Annual Counts Research Articles

Homeschool Participation: Post-Pandemic Persistence and Growth Trends

ABSTRACT United States homeschooling participation increased dramatically during the disruptions of the COVID-19 pandemic. Education scholars theorized that homeschool participation would recede along with pandemic disruptions. This study examines whether that theory proved true. I use longitudinal annual state-reported homeschool participation counts supplemented with other data in states and years where state data is not publicly available. I find a small and brief decline in homeschool participation one- and two-years post-pandemic. However, the majority of states for which data are available report increased homeschool participation three years after the pandemic height. Within this growth, I will discuss three interesting trends.

Impact of anomalous ocean warming on the abundance and foraging habits of the California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) from the San Benito Archipelago in the Mexican Pacific

Abstract The California sea lion (Zalophus californianus; CSL) reflects environmental conditions of the Northeastern Pacific, where resource availability was importantly reduced for different taxa during climatic variations such as the North Pacific heatwave (The Blob 2014 to 2015) or El Niño 2015 to 2016 due to the effect of these anomalies on primary productivity. Our objective was to determine the abundance and foraging habits of CSLs from the San Benito Archipelago (Mexican Pacific) in a period (2013 to 2019) that involved warm anomalies. Annual counts were conducted by sex/age classes; scats were sampled to identify the main prey consumed; and pup fur (maternal foraging indicators) was collected for analysis of δ13C and δ15N. The prey importance index (PII) and trophic level were calculated and the Siber assessment in R was used to estimate isotopic niches. Colony abundance decreased by approximately 50% from 2013 to 2019. Values of δ13C showed significant interannual differences (P < 0.001) with more negative values (−17.2‰ to −16.7‰) from 2015 onwards, indicating offshore foraging habits. Significant interannual differences (P < 0.001) were found for δ15N, with a declining trend (20.4‰ to 19.07‰), and a difference of more than 1‰ between 2013 and 2019, evidencing a probable shift of foraging grounds toward higher latitudes. Based on the PII, Strongylura exilis (30%), Merluccius productus (24%), Ommastrephes bartramii (10%), and Sardinops sagax (10%) were the most important prey, showing significant interannual differences (P < 0.001). CSLs had a mean trophic level of 4.89, with a slight increasing trend toward the end of the period. Dietary plasticity was found in CSLs, possibly caused by environmental changes that modified prey availability and led to variations in foraging grounds, and consequently in the colony abundance over time.

Abstract 4122008: Bayesian modeling to forecast mortality due to Ischemic Heart Disease, Stroke, and Peripheral Artery Disease in Brazil until 2040

Introduction: Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease, specifically ischemic heart disease (IHD), stroke, and peripheral artery disease (PAD) together are among the leading causes of cardiovascular mortality in Brazil. As the obesity, hypertension, and diabetes rates in the Brazil continue to increase, projecting mortality rates related to these conditions are important for guiding health policy. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that there are differences in the future trends of IHD, stroke and PAD in Brazil. Aims: We sought to forecast the trends in IHD, stroke, and PAD in Brazil until 2040 to fill in this important knowledge gap and inform public health policy development. Methods: We collected the annual death counts for IHD, stroke, and PAD and the mid-year population estimates in 5-year age brackets (40 – 79 years) between 1990 and 2019 from the Global Burden of Disease. We calculated the annual crude and age-standardized mortality rates (per 100 000 residents) for IHD, stroke and PAD between 1990 and 2019. Using this observed data, we estimated the projected mortality rates for these conditions till 2040 using Bayesian age-period-cohort (BAPC) models. Results: Brazil`s population (aged 40-79 years) will increase by 237.5% between 1990 and 2040. Nationally, compared to 2019, the age standardized IHD mortality is projected to reduce by 31.66 % [2019: 131.13, 2040:89.6 (IQR: 65.83, 113.37)] and stroke rates are estimated to reduce by 16.75% [2019: 91.09, 2040: 75.83 (IQR: 51.68, 99.98)]. However, PAD rates are projected to increase by 1.2% in the same period [2019: 1.58, 2040: 1.66 (IQR: 1.24, 2.07)]. The age standardized IHD and stroke mortality rates will reduce in males and females. However, the age standardized PAD rates will increase in females [2019: 1.33, 2040: 1.48 (IQR: 1.06, 1.89), 11.28% difference] and remain reasonably constant among males. Conclusion: In Brazil, the age standardized rates for IHD and stroke mortality are projected to decline till 2040. However, PAD related mortality is likely to be an important issue among females. Our findings highlight the need for early and targeted interventions to address these potential cardiovascular health disparities.

