bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Geopolitical Considerations for Working with Medically Complex Patients: A Case Illustration
Authors: Stinson Jennifer M , Román Cristina A F , Combs Hannah L , York Michele K , Strutt Adriana M , McCauley Stephen R 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Objective
Becoming culturally competent healthcare providers depends on the ability of practitioners to acquire knowledge, awareness, and skills related to other cultures. In building these areas of competence, it is essential to consider geopolitical factors that may influence health and health-seeking behaviors, particularly when working with immigrant populations. When care is sought, they are likely to experience significant barriers to effective care, including lack of providers who speak their language and failure of practitioners to integrate cultural beliefs into treatment plans. This is further complicated by the presence of geopolitical issues, including immigration status, war/conflict in the patient’s country of origin, and/or human rights violations.

Method
The current study uses a sample case of a Burmese-speaking, Myanmar national to illustrate a culturally informed approach to the assessment of neurobehavioral changes within complex geopolitical circumstances. The sample represents an amalgam of several patients, designed to represent common presentations, sociodemographic situations, and concerns that arise during the neuropsychological assessment process.

Results
Description of relevant case information including background, clinical observations, and performance on testing is provided.

Discussion
Awareness of the impact of these life experiences not only has the potential to deepen our understanding of our patients but also results in a more holistic, accurate, and culturally competent conceptualization of their physical and mental health needs.
Developing Culturally Competent Foreign Language Neuropsychological Assessments: Portuguese-Speaking Brazilians Living in the United States
Authors: Strutt Adriana M , Diaz Santos Ana L , de Minas Salerno Chiles Ana Lúcia , Furtado Milse , York Michele K , Stinson Jennifer M , McCauley Stephen R 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Objective
As the third largest immigrant population in Houston, Texas, Brazilians represent a large bloc of the community in need of culturally and linguistically informed healthcare. In particular, the number of older adults within this population is rapidly growing, emphasizing the increased need to develop socially responsible neuropsychological assessment practices that can meet the needs of this demographic. Additionally, early symptoms of cognitive decline in Brazilian older adults can be culturally perceived as normal aging and may be masked by cultural and lifestyle practices (i.e., scaffolding by family members) that result in lack of appreciation for cognitive and functional decrements. With increased knowledge and awareness of Brazilian culture and customs, we can better understand and assess brain–behavior relationships, provide tailored assessment services, and determine the clinical implications for this population.

Methods
Test instruments in Portuguese were identified through systematic literature searches, and in consultation with clinicians serving the Portuguese community in the United States, and cultural brokers involved in Brazilian-based neuropsychology.

Results
A multidomain neuropsychological battery with accompanying normative data for use with adults from this community is presented. A case illustration is utilized to highlight limitations and strengths of the proposed battery, which includes core and supplemental measures.

Conclusion
Neuropsychologists are encouraged to familiarize themselves with the proposed protocol, understand the psychometric limitations of the available tools, and make an earnest attempt toward providing socially responsible neuropsychological care via the appropriate use of culturally and linguistically tailored instruments and clinical practices.
Subspecies limits based on morphometry and mitochondrial DNA genomics in a polytypic species, the common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula
Authors: Capainolo Peter , Perktaş Utku , ElverıCı Can , Fellowes Mark D E 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Nearctic migratory songbirds have demonstrated low levels of genetic differentiation and weak phylogeographical structure in mitochondrial DNA lineages compared with resident species. The common grackle, Quiscalus quiscula, is a widespread, partially migratory, North American icterid composed of three currently recognized subspecies. In this study, mensural characters (external and skeletal measurements) and the complete mitochondrial genome together with two mitochondrial genes, Cytb and ND2, were used to investigate subspecific differentiation and demographic history of the common grackle. The results showed substantial variation in body size among subspecies, mostly distributed between the ‘Florida grackle’, Quiscalus quiscula quiscula, and the two other subspecies. Analysis of mitochondrial DNA indicated low levels of genetic variation, but we found distinct haplotypes in Florida that form a clade in the phylogenetic tree. This suggests that the nominate subspecies in Florida is a distinct evolutionary unit. The sharing of haplotypes among the other subspecies (Quiscalus quiscula versicolor and Quiscalus quiscula stonei) in the north suggests high levels of gene flow, making the status of these two subspecies equivocal. Gene flow between nominate Q. q. quiscula, Q. q. versicolor and putative Q. q. stonei is probably attributable to historical changes in distribution and abundance following climate change events. We therefore recognize only two subspecies in the common grackle complex.
Alternate morphological pathways involved in climbing ability in ten Neotropical anuran species
Authors: Ceballos-Castro Irene , Cabra-GarcíA Jimmy , Ospina-Sarria Jhon Jairo 
Published: March 2023

