bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
ACTIV-2: A Platform Trial for the Evaluation of Novel Therapeutics for the Treatment of Early COVID-19 in Outpatients
Authors: Currier Judith S , Moser Carlee , Eron Joseph J , Chew Kara W , Smith Davey M , Javan Arzhang Cyrus , Wohl David Alain , Daar Eric S , Hughes Michael D ,   for the ACTIV-2/A5401 Study Team, Hosey Lara , Roa Jhoanna , Patel Nilam , Science Frontier , Erhardt Bill , Waring Lorraine , Hessinger Diane , Adams Stacey 
Published: August 2023

Abstract
Clinical Trials Registration ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT04518410.
How Do Active and Passive Cigarette Smokers in Iran Evaluate Their Health? A Sex-Specific Analysis on the Full-Spectrum of Quality of Life
Authors: Cheraghi Leila , Niknam Mahdieh , Masihay-Akbar Hasti , Azizi Fereidoun , Amiri Parisa 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Introduction
This study aimed to determine the sex-specific effects of active and passive cigarette smoking on the full spectrum of health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among a sizeable adult population.

Methods
This study was conducted within the Tehran Lipid and Glucose Study (TLGS) framework. Participants included 7478 adults in the last examination of the TLGS. We used a quantile regression model to compare sex-specific HRQoL distributions among non-, current, and passive smokers. Two-step cluster analysis was used to consider the synergic effects of confounder variables.

Results
In men, current smoking was negatively associated with only mental HRQoL in all percentiles of its distribution with a decrease in absolute estimation values from the lowest (5th: β = −6.59, p &lt; .001) to the highest (90th: β=−0.93, p = .027). Also, passive smoking was negatively associated with men’s physical HRQoL in the upper percentiles of its distribution (75th: β = −1.12, p = .010; 90th: β = −1.26, p = .016). In women, the current (β = −4.17 to −4.45 for 25th to 90th percentiles) and passive smokers (β = −2.05 to −4.25 for 10th to 90th percentiles) had lower mental HRQoL in the mentioned percentiles. Also, the current smoking had a negative association with the 5th percentile (β = −2.04, p = .008), and a positive association with the 50th (β = 1.94, p &lt; .008) and 75th percentile of physical HRQoL (β = 2.25, p = .004).

Conclusions
The present study showed the harmful effect of smoking on mental HRQol in all participants. In contrast, the physical effect of smoking was only observed in female active smokers and at the extreme levels of the physical HRQoL spectrum.

Implications
According to the harmful effect of smoking on HRQoL, understanding active and passive smokers’ perceptions of how smoking impacts their health is critical for tobacco control programs. Since most previous studies of smoking and HRQoL have mainly focused on the extreme parts or central values of the HRQoL distribution, the use of a multiple regression approach enables the evaluation of other parts of the conditional distribution of the outcome variable. This study demonstrated the prominent effect of smoking on the mental HRQoL as well as the more serious public health burden of passive smoking in women.
Preoperative Disability Influences Effectiveness of MCID and PASS in Predicting Patient Improvement Following Lumbar Spine Surgery
Authors: Shahi Pratyush , Subramanian Tejas , Maayan Omri , Araghi Kasra , Singh Nishtha , Singh Sumedha , Asada Tomoyuki , Tuma Olivia , Korsun Maximilian , Sheha Evan , Dowdell James , Qureshi Sheeraz A. , Iyer Sravisht 
Published: August 2023

Study Design:
Retrospective cohort.

Summary of Background Data:
Although minimal clinically important difference (MCID) and patient acceptable symptom state (PASS) are utilized to interpret Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), it is unclear whether there is a clearly better metric between the two and if not, which metric should be utilized when.

Objective:
To compare the characteristics of MCID and PASS when interpreting ODI after lumbar spine surgery.

Methods:
Patients who underwent primary minimally invasive transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion or decompression were included. The ODI and global rating change data at 1 year were analyzed. The global rating change was collapsed to a dichotomous outcome variable—(a) improved, (b) not improved The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value and negative predictive value of MCID and PASS were calculated for the overall cohort and separately for patients with minimal, moderate, and severe preoperative disability. Two groups with patients who achieved PASS but not MCID and patients who achieved MCID but not PASS were analyzed.

