bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of Produce Prescriptions on Diet, Food Security, and Cardiometabolic Health Outcomes: A Multisite Evaluation of 9 Produce Prescription Programs in the United States
Authors: Hager Kurt , Du Mengxi , Li Zhongyu , Mozaffarian Dariush , Chui Kenneth , Shi Peilin , Ling Brent , Cash Sean B. , Folta Sara C. , Zhang Fang Fang 
Published: August 2023

BACKGROUND:
Produce prescriptions may improve cardiometabolic health by increasing fruit and vegetable (F&V) consumption and food insecurity yet impacts on clinical outcomes and health status have not been evaluated in large, multisite evaluations.

METHODS:

This multisite, pre- and post-evaluation used individual-level data from 22 produce prescription locations in 12 US states from 2014 to 2020. No programs were previously evaluated. The study included 3881 individuals (2064 adults aged 18+ years and 1817 children aged 2–17 years) with, or at risk for, poor cardiometabolic health recruited from clinics serving low-income neighborhoods. Programs provided financial incentives to purchase F&V at grocery stores or farmers markets (median, $63/months; duration, 4–10 months). Surveys assessed F&V intake, food security, and self-reported health; glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and BMI
z
-score were measured at clinics. Adjusted, multilevel mixed models accounted for clustering by program.

RESULTS:

After a median participation of 6.0 months, F&V intake increased by 0.85 (95% CI, 0.68–1.02) and 0.26 (95% CI, 0.06–0.45) cups per day among adults and children, respectively. The odds of being food insecure dropped by one-third (odds ratio, 0.63 [0.52–0.76]) and odds of improving 1 level in self-reported health status increased for adults (odds ratio, 1.62 [1.30–2.02]) and children (odds ratio, 2.37 [1.70–3.31]). Among adults with glycated hemoglobin ≥6.5%, glycated hemoglobin declined by −0.29% age points (−0.42 to −0.16); among adults with hypertension, systolic and diastolic blood pressures declined by −8.38 mm Hg (−10.13 to −6.62) and −4.94 mm Hg (−5.96 to −3.92); and among adults with overweight or obesity, BMI decreased by −0.36 kg/m
2
(−0.64 to −0.09). Child BMI
z
-score did not change −0.01 (−0.06 to 0.04).

CONCLUSIONS:
In this large, multisite evaluation, produce prescriptions were associated with significant improvements in F&V intake, food security, and health status for adults and children, and clinically relevant improvements in glycated hemoglobin, blood pressure, and BMI for adults with poor cardiometabolic health.
TRAF Family Member 4 Promotes Cardiac Hypertrophy Through the Activation of the AKT Pathway
Authors: Li Jian , Wang Chang‐Quan , Xiao Wen‐Chang , Chen Yun , Tu Jun , Wan Feng , Deng Ke‐Qiong , Li Huo‐Ping 
Published: August 2023

Background
Pathological cardiac hypertrophy is a major cause of heart failure morbidity. The complex mechanism of intermolecular interactions underlying the pathogenesis of cardiac hypertrophy has led to a lack of development and application of therapeutic methods.

Methods and Results
Our study provides the first evidence that TRAF4, a member of the tumor necrosis factor receptor–associated factor (TRAF) family, acts as a promoter of cardiac hypertrophy. Here, Western blotting assays demonstrated that TRAF4 is upregulated in cardiac hypertrophy. Additionally, TRAF4 deletion inhibits the development of cardiac hypertrophy in a mouse model after transverse aortic constriction surgery, whereas its overexpression promotes phenylephrine stimulation‐induced cardiomyocyte hypertrophy in primary neonatal rat cardiomyocytes. Mechanistically, RNA‐seq analysis revealed that TRAF4 promoted the activation of the protein kinase B pathway during cardiac hypertrophy. Moreover, we found that inhibition of protein kinase B phosphorylation rescued the aggravated cardiomyocyte hypertrophic phenotypes caused by TRAF4 overexpression in phenylephrine‐treated neonatal rat cardiomyocytes, suggesting that TRAF4 may regulate cardiac hypertrophy in a protein kinase B–dependent manner.

