bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Impact of the COVID‐19 pandemic on stress and sleep in emergency room professionals
Authors: García‐Tudela Ángel , Simonelli‐Muñoz Agustín Javier , Gallego‐Gómez Juana Inés , Rivera‐Caravaca José Miguel 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAims and ObjectivesTo analyze stress levels, sleep quality, sleepiness and chronotypes on emergency room (ER) professionals before and during the COVID‐19.BackgroundER healthcare professionals are exposed to high stress levels, and they often present with poor sleep quality.DesignObservational study conducted into two different phases (before the COVID‐19 and during the first wave of the COVID‐19).MethodPhysicians, nurses and nursing assistants working in the ER were included. Stress, sleep quality, daytime sleepiness and chronotypes were assessed by the Stress Factors and Manifestations Scale (SFMS), the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and the Horne and Österberg Morningness‐Eveningness questionnaire, respectively. The first phase of the study was performed between December 2019 and February 2020, and the second between April and June 2020. The STROBE checklist was used to report the present study.ResultsIn total, 189 ER professionals in the pre‐COVID‐19 phase and 171 (of the initial 189) during COVID‐19 were included. The proportion of workers with a morning circadian rhythm increased during the COVID‐19, and stress levels were significantly higher during COVID‐19 compared to the previous phase (38.34 ± 10.74 vs. 49.97 ± 15.81). ER professionals with poor sleep quality presented higher stress in the pre‐COVID‐19 phase (40.60 ± 10.71 vs. 32.22 ± 8.19) and during COVID‐19 (55.27 ± 15.75 vs. 39.66 ± 9.75). Similarly, workers with excessive sleepiness had higher stress in the pre‐COVID‐19 phase (42.06 ± 10.95 vs. 36.64 ± 10.24) and during COVID‐19 (54.67 ± 18.10 vs. 48.44 ± 14.75). Positive associations were also found between the SFMS and the PSQI, as well as with the ESS in both phases of the study.ConclusionsEmergency room professionals had increased stress levels during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Stress was particularly higher in those with poor sleep quality or with excessive daytime sleepiness.Relevance to Clinical PracticeThese results should aim to impulse the implementation of measures to improve the working conditions of ER professionals.
Social Comparison Concerns and Competitive Attitudes of North Korean Refugees and South Koreans: Measurement Invariance and Latent Mean Differences1
Authors: Lee Ahlam , Park Eun‐A , Jo HyunJung 
Published: April 2023

AbstractAlthough refugees often face competition in their efforts to survive and achieve upward mobility, little is understood about their psychological processes concerning competition. In this regard, we attempted to assess the extent to which North Korean refugees (NKRs) engage in social comparisons and exhibit competitive attitudes compared to their South Korean (SK) host citizens. We targeted NKRs and SKs, as we could control for the shared cultural heritage. First, we tested measurement invariance to determine whether there was a psychometric equivalence in the two latent constructs of social comparison concerns (SCCs) and competitive attitudes (CAs) between NKRs (n1 = 214) and SKs (n2 = 472). Partial scalar invariance was established to demonstrate the association between SCC and CA, suggesting that only certain aspects of the two latent constructs were comparable between NKRs and SKs. Compared to SKs, NKRs exhibit a significantly higher level of SCC for self‐evaluating abilities and opinions of individuals and their significant others, and CA about interpersonal and goal competitiveness with a medium effect size.
The role of rhFGF‐2 in periodontal defect bone fill: A systematic review of the literature
Authors: Pouliou Maria – Myrsini , Fragkioudakis Ioannis , Doufexi Aikaterini – Elisavet , Batas Leonidas 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundGrowth factors have been used with success in periodontal regeneration, especially in intrabony defects. Among those, the recombined form of fibroblast growth factor‐2 (rhFGF‐2) has been also examined.ObjectiveTo address the outcomes of periodontal regeneration using rhFGF‐2 alone or in combination with bone substitutes primarily in terms of Radiographic Bone Fill (RBF%) and secondary Probing Pocket Depth (PPD), and Probing Attachment Levels (PAL).Material and MethodsA search in MEDLINE and EMBASE using the Ovid interface was conducted from 2000 up to and including the 12th of November 2022. Starting from the initially identified 1289 articles, 34 studies were selected for further analysis. Following the full‐text screening, 7 of the 34 studies met the inclusion criteria and thus were included in the systematic review after assessing their quality according to the Newcastle‐Ottawa scale (NOS). Clinical and radiographic results (bone gain, pocket depth, and clinical attachment level) after the application of FGF‐2 alone or in combination with different carriers were studied in patients with intrabony defects of at least one wall and pocket depth greater than 4 mm.ResultsPrimary outcomes: RBF% was higher in studies using a combination of rhFGF‐2 and bone substitutes (74.6 ± 20.0%) compared to others using the specific growth factor alone or negative controls (22.7 ± 20.7%). In terms of secondary outcomes, the analysis failed to show an additional benefit from the use of the rhFGF‐2 alone or in combination with bone substitutes.ConclusionrhFGF‐2 can improve RBF% in the treatment of periodontal defects, especially when it is used in combination with a bone substitute.
