bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Effect on medication adherence of applying a specialty pharmacy care model to nonspecialty medications: A quasi-experimental cohort study
Authors: St. James Gerald J , Duckworth Deborah L , Bochenek Samantha H , Rhudy Christian , Zeltner Matthew , Tagavi Anthony B , Platt Thom L 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Purpose
Medication nonadherence is a multifactorial healthcare problem that contributes to increased healthcare costs and morbidity. To improve medication adherence, specialty pharmacies offer services not typically provided by retail pharmacies such as benefits investigation, financial assistance, medication synchronization, and proactive refill reminders. This study assessed the impact of the specialty pharmacy care model on medication adherence for patients on nonspecialty medications.

Methods
This study was a quasi-experimental cohort comparison of patients who were transferred from a health-system retail pharmacy to a health-system specialty pharmacy between April 1, 2020, and June 30, 2021. The primary endpoint in this study was the difference in mean medication adherence proportion of days covered (PDC) between the post-transfer and pretransfer periods. Secondary outcomes included the proportion of patients with PDC of greater than 80%, medication adherence by drug group, shipment volumes, number of medications per shipment, and the mean copay per medication.

Results
In this study of 163 patients, use of a specialty pharmacy care model led to a significant increase of 7.0% in mean PDC, a significant increase in the percentage of patients with PDC of greater than 80%, a significant decrease in the number of shipments per 30 days per patient, a significant increase in the number of medications included per shipment, and a significant reduction in the mean copay per medication.

Conclusion
The findings in this study suggest that the application of the specialty pharmacy care model to nonspecialty pharmacy patients may improve medication adherence, decrease the number of shipments per patient sent from the pharmacy, and reduce patient copays.
Sense of Purpose in Life and Beliefs and Knowledge of Alzheimer’s Disease
Authors: Sutin Angelina R , Stephan Yannick , Luchetti Martina , Aschwanden Damaris , Sesker Amanda A , Zhu Xianghe , Terracciano Antonio 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Objective
A sense of purpose in life is associated with healthier cognitive outcomes, including lower risk of Alzheimer’s Disease (ad). The present research examines whether purpose is also associated with beliefs and knowledge of ad.

Method
A random subsample (N = 1,187) of community-dwelling participants from the Health and Retirement Study completed a module on self-reported beliefs and knowledge of ad.

Results
Purpose in life was associated with lower perceived threat of ad and greater belief that modifiable factors (e.g., physical activity) decrease risk. Associations were not moderated by experience with ad or depressive symptoms. Purpose was unrelated to beliefs that genetics or stress increase risk or knowledge of ad.

Conclusions
Individuals with a sense of purpose are less concerned about risk of developing ad and believe modifiable factors reduce risk. These beliefs may support engagement in behaviors that reduce risk and be one psychological pathway through which purpose protects against ad.
PALM: a powerful and adaptive latent model for prioritizing risk variants with functional annotations
Authors: Yu Xinyi , Xiao Jiashun , Cai Mingxuan , Jiao Yuling , Wan Xiang , Liu Jin , Yang Can 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMotivationThe findings from genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have greatly helped us to understand the genetic basis of human complex traits and diseases. Despite the tremendous progress, much effects are still needed to address several major challenges arising in GWAS. First, most GWAS hits are located in the non-coding region of human genome, and thus their biological functions largely remain unknown. Second, due to the polygenicity of human complex traits and diseases, many genetic risk variants with weak or moderate effects have not been identified yet.ResultsTo address the above challenges, we propose a powerful and adaptive latent model (PALM) to integrate cell-type/tissue-specific functional annotations with GWAS summary statistics. Unlike existing methods, which are mainly based on linear models, PALM leverages a tree ensemble to adaptively characterize non-linear relationship between functional annotations and the association status of genetic variants. To make PALM scalable to millions of variants and hundreds of functional annotations, we develop a functional gradient-based expectation–maximization algorithm, to fit the tree-based non-linear model in a stable manner. Through comprehensive simulation studies, we show that PALM not only controls false discovery rate well, but also improves statistical power of identifying risk variants. We also apply PALM to integrate summary statistics of 30 GWASs with 127 cell type/tissue-specific functional annotations. The results indicate that PALM can identify more risk variants as well as rank the importance of functional annotations, yielding better interpretation of GWAS results.Availability and implementationThe source code is available at https://github.com/YangLabHKUST/PALM.Supplementary informationSupplementary data are available at Bioinformatics online.
Bacillus Calmette–Guérin Tokyo-172 vaccine provides age-related neuroprotection in actively induced and spontaneous experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis models
Authors: Cossu Davide , Yokoyama Kazumasa , Sakanishi Tamami , Sechi Leonardo A , Hattori Nobutaka 
Published: February 2023

