bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Study on ballistic mechanism of B4C/Al gradient armor
Authors: Wang Dong , Liu Qing , Wan Hongqiang , Wang Qinghua , Xue Chao , Qiu Bo , Han Quanli 
Published: May 2023

AbstractIn order to improve the anti‐penetration performance of gradient armor, the constitutive models of B4C/Al composites with different compositions were determined according to the bending curves. The anti‐bullet simulation of B4C/Al gradient armor was carried out by ANSYS‐DYNA finite element software, and the stress state of B4C/Al gradient material under 7.62‐mm bullet penetration was analyzed. Meanwhile, the propagation law of stress wave in armor was studied by Hopkinson bar simulation and the improved internal stress wave model, which further revealed the ballistic mechanism of B4C/Al gradient armor. The simulation results showed that, compared with the traditional laminated armor, the toughness of B4C/Al gradient armor material increased with the change of layer thickness, resulting in the fact that the whole armor could withstand greater stress without breaking, and the anti‐penetration time was prolonged. In addition, the performance difference between the layers of the gradient armor was slight, and the spallation phenomenon of the relative double‐layer armor decreases, which enhanced the multiple hit performance of the armor and the absorption capacity of the stress wave. The performance of B4C/Al gradient armor specimens and double‐layer specimens were tested by drop hammer impact test. The test results were consistent with the simulation results.
Paediatric obesity and metabolic syndrome associations with cognition and the brain in youth: Current evidence and future directions
Authors: Sadler Jennifer R. , Thapaliya Gita , Ranganath Kushi , Gabay Andrea , Chen Liuyi , Smith Kimberly R. , Osorio Ricardo S. , Convit Antonio , Carnell Susan 
Published: May 2023

SummaryObesity and components of the metabolic syndrome (MetS) are associated with differences in brain structure and function and in general and food‐related cognition in adults. Here, we review evidence for similar phenomena in children and adolescents, with a focus on the implications of extant research for possible underlying mechanisms and potential interventions for obesity and MetS in youth. Current evidence is limited by a relative reliance on small cross‐sectional studies. However, we find that youth with obesity and MetS or MetS components show differences in brain structure, including alterations in grey matter volume and cortical thickness across brain regions subserving reward, cognitive control and other functions, as well as in white matter integrity and volume. Children with obesity and MetS components also show some evidence for hyperresponsivity of food reward regions and hyporesponsivity of cognitive control circuits during food‐related tasks, altered brain responses to food tastes, and altered resting‐state connectivity including between cognitive control and reward processing networks. Potential mechanisms for these findings include neuroinflammation, impaired vascular reactivity, and effects of diet and obesity on myelination and dopamine function. Future observational research using longitudinal measures, improved sampling strategies and study designs, and rigorous statistical methods, promises to further illuminate dynamic relationships and causal mechanisms. Intervention studies targeted at modifiable biological and behavioural factors associated with paediatric obesity and MetS can further inform mechanisms, as well as test whether brain and behaviour can be altered for beneficial outcomes.
Moving toward patient specificity for devising cone‐beam computed tomography field‐of‐views: A normative maxillary skeletal dimensional analysis
Authors: Shujaat Sohaib , Kesztyüs Artúr , Song Dandan , Regnstrand Tobias , Benchimol Daniel , Nagy Krisztian , Jacobs Reinhilde 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundA lack of evidence exists comprehensively assessing skeletal dimensions in a Caucasian population group at different ages.AimTo provide age‐ and gender‐specific normative skeletal dimensional measurements of the maxillary region using cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) imaging.DesignCone‐beam computed tomography images of Caucasian patients were acquired and divided into different age groups ranging from 8 to 20 years. Linear measurements were taken to evaluate seven distance‐based variables, which included anterior nasal spine‐posterior nasal spine (ANS‐PNS) distance, bilateral maxillary first molar's central fossae (CF) distance, palatal vault depth (PVD), bilateral palatal cementoenamel junction (PCEJ) distance, bilateral vestibular CEJ (VCEJ) distance, bilateral jugulare distance (Jug) and arch length (AL).ResultsA total of 529 patients (243 male, 286 female) were selected. ANS‐PNS and PVD showed the highest change in dimensions from 8 to 20 years of age. On the contrary, AL had the least variability in all age groups. Male patients had larger dimensions and showed a significant change in all dimensional measurements (p < .001) than female patients.ConclusionThe maxillary linear dimensions varied across different age groups. The presented maxillary normative data could serve as a reference guide for devising patient‐specific CBCT field of views.
