bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Identifying recurrences and metastasis after ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast
Authors: Udayasiri Ruwangi I , Luo Tongtong , Gorringe Kylie L , Fox Stephen B
Published: December 2022

Ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) of the breast is a non‐invasive tumour that has the potential to progress to invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC). Thus, it represents a treatment dilemma: alone it does not present a risk to life, however, left untreated it may progress to a life‐threatening condition. Current clinico‐pathological features cannot accurately predict which patients with DCIS have invasive potential, and therefore clinicians are unable to quantify the risk of progression for an individual patient. This leads to many women being over‐treated, while others may not receive sufficient treatment to prevent invasive recurrence. A better understanding of the molecular features of DCIS, both tumour‐intrinsic and the microenvironment, could offer the ability to better predict which women need aggressive treatment, and which can avoid therapies carrying significant side‐effects and such as radiotherapy. In this review, we summarise the current knowledge of DCIS, and consider future research directions.
How to assess parallelism in factor assays: coefficient of variation of results with different dilutions or slope ratio?
Authors: Guy Susan , Shepherd M. Fiona , Bowyer Annette E. , Kitchen Steve
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Non‐parallelism in factor assays can lead to incorrect factor activities. Parallelism can be assessed by calculating the coefficient of variation (CV) of results obtained on 3 dilutions of the same sample. Some authors have proposed that if there is <15% then the average activity is reportable. Some analysers use a slope ratio (SR) to calculate parallelism, with an acceptance range of approximately 0.9–1.1.

Methods

We evaluated CV and SR in one stage FII–FXII assays on Sysmex CS5100i using Innovin or Actin FS. Frozen normal and pathological plasmas, plasmas containing Direct Oral Anticoagulants, Direct Thrombin Inhibitors or Lupus Anticoagulant were analysed to assess possible non‐parallelism.

Results

In plasmas with factor levels >25 IU/dl (plus no interfering substances) all CVs were < 15%. One sample (low factor activities 10–15 IU/dl), had CVs > 15% in FII, FVII and FXII assays only. SR outside of 0.9–1.1 were seen in FII and FXII assays at different levels of clotting factor including some within the normal range. Non‐parallelism was detected more frequently with SR than CV for those with interfering substances.

Conclusions

SR outside of 0.9–1.1 were seen in different levels of clotting factors, including samples which did not contain interfering substances. The target of 15% CV was a better discriminator than a SR for acceptance. When factor levels were reduced to around 10–15 IU/dl, a target 20 %CV was more appropriate than 15%. It might be appropriate for laboratories to assess locally whether their acceptance criteria need to be wider at low levels of clotting factors.
The French Response to the Actions of the International Missionary Council and the World Council of Churches Commission on World Mission and Evangelism
Authors: Zorn Jean‐François , Sixt‐Gateuille Claire
Published: December 2022

Since 1822, French Protestantism has been engaged in world mission through the Paris Evangelical Missionary Society (SMEP). In 1971, this mission society was succeeded by two organizations – the Community of Churches in Mission (CEVAA) and the French Evangelical Department of Apostolic Action (DEFAP), created by the French Lutheran and Reformed Churches. French delegates of SMEP or DEFAP were present at the six missionary conferences organized by the International Missionary Council (IMC) and the seven held by WCC Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) since 1910. This article offers a short description of each conference and the French delegation, analyzes the communication around the conferences in the French Protestant press, and reflects on the influence these conferences had on the practice of SMEP and then DEFAP. The authors show that it was during the 1960s, the transition period between SMEP and CEVAA, that the work of IMC/CWME had the biggest impact on the way French churches conceived of and practised mission work. Prominent church leaders played a key role in passing missionary ideas between French Protestantism and the IMC/CWME. But the difficulty of fully integrating world mission issues into the mindset of French churches prevented a deeper reception of the main mission concepts developed by the missionary conferences, especially in the last decades, in which the very significance of the French mission service DEFAP has been questioned.
An ordered mesoporous hydroxyapatite: Preparation, loading, and sustained releasing to ciprofloxacin
Authors: Ma Ke , Gao Yuli , Yi Jianjun , Cui Meng , Hao Haijun , Xu Qinghong
Published: December 2022

