cometadata/datacite-rtg-text-other-reclassification-records huggingface dataset:
Cigarette Smoking and its Association with Primary Open Angle Glaucoma: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Creators: name: Yee, Hiromi
name: Adkins, Suzanne
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: Medicine
Cell Biology
Pharmacology
Biotechnology
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Cancer
Science Policy

description: To systematically assess the association between cigarette smoking and development of Primary Open Angle Glaucoma (POAG) in the general adult population. Heterogeneity will be explored appropriately. Outcomes of glaucoma, OAG and POAG were explored in adults who were current, former, and never cigarette smokers. An additional category of ‘smokers with “any” smoking status’ was used where former smokers were not clearly distinguished from current and never smokers and in smokers whose form of smoking was not defined. All studies were observational and there was no limit to time period. Databases used were MEDLINE, Embase, Global Health and Web of Science. Study quality was assessed using the JBI critical appraisal tool. The DerSimonian-Laird random-effects model and weighting method was applied for meta-analysis with subgroup and sensitivity analyses along with meta-regression. Four cohort, six cross-sectional and nine case–control studies were included. Only one cohort study attained a low risk of bias (RoB), two cohort studies were of medium RoB and the rest of the studies were of high RoB. There was no evidence for an association between smoking statuses: current smoking: OR 0.96, 95%CI (0.76,1.21), former smoking: OR 0.96, 95%CI (0.83,1.11), smoking (any): OR 1.48, 95%CI (0.96, 2.29) and glaucoma. Sensitivity analyses did not have a material impact on findings. Heterogeneity was not explained by smoking status, study quality, smoking exposure, and glaucoma outcome criteria. This review suggests no evidence for an association between cigarette smoking and the development of POAG. There was no evidence that current, former, and general smoking increased the risk of glaucoma.
The Journal of the Experimental Analysis of Behavior at Fifty and One Hundred
Creators: name: Catania, A. Charles
Publisher: name: Wiley
Year: 2013
Subjects: novel behavior
human behavior
molecular versus molar
aversive control
verbal behavior
schedules of reinforcement
stimulus control

description: The experimental content areas represented in JEAB in its first volume (1958) and 50 years later in Volume 87 are in many ways similar with regard to research on schedules of reinforcement, research with human subjects, and several other topics. Experimental analysis has not been displaced by quantitative analysis. Much less research on aversive control has been published in recent than in earlier years. Wishes for progress in the next 50 years include experiments on verbal behavior, the sources of novel behavior, and observing responses based on stimuli correlated with escape or avoidance.
Perennial pasture grass invasion changes fire behaviour and recruitment potential of a native forb in a temperate Australian grassland
Creators: name: Walker, Zachary
name: Morgan, John
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 310399
subject: Ecology not elsewhere classified

description: Invasive grasses can modify fire regimes of native ecosystems leading to changed ecosystem structure, composition, and functioning. Temperate grasslands in Australia are currently being invaded by a suite of exotic perennial pasture grasses, but their effects on ecosystems remain largely unknown. We aimed to determine the effect of invasion by the exotic perennial grass Phalaris aquatica on fire behaviour, as well as the regeneration potential of an endangered forb in temperate native grasslands in south-eastern Australia. Frequently burnt native grasslands invaded by exotic grasses were found to have two times more fuel than grasslands dominated by native grasses; in less-frequently burned native grasslands, exotic grasses contributed to fuel loads that were five times higher than native grasslands. Exotic-dominated grasslands burned differently than native grasslands; fire intensities were three times higher in exotic-dominated grasslands and had a wide variability in fire residence times. Soil heating was positively related to fire residence time but had no clear relationship with fire intensity. Seed germinability of Leucochrysum albicans var. tricolor (Hoary Sunray, Asteraceae) was reduced by exotic grass-fueled fire and increasing fire residence times. The observed changes in fire behaviour represent an invasion-driven shift in the ecosystem’s fire regime. By increasing fuel mass, fire residence time increased, and this influenced seed survival and subsequent germinability. Increased fire intensity following invasion highlights that invasive grasses can increase the fire-risk of grasslands. Maintaining native grasslands free of invasive pasture grasses therefore has environmental and fire-risk benefits.
Uniform Convergence and Rate Adaptive Estimation of Convex Functions via Constrained Optimization
Creators: name: Wang, Xiao
name: Shen, Jinglai
Publisher: name: SIAM
Year: 2013

description: Estimation of monotone functions has broad applications in statistics, engineering, and science. This paper addresses asymptotic behaviors of monotone penalized spline estimators using constrained dynamical optimization techniques. The underlying regression function is approximated by a B-spline of an arbitrary degree subject to the first-order difference penalty. The optimality conditions for spline coefficients give rise to a size-dependent complementarity problem. As a key technical result of the paper, the uniform Lipschitz property of optimal spline coefficients is established by exploiting piecewise linear and polyhedral theories. This property forms a cornerstone for stochastic boundedness, uniform convergence, and boundary consistency of the monotone estimator. The estimator is then approximated by a solution of a differential equation subject to boundary conditions. This allows the estimator to be represented by a kernel regression estimator defined by a related Green's function of an ODE. The asymptotic normality is established at interior points via the Green's function. The convergence rate is shown to be independent of spline degrees, and the number of knots does not affect asymptotic distribution, provided that it tends to infinity fast enough.
Reassessment of amphetamine- and phencyclidine-induced locomotor hyperactivity as a model of psychosis-like behavior in rats
Creators: name: Kusljic, S
name: van den Buuse, Maarten
name: Gogos, A
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 320999
subject: Neurosciences not elsewhere classified

