bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Quantifying adaptive evolution and the effects of natural selection across the Norway spruce genome
Authors: Wang Xi , Ingvarsson Pär K. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractDetecting natural selection is one of the major goals of evolutionary genomics. Here, we sequenced the whole genome of 25Picea abiesindividuals and quantified the amount of selection across the genome. Using an estimate of the distribution of fitness effects, we showed that both negative selection and the rate of positively selected substitutions are very limited in coding regions. We found a positive correlation between the rate of adaptive substitutions and recombination rate and a negative correlation between the rate of adaptive substitutions and gene density, suggesting a widespread influence from Hill–Robertson interference on the efficiency of protein adaptation inP. abies. Finally, the distinct population statistics between genomic regions under either positive or balancing selection with that under neutral regions indicated the impact of natural selection on the genomic architecture of Norway spruce. Further gene ontology enrichment analysis for genes located in regions identified as undergoing either positive or long‐term balancing selection also highlighted the specific molecular functions and biological processes that appear to be targets of selection in Norway spruce.
From helplessness to transformation: An analysis of clinician narratives about the social determinants of health and their implications for training and practice
Authors: Peebles Erin R. , Pack Rachael , Goldszmidt Mark 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundMedical curricula are attempting to prepare trainees to address the social determinants of health, however the life circumstances of patients are often beyond physician control. Little is known about how physicians cope with this dilemma; we sought to examine their perspectives when faced with this challenge to help better prepare trainees for practice.MethodsWe undertook a critical analysis of physician narratives from January 2018 to June 2020. In total, 268 physician‐written narrative social determinant of health pieces from four high impact medical journals were screened and 47 met the inclusion criteria and were analysed.ResultsWe identified four storylines that described the physician experience and strategies for coping with the social determinants of health. While Helplessness stories described authors' experiences of emotional distress when unable to support their patients, the other story types described ways they could make a difference. In Shortcoming and Transformation stories, the realisations about shortcomings led to transformation. In Doctor‐patient relationship stories, authors described its importance in theirs and patients' lives, and in System advocacy stories, they described the need for greater advocacy to help change broken systems.ConclusionsCurrent approaches to teaching the social determinants of health often focus on the role of physicians in recognising and altering social circumstances. However, the realities of practice do not easily allow physicians to do so and, for some, may lead to distress and burnout. There are other ways to cope and make a difference by improving ourselves, investing in getting to know our patients, and advocating. These results can help better support trainees and physicians for the realities of practice.
Investigation on key aspects of mating biology in the mosquito Aedes koreicus
Authors: Ciocchetta Silvia , Frentiu Francesca D. , Montarsi Fabrizio , Capelli Gioia , Devine Gregor J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractAedes koreicus Edwards, 1917 (Hulecoetomyia koreica) is a mosquito (Diptera: Culicidae) from Northeast Asia with a rapidly expanding presence outside its original native range. Over the years, the species has been discovered in several new countries, either spreading after first introduction or remaining localised to limited areas. Notably, recent studies have demonstrated the ability of the species to transmit zoonotic parasites and viruses both in the field and in laboratory settings. Combined with its invasive potential, the possible role of Ae. koreicus in pathogen transmission highlights the public health risks resulting from its invasion. In this study, we used a recently established population from Italy to investigate aspects of biology that influence reproductive success in Ae. koreicus: autogeny, mating behaviour, mating disruption by the sympatric invasive species Aedes albopictus Skuse, 1894, and the presence of the endosymbiont Wolbachia pipientis Hertig, 1936. Our laboratory population did not exhibit autogenic behaviour and required a bloodmeal to complete its ovarian cycle. When we exposed Ae. koreicus females to males of Ae. albopictus, we observed repeated attempts at insemination and an aggressive, disruptive mating behaviour initiated by male Ae. albopictus. Despite this, no sperm was identified in Ae. koreicus spermathecae. Wolbachia, an endosymbiotic bacterium capable of influencing mosquito reproductive behaviour, was not detected in this Ae. koreicus population and, therefore, had no effect on Ae. koreicus reproduction.
Improved effectiveness of an increased dose of griseofulvin for treating Tinea capitis among refugee children in Israel: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Kassem R. , Barzilai A. , Baum S. , Kempfner A. , Pavlotsky F. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundTinea capitis (TC), a fungal infection that occurs in children, is primarily caused by dermatophytes such as Trichophyton and Microsporum species. For Trichophyton species, treatment with terbinafine is considered more effective than griseofulvin treatment. Specific populations, such as refugee children, are more susceptible to TC.ObjectiveThis study aimed to describe and compare the response to treatment among Israeli and refugee children with TC.Patients/MethodsWe retrospectively reviewed data collected on refugee and Israeli children with TC between January 2004 and January 2020.ResultsOverall, 3358 children with TC (refugees: 1497; Israelis: 1861) were identified. Among these, 86% of the refugee children had TC caused by Trichophyton violaceum, 65% of the Israeli children had TC caused by Microsporum canis and 83% of all children were treated with griseofulvin. Overall, 14% of the refugees showed a partial response to a griseofulvin dose of ≤25 mg/kg/day; however, they showed a complete response upon increasing the dose to ≥30 mg/kg/day. No significant adverse effects were observed.ConclusionThe over‐crowded day care centres and dense living make refugee children more susceptible to TC than the general population, and griseofulvin dosage adjustment is necessary. TC, due to Trichophyton species, could benefit from receiving an increased dose of griseofulvin in a suspension form, which is cheaper than terbinafine.
“Maintaining hope for a better future”: An interview with Dr. Crystal Felima
Authors: Felima Crystal , DeeWaard Abigail , Barbier Clara , Cano‐Garcia Erica , Jeronimo Gonzalo , Coleman Nari , Hryshko Nataliya , Schuller Mark 
Published: August 2023

AbstractWhile anthropologists have played roles speaking out for marginalized groups, formalized to combat Antisemitism, racism, and xenophobia, they have also aided in the marginalization and oppression of communities, justified colonialism, and put the communities they have studied at risk. In recent decades, anthropologists have rethought the way research is conducted, presented, and justified to reduce harm to communities. Despite these shifts, anthropological training has been slow to include activist work by women of color and other marginalized people, leaving anthropologists‐in‐training with limited concrete guidance on how to apply their anthropological lens to social justice. Addressing this gap, this article centering a Black feminist analysis offers an interview conducted between anthropology students and a professor of anthropology, giving insights into how anthropological thought can be applied to activism and advocacy. Centering Black feminism is not only important to redress historical marginalization within the discipline. By centering the lives of marginalized people within an intersectional lens, Black feminist analysis provides a mandate to rethink theoretical models, such as political ecology, the dominant frame anthropologists have used to address disasters and climate change. Also importantly, centering Black women's bodies and embodied experience uncovers the urgent necessity for self‐care during fieldwork. Prof. Felima embodies both these challenges, and offers candid advice to students, inspiring a two‐way dialogue.
Quality assessment in initial paediatric trauma care: Systematic review from prehospital care to the paediatric intensive care unit
Authors: Buck Sainz‐Rozas Pablo , Casal Angulo Carmen , García Molina Pablo 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundTrauma is the most common cause of death and disability in the paediatric population. There are a huge number of variables involved in the care they receive from health care professionals.AimThe aim of this study was to review the available evidence of initial paediatric trauma care throughout the health care process with a view to create quality indicators (QIs).Study DesignA systematic review was performed from Cochrane Library, Medline, Scopus and SciELO between 2010 and 2020. Studies and guidelines that examined quality or suggested QI were included. Indicators were classified by health care setting, Donabedian's model, risk of bias and the quality of the publication with the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluations (GRADE) assessment.ResultsThe initial search included 686 articles, which were reduced to 22, with 15 primary and 7 secondary research articles. The snowball sampling technique was used to add a further seven guidelines and two articles. From these, 534 possible indicators were extracted, summarizing them into 39 and grouping the prehospital care indicators as structure (N = 5), process (N = 12) and outcome (N = 3) indicators and the hospital care indicators as structure (N = 4), process (N = 10) and outcome (N = 6) indicators. Most of the QIs have been extracted from US studies. They are multidisciplinary and in some cases are based on an adaptation of the QIs of adult trauma care.ConclusionsThere was a clear gap and large variability between the indicators, as well as low‐quality evidence. Future studies will validate indicators using the Delphi method.Relevance to Clinical PracticeDesign a QI framework that may be used by the health system throughout the process. Indicators framework will get nurses, to assess the quality of health care, detect deficient areas and implement improvement measures.
Socialized to care: Nursing student experiences with faculty, preceptors, and patients
Authors: Hopeck Paula 
Published: August 2023

AbstractEffective socialization of nurses has led to positive outcomes for both hospitals and nurses, including higher retention and greater job satisfaction. The importance of faculty, preceptors, and patients in the socialization of nursing students has been documented extensively in the literature. The research presented in this article examines data from qualitative, longitudinal interview transcripts of 15 students as they progressed through a 2‐year nursing program to determine how these three types of influence socialize nursing students, and at which points in their education. Using multiple perspective qualitative longitudinal interviews, I interviewed participants every semester of nursing school about their experiences. From the data, these three parties have an impact at different points in their socialization, starting with faculty who socialize students to nursing school by helping them think like nurses. Next, preceptors can be barriers or facilitators of learning by demonstrating how to act like nurses and providing insight about how and why nurses may act the way that they do. Finally, patients help students put everything together by applying classroom lessons to clinical settings. The research concludes with implications for research, practice, and policy.
Diagnosing evapotranspiration responses to water deficit across biomes using deep learning
Authors: Giardina Francesco , Gentine Pierre , Konings Alexandra G. , Seneviratne Sonia I. , Stocker Benjamin D. 
Published: August 2023

Summary

Accounting for water limitation is key to determining vegetation sensitivity to drought. Quantifying water limitation effects on evapotranspiration (ET) is challenged by the heterogeneity of vegetation types, climate zones and vertically along the rooting zone.

Here, we train deep neural networks using flux measurements to study ET responses to progressing drought conditions. We determine a water stress factor (fET) that isolates ET reductions from effects of atmospheric aridity and other covarying drivers. We regress fET against the cumulative water deficit, which reveals the control of whole‐column moisture availability.

We find a variety of ET responses to water stress. Responses range from rapid declines of fET to 10% of its water‐unlimited rate at several savannah and grassland sites, to mild fET reductions in most forests, despite substantial water deficits. Most sensitive responses are found at the most arid and warm sites.

A combination of regulation of stomatal and hydraulic conductance and access to belowground water reservoirs, whether in groundwater or deep soil moisture, could explain the different behaviors observed across sites. This variety of responses is not captured by a standard land surface model, likely reflecting simplifications in its representation of belowground water storage.
Central and peripheral scleral lens‐induced corneal oedema
Authors: Iqbal Asif , Fisher Damien , Alonso‐Caneiro David , Collins Michael J. , Vincent Stephen J. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractPurposeTo quantify the magnitude of central and peripheral scleral lens‐induced corneal oedema for a range of fluid reservoir thicknesses, and to compare these experimental results with theoretical models of corneal oedema both with and without limbal metabolic support (i.e., the lateral transport of metabolites and the influence of the limbal vasculature).MethodsTen young healthy participants wore scleral lenses (KATT™, Capricornia Contact Lenses) fitted with low (mean 141 μm), medium (482 μm) and high (718 μm) central fluid reservoir thickness values across three separate study visits. The scleral lens thickness, fluid reservoir thickness and stromal corneal oedema were measured using optical coherence tomography. Oedema was quantified across the central (0–2.5 mm from the corneal apex) and peripheral (1.25–3 mm from the scleral spur) cornea. Experimental data were compared with published theoretical models of central to peripheral corneal oedema.ResultsStromal oedema varied with fluid reservoir thickness (p < 0.001) for both central and peripheral regions. The mean (standard deviation) stromal oedema was greater for the medium (2.08 (1.21)%) and high (2.22 (1.31)%) fluid reservoir thickness conditions compared to the low condition (1.00 (1.01)%) (p ≤ 0.01). Stromal oedema gradually increased from the corneal centre to the periphery by ~0.3% on average (relative increase of 18%), but the change did not reach statistical significance. This trend of increasing, rather than decreasing, oedema towards the limbus is consistent with theoretical modelling of peripheral oedema without metabolic support from the limbus.ConclusionsThe central and peripheral cornea displayed a similar magnitude of oedema, with increasing levels observed for medium and high fluid reservoir thicknesses. The gradual increase in oedema towards the limbus is consistent with a ‘without limbal metabolic support’ theoretical model.
The effects of heterogeneous sanctions on exporting firms: Evidence from Denmark
Authors: Jäkel Ina C. , Østervig Søren , Yalcin Erdal 
Published: August 2023

AbstractSanctions encompass a wide set of policy instruments restricting cross‐border economic activities. In this paper, we study how different types of sanctions affect the export behavior of firms to the targeted countries. We combine Danish register data, including information on firm‐destination‐specific exports, with information on sanctions imposed by Denmark from the Global Sanctions Database. Our data allow us to study firms' export behavior in 62 sanctioned countries, amounting to a total of 453 country‐years with sanctions over the period 2000–2015. Methodologically, we apply a two‐stage estimation strategy to properly account for multilateral resistance terms. We find that, on average, sanctions lead to a significant reduction in firms' destination‐specific exports and a significant increase in firms' probability to exit the destination. Next, we study heterogeneity in the effects of sanctions across (i) sanction types and sanction packages, (ii) the objectives of sanctions, and (iii) countries subject to sanctions. Results confirm that the effects of sanctions on firms' export behavior vary considerably across these three dimensions.
The perceived vulnerability to disease scale: Cross‐cultural measurement invariance and associations with fear of COVID‐19 across 16 countries
Authors: Karakulak Arzu , Stogianni Maria , Alonso‐Arbiol Itziar , Shukla Shanu , Bender Michael , Yeung Victoria Wai Lan , Jovanović Veljko , Musso Pasquale , Scardigno Rosa , Scott Riley A. , Stuart Jaimee , Friehs Maria‐Therese , Toh Zena , Albayrak‐Aydemir Nihan , Arvanitis Alexios , Buzea Carmen , Mastrotheodoros Stefanos , Tsang Jo‐Ann , Madeira Filipa , Miconi Diana , Pascual Nicole Russell , Rowatt Wade C. , Al‐Kire Rosemary L. , Amar Moty , Aral Tugce , Itzchakov Guy , Mishra Sushanta Kumar , Porat Roni , Servidio Rocco , Stefenel Delia , Tair Ergyul , Gkomez Alexandros 
Published: August 2023

AbstractUsing cross‐sectional data from N = 4274 young adults across 16 countries during the COVID‐19 pandemic, we examined the cross‐cultural measurement invariance of the perceived vulnerability to disease (PVD) scale and tested the hypothesis that the association between PVD and fear of COVID‐19 is stronger under high disease threat [that is, absence of COVID‐19 vaccination, living in a country with lower Human Development Index (HDI) or higher COVID‐19 mortality]. Results supported a bi‐factor Exploratory Structural Equation Modeling model where items loaded on a global PVD factor, and on the sub‐factors of Perceived Infectability and Germ Aversion. However, cross‐national invariance could only be obtained on the configural level with a reduced version of the PVD scale (PVD‐r), suggesting that the concept of PVD may vary across nations. Moreover, higher PVD‐r was consistently associated with greater fear of COVID‐19 across all levels of disease threat, but this association was especially pronounced among individuals with a COVID‐19 vaccine, and in contexts where COVID‐19 mortality was high. The present research brought clarity into the dimensionality of the PVD measure, discussed its suitability and limitations for cross‐cultural research, and highlighted the pandemic‐related conditions under which higher PVD is most likely to go along with psychologically maladaptive outcomes, such as fear of COVID‐19.
Why do US source plasma donors stop donating?
Authors: Fransen Michelle , Becker Mark , Hershman Janet , Lenart James , Simon Toby L. 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundIn the United States, source plasma (SP) donors can donate up to 104 times per year. Considering the global need for SP and plasma‐derived medicinal products, it is critical to maintain the health of frequent donors. This study explores SP donors' self‐reported reasons for a lapse in donating.Study Design and MethodsThere were 5608 SP donors from 14 SP centers who enrolled in a longitudinal cohort study to assess self‐reported functional health and well‐being. Donors were assigned to one of four groups, according to the frequency of SP donation in the 12 months before enrollment. One thousand four hundred forty‐eight SP donors who lapsed in donating during 6 months or greater during the study follow‐up were asked to complete a survey.ResultsThere were 545 lapsed SP donors who returned surveys (37.6%); 63% were female. Most responses given for stopping SP donation were categorized as convenience reasons (69.1%). Self‐reported health concerns, including being deferred multiple times, which were categorized as possibly related or unable to determine a relationship to plasmapheresis, represented 45.5% of the responses.DiscussionPrimary reasons US SP donors report for a lapse in donation were categorized as convenience (e.g., schedule conflicts/lack of time). Donor responses categorized as health concerns which have a possible or uncertain relationship to plasmapheresis were less frequent but present in all frequency groups. This study adds to the body of evidence that SP donors cease donating for a variety of self‐reported reasons with the majority not directly related to a perceived negative impact on their health.
Effects of donation frequency on U.S. source plasma donor health
Authors: Fransen Michelle , Becker Mark , Hershman Janet , Lenart James , Simon Toby , McCausland Kristen , Parfitt Alexandra , Weissfeld Lisa 
Published: August 2023

AbstractBackgroundPlasma‐derived medicinal products (PDMPs) are essential, life‐saving medicines manufactured from plasma donated by healthy human volunteers. PDMPs are used to treat a range of rare, serious, and chronic conditions, often genetic in origin. Approximately 70% of the Source Plasma (SP) used for PDMP manufacturing comes from United States (US). The hypothesis of the study is that US donation frequency does not impair donor self‐reported functional health and well‐being.Study Design and MethodsA total of 5608 SP donors from 14 US SP centers were enrolled in a cross‐sectional study to assess self‐reported health related quality of life (HRQoL) and well‐being. By sex, donors were assigned to one of four groups, according to their frequency of SP donation in the 12 months before enrollment. The SF‐36v2® Health Survey (SF‐36v2) and a survey assessing the frequency of various health conditions that may be associated with impaired immune function over different time periods were used.ResultsThere were no statistically significant differences in SF‐36v2 scores between any of the donor frequency groups, compared with new donors after controlling for potential confounding and accounting for multiple comparisons among males and females. Cough, cold, occasional fatigue, and sore throat were the most reported health conditions or symptoms, but there was no clear difference among sex or frequency groups.DiscussionThe self‐reported data in this study support the hypothesis that compensated donations at US FDA permitted frequencies and volumes are consistent with maintaining donor health. Compared with the general population, SP donors have comparable or better health than the general population.
A review of Bland–Altman difference plot analysis in the veterinary clinical pathology laboratory
Authors: Moore A Russell 
Published: August 2023

AbstractCurrent guidelines recommend using Bland–Altman plots (BA‐plots), also called Difference plots, as part of method comparison evaluation in the veterinary clinical pathology laboratory. Analysis of differences can meaningfully augment linear regression techniques and allows fuller summarization of the performance of two methods relative to each other. This work summarizes the current literature on BA‐plot composition and evaluation. Model data is used to demonstrate data evaluation approaches based on the observed differences, the combined inherent imprecision of the methods, and clinically relevant performance goals. Common limitations of the approaches, including points of frequent misinterpretation, are presented. BA‐plot analysis can be part of an intentionally crafted method comparison study that provides analytically and clinically relevant data.