AbstractConvergent evolution has been shown to be a prominent feature of anuran evolutionary history. Studying the morphological pathways involved in the evolution of a convergent character allows us to test whether deterministic or contingent forces drive the evolution of characters. Here, we have assessed the morphological pathways associated with arboreal habits in species of six families of anurans (Hylidae, Eleutherodactylidae, Strabomantidae, Centrolenidae, Bufonidae and Hemiphractidae) through a comparative analysis of 19 phenotypic characters related to climbing ability. All species showed differences in the assessed characters, exhibiting variations in the distribution of their states and different ranges in all limb lengths. These variations implied a wide distribution across the morphospace as defined by a non-metric multidimensional scaling analysis (NMDS), with Rhinella paraguas (Bufonidae) being the most distinctive species, presenting unique characters such as the absence of intercalary elements, adhesive pads, subarticular tubercles and interphalangealis muscles of the hands. Our findings demonstrate that the morphological mechanisms involved in climbing ability of the ten species are different, suggesting distinct morphological pathways. Consequently, we advocate that historical contingency has an essential role in the evolution of arboreal habits among the species studied.
Sequencing through hyperexpanded Friedreich’s ataxia-GAA repeats by nanopore technology: implications in genotype–phenotype correlation
Authors: Uppili Bharathram , Sharma Pooja , Ahmad Istaq , Sahni Shweta , Asokachandran Vivekanand , Nagaraja Anil B , Srivastava Achal K , Faruq Mohammed 
Published: March 2023

AbstractFriedreich’s ataxia, an autosomal recessive disorder, is caused by tandem GAA nucleotide repeat expansions in intron 1 of the frataxin gene. The GAA repeats over 66 in number are considered as pathogenic, and commonly occurring pathogenic repeats are within a range of 600–1200. Clinically, the spectrum of features is confined mainly to neurological tissues; however, cardiomyopathy and diabetes mellitus have been reported in 60 and 30% of the subjects, respectively. The accurate detection of GAA repeat count is of utmost importance for clinical genetic correlation, and no study so far has attempted an approach that is of high-throughput nature and defines the exact sequence of GAA repeats. Largely, the method for detection of GAA repeats so far is either through the conventional polymerase chain reaction-based screening or Southern blot, which remains the gold standard method. We utilized an approach of long-range targeted amplification of FXN-GAA repeats using Oxford Nanopore Technologies MinION platform for accurate estimation of repeat length. We were able to achieve successful amplification of GAA repeats ranging from ∼120 to 1100 at ∼2600× mean coverage. The total throughput achievable through our protocol can allow for screening of up to 96 samples per flow cell in less than 24 h. The proposed method is clinically scalable and deployable for day-to-day diagnostics. In this paper, we demonstrate to resolve the genotype–phenotype correlation of Friedreich’s ataxia patients with better accuracy.
Hybrid-integer algorithm for a multi-objective optimal home energy management system
Authors: Gheouany Saad , Ouadi Hamid , El Bakali Saida 
Published: March 2023