Conclusions
Our results revealed the regulatory function of TRAF4 in cardiac hypertrophy, which may provide new insights into developing therapeutic and preventive targets for this disease.
Association Between Maternal Factors in Early Pregnancy and Congenital Heart Defects in Offspring: The Japan Environment and Children's Study
Authors: Kawai Shun , Pak Kyongsun , Iwamoto Shintaro , Kawakami Chihiro , Inuzuka Ryo , Maeda Jun , Furutani Yoshiyuki , Kamisago Mitsuhiro , Takatsuki Shunichi , Uyeda Tomomi , Yamagishi Hiroyuki , Ito Shuichi , Kobayashi Tohru ,   The Japan Environment and Children's Study Group
Published: August 2023

Background
Many prenatal factors are reported to be associated with congenital heart defects (CHD) in offspring. However, these associations have not been adequately examined using large‐scale birth cohorts.

Methods and Results
We evaluated a data set of the Japan Environmental and Children's Study. The primary outcome was a diagnosis of CHD by age 2 years. We defined the following variables as exposures: maternal baseline characteristics, fertilization treatment, maternal history of diseases, socioeconomic status, maternal alcohol intake, smoking, tea consumption, maternal dietary intake, and maternal medications and supplements up to 12 weeks of gestation. We used multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the associations between various exposures and CHD in offspring. A total of 91 664 singletons were included, among which 1264 (1.38%) had CHD. In multivariable analysis, vitamin A supplements (adjusted odds ratio [aOR], 5.78 [95% CI, 2.30–14.51]), maternal use of valproic acid (aOR, 4.86 [95% CI, 1.51–15.64]), maternal use of antihypertensive agents (aOR, 3.80 [95% CI, 1.74–8.29]), maternal age ≥40 years (aOR, 1.59 [95% CI, 1.14–2.20]), and high maternal hemoglobin concentration in the second trimester (aOR, 1.10 per g/dL [95% CI, 1.03–1.17]) were associated with CHD in offspring.

Conclusions
Using a Japanese large‐scale birth cohort study, we found 6 maternal factors to be associated with CHD in offspring.
Risk of Incident Venous Thromboembolism Among Patients With Bullous Pemphigoid or Pemphigus Vulgaris: A Nationwide Cohort Study With Meta‐Analysis
Authors: Chen Tai‐Li , Huang Wan‐Ting , Loh Ching‐Hui , Huang Huei‐Kai , Chi Ching‐Chi 
Published: August 2023

Background
Bullous pemphigoid (BP) and pemphigus vulgaris (PV) share similar pathophysiology with venous thromboembolism (VTE) involving platelet activation, immune dysregulation, and systemic inflammation. Nevertheless, their associations have not been well established.

Methods and Results

To examine the risk of incident VTE among patients with BP or PV, we performed a nationwide cohort study using Taiwan's National Health Insurance Research Database and enrolled 12 162 adults with BP or PV and 12 162 controls. A Cox regression model considering stabilized inverse probability weighting was used to calculate the hazard ratios (HRs) for incident VTE associated with BP or PV. To consolidate the findings, a meta‐analysis that incorporated results from the present cohort study with previous literature was also conducted. Compared with controls, patients with BP or PV had an increased risk for incident VTE (HR, 1.87 [95% CI, 1.55–2.26];
P
<0.001). The incidence of VTE was 6.47 and 2.20 per 1000 person‐years in the BP and PV cohorts, respectively. The risk for incident VTE significantly increased among patients with BP (HR, 1.85 [95% CI, 1.52–2.24];
P
<0.001) and PV (HR, 1.99 [95% CI, 1.02–3.91];
P
=0.04). In the meta‐analysis of 8 studies including ours, BP and PV were associated with an increased risk for incident VTE (pooled relative risk, 2.17 [95% CI, 1.82–2.62];
P
<0.001).