A kind of new mesoporous hydroxyapatite (noted as mesoHA) with about 2.4 nm average porous diameter was successfully prepared by casting Ca2+ and H2PO4− ions on the inner channel surface of Si‐MCM‐41 and dissolving the Si‐MCM‐41 in alkali soluble, and the porous material was used as a pH‐responsive platform to adsorb and release ciprofloxacin molecules. A maximum mass of 0.51 mg of ciprofloxacin (noted as Cip) was loaded on 1.00 mg of the host, and the release rate of the drug was found increasing with the acidic increase of the external solution environment (based on the stability of mesoHA) that simulated basic composition to human plasma. About 88.5% of Cip was released from the platform when environmental pH value was about 4.8, which provides a new method on utilizing antibiotics drugs efficiently, for the host mesoHA is friendly to human body.
The ‘island syndrome’ is an alternative state
Authors: Terborgh John
Published: December 2022

Aim

In the half‐century since publication of the Theory of Island Biology, ecologists have come to recognize the importance of predation as a decisive determinant of alternate states in many ecosystems. Island species are notorious for their vulnerability to introduced predators, yet the strength of island predator regimes has not been fully incorporated into our understanding of the forces that structure island consumer communities.

Location

The Greater and Lesser Antilles.

Taxon

Birds andAnolislizards.

Methods

Field surveys of sclerophyll and rainforest sites on islands ranging in size from 3.5 km2Terre‐de‐Haut to 76,000 km2Hispaniola.

Results

Evidence gathered in the 1970s and 1980s shows that Antillean anoles live at higher densities on fewer resources, grow more slowly, reproduce later and live longer than mainland counterparts in conformity with the ‘island syndrome’. Data from this period show that Antillean bird communities display density overcompensation, community saturation, size‐structured foraging guilds, low species diversity and low species packing, all traits consistent with the island syndrome and a regime of low predation and intense competition. Mainland species and communities display none of these features.

Main conclusions

I propose that the island syndrome is an alternative state that distinguishes low‐predation island communities from high‐predation mainland counterparts. It follows that strong mainland predation regimes tend to prevent island species from colonizing. Conversely, invasion‐resistant, size‐structured island communities, despite low species diversity, prevent mainland species from colonizing islands. These predictions are experimentally testable withAnolislizards and, if confirmed, could set island biogeography on a new course.
Inferring temperature adaptation from thermal performance curves of somatic growth rate: The importance of growth measurements and mortality
Authors: Einum Sigurd , Bartuseviciute Vitalija , Fossen Erlend I. F. , Pelabon Christophe
Published: December 2022

When comparing somatic growth thermal performance curves (TPCs), higher somatic growth across experimental temperatures is often observed for populations originating from colder environments. Such countergradient variation has been suggested to represent adaptation to seasonality, or shorter favourable seasons in colder climates. Alternatively, populations from cold climates may outgrow those from warmer climates at low temperature, and vice versa at high temperature, representing adaptation to temperature. Using modelling, we show that distinguishing between these two types of adaptation based on TPCs requires knowledge about (i) the relationship between somatic growth rate and population growth rate, which in turn depends on the scale of somatic growth (absolute or proportional), and (ii) the relationship between somatic growth rate and mortality rate in the wild. We illustrate this by quantifying somatic growth rate TPCs for three populations of Daphnia magna where population growth scales linearly with proportional somatic growth. For absolute somatic growth, the northern population outperformed the two more southern populations across temperatures, and more so at higher temperatures, consistent with adaptation to seasonality. In contrast, for the proportional somatic growth TPCs, and hence population growth rate, TPCs tended to converge towards the highest temperatures. Thus, if the northern population pays an ecological mortality cost of rapid growth in the wild, this may create crossing population growth TPCs consistent with adaptation to temperature. Future studies within this field should be more explicit in how they extrapolate from somatic growth in the lab to fitness in the wild.
Discrimination of thermodynamic and kinetic contributions to the heavy rare earth element patterns in metamorphic garnet
Authors: Konrad‐Schmolke Matthias , Halama Ralf , Chew David , Heuzé Céline , De Hoog Jan , Ditterova Hana
Published: December 2022