Negative parenting, epigenetic age, and psychological problems: prospective associations from adolescence to young adulthood
Authors: Mastrotheodoros Stefanos , Boks Marco P. , Rousseau Céline , Meeus Wim , Branje Susan 
Published: May 2023

BackgroundEpigenetic clocks are based on DNA methylation levels of several genomic loci and have been developed as indices of biological aging. Studies examining the effects of stressful environmental exposures have shown that stress is associated with differences between epigenetic age and chronological age (i.e., Epigenetic Age acceleration, EA). This pre‐registered longitudinal study examined the long‐term effects of negative parenting and psychological problems throughout adolescence (ages 13–17 years) on EA in late adolescence (age 17 years) and EA changes from late adolescence to young adulthood (age 25 years). Further, it examined how (change in) EA is related to changes in psychological problems from adolescence to young adulthood.MethodsWe used data from a sample of 434 participants followed from age 13 to age 25, with saliva collected at ages 17 and 25. We estimated EA using four commonly used epigenetic clocks and analyzed the data using Structural Equation Modeling.ResultsWhile negative parenting was not related to EA nor change in EA, (change in) EA was related to developmental indices such as externalizing problems and self‐concept clarity.ConclusionsDeclining psychological well‐being during young adulthood was preceded by EA.
Evaluation of concordance in estimation of excess mortality due to COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Verma Vivek , Nath Dilip C. , Khan Hafiz T. A. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundThe World Health Organization (WHO) kept track of COVID‐19 data at country level daily during the pandemic that included the number of tests, infected cases and fatalities. This daily record was susceptible to change depending on the time and place and impacted by underreporting. In addition to reporting cases of excess COVID‐19‐related deaths, the WHO also provided estimates of excess mortality based on mathematical models.ObjectiveTo evaluate the WHO reported and model‐based estimate of excess deaths to determine the degree of agreement and universality.MethodologyEpidemiological data gathered from nine different countries between April 2020 and December 2021 are used in this study. These countries are India, Indonesia, Italy, Russia, United Kingdom, Mexico, the United States, Brazil and Peru and each of them recorded more than 1.5 million deaths from COVID‐19 during these months. Statistical tools including correlation, linear regression, intraclass correlation and Bland–Altman plots are used to assess the degree of agreement between reported and model‐based estimates of excess deaths.ResultsThe WHO‐derived mathematical model for estimating excess deaths due to COVID‐19 was found to be appropriate for only four of the nine chosen countries, namely Italy, United Kingdom, the United States and Brazil. The other countries showed proportional biases and significantly high regression coefficients.ConclusionThe study revealed that, for some of the chosen nations, the mathematical model proposed by the WHO is practical and capable of estimating the number of excess deaths brought on by COVID‐19. However, the derived approach cannot be applied globally.
