bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025_split huggingface dataset:
Decontamination efficacy of common liquid disinfectants against non-spore-forming biological agents in soil matrices
Authors: Richter William R. , Sunderman Michelle M. , Fulton Megan L. , Willenberg Zachary , Serre Shannon , Oudejans Lukas , Wood Joseph , Calfee Michael W. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAimsThe purpose of this study was to evaluate decontamination efficacy, within three soil types, against Yersinia pestis, Burkholderia pseudomallei, and the Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis virus (VEEV).Methods and ResultsOne of three liquid disinfectants (dilute bleach, Virkon-S or Klozur One) was added to three soil types (sand, loam, or clay) and allowed contact for four pre-spike durations: 0, 15, 30 and 60 min. Y. pestis, B. pseudomallei, or VEEV was then spiked into the soil (10 microliters or approx. 1 × 107 CFU or PFU into 1 g soil) and decontamination efficacy assessed at post-spike contact times of 10 or 60 min at ambient environmental conditions. Across all soil types, sandy soil resulted in the least quenching to all three disinfectants tested as shown by sustained decontamination efficacy across all pre-spike and post-spike timepoints. Clay and loam soil types exhibited quenching effects on the hypochlorite and peroxygen based disinfectants (dilute bleach and Virkon S) and in general resulted in decreased efficacy with increased pre-spike contact time. The sodium persulfate (Klozur One) performance was the most consistent across all soil types and pre-spike contact times, resulting in greater efficacy with increased post-spike time.ConclusionsLiquid disinfectants can provide high levels of decontamination in soil for both viral and non-spore-forming bacterial select agents. Hypochlorite and peroxygen based disinfectants used in soils containing higher organic content (loam or clay) may require extended contact times or re-application of liquid disinfectant, in as little as 15 min of application, to achieve a 6-log reduction.Significance and Impact of the StudyThese results provide information for the performance of three disinfectants in soil against non-spore-forming select agents. These data may aid response decision makers following a biological contamination incident by informing the selection of disinfectant as well as the re-application time to achieve effective site remediation.
Patients' experiences and perceptions of dignity in end‐of‐life care in emergency departments: A qualitative study
Authors: Martí‐García Celia , Fernández‐Férez Alba , Fernández‐Sola Cayetano , Pérez‐Rodríguez Rocío , Esteban‐Burgos Ana Alejandra , Hernández‐Padilla José Manuel , Granero‐Molina José 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAimsTo explore and understand the experiences of patients with advanced illness in relation to dignity during end‐of‐life care in emergency departments.DesignQualitative study based on Gadamer's hermeneutics.MethodsBetween September 2019 and February 2020, 16 in‐depth interviews were carried out with advanced illness patients who attended emergency departments. The participants were informed priorly and signed informed consent. The data were analysed using an inductive strategy for finding emerging themes. The Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research was used for writing the study's report.ResultsIn the data analysis process, two main themes emerged that glean the experiences of patients in relation to dignity during end‐of‐life care in emergency departments. ‘Dignity as an individual's attribute’ and ‘Acting with dignity: Dignity as a behavioural attribute’.ConclusionPatient dignity in end‐of‐life care is centred around the principle of control (of oneself, one's death and one's emotions). The strategies required for patients to preserve their dignity can be somewhat incompatible with the dynamics and objectives of healthcare professionals who work in emergency departments.Impact statementThe dignity of patients with advanced illness who attend emergency departments is a relevant issue that merits being addressed from the patients' perspective. Participants have identified that dignity is a way of being and behaving in the face of illness. Emergency departments need to respect end‐of‐life patients' desires by supporting and accompanying them, avoiding therapeutic obstinacy. We recommend care to be centred on patients' well‐being, to respect their autonomy and decision‐making processes, and to allow prompt referrals to palliative care services.Patient or Public ContributionManagers from the Emergency Departments participated in the study design and patients' recruitment. Patients' relatives were informed about the study's aim, and they contributed to the development of the interview protocol.
Risk Dilution: Or, How to Run a Minimal‐Risk HIV Challenge Trial
Authors: Steel Robert 
Published: September 2022

ABSTRACTBioethicists broadly agree that there is a limit to the level of net risk that biomedical research may permissibly impose on participants, even in cases where the potential of that research to improve the health of the population health would be great. Although some may permissibly volunteer to take on some degree of pro‐social risk, no one, not even a willing volunteer, may ever be outright sacrificed for others. One might think this perspective, if correct, makes it effectively impossible to study interventions with high intrinsic risks. But I describe a method – risk dilution – by which an extremely high‐risk intervention can nonetheless be effectively studied in the context of an acceptably low‐risk trial. I then defend risk dilution from objections.