description: Locomotor hyperactivity induced by psychotomimetic drugs, such as amphetamine and phencyclidine, is widely used as an animal model of psychosis-like behaviour and is commonly attributed to an interaction with dopamine release and N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptors, respectively. However, what is often not sufficiently taken into account is that the pharmacological profile of these drugs is complex and may involve other neurotransmitter/receptor systems. Therefore, this study aimed to assess the effect of three antagonists targeting different monoamine pathways on amphetamine- and phencyclidine-induced locomotor hyperactivity. A total of 32 rats were pre-treated with antagonists affecting dopaminergic, noradrenergic and serotonergic transmission: haloperidol (0.05 mg/kg), prazosin (2 mg/kg) and ritanserin (1 mg/kg), respectively. After 30 min of spontaneous activity, rats were injected with amphetamine (0.5 mg/kg) or phencyclidine (2.5 mg/kg) and distance travelled, stereotypy and rearing recorded in photocell cages over 90 min. Pretreatment with haloperidol or prazosin both reduced amphetamine-induced hyperactivity although pre-treatment with ritanserin had only a partial effect. None of the pre-treatments significantly altered the hyperlocomotion effects of phencyclidine. These findings suggest that noradrenergic as well as dopaminergic neurotransmission is critical for amphetamine-induced locomotor hyperactivity. Hyper-locomotion effects of phencyclidine are dependent on other factors, most likely NMDA receptor antagonism. These results help to interpret psychotomimetic drug-induced locomotor hyperactivity as an experimental model of psychosis.
The Prevalence of Refractive Errors in Indian School Children: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis
Creators: name: Kumar, Vijay
name: Soni, Manya
name: Rajagopal, Vineeth
name: Behera, Ashish
name: Gandhi, Aravind
name: Shamim, Muhammad Aaqib
name: Gaidhane, Shilpa
name: Rustagi, Sarvesh
name: Rai, Nishant
name: Sah, Sanjit
name: Khatib, Mahalaqua Nazli
name: Puri, Sonam
name: Jaiswal, Vaibhav
name: Singh, Mahendra
name: Bushi, Ganesh
name: Satapathy, Prakasini
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Science Policy

description: Refractive errors (REs) are a significant cause of vision impairment and the second leading cause of blindness worldwide. Myopia, hyperopia, and astigmatism are the most prevalent forms. In developing regions, including India, the prevalence and impact of REs, particularly among school-aged children, is profound, affecting their academic performance and overall quality of life. This review aimed to consolidate data from studies published post-2018 to provide updated prevalence estimates of REs among Indian school children. Following the PRISMA guidelines, a comprehensive literature search was conducted in May 2024 across four databases: Web of Science, PubMed, Scopus, and Embase. Inclusion criteria focused on cross-sectional studies from India, reporting the prevalence of REs among school-aged children. Out of 1434 studies, 43 met the inclusion criteria. The overall pooled prevalence of REs was 11% (95% CI: 0.08–0.15). The subgroup analysis showed a slight decline in prevalence post-COVID-19, from 12% to 11%. Prevalence was higher in cycloplegic studies at 12%, compared to 10% in non-cycloplegic. Myopia was the most prevalent RE at 8%, with astigmatism at 3% and hyperopia at 1%. No significant gender differences were found. The meta-regression does not indicate a statistically significant relation between the year of publication and the prevalence of RE. REs, particularly myopia, pose a significant burden among Indian schoolchildren. Despite the COVID-19 pandemic, the overall prevalence of REs has remained stable. These findings emphasize the need for continued vision screening programs and targeted interventions to reduce the prevalence of uncorrected refractive errors.
Association of visceral adiposity index with incident nephropathy and retinopathy: a cohort study in the diabetic population
Creators: name: Wu, Z
name: Yu, S
name: Kang, X
name: Liu, Y
name: Xu, Z
name: Li, Z
name: Wang, J
name: Miao, X
name: Liu, X
name: Li, Xia
name: Zhang, J
name: Wang, W
name: Tao, L
name: Guo, X
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 320299
subject: Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 420699
subject: Public health not elsewhere classified