Variations of rare earth element (REE) concentrations in metamorphic garnet are an important source of information of geodynamic and geochemical processes in the deeper Earth. In order to extract this information, the thermodynamic equilibrium and kinetic contributions of the REE uptake in garnet must be distinguished and quantified. Utilizing high‐resolution trace element and μ‐Raman mapping together with combined thermodynamic–geochemical–diffusion models, we demonstrate that the equilibrium and kinetic aspects of the REE uptake in metamorphic garnet can be discriminated by interpreting 2D trace element mapping in a single sample. The heavy (H) REE (Tb to Lu) zoning in the investigated garnet from a high‐pressure blueschist comprises an inner part with an overall decrease from core to inner rim, followed by a concentric zone of HREE enrichment and a drastic HREE decrease towards the outermost rim. The central peak in the garnet core decreases in intensity with decreasing atomic number of the REE. The broad overall shape of this pattern resembles those often observed in metamorphic garnet from different rock types and tectonic settings. Superimposed on this trend is a concentric pattern of minor recurring fluctuations in the HREE concentrations with at least six regularly spaced sets of peaks and troughs along the entire garnet radius. Comparison of the observed inclusion suite, the trace element maps and thermodynamic–geochemical models show that the inner part with decreasing HREE concentrations results from fractional garnet growth in an unchanged mineral assemblage, whereas the REE enrichment zone is caused by the breakdown of titanite. We suggest that the width of the central peak is controlled by the bulk permeability of the interconnected transport matrix and the fraction of matrix minerals that the garnet equilibrates with. The superimposed REE fluctuations result from changing element transport properties of the host rock and mark recurring changes from equilibrium REE uptake to transport‐limited REE uptake in garnet. Such fluctuating element transport properties can be best explained by pulse‐like fluid fluxes that rhythmically change the interconnectivity of the intercrystalline transport matrix. Increasing numbers of published spatially highly resolved REE analyses show that such trace element fluctuations are common in metamorphic garnet indicating that recurring changes in rock permeabilities due to pulsed fluid fluxes are a common phenomenon during metamorphism.
Percentage of change and increment of the glucose level after a normal oral tolerance curve between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy
Authors: Zavalza‐Gómez Ana B. , Pérez‐Hernández Sandra C. , Arrazola‐Fregozo Aldo G. , Espinel‐Bermúdez María C. , Grover‐Páez Fernando , González Sara Pascoe , Ramos‐Zavala Maria G. , Cardona‐Muñoz Ernesto G. , Cardona‐Müller David , Hernández‐González Sandra O.
Published: December 2022

Aim

To determine the percentage of change and increment in glucose levels after a normal oral glucose tolerance test between 24 and 28 weeks of pregnancy.

Methods

We studied 3510 pregnant women who attended their obstetric delivery at a tertiary care hospital in Guadalajara, Mexico in 2018, according to characteristics and risk 1647 (47%) patients were screened for diabetes diagnosis using the oral glucose tolerance test, 501 patients reported normal values between their 24th and 28th week of pregnancy, only 400 patients had their fasting glucose level measured on the same day of their obstetric delivery, to be compared.