AbstractMultiple sclerosis is the most common immune-mediated disorder affecting the central nervous system in young adults but still has no cure. Bacillus Calmette–Guérin (BCG) vaccine is reported to have non-specific anti-inflammatory effects and therapeutic benefits in autoimmune disorders including multiple sclerosis. However, the precise mechanism of action of BCG and the host immune response to it remain unclear. In this study, we aimed to investigate the efficacy of the BCG Tokyo-172 vaccine in suppressing experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE). Groups of young and mature adult female C57BL/6J mice were BCG-vaccinated 1 month prior or 6 days after active EAE induction using myelin oligodendrocyte glycoprotein (MOG)35–55 peptide. Another group of 2D2 TCRMOG transgenic female mice was BCG-vaccinated before and after the onset of spontaneous EAE. BCG had an age-associated protective effect against active EAE only in wild-type mice vaccinated 1 month before EAE induction. Furthermore, the incidence of spontaneous EAE was significantly lower in BCG vaccinated 2D2 mice than in non-vaccinated controls. Protection against EAE was associated with reduced splenic T-cell proliferation in response to MOG35–55 peptide together with high frequency of CD8+ interleukin-10-secreting T cells in the spleen. In addition, microglia and astrocytes isolated from BCG-vaccinated mice showed polarization to anti-inflammatory M2 and A2 phenotypes, respectively. Our data provide new insights into the cell-mediated and humoral immune mechanisms underlying BCG vaccine-induced neuroprotection, potentially useful for developing better strategies for the treatment of MS.
Paradoxical electro-olfactogram responses in TMEM16B knock-out mice
Authors: Guarneri Giorgia , Pifferi Simone , Dibattista Michele , Reisert Johannes , Menini Anna 
Published: February 2023