description: Background: The association between visceral adiposity index (VAI) and diabetic complications has been reported in cross-sectional studies, while the effect of VAI on complication development remains unclear. This study aims to evaluate the longitudinal association of VAI and Chinese VAI (CVAI) with the incidence of diabetic nephropathy and retinopathy using a Chinese cohort. Methods: A total of 8 948 participants with type 2 diabetes from Beijing Health Management Cohort were enrolled during 2013–2014, and followed until December 31, 2019. Nephropathy was confirmed by urine albumin/creatinine ratio and estimated glomerular filtration rate; retinopathy was diagnosed using fundus photograph. Results: The mean (SD) age was 53.35 (14.66) years, and 6 154 (68.8%) were men. During a median follow-up of 4.82 years, 467 participants developed nephropathy and 90 participants developed retinopathy. One-SD increase in VAI and CVAI levels were significantly associated with an increased risk of nephropathy, and the adjusted hazard ratios (HR) were 1.127 (95% CI 1.050–1.210) and 1.165 (95% CI 1.003–1.353), respectively. On contrary, VAI and CVAI level were not associated with retinopathy after adjusting confounding factors. Conclusion: VAI and CVAI are independently associated with the development of nephropathy, but not retinopathy in Chinese adults with diabetes.
Cold temperature induces a TRPM8-independent calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum in human platelets
Creators: name: Stratiievska, Anastasiia
name: Filippova, Olga
name: Özpolat, Tahsin
name: Byrne, Daire
name: Bailey, S. Lawrence
name: Chauhan, Aastha
name: Mollica, Molly Y.
name: Harris, Jeff
name: Esancy, Kali
name: Chen, Junmei
name: Dhaka, Ajay K.
name: Sniadecki, Nathan J.
name: López, José A.
name: Stolla, Moritz
Publisher: name: PLOS
Year: 2024
Subjects: Platelet aggregation
Integrins
Flow cytometry
Megakaryocytes
Blood
Body temperature
Platelet activation
Platelets

description: The detection of temperature by the human sensory system is life-preserving and highly evolutionarily conserved. Platelets are sensitive to temperature changes and are activated by a decrease in temperature, akin to sensory neurons. However, the molecular mechanism of this temperature-sensing ability is unknown. Yet, platelet activation by temperature could contribute to numerous clinical sequelae, most importantly to reduced quality of ex vivo-stored platelets for transfusion. In this multidisciplinary study, we present evidence for the expression of the temperature-sensitive ion channel transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily member 8 (TRPM8) in human platelets and precursor cells. We found the TRPM8 mRNA and protein in MEG-01 cells and platelets. Inhibition of TRPM8 prevented temperature-induced platelet activation and shape change. However, chemical agonists of TRPM8 did not seem to have an acute effect on platelets. When exposing platelets to below-normal body temperature, we detected a cytosolic calcium increase which was independent of TRPM8 but was completely dependent on the calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum. Because of the high interindividual variability of TRPM8 expression, a population-based approach should be the focus of future studies. Our study suggests that the cold response of platelets is complex and TRPM8 appears to play a role in early temperature-induced activation of platelets, while other mechanisms likely contribute to later stages of temperature-mediated platelet response.
Additional file 2 of An emerging framework for digital mental health design with Indigenous young people: a scoping review of the involvement of Indigenous young people in the design and evaluation of digital mental health interventions
Creators: name: Povey, Josie
name: Raphiphatthana, Buaphrao
name: Torok, Michelle
name: Nagel, Tricia
name: Mills, Patj Patj Janama Robert
name: Sells, Joshua Russell Howard
name: Shand, Fiona
name: Sweet, Michelle
name: Lowell, Anne
name: Dingwall, Kylie
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: Medicine
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy

description: Additional file 2.
TRPM8 Contributes to Early Temperature-Induced Platelet Activation
Creators: name: Stratiievska, Anastasiia
name: Filippova, Olga
name: Ozpolat, Hasan Tahsin
name: Byrne, Daire
name: Bailey, S. Lawrence
name: Mollica, Molly Y.
name: Harris, Jeffrey
name: Esancy, Kali
name: Daka, Ajay
name: Sniadecki, Nathan
name: Lopez, Jose A.
name: Stolla, Moritz
Publisher: name: ASH
Year: 2023

description: Background: Like sensory neurons, platelets are activated by a decrease in temperature. However, the molecular mechanism of this temperature-sensing ability is unknown. Platelet activation by temperature could contribute to numerous clinical observations, most importantly to the well-known reduced lifespan of ex vivo-stored platelets for transfusion. In this study, we sought to dissect the molecular basis of the cold-induced platelet activation response and specifically, evaluate the role of the thermosensitive ion channel transient receptor potential cation channel subfamily member 8 (TRPM8) in platelets and their precursor cells.Methods: We tested for the presence of TRPM8 on the megakaryocytic cell line MEG-01 and human platelets by immunoblotting, confocal microscopy, and imaging flow cytometry. The effect of TRPM8 on platelets was evaluated using the commercially available TRPM8 inhibitor PF-05105679. In addition, we used TRPM8 agonists such as menthol, WS-12, and icilin. Platelet shape change and ?IIb?3 integrin activation were assessed by imaging flow cytometry and conventional flow cytometry. We tested for platelet aggregation using light transmission aggregometry and for intracellular calcium by reading fluorescence on a plate reader after loading platelets with Fura-2-AM. Calcium release in response to temperature decrease was assessed after loading platelets or TRPM8-transfected HEK293T/17 and reading fluorescence in a Real-Time PCR Detection System.Results: We detected TRPM8 mRNA and protein in MEG-01 cells and platelets but there was a remarkable variability among donors. Further evidence for TRPM8's presence in platelets came from the fact that inhibitors of TRPM8 prevented early temperature-induced platelet activation events, such as ?IIb?3 integrin activation and shape change. Unlike temperature changes, chemical agonists of TRPM8 did not seem to have an acute effect on platelets. Platelets exposed to below-normal body temperature displayed a cytosolic calcium increase, but this was independent of TRPM8 and entirely dependent on the calcium release from the endoplasmic reticulum.Conclusion: We found evidence for TRPM8 expression in platelets but the expression varies greatly between individuals and is of unclear physiologic significance. Our study suggests that the cold response of platelets is complex, and TRPM8 appears to play a calcium-independent role in the early temperature-induced activation of platelets, while other mechanisms likely contribute to later stages of temperature-mediated platelet response. Because of the high interindividual variability of TRPM8 expression, a population-based approach should be the focus of future studies.
Time-Restricted Eating: Integrating The What With The When.
Creators: name: Parr, Evelyn B
name: Devlin, Brooke
name: Hawley, John A
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 321099
subject: Nutrition and dietetics not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 420699
subject: Public health not elsewhere classified