Results:
Two hundred twenty patients (mean age 62 y, 57% males) were included. PASS (86% vs. 69%) and MCID (88% vs. 63%) had significantly greater sensitivity in patients with moderate and severe preoperative disability, respectively. Nineteen percent of patients achieved PASS but not MCID and 10% of patients achieved MCID but not PASS, with the preoperative ODI being significantly greater in the latter. Most of these patients still reported improvement with no significant difference between the 2 groups (93% vs. 86%).

Conclusion:
Significant postoperative clinical improvement is most effectively assessed by PASS in patients with minimal or moderate preoperative disability and by MCID in patients with severe preoperative disability. Adequate interpretation of ODI using the PASS and MCID metrics warrants individualized application as their utility is highly dependent on the degree of preoperative disability.
Physical influences on the skin barrier and pathogenesis of allergy
Authors: Hui-Beckman Jessica W. , Leung Donald Y.M. 
Published: August 2023

Purpose of review
As the incidence of allergic conditions has increased in recent decades, the effects of climate change have been implicated. There is also increased knowledge on the effects of other physical influences, such as scratching and Staphylococcus aureus. The skin barrier is the first line of defense to the external environment, so understanding the ways that these factors influence skin barrier dysfunction is important.

Recent findings
Although the impact on environmental exposures has been well studied in asthma and other allergic disorders, there is now more literature on the effects of temperature, air pollution, and detergents on the skin barrier. Factors that cause skin barrier dysfunction include extreme temperatures, air pollution (including greenhouse gases and particulate matter), wildfire smoke, pollen, scratching, S. aureus, and detergents.

Summary
Understanding the ways that external insults affect the skin barrier is important to further understand the mechanisms in order to inform the medical community on treatment and prevention measures for atopic conditions.
Genomic Profiling to Contextualize the Results of Intervention for High-Risk Smoldering Myeloma
Authors: Kazandjian Dickran , Diamond Benjamin , Papadimitriou Marios , Hill Elizabeth , Sklavenitis-Pistofidis Romanos , Ziccheddu Bachisio , Blaney Patrick , Chojnacka Monika , Durante Michael , Maclachlan Kylee , Young Ryan , Usmani Saad , Davies Faith , Getz Gad , Ghobrial Irene , Korde Neha , Morgan Gareth , Maura Francesco , Landgren Ola 
Published: August 2023

ABSTRACTEarly intervention for High-Risk Smoldering Multiple Myeloma (HR-SMM) achieves deeper and more prolonged responses compared to Newly Diagnosed (ND) MM. It is unclear if beneficial outcomes of interventional studies in HR-SMM are due to treatment of less complex, susceptible disease or inaccuracy in clinical definition of cases entered. Here, to gain greater biologic insight into treatment outcomes, we performed the first whole genome sequencing analysis of treated HR-SMM for 27 patients treated with carfilzomib, lenalidomide, and dexamethasone and lenalidomide maintenance (NCT01572480). Genomic features were pooled with another contemporary HR-SMM interventional study (E-PRISM;NCT02279394) and compared to those of NDMM. We reveal that across interventional cohorts, the genomic landscape of HR-SMM is uniformly simple as compared to NDMM counterparts, with fewer inactivation events of tumor suppressor genes, fewer RAS pathway mutations, lower frequency ofMYCdisruption, and lower APOBEC contribution. The absence of these genomic events parallels that of indolent precursor conditions with low chance of progression, possibly explaining the overall superior outcomes across these trials. However, there remains a subgroup of patients harboring genomic complexity for whom early intervention with potent triplet therapy fails to sustain response and who experience resistant, progressive disease. Overall, these results suggest that clinical risk scores do not effectively discriminate between genomically indolent and aggressive disease. Furthermore, our study supports the use of genomics to contextualize the advantage of early intervention in SMM and to consider novel approaches for those with the most aggressive precursor states.Key PointsTreated clinical high-risk smoldering multiple myeloma is genomically heterogeneous but is mostly less complex than multiple myeloma counterparts.A small subgroup of high-risk genomic features is associated with disease progression despite early intervention with triplet therapy.
Misconceptions and misunderstandings: an exploration of the interplay of religion, culture and gender from Muslim scholars and clerics
Authors: Koburtay Tamer , Abualigah Ahmad , Syed Jawad , Ali Abbas J. 
Published: August 2023