Conclusions
BP and PV are associated with an increased risk for VTE. Preventive approaches and cardiovascular evaluation should be considered particularly for patients with BP or PV with concomitant risk factors such as hospitalization or immobilization.
Black Womanhood: Raciolinguistic Intersections of Gender, Sexuality
& Social Status in the Aftermaths of Colonization
Authors: Clemons Aris Moreno , Grieser Jessica A. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
In this essay, we highlight the colonial invention of oppositional and binary categories as a dominant form of social sorting and meaning-making in our society. We understand language as a tool for the construction, maintenance, and analysis of these categories. Through language, these categorizations often render those who sit at the margins illegible. We center the Black woman as the prototypical “other,” her condition being interpreted neither by conventions of race nor gender, and take Black womanhood as the point of departure for a description of the necessary intersecting and variable analyses of social life. We call for an exploration of social life that considers the raciolinguistic intersections of gender, sexuality, and social class as part and parcel of overarching social formations. In this way, we can advocate for a shift in linguistics and in all social sciences that accounts for the mutability of category. We argue that a raciolinguistic perspective allows for a more nuanced investigation of the compounding intersections of race, gender, sexuality, and social status that often function to erase Black womanhood.
Currents of Innuendo Converge on an American Path to Political
Hate
Authors: Mendoza-Denton Norma 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Uses of innuendo such as enthymemes, sarcasm, and dog whistles by politicians and the resulting interlineal readings available to some listeners gave us an early warning about the type of relationship that has now obtained between Christianity and politics, and specifically the rise of Christian Nationalism as facilitated by President Donald Trump. I argue that two currents of indirectness in American politics, one religious and the other racial, have converged like tributaries leading to a larger body of water.
Concepts of ‘Law’ as Both Tools and Objects in the Study of Religions: A Case from 1950s Ghana – or When may a Christian Slaughter a Sheep?
Authors: Beutter Anne 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
This paper discusses ‘law’ and ‘religion’ as a co-dependent dyad, and argues that the academic study of religion should see the concept of law as both an analytical category and an object of study. To this end, it argues for a broader understanding of law. It demonstrates that the understanding of law as secular state law, commonly used in analysis, is part of both religious and legal history. Anti-, intra-, and interreligious polemics and agendas were, after all, vital in the genesis and global proliferation of this understanding of law. In a second step, the paper performs an empirical analysis of legal practices within a religious organisation: the Presbyterian Church of the Gold Coast/Ghana. Two cases from one of this church’s courts in the 1950s are analysed to showcase how religious actors contributed to the fashioning of the dyad of religion and law as a global phenomenon.
Unheard Minority Opinions in the Nigeria-Biafra War, 1967–1970
Authors: Ani Uchenna S. , Ugbudian Lucky I. , Ezeonwuka Franklin I. , Ezedinachi Ifeoma E. , Uwakwe Christopher C. , Eke Jude U. , Ajaegbo Ifeanyi K. 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
The existing literature portrays the declaration of the independence of Biafra as a unanimous decision of the people of Biafra. While many leaders and personalities in Biafra supported the secession and some other decisions taken by the Biafran High Command, some others had reservations on that. Unfortunately, the existing literature in the Nigerian-Biafra war has not captured these silent voices. This paper intends therefore to capture these voices that have been neglected in the historiography of the war and situate them in proper historical perspective. The paper relies more on oral history of the war granted by some Biafran leaders who were actively involved in the war; it was complimented with books, monographs and other materials on the Nigerian-Biafran war. Available facts will be analysed using qualitative research methodology.
On Wine-Drinking in Sufi-Philosophical Islam: A Response to Shahab Ahmed
Authors: Nair Arjun 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Shahab Ahmed’s What is Islam? The Importance of Being Islamic is perhaps the most ambitious book in Islamic Studies of the last fifty years. One of the ways specialists might engage critically with Ahmed’s work is with his various presentations of the ideas of different Muslim actors featured in his re-conceptualization of Islam, upon which Ahmed often constructs his own positive theses. Does he represent their ideas accurately enough to justify the work that they do for him? For example, Ahmed’s treatment of “Muslim wine-drinking” relies on his setting up an opposition between the norms of the Law and an alternative set of norms determined by “Sufi-philosophical Islam.” In this paper, I suggest that Ahmed misrepresents this relationship. A careful study of the ideas invoked by Ahmed to support his thesis shows that a Sufi-philosophical exploration of wine-drinking was in fact compatible with the Law, even as it transcended It.
Conditional Ensemble Model Output Statistics for Postprocessing of Ensemble Precipitation Forecasting
Authors: Ji Yan , Zhi Xiefei , Ji Luying , Peng Ting 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Forecasts produced by EPSs provide the potential state of the future atmosphere and quantify uncertainty. However, the raw ensemble forecasts from a single EPS are typically characterized by underdispersive predictions, especially for precipitation that follows a right-skewed gamma distribution. In this study, censored and shifted gamma distribution ensemble model output statistics (CSG-EMOS) is performed as one of the state-of-the-art methods for probabilistic precipitation postprocessing across China. Ensemble forecasts from multiple EPSs, including the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecasts, the National Centers for Environmental Prediction, and the Met Office, are collected as raw ensembles. A conditional CSG EMOS (Cond-CSG-EMOS) model is further proposed to calibrate the ensemble forecasts for heavy-precipitation events, where the standard CSG-EMOS is insufficient. The precipitation samples from the training period are divided into two categories, light- and heavy-precipitation events, according to a given precipitation threshold and prior ensemble forecast. Then individual models are, respectively, optimized for adequate parameter estimation. The results demonstrate that the Cond-CSG-EMOS is superior to the raw EPSs and the standard CSG-EMOS, especially for the calibration of heavy-precipitation events. The spatial distribution of forecast skills shows that the Cond-CSG-EMOS outperforms the others over most of the study region, particularly in North and Central China. A sensitivity testing on the precipitation threshold shows that a higher threshold leads to better outcomes for the regions that have more heavy-precipitation events, i.e., South China. Our results indicate that the proposed Cond-CSG-EMOS model is a promising approach for the statistical postprocessing of ensemble precipitation forecasts.

Significance Statement
Heavy-precipitation events are of highly socioeconomic relevance. But it remains a great challenge to obtain high-quality probabilistic quantitative precipitation forecasting (PQPF) from the operational ensemble prediction systems (EPSs). Statistical postprocessing is commonly used to calibrate the systematic errors of the raw EPSs forecasts. However, the non-Gaussian nature of precipitation and the imbalance between the size of light- and heavy-precipitation samples add to the challenge. This study proposes a conditional postprocessing method to improve PQPF of heavy precipitation by performing calibration separately for light and heavy precipitation, in contrast to some previous studies. Our results indicate that the conditional model mitigates the underestimation of heavy precipitation, as well as with a better calibration for the light- and moderate-precipitation.
Developments in Chemical Expansion Systems for Use in Cellular Polymers
Authors: Collington K. T. 
Published: August 2023

This paper illustrates the increasing range of end applications for azodicarbonamide and the subsequent modifications necessary, both physically and chemically, to ensure its satisfactory performance. Physical modifications of azodicarbonamide to satisfy performance requirements in the plastisol area are detailed, together with the development of azodicarbonamide blends, to modify the decomposition mechanism, eliminate undesirable decomposition residues, and ultimately, modifications in the production of azodicarbonamide to satisfy the performance requirements for use in chemically crosslinked polyolefin foams. The area of high temperature expansion systems, which do not liberate ammonia as part of their gaseous decomposition products, is also discussed relevant to their use in engineering thermoplastics.
“Warming the house”: Children and animals “doing family”
Authors: Policarpo Verónica , de Almeida Ana Nunes , Tereno Henrique 
Published: August 2023