description: Time-restricted eating (TRE) is a popular dietary strategy that emphasizes the timing of meals in alignment with diurnal circadian rhythms, permitting ad libitum energy intake during a restricted (∼8-10 h) eating window each day. Unlike energy-restricted diets or intermittent fasting interventions that focus on weight loss, many of the health-related benefits of TRE are independent of reductions in body weight. However, TRE research to date has largely ignored what food is consumed (i.e., macronutrient composition and energy density), overlooking a plethora of past epidemiological and interventional dietary research. To determine some of the potential mechanisms underpinning the benefits of TRE on metabolic health, future studies need to increase the rigor of dietary data collected, assessed, and reported to ensure a consistent and standardized approach in TRE research. This Perspective article provides an overview of studies investigating TRE interventions in humans and considers dietary intake (both what and when food is eaten) and their impact on selected health outcomes (i.e., weight loss, glycemic control). Integrating existing dietary knowledge about what food is eaten with our recent understanding on when food should be consumed is essential to optimize the impact of dietary strategies aimed at improving metabolic health outcomes.
The magnetism and elasticity of ϵ-FeOOH across the pressure-induced electronic spin transition
Creators: name: Ikeda, Osamu
name: Sakamaki, Tatsuya
name: Mitsui, Takaya
name: Fujiwara, Kosuke
name: Uchiyama, Hiroshi
name: Fukui, Hiroshi
name: Ishikawa, Daisuke
name: Baron, Alfred Q.R.
name: Suzuki, Akio
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: subject: Biophysics
subject: Physical Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Medicine
subject: Cell Biology
subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Ecology
subject: Inorganic Chemistry
subject: FOS: Chemical sciences
subject: Science Policy

description: We conducted in-situ synchrotron X-ray experiments on iron oxyhydroxide ϵ-FeOOH to study the effects of the pressure-induced electronic spin transition on magnetism and elasticity. Polycrystalline ϵ-FeOOH was compressed in diamond anvil cells, and Mössbauer spectra and inelastic X-ray scattering were measured up to 120 and 49.9 GPa, respectively. On compression, the Mössbauer spectra showed a transition from a single magnetic sextet to a single doublet with the coexistence region 30–48 GPa, suggesting the low-spin state without magnetic ordering. The longitudinal elastic wave velocity VL calculated using the acoustic phonon dispersion exhibited a ∼5% decrease at 38 GPa, which is almost the middle of the coexistence pressure region observed by Mössbauer absorption, indicating an elastic softening by the spin transition. The VL drop would be attributed to the elastically soft low-spin domain inferred by the large pressure dependence of the center shift of the low-spin doublet.
Additional file 3 of An emerging framework for digital mental health design with Indigenous young people: a scoping review of the involvement of Indigenous young people in the design and evaluation of digital mental health interventions
Creators: name: Povey, Josie
name: Raphiphatthana, Buaphrao
name: Torok, Michelle
name: Nagel, Tricia
name: Mills, Patj Patj Janama Robert
name: Sells, Joshua Russell Howard
name: Shand, Fiona
name: Sweet, Michelle
name: Lowell, Anne
name: Dingwall, Kylie
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: Medicine
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy

description: Additional file 3.
Developing Preschool Language Surveillance Models - Cumulative and Clustering Patterns of Early Life Factors in the Early Language in Victoria Study Cohort
Creators: name: Eadie, P
name: Levickis, P
name: McKean, C
name: Westrupp, Elizabeth
name: Bavin, Edith
name: Ware, RS
name: Gerner, B
name: Reilly, S
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 420699
subject: Public health not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 470399
subject: Language studies not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 390302
subject: Early childhood education

description: Background: Screening and surveillance of development are integral to ensuring effective early identification and intervention strategies for children with vulnerabilities. However, not all developmental skills have reliable screening processes, such as early language ability. Method: We describe how a set of early life factors used in a large, prospective community cohort from Australia are associated with language abilities across the preschool years, and determine if either an accumulation of risk factors or a clustering of risk factors provide a feasible approach to surveillance of language development in preschool children. Results: There were 1,208 children with a 7-year language outcome. The accumulation of early life factors increased the likelihood of children having low language skills at 7-years. Over a third of children with typical language skills (36.6%) had ≤ two risks and half of the children with low language (50%) had six or more risks. As the number of factors increases the risk of having low language at 7-years increases, for example, children with six or more risks had 17 times greater risk, compared to those with ≤ two risks. Data collected from 1,910 children at 8- to 12-months were used in the latent class modeling. Four profile classes (or groups) were identified. The largest group was developmentally enabled with a supportive home learning environment (56.2%, n = 1,073). The second group was vulnerable, both developmentally and in their home learning environment (31.2%, n = 596); the third group was socially disadvantaged with a vulnerable home learning environment (7.4%, n = 142); the final group featured maternal mental health problems and vulnerable child socio-emotional adjustment (5.2%, n = 99). Compared to developmentally enabled children, the risk of low language at 7-years was greater for children in the three other groups. Conclusion: The cumulative and cluster risk analyses demonstrate the potential to use developmental surveillance to identify children within the first years of life who are at risk of language difficulties. Importantly, parent-child interaction and the home learning environment emerged as a consistent cluster. We recommend they be adopted as the common focus for early intervention and universal language promotion programs.
Additional file 1 of An emerging framework for digital mental health design with Indigenous young people: a scoping review of the involvement of Indigenous young people in the design and evaluation of digital mental health interventions
Creators: name: Povey, Josie
name: Raphiphatthana, Buaphrao
name: Torok, Michelle
name: Nagel, Tricia
name: Mills, Patj Patj Janama Robert
name: Sells, Joshua Russell Howard
name: Shand, Fiona
name: Sweet, Michelle
name: Lowell, Anne
name: Dingwall, Kylie
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: Medicine
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy

description: Additional file 1.
Irreversible changes in amorphous C₃N₄ under pressure: loss of chemical order and graphite-like character
Creators: name: Durandurdu, Murat
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: Medicine
Chemical Sciences not elsewhere classified

description: The high-pressure behavior of triazine-based amorphous C₃N₄, initially exhibiting a chemically ordered, graphite-like structure, was investigated using ab initio molecular dynamics simulations. Our study reveals a pressure-induced transition to a high-density amorphous (HDA) phase characterized by increased coordination number for carbon (3.88) and nitrogen (2.93) atoms. This transition occurs gradually over a broad pressure range, initiated by the breakdown of chemical ordering and the formation of homopolar C–C and N–N bonds, which persist in both the HDA and recovered phases. The recovered phase retains elevated coordination numbers (C: 3.25, N: 2.46) but loses its initial graphite-like topology, evolving into a three-dimensional network structure. Electronic structure analysis reveals semiconducting behavior in the HDA phase and n-type semiconductor characteristics in the recovered phase.
Unfolded Von Willebrand Factor Binds Protein S and Reduces Anticoagulant Activity
Creators: name: Sim, Martha M. S.
name: Mollica, Molly Y.
name: Alfar, Hammodah R.
name: Hollifield, Melissa
name: Chung, Dominic W.
name: Fu, Xiaoyun
name: Gandhapudi, Siva
name: Coenen, Daniëlle M.
name: Prakhya, Kanakanagavalli Shravani
name: Mahmood, Dlovan F. D.
name: Banerjee, Meenakshi
name: Peng, Chi
name: Li, Xian
name: Thornton, Alice C.
name: Porterfield, James Z.
name: Sturgill, Jamie L.
name: Sievert, Gail A.
name: Barton-Baxter, Marietta
name: Zheng, Ze
name: Campbell, Kenneth S.
name: Woodward, Jerold G.
name: López, José A.
name: Whiteheart, Sidney W.
name: Garvy, Beth A.
name: Wood, Jeremy P.
Publisher: name: Maryland Shared Open Access Repository
Year: 2024

description: Protein S (PS), the critical plasma cofactor for the anticoagulants tissue factor (TF) pathway inhibitor (TFPI) and activated protein C (APC), circulates in two functionally distinct pools: free (anticoagulant) or bound to complement component 4b-binding protein (C4BP) (anti-inflammatory). Acquired free PS deficiency is detected in several viral infections, but its cause is unclear. Here, we identified a shear-dependent interaction between PS and von Willebrand Factor (VWF) by mass spectrometry. Consistently, plasma PS and VWF comigrated in both native and agarose gel electrophoresis. The PS/VWF interaction was blocked by TFPI but not APC, suggesting an interaction with the C-terminal sex hormone binding globulin (SHBG) region of PS. Microfluidic systems, mimicking arterial laminar flow or disrupted turbulent flow, demonstrated that PS stably binds VWF as VWF unfolds under turbulent flow. PS/VWF complexes also localized to platelet thrombi under laminar arterial flow. In thrombin generation-based assays, shearing plasma decreased PS activity, an effect not seen in the absence of VWF. Finally, free PS deficiency in COVID-19 patients, measured using an antibody that binds near the C4BP binding site in SHBG, correlated with changes in VWF, but not C4BP, and with thrombin generation. Our data suggest that PS binds to a shear-exposed site on VWF, thus sequestering free PS and decreasing its anticoagulant activity, which would account for the increased thrombin generation potential. As many viral infections present with free PS deficiency, elevated circulating VWF, and increased vascular shear, we propose that the PS/VWF interaction reported here is a likely contributor to virus-associated thrombotic risk.Von Willebrand Factor (VWF) binds Protein S (PS) in a shear-dependent manner, reducing the free PS pool and its anticoagulant activity.The PS/VWF complex forms under turbulent flow conditions, is stable in whole blood, and localizes to growing platelet thrombi.
Teaching Listener Responses to KFL Students
Creators: name: Lee, Hyo Sang
name: Yoon, Kyung-Eun
name: Yoon, Sang-Seok
Publisher: name: Penn State University Press
Year: 2017