Mapping the evolving trend of research on leukocyte telomere length: a text-mining study

BackgroundSubstantial evidence indicates that measuring leukocyte telomere length (LTL) is a useful tool that may be considered as a valuable biomarker of individual biological age, correlating with numerous chronic disorders. However, to date, there has been a lack of in-depth understanding regarding the current landscape and forthcoming developments in the LTL field. Therefore, this study aimed to utilize bibliometric methods to summarize the knowledge structure, current focus, and emerging directions in this field.MethodScientific publications on LTL spanning the period from 2000 to 2022 were acquired from the Web of Science Core Collection database. Several bibliometric tools including CiteSpace, VOSviewer, and an online website were utilized for bibliometric analysis. The primary evaluations encompassed investigating the major contributors and their collaborative relationships among countries/regions, institutions, and authors, conducting co-citation analyses of authors, journals, as well as reference, examining reference bursts, as well as performing co-occurrence analyses of keywords.ResultsThere are 1818 papers with 66,668 citations identified. Both the annual publication and citation counts on LTL exhibited significant upward trends. The United States emerged as the most prominent contributor, as evidenced by the greatest volume of papers and the highest H-index value. University of California San Francisco and Aviv A were identified as the most productive institution and author in this domain, respectively. Reference analysis revealed that longitudinal study and mendelian randomization study are the most concerned research method in this field recently. Keywords analysis showed that the most concerned diseases in LTL fields were aging, inflammation, cardiovascular diseases, endocrine diseases, neurological and psychiatric diseases, and cancers. In addition, the following research directions such as “COPD”, “mendelian randomization”, “adiposity”, “colorectal cancer”, “National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHNES)”, “telomerase reverse transcriptase”, “pregnancy” have garnered increasing attention in recent times and hold the potential to evolve into research foci in the foreseeable future.ConclusionThis is the first bibliometric study that provides comprehensive overview of LTL research. The findings of this study could become valuable references for investigators to explore and address the current and emerging challenges in LTL research.

Development of a heat mortality surveillance approach for England

Abstract Background England’s unprecedented temperatures in 2022 and 2023 highlighted the severe risks of rising global temperatures on public health. This study considers the impact of heatwave events on mortality rates, supporting the development of improved health surveillance and intervention strategies. Methods Firstly, heat-associated mortality for each heat episode was estimated by comparing observed daily mortality values with the expected baseline of daily deaths. Secondly, the historic temperature-mortality relationship was established at national and regional levels using a distributed lag non-linear model with temperature and mortality data from the previous 5 years. Finally, modelled estimates of heat-associated excess mortality were generated based on the historic temperature-mortality relationships, to assess any difference between observed and modelled estimates. Results In 2022 which saw record-breaking maximum temperatures in the UK, an estimated 2,985 (2,258-3,712) heat-associated deaths were recorded across five heat episodes, the highest annual count to date. Despite relatively cool temperatures, 2023 saw the third-highest heat-associated mortality since reporting began in 2016 of 2,295 (1,681-2,910). Comparisons between modelled and observed mortality were generally similar, but showed statistically significant discrepancies for certain heat episodes across the two summers. Conclusions Heatwaves have a rapid and clear impact on health, emphasising the need for effective early warning systems and interventions. The comparison of observed mortality with predictions from historic temperature-mortality relationships at regional level demonstrates the need for a nuanced approach to surveillance and health protection for adverse heat, with factors other than temperature also playing a critical role in health impacts. This will inform continuous improvements in England’s impact-based Heat Health Alerting system. Key messages • Heatwaves pose a significant risk to public health, as evidenced by the unprecedented excess deaths during the record-breaking temperatures in England in Summer 2022. • Comparison of observed mortality with predictions from historic data can provide insight into contextual factors modulating the health impacts of heat, and inform future surveillance and response.