PurposeThis study seeks to offer a contextual, multilevel perspective on the impact of patriarchal culture and Islamic faith on issues facing women holding leadership positions in a Middle Eastern context.Design/methodology/approachData were collected through 25 in-depth qualitative interviews along with open-ended questions in a paper-based survey. In view of the authors' research objectives, the authors purposively recruited participants who were identified as Muslim scholars (academics) and clerics (practitioners).FindingsWhile the study challenges the prevailing stereotype that Islam holds women leaders back by referring to Islamic teachings that support gender equality, it also highlights the adverse impact of gender discriminatory misinterpretations of Islam for women leaders. The study identifies three interconnected, multilevel factors that lead to misinterpretations of Islamic teachings, i.e. (1) cultural factors (macro level – i.e. patriarchal and tribal culture), (2) organizational factors (meso level – i.e. organizational policies) and (3) individual factors (micro level – i.e. interpretations and practices of religion).Research limitations/implicationsThis study contributes to the existing theory development of religion and women in leadership by presenting a novel model highlighting the interplay between religion, patriarchy and women in leadership.Practical implicationsThe study recommends the application of a gender egalitarian system that enables full utilization of women's skills and capabilities by (1) reducing the discriminatory function of tribal culture and (2) identifying steps to reform inegalitarian gender practices in the Arab region.Originality/valueThe research is unique as it is the first time that a study has incorporated Muslim academic scholars' and clerics' views into gender and organization research. The study is thus contextually relevant and offers fresh multilevel insights on the interplay among religion, culture and gender.
Pricing information asymmetry in healthcare: stakeholder analysis and research insights
Authors: Mishra Akanksha , Pandey Neeraj 
Published: August 2023

Purpose
This study aims to map and analyze health-care pricing information research. This work highlights current gap in pricing information research in health care and proposes future research avenues to academia and industry professionals.

Design/methodology/approach
A bibliometric method was adopted to analyze extant literature on pricing information asymmetry. Semistructured interviews were conducted with key stakeholders in health care to triangulate the findings.

Findings
Pricing information is crucial for all stakeholders including health-care consumers, providers and regulators. The popular research areas were the rising health-care cost, cost-saving, outcome-based pricing, price based on service supply and demand, insurance and out-of-pocket spending. Cost–quality perceived linkages, cost–demand correlation in health-care service and cost–price interlinked drivers were the dominant themes in extant literature. The study highlighted that pricing information asymmetry pushed patients from weaker sections into a debt trap due to unplanned out-of-pocket health-care expenses. The study suggests areas of research to minimize this pricing information asymmetry.

Practical implications
The emerging themes in health pricing asymmetry will help key stakeholders to identify areas for improvement and take remedial actions in the health-care domain.