In this article, we explore the common worlds of children and companion animals, and ask how animals are contributing to the making of contemporary families, and of childhood therein. Departing from D. H. Morgan’s conceptualisation of family practices, we explore the possibility of extending this concept to children-animals relationships and ask whether it is possible to talk about children-animal practices. We draw on empirical data from 48 interviews conducted within 24 Portuguese families, with children aged 8–14, and living with at least one dog and/or one cat for six months or more. We propose that animals are actively doing family, and contributing to the making of contemporary childhood and parenthood. We conclude that there is theoretical and methodological potential in developing the concept of children-animal practices.
Case report: Monoclonal antibodies as an alternative treatment for new daily persistent headache
Authors: Bancalari Ernesto M , Hernández Natalia , Soria Analia , Bruera Osvaldo 
Published: August 2023

Background: New Daily Persistent Headache (NDPH) is a disabling daily headache that causes huge frustration for patients and headache specialists. Elevated TNF-alpha levels, that elevate CGRP levels, on the CSF of NDPH patients has been described as a possible cause of this disease. TNF-alpha inhibitors like doxycycline, venlafaxine, montelukast and lithium have been used in the past to treat NDPH patients, with relatively good success as described from case reports. Conclusion: We report three NDPH patients that improved with the administration of Anti CGRP monoclonal antibodies (mAbs), after trying multiple treatments. We propose this class of drugs, as a therapeutic option for NDPH.
Do physicians remember cases? Implications for longitudinal designs in medical research and competency assessment
Authors: Brunyé Tad T , Konold Catherine E , Wang Jason , Kerr Kathleen F , Drew Trafton , Shucard Hannah , Soroka Kim , Weaver Donald L , Elmore Joann G 
Published: August 2023

Background In pathology and other specialties of diagnostic medicine, longitudinal studies and competency assessments often involve physicians interpreting the same images multiple times. In these designs, a washout period is used to reduce the chances that later interpretations are influenced by prior exposure. Objective/s The present study examines whether a washout period between 9 and 39 months is sufficient to prevent three effects of prior exposure when pathologists review digital breast tissue biopsies and render diagnostic decisions: faster case review durations, higher confidence, and lower perceived difficulty. Methods In a longitudinal breast pathology study, 48 resident pathologists reviewed a mix of five novel and five repeated digital whole slide images during Phase 2, occurring 9–39 months after an initial Phase 1 review. Importantly, cases that were repeated for some participants in Phase 2 were novel for other participants in Phase 2. We statistically tested for differences in participants’ case review duration, self-reported confidence, and self-reported difficulty in Phase 2 based on whether the case was novel or repeated. Results No statistically significant difference in review time, confidence, or difficulty as a function of whether the case was repeated or novel in a Phase 2 review occurring 9-39 months after initial viewing; this same result was found in a subset of participants with a shorter (9-14-months) washout. Conclusion These results provide evidence to support the efficacy of at least a 9-months washout period in the design of longitudinal medical imaging and informatics studies to ensure no detectable effect of initial exposure on participant’s subsequent case review.
Magnetically controlled graphene field-effect transistor biosensor for highly sensitive detection of cardiac troponin I
Authors: Zhu Xiaofeng , Cheng Kangning , Ding Yue , Liu Huanqing , Xie Shuqi , Cao Yuwei , Yue Weiwei 
Published: August 2023

AbstractHerein, we have constructed a magnetic graphene field-effect transistor biosensor (MGFETs) for highly sensitive detection of cardiac troponin I (CTNI). Graphene films transferred to ITO conductive glass as conductive channels. CTNI aptamer was immobilized onto the graphene film via 1-pyrene-butanoic acid succinimidyl ester (PBASE) to capture CTNI. Magnetic nanobeads (MBs) modified with CTNI antibody were added to the reaction chamber to form an aptamer/CTNI/antibody/magnetic nanobeads sandwich-type complex. We found that the magnetic force exerted on the complex leads to an impedance change of the graphene film. The reason for this result is that the magnetic field exerts an influence on the MBs, causing CTNI aptamer strand to bend, resulting in a change in the distance between the double conductive layers of the graphene film surface and the test solution. With periodic sampling integration, different concentrations of CTNI can be detected with high sensitivity. Due to the stringent recognition capability and high affinity between the CTNI aptamer and CTNI, MGFETs have the potential to detect various types of proteins. Furthermore, MGFETs also have the potential to be utilized for the detection of DNA or specific cells in the future.