Lead independent directors and accruals quality
Authors: Bryan David B. , Mason Terry W. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractWe investigate the association between firms having a lead independent director (LID) who serves on the audit committee and accruals quality using a sample of 32,346 observations during 2001–2018 period. Our results suggest that firms with an LID who serves on the audit committee are associated with higher accruals quality. The results suggest that these firms are associated with an increase in accruals quality equal to 6.60% of the accruals quality metric's median value. We also find that as board size increases, the positive influence of an LID on accruals quality weakens—but only for firms with an LID who does not serve on the audit committee. Supplemental analyses indicate that our inferences still hold when using a changes model, when examining a firm's initial adoption or elimination of the LID position, and when using an entropy balancing approach.
Are all types of real transaction management equal in the eyes of bank lenders?
Authors: Chen Po‐Chang , Moser William J. , Narayanamoorthy Gans 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThis study examines whether bank lenders react differently to various types of real transaction management (RTM) by borrowing firms. Drawing upon the differential cash and cash flow effects of alternative forms of RTM, we predict and find that banks provide more favorable loan terms, that is, lower interest spread and reduced likelihood of required collateral, for firms reporting more discretionary reductions in research and development (R&D) expenditures. In contrast, lending banks respond unfavorably to borrowers’ engagement in RTM through aggressive sales discounts and overproduction of inventories. Additional analysis reveals that the favorable effect of discretionary R&D reductions on loan pricing is greater (smaller) for borrowing firms with a prior relationship with the bank or with a lower level of cash holdings (loans with longer maturity). Overall, our findings suggest that banks, with their unique payoff functions and monitoring incentives, do not view all forms of RTM negatively.
Reproductive isolation is a heuristic, not a measure: a commentary on Westram et al., 2022
Authors: Mallet James , Mullen Sean P. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractReproductive isolation is the heuristic basis of the biological species concept, but what is it? Westram et al. (this issue) propose that it is a measurable quantity, “barrier strength,” that prevents gene flow among populations. However, their attempt to make the concept of reproductive isolation more scientific is unlikely to satisfy the diverse opinions of all evolutionary biologists. There are many different opinions about the nature of species, even under the biological species concept. Complete reproductive isolation, where gene flow is effectively zero, is regarded by some biologists as an important end point of speciation. Others, including Westram et al., argue for a more nuanced approach, and they also suggest that reproductive isolation may differ in different parts of the genome due to variation in genetic linkage to divergently selected loci. In contrast to both these approaches, we favour as a key criterion of speciation the stable coexistence of divergent populations in sympatry. Obviously, such populations must be reproductively isolated in some sense, but neither the fraction of the genome that is exchanged, nor measures of overall barrier strength acting on neutral variation will yield very precise predictions as to species status. Although an overall measure of reproductive isolation is virtually unattainable for these reasons, its early generation components, such as assortative mating, divergent selection, or hybrid inviability and sterility are readily measurable and remain informative. For example, we can make the prediction that to remain divergent in sympatry, almost all sexual species will require strong assortative mating, as well as some sort of ecological or intrinsic selection against hybrids and introgressed variants.
Improving portfolio investment performance with distance‐based portfolio‐combining algorithms
Authors: Kim Hongseon , Lee Soonbong , Soh Seung Bum , Kim Seongmoon 
Published: September 2022

AbstractWe propose distance‐based portfolio‐combining algorithms to improve out‐of‐sample performance in the presence of estimation errors. Our algorithms use approaches similar to the shrinkage method but with a different weighting scheme: the Euclidean distance. The Euclidean distance of a portfolio is its 2‐norm distance to the in‐sample tangency portfolio. These algorithms aim to construct a portfolio with a small Euclidean distance by making a convex combination of any number of portfolios. We propose three distance‐based portfolio‐combining algorithms: a distance‐based portfolio combination, a distance‐based asset combination, and a distance‐based asset combination with systematic errors (DAc‐S). Each algorithm consists of two steps. First, we predict the Euclidean distance of each portfolio using time‐series forecasting methods. Second, we increase (decrease) the combination level of a portfolio whose predicted Euclidean distance is small (large). We use 11 empirical data sets, and the numerical results show that our proposed algorithms significantly improve the Sharpe ratio with reasonably low portfolio turnovers. This outperformance stems from successfully decreasing the Euclidean distance. Most important, the DAc‐S achieves a significantly high Sharpe ratio and the smallest Euclidean distance.