AbstractThe Ca2+-activated Cl¯ channel TMEM16B carries up to 90% of the transduction current evoked by odorant stimulation in olfactory sensory neurons and control the number of action potential firing and therefore the length of the train of action potentials. A loss of function approach revealed that TMEM16B is required for olfactory-driven behaviors such as tracking unfamiliar odors. Here, we used the electro-olfactogram (EOG) technique to investigate the contribution of TMEM16B to odorant transduction in the whole olfactory epithelium. Surprisingly, we found that EOG responses from Tmem16b knock out mice have a bigger amplitude compared to those of wild type. Moreover, the kinetics of EOG responses is faster in absence of TMEM16B, while the ability to adapt to repeated stimulation is altered in knock out mice. The larger EOG responses in Tmem16b knock out may be the results of the removal of the clamping and/or shunting action of the Ca2+-activated Cl¯ currents leading to the paradox of having smaller transduction current but larger generator potential.
Decoding US–China Strategic Competition: Comparative Leverages and Issue Selection
Authors: Wu Chengqiu 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
This article attempts to explore why the USA and China have competed on some issues but not on others and why, in such instances, the USA has gone on the offensive. To answer these questions, we conceptualise strategic competition and propose a strategic competition theory that explains—through a number of descriptive variables, and taking into account political leaders’ ideological preferences—great powers’ issue selection. To examine the selection of issues amid US–China strategic competition, we choose nine issues that are to the USA’s advantage and four issues that are to China’s advantage. We then assess the respective values of the issues’ explanatory variables, which results in a ranking of the leverages in the USA’s and China’s respective toolkits. In comparing the two countries’ bargaining chips and the Trump and Biden administrations’ specific evaluations of those of the USA, we argue that (1) both countries have behaved rationally in their competition; (2) the ideological preferences of political leaders have influenced the USA’s issue selection; and (3) the USA has taken the offensive because the leverage ratio is in the USA’s favour. We further explore the prospects of US–China strategic competition and call for an issue-specific approach to foreign policy research.
Encoding with Combination Orientation Technique for RDH in Dual Stego Images
Authors: Shaji C , Sam I Shatheesh 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
In this paper, initially, message intensities are used to create two encoding tables: an index and a code sequence. The table is then updated with $n$ secret data encoded into it. If the code sequence of the second encoding table matches the code sequence of the preceding or succeeding half of the two encoding tables, the second encoding table is folded. The folding is done when maximum intensity occurs in the utmost succeeding part of the two encoding tables. Finally, using the combination orientation approach, the encoded indices are embedded in the stego images. In the extraction phase, using the two stego images and the encoding with the combination orientation method, the encoded indices are obtained. The decoding is performed to extract the secret message as well as the cover image and there is no occurrence of overflow and underflow problems. It has a high visual quality and a high embedding capacity. The proposed technique achieved a maximum $\mathrm{PSNR}$ of $49.49$dB and a $648\ 242$-bit embedding capacity. When compared to traditional techniques, the experimental results show that the proposed method outperforms them.
Dementia’s Unique Burden: Function and Health Care in the Last 4 Years of Life
Authors: Broyles Ila Hughes , Li Qinghua , Palmer Lauren Martin  , DiBello Michael , Dey Judith , Oliveira Iara , Lamont Helen 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Background
Dementia is a terminal illness marked by progressive cognitive decline. This study characterized trajectories of functional status and health care use for people with and without dementia at the end of their life.

Methods
We used the Health and Retirement Study linked with Medicare claims to generate a series of generalized linear models. Models predicted functional status and health care use for decedents with and without dementia during each month in the last 4 years of life (48 months).

Results
People with dementia have high, sustained functional impairments during the entire last 4 years of life. People with dementia have the same predicted average activities of daily living score (1.92) at 17 months before death (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.857, 1.989) as individuals without dementia at 6 months before death (95% CI: 1.842, 1.991). Dementia was associated with significantly less hospice during the final 3 months of life, with a 12.5% (95% CI: 11.046, 13.906) likelihood of hospice in the last month of life with dementia versus 17.3% (95% CI: 15.573, 18.982) without dementia. Dementia was also associated with less durable medical equipment (p &lt; .001), less home health care (p &lt; .005), and fewer office visits (p &lt; .001). There were not significant differences in likelihood of hospitalization in the last 48 months with or without dementia.

Conclusions
People with dementia can functionally appear to be at end of life (EOL) for years before their death. Simultaneously, they receive less health care, particularly home health and hospice, in their last months. Models of care that target people with dementia should consider the unique and sustained burden of dementia at EOL.
Feasibility of a Smartwatch Platform to Assess Ecological Mobility: Real-Time Online Assessment and Mobility Monitor
Authors: Smail Emily J , Alpert Jordan M , Mardini Mamoun T , Kaufmann Christopher N , Bai Chen , Gill Thomas M , Fillingim Roger B , Cenko Erta , Zapata Ruben , Karnati Yashaswi , Marsiske Michael , Ranka Sanjay , Manini Todd M 
Published: February 2023