A reliable automatic algorithm to score fragmentary myoclonus
Authors: Bergmann Melanie , Högl Birgit , Ibrahim Abubaker , Brandauer Elisabeth , Heidbreder Anna , Stefani Ambra , Cesari Matteo 
Published: May 2023

SummaryExcessive fragmentary myoclonus (EFM) is an incidental polysomnographic finding requiring documentation of ≥20 minutes of NREM sleep with ≥5 fragmentary myoclonus (FM) potentials per minute. Manual FM scoring is time‐consuming and prone to inter‐rater variability. This work aimed to validate an automatic algorithm to score FM in whole‐night recordings. One expert scorer manually scored FM in the anterior tibialis muscles in 10 polysomnographies of as many subjects. The algorithm consisted of two steps. First, parameters of the automatic leg movement identification algorithm of the BrainRT software (OSG, Belgium) were modified to identify FM‐like activity. Second, a post‐processing algorithm was implemented to remove FM activity not meeting sufficient amplitude criteria. The parameter choice and the post‐processing were optimised with leave‐one‐out cross‐validation. Agreement with the human scorer was measured with Cohen's kappa (k) and correlation between manual and automatic FM indices in different sleep stages was evaluated. Agreement in identifying patients with EFM was computed. The algorithm showed substantial agreement (average k > 0.62) for all sleep stages, except for W, where a moderate agreement was observed (average k = 0.58). Nonetheless, the agreement between human scorer and the algorithm was similar to previously reported values of inter‐rater variability for FM scoring. Correlation coefficients were over 0.96 for all sleep stages. Furthermore, the presence/absence of EFM was correctly identified in 80% of the subjects. In conclusion, this work presents a reliable algorithm for automatic scoring of FM and EFM. Future studies will apply it to objectively and consistently evaluate FM indices and the presence of EFM in large populations.
Evaluation of the taxonomic accuracy and pathogenicity prediction power of 16 primer sets amplifying single copy marker genes in the Pseudomonas syringae species complex
Authors: Fautt Chad , Hockett Kevin L. , Couradeau Estelle 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe Pseudomonas syringae species complex is composed of several closely related species of bacterial plant pathogens. Here, we used in silico methods to assess 16 PCR primer sets designed for broad identification of isolates throughout the species complex. We evaluated their in silico amplification rate in 2161 publicly available genomes, the correlation between pairwise amplicon sequence distance and whole genome average nucleotide identity, and trained naive Bayes classification models to quantify classification resolution. Furthermore, we show the potential for using single amplicon sequence data to predict type III effector protein repertoires, which are important determinants of host specificity and range.
Approximately optimal forest rotation in a nonstationary environment
Authors: Gars Johan , Spiro Daniel 
Published: May 2023

AbstractThe problem of optimal forest rotation in a nonstationary environment can, in general, not be solved analytically. Even qualitatively characterizing how the solution changes over time is only possible in some special cases. In this paper, we consider an approximation of the true solution to the nonstationary problem. We derive an approximate harvesting rule by solving a sequence of stationary problems that assume the growth conditions at that point in time will prevail indefinitely. Each such problem can be solved using the classic Faustmann rule. We numerically compare this approximate solution to the true solution, both in terms of the harvesting rule and the resulting expected profits, for a wide range of scenarios. We find that the harvesting rules are very similar (mostly % difference) and the profit losses associated with following the approximate rule are very small (less than 0.3%).