Extraction of ferulic acid from rice bran using NADES‐ultrasound‐assisted extraction: Kinetics and optimization
Authors: Gharat Neha N. , Rathod Virendra K. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractThe application of natural deep eutectic solvents (NADES) has been studied for the ultrasound‐assisted extraction of ferulic acid (FA) from Defatted rice bran at 25 kHz. Choline chloride‐hydrogen bond acceptor and D‐glucose‐hydrogen bond donor in 1:1 (w/v) ratio with 50% NADES and 1:20 (w/v) solute to solvent ratio has been employed. Essential ultrasonic parameters such as power, temperature, and duty cycle have been optimized. The kinetics have been studied using Peleg's model to predict the extraction yield of FA. The experimental yield was found to be in agreement with the predicted yield of FA, suggesting a good fit for the model. The maximum yield of 9.34 mg/g was estimated through optimized parameters of 50 W power, 50°C temperature, 50 % duty cycle and extraction time of 16 mins. At the same time, the obtained yield of FA in conventional extraction and NADES extraction (without ultrasound) was 3.33 mg/g and 8.71 mg/g, respectively. The proposed NADES for the ultrasound‐assisted extraction of FA was a superior alternative in terms of less time, greener solvent, and high yield.Practical ApplicationUltrasound‐assisted extraction is a green method that is commonly used for the extraction of natural ingredients. In this study, the NADES mixture was irradiated with ultrasound to extract the maximum amount of ferulic acid. Various parameters have been studied by both experimentally as well as kinetically. Peleg's model has been used for the kinetic study. This greener approach of NADES‐ultrasound‐assisted extraction showed the highest yield of ferulic acid compared with other extraction methods. Also, the extracted ferulic acid finds application in various industries.
B vitamins and homocysteine as determinants of bone health: A literature review of human studies
Authors: Ilesanmi‐Oyelere Bolaji L. , Kruger Marlena C. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAlthough there are several factors related to bone diseases such as physical activity, gender (oestrogen), race/ethnicity, smoking and alcohol habits, nutrition is a modifiable risk factor that could be employed to prevent or manage the onset of bone health diseases such as osteoporosis in humans. Aside from calcium and vitamin D, B vitamins are a group of water‐soluble vitamins that play a vital role in cell metabolism. In this review, current evidence on B vitamins and bone health is assessed. Clinical trials (interventions) indicate that treatment with B vitamins impact the concentrations of total plasma/serum homocysteine concentrations (tHcy); however, most studies have reported the lack of an effect of low homocysteine concentrations on bone turnover markers, bone mineral density or fracture risks. Current studies have been inconsistent in their reports on the role of B vitamins and homocysteine in bone health. More data are therefore required to show the mechanism and effect of tHcy and B vitamins on bone mineral density, bone metabolism and fracture risk.
Co‐designing nutrition interventions with consumers: A scoping review
Authors: Meloncelli Nina , Young Adrienne , Christoffersen Anja , Rushton Alita , Zhelnov Pavel , Wilkinson Shelley A. , Scott Anna Mae , de Jersey Susan 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundThere is little known about nutrition intervention research involving consumer co‐design. The aim of this scoping review was to identify and synthesise the existing evidence on the current use and extent of consumer co‐design in nutrition interventions.MethodsThis scoping review is in line with the methodological framework developed by Arksey and O'Malley and refined by the Joanna Briggs Institute using an adapted 2weekSR approach. We searched Medline, EMBASE, PsycInfo, CINAHL and Cochrane. Only studies that included consumers in the co‐design and met the ‘Collaborate’ or ‘Empower’ levels of the International Association of Public Participation's Public Participation Spectrum were included. Studies were synthesised according to two main concepts: (1) co‐design for (2) nutrition interventions.ResultsThe initial search yielded 8157 articles, of which 19 studies were included (comprising 29 articles). The studies represented a range of intervention types and participants from seven countries. Sixteen studies were published in the past 5 years. Co‐design was most often used for intervention development, and only two studies reported a partnership with consumers across all stages of research. Overall, consumer involvement was not well documented. No preferred co‐design framework or approach was reported across the various studies.ConclusionsConsumer co‐design for nutrition interventions has become more frequent in recent years, but genuine partnerships with consumers across all stages of nutrition intervention research remain uncommon. There is an opportunity to improve the reporting of consumer involvement in co‐design and enable equal partnerships with consumers in nutrition research.
Metabolic responses to 8 weeks of consuming cottonseed oil versus olive oil in adults with dyslipidaemia: a randomised trial
Authors: Prater Mary Catherine , Scheurell Alexis R. , Paton Chad M. , Cooper Jamie A. 
