bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
The effect of the minimum price for unit of alcohol in Scotland on alcohol-related ambulance callouts: a controlled interrupted time series analysis
Authors: Manca Francesco , Lewsey Jim , Mackay Daniel , Angus Colin , Fitzpatrick David , Fitzgerald Niamh 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackground and aimOn the 1st of May 2018, to reduce alcohol-related harm, Scotland introduced a minimum unit price (MUP) of £0.50 for alcohol. It has been shown that the policy has reduced per capita alcohol consumption. The aim of this study is to assess the association between the implementation of MUP and changes in the overall volume of alcohol-related ambulance callouts. We then assessed effects on time of the day when alcohol callouts are more numerous and in specific subpopulations (e.g., different socioeconomic groups) to assess potential impacts on health inequality.MethodsA controlled interrupted time series design (ITS) was used to examine variations in the daily volume of alcohol-related callouts (overall and night-time only). The control series was the number of ambulance callouts to under 13 years old. We performed uncontrolled ITS on both the intervention and control group as well as a controlled ITS built on the difference between the two series.ResultsNo significant decrease in the volume of callouts was found in both uncontrolled series (step change: 0.062, 95%CI: -0.012,0.0135 p=0.091; slope change: -0.001, 95%CI: -0.001, 0.000 p=0.139) and controlled (step change: -0.01, 95%CI: -0.317,0.298 p=0.951; slope change: -0.003, 95%CI: -0.008, 0.002 p=0.257). Similarly, no significant changes were found for the night-time series or for any population subgroups.ConclusionsThere was no apparent association between the introduction of MUP and the volume of alcohol-related ambulance callouts. One possible reason for this finding may be the relatively low level of MUP, and its consequent limited effect on alcohol sales.
Digital PCR discriminates between SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variants and immune escape mutations
Authors: Holland Steven C. , Holland LaRinda A. , Smith Matthew F. , Lee Mihyun B. , Hu James C. , Lim Efrem S. 
Published: December 2022

ABSTRACTAs SARS-CoV-2 continues to evolve, mutations arise that will allow the virus to evade immune defenses and therapeutics. Assays that can identify these mutations can be used to guide personalized patient treatment plans. Digital PCR (dPCR) is a fast and reliable complement to whole genome sequencing that can be used to discriminate single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) in template molecules. Here, we developed a panel of SARS-CoV-2 dPCR assays and demonstrate its applications for typing variant lineages and therapeutic monoclonal antibody resistance. We designed multiplexed dPCR assays for SNPs located at residue 3395 in theorf1abgene and residue 143 of thespikegene that differentiate the Delta, Omicron BA.1, and Omicron BA.2 lineages. We demonstrate their validity on 596 clinical saliva specimens that were sequence-verified using Illumina whole genome sequencing. Next, we developed dPCR assays for spike mutations R346T, K444T, N460K, F486V, and F486S mutations that are associated with host immune evasion and reduced therapeutic monoclonal antibody efficacy. We demonstrate that these assays can be run individually or multiplexed to detect the presence of up to 4 SNPs in a single assay. We validate these dPCR assays on 81 clinical saliva SARS-CoV-2 positive specimens from Omicron subvariants BA.2.75.2, BM.1.1, BN.1, BF.7, BQ.1, BQ.1.1, and XBB. Thus, dPCR could serve as a useful tool to determine if clinical specimens contain therapeutically relevant mutations and inform patient treatment.
DNA methylation patterns define subtypes of differentiated follicular cell-derived thyroid neoplasms: an unsupervised machine learning approach
Authors: Marczyk Vicente Rodrigues , Recamonde-Mendoza Mariana , Maia Ana Luiza , Goemann Iuri Martin 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAlterations in DNA methylation patterns are a frequent finding in cancer. Methylation aberrations can drive tumorigenic pathways and serve as potential biomarkers. The role of epigenetic alterations in thyroid cancer is still poorly understood Here, we analyzed methylome data of a total of 810 thyroid samples (n=256 for discovery and n=554 for validation), including benign and malignant follicular cell-derived thyroid neoplasms, as well as normal thyroid tissue. In the discovery phase, we employed an unsupervised machine-learning method to search for methylation patterns. We found evidence supporting the existence of three distinct methylation subtypes: a normal-like, a hypermethylated follicular-like, and a hypomethylated papillary-like cluster. Follicular adenomas, follicular carcinomas, oncocytic adenomas, oncocytic carcinomas, and NIFTP samples were grouped within the follicular-like cluster, indicating that these pathologies shared numerous epigenetic alterations, with a predominance of hypermethylation events. Conversely, classic papillary thyroid carcinomas (PTC) and tall cell PTC formed a separate subtype characterized by the predominance of hypomethylated positions. Interestingly, follicular variant papillary thyroid carcinomas (FVPTC) were as likely to be classified as follicular-like or PTC-like during the discovery phase, indicating a heterogeneous group likely to be formed by at least two distinct diseases. In the validation phase, we found that FVPTC with follicular-like methylation patterns were enriched for RAS mutations. In contrast, FVPTC with PTC-like methylation patterns were enriched for BRAF and RET alterations. Our data provide novel insights into the epigenetic alterations of thyroid tumors. Since the classification method relies on a fully unsupervised machine learning approach for subtype discovery, our results offer a robust background to support the classification of thyroid neoplasms based on methylation patterns.
Sensory marketing in hospitality: a critical synthesis and reflection
Authors: Fong Lawrence Hoc Nang , Lei Soey Sut Ieng , Chow Cheris W.C. , Lam Long W. 
Published: December 2022