Originality/value
This study is a pioneering effort to summarize extant literature published in the health-care information pricing domain and analyze it from a bibliometric perspective. The study also triangulates the finding with primary data from key stakeholders and highlights emerging research areas.
English version of Japanese guidance for biologics in treating atopic dermatitis
Authors: Saeki Hidehisa , Akiyama Masashi , Abe Masatoshi , Igarashi Atsuyuki , Imafuku Shinichi , Ohya Yukihiro , Katoh Norito , Kameda Hideto , Kabashima Kenji , Tsunemi Yuichiro , Hide Michihiro , Ohtsuki Mamitaro ,   Committee for reviewing the safety of atopic dermatitis/urticaria treatment, Japanese Dermatological Association
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis is the English version of the Japanese guidance for biologics in treating atopic dermatitis (AD). The signaling pathway mediated by interleukin (IL)‐4 and IL‐13 contributes to type 2 inflammatory responses and plays an important role in the pathogenesis of AD. IL‐31 is a cytokine mainly produced by activated T cells and is known to be involved in the pruritus of AD. Biologics for AD have been approved, including dupilumab, an anti‐IL‐4 receptor α antibody that was approved for expanded use in AD in 2018. In 2022, nemolizumab, an anti‐IL‐31 receptor α antibody, was approved for pruritus of AD, and tralokinumab, an anti‐IL‐13 antibody, was approved for AD. Physicians who intend to use these drugs should sufficiently understand and comply with the contents of the guidelines prepared by the Japanese Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare to promote the optimal use of the drugs. In treatment with biologics, it is important to consider disease factors (activity and severity), treatment factors (dosage and administration as well as the efficacy and safety), and patients’ background characteristics (age and comorbidities) and share this information with patients when choosing treatment options. This guidance was developed for board‐certified dermatologists who specialize in treating AD, and for promoting the proper use of biologics, taking into account the variety of factors in individual patients.
The role of thermal tolerance in determining elevational distributions of four arthropod taxa in mountain ranges of southern Asia
Authors: Khaliq Imran , Shahid Muhammad Junaid , Kamran Haseeb , Sheraz Muhammad , Awais Muhammad , Shabir Mehtab , Asghar Muhammad , Rehman Abdul , Riaz Maria , Braschler Brigitte , Sanders Nathan J. , Hof Christian 
Published: August 2023

Abstract

Understanding the role of thermal tolerances in determining species distributions is important for assessing species responses to climate change. Two hypotheses linking physiology with species distributions have been put forward—the climatic variability hypothesis and the climatic extreme hypothesis. The climatic variability hypothesis predicts the selection of individuals with broad thermal tolerance in more variable climatic conditions and the climatic extreme hypothesis predicts the selection of individuals with extreme thermal tolerance values under extreme climatic conditions. However, no study has tested the predictions of these hypotheses simultaneously for several taxonomic groups along elevational gradients.

Here, we related experimentally measured critical thermal maxima, critical thermal minima and thermal tolerance breadths for 15,187 individuals belonging to 116 species of ants, beetles, grasshoppers, and spiders from mountain ranges in central and northern Pakistan to the limits and breadths of their geographic and temperature range.

Across all species and taxonomic groups, we found strong relationships between thermal traits and elevational distributions both in terms of geography and temperature. The relationships were robust when repeating the analyses for ants, grasshoppers, and spiders but not for beetles. These results indicate a strong role of physiology in determining elevational distributions of arthropods in Southern Asia.

Overall, we found strong support for the climatic variability hypothesis and the climatic extreme hypothesis. A close association between species' distributional limits and their thermal tolerances suggest that in case of a failure to adapt or acclimate to novel climatic conditions, species may be under pressure to track their preferred climatic conditions, potentially facing serious consequences under current and future climate change.
Plant diversity and ecosystem multifunctionality of different degraded grasslands in alpine meadows of Maqu
Authors: Xiao Yindi , Liu Minxia , Miao Lele , Yang Chunliang , Wang Qianyue , Wang Min 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThe relationship between biodiversity and ecosystem multifunctionality (EMF) is critical to understanding the dynamics of ecosystem services. Several studies have investigated alterations in multiple ecosystem functions under grassland degradation and its relationship with taxonomic diversity. However, how multidimensional biodiversity (taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity) and abiotic factors mediate EMF in degraded alpine meadows has yet to be well been explored. In this study, alpine meadows with different degrees of degradation were investigated in Maqu County, Gansu Province, China. The average and multi‐threshold methods were used to quantify EMF, while structural equation modeling (SEM) was used for statistical analysis. The results show that: (1) Degradation of alpine meadows has altered the species composition and diversity of plant communities. (2) Taxonomic, functional, and phylogenetic diversity were all significantly and positively correlated with EMF, and species richness, functional richness and Faith's PD effectively drive EMF within thresholds of 22%–75%, 20%–86% and 42%–72%, with maximum effects of 0.29, 0.33 and 0.12, respectively. (3) Degradation of alpine meadows directly and significantly reduced EMF, and mediated indirectly through plant diversity and soil abiotic factors. The multifunctionality index for different degrees of degradation showed non‐degraded (60.89) > light degraded (37.84) > moderate degraded (−14.17) > heavy degraded (−48.55). The results of this study reveal the relative importance of multidimensional plant diversity in predicting EMF of degraded alpine meadows, and potential mechanisms by which plant diversity and abiotic factors mediate the effects of alpine meadow degradation on EMF.
Does financial development contribute to the achievement of the “Zero Hunger” goal in Africa?
Authors: Fokam Gaël , Tadadjeu Sosson , Kamguia Brice , Djeunankan Ronald 
Published: August 2023

AbstractThis study examines the effects of financial development on undernourishment with panel data from 40 African countries. We show that financial development in all its dimensions reduces undernourishment. In addition, financial development, financial institutions, the financial market, and financial market depth reduce child stunting. We also identify education, health expenditure, access to electricity, and control of corruption as the main transmission channels through which financial development reduces undernourishment. These results have important implications for the achievement of the “Zero Hunger” goal in Africa and for improving child nutrition.
Health‐related quality of life trajectories in critical illness: Protocol for a Monte Carlo simulation study
Authors: Kaas‐Hansen Benjamin Skov , Kjær Maj‐Brit Nørregaard , Møller Morten Hylander , Jensen Aksel Karl Georg , Larsen Mia Esta , Cuthbertson Brian H. , Perner Anders , Granholm Anders 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundHealth‐related quality of life (HRQoL) is a patient‐centred outcome increasingly used as a secondary outcome in critical care research. It may cover several important dimensions of clinical status in intensive care unit (ICU) patients that arguably elude other more easily quantified outcomes such as mortality. Poor associations with harder outcomes, conflicting data on HRQoL in critically ill compared to the background population, and paradoxical effects on HRQoL and mortality complicate the current operationalisation in critical care trials. This protocol outlines a simulation study that will gauge if the areas under the HRQoL trajectories could be a viable alternative.MethodsWe will gauge the behaviour of the proposed HRQoL operationalisation through Monte Carlo simulations, under clinical scenarios that reflect a broad critical care population eligible for inclusion in a large pragmatic trial. We will simulate 15,360 clinical scenarios based on a full factorial design with the following seven simulation parameters: number of patients per arm, relative mortality reduction in the interventional arm, acceleration of HRQoL improvement in the interventional arm, the relative improvement in final HRQoL in the interventional arm, dampening effect of mortality on HRQoL values at discharge from the ICU, proportion of so‐called mortality benefiters in the interventional arm and mortality trajectory shape. For each clinical scenario, we will simulate 100,000 two‐arm trials with 1:1 randomisation. HRQoL will be sampled fortnightly after ICU discharge. Outcomes will include HRQoL in survivors and all patients at the end of follow‐up; mean areas under the HRQoL trajectories in both arms; and mean difference between areas under the HRQoL trajectories and single‐sampled HRQoLs at the end of follow‐up.DiscussionIn the outlined simulation study, we aim to assess whether the area under the HRQoL trajectory curve could be a candidate for reconciling the seemingly paradoxical effects on improved mortality and reduced HRQoL while remaining sensitive to early or accelerated improvement in patient outcomes. The resultant insights will inform subsequent methodological work on prudent collection and statistical analysis of such data from real critically ill patients.
Actions versus Words: Exploring the contributions of working memory and motoric coding in children's instruction following using a dual‐task paradigm
Authors: Makri Angie , Fiske Abigail 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPrevious research in adults has showed that physical performance (i.e., enactment) of instructions at recall leads to better memory compared to verbal recall and that this effect does not rely solely on Working Memory resources. The current study aimed to replicate this finding in children. A group of 32 children encoded simple instructions verbally while engaging in a series of distractor tasks (articulatory suppression, backwards counting and a motor suppression task). Participants recalled information verbally or physically through enactment. The findings showed that although distractors impaired performance compared to a control condition (no distractor task), the enactment advantage remained intact in all conditions. These findings show that children's memory is superior when they perform, rather than when they verbally repeat instructions and crucially it is suggested that this effect does not rely solely on Working Memory resources.