bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
What is truth – in science and beyond
Authors: Brüssow Harald 
Published: June 2022

SummaryTruth is threatened in our societies and one might wish that scientists should stand up for truth, but in order to do so, one needs to know what is truth and how it can be recognized. The oldest and most widely accepted concept of truth is the Correspondence Theory requesting a fit of propositions and reality. In the Coherence Theory truth is a consistent property of a whole system of propositions. In the Pragmatic Theory truth works in practical terms. Scientists have defined criteria to verify true statements by experiments and by the simplicity of theories. Aristotle proposed parsimony claiming the superiority of theories which derive from fewer hypotheses. David Hume suggested probability arguments to assess the force of evidence. Nicolai Hartmann elaborated a model based on the congruence of a priori logical arguments with a posteriori empirical observations. Karl Popper introduced the falsification of testable theories as a way to better theories. The analysis shows that scientific and medical research uses classical philosophical criteria of truth in their daily work. Humanities use different, hermeneutic criteria of truth. Finally, societies need for their coherence a dialectic approach to truth based on honest discussion of opposing views.
COVID‐19 in kidney transplant recipients; a DALMATIAN single‐center experience
Authors: Dogas Tina , Brkovic Tonci , Novak Ivana , Radic Josipa 
Published: June 2022

AbstractIntroductionWe aimed to explore COVID‐19 severity, complications, and outcome predictors in the Dalmatian population of kidney transplant recipients (KTRs).MethodsKTRs confirmed with acute COVID‐19 infection until May 2021 were included and followed up for 6 months.ResultsOut of 50 KTRs average aged 63 years, 36 (72%) were men. Nine (18%) KTRs had no pulmonary infiltration, and twenty‐nine (58%) did not require oxygen supplementation. Bilateral pulmonary infiltrates had 29 (58%) while high‐flow nasal cannula or mechanical ventilation required 8 (16%) KTRs. The mortality rate was 16%. Acute kidney injury developed in 18 (36%), and acute renal replacement therapy required 2 (4%) KTRs. Nine (18%) KTRs were subsequently rehospitalized. Chronic COVID‐19 syndrome reported 23 (58%) KTRs.ConclusionsD‐dimers were found to be the key prognostic factor of clinical complications, emphasizing the importance of underlying thrombotic microangiopathy. Optimal immunosuppressant adjusting in KTRs with acute COVID‐19 infection remains to be clarified.
New Zealand national retrospective cohort study of survival outcomes of patients with metastatic melanoma receiving immune‐checkpoint inhibitors
Authors: Ab Rahman Ahmad Sufian , Strother Robert Matthew , Paddison Johanna 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundImmune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have increased overall survival (OS) in metastatic melanoma in all clinical trials to date. However, pivotal trial populations were not representative of the real‐world population in New Zealand. Real‐world treatment effectiveness studies help evaluate the value of public pharmaceutical expenditure.AimTo determine the survival outcomes of New Zealand patients with unresectable or metastatic melanoma treated with pembrolizumab or nivolumab.MethodsThis is a national retrospective cohort study. Patients with advanced unresectable or metastatic melanoma who received publicly funded immune‐checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) from 2017 to 2019 were included. Individual patient data were extracted from national administrative databases. The primary endpoint was OS, and secondary endpoints included OS by age, duration of treatment, posttreatment survival, and 30‐day mortality from last pharmaceutical claim.ResultsFive hundred ninety‐seven patients were included, with a median follow‐up of 25 months. One‐year OS was 72%, the 2‐year OS estimate was 60%, and median OS not reached. Survival did not differ by dichotomized age (≥70 vs. <70 year old), hazard ratio (HR) .94 (95% confidence interval (CI): .72–1.22; p = .62). Median duration of treatment was 9.0 months (95% CI: 7.9–10.1). Median post‐treatment survival for the subgroup who had ceased treatment was 12.0 months (95% CI: 9.0–14.0). For the sample as a whole, the estimated 30‐day mortality from last pharmaceutical claim was 15.7%.ConclusionOS in our New Zealand real‐world population is comparable to pivotal clinical trials and real‐world data (RWD) from other countries. These findings support the achievement of health gains from use of ICI in advanced unresectable and metastatic melanoma.
The long‐term mortality of an Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Australian population after isolated coronary artery bypass graft surgery
Authors: Nellipudi Jessy A. , Baker Robert A. , Prabhakaran Sarita , Klebe Sonja , Krieg Bronwyn M. , Bennetts Jayme S. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundAboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) Australians have an increased prevalence of coronary artery disease and present at a younger age for coronary artery bypass graft surgery (CABG) when compared to non‐Indigenous Australians. Studies have reported postoperative outcomes in Indigenous people to be less favourable. Therefore, the aim of this study is to evaluate long term mortality between Indigenous and non‐Indigenous people post‐CABG.MethodsWe analysed data on all patients who underwent isolated CABG, with and without cardiopulmonary bypass, at our institution between January 1998 to September 2008. There were 33 395 person‐years of survival for analysis with a median follow‐up of 13 years (Interquartile range (IQR): 8–16 years). We analysed all‐cause mortality with the Kaplan–Meier graph and log‐rank test. Univariate and multivariate analysis was performed using a Cox proportional hazards model.ResultsThe mean age at presentation for Indigenous people was 52 years compared to 65 yr for non‐indigenous people. There were 1431 (52.1%) deaths by the study census date, with the overall mortality for Indigenous patients at 49.8% (n = 147) and 52.4% for non‐Aboriginal patients (n = 1284). The age and comorbidities adjusted hazard ratio (HR) for all‐cause late mortality (median years) was HR = 1.712 (95% CI: 1.288–2.277, p < 0.001).ConclusionIndigenous patients present for CABG at a younger age and have a higher prevalence of comorbidities. Our study demonstrates they have a higher risk of propensity adjusted all‐cause long term mortality. Primary and secondary prevention strategies, tailored to Indigenous people, may improve health outcomes in the long‐term post‐CABG.
Mechanomyography and tissue oxygen saturation during electrically‐evoked wrist extensor fatigue in people with tetraplegia
Authors: Mohamad Saadon Nurul Salwani , Hamzaid Nur Azah , Hasnan Nazirah , Dzulkifli Muhammad Afiq , Teoh Mira , Davis Glen M. 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackgroundRepetitive electrically‐evoked muscle contractions lead to the early onset of muscle fatigue. This study assessed the relationship between muscle mechanomyography (%RMS‐MMG) and tissue oxygen saturation (%TSI) in extensor carpi radialis (ECR) during electrically‐evoked fatiguing exercise in individuals with tetraplegia.MethodsSkin‐surface mechanomyography (MMG) and near‐infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) sensors were placed on the ECR of seven individuals with tetraplegia. All participants performed repetitive electrically‐evoked wrist extension to fatigue while their muscle MMG and NIRS responses were monitored against their power output (PO). Findings: One out of seven participants showed no changes in %TSI throughout the repeated wrist FES‐evoked contraction. The other six participants' %TSI was positively correlated with %PO before fatigue onset. At 50%POpeak, %TSI was negatively correlated (0.489) significantly with declining %PO as the ability of the muscle to take up oxygen became limited. The %RMS‐MMG behaved analogously during pre and post‐fatigue against declining %PO, whereby both displayed positive correlations of 0.443 and 0.214, respectively, (%RMS‐MMG decreased) throughout the exercise session. Regression analysis revealed that %TSI was proportional to pre‐fatigue and inversely proportional to %RMS‐MMG during post‐fatigue.ConclusionThe significant changes in muscle mechanomyography and tissue oxygenation correlations after 50%POpeak implied that the muscle contraction mechanical‐and‐physiological behavior association had been altered following FES‐evoked fatigue.
Structural Cumulative Survival Models for Estimation of Treatment Effects Accounting for Treatment Switching in Randomized Experiments
Authors: Ying Andrew , Tchetgen Tchetgen Eric J. 
Published: June 2022

Abstract
Treatment switching in a randomized controlled trial occurs when a patient in one treatment arm switches to another arm during follow-up. This can occur at the point of disease progression, whereby patients in the control arm may be offered the experimental treatment. It is widely known that failure to account for treatment switching can seriously bias the estimated treatment causal effect. In this paper, we aim to account for the potential impact of treatment switching in a reanalysis evaluating the treatment effect of nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NRTIs) on a safety outcome (time to first severe or worse sign or symptom) in participants receiving a new antiretroviral regimen that either included or omitted NRTIs in the optimized treatment that includes or omits NRTIs trial. We propose an estimator of a treatment causal effect for a censored time to event outcome under a structural cumulative survival model that leverages randomization as an instrumental variable to account for selective treatment switching. We establish that the proposed estimator is uniformly consistent and asymptotically Gaussian, with a consistent variance estimator and confidence intervals given, whose finite-sample performance is evaluated via extensive simulations. An R package ‘ivsacim’ implementing all proposed methods is freely available on R CRAN. Results indicate that adding NRTIs versus omitting NRTIs to a new optimized treatment regime may increase the risk for a safety outcome.
COVID‐19 and views of imprisonment in a sample of prison tourists
Authors: Côté‐Lussier Carolyn , Walby Kevin , Piché Justin 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThe COVID‐19 pandemic has exposed large segments of the global population to the experience of restricted freedoms. In Canada, COVID‐19‐related measures led to a decrease of mobility within the country, prohibiting access to public and private spaces for prolonged periods of time. This study addresses the effects of the pandemic and related restrictions on views of imprisonment, drawing on a sample of individuals who took part in a tour of the HI Ottawa Jail Hostel (N = 102) in pre‐ and peri‐COVID‐19 contexts. The results provide some support for the hypothesis that the uncertainty and existential threat brought about by the pandemic may have contributed to more stringent support for imprisonment and increased punitiveness. However, the results are limited by the small sample size and sample composition. Future directions for research on the impact of the pandemic on public views of imprisonment are discussed.
Dietary advanced glycation end products and cancer risk in Japan: From the Takayama study
Authors: Wada Keiko , Nakashima Yuma , Yamakawa Michiyo , Hori Akihiro , Seishima Mitsuru , Tanabashi Shinobu , Matsushita Shogen , Tokimitsu Naoki , Nagata Chisato 
Published: June 2022

AbstractFew large epidemiological studies have evaluated the association between dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) and cancer risk. We evaluated the relationship between dietary AGE intake and the incidence of total cancer and site‐specific cancers in a population‐based prospective study in Japan. Participants were 14,173 men and 16,549 women who were 35 years of age or older in 1992. Dietary intake was assessed via a validated food frequency questionnaire. Intake of the AGE Nε‐carboxymethyl‐lysine (CML) was estimated using databases of CML content in foods determined using ultraperformance liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. Cancer incidence was confirmed through regional population‐based cancer registries. During a mean follow‐up period of 13.3 years, 1954 men and 1477 women developed cancer. We did not observe a significant association between CML intake and the risk of total cancer in men or women. In men, compared with the lowest quartile of CML intake, the hazard ratios of liver cancer for the second, third, and highest quartiles were 1.69 (95% CI: 0.92–3.10), 1.48 (95% CI: 0.77–2.84), and 2.10 (95% CI: 1.10–3.98; trend p = 0.04). Conversely, a decreased relative risk of male stomach cancer was observed for the second and highest quartiles of CML intake versus the lowest quartile, with hazard ratios of 0.73 and 0.67, respectively (trend p = 0.08). Our finding on the potential harmfulness of consuming AGEs on liver cancer risk is intriguing and warrants further study.
Unpacking the discourses of stunting in Indonesian early childhood education and parenting
Authors: Adriany Vina , Tesar Marek 
Published: June 2022

AbstractThis paper interrogates the discourses of stunting in Indonesia and its links to early childhood education. Here, stunting is analysed via Foucault's work, with data stemming from a long‐term ethnography study and analysis of relevant policy documents in Indonesia. We argue the discourses of stunting have been regulating children, teachers and parents by acting as a form of biopower of governing rationalities. Focusing merely on the individual and nutrition aspects, the discourses overlook larger societal problems. In such a space, the children, teachers and parents become a site of the state's surveillance and are produced as docile bodies.
Which one is the superior target? A comparison and pooled analysis between posterior subthalamic area and ventral intermediate nucleus deep brain stimulation for essential tremor
Authors: Fan Houyou , Bai Yutong , Yin Zixiao , An Qi , Xu Yichen , Gao Yuan , Meng Fangang , Zhang Jianguo 
Published: June 2022

AbstractBackground/AimsThe efficacy and safety of posterior subthalamic area (PSA) and ventral intermediate nucleus (VIM) deep brain stimulation (DBS) in the treatment of essential tremor (ET) have not been compared in large‐scale studies. We conducted a secondary analysis to identify the superior target of ET‐DBS treatment.MethodsPubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, and Google Scholar were searched for relevant studies before September 2021. The tremor‐suppression efficacy and rate of stimulation‐related complications (SRCR) after PSA‐DBS and VIM‐DBS treating ET were quantitatively compared. Secondary outcomes, including tremor subitem scores and quality of life results, were also analyzed. Subgroup analyses were further conducted to stratify by follow‐up (FU) periods and stimulation lateralities. This study was registered in Open Science Framework (DOI: 10.17605/OSF.IO/7VJQ8).ResultsA total of 23 studies including 122 PSA‐DBS patients and 326 VIM‐DBS patients were analyzed. The average follow‐up time was 12.81 and 14.66 months, respectively. For the percentage improvement of total tremor rating scale (TRS) scores, PSA‐DBS was significantly higher, when compared to VIM‐DBS in the sensitivity analysis (p = 0.030) and main analysis (p = 0.043). The SRCR after VIM‐DBS was higher than that of PSA‐DBS (p = 0.022), and bilateral PSA‐DBS was significantly superior to both bilateral and unilateral VIM‐DBS (p = 0.001).ConclusionsThis study provided level IIIa evidence that PSA‐DBS was more effective and safer for ET than VIM‐DBS in 12–24 months, although both PSA‐DBS and VIM‐DBS were effective in suppressing tremor in ET patients. Further prospective large‐scale randomized clinical trials are warranted in the future.
Pharmacogenetic variants and risk of remdesivir‐associated liver enzyme elevations in Million Veteran Program participants hospitalized with COVID‐19
Authors: Tuteja Sony , Yu Zhihong , Wilson Otis , Chen Hua‐Chang , Wendt Frank , Chung Cecilia P. , Shah Shailja C. , Hunt Christine M. , Suzuki Ayako , Chanfreau Catherine , Gorman Bryan R. , Joseph Jacob , Luoh Shiuh‐Wen , Napolioni Valerio , Robinson‐Cohen Cassianne , Tao Ran , Zhou Jin , Chang Kyong‐Mi , Hung Adriana M. ,   the VA Million Veteran Program COVID‐19 Science Initiative
Published: June 2022

AbstractRemdesivir is the first US Food and Drug Administration (FDA)‐approved drug for the treatment of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19). We conducted a retrospective pharmacogenetic study to examine remdesivir‐associated liver enzyme elevation among Million Veteran Program participants hospitalized with COVID‐19 between March 15, 2020, and June 30, 2021. Pharmacogene phenotypes were assigned using Stargazer. Linear regression was performed on peak log‐transformed enzyme values, stratified by population, adjusted for age, sex, baseline liver enzymes, comorbidities, and 10 population‐specific principal components. Patients on remdesivir had higher peak alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values following treatment initiation compared with patients not receiving remdesivir. Remdesivir administration was associated with a 33% and 24% higher peak ALT in non‐Hispanic White (NHW) and non‐Hispanic Black (NHB) participants (p < 0.001), respectively. In a multivariable model, NHW CYP2C19 intermediate/poor metabolizers had a 9% increased peak ALT compared with NHW normal/rapid/ultrarapid metabolizers (p = 0.015); this association was not observed in NHB participants. In summary, remdesivir‐associated ALT elevations appear to be multifactorial, and further studies are needed.
Inferring trends in pollinator distributions across the Neotropics from publicly available data remains challenging despite mobilization efforts
Authors: Boyd Robin J. , Aizen Marcelo A. , Barahona‐Segovia Rodrigo M. , Flores‐Prado Luis , Fontúrbel Francisco E. , Francoy Tiago M. , Lopez‐Aliste Manuel , Martinez Lican , Morales Carolina L. , Ollerton Jeff , Pescott Oliver L. , Powney Gary D. , Saraiva Antonio Mauro , Schmucki Reto , Zattara Eduardo E. , Carvell Claire 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAimAggregated species occurrence data are increasingly accessible through public databases for the analysis of temporal trends in the geographic distributions of species. However, biases in these data present challenges for statistical inference. We assessed potential biases in data available through GBIF on the occurrences of four flower‐visiting taxa: bees (Anthophila), hoverflies (Syrphidae), leaf‐nosed bats (Phyllostomidae) and hummingbirds (Trochilidae). We also assessed whether and to what extent data mobilization efforts improved our ability to estimate trends in species' distributions.LocationThe Neotropics.MethodsWe used five data‐driven heuristics to screen the data for potential geographic, temporal and taxonomic biases. We began with a continental‐scale assessment of the data for all four taxa. We then identified two recent data mobilization efforts (2021) that drastically increased the quantity of records of bees collected in Chile available through GBIF. We compared the dataset before and after the addition of these new records in terms of their biases and estimated trends in species' distributions.ResultsWe found evidence of potential sampling biases for all taxa. The addition of newly‐mobilized records of bees in Chile decreased some biases but introduced others. Despite increasing the quantity of data for bees in Chile sixfold, estimates of trends in species' distributions derived using the postmobilization dataset were broadly similar to what would have been estimated before their introduction, albeit more precise.Main conclusionsOur results highlight the challenges associated with drawing robust inferences about trends in species' distributions using publicly available data. Mobilizing historic records will not always enable trend estimation because more data do not necessarily equal less bias. Analysts should carefully assess their data before conducting analyses: this might enable the estimation of more robust trends and help to identify strategies for effective data mobilization. Our study also reinforces the need for targeted monitoring of pollinators worldwide.
Hiking trails shift plant species' realized climatic niches and locally increase species richness
Authors: Wedegärtner Ronja E. M. , Lembrechts Jonas J. , van der Wal René , Barros Agustina , Chauvin Aurélie , Janssens Ilias , Graae Bente Jessen 
Published: June 2022

AbstractAimThe presence and use of trails may change plant species' realized climatic niches via modified abiotic and biotic conditions including propagule transport, allowing competition‐pressed alpine species to expand their rear edges towards warmer locations and lowland species to extend their leading edges towards cooler locations. We investigated whether mountain trails indeed act as corridors for colonization and shift species' realized climatic niches, resulting in higher species richness in trailsides.LocationDovrefjell and Abisko area in the Scandes mountains of Norway and Sweden.MethodsWe surveyed plant community composition and disturbances along 16 hiking trails in summer 2018 (Dovrefjell) and 2019 (Abisko). We linked changes in species' realized climatic niches to their climatic optimum and variation in species richness to climate, trail effects and resident plant community characteristics.ResultsPlant species richness was on average 24% greater in trailside than in interior vegetation plots. Proximity to trails accounted for 9% and climatic harshness for 55% of variation in species richness explained in our model. Trailsides increased in richness, especially in relatively species‐poor sites and close to introduction points (each accounting for 24% of variation in our model of species gains). Shifts in rear edges and optima of realized climatic niches along trails related to species' undisturbed climatic optimum, with alpine species being more likely to move into warmer locations. While some disturbance‐associated species shifted their leading edges towards colder locations, contrary to expectations this was not the case for lowland species. Overall, shifts in climatic niches resulted in more species' niches overlapping in trailsides than in the interior vegetation.Main conclusionTrails can locally increase species richness by creating opportunities for colonizing species and weaker competitors. Because of prevailing disturbance, they may even provide opportunities for persistence and downward expansion of alpine species, aiding conservation efforts.