AbstractMost of the energy produced in the world is consumed by commercial and residential buildings. With the growth in the global economy and world demographics, this energy demand has become increasingly important. This has led to higher unit electricity prices, frequent stresses on the main electricity grid and carbon emissions due to inefficient energy management. This paper presents an energy-consumption management system based on time-shifting of loads according to the dynamic day-ahead electricity pricing. This simultaneously reduces the electricity bill and the peaks, while maintaining user comfort in terms of the operating waiting time of appliances. The proposed optimization problem is formulated mathematically in terms of multi-objective integer non-linear programming, which involves constraints and consumer preferences. For optimal scheduling, the management problem is solved using the hybridization of the particle swarm optimization algorithm and the branch-and-bound algorithm. Two techniques are proposed to manage the trade-off between the conflicting objectives. The first technique is the Pareto-optimal solutions classification using supervised learning methods. The second technique is called the lexicographic method. The simulations were performed based on residential building energy consumption, time-of-use pricing (TOU) and critical peak pricing (CPP). The algorithms were implemented in Python. The results of the current work show that the proposed approach is effective and can reduce the electricity bill and the peak-to-average ratio (PAR) by 28% and 49.32%, respectively, for the TOU tariff rate, and 48.91% and 47.87% for the CPP tariff rate by taking into account the consumer’s comfort level.
Walls of capital: quantitative easing, spatial inequality, and the winners and losers of Canada’s pandemic-era housing market
Authors: August Martine , Cohen Dan , Rosenman Emily 
Published: March 2023

AbstractThis paper analyzes the Bank of Canada’s (BoC) pandemic-era quantitative easing (QE) programs and their distributive implications, focusing on the Canadian housing market. First, we analyse the priorities and effects of QE: increasing liquidity and encouraging lending and borrowing. Next, we identify the sectors of the economy most influenced by QE, highlighting that investment in real estate soared in comparison to other sectors. Finally, we present a case study of real estate transactions in Toronto, finding that the increased investment in residential and multi-family housing worked to the detriment of marginalised populations. In spatializing macrofinance and identifying monetary policy’s role in geographies of housing, we call for increased attention to central banks and the distributional effects of monetary policy.
Intraventricular conduction delays as a predictor of mortality in acute coronary syndromes
Authors: Lahti Roope , Rankinen Jani , Eskola Markku , Nikus Kjell , Hernesniemi Jussi 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Aims
Initial proof suggests that a non-specific intraventricular conduction delay (NIVCD) is a risk factor for mortality. We explored the prognosis of intraventricular conduction delays (IVCD)—right bundle branch block (RBBB), left bundle branch block (LBBB), and the lesser-known NIVCD—in patients with acute coronary syndrome (ACS).

Methods and results
This is a retrospective registry analysis of 9749 consecutive ACS patients undergoing coronary angiography and with an electrocardiographic (ECG) recording available for analysis (2007–18). The primary outcome was cardiac mortality. Mortality and cause of death data (in ICD-10 format) were received from the Finnish national register with no losses to follow-up (until 31 December 2020). The risk associated with IVCDs was analysed by calculating subdistribution hazard estimates (SDH; deaths due to other causes being considered competing events). The mean age of the population was 68.3 years [standard deviation (Sd) 11.8]. The median follow-up time was 6.1 years [interquartile range (IQR) 3.3–9.4], during which 3156 patients died. Cardiac mortality was overrepresented among IVCD patients: 76.9% for NIVCD (n = 113/147), 67.6% for LBBB (n = 96/142), 55.7% for RBBB (n = 146/262), and 50.1% for patients with no IVCD (n = 1275/2545). In an analysis adjusted for age and cardiac comorbidities, the risk of cardiac mortality was significantly higher in all IVCD groups than among patients with no IVCD: SDH 1.37 (1.15–1.64, P &lt; 0.0001) for RBBB, SDH 1.63 (1.31–2.03 P &lt; 0.0001) for LBBB, and SDH 2.68 (2.19–3.27) for NIVCD. After adjusting the analysis with left ventricular ejection fraction, RBBB and NIVCD remained significant risk factors for cardiac mortality.