Declining population of Harlequin Duck (<i>Histrionicus histrionicus</i>) on the Bow River, Alberta, Canada: 25 years of monitoring

Harlequin Duck (Histrionicus histrionicus) is a small sea duck that winters in coastal waters and breeds on fast-movingmountain streams in western North America. Because of its dependency on streams and coastal near-shore habitat with healthy macroinvertebrate populations, population trends of this species can be used as an indication of healthy freshwater and marine ecosystems. From 1995 to 2020 we conducted roadside surveys for Harlequin Ducks on the Bow River in Banff National Park, Alberta. We calculated the population’s trend by modelling maximum annual count, which showed a population decline over the 25 years of 3.3% per year. The trajectory varied over time: a relatively stable population from 1995 to 2005, a steep decline until 2011, then stabilising at a much lower level with a slight rebound in recent years. The predicted number of ducks from our state-space model closely tracked the maximum number of ducks observed in annual counts. During stable or slightly increasing population estimates the male:female (M:F) ratio fluctuated considerably but stayed high (1.4:1 and 1.3:1, respectively), and during the period of steep population decline the M:F ratio was at its lowest (1.1:1). This declining population trend is concerning because it is occurring in a protected area, but it is similar to data from other studies in the Rocky Mountains and at the coastal wintering area, suggesting that causes may not be solely due to issues on the breeding streams.

Expanding Short-Term Pedestrian Volume Counts to Average Annual Daily Counts at Intersections: Temporal Pattern Indices and a Comparison of Statistical Land Use and Simple Threshold Methods

Quantifying pedestrian exposure for intersections is important for developing pedestrian-centric strategies. Exposure is typically expressed as the annual-average daily pedestrian traffic (AADPT). AADPT can be directly calculated when continuous counts (CCs) are available. However, CCs are rarely available for all intersections, requiring estimation methods. This work explores the steps involved in expanding pedestrian short-term counts (STCs) to AADPT using factor groups. Day-of-week-of-month expansion factors were used to expand 8-h STCs. The first step consists of grouping sites with similar pedestrian activity patterns (factor groups). Five factor groups were identified, and three pedestrian temporal pattern indicators were proposed to characterize them. The thresholds of these indicators for grouping sites with CCs are available in this work. The second step involves the challenge of associating sites where only STCs are available (unknown traffic patterns) with a particular factor group. Multinomial logistic regression (MLR) was developed to link factor groups to land use, socioeconomic, and operational attributes. Explanatory variables that represent commercial and industrial areas and the number of schools and transit stops were found to be significant. Simpler methods were also introduced to identify factor groups strongly affected by schools. The last step assesses the expansion of STCs to AADPT using the proposed approaches. The results showed improved performance when compared with averaging expansion factors across all sites. It was also demonstrated that, in certain cases, simple approaches that rely exclusively on the identification of sites that are highly affected by schools present similar performance to more complex approaches, such as MLR.

Trends in availability and nutritional profile of meat-based vs meat-free menu items in 75 large chain restaurants in the United States 2013-2021

Introduction: Chain restaurants are ubiquitous in the United States. While restaurants are increasingly promoting health- and climate-conscious menu options, few studies have examined whether restaurants are increasing availability of menu items with lower climate impact and whether these offerings are healthier. This study examines trends in the availability and nutritional profile of food items featuring different meat sources on menus at 75 large chain restaurants in the US from 2013-2021. MethodsLongitudinal data on menu items from 75 large US chain restaurants from 2013-2021 were obtained from MenuStat.org, an online database of menu items from the largest grossing restaurant chains in the US. Annual counts and proportions of food items featuring different meat sources were calculated overall, by food category, and by restaurant type. Differences in predicted mean calories between meat-based items and meat-free items were calculated (overall, by restaurant type, by year) using linear regression models with clustered standard errors. ResultsAvailability and calorie content of meat-based versus meat-free items were generally stable over time. Availability of chicken-containing items increased and there was an absolute reduction in the availability of beef-containing menu items (p-trends <0.001). Total calories and calories from protein, unsaturated fat, and saturated fat were lower among meat-free items versus meat-based items. However, calories from sugar were higher for meat-free items. Conclusions: While meat-free items had fewer calories and some aspects of nutritional profile were more favorable, the availability of meat-free menu items has not increased in large chain restaurants, suggesting limited improvement on reducing climate impact.

Patient enrollment to industry- versus NIH-sponsored cancer clinical trials.