Operant conditioning as a tool to assess hearing abilities in sharks
Authors: Nieder Carolin , Rapson Jimmy , Holland Kim , Meyer Carl , Montgomery John , Radford Craig 
Published: May 2023

AbstractSharks (elasmobranchs) are an ancient, diverse group of fishes, representing a basal stage in the evolution of vertebrate hearing. Yet, our understanding of behavioural measures of hearing abilities in sharks is limited. To address this, an operant conditioning paradigm was designed, and scalloped hammerhead Sphyrna lewini and rig (spotted estuary smooth hound) Mustelus lenticulatus were successfully trained to respond to pure‐tone acoustic stimuli from an underwater speaker. After 2–3 weeks of training, both species showed distinctive responses to these acoustic stimuli and retained this behaviour when reinforced. S. lewini responded to a 400 Hz pulsed tone with an abrupt increase in tailbeat frequency (97 beats per 30 s vs. 69 beats for a 2 kHz control and 70 beats for no signal) and sustained vigorous swimming (arousal response) for at least 30 s. In response to a 200 Hz pulsed tone, M. lenticulatus visited a target area under the speaker significantly more frequently (13.4 ± 4.3 times per minute vs. 1.4 ± 1.5 times for a 1.2 kHz control and 0.9 ± 0.01 times for no signal) and swam circles under the speaker to search for food. The authors used S. lewini arousal responses to pure‐tone stimuli of 40, 80, 200, 400, 600 and 800 Hz to generate a provisional hearing‐threshold curve. The results show that S. lewini adapts to low‐frequency hearing (greatest sensitivity at 200 Hz, upper limit 800 Hz), which is like other coastal pelagic sharks that have been investigated so far. Despite challenges operant acoustic conditioning studies are a viable method for revealing auditory capabilities of sharks.
Locomotor, ecological and phylogenetic drivers of skeletal proportions in frogs
Authors: Leavey Alice , Ruta Marcello , Richards Christopher T. , Porro Laura B. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractFrogs exhibit complex anatomical features of the pelvis, limbs and spine, long assumed to represent specialisations for jumping. Yet frogs employ a wide range of locomotor modes, with several taxa featuring primary locomotor modes other than jumping. Using a combination of techniques (CT imaging and 3D visualization, morphometrics, phylogenetic mapping), this study aims to determine the link between skeletal anatomy and locomotor style, habitat type and phylogenetic history, shedding new light on how functional demands impact morphology. Body and limb measurements for 164 taxa from all the recognised anuran families are extracted from digitally segmented CT scans of whole frog skeletons and analysed using various statistical techniques. We find that the expansion of the sacral diapophyses is the most important variable for predicting locomotor mode, which was more closely correlated with frog morphology than either habitat type or phylogenetic relationships. Predictive analyses suggest that skeletal morphology is a useful indicator of jumping but less so for other locomotor modes, suggesting that there is a wide range of anatomical solutions to performing locomotor styles such as swimming, burrowing or walking.
The parent, child and young person experience of difficult venous access and recommendations for clinical practice: A qualitative descriptive study
Authors: Sharp Rebecca , Muncaster Michele , Baring Catherine L. , Manos Jacinta , Kleidon Tricia M. , Ullman Amanda J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAims and objectivesExplore the parent and child/young person experience of difficult venous access and identify ideas and preferences for changes to clinical practice.BackgroundPeripheral intravenous catheter insertion is one of the most common invasive procedures in hospitalised paediatric patients. Multiple insertion attempts in paediatric patients are common and associated with pain and distress. Little research has explored the parent and child/young person experience of difficult venous access nor sought to identify their suggestions to improve clinical practice.DesignQualitative description.MethodsA purposive sampling approach was used to identify children and young people with experience of difficult venous access and their parents. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted, with sample size based on data saturation. Transcripts were analysed using thematic analysis.ResultsThere were 12 participants, seven parents and five children/young people (five parent/child dyads and two individual parents). Analysis of the data revealed three main themes: (1) Distress—before, during and after (2) Families navigating the system: the challenging journey from general clinician to specialist and (3) Difficult venous access impacts both treatment and life outside the hospital A pre‐determined theme, (4) Recommendations for good clinical practice is also described.ConclusionsMultiple attempts to insert a peripheral intravenous catheter are a source of substantial distress for children/young people, leading to treatment avoidance. Effective interpersonal skills, providing choice and avoiding frightening language are important to minimise distress. Clinicians without specialist training should assess each child's venous access experience and consider immediate referral to a specialist if they have a history of difficult venous access. Cultural change is required so clinicians and healthcare services recognise that repeated cannulation may be a source of psychological distress for children/young people.