Normative data for axial elongation in Asian children
Authors: Naduvilath Thomas , He Xiangui , Xu Xun , Sankaridurg Padmaja 
Published: May 2023

AbstractAimTo determine the influence of refractive error (RE), age, gender and parental myopia on axial elongation in Chinese children and to develop normative data for this population.MethodsThis is a retrospective analysis of eight longitudinal studies conducted in China between 2007 and 2017. Data of 4701 participants aged 6–16 years with spherical equivalent from +6 to −6D contributed to one, two or three annualised progression data resulting in a dataset of 11,262 eyes of 26.6%, 14.8% and 58.6% myopes, emmetropes and hyperopes, respectively. Longitudinal data included axial length and cycloplegic spherical equivalent RE. Axial elongation was log‐transformed to develop an exponential model with generalised estimating equations including main effects and interactions. Model‐based estimates and their confidence intervals (CIs) are reported.ResultsAnnual axial elongation decreased significantly with increasing age, with the rate of decrease specific to the RE group. Axial elongation in myopes was higher than in emmetropes and hyperopes but these differences reduced with age (0.58, 0.45 and 0.27 mm/year at 6 years and 0.13, 0.06 and 0.05 mm/year at 15 years for myopes, emmetropes and hyperopes, respectively). The rate of elongation in incident myopes was similar to that in myopes at baseline (0.33 vs. 0.34 mm/year at 10.5 years; p = 0.32), while it was significantly lower in non‐myopes (0.20 mm/year at 10.5 years, p < 0.001). Axial elongation was greater in females than in males and in those with both parents myopic compared with one or no myopic parent, with larger differences in non‐myopes than in myopes (p < 0.01).ConclusionsAxial elongation varied with age, RE, gender and parental myopia. Estimated normative data with CIs could serve as a virtual control group.
Effect of SGLT‐2 inhibitors as an add‐on therapy to metformin on P wave indices and atrial electromechanics in type 2 diabetes mellitus patients
Authors: Ziyrek Murat , Dönmez Esra , Özcan Sevgi , Duran Mustafa , Tezcan Hüseyin , İnce Orhan , Özdemir Emrah , Sahin Irfan , Okuyan Ertugrul 
Published: April 2023

AbstractIntroductionSodium‐glucose co‐transporter 2 (SGLT‐2) inhibitors have been shown to reduce the risk of atrial fibrillation (AF) occurrence in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM). In this prospective study, we aimed to analyze the effect of SGLT‐2 inhibitors as an add‐on therapy to metformin on P wave indices and atrial electromechanics in patients with type 2 DM.MethodsA total of 144 patients enrolled. Electrocardiographic indices were recorded on admission and at 3rd and 6th month of the combination therapy. P wave indices and atrial electromechanical coupling intervals were measured and compared.ResultsAlthough decrease in P wave dispersion (62.78 ± 9.59 vs. 53.62 ± 10.65; p = .002) became significant at 6th month of combination therapy, significant decreases in P wave terminal force in V1 (37.79 ± 3.45 vs. 32.01 ± 5.74; p = .035), left atrial volume index (35.87 ± 6.57 vs. 31.33 ± 7.31; p = .042), left sided intra‐atrial electromechanical delay (32.09 ± 9.17 vs. 27.61 ± 8.50; p = .016), right sided intra‐atrial electromechanical delay (31.82 ± 4.92 vs. 27.65 ± 8.05; p = .042), and interatrial electromechanical delay (29.65 ± 7.52 vs. 25.96 ± 4.30; p = .044) were seen as early as 3rd month of treatment. Besides, there was no statistically significant difference between Empagliflozin and Dapagliflozin subgroups in terms of mentioned parameters.ConclusionSGLT‐2 inhibitors as an add‐on therapy to metformin were shown to significantly improve P wave indices and atrial electromechanics in type 2 DM patients as early as the 3rd month of treatment. It was thought that this may be one of the underlying mechanisms of the decrease in the frequency of AF with the use of SGLT2 inhibitors.