Purpose
Through a critical synthesis and reflection on the theoretical foundations and empirical evidence related to sensory marketing, this study aims to offer meaningful insights for hospitality operators and provides future research directions on sensory marketing in hospitality.

Design/methodology/approach
Building on an extensive review of sensory marketing studies across disciplines, this paper presents critical discussions of the theories and findings on the five senses in the context of hospitality.

Findings
The critical synthesis and discussion indicate that sensory marketing is highly relevant and applicable to operations in various hospitality sectors such as hotels and restaurants. Still, empirical evidence is required to lend support to the discussions. Although scholarly interest in sensory marketing has surged in the past decade, some research streams, such as sensory incongruence, cross-modal correspondence and sensory intensity, have yet to be extended. These under-researched areas provide directions for future hospitality research.

Practical implications
Through discussions of empirical evidence related to the five senses, mental simulation, cross-modal correspondence and sensory congruence, this paper provides implications for managing customers’ sensory experiences and behavior in hospitality settings.

Originality/value
Despite the increase of research on sensory marketing in the past decade, its full implications in the context of hospitality remain unknown. Through a critical synthesis and reflection on the hospitality literature, this paper offers research directions for a systematic expansion of sensory marketing.
Environmental predictors of electroactive bacterioplankton in small boreal lakes
Authors: Olmsted Charles N. , Ort Roger , Tran Patricia Q. , McDaniel Elizabeth A. , Roden Eric E. , Bond Daniel R. , He Shaomei , McMahon Katherine D. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractExtracellular electron transfer (EET) by electroactive bacteria in anoxic soils and sediments is an intensively researched subject, but EET's function in planktonic ecology has been less considered. Following the discovery of an unexpectedly high prevalence of EET genes in a bog lake's bacterioplankton, we hypothesized that the redox capacities of dissolved organic matter (DOM) enrich for electroactive bacteria by mediating redox chemistry. We developed the bioinformatics pipeline FEET (Find EET) to identify and summarize predicted EET protein‐encoding genes from metagenomics data. We then applied FEET to 36 bog and thermokarst lakes and correlated gene occurrence with environmental data to test our predictions. Our results provide indirect evidence that DOM may participate in bacterioplankton EET. We found a similarly high prevalence of genes encoding putative EET proteins in most of these lakes, where oxidative EET strongly correlated with DOM. Numerous novel clusters of multiheme cytochromes that may enable EET were identified. Taxa previously not considered EET‐capable were found to carry EET genes. We propose that EET and DOM interactions are of ecologically important to bacterioplankton in small boreal lakes, and that EET, particularly by methylotrophs and anoxygenic phototrophs, should be further studied and incorporated into methane emission models of melting permafrost.
Reporting likelihood ratio for casework in firearm evidence identification
Authors: Song John , Song Huixu 
Published: December 2022