Results

Average age was 30 years, with an average of 25.3 weeks of pregnancy. The fasting serum glucose levels taken after 28 weeks of pregnancy and before the obstetrical delivery showed an increase of 1.1 mmol/L in women who develop gestational diabetes mellitus, in contrast to women who did not develop gestational diabetes mellitus after 28 weeks their blood glucose only increased on average 0.4 mmol/L. The incidence of gestational diabetes mellitus in the study population during 2018 was 32.7%. Patients who developed gestational diabetes mellitus after a normal oral glucose tolerance test had greater body mass index before the pregnancy and newborns had a higher weight than babies born to mothers without gestational diabetes mellitus.

Conclusion

Changes in glucose levels after the oral tolerance test of normal glucose require strict monitoring, in that it was demonstrated that 3% of patients developed gestational diabetes mellitus after week 28 of gestation.
The effect of occlusal disharmony on a chronic stress‐induced animal model of gut microbiota dysbiosis
Authors: Wu Ling , Zhang Sihui , Zhang Mi , Wang Xudong , Li Shuxian , Rausch‐Fan Xiaohui , Chen Jiang
Published: December 2022

Background and Objectives

Chronic stress (CS) is closely related to intestinal health. Occlusal disharmony (OD) is a risk factor for hypersensitivity to novel stress, and the relationship between OD and the intestinal system with or without other chronic stresses remains unclear. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether OD affects the gut microbiota and the intestinal barrier in a CS‐exposed animal model.

Methods

OD was induced by making a 0.5‐mm‐thick incision on the right maxillary molar. CS involved exposure to one stressor per day for 35 days. Sprague–Dawley rats were randomly divided into an untreated control group and OD‐, CS‐ and OD + CS‐treated groups. The behavioural tests, serum corticosterone level, gut microbiota composition and tight junction protein expression in colon tissue were measured on the 56th day to elucidate the effect of OD on animals under CS.

Results

Significant differences in performance on behavioural tests and serum corticosterone concentrations were observed on day 56 in the OD + CS group compared with the control group. Exposure to occlusal disharmony or chronic stress resulted in a change in the composition of the gut microbiota of rats. Differences in the expression of the tight junction proteins zonula occludens‐1 and junctional adhesion molecule‐A were observed in colon tissue from the OD + CS group compared with the control group.

Conclusions

We concluded that the significant changes in performance on behavioural tests, serum corticosterone concentrations and microbiota dysbiosis and tight junction protein levels induced by OD with CS may indicate that OD is a potential factor promoting gut microbiota dysbiosis.
Spice talk: An Orientalist register in Nigella Lawson's cooking shows
Authors: MacKenzie Jordan Andrew
Published: December 2022

This study argues that spice talk, a register that indexes spices as exotic, is one linguistic instantiation of the discourse of Orientalism. I identify the presence of this register from the advent of the Spice Trade to the present, then provide a case study of its use in cooking show programs by British celebrity chef Nigella Lawson, whose Orientalist description of the spices and foods she prepares is a means of indexing physical commodities from the East as ‘‘Oriental’’ and naturalizing the link between spices and the exotic, as well as upholding power imbalances. I maintain that spice talk comprises five thematic features: poetics, sensuality, tourism, otherness, and coloniality. I argue throughout for a situated understanding of spice talk, asserting that contemporary practices of consumption and patterns of taste cannot be divorced from the broader social order or the weight of history.
Development and validation of a health and nutrition module for the project‐level Women's Empowerment in Agriculture Index (pro‐WEAI+HN)
Authors: Heckert Jessica , Martinez Elena M. , Seymour Greg , Pereira Audrey , Roy Shalini , Kim Sunny S. , Malapit Hazel ,   Gender Assets and Agriculture Project Phase 2 (GAAP2) Health and Nutrition Study Team
Published: December 2022