Carfilzomib‐based antibody mediated rejection therapy in pediatric kidney transplant recipients
Authors: Cody Ellen M. , Varnell Charles , Lazear Danielle , VandenHeuvel Katherine , Flores Francisco X. , Woodle E. Steve , Hooper David K. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundTo date, the evidence for proteasome‐inhibitor (PI) based antibody mediated rejection (AMR) therapy has been with the first‐generation PI bortezomib. Results have demonstrated encouraging efficacy for early AMR with lesser efficacy for late AMR. Unfortunately, bortezomib is associated with dose‐limiting adverse effects in some patients. We report use of the second generation proteosome inhibitor carfilzomib for AMR treatment in two pediatric patients with a kidney transplant.MethodsThe clinical data on two patients who experienced dose limiting toxicities from bortezomib were collected along with their short‐ and long‐term outcomes.ResultsA two‐year‐old female with simultaneous AMR, multiple de novo DSAs (DR53 MFI 3900, DQ9 MFI 6600, DR15 2200, DR51 MFI 1900) and T‐cell mediated rejection (TCMR) completed three carfilzomib cycles and experienced stage 1 acute kidney injury after the first two cycles. At 1 year follow up, all DSAs resolved, and her kidney function returned to baseline without recurrence. A 17‐year‐old female also developed AMR with multiple de novo DSAs (DQ5 MFI 9900, DQ6 MFI 9800, DQA*01 MFI 9900). She completed two carfilzomib cycles, which were associated with acute kidney injury. She had resolution of rejection on biopsy and decreased but persistent DSAs on follow‐up.ConclusionsCarfilzomib treatment for bortezomib‐refractory rejection and/or bortezomib toxicity may provide DSA elimination or reduction, but also appears to be associated with nephrotoxicity. Clinical development of carfilzomib for AMR will require a better understanding of efficacy and development of approaches to mitigate nephrotoxicity.
Exploratory assessment: Nurse‐led community health worker delivered HCV intervention for people experiencing homelessness
Authors: Nyamathi Adeline , Salem Benissa E. , Lee Darlene , Yu Zhaoxia , Hudson Angela , Saab Sammy , Shin Sanghyuk S. , Jones‐Patten Alexandria , Yadav Kartik , Alikhani Mitra , Clarke Richard , Chang Alicia , White Kathryn , Gelberg Lillian 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundGetting and maintaining Hepatitis C Virus (HCV) cure is challenging among people experiencing homelessness (PEH) as a result of critical social determinants of health such as unstable housing, mental health disorders, and drug and alcohol use.ObjectivesThe purpose of this exploratory pilot study was to compare a registered nurse/community health worker (RN/CHW)‐led HCV intervention tailored for PEH, “I am HCV Free,” with a clinic‐based standard of care (cbSOC) for treating HCV. Efficacy was measured by sustained virological response at 12 weeks after stopping antivirals (SVR12), and improvement in mental health, drug and alcohol use, and access to healthcare.MethodsAn exploratory randomized controlled trial design was used to assign PEH recruited from partner sites in the Skid Row Area of Los Angeles, California, to the RN/CHW or cbSOC programs. All received direct‐acting antivirals. The RN/CHW group received directly observed therapy in community‐based settings, incentives for taking HCV medications, and wrap‐around services, including connection to additional healthcare services, housing support, and referral to other community services. For all PEH, drug and alcohol use and mental health symptoms were measured at month 2 or 3 and 5 or 6 follow‐up, depending on HCV medication type, while SVR12 was measured at month 5 or 6 follow‐up.ResultsAmong PEH in the RN/CHW group, 75% (3 of 4) completed SVR12 and all three attained undetectable viral load. This was compared with 66.7% (n = 4 of 6) of the cbSOC group who completed SVR12; all four attained undetectable viral load. The RN/CHW group, as compared to the cbSOC, also showed greater improvements in mental health, and significant improvement in drug use, and access to healthcare services.DiscussionWhile this study shows significant improvements in drug use and health service access among the RN/‐CHW group, the sample size of the study limits the validity and generalizability of the results. Further studies using larger sample sizes are necessitated.
Maternal intake of folate and folic acid during pregnancy and pubertal timing in girls and boys: A population‐based cohort study
Authors: Gaml‐Sørensen Anne , Brix Nis , Lunddorf Lea Lykke Harrits , Ernst Andreas , Høyer Birgit Bjerre , Olsen Sjurdur Frodi , Granström Charlotta , Toft Gunnar , Henriksen Tine Brink , Ramlau‐Hansen Cecilia Høst 
Published: May 2023

AbstractBackgroundFolate is essential for normal foetal development as it plays an important role for gene expression during different periods of foetal development. Thus, prenatal exposure to folate may have a programming effect on pubertal timing.ObjectivesTo study the association between maternal intake of folate during pregnancy and pubertal timing in girls and boys.MethodsWe studied 6585 girls and 6326 boys from a Danish population‐based Puberty Cohort, 2000–2021. Information on maternal intake of folate from diet and folic acid from supplements was obtained from a food‐frequency questionnaire in mid‐pregnancy, and total folate was calculated as dietary folate equivalents. Information on age at menarche in girls, age at first ejaculation and voice break in boys, and Tanner stages, acne and axillary hair in both girls and boys was obtained every 6 months throughout puberty. We estimated mean monthly differences according to exposure groups for each pubertal milestone in addition to a combined estimate for the average age at attaining all pubertal milestones using multivariable interval‐censored regression models. Total folate was analysed in quintiles, continuous and as restricted cubic splines.ResultsMaternal intake of total folate in mid‐pregnancy was not associated with pubertal timing in girls (combined estimate for overall pubertal timing per standard deviation (SD 325 μg/day) decrease in maternal intake of total folate: −0.14 months (95% confidence interval [CI] −0.51, 0.22)). Boys had slightly later overall pubertal timing per standard deviation (SD 325 μg/day) decrease in maternal intake of total folate (combined estimate: 0.40 months, 95% CI 0.01, 0.72). Spline plots supported these findings.ConclusionsPrenatal exposure to low maternal intake of total folate in mid‐pregnancy was not associated with pubertal timing in girls but associated with slightly later pubertal timing in boys. This minor delay is likely not of clinical importance.
Transcriptomic analysis reveals gene expression changes in peripheral white blood cells of cows after embryo transfer: Implications for pregnancy tolerance
Authors: De los Santos Jorge A. , Andrade João Paulo N. , Cangiano L. R. , Iriarte Andres , Peñagaricano Francisco , Parrish John J. 
Published: May 2023

AbstractMost embryo losses occur in the first trimester of pregnancy in cows and include losses following embryo transfer. There is a resulting negative economic impact on cattle production systems when this occurs. Cellular and molecular mechanisms behind the maternal immune response to the growing embryo have not been fully characterized. The objective of this study was to examine the gene expression profiles of peripheral white blood cells (PWBCs) from pregnant cows 21 days after an embryo was transferred, and cows that were treated equally but lost the embryo. Specifically, we obtained and compared the transcriptome of PWBC from heifers that became pregnant at day 21 (N = 5) or failed to become pregnant after the embryo transfer (N = 5). Sequencing data can be accessed by Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) with the accession number GSE210665. A total of 13,167 genes were evaluated for differential expression between groups. A total of 682 genes showed differential expression (p‐value <.01), 302 genes were up‐regulated while 380 were down‐regulated due to pregnancy. The most significant genes were COL1A2, H2AC18, HTRA1, MMP14, CD5L, ADAMDEC1, MYO1A and RPL39, among others. Most of the significant genes are related to the up‐regulation of inflammatory chemokine activity and immune defence response. Our findings extend the current knowledge that pregnancy alters the PWBC by promoting immune tolerance, cell chemotaxis, blood coagulation, angiogenesis, inflammatory response, cell adhesion and cytokine secretion. Our data suggest that pregnancy and ectoparasites could trigger poorly described genes in PWBC of cows, and a few previously escribed genes, such as IFI44. These results could shed light on the genes and mechanisms that promote tolerance to pregnancy and allow survival of the developing embryo.
Income sources, intrahousehold allocation and individual poverty
Authors: Bargain Olivier 
Published: May 2023

Policies aimed at redistributing to the most vulnerable individuals must consider inequality within households as much as between households. In that spirit, many cash transfers are targeted at women rather than men. Tax legislations can also contain specific gender provisions that treat men and women differently. Whether these policies operate some intrahousehold redistribution, or are defeated by the household agency problem, is an open question. This paper provides new insights by adapting models of intrahousehold allocation to account for women's and men's net‐of‐tax earnings and targeted benefits as determinants of the household resource sharing function. We suggest applications using household expenditure data for Argentina and South Africa. Net‐of‐tax earnings and benefits commanded by women are often positively related to their and their children's resources. We provide counterfactual simulations to illustrate how women's financial power – and its sources – may modify their consumption share and thus their individual poverty status.