AbstractBackgroundEarly detection of mobility decline is critical to prevent subsequent reductions in quality of life, disability, and mortality. However, traditional approaches to mobility assessment are limited in their ability to capture daily fluctuations that align with sporadic health events. We aim to describe findings from a pilot study of our Real-time Online Assessment and Mobility Monitor (ROAMM) smartwatch application, which uniquely captures multiple streams of data in real time in ecological settings.MethodsData come from a sample of 31 participants (Mage = 74.7, 51.6% female) who used ROAMM for approximately 2 weeks. We describe the usability and feasibility of ROAMM, summarize prompt data using descriptive metrics, and compare prompt data with traditional survey-based questionnaires or other established measures.ResultsParticipants were satisfied with ROAMM’s function (87.1%) and ranked the usability as “above average.” Most were highly engaged (average adjusted compliance = 70.7%) and the majority reported being “likely” to enroll in a 2-year study (77.4%). Some smartwatch features were correlated with their respective traditional measurements (eg, certain GPS-derived life-space mobility features (r = 0.50–0.51, p &lt; .05) and ecologically measured pain (r = 0.72, p = .01), but others were not (eg, ecologically measured fatigue).ConclusionsROAMM was usable, acceptable, and effective at measuring mobility and risk factors for mobility decline in our pilot sample. Additional work with a larger and more diverse sample is necessary to confirm associations between smartwatch-measured features and traditional measures. By monitoring multiple data streams simultaneously in ecological settings, this technology could uniquely contribute to the evolution of mobility measurement and risk factors for mobility loss.
Comparing D3-Creatine Dilution and Dual-Energy X-ray Absorptiometry Muscle Mass Responses to Strength Training in Low-Functioning Older Adults
Authors: Balachandran Anoop T , Evans William J , Cawthon Peggy M , Wang Yipeng , Shankaran Mahalakshmi , Hellerstein Marc K , Qiu Peihua , Manini Todd 
Published: February 2023

Abstract

Background
In contrast to dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DXA), the D3-creatine (D3Cr) dilution method provides a direct measure of skeletal muscle mass and in a cohort of older men has been strongly associated with health-related outcomes. However, sensitivity to detect changes in D3Cr-derived muscle mass due to an intervention is limited.

Methods
Twenty-one older adults (≥70 years) with low-to-moderate physical function were randomized to a 15-week high-intensity strength training (ST) or a health education (HE) group. Full-body progressive intensity ST was performed 3 days per week.

Results
The mean age was 82.1 years, with 64% females. After 15 weeks, both D3Cr muscle mass (MM; 2.29 kg; 95% CI: 0.22, 4.36) and DXA appendicular lean mass (ALM; 1.04 kg; 95% CI: 0.31, 1.77) were greater in ST group compared to HE. Baseline correlations between D3Cr MM and DXA ALM (r = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.53, 0.92) or total lean body mass (LBM; r = 0.79; 95% CI: 0.52, 0.91) were high. However, longitudinal changes in D3Cr MM were weakly correlated with changes in DXA ALM (r = 0.19; 95% CI: −0.35, 0.64) and LBM (r = 0.40; 95% CI: −0.13, 0.76). More participants showed positive response rates, defined as a &gt;5% increase from baseline, with D3Cr MM (80%) than DXA measures (14%–43%).