Functional identification of OsMADS6 and OsMADS17 in floral organ development in rice
Authors: Dong Hao , Qiu Yingxin , Wang Tiankang , Song Shufeng , Li Li , Li Yixing 
Published: May 2023

AbstractRice floral organs are closely related to rice yield and quality, and MADS family genes play an important role in rice floral organ development. In this study, we identified functions of two MADS genes in floral organ development by bioinformatics analysis and CRISPR/Cas9 technology. Our results showed that MADS6 and MADS17 were a pair of highly homologous genes, which had highly similar sequences, motifs and expression profiles. The floral organs of mads6 and mads6/17 mutants were abnormal, whereas mads17 mutants showed no difference with wild type. Collectively, these results reveal that there are functional differentiations between conserved gene MADS6 and MADS17. Our findings provide a theoretical basis for further analysing the function of MADS family homologous genes and unravelling their molecular mechanism and regulatory network.
Clinical presentation of exercise‐associated hyponatremia in male and female IRONMAN® triathletes over three decades
Authors: Johnson Kasey B. , Connolly Christopher P. , Cho Stephanie P. , Miller Thomas K. , Sallis Robert E. , Hiller W. Douglas B. 
Published: May 2023

PurposeExercise‐associated hyponatremia (EAH) is common in ultra‐endurance events and severe cases are more common in females. The purpose of this paper is to compare the clinical presentation of EAH between male and female triathletes in ultra‐endurance competitions.MethodsMedical records with sodium concentrations (n = 3138) from the IRONMAN® World Championships over the timeframe of 1989–2019 were reviewed for both male (n = 2253) and female (n = 885) competitors. Logistic regression was used to explore the relationships between sex, sodium concentration, and various clinical presentations.ResultsWhen comparing male and female triathletes, clinical variables found to have a different relationship with sodium concentration include altered mental status (inversely related in males and not related in females), abdominal pain, muscle cramps, hypotension, and tachycardia (directly related in males and not related in females), and vomiting and hypokalemia (not related in males and inversely related in females). Overall, males lost significantly more weight than females, and notably, approximately half of all athletes were dehydrated and lost weight.ConclusionsAltered mental status, vomiting, abdominal pain, muscle cramps, hypotension, tachycardia, and hyperkalemia appear to present differently between sexes when comparing hyponatremic to eunatremic athletes. Although overhydration is the most common etiology of hypervolemic hyponatremia, hypovolemic hyponatremia comprises a significant amount of hyponatremic triathletes. Further understanding of how EAH presents helps athletes and medical professionals identify it early and prevent life‐threatening complications.
Hybrid Organomineral Carriers for Therapeutic Proteins
Authors: Zelenikhin P. V. , Galeeva A. G. , Islamova R. R. , Lopatin O. N. , Yarullin R. S. , Ilinskaya O. N. 
Published: May 2023

Abstract—
Drug delivery systems are developed to provide a necessary concentration and prolonged effect of the active substance in the organism. Orally administered protein preparations require a protection from the proteolysis in the gastrointestinal tract. Biocompatible hydrophilic polysaccharides in the composition of the matrix are especially promising, since they do not irritate the intestine and are gradually cleaved by specific glycosidases, releasing a therapeutic agent. The introduction of an insoluble porous mineral matrix into the composition of the carrier allows us to increase the concentration of the therapeutic agent in the matrix without a significant increase in the volume of the drug tablet form. In this work, a new original organomineral carrier was created based on heat-treated crushed clinoptilolite zeolite in combination with natural polysaccharides of red algae (agar–agar, agarose, and carrageenan). Granular and finely dispersed clinoptilolites in the composition of the matrix are loaded with a promising therapeutic agent (Bacillus pumilus ribonuclease (binase)), which shows a selective cytotoxicity to tumor cells. It was established that both granular and finely dispersed zeolites in a complex with polysaccharides retain the protein better as compared with pure zeolites and provide a gradual complete release of the enzyme in 18 h; at the same time, binase retains a catalytic activity and causes apoptosis in up to 23.8% of the population of HuTu80 human duodenal adenocarcinoma cells. Data obtained substantiate the prospects of designing dosage forms based on the studied organomineral carriers.
