Omid 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEarlier investigations into the impact of purslane, Portulaca oleracea, on lipid profile and C‐reactive protein (CRP) produced contradictory findings. The effect of purslane consumption on lipid profiles and CRP was assessed in this comprehensive review and meta‐analysis. We conducted a thorough literature search in online databases, including PubMed, Scopus, the Cochrane library, and ISI Web of Science to find relevant randomized controlled trials up to June 2023. By incorporating 14 effect sizes from 13 RCTs, we were able to show that purslane consumption significantly decreases serum triglyceride (TG) (WMD: −16.72, 95% CI: −22.49, −10.96 mg/dL, p < .001), total cholesterol (TC) (WMD: −9.97, 95% CI: −19.86, −0.07 mg/dL, p = .048), and CRP (WMD: −1.22, 95% CI: −1.63, −0.80 mg/L, p < .001) levels in patients compared to the control group. In addition, purslane consumption significantly increases high‐density lipoprotein (HDL‐C) (WMD: 4.09, 95% CI: 1.77, 6.41 mg/dL, p = .001) levels. However, purslane consumption did not affect low‐density lipoprotein (LDL‐C) levels. According to a suggested optimal dosage, purslane consumption is considered to be safe up to 30 g/day. Purslane consumption can significantly improve cardiovascular health by improving lipid profile and inflammation status.
Do cooking and food preparation skills affect healthy eating in college students?
Authors: Mengi Çelik Özge , Aytekin Şahin Gizem , Gürel Satı 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe aim of this study is to investigate the relationship between food and cooking skills and healthy eating attitudes in college students. The demographic characteristics, anthropometric measurements, nutritional habits, attitudes toward healthy eating, and cooking and food preparation skills were questioned. 16.2% of the students have moderate, 63.5% high, and 20.3% ideally high attitudes toward healthy eating. While a positive and significant correlation was found between the total score and sub‐factor scores of the “Cooking Skills and Food Skills” scale and the total score of the “Attitude Scale for Healthy Nutrition”; a negative statistically significant correlation was found between the total score and sub‐factor scores of the “Cooking Skills and Food Skills” scale and the frequency of consumption of fast‐food, processed meat products, packaged foods, and bread types (p < .05). Cooking and food preparation skills seem to be positively associated with healthy attitudes and habits. Considering this positive association, interventions to improve food and cooking skills may help promote healthy eating attitudes in college students. Developing these skills can shed light on increasing the frequency of cooking at home, consuming healthier foods, and as a result, providing a healthy eating attitude. Therefore, more comprehensive intervention studies are needed in this area.
Art at the Start: A controlled trial and close observation of parent‐infant art therapy intervention
Authors: Armstrong Victoria Gray , Ross Josephine 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis two‐part study seeks to evidence art therapy intervention for parent‐infant attachment relationships, looking at improvements to wellbeing and relationships. Study one was a controlled trial with 105 participating parent/caregivers and their infants (0–3‐years), identified due to concerns about their relationship. They were quasi‐randomized to attend a 12‐week art therapy group or treatment as usual. Measures focused on parents’ wellbeing and their perceptions of their relationship with their infant. In study 2 we analyzed video footage from the first and penultimate sessions of a sample of 37 dyads, looking for observable changes in the different channels of communication upon which attachments are predicated. The controlled trial showed intervention participants had significantly improved parental wellbeing, significant increases in attachment warmth and significant decreases in intrusion. This contrasted with the control sample who showed a significant decrease in wellbeing, stable warmth, and significant increases in intrusion. The observation study showed that there was a significant increase in the communicative behaviors from the parents to the infant which would support attachments between the first and penultimate sessions. We conclude that these results make a robust case for the inclusion of art therapy within the range of interventions available for at risk early relationships
Establishing a community pharmacist‐led vitamin D point‐of‐care testing service
Authors: Busuttil Catherine Anne , Wirth Francesca , Azzopardi Lilian M. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractIntroductionGrowing recognition of the role of vitamin D augmented the demand for a point‐of‐care testing (POCT) framework, unveiling a niche for development of a novel service.ObjectivesReview available vitamin D POCT devices and validate vitamin D POCT; Develop and validate framework for vitamin D POCT; Conduct pilot study for pharmacist‐led vitamin D POCT framework in community pharmacy.MethodsVitamin D POCT devices were appraised by considering specifications and the identified vitamin D POCT kit was validated by comparing results with gold standard method in 20 participants, employing Cohen's Kappa coefficient. A framework consisting of a Data Collection Sheet, a standard operating procedure and Action Plan record for pharmacist‐led vitamin D POCT was developed and validated. The framework was piloted in a community pharmacy with 80 participants and patient data was correlated with POCT result. Data was analyzed using the chi‐square test.ResultsThe appraisal identified a semi‐quantitative POCT which conforms with European Union (EU) regulations. Concordance between POCT and gold standard was observed (κ = 0.84, p < 0.001). Of the 80 participants, 49 had insufficient; 8 had deficient vitamin D levels. The framework developed was practical to be applied in the community pharmacy setting. Participants suffering from chronic conditions are more likely to have their vitamin D levels tested (p = 0.042), those suffering from metabolic disorders being more likely to have deficient/insufficient vitamin D levels (p = 0.026).ConclusionThe study identified a POCT device for use within a framework for community pharmacist‐led assessment of vitamin D in the context of collaborative care. A high incidence of vitamin D insufficiency was observed, indicating the value of providing access to this service at primary care level. An accessible vitamin D testing service to participants, supported by community pharmacist professional advice, facilitates early detection of vitamin D insufficiency and management.