description: Although virtually all foreign language teaching practices advocate a communicative approach, learners' conversations lack interactional features that are essential for proper communication, and are commonly found in those of native speakers. Critically missing are listener responses (LRs) that facilitate negotiating meanings communicated among interlocutors by indicating the listener's conversational engagement, signaling the listener's stance of agreement/disagreement, alignment/disalignment, approval/disapproval, requesting clarification and confirmation, and so on. It is essential to be able to use LRs for the learners' conversation to be as natural and interactionally appropriate as those of native speakers. Therefore, it is necessary to teach how to use them implicitly or explicitly. We propose a number of procedures and activities with which learners learn how to use LRs so as to enhance their interactional competence.
Multi-scale habitat selection by a cryptic, critically endangered grassland bird—The Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus): Implications for habitat management and conservation
Creators: name: Nugent, Daniel
name: Baker-Gabb, David
name: Green, Peter
name: Ostendorf, B
name: Dawlings, F
name: Clarke, RH
name: Morgan, John
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 410499
subject: Environmental management not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 310399
subject: Ecology not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 410401
subject: Conservation and biodiversity

description: Our understanding of the habitat needs of grassland fauna is often incomplete because of their cryptic behaviour. This presents a barrier to identifying important habitat attributes, whether these change at different spatial scales, and how this informs management decisions. Here, we use a critically endangered bird, the Plains-wanderer (Pedionomus torquatus, Pedionomidae), as an exemplar of the challenge of managing grasslands for cryptic species. Until now, almost all ecological knowledge of Plains-wanderers has come from the detection of nocturnally roosting individuals and habitat assessments at fine-scales that indicate open swards are preferred habitat. We GPS-tracked 13 adult Plains-wanderers to better understand diurnal habitat utilization in native grasslands of south-eastern Australia. Using these data, we assessed whether Plains-wanderers select for different habitat attributes during the day and night, and whether this varied according to spatial scale. At the fine-scale (< 1 ha), daytime foraging occurred in denser swards than those of nocturnal roosting sites. At the patch-scale (1–50 ha), Plains-wanderers selected for denser vegetation, with higher grass and lichen cover, whilst avoiding areas where structure was impacted by a high exotic plant cover. Plains-wanderers did not select habitat based on grassland type at the landscape-scale (>100 ha). We demonstrate that Plains-wanderers require grasslands with both open and denser swards to support foraging and roosting. In doing so, we address the biases associated with habitat assessments based on roost-only locations and extend known habitat associations critical to the successful management of the species. Our findings highlight that a precautionary approach to the classification of habitat requirements is warranted when uncertainty around habitat use of cryptic grassland fauna exists.
Additional file 4 of An emerging framework for digital mental health design with Indigenous young people: a scoping review of the involvement of Indigenous young people in the design and evaluation of digital mental health interventions
Creators: name: Povey, Josie
name: Raphiphatthana, Buaphrao
name: Torok, Michelle
name: Nagel, Tricia
name: Mills, Patj Patj Janama Robert
name: Sells, Joshua Russell Howard
name: Shand, Fiona
name: Sweet, Michelle
name: Lowell, Anne
name: Dingwall, Kylie
Publisher: name: figshare
Year: 2024
Subjects: Medicine
Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
Science Policy

description: Additional file 4. An emerging framework for the development or evaluation of dMH resources with Indigenous young people: Description and examples from the scoped literature.
Decomposition of Economic Inequality in Age-Related Macular Degeneration by Using Oaxaca-Blinder Decomposition: Tehran Geriatric Eye Study
Creators: name: Hashemi, Hassan
name: Pakzad, Reza
name: Aghamirsalim, Mohamadreza
name: Hashemi, Alireza
name: Khabazkhoob, Mehdi
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2024
Subjects: subject: Physiology
subject: FOS: Biological sciences
subject: Biotechnology
subject: Environmental Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Sociology
subject: FOS: Sociology
subject: Biological Sciences not elsewhere classified
subject: Cancer
subject: Science Policy

description: To investigate economic inequality in age-related macular degeneration (AMD) and decompose it into its determinants using Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition (OBD). The Tehran Geriatric Eye Study was a cross-sectional study conducted on individuals aged 60 years and older, utilizing stratified random cluster sampling. Each participant received a comprehensive optometric, and slit-lamp examination. Diagnosis and classification of AMD were conducted utilizing fundus camera images. The data of the 3268 participants were analyzed. According to OBD, a significant difference was found in AMD between the rich and poor groups (8.36%) disfavoring the poor (p < 0.001). The explained and unexplained portions comprised 93.37% and 6.63% of the difference (p < 0.001 and p = 0.405, respectively). Among study variables, age (coefficient = 4.70; p < 0.001), economic status (coefficient = 3.58; p = 0.004), and myopia (coefficient = 0.73; p = 0.001) were significant determinants of inequality in the explained portion. A significant disparity in the prevalence of AMD was observed between individuals of different socioeconomic statuses, primarily attributed to the explained factors. Factors such as age, economic status, and myopia were found to have the most substantial impact in exacerbating the inequality that disadvantaged the poor group (contributing percentages: 52.17%, 39.73%, and 8.10%, respectively). The findings of this research can be valuable for health policymakers in prioritizing and addressing the determinants of inequality within the population.
Universals and cultural variation in turn-taking in conversation
Creators: name: Stivers, Tanya
name: Enfield, N. J.
name: Brown, Penelope
name: Englert, Christina
name: Hayashi, Makoto
name: Heinemann, Trine
name: Hoymann, Gertie
name: Rossano, Federico
name: De Ruiter, Jan Peter
name: Yoon, Kyung-Eun
name: Levinson, Stephen C.
Publisher: name: National Academy of Sciences
Year: 2009