Agricultural development projects increasingly aim to improve health and nutrition outcomes, often by engaging women. Although evidence shows such projects can improve women's and children's health and nutrition and empower women, little is known about their impacts on women's health‐ and nutrition‐related agency and the extent to which impacts emerge through women's empowerment, largely due to a lack of instruments that measure the dimensions of women's agency that are directly relevant to health and nutrition outcomes. We developed an optional, complementary module for the project‐level women's empowerment in agriculture index (pro‐WEAI) to measure health‐ and nutrition‐related agency (pro‐WEAI + HN). Our method for developing related indicators used data collected from six agricultural development programmes implemented across Bangladesh, Burkina Faso and Mali (pooled sample = 12,114) and applied psychometric analysis (exploratory and confirmatory factor analysis) and the Alkire−Foster methodology. Results revealed seven indicators covering women's agency in the areas of her own health and diet; her health and diet during pregnancy; her child's diet; breastfeeding and weaning; purchasing food and health products; and acquiring food and health products. Multigroup confirmatory factor analysis revealed measurement invariance across contexts and samples. Tests of association (Cramer's V) and redundancy suggest that the pro‐WEAI + HN indicators measured aspects of agency that are distinct from the core pro‐WEAI. The uptake of these indicators in studies of nutrition‐sensitive agricultural development projects may strengthen the evidence on how such programming can enhance women's empowerment to improve health and nutrition outcomes for themselves and their children.
Health advocacy among medical learners: Unpacking contextual barriers and affordances
Authors: Kahlke Renate , Scott Ian , van der Goes Theresa , Hubinette Maria M.
Published: December 2022

Introduction

Learners and physicians are expected to practice as health advocates in Canadian contexts, but they rarely feel competent to practice this critical role when they complete their training. This is in part because advocacy is seen as “going above and beyond” routine practice and pushing the boundaries of systems that are resistant to change. Medical learning contexts are rife with barriers to learning about and practicing advocacy, and there is now a need to understand how contexts impact advocacy.

Methods

Using constructivist grounded theory study, we generated data through individual and group interviews with medical learners to explore the barriers and facilitators to advocacy in a variety of learning/practice contexts. We used purposeful and theoretical sampling to ensure that diverse learning contexts and learners who had different views on advocacy were represented. We constructed a theoretical model to understand advocacy decision‐making through cycles of initial, focused and theoretical coding, using constant comparative analysis.

Results

Learners' thinking about health advocacy was framed by their own unique knowledge and beliefs, as well as their institutional and organisational contexts. With these influences in mind, learners made decisions about when to advocate within a local decision‐making context, guided by affordances and barriers to advocacy involved in their perceptions of the patient, their own social position, resources available and social norms.

Conclusions

This framework highlights critical aspects of context that influence learners' ability to learn about and practice as health advocates. If we are to adequately prepare learners for this important work, we must address aspects of their learning and practice contexts that make this work daunting, and we offer learners the tools required to intervene in contexts that do not support their efforts.
Impairment of endothelial progenitor cells in women after kidney transplantation
Authors: Meyer Nadia , Richter Katja , Brodowski Lars , von Kaisenberg Constantin , Melk Anette , Schmidt Bernhard , Limbourg Florian P. , Schröder‐Heurich Bianca , von Versen‐Höynck Frauke
Published: December 2022

Objective

The long‐term survival of kidney transplant patients has substantially improved. However, there is a higher risk for cardiovascular events after transplantation, partly due to immunosuppression. A diminished number of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), which play an important role in angiogenesis and the repair of endothelial damage, are associated with an increased cardiovascular risk. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether kidney transplantation affects EPCs in women.

Methods

Twenty‐four healthy women and 22 female kidney transplant recipients were recruited. The ratio of angiogenic and non‐angiogenic circulating progenitor cells (CPCs) was determined by multicolor flow cytometry and related to clinical parameters. Cord blood‐derived endothelial colony‐forming cells (ECFCs), a proliferative subgroup of endothelial progenitor cells, were treated with pooled sera from transplant patients or healthy controls and tested for their functional integrity using in vitro models.

Results

Kidney transplant recipients displayed a reduced ratio of angiogenic and non‐angiogenic CPCs compared to healthy controls. Differences were especially pronounced in premenopausal women. Exposure to sera of transplanted women led to a significant impairment of ECFC proliferation, migration, and angiogenesis ability.