Conclusion
RBBB, LBBB, and NIVCD were associated with higher cardiac mortality in ACS patients.
‘Touchdown’ technique during self-expandable transcatheter aortic valve replacement in patient with severe left ventricular outflow tract calcification: a case report
Authors: Tsuda Masaki , Egami Yasuyuki , Kawanami Shodai , Nishino Masami 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR), severe left ventricular outflow tract (LVOT) calcification is associated with a higher risk of aortic root rupture and paravalvular regurgitation (PVR), and is considered one of the challenging anatomies. We present a case of successful TAVR using a self-expandable valve without aortic root rupture or significant PVR by devising a deployment method and valve positioning.Case summaryAn 82-year-old woman was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis. Computed tomography showed a suitable ilio-femoral artery for transfemoral TAVR, but indicated severe LVOT calcification protruding into the lumen. To avoid aortic root rupture, we planned TAVR using an Evolut-Pro+ self-expandable valve (EVP+). Furthermore, to control PVR, we implanted an EVP+ using a ‘touchdown’ technique: i) valve deployment was started above the aortic annulus, and the EVP+ stent tip landed on top of the LVOT calcification; and ii) EVP+ deployment was continued while confirming that the stent tip maintained contact with the top of the LVOT calcification without moving. Using this method, we successfully implanted an EVP+ at the intended position without significant PVR or valve embolization.DiscussionIn self-expandable valve implantation for patients with severe LVOT calcification, deployment should be carefully tailored to control PVR without valve embolization. A ‘touchdown’ technique can be a useful option for avoiding significant PVR in these cases.
Cardiac computed tomography assessment of congenital aortic diseases: a case series
Authors: Espinola-Zavaleta Nilda , Armenta-Moreno Javier Ivan , Silva-Estrada Jorge Alberto , Serrano-Roman Javier , Espejel-Guzman Adrian , Fernandez-Badillo Valente , Navarro-Martinez Daniel Alejandro , Cano-Zarate Roberto 
Published: March 2023

AbstractBackgroundCongenital aortic diseases (CAoD) encompass a wide variety of disorders that range from asymptomatic findings to life-threatening conditions. Multiple imaging techniques are available for the assessment of CAoD.Case summaryWe present seven case reports of congenital aortic diseases, including obstructions in the aortic arch (coarctation, hypoplasia, and interruption) and vascular rings, in which the clinical manifestations throughout the cases are discussed, highlighting the heterogeneity of the symptoms.DiscussionMulti-imaging techniques are indispensable for the assessment of CAoD, where cardiac computed tomography angiography is the main modality for rapid acquisition of three-dimensional volume-rendered images for optimal surgical planning.
Moving toward gender equity in the cardiology and cardiovascular research workforce in Germany: a report from the German Cardiac Society
Authors: Lerchenmüller Carolin , Zelarayan Laura , Streckfuss-Bömeke Katrin , Gimenez Maria Rubini , Schnabel Renate , Hashemi Djawid , Baldus Stephan , Rudolph Tanja K , Morbach Caroline 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Aims
Although the share of women in cardiology in Germany is growing steadily, this does not translate into leadership positions. Medical societies play a crucial role in shaping the national and international medical and scientific environment. The German Cardiac Society (DGK) aims to serve the public discourse on gender-equity by systematic analysis of data on gender representation within the society and in Germany.

Methods and results
We present gender disaggregated data collection of members, official organs, working groups, scientific meetings, as well as awards of the DGK based on anonymized exports from the DGK office as well as on data gathered from the DGK web page. From 2000 to 2020, the overall number of DGK members as well as the share of women increased (12.5% to 25.3%). In 2021, the share of women ranged from 40% to 50% in earlier career stages but was substantially lower at senior levels (23.9% of consulting/attending physicians, 7.1% of physicians-in-chief, 3.4% of directors). The share of women serving in DGK working groups had gained overall proportionality, but nuclei and speaker positions were largely held by men. Boards and project groups were predominantly represented by men as well. At the DGK-led scientific meetings, women contributed more often in junior relative to (invited) senior roles.