AbstractLikelihood ratio (LR) plays an important role in estimating the weight of evidence in firearm evidence identifications. LR is computed from a statistical model including the distribution of the known‐matching (KM or within) and known‐nonmatching (KNM or between) comparison scores. Current LR procedures rely on KM/KNM scores from existing reference firearm toolmark data sets or alternatively from generating a set of test fires using multiple firearms. Both procedures may contain theoretical or practical issues which may hinder the LR procedures from reporting an unbiased LR estimation in casework. In this paper, a reference data set was established from a set of firearms, each test‐fired two cartridge cases, resulting in a basic data set and a control data set. The congruent matching cells (CMC) method was used to generate CMC scores that are used to fit in the KM/KNM statistical distributions for LR estimation. In the initial test, 130 firearms from eight manufacturers were used for generating a reference data set consisting of 260 cartridge cases representing 130 KM and 8385 KNM pairwise breech face images. Test results showed that the KM and KNM distribution intersect at CMC = 2, which is equivalent to LR = 1 (equally to support both the prosecutor and the defense propositions). When the CMC threshold is increased to 6 or more, the LR values are higher than a million, which can provide extremely strong support to the conclusion of the same firearm (or the prosecutor's proposition) in the casework of firearm evidence identification.
Endoscopic findings after CT proven acute diverticulitis: a systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cao Amy Millicent Yesheng , Lam Vincent Wai , Rickard Matthew John Francis Xavier 
Published: December 2022

AbstractBackgroundTraditionally, international guidelines recommend patients with acute diverticulitis should be followed up with a colonoscopy 6–8 weeks after discharge. However, the need for an interval colonoscopy has been increasingly challenged in the setting of computed tomography (CT). Previous meta‐analyses have included studies which combined suspected rather than imaging confirmed diverticulitis and often without correlation with endoscopic findings. This meta‐analysis aims to investigate endoscopic findings of patients with CT confirmed diverticulitis.MethodsAn electronic search of Medline, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Embase, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus, Clinicaltrials.gov and WHO ICTRP was performed up to October 18, 2021. Studies which reported CT confirmed acute diverticulitis in adults and who underwent endoscopic follow‐up with either a colonoscopy or flexible sigmoidoscopy were included. Studies were excluded if diverticulitis was diagnosed by clinical grounds alone, ultrasound, barium enema, or other non‐CT forms of imaging.ResultsA total of 68 studies with 13 905 patients were included. Median age was 58 years and male to female ratio was 0.84. Cancer was detected in 2.0% and advanced adenoma in 3.8%. Complicated diverticulitis had 9.2 higher odds of cancer compared to uncomplicated diverticulitis (95% CI 4.42–19.08, P < 0.001). Adenomas were detected in 17%. Of those diagnosed with colorectal cancer, 85% were concordant with the site of the diverticulitis on CT while 15% were incidental findings.ConclusionRoutine colonoscopic follow up should be recommended in medically fit patients who have CT proven acute diverticulitis due to the higher than population prevalence of colorectal cancer and advanced adenomas.
Apatite Reference Materials for SIMS Microanalysis of Isotopes and Trace Elements
Authors: Kennedy Allen K. , Wotzlaw Jörn‐Frederik , Crowley James L. , Schmitz Mark , Schaltegger Urs , Wade Benjamin , Martin Laure , Talavera Cristina , Ware Bryant , Bui Thi Hao 
Published: December 2022