Conclusions

Alterations of EPC populations may contribute to the higher cardiovascular risks after organ transplantation and should be considered in therapeutic strategies.
Nurses' perceptions of point of care testing in critical care: A cross‐sectional survey
Authors: Bench Suzanne , Lennox Sarah
Published: December 2022

Background

Nurses working in critical care (intensive or high dependency care units) perform a multitude of tasks including point‐of‐care testing (POCT), where diagnostic tests are performed at or near a patient's bedside. POCT can speed up clinical decision‐making, but errors can occur at any point in the pre‐analytical phase.

Aim

To investigate nurses' perceptions of current POCT practice in critical care pre and post the COVID‐19 pandemic.

Study Design

An online cross‐sectional survey of critical care nurses undertaken 2019–2021. Nurses across Europe were invited to participate during a conference and via communication from professional organizations.

Results

A total of 158 critical care nurses responded to the survey. All respondents who stated their location reported being residents of the UK. Alongside challenges related to training and competence, frequency of sampling and sampling volumes were key concerns, seen to be associated with increased blood wastage and nursing workload, potentially increasing the potential for error, and leading to poorer patient and staff outcomes.

Conclusions

Results from this study highlight the impact of POCT on nurses' workload, patient care provision and staff wellbeing.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Alongside exploring feasible and effective training models, innovative roles, which provide technical support, including undertaking POCT could enable nurses more time to provide care to patients and families. Any future changes in workforce allocation must, however, be fully evaluated from the perspective of both patient and staff outcomes.
Differential chromatin binding preference is the result of the neo‐functionalization of the TB1 clade of TCP transcription factors in grasses
Authors: Mansilla Natanael , Fonouni‐Farde Camille , Ariel Federico , Lucero Leandro
Published: December 2022

The understanding of neo‐functionalization of plant transcription factors (TFs) after gene duplication has been extensively focused on changes in protein–protein interactions, the expression pattern of TFs, or the variation of cis‐elements bound by TFs. Yet, the main molecular role of a TF, that is, its specific chromatin binding for the direct regulation of target gene expression, continues to be mostly overlooked.

Here, we studied the TB1 clade of the TEOSINTE BRANCHED 1, CYCLOIDEA, PROLIFERATING CELL FACTORS (TCP) TF family within the grasses (Poaceae).

We identified an Asp/Gly amino acid replacement within the TCP domain, originated within a paralog TIG1 clade exclusive for grasses. The heterologous expression of Zea mays TB1 and its two paralogs BAD1 and TIG1 in Arabidopsis mutant plants lacking the TB1 ortholog BRC1 revealed distinct functions in plant development. Notably, the Gly acquired in the TIG1 clade does not impair TF homodimerization and heterodimerization, while it modulates chromatin binding preferences. We found that in vivo TF recognition of target promoters depends on this Asp/Gly mutation and directly impacts downstream gene expression and subsequent plant development.

These results provided new insights into how natural selection fine‐tunes gene expression regulation after duplication of TFs to define plant architecture.
First application of dental microwear texture analysis to infer theropod feeding ecology
Authors: Winkler Daniela E. , Kubo Tai , Kubo Mugino O. , Kaiser Thomas M. , Tütken Thomas
Published: December 2022

Theropods were the dominating apex predators in most Jurassic and Cretaceous terrestrial ecosystems. Their feeding ecology has always been of great interest, and new computational methods have yielded more detailed reconstructions of differences in theropod feeding behaviour. Many approaches, however, rely on well‐preserved skulls. Dental microwear texture (DMT) analysis is potentially applicable to isolated teeth, and here employed for the first time to investigate dietary ecology of theropods. In particular, we test whether tyrannosaurids show DMT associated with more hard‐object feeding than compared to Allosaurus; this would be a sign for higher levels of osteophagy, as has often been suggested. We find no significant difference in complexity and roughness of enamel surfaces between Allosaurus and tyrannosaurids, which conflicts with inferences of more frequent osteophagic behaviour in Tyrannosaurus as compared to other theropods. Orientation of wear features reveals a more pronounced bi‐directional puncture‐and‐pull feeding mode in Allosaurus than in tyrannosaurids. Our results further indicate ontogenetic niche shift in theropods and crocodylians, based on significantly larger height parameters in juvenile theropods which might indicate frequent scavenging, resulting in more bone–tooth contact during feeding. Overall, DMT is found to be very similar between theropods and extant large, broad‐snouted crocodylians and shows great similarity in feeding ecology of theropod apex predators throughout the Jurassic and Cretaceous.
Establishing a Robust and Reliable Response from a Potent Osmium‐Based Photosensitizer Via Lipid Nanoformulation†
Authors: Cole Houston D. , Eroy Menitte , Roque John A. , Shi Ge , Guirguis Mina , Fakhry John , Cameron Colin G. , Obaid Girgis , McFarland Sherri A.
Published: December 2022

Osmium (Os) based photosensitizers (PSs) are a unique class of nontetrapyrrolic metal‐containing PSs that absorb red light. We recently reported a highly potent Os(II) PS, rac‐[Os(phen)2(IP‐4T)](Cl)2, referred to as ML18J03 herein, with light EC50 values as low as 20 pm. ML18J03 also exhibits low dark toxicity and submicromolar light EC50 values in hypoxia in some cell lines. However, owing to its longer oligothiophene chain, ML18J03 is not completely water soluble and forms 1–2 μm sized aggregates in PBS containing 1% DMSO. This aggregation causes variability in PDT efficacy between assays and thus unreliable and irreproducible reports of in vitro activity. To that end, we utilized PEG‐modified DPPC liposomes (138 nm diameter) and DSPE‐mPEG2000 micelles (10.2 nm diameter) as lipid nanoformulation vehicles to mitigate aggregation of ML18J03 and found that the spectroscopic properties important to biological activity were maintained or improved. Importantly, the lipid formulations decreased the interassay variance between the EC50 values by almost 20‐fold, with respect to the unformulated ML18J03 when using broadband visible light excitation (P = 0.0276). Herein, lipid formulations are presented as reliable platforms for more accurate in vitro photocytotoxicity quantification for PSs prone to aggregation (such as ML18J03) and will be useful for assessing their in vivo PDT effects.
Gestational thyroid hormone concentrations and risk of attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study
Authors: Engel Stephanie M. , Villanger Gro D. , Herring Amy , Nethery Rachel C. , Drover Samantha S. M. , Zoeller R. Thomas , Meltzer Helle M. , Zeiner Pal , Knudsen Gun Peggy , Reichborn‐Kjennerud Ted , Longnecker Matthew P. , Aase Heidi
Published: December 2022

Background

Maternal thyroid function plays an important role in foetal brain development; however, little consensus exists regarding the relationship between normal variability in thyroid hormones and common neurodevelopmental disorders, such as attention‐deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD).

Objective

We sought to examine the association between mid‐pregnancy maternal thyroid function and risk of clinically diagnosed ADHD in offspring.

Methods

We conducted a nested case–control study in the Norwegian Mother, Father and Child Cohort Study. Among children born 2003 or later, we randomly sampled singleton ADHD cases obtained through linkage with the Norwegian Patient Registry (n = 298) and 554 controls. Concentrations of maternal triiodothyronine (T3), thyroxine (T4), T3‐Uptake, thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) and thyroid peroxidase antibody (TPO‐Ab) were measured in maternal plasma, collected at approximately 17 weeks' gestation. Indices of free T4 (FT4i) and free T3 (FT3i) were calculated. We used multivariable adjusted logistic regression to calculate odds ratios and accounted for missing covariate data using multiple imputation. We used restