bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Supporting addiction affected families effectively: a feasibility randomised controlled trial of a psychosocial intervention delivered by lay counsellors in Goa, India
Authors: Bhatia Urvita , Velleman Richard , Velleman Gill , Garber Alison , Catalano Alexander , Nadkarni Abhijit 
Published: August 2022

AbstractBackgroundDespite evidence of the burden of alcohol use on families, there is a lack of adequate and targeted support. We aimed to examine the feasibility, acceptability and impact of Supporting Addiction Affected Families Effectively (SAFE), a brief lay counsellor-delivered intervention for affected family members (AFMs).MethodsParallel arm feasibility randomised controlled trial [1:1 allocation to SAFE or enhanced usual care (EUC)]. The primary outcome was mean difference in symptom score assessed by the Symptom Rating Test and secondary outcomes were difference in coping, impact and social support scores measured by the Coping Questionnaire, Family Member Impact Questionnaire, and Alcohol, Drugs and the Family Social Support Scale. Process data examining feasibility and acceptability were also collected. The primary analysis was intention to treat at the 3-month endpoint.ResultsIn total, 115 AFMs were referred to the trial, and 101 (87.8%) consenting participants were randomised to the two arms (51 SAFE arm and 50 EUC arm). Seventy-eight per cent completed treatment, with the mean number of sessions being 4.25 sessions and mean duration being 53 min. Ninety-five per cent completed outcome assessment. There were no statistically significant differences between SAFE and EUC on any of the outcome measures, except for the between-group adjusted mean differences for social support scores (AMD −6.05, 95% CI −10.98 to −1.12, p = 0.02).ConclusionOur work indicates that it is possible to identify AFMs through community networking, and have high rates of participation for lay counsellor-delivered psychosocial care. Nevertheless, there is a need for further intervention development to ensure its contextual relevance and appropriateness.
Seasonal variation in vitamin D status of Japanese infants starts to emerge at 2 months of age: a retrospective cohort study
Authors: Takahashi Keigo , Arimitsu Takeshi , Hara-Isono Kaori , Ikeda Kazushige 
Published: August 2022

AbstractVitamin D seasonality has been reported in adults and children, suggesting that sunlight exposure has effects on 25(OH)D production. While vitamin D deficiency among infants has received significant attention, little is known about the extent to which vitamin D status during early infancy is affected by sunlight exposure. Here, we retrospectively analysed serum 25(OH)D levels of 692 samples obtained from healthy infants aged 1–2 months born at Saitama City Hospital, Japan (latitude 35·9° North) between August 2017 and September 2021. Data regarding the frequency of outdoor activities, formula intake and BMI were also collected and analysed. Month-to-month comparisons of vitamin D levels revealed significant variation in 25(OH)D levels in breastfed infants starting at 2 months, with maximal and minimal levels in September and January, respectively. An outdoor activity score of 0 was most common at 1 month (83·9 %) and a score of 3 was most common at 2 months (81·2 %), suggesting an increased amount of sunlight exposure at 2 months. Multiple linear regression analysis revealed the amount of formula intake to be significantly associated with vitamin D status at both 1 (t = 17·96) and 2 months (t = 16·30). Our results comprise the first evidence that seasonal variation of vitamin D begins at 2 months among breastfed infants from East Asia, though dietary intake appears to be the major determinant of vitamin D status. These findings provide new insights into the influence of dietary and non-dietary factors on vitamin D status during early infancy.
PRIVATE CENSORSHIP AND STRUCTURAL DOMINANCE: WHY SOCIAL MEDIA PLATFORMS SHOULD HAVE OBLIGATIONS TO THEIR USERS UNDER FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
Authors: Theil Stefan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractContemporary liberal accounts of free expression are almost exclusively preoccupied with the permissible exercises of state power. Influenced by this framing, free expression guarantees under the ECHR, as well as the US and German Constitutions, focus on protecting a private sphere from state interference: what happens within that sphere is only of peripheral concern. This approach is deeply unsatisfactory, especially given the significant threats emanating from private social media platforms that shape the conditions under which individuals may express themselves online. The article argues that we should take private platforms seriously as a source of significant threats, without abandoning the distinction between private actors and the state. Private platforms that are generally open to the public should have obligations to uphold free speech in their contractual relationship to users under certain conditions: if they are structurally dominant, make arbitrary decisions or significantly impact a user's societal participation.
Health technology assessment of whole genome sequencing in the diagnosis of genetic disorders: a scoping review of the literature
Authors: Nurchis Mario Cesare , Riccardi Maria Teresa , Damiani Gianfranco 
Published: August 2022

Abstract

Objective
The aim of this scoping review is to map the available evidence about the use of health technology assessment (HTA) in the assessment of whole genome sequencing (WGS).

Methods
A scoping review methodology was adopted. The population, concept, and context framework was used to build up the research question and to establish the eligibility criteria. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses extension for Scoping Reviews was adopted to implement a comprehensive search strategy. Evidence was retrieved from scientific databases and HTA organizations Web sites. Reports were classified as full HTA, mini-HTA, rapid reviews or other.

Results
The search strategy identified seven reports. Five HTA organizations from five countries elaborated the reports: one full HTA, four rapid reviews, and two classified as others. The reports were mainly focused on the evaluation of the clinical utility and cost-effectiveness of genome-wide sequencing as well as informing policy questions by providing analyses of organizational and ethical considerations.

Conclusions
Few HTA organizations are drafting reports for WGS. It is essential to stimulate a critical reflection during the elaboration of HTA reports for WGS to steer choices of decision makers in the establishment of priorities for research and policy and reimbursement rates.
American Political Development and the Recovery of a Human Science
Authors: Sparrow Bartholomew H. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractRecent political developments point to the presence of grave problems with democratic governance in the United States. They suggest that scholarship in American political development (APD) could be better at studying the experiences and thinking of everyday Americans. APD scholars often study institutional changes, policy initiatives, and other shifts in governance without studying how these developments affect the lives of U.S. citizens and residents. And many developments of critical political importance are ignored or do not receive the scholarly attention they deserve. For our scholarship to do justice to the recent crises and better relate to the political world around us, as several recent past American Political Science Association (APSA) presidents have recommended, the article calls for APD scholarship to be better at focusing on people themselves: on their health and safety, their material standing, and their personal and social educations. By adding a fuller study of people to their research, APD scholars would be better equipped to identify important political developments that do not always capture the attention of Congress, the White House, and the media, but that are too important to ignore.
Childhood stunting and subsequent educational outcomes: a marginal structural model analysis from a South African longitudinal study
Authors: Amusa Lateef B , Bengesai Annah Vimbai , Khan Hafiz TA 
Published: August 2022

AbstractObjective:To examine the association between childhood stunting and grade completion (as educational outcome) in South Africa.Design:Longitudinal study. Data were obtained using the National Income Dynamics Study over five waves (2008 to 2017). Children were tracked at wave 1 in 2008 until wave 5 in 2017 to determine their total years of schooling. We controlled for time-variant and time-varying confounding with a marginal structural model to estimate the associations between childhood stunting and subsequent grade completion.Setting:Nationally representative study of South African households.Participants:A total of 2629 children aged 2 and 3 years in 2008.Results:We observed a substantial decrease in the prevalence of stunting between wave 1 (28·2 %) and wave 4 (8·6 %). Our marginal structural model results suggest that childhood stunting was significantly associated with decreased odds (22 % less likely) of grade completion (OR = 0·78; 95 % CI: 0·40, 0·86; P = 0·015), while those who were only stunted during early childhood had a 29 % reduction in the odds of grade completion (OR = 0·71; 95 % CI: 0·51, 0·82; P = 0·020).Conclusion:These findings underscore the fact that stunting is a significant predictor of academic achievement, whose effects might be long-lasting.
Peripubertal soy isoflavone consumption leads to subclinical hypothyroidism in male Wistar rats
Authors: Dal Forno Gonzalo Ogliari , Oliveira Isabela Medeiros , Cavallin Mônica Degraf , Santos Thalita Iaroczinski Alves , Sleiman Hanan Khaled , Falbo Margarete Kimie , Romano Marco Aurélio , Romano Renata Marino 
Published: August 2022

AbstractExposure to endocrine-disrupting chemicals during critical windows of development may lead to functional abnormalities in adulthood. Isoflavones are a flavonoid group of phytoestrogens that are recognized by their estrogenic activity and are highly abundant in soybean. Since the thyroid gland presents estrogen receptors and infants, toddlers and teenagers may consume isoflavones from soy-based infant formula and beverages as alternatives to animal milk, we propose to investigate the potential effects of relevant concentrations of soy isoflavones in the regulation of the hypothalamic–pituitary (HP) thyroid axis using peripubertal male rats as an experimental model. Thirty-two 23-day-old male rats were exposed to 0.5, 5, or 50 mg of soy isoflavones/kg from weaning to 60 days of age, when they were euthanized, and the tissues were collected to evaluate the mRNA expression of genes involved in the regulation of the HP thyroid axis and dosages of thyroid hormones (THs). Serum TSH concentrations were increased, while alterations were not observed in serum concentrations of triiodothyronine and thyroxine. Regarding mRNA gene expression,Mct-8was increased in the hypothalamus,Mct-8,Thra1, andThrb2were decreased in the pituitary, andNisandPdswere reduced in the thyroid. In the heart,Mct8andThrb2were increased, andThra1was decreased. In the liver,Mct8,Thra1, andThrb2were decreased. These results suggest that the consumption of relevant doses of soy isoflavones during the peripubertal period in males may induce subclinical hypothyroidism, with alterations in the regulation of the HP thyroid axis, modulation of TH synthesis, and peripheral alterations in TH target organs.
The Contribution of Local Anthropogenic Emissions to Air Pollutants in Lhasa on the Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Chen Shuqing , Wang Weiwen , Li Minglu , Mao Jingying , Ma Nan , Liu Junwen , Bai Zhixuan , Zhou Luxi , Wang Xuemei , Bian Jianchun , Yu Pengfei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe Tibetan Plateau (TP), a region with limited human activity, is sensitive to regional and global climate change. In recent decades, surface observations have shown that concentrations of air pollutants (CO, NO2, SO2, and PM2.5) in Lhasa, a city on the TP, are similar to those in regions with high anthropogenic emissions (e.g., Eastern China). This study utilized the WRF‐Chem model and observational datasets to evaluate the concentrations and sources of air pollutants in Lhasa during August 2016. Our results show that the WRF‐Chem model with the standard emission inventory underestimated the surface concentrations of CO, SO2, and PM2.5 in Lhasa from 3 August 2016, 0:00 to 15 August 2016, 23:00 (UTC +8) by 59%, 92%, and 79%, respectively. Sensitivity simulations show that the contribution of long‐range transport of air pollutants from Eastern China and India is less than 10% for Lhasa. Insufficient emissions are found to be the main reason for the model's underestimation of air pollutants in Lhasa. Our study suggests that the emissions of CO, SO2, and PM2.5 in Lhasa in August 2016 might be underestimated by 85%, 93%, and 88%, respectively. Local anthropogenic emissions have a significant impact on urban air quality on the TP and deserve further attention.
Magnetosheath Filamentary Structures Driven by Foreshock Energetic Ions
Authors: Wei Xinhua , Cai Chunlin , Yang Junying , Ma Yuduan 
Published: August 2022

AbstractPrevious simulation studies have revealed the formation of magnetosheath filamentary structures by foreshock energetic ions. We report Cluster and Double Star observations of three such events triggered by a foreshock bubble, a hot flow anomaly and a traveling foreshock, respectively. In each case, in association with the onset of foreshock energetic ions, the magnetosheath energetic ion fluxes have quasi‐periodic modifications. Their azimuthal and pitch angular distributions indicate that these populations flow into the magnetosheath along the magnetic field lines. As a result, filamentary plasma structures form and display as a series of ion density and pressure oscillations anticorrelated to temperature oscillations. Moreover, our statistical analyses of their properties show that filamentary structures primarily form in the magnetosheath with the magnetic field lines connecting to the quasi‐parallel bow shock and under favorable formation conditions similar to those of foreshock transients. The distributions of the angles between the filamentary structure normals and the local magnetic field directions peak at 80°–90°. The transverse sizes of those filaments are in the range of 0.2–1.6 RE. Magnetosheath filamentary structures are often associated with large‐amplitude ion density and temperature perturbations comparable to the unperturbed background levels.
Modeling Equatorial F‐Region Ionospheric Instability Using a Regional Ionospheric Irregularity Model and WAM‐IPE
Authors: Hysell D. L. , Fang T. W. , Fuller‐Rowell T. J. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThis paper uses a regional simulation of plasma convective instability in the postsunset equatorial ionosphere together with a global atmosphere/ionosphere/plasmasphere GCM (WAM‐IPE) to forecast irregularities associated with equatorial spread F (ESF) for 1–2 hr after sunset. First, the regional simulation is initialized and forced using ionosphere state parameters derived from campaign data from the Jicamarca Radio Observatory and from empirical models. The irregularities produced by these simulations are found to be quantitatively similar to those observed. Next, the aforementioned state parameters are replaced with parameters from WAM‐IPE, and the resulting departures between the simulated and observed irregularities are noted. In one of five cases, the forecast failed to accurately predict ESF irregularities due to the late reversal of the zonal thermospheric winds. In four of five cases, significant differences between the observed and predicted prereversal enhancement (PRE) of the background vertical drifts resulted in degraded forecast accuracy. This highlights the need for improved PRE forecasting in the global‐scale model.
The Global Monsoon Convective System as Reflected in Upper Atmosphere Gravity Waves
Authors: Forbes Jeffrey M. , Ern Manfred , Zhang Xiaoli 
Published: August 2022

AbstractThe concept of a global monsoon system collectively comprising 6 tropical regions is applied to Outgoing Longwave Radiation (OLR) as a proxy for convectively generated gravity waves (GWs), leading to the global monsoon convective system (GMCS). The six tropical regions are North and South Africa, Central and South America, and the South Asia‐Pacific and Malay Archipelago/Australia‐Pacific regions. The extended GMCS is considered in terms of gravity wave momentum fluxes (GWMFs) at 30, 50, 70, and 90 km altitude during the summer season in both hemispheres between December 2016, and August 2020. The GWMFs are inferred from TIMED/SABER temperature measurements. Intermonthly, interseasonal, and interannual variations in monthly mean GWMFs are interpreted in terms of OLR as a proxy for the spatial‐temporal variability of GW sources, and in terms of MERRA2 zonal winds that quantify the influences of changes in background propagation conditions. It is found that temporal variations in GWMFs associated with the GMCS as a whole are not highly correlated with OLR, but at 30, 50, and 70 km are quantitatively linked to Doppler‐shifting effects by local winds, wind filtering at 15 km altitude, and “instrument filtering.” These effects are also compared and examined in the context of GW variances at 50 km in Southern Hemisphere summer measured by the CIPS instrument on the AIM satellite, which measures a different part of the GW spectrum. The SABER GWMF response at 90 km is irregular and variable, but sometimes consists of 3‐ and 4‐peaked structures in longitude that may reflect nonmigrating tide influences on GW propagation conditions.
Homogeneous Freezing Events Sampled in the Tropical Tropopause Layer
Authors: Jensen E. J. , Diskin G. S. , DiGangi J. , Woods S. , Lawson R. P. , Bui T. V. 
Published: August 2022

AbstractHigh‐frequency (20 Hz) aircraft measurements of tropical tropopause layer (TTL) cirrus and humidity are used to examine recent homogeneous freezing ice nucleation events. Several localized regions with peak ice concentrations greater than 10 cm−3 are documented. These high ice concentrations are almost certainly generated by homogeneous freezing of aqueous aerosols. The high‐frequency data reveals considerable structure in the cloud properties and humidity at along‐track scales as short as 8.5 m. Simulations of vapor depletion by growing ice crystals are used to assess the time since nucleation in these high ice concentration patches. Comparisons between observed and simulated dependence of supersaturation on ice concentration indicate the nucleation events occurred within minutes (sometimes only a few minutes) of the aircraft sampling. The infrequency and short ages of the events suggest that the high ice concentrations do not persist for long times, but they may still be important for TTL cirrus microphysical properties by providing a source of ice crystals that can lead to extensive, persistent clouds with lower ice concentrations. We have also used the extensive TTL measurements provided by the high‐altitude aircraft campaigns to evaluate the threshold supersaturation for homogeneous freezing. Peak supersaturations observed are consistent with recent laboratory experiments indicating that ice saturation ratios of about 1.75–1.95 are required for homogeneous freezing of aqueous aerosols at temperatures of 185–200 K.
Auroral Drivers of Large dB∕dt During Geomagnetic Storms
Authors: Zou Ying , Dowell Caleb , Ferdousi Banafsheh , Lyons Larry R. , Liu Jiang 
Published: August 2022

AbstractForecasting geomagnetically induced currents (GICs) remains a difficult challenge, and open questions hindering our understanding include when and where GICs become large and what magnetospheric and ionospheric processes are responsible. This paper addresses these questions by determining the auroral drivers of large dB∕dt (>100 nT/min, a proxy for GICs) on the ground during geomagnetic storms. We study auroras because, although the current system driving dB∕dt is at times challenging to reconstruct, the accompanying auroras are routinely measured in high resolution. For various types of auroras, our community has already acquired a deep understanding of the driving mechanisms and spatiotemporal characteristics. Using coordinated observations from THEMIS and Geophysical Institute Magnetometer Array magnetometers and THEMIS all‐sky imagers, we statistically examine large dB∕dt intervals during storms from 2015 to 2016. A variety of auroral drivers have been identified, including poleward expanding auroral bulges, auroral streamers, poleward boundary intensifications, omega bands, pulsating auroras, etc. The onset, spatial variability, and duration of large dB/dt are well explained by those of the auroras. For example, poleward expanding auroral bulges drive large dB/dt that spread progressively poleward, and periodic injections of streamers drive large dB/dt that occur in periodic bursts. By referring to the magnetospheric source of the auroras, the magnetospheric source of large dB/dt can be inferred, whether it be dipolarization of the tail magnetic field, bursty bulk flows, instability, or wave‐particle interaction. Our results suggest that auroras can exert significant leverage on GIC research and forecast.
Ammonia promotes the proliferation of bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells by regulating the Akt/mTOR/S6k pathway
Authors: Liu Yu , Zhang Xiangxian , Wang Wei , Liu Ting , Ren Jun , Chen Siyuan , Lu Tianqi , Tie Yan , Yuan Xia , Mo Fei , Yang Jingyun , Wei Yuquan , Wei Xiawei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractAmmonia plays an important role in cellular metabolism. However, ammonia is considered a toxic product. In bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cells, multipotent stem cells with high expression of glutamine synthetase (GS) in bone marrow, ammonia and glutamate can be converted to glutamine via glutamine synthetase activity to support the proliferation of MSCs. As a major nutritional amino acid for biosynthesis, glutamine can activate the Akt/mTOR/S6k pathway to stimulate cell proliferation. The activation of mTOR can promote cell entry into S phase, thereby enhancing DNA synthesis and cell proliferation. Our studies demonstrated that mesenchymal stem cells can convert the toxic waste product ammonia into nutritional glutamine via GS activity. Then, the Akt/mTOR/S6k pathway is activated to promote bone marrow-derived mesenchymal stem cell proliferation. These results suggest a new therapeutic strategy and potential target for the treatment of diseases involving hyperammonemia.
Migraine classification by machine learning with functional near-infrared spectroscopy during the mental arithmetic task
Authors: Chen Wei-Ta , Hsieh Cing-Yan , Liu Yao-Hong , Cheong Pou-Leng , Wang Yi-Min , Sun Chia-Wei 
Published: August 2022

AbstractMigraine is a common and complex neurovascular disorder. Clinically, the diagnosis of migraine mainly relies on scales, but the degree of pain is too subjective to be a reliable indicator. It is even more difficult to diagnose the medication-overuse headache, which can only be evaluated by whether the symptom is improved after the medication adjustment. Therefore, an objective migraine classification system to assist doctors in making a more accurate diagnosis is needed. In this research, 13 healthy subjects (HC), 9 chronic migraine subjects (CM), and 12 medication-overuse headache subjects (MOH) were measured by functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS) to observe the change of the hemoglobin in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) during the mental arithmetic task (MAT). Our model shows the sensitivity and specificity of CM are 100% and 75%, and that of MOH is 75% and 100%.The results of the classification of the three groups prove that fNIRS combines with machine learning is feasible for the migraine classification.