Conclusions
A progressive ST intervention in low-functioning older adults increased D3Cr MM and DXA ALM. These data suggest that the D3Cr dilution is potentially sensitive to detect changes in muscle mass in response to resistance exercise training. These results are preliminary and could be used for planning larger trials to replicate these results.
Effects of pro-white identity cues in American political candidate communication
Authors: Lane Daniel S , Hansia Afsoon , Saleem Muniba 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
American politicians have always harnessed the group nature of politics to build political power. Yet it is unclear whether explicit appeals to dominant group identities (e.g., white identity) can help political leaders win support from dominant group members (e.g., white Americans). Four experimental studies (N = 2,279; two pre-registered) used the identity ownership perspective (Kreiss et al., 2020) to examine how a fictional candidates’ support or opposition toward renting city space to dominant group members (e.g., white Music Association) affected white Americans’ evaluations of that candidate. Support for white groups was perceived as prototypical of Republicans, but expressing such support decreased candidates’ favorability. However, findings suggested: (a) decreases were smaller for white Republican (vs. Democrat) participants (Study 2) and (b) candidates faced similar negative evaluations if they communicated opposition to policies favoring white people (Studies 3–4). Results offered some support for candidate prototypicality as a mechanism for these effects.
¿Un romance moderno? El Derecho Internacional Público y el Derecho Constitucional en el trabajo de la Corte Constitucional ecuatoriana
Authors: Carbonell Yánez María Helena , Martínez Molina Dunia 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
This article analyses the work of the Ecuadorian Constitutional Court from an International Human Rights Law perspective. The focus is on four of the competences the Constitution has given the Court: constitutional control of treaties and norms; the norm consultation action (acción de consulta de norma) and the control of the states of emergency declared by the President. The authors present a qualitative analysis of how the Constitutional Court uses different sources of International Human Rights Law.
The Rapid and Spontaneous Postpartum Clearance of Plasmodium falciparum Is Related to Expulsion of the Placenta
Authors: Anabire Nsoh G , Quintana Maria del Pilar , Ofori Michael F , Hviid Lars 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Parasitemia among pregnant women with protective immunity to Plasmodium falciparum malaria is often dominated by VAR2CSA-positive infected erythrocytes (IEs). VAR2CSA mediates sequestration of IEs in the placenta. We hypothesized that the previously observed spontaneous postpartum clearance of parasitemia in such women is related to the expulsion of the placenta, which removes the sequestration focus of VAR2CSA-positive IEs. We assessed parasitemias and gene transcription before and shortly after delivery in 17 Ghanaian women. The precipitous decline in parasitemia postpartum was accompanied by selective reduction in transcription of the gene encoding VAR2CSA. Our findings provide a mechanistic explanation for the earlier observation.
Impact of Antibiotic Treatment on the Gut Microbiome and its Resistome in Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplant Recipients
Authors: Nørgaard Jens Christian , Jørgensen Mette , Moestrup Kasper Sommerlund , Ilett Emma Elizabeth , Zucco Adrian Gabriel , Marandi Ramtin Z , Julian Marc Noguera , Paredes Roger , Lundgren Jens D , Sengeløv Henrik , MacPherson Cameron 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
Antibiotic-resistant bacterial infections are increasingly an issue in allogenic hematopoietic stem cell transplant patients. How antibiotic treatment impacts antibiotic resistance in the human gut microbiome remains poorly understood in vivo. Here, a total of 577 fecal samples from 233 heavily antibiotic-treated transplant patients were examined using high-resolution prescription data and shotgun metagenomics. The 13 most frequently used antibiotics were significantly associated with 154 (40% of tested associations) microbiome features. Use of broad-spectrum β-lactam antibiotics was most markedly associated with microbial disruption and increase in resistome features. The enterococcal vanA gene was positively associated with 8 of the 13 antibiotics, and in particular piperacillin/tazobactam and vancomycin. Here, we highlight the need for a high-resolution approach in understanding the development of antibiotic resistance in the gut microbiome. Our findings can be used to inform antibiotic stewardship and combat the increasing threat of antibiotic resistance.
The Ten promised paradise: a study of the origin and formation of a sunni doctrine through isnād-cum-matn analysis
Authors: Su I-Wen 
Published: February 2023

Abstract
The concept that a certain nine or ten Companions, assured of Paradise in a Prophet ḥadīth, are superior to the rest of the Companions is among the most noteworthy Sunni beliefs. However, though well represented in the works of the ninth-century ḥadīth scholars, this concept has yet to receive adequate discussion in current scholarship. This article investigates its origin by examining various versions of the ‘Ten Promised Paradise’ ḥadīth through isnād-cum-matn analysis. The analysis suggests that this hadith, first emerging before 700, was widely circulated in Iraqi cities (above all, Kufa), and Madina before the mid-eighth century. Through examination of the socio-political milieu in which the earliest known disseminators of the ḥadīth lived, this article argues that the concept came into circulation after the second fitna. This ḥadīth’s ascendancy emerged (in Kufa) from protest against both the Umayyad hostility towards the ʿAlids and their partisans and proto-Shiʿi movements of all kinds (the Ghulāt and Hāshimīs); its propogation in Madina was most likely prompted by rivalry between the caliphate and the Hijazi elite. The article goes on to explore how the ethos of this ḥadīth became an early Sunni doctrine. A close examination of the transmitters following the earliest identifiable disseminators of various versions of the ḥadīth reveals that many transmitters played a prominent role in shaping the communal identity of the ahl al-ḥadīth. They took part in formulating their historical memory, developing ḥadīth criticism and establishing sunna either by articulating the ‘orthodoxy’ or by combating the so-called ‘innovators’.