Mapping malaria incidence using routine health facility surveillance data in Uganda
Authors: Epstein Adrienne , Namuganga Jane Frances , Nabende Isaiah , Kamya Emmanuel Victor , Kamya Moses R , Dorsey Grant , Sturrock Hugh , Bhatt Samir , Rodríguez-Barraquer Isabel , Greenhouse Bryan 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionMaps of malaria risk are important tools for allocating resources and tracking progress. Most maps rely on cross-sectional surveys of parasite prevalence, but health facilities represent an underused and powerful data source. We aimed to model and map malaria incidence using health facility data in Uganda.MethodsUsing 24 months (2019–2020) of individual-level outpatient data collected from 74 surveillance health facilities located in 41 districts across Uganda (n=445 648 laboratory-confirmed cases), we estimated monthly malaria incidence for parishes within facility catchment areas (n=310) by estimating care-seeking population denominators. We fit spatio-temporal models to the incidence estimates to predict incidence rates for the rest of Uganda, informed by environmental, sociodemographic and intervention variables. We mapped estimated malaria incidence and its uncertainty at the parish level and compared estimates to other metrics of malaria. To quantify the impact that indoor residual spraying (IRS) may have had, we modelled counterfactual scenarios of malaria incidence in the absence of IRS.ResultsOver 4567 parish-months, malaria incidence averaged 705 cases per 1000 person-years. Maps indicated high burden in the north and northeast of Uganda, with lower incidence in the districts receiving IRS. District-level estimates of cases correlated with cases reported by the Ministry of Health (Spearman’s r=0.68, p<0.0001), but were considerably higher (40 166 418 cases estimated compared with 27 707 794 cases reported), indicating the potential for underreporting by the routine surveillance system. Modelling of counterfactual scenarios suggest that approximately 6.2 million cases were averted due to IRS across the study period in the 14 districts receiving IRS (estimated population 8 381 223).ConclusionOutpatient information routinely collected by health systems can be a valuable source of data for mapping malaria burden. National Malaria Control Programmes may consider investing in robust surveillance systems within public health facilities as a low-cost, high benefit tool to identify vulnerable regions and track the impact of interventions.
Digital health and human rights of young adults in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam: a qualitative participatory action research study
Authors: Davis Sara L M , Pham Trang , Kpodo Irene , Imalingat Tara , Muthui Alex Kilonzo , Mjwana Nomtika , Sandset Tony , Ayeh Elsie , Dong Do Dang , Large Kaitlin , Nininahazwe Cedric , Wafula Timothy , Were Nerima , Podmore Mike , Maleche Allan , Caswell Georgina 
Published: May 2023

IntroductionDigital health offers the potential to strengthen health systems in low- and middle-income countries. However, experts have warned about threats to human rights.MethodsWe used qualitative methods to investigate how young adults in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam use their mobile phones to access online health information and peer support, and what they see as the effect on their human rights. We applied a transnational participatory action research approach. Global and national networks of people living with HIV, AIDS activists, young adults and human rights lawyers participated in study design, desk review, digital ethnography, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and qualitative analysis.ResultsWe interviewed 174 young adults ages 18–30 in 24 focus groups in 7 cities in Ghana, Kenya and Vietnam, and held 36 key informant interviews with national and international stakeholders. Young adults reported predominantly using Google, social media and social chat groups for health information. They emphasised reliance on trusted peer networks, and the role of social media health champions. However, gender inequalities, class, education and geography create barriers to online access. Young adults also disclosed harms linked to seeking health information online. Some described anxiety about phone dependence and risk of surveillance. They called for a greater voice in digital governance.ConclusionNational health officials should invest in young adults’ digital empowerment, and engage them in policy to address benefits and risks of digital health. Governments should cooperate to demand regulation of social media and web platforms to uphold the right to health.