46 Background: The conduct of cancer clinical research in the U.S. is supported by both private and public sponsors. Industry aims to obtain new drug approvals. Federally-sponsored trials examine a broad set of research questions that are not typically addressed by industry; these trials, which are also more commonly conducted in diverse populations, were recently shown to have contributed to gains of 14 million life-years for patients with cancer. Despite the different mandates, the proportion of patients who participate in industry vs. federally-sponsored cancer studies is unknown. Methods: We evaluated trial enrollment patterns from 2008-2022 using ClinicalTrials.gov data. The ratio of enrollments attributable to industry versus federal sponsors was estimated. A large set of 990 estimates based on different combinations of study characteristics were generated. Point estimates were determined as the mean of combinations and confidence limits by the interquartile range (IQR). Five-year intervals were examined to smooth annual variation. Results: N=26,080 studies were examined. The estimated enrollment ratio from 2018-2022 for all industry vs. federally-sponsored trials was 8.1 (IQR:6.2-9.9). For adult trials, the ratio increased from 4.8 (IQR:4.4-5.3) during 2008-2012 to 9.6 (IQR:7.4-11.8) during 2018-2022; for trials in children, the ratio increased from 0.7 (IQR:0.6-0.7) to 2.3 (IQR:1.8-2.7). For adult trials, annual enrollment attributable to industry sponsorship increased from 54,127 in 2008-2012 to 113,527 for 2018-2022. In contrast, annual enrollment counts for federally-sponsored trials were flat over the entire study period, including 11,282/year for 2008-2012 and 11,798/year in 2018-2022, even as incident cancer cases in the U.S. increased 18% from 1.53 million in 2010 to 1.81 million in 2020. Conclusions: In the U.S., there is a growing reliance on industry to conduct cancer clinical research. Underinvestment in federally-sponsored research comes at a cost for both patients and researchers, with lost opportunities for scientific, clinical, and population advances.

A Preliminary Study of the Age and Growth Patterns of a Sea Toad, Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978, in Suruga Bay, Japan

Chaunax abei Le Danois, 1978, is a bottom-dwelling species caught by bottom trawls in Suruga Bay. In the present study, we assessed the age and growth pattern of C. abei from Suruga Bay during the period of 2021–2022 for the first time. The total length (TL) of the population ranged from 37.4–268.8 mm (mean ± SD: 124.7 ± 3.64 mm), and the fish weight (W) between 1.11–491.75 g (mean ± SD: 58.40 ± 7.25 g). The length-weight relationship was estimated as 𝑊𝑊=(2.07 × 10−5)𝑇𝑇𝑇𝑇2.996 (r2 = 0.937). Age determination was based on annual growth ring counts of transverse sections of the sagittal otoliths and age ranged from 1 to 12 years, with the majority of fish aged 4 (32.79 %) years old. The von Bertalanffy growth function was used to model the growth, and the parameters were found as: TL∞ = 468.1 mm, K = 0.056 year-1, t0 = -0.402 year. This research provides the first results on the growth of C. abei and enriches the regional fisheries biology database. Furthermore, it presents the primary population data on the growth patterns of one of the chaunacid species.

Catheter-Directed Therapies for Deep Vein Thrombosis and Pulmonary Embolism: Nationwide Trends in Medicare Part B Patients from 2015 to 2021

Abstract Background Nationwide trends in the utilization of catheter-directed therapies for deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism in the Medicare population are essential as they represent a major health care challenge. The annual incidence and mortality with venous thromboembolism are around 900,000 and 60,000 to 100,000 patients, respectively, in the United States. Methods Data were acquired from the Data.CMS.gov website on Physician/Supplier Procedure Summary with a list of Medicare Part B fee-for-service claims from 2015 to 2021. Current Procedural Terminology codes 37187 (percutaneous venous mechanical thrombectomy) and 37212 (thrombolytic venous therapy) were queried for deep vein thrombosis. Similarly, Current Procedural Terminology codes 37184 (percutaneous arterial mechanical thrombectomy) and 37211 (thrombolytic arterial therapy) were queried for pulmonary embolism. Annual procedure counts, site of service, and self-reported specialty of the operator were recorded. Results Overall, there was a trend toward increasing utilization of thrombectomy and decreasing utilization of thrombolysis procedures for both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Radiologists performed the majority of the catheter-directed therapy interventions for deep vein thrombosis, while radiologists and surgeons performed a similar number of catheter-directed therapy procedures for pulmonary embolism. Cardiologists were third in the catheter-directed therapy procedure count for both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism. Conclusion An analysis of nationwide trends from 2015 to 2021 suggests increasing utilization of thrombectomy starting in 2020 when compared to thrombolysis for catheter-directed therapies for both deep vein thrombosis and pulmonary embolism procedures. Newer thrombectomy technologies may be one of the drivers of this shift from thrombolysis to thrombectomy.