Published: September 2022

AbstractBackgroundDifferences in metabolic responses between diets rich in monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA) and polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) could affect energy balance and weight maintenance. The present study was a secondary analysis to investigate 8‐week diet interventions rich in either PUFA (cottonseed oil [CSO]) or MUFA (olive oil [OO]) on metabolic responses in adults with dyslipidaemia.MethodsForty‐one adults with dyslipidaemia completed this randomised trial consisting of an 8‐week partial‐outpatient feeding trial. Provided foods accounted for about 60% of their daily energy needs, with about 30% of energy needs provided by CSO (n = 20) or OO (n = 21). At pre‐ and postdiet intervention visits, participants consumed a high saturated fatty acid (SFA) meal (35% daily energy needs, 47.9% from SFA), and fasting and 3.5‐h postprandial indirect calorimetry were used to measure energy expenditure (EE) and substrate oxidation.ResultsNo changes were observed in fasting measures. The OO group had greater increases in postprandial EE (p = 0.002); however, there were no differences in substrate oxidation between groups. A lack of metabolic flexibility was found in both groups, which was partially explained by changes in insulin sensitivity (homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance).ConclusionsThe results of the present study show that OO, but not CSO, diet enrichment improves EE after an occasional high SFA meal, which may improve weight maintenance over time. This study is registered at clinicaltrials.gov (NCT04397055).
Topical therapy for pain management in malignant fungating wounds: A scoping review
Authors: da Costa Ferreira Suzana Aparecida , Serna González Carol Viviana , Thum Magali , da Costa Faresin Adriane Aparecida , Woo Kevin , de Gouveia Santos Vera Lúcia Conceição 
Published: September 2022

AbstractAims and objectivesTo map and synthesise the existing literature on topical therapies for malignant fungating wounds pain management and the gaps involved.BackgroundMost cancer patients with malignant fungating wounds suffer from wound‐related pain, affecting their quality of life. Unfortunately, even though pain is a relevant symptom in cancer and palliative care, little is currently known about topical treatments' availability and impact on pain management.DesignA scoping review following JBI® methodologyMethodsSearches were performed in CINAHL, LILACS, Embase, Web of Science, PubMed, Cochrane, NICE, Scopus, JBISRIR and grey literature, in English, Portuguese and Spanish, with no time limit. Two authors independently reviewed all citations and a third was called in case of divergence, and studies in adults with malignant fungal wounds reporting topical pain interventions were included. In addition, a data extraction tool for synthesis and thematic analysis was developed. This study followed the PRISMA‐ScR Checklist.ResultsSeventy publications were selected from 796 records retrieved from databases. The studies mainly included non‐systematic reviews and case studies with only six clinical trials. According to the narrative synthesis, twenty therapies were identified, including the use of wound dressings (58.6%), analgesic drugs (55.7%), topical antimicrobials (25.7%), skin barriers (15.7%), cryotherapy (5.7%) and negative pressure wound therapy (4.3%). Therapies were recommended to be applied to the wound bed or the periwound skin. In 68.5% of the studies, a standardised assessment for pain was not described.ConclusionsTopical therapies applied to malignant fungating wounds or periwound areas had been examined for pain management. However, their effectiveness was analysed in a few interventional studies, indicating the need for further primary studies to inform evidence‐based practice.Implication for practiceHighlighted topical therapies for clinical practice consideration are opioids, anaesthetics and antimicrobials, with positive results described in randomised clinical trials.This study did not include patients.
Assessment of long‐term sexual function of cervical cancer survivors after treatment: A cross‐sectional study
Authors: Wang Hui‐Zhong , He Rui‐Ju , Zhuang Xin‐Rong , Xue Yi‐Wei , Lu Ye 
Published: September 2022

AbstractObjectivesThis study aimed to investigate the long‐term sexual function of patients with cervical cancer who underwent treatment and to explore influential factors.MethodsThis retrospective cross‐sectional study was conducted at Peking University First Hospital in (Beijing, China). A total of 207 patients, who were diagnosed with Stage IA‐IIA cervical cancer and had undergone surgical treatment (some patients had also been treated with adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy) between January 2010 and August 2020, completed questionnaires via telephone. The median time since diagnosis was 54 (range, 13–138) months. Sexual function was assessed using the validated short form of Pelvic Organ Prolapse/Urinary Incontinence Sexual Questionnaire (PISQ‐12). The multivariate logistic regression analysis was performed to determine factors influencing sexual function after treatment.ResultsThe mean preoperative PISQ‐12 score was 39.42 ± 3.922, and the mean postoperative PISQ‐12 score was 32.60 ± 6.592, indicating a significant decrease in postoperative PISQ‐12 score compared with preoperation (p < 0.001). In total, 49.8% of the patients had sexual dysfunction after treatment. According to the results of the multivariate logistic regression analysis, longer follow‐up (months), ovariectomy, lack of hormone replacement therapy after ovariectomy and adjuvant radiotherapy were significantly associated with sexual dysfunction after treatment (p < 0.05). There was no significant correlation among surgical method, tumor stage, adjuvant chemotherapy, and sexual dysfunction after treatment.ConclusionsThe sexual function of cervical cancer survivors significantly decreased after treatment, which was related to the length of follow‐up, ovariectomy, and adjuvant radiotherapy. Hormone replacement therapy after ovariectomy can help patients to improve their sexual function.