description: Informal verbal interaction is the core matrix for human social life. A mechanism for coordinating this basic mode of interaction is a system of turn-taking that regulates who is to speak and when. Yet relatively little is known about how this system varies across cultures. The anthropological literature reports significant cultural differences in the timing of turn-taking in ordinary conversation. We test these claims and show that in fact there are striking universals in the underlying pattern of response latency in conversation. Using a worldwide sample of 10 languages drawn from traditional indigenous communities to major world languages, we show that all of the languages tested provide clear evidence for a general avoidance of overlapping talk and a minimization of silence between conversational turns. In addition, all of the languages show the same factors explaining within-language variation in speed of response. We do, however, find differences across the languages in the average gap between turns, within a range of 250 ms from the cross-language mean. We believe that a natural sensitivity to these tempo differences leads to a subjective perception of dramatic or even fundamental differences as offered in ethnographic reports of conversational style. Our empirical evidence suggests robust human universals in this domain, where local variations are quantitative only, pointing to a single shared infrastructure for language use with likely ethological foundations.
Modulation of Inflammatory Cytokine Production in Human Monocytes by cGMP and IRAK3
Creators: name: Nguyen, TH
name: Axell, Anna Maree
name: Turek, Ilona
name: Wright, B
name: Meehan-Andrews, Terri
name: Irving, Helen
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 310599
subject: Genetics not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 319999
subject: Other biological sciences not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 349999
subject: Other chemical sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Interleukin-1 receptor-associated kinase-3 (IRAK3) is a critical checkpoint molecule of inflammatory responses in the innate immune system. The pseudokinase domain of IRAK3 contains a guanylate cyclase (GC) centre that generates small amounts of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) associated with IRAK3 functions in inflammation. However, the mechanisms of IRAK3 actions are poorly understood. The effects of low cGMP levels on inflammation are unknown, there-fore a dose–response effect of cGMP on inflammatory markers was assessed in THP-1 monocytes challenged with lipopolysaccharide (LPS). Sub-nanomolar concentrations of membrane permeable 8-Br-cGMP reduced LPS-induced NFκB activity, IL-6 and TNF-α cytokine levels. Pharmacologically upregulating cellular cGMP levels using a nitric oxide donor reduced cytokine secretion. Downregu-lating cellular cGMP using a soluble GC inhibitor increased cytokine levels. Knocking down IRAK3 in THP-1 cells revealed that unlike the wild type cells, 8-Br-cGMP did not suppress inflammatory responses. Complementation of IRAK3 knockdown cells with wild type IRAK3 suppressed cytokine production while complementation with an IRAK3 mutant at GC centre only partially restored this function. Together these findings indicate low levels of cGMP form a critical component in suppressing cytokine production and in mediating IRAK3 action, and this may be via a cGMP enriched nanodomain formed by IRAK3 itself.
A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Assessing Diversity and Representation in Diabetic Retinopathy Clinical Trials in the U.S.
Creators: name: Elghzali, Ahmed
name: Swami, Vinay
name: Hossain, M. D.
name: Jones, Garrett
name: Babek, J. Tyler
name: Hemmerich, Christian
name: Howard, Haley
name: Himes, Seraphim
name: Cox, Jennifer
name: Ford, Alicia Ito
name: Vassar, Matt
Publisher: name: Taylor & Francis
Year: 2025
Subjects: Medicine
Biotechnology
Science Policy
Mental Health

description: To perform a systematic review and meta-analysis assessing the diversity and representation of diabetic retinopathy (DR) patients in clinical trials conducted in the United States from January 1, 2018, to December 31, 2023. A comprehensive search strategy was conducted on May 28th, 2024 using MEDLINE (PubMed) and Embase (Elsevier) to identify relevant clinical trials. Inclusion criteria included trials published between January 1, 2018 and December 31, 2023, focusing on interventions for DR that were conducted in the United States. Screening and data extraction were independently performed by three reviewers. Eleven clinical trials met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed for participant representation based on sex, age, and race/ethnicity. Sex representation was rated as good in 9 of the 11 studies. However, age representation was rarely reported (only 1/11 studies) and race/ethnicity representation was poor in 6 of the 11 studies. The findings highlight significant underrepresentation of Asian and Black populations. This study reveals substantial disparities in the demographic representation within DR clinical trials in the United States, emphasizing the critical need for improved inclusion strategies. Enhancing diversity in these trials is essential for producing research findings that are more applicable to the broader population affected by DR, ultimately contributing to more equitable healthcare outcomes and advancing the effectiveness of treatments across diverse demographic groups.
Web-based intervention to reduce psychological barriers to insulin therapy among adults with non-insulin-treated type 2 diabetes: study protocol for a two-armed randomised controlled trial of 'Is insulin right for me? '
Creators: name: Holmes-Truscott, E
name: Holloway, EE
name: Husin, HM
name: Furler, J
name: Hagger, V
name: Skinner, Timothy
name: Speight, J
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 320299
subject: Clinical sciences not elsewhere classified

description: Introduction Psychological barriers to insulin therapy are associated with the delay of clinically indicated treatment intensification for people with type 2 diabetes (T2D), yet few evidence-based interventions exist to address these barriers. We describe the protocol for a randomised controlled trial (RCT) examining the efficacy of a novel, theoretically grounded, psychoeducational, web-based resource designed to reduce psychological barriers to insulin among adults with non-insulin treated T2D: 'Is insulin right for me?'. Methods and analysis Double-blind, parallel group RCT. A target sample of N=392 participants (n=196/arm) will be randomised (1:1) to 'Is insulin right for me?' (intervention) or widely available online resources (control). Eligible participants include adults (18-75 years), residing in Australia, currently taking oral hypoglycaemic agents to manage T2D. They will be primarily recruited via invitations and reminders from the national diabetes registry (from a purposefully selected sample of N≥12 000). Exclusion criteria: experience of self-administered injectable; previously enrolled in pilot RCT; 'very willing' to start insulin as baseline. Outcomes will be assessed via online survey at 2 weeks and 6 months. Primary outcome between-group: difference in mean negative Insulin Treatment Appraisal Scores (ITAS negative) at 2-week and 6-month follow-up. Secondary outcomes: between-group differences in mean positive insulin appraisals (ITAS positive) and percentage difference in intention to commence insulin at follow-up time points. All data analyses will be conducted according to the intention-to-treat principle. Ethics and dissemination Deakin University Human Research Ethics Committee (2020-073). Dissemination via peer-reviewed journals, conferences and a plain-language summary. Trial registration number ACTRN12621000191897; Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry.
Responding to foot health needs of people experiencing homelessness: the role of a publicly funded community-based podiatry service
Creators: name: Mullins, Robyn
name: Mannix, RE
name: Marshall, Nicole
name: Lewis, Virginia
Publisher: name: La Trobe
Year: 2022
Subjects: classificationCode: 420699
subject: Public health not elsewhere classified
classificationCode: 420107
subject: Podiatry

description: Background: People experiencing homelessness are known to suffer from poor health and can be reluctant to seek healthcare except in crisis. Foot and ankle problems are a concern; as well as causing discomfort and pain, they may escalate from a minor problem to a very serious one without timely and appropriate treatment. Little is known about the foot and ankle problems of people experiencing homelessness. This paper describes a podiatric service specifically for people experiencing homelessness, which includes a fixed site as well as outreach services. The service operates as part of the Homelessness Team program at Cohealth, a large community health service in Melbourne. Methods: The study used routinely collected data. Every person who was seen by the podiatrist in the Cohealth Homelessness Team in 2019, whether on site or on outreach, was included in the study (n = 295). Of these, 156 were attending for the first time and 139 were returning clients. People who used the service were predominantly rough sleeping (45.2%), with 32.2% in unstable or insecure housing and 22.6% recently housed. Results: Skin and nail pathologies (68.1%), inadequate footwear (51.9%) and biomechanical issues (44.1%) were the most common presentations. People sleeping rough were particularly likely to present with biomechanical issues (50.8%), acute wound care needs (17.4%) or traumatic injury (10.6%). Most people presented with more than one issue (mean = 2.4), and new clients (mean = 2.53) and those rough sleeping (mean = 2.69) had more issues than others. Outreach was the most effective way to reach clients in the most difficult circumstances (48.9% of those in unstable housing, 34.8% of rough sleepers). Most of the clients (81.4%) had connections with other services offered by Cohealth, such as social work or physiotherapy. Conclusions: This study demonstrated that reaching and intervening on foot and ankle problems of people experiencing homelessness who may not seek care on their own could be achieved through a publicly funded health service, using simplified pathways to care including outreach. In addition to the long- and short- term benefits of the immediate podiatric treatment, building trust and connections through footcare may provide an entry point into accepting other health and welfare services.
Smoothing splines with varying smoothing parameter
Creators: name: Wang, Xiao
name: Du, Pang
name: Shen, Jinglai
Publisher: name: Oxford University Press
Year: 2013

description: This paper considers the development of spatially adaptive smoothing splines for the estimation of a regression function with nonhomogeneous smoothness across the domain. Two challenging issues arising in this context are the evaluation of the equivalent kernel and the determination of a local penalty. The penalty is a function of the design points in order to accommodate local behaviour of the regression function. We show that the spatially adaptive smoothing spline estimator is approximately a kernel estimator, and that the equivalent kernel is spatially dependent. The equivalent kernels for traditional smoothing splines are a special case of this general solution. With the aid of the Green’s function for a two-point boundary value problem, explicit forms of the asymptotic mean and variance are obtained for any interior point. Thus, the optimal roughness penalty function is obtained by approximately minimizing the asymptotic integrated mean squared error. Simulation results and an application illustrate the performance of the proposed estimator.