Twelve apatite samples have been tested as secondary ion mass spectrometry (SIMS) reference materials. Laser ablation‐inductively coupled plasma‐mass spectrometry (LA‐ICP‐MS) analysis shows that the SLAP, NUAN and GR40 apatite gems are internally homogeneous, with most trace element mass fractions having 2 standard deviations (2s) ≤ 2.0%. BR2, BR5, OL2, AFG2 and AFB1, which have U > 63 μg g‐1, 206Pb/204Pb > 283, and homogeneous SIMS U‐Pb data, have respective isotope dilution thermal ionisation mass spectrometry (ID‐TIMS) ages of 2053.83 ± 0.21 Ma, 2040.34 ± 0.09 Ma, 868.87 ± 0.25 Ma, 478.71 ± 0.22 Ma and 473.25 ± 0.09 Ma. Minor U‐Pb heterogeneity exists and accurate SIMS results require correction with the 3D Concordia‐constrained common Pb composition. Among the studied samples, AFG2 and BR5 are the most homogeneous U‐Pb reference materials. The SIMS sulfur isotopic compositions of eight of the apatites shows they are homogeneous, with 2s for both 103δ34S and 103δ33S < 0.55‰. One apatite, BR96, has Δ33S = ‐0.36 ± 0.2‰. The apatite samples have ID‐TIMS 87Sr/86Sr between 0.704214 ± 0.000030 and 0.723134 ± 0.000035.
Farnesyl/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases regulate the biosynthesis of alarm pheromone in a unique manner in the vetch aphid Megoura viciae
Authors: Song Xuan , Qin Yao‐Guo , Zhang Yi‐Han , Zhou Yu‐Bei , Li Zheng‐Xi 
Published: December 2022

AbstractFarnesyl/geranylgeranyl diphosphate synthases (FPPS/GGPPS) as the short‐chain prenyltransferases catalyse the formation of the acyclic precursors (E)‐FPP and (E)‐GGPP for isoprenoid biosynthesis. Here, we first cloned the cDNAs encoding FPPS and GGPPS in the vetch aphid Megoura viciae (designated as MvFPPS and MvGGPPS). They had an open reading frame of 1185 and 930 bp in length, encoding 395 and 309 amino acids, with a theoretical isoelectric point of 6.52 and 6.21, respectively. Sequence alignment and phylogenetic analysis showed that MvFPPS and MvGGPPS shared the conserved aspartate‐rich motifs characterized by all prenyltransferases identified to date and were clustered with their homologues in two large clades. RNA interference (RNAi) combined with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC–MS) analysis showed that both MvFPPS and MvGGPPS were involved in the biosynthesis of alarm pheromone. Spatiotemporal expression profiling showed that the expression of MvFPPS and MvGGPPS was significantly higher in embryos than in other tissues. RNAi and GC–MS performed specifically in embryos corroborated the function of MvFPPS and MvGGPPS. In vitro, enzymatic activity assay and product analysis demonstrated that MvFPPS could catalysed the formation of (E)‐FPP using DMAPP or (E)‐GPP as the allylic cosubstrates in the presence of IPP, while MvGGPPS could only use (E)‐GPP or (E)‐FPP as cosubstrates. Functional interaction analysis using RNAi revealed that MvGGPPS exerts unidirectional functional compensation for MvFPPS. Moreover, it can regulate the biosynthesis of alarm pheromone by imposing a negative feedback regulation on MvFPPS. Our study helps to understand the molecular regulatory mechanism of terpenoid biosynthesis in the aphid.
Using thePDCAcycle to uncover sources of mental health disparities for Hispanics
Authors: Moyce Sally , Claudio David , Velazquez Maria 
Published: December 2022

ABSTRACTThe Hispanic population is growing rapidly in U.S. rural states, yet limitations in Spanish‐speaking behavioural health providers are a barrier to accessing care. In Montana, a new immigrant destination, mental health disparities may not yet be fully understood. We describe an interprofessional approach of nurses and engineers using the Plan‐Do‐Check‐Act (PDCA) cycle to identify disparities in mental health access in a Hispanic community in a rural state. We recruited a community advisory board to inform researchers about potential disparities and to design interventions. The Plan phase consisted of naming the problem and its root causes. Researchers and a community advisory board created flowsheets and diagrams to uncover personal, environmental, political, and procedural contributors to poor mental health outcomes. The Do phase included implementation of a community screening for depression and anxiety. The Check phase revealed 43 mental health screenings where 21% screened positive for depression and 16% screened positive for anxiety. We made 16 referrals to a mental health intervention study. The Act phase led to plans for regular implementation of the health fairs and a study designed to provide Spanish‐language mental health services. The success of our interprofessional work provides an example of how the PDCA cycle can be used to uncover potential causes for poor health outcomes and design and evaluate interventions targeted to mitigate those outcomes.
Experiences of discrimination or violence and health outcomes among Black, Indigenous and People of Colour trans and/or nonbinary youth
Authors: Chan Ace , Pullen Sansfaçon Annie , Saewyc Elizabeth 
Published: December 2022

AbstractAimsIdentify the relationship between experiences of discrimination or violence and health outcomes for transgender and nonbinary Black, Indigenous and People of Colour (BIPOC) compared to their white trans and nonbinary peers.DesignA national online survey, the 2019 Canadian Trans and Nonbinary Youth Health Survey, was conducted among youth ages 14–25, in English and French.MethodsParticipants were recruited from November 2018 to May 2019 (N = 1519). BIPOC youth comprised 25.7% of the sample (n = 390). Questions about six types of discrimination (e.g. racism and sexism) and violence (physically threatened or injured), plus foregone health care, self‐harm and suicidality were drawn from existing validated measures. Analyses involved cross‐tabulations with chi‐square tests and logistic regressions.ResultsTrans and non‐binary BIPOC reported significantly higher prevalence of suicide attempts (24.9% vs. 19.5%) and violence victimization compared to white youth. They had significantly higher odds of self‐harm and foregone health care when experiencing discrimination by ethnicity or culture. All types of violence were significantly associated with higher odds of foregone physical health care, self‐harm, suicide ideation and suicide attempt.ConclusionIn Canada, trans and nonbinary youth who are BIPOC face disparities in health outcomes and experiences of violence and discrimination compared to white trans and nonbinary youth.ImpactNurses should assess for violence exposure and discrimination among trans and/or nonbinary youth of colour, and promote health equity by advocating for policies to reduce violence and discrimination, including racism, for trans and nonbinary young people.
Catalytic Power Europe: Blended Finance in European External Action
Authors: Prontera Andrea , Quitzow Rainer 
Published: December 2022

AbstractThe global influence of the European Union (EU) has been debated in overlapping strands of literature as ‘normative’, ‘regulatory’ and ‘market power’. They identify the diffusion of its rules and standards as a vehicle of European power. We argue that European power extends beyond its regulatory capacities and includes new ‘catalytic’ capacities in the realm of financing and network building. We analyse blended finance as an instrument of ‘catalytic power’, defined as the mobilisation of partners and their resources to pursue external objectives. The analysis reveals that financial leverage, the original motivation behind the tool's creation, has declined in importance. Instead, blended finance is designed to facilitate and structure cooperation with other European and multilateral financial institutions, positioning the European Commission as a central node in international cooperation and increasing its influence in this sphere. The article closes with a discussion of blended finance as a tool of catalytic power and related trade‐offs.
Exogenous ketone supplementation: an emerging tool for physiologists with potential as a metabolic therapy
Authors: Falkenhain Kaja , Islam Hashim , Little Jonathan P. 
Published: December 2022

AbstractExogenous oral ketone supplements, primarily in form of ketone salts or esters, have emerged as a useful research tool for manipulating metabolism with potential therapeutic application targeting various aspects of several common chronic diseases. Recent literature has investigated the effects of exogenously induced ketosis on metabolic health, cardiovascular function, cognitive processing, and modulation of inflammatory pathways and immune function. This narrative review provides an overview of the integrative physiological effects of exogenous ketone supplementation and highlights current challenges and future research directions. Much of the existing research on therapeutic applications – particularly mechanistic studies – has involved pre‐clinical rodent and/or cellular models, requiring further validation in human clinical studies. Existing human studies report that exogenous ketones can lower blood glucose and improve some aspects of cognitive function, highlighting the potential therapeutic application of exogenous ketones for type 2 diabetes and neurological diseases. There is also support for the ability of exogenous ketosis to improve cardiac metabolism in rodent models of heart failure with supporting human studies emerging; long‐terms effects of exogenous ketone supplementation on the human cardiovascular system and lipid profiles are needed. An important avenue for future work is provided by research accelerating technologies that enable continuous ketone monitoring and/or the development of more palatable ketone mixtures that optimize plasma ketone kinetics to enable sustained ketosis. Lastly, research exploring the physiological interactions between exogenous ketones and varying metabolic states (e.g., exercise, fasting, metabolic disease) should yield important insights that can be used to maximize the health benefits of exogenous ketosis.