Domestic radon exposure and childhood cancer risk by site and sex in 727 counties in the United States, 2001–2018

BackgroundChildhood cancer has few established risk factors and environmental influences are underexplored. This ecologic study investigated the association between domestic radon exposure and childhood cancer risk in a large sample of United States (U.S.) counties. MethodsMonthly ZIP code-level basement radon estimates from a geographic machine learning model were aggregated annually to counties, analyzed as continuous and dichotomized (cut point: 74 Bq/cubic meter (Bq/m3) or 2.0 picocuries/L (pCi/L)) versions, and lagged by one year. Annual county-level counts of sex- and site-specific (all, leukemia, brain and central nervous system [CNS], and other sites) incident cancer diagnoses among those 0–19 years from 2001 to 2018 were obtained from the National Cancer Institute's Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results Program database. Sex- and site-specific counts were modeled as zero-inflated Poisson distributions in a Bayesian spatiotemporal framework and sequentially adjusted for random and fixed confounder effects. ResultsIn 727 counties across 14 states, the average population aged 0–19 years was 41,599 people at baseline. Results from fully adjusted spatiotemporal statistical models indicated 1.05 (95% credible interval, CrI: 1.00, 1.09) times higher relative risks (RRs) of leukemia among both sexes and a RR of 1.06 (95%CrI: 1.00, 1.12) in males from a 50 Bq/m3 (1.35 pCi/L) increase in radon concentration the year prior. For radon exposures ≥74 Bq/m3 (2.00 pCi/L) the year prior, RRs were 1.08 (95%CrI: 1.02, 1.15) for both sexes and 1.12 (95%CrI: 1.04, 1.22) for females. No associations were found with other cancer sites or sexes from prior year radon exposures. ConclusionsCounty-level childhood leukemia risk in both sexes were associated with average radon levels below U.S. Environmental Protection Agency guidelines recommending mitigation (148 Bq/m3 or 4.00 pCi/L). These findings warrant further investigation using population-based and individual-level study designs.

BIBLIOMETRIC ANALYSIS: DEVELOPMENT AND DYNAMICS OF PUBLIC SERVICE RESEARCH FOR PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES

This study aims to present a bibliometric analysis of the research development on public services for disabilities from 2015 to 2023. The study utilizes data from the Scopus database using the keyword "Public services for disabilities" to identify and analyze relevant journal articles, conference proceedings, and books. The search method involves using these keywords in the title, abstract, and keywords of articles. Collected data includes the annual publication count, document types (journal articles, conference proceedings, books), influential primary authors, patterns of co-authorship among authors, and international collaboration among research institutions. Results of the analysis encompass trends in publications in this field, predominant document types, influential primary authors, and patterns of author collaboration. Key findings indicate a significant increase in journal article publications throughout the period, with specific attention to health, policy, technology, and social support aspects for individuals with disabilities. The analysis also highlights the development of specific topics receiving greater attention from researchers. This study provides insights into research dynamics in this field and identifies areas needing further attention to enhance inclusivity and quality of life for individuals with disabilities globally.

Toward a dynamic national transportation noise map: Modeling temporal variability of spectral traffic noise emission levels.

The National Transportation Noise Map predicts time-averaged road traffic noise across the continental United States (CONUS) based on annual average daily traffic counts. However, traffic noise can vary greatly with time. This paper outlines a method for predicting nationwide hourly varying source traffic sound emissions called the Vehicular Reduced-Order Observation-based Model (VROOM). The method incorporates three models that predict temporal variability of traffic volume, predict temporal variability of different traffic classes, and use Traffic Noise Model (TNM) 3.0 equations to give traffic noise emission levels based on vehicle numbers and class mix. Location-specific features are used to predict average class mix across CONUS. VROOM then incorporates dynamic traffic class mix data to obtain dynamic traffic class mix. TNM 3.0 equations then give estimated equivalent sound level emission spectra near roads with up to hourly resolution. Important temporal traffic noise characteristics are modeled, including diurnal traffic patterns, rush hours in urban locations, and weekly and yearly variation. Examples of the temporal variability are depicted and possible types of uncertainties are identified. Altogether, VROOM can be used to map national transportation noise with temporal and spectral variability.

Assessing the Impact of Straw Burning on PM2.5 Using Explainable Machine Learning: A Case Study in Heilongjiang Province, China

Straw burning is recognized as a significant contributor to deteriorating air quality, but its specific impacts, particularly on PM2.5 concentrations, are still not fully understood or quantified. In this study, we conducted a detailed examination of the spatial and temporal patterns of straw burning in Heilongjiang Province, China—a key agricultural area—utilizing high-resolution fire-point data from the Fengyun-3 satellite. We subsequently employed random forest (RF) models alongside Shapley Additive Explanations (SHAPs) to systematically evaluate the impact of various determinants, including straw burning (as indicated by crop fire-point data), meteorological conditions, and aerosol optical depth (AOD), on PM2.5 levels across spatial and temporal dimensions. Our findings indicated a statistically nonsignificant downward trend in the number of crop fires in Heilongjiang Province from 2015 to 2023, with hotspots mainly concentrated in the western and southern parts of the province. On a monthly scale, straw burning was primarily observed from February to April and October to November—which are critical periods in the agricultural calendar—accounting for 97% of the annual fire counts. The RF models achieved excellent performance in predicting PM2.5 levels, with R2 values of 0.997 for temporal and 0.746 for spatial predictions. The SHAP analysis revealed the number of fire points to be the key determinant of temporal PM2.5 variations during straw-burning periods, explaining 72% of the variance. However, the significance was markedly reduced in the spatial analysis. This study leveraged machine learning and interpretable modeling techniques to provide a comprehensive understanding of the influence of straw burning on PM2.5 levels, both temporally and spatially. The detailed analysis offers valuable insights for policymakers to formulate more targeted and effective strategies to combat air pollution.

Comparison of SGA and Severe SGA rates using six size standards – Is there a difference?

BackgroundSmall for gestational age (SGA) neonates are known to be at an elevated risk for neonatal morbidity. Despite this, there is a growing array of proposed size standards for identifying SGA fetuses. Given the inherent differences in design, acquisition methods, and the characteristics of the populations they represent, the generalizability of these standards to diverse populations remains uncertain. IntroductionThis study aimed to assess variations in rates of SGA and severe SGA using six distinct size standards: Hadlock, Fetal Medicine Foundation (FMF), World Health Organization (WHO), Intergrowth-21 (IG-21), and two locally derived population-based size standards. The objective was to examine the differences in SGA and severe SGA rates among these size standards. MethodsA retrospective cohort study was conducted, encompassing all singleton deliveries in two tertiary referral hospital campuses with an annual birth count exceeding 10,000, from January 2019 to July 2022. SGA and severe SGA were defined as birthweights below the 10th or 3rd percentile, respectively, based on each growth standard. The study design included details on the setting, subjects (singleton deliveries), and the chosen size standards. Comparative analyses were performed to assess variations in SGA and severe SGA rates among these size standards. ResultsOur study analyzed 32,912 singleton deliveries. We found that the choice of growth standard significantly impacted the rates of both SGA and severe SGA infants. Notably, the WHO criteria identified 5,548 (16.9 %) fetuses as SGA, compared to only 1,716 (5.2 %) using the INTERGROWTH-21 standard (p < 0.001). Similarly, for severe SGA, the FMF charts classified 2098 (6.37 %) infants, significantly higher than the 320 (1 %) identified by Dolberg’s local population-based charts (p < 0.001). ConclusionOur study demonstrates a significant variety of SGA and severe SGA rates using different size standards. Therefore, the decision on the size standards in use is critical given the significant influence on clinical management. SynopsisThere are significant variations in SGA and Severe SGA rates depending on the chosen size standard.

Citizen science engagement reveals patterns of long-term persistence of an at risk butterfly in three metropolitan centers

Insect declines have been documented for about twenty years worldwide, and the more recent Bee Colony Collapse Disorder has brought public attention to the issue. With this in mind, the persistence and thriving of an iconic, once-extirpated butterfly, the Atala (Eumaeus atala), in three major metropolitan centers located in southeastern Florida is remarkable and deserves close examination as to how it happened. The Atala butterfly is a charismatic species mostly residing in an urban dominated landscape, and has been a prime target of citizen science engagement since the second re-discovery of the species in 1979 in coastal Miami. Three citizen science actions were instrumental in this recovery: reintroductions, year-long population monitoring afterwards, and participation in annual butterfly counts. In this research, we analyzed three different sets of monitoring data gathered by citizen volunteers to help us determine factors that may influence the Atala butterfly’s persistence. We found that the most labor- and time-demanding citizen science data allowed us to define fine scale population phenological dynamics enabling us to quantify the anecdotal biannual “crash and eruption” cycles, while the median level long-term engagement data revealed a coarse, multiple year crash and eruption population cycle. Our analyses illustrated that the contribution of on-going data collection gained through committed citizen science actions play a critical part in the species conservation strategy, allowing us to apprehend new integral knowledge of the butterfly’s biology, as well as factors influencing its population persistence and distribution.

The 100 highest-cited original articles in large vessel occlusions: A bibliometric analysis.

Large vessel occlusions (LVO) are a common etiology of morbidity and mortality. The current literature lacks a synthesis of the landscape and trends in research. We aimed to conduct a bibliometric analysis of the 100 most cited original articles on LVOs to assess the current state of research. Scopus database was queried from inception to December 2022 to identify the most cited original articles from 4506 retrieved records on LVOs. Publication year, country of origin, total and average annual citation count, and type of study were collected for each article. The journal impact factor (JIF) was obtained from the Journal Citation Reports database. The articles were published between 1994 and 2021, with most (n = 82) published during the 2011-2020decade. The median total citation count was 108.5, with an interquartile range (IQR) of 81-149.5. The median (IQR) average annual citation count was 15.9 (11.5-22.9). Half of the articles were published in Stroke (n = 35) and Journal of NeuroInterventional Surgery (n = 15), with JIFs ranging from 1.8 to 202.7. The USA was the leading country in contributing to LVO research (n = 45). Most studies focused on the treatment (n = 63) and diagnosis (n = 22) of LVOs. Most articles were published during the past decade, highlighting the impact of the clinical trials of endovascular treatment on the discipline. With several ongoing clinical trials on the horizon, continued growth of the field is anticipated in the upcoming decades.

Examining the Impact of Minimum Handgun Purchase Age and Background Check Legislation on Young Adult Suicide in the United States, 1991-2020.

Objectives. To examine the independent and joint effects of state legislation on minimum age for purchasing handguns and background checks on the suicide of young adults aged 18 to 20 years. Methods. We used negative binomial regressions with fixed effects for year and generalized estimating equations for state to estimate the effects of state legislation on annual counts of firearm, nonfirearm, and total young adult suicides in all 50 US states from 1991 to 2020. Results. Minimum age laws decreased the incidence rate of firearm suicide among young adults, an effect that was amplified in states with permit to purchase laws; there was no effect on the nonfirearm or total suicide rate. Permit to purchase laws significantly decreased the young adult firearm suicide incidence rate by 39% (incidence rate ratio [IRR] = 0.61; 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.51, 0.74) and the overall suicide incidence rate by 14% (IRR = 0.86; 95% CI = 0.75, 0.99), with no effect on the nonfirearm suicide rate. Conclusions. Permit to purchase laws are a more promising avenue for reducing young adult suicides than are age-based restrictions. (Am J Public Health. 2024;114(8):805-813. https://doi.org/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307689).

Mapping the evolving trend of research on Class III malocclusion: a bibliometric analysis.

This study aimed to provide visualized knowledge maps to show the evolving trends and key focal points of Class III malocclusion research through a comprehensive bibliometric analysis. Class III malocclusion research published between 2000 and 2023 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection. VOSviewer was utilized to count the citation and publication number of authors, institutions, countries and journals. Co-occurrence, co-citation, and cluster analyses and burst detection were conducted using CiteSpace. A total of 3,682 publications on Class III malocclusion were included in the bibliometric analysis. During 2000-2023, both the annual publication count and citation frequency exhibited a gradual upward trajectory, with a noticeable surge in recent years. In terms of production and citation counts of Class III malocclusion research, the core journal is the American Journal of Orthodontics and Dentofacial Orthopedics. Furthermore, apart from the primary keyword 'Class III malocclusion', 'orthognathic surgery' was identified as keyword with the most frequency. The cluster analysis of cited references reveals that the research focal points have shifted to 'skeletal anchorage' and 'surgery-first approach'. Furthermore, the burst detection identified 'quality of life' as a potential research hotspot since it has recently gained increasing scholarly attention. The current study provides scholars with the knowledge maps of evolving trends and prominent topics of Class III malocclusion research and a summary of research progress on various priorities during different periods. These findings are expected to provide a valuable guidance to facilitate the future research on Class III malocclusion.