Conclusion
Increasing numbers of women in cardiology and in the DGK over the past 20 years did not translate into the respective increase in representation of women in leadership positions. There is an urgent need to identify and, more importantly, to overcome barriers towards gender equity. Transparent presentation of society-related data is the first step for future targeted actions in this regard.
Behavioural and psychological telehealth support for people with cardiac conditions: randomized trial of the ‘back on track’ self-management programme
Authors: Rogerson Michelle C , Jackson Alun C , Navaratnam Hema S , Le Grande Michael R , Higgins Rosemary O , Clarke Joanne , Murphy Barbara M 
Published: March 2023

Abstract

Aims
Behaviour modification and mood management are essential to recovery after a cardiac event. Recent times have seen a major shift to remote delivery of cardiac services. This study assessed behavioural and psychological outcomes of the Back on Track online self-management programme, comparing the programme undertaken alone (self-directed) vs. with telephone support (supported). Relevance for people with depression was also assessed.

Methods and results
Participants with cardiac conditions (n = 122) were randomly assigned to self-directed or supported groups and given access to the online programme for 2 months. The programme addressed depression, anxiety, physical activity, and healthy eating. Supported group participants also received two telephone sessions facilitated by a trained counsellor to further enhance their self-management skills and engagement with the online modules. The Patient Health Questionnaire-9, Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7, and Active Australia Survey and Diet Quality Tool were administered at baseline, 2, and 6 months. χ2 tests were used to compare self-directed and supported groups. Cochrane’s Q tests assessed changes over time in depression, anxiety, and physical activity (PA) and healthy diet guideline achievement. Participants in both groups showed reduced depression rates (self-directed, P &lt; 0.05) and increased PA after programme completion (both groups, P &lt; 0.05). Amongst those classified as depressed at baseline, significantly fewer were classified as depressed over time (P &lt; 0.001) and significantly more were achieving the PA guidelines (P &lt; 0.01) compared to those who were not depressed at baseline.

Conclusions
The Back on Track telehealth programme was effective in assisting with behavioural and emotional recovery after a cardiac event. The programme may be particularly beneficial for those who are depressed early in their recovery period.

Trial Registration
Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry: ACTRN12620000102976.
Time Lag of Stem Water Deficit in Response to Increased Vapor Pressure Deficit
Authors: Tian Yuan , Liu Xuan , Zhang Xin , Rula Sa , Wan Zhibing , Zhao Hanqing , Zhang Qiuliang 
Published: March 2023

Abstract
Vapor pressure deficit (VPD) shows a gradually increasing trend that forces trees to produce ecological memory with time-delay characteristics to drought year by year. The reversible stem diameter variation of trees can serve as an indicator for tree water status. In the context of global warming, these variations can dynamically monitor the response of stem water to the change of environmental water, especially to VPD. In this study, stem diameter variations of Larix gmelinii Rupr. and environmental factors were measured at high temporal resolution. We analyzed the tree water deficit–induced stem shrinkage (TWD) response to VPD variations. The results showed that variation of TWD lagged behind that of VPD to a certain extent, by about 3–5.5 h. Environmental water supply of trees under natural conditions can be divided into water deficit and adequate water supply. The division of the two water conditions was helpful to study the correlation between TWD and VPD. Observing the response of changes of stem diameter to the time lag of VPD is helpful to accurately represent the relationship of changes between moisture in the tree body and moisture in the air and to identify the stress effect of the lag in a short period of time.
Study Implications: Stem diameter changes with change in moisture in the environment and usually reversibly shrinks under water deficits. Such reversible change in stem diameter is closely related to change in vapor pressure deficit, which is an environmental factor. Tree water deficit–induced trunk shrinkage, an index reflecting the change in stem diameter affected by moisture, had a time lag correlation with vapor pressure deficit in terms of variation characteristics. The time lag of the tree water deficit–induced trunk shrinkage response to vapor pressure deficit was 3–5.5 h. Just as the phenomenon of ecological memory cannot be ignored in an observational study with the year as the time scale, the phenomenon of time lag should not be ignored during an observational study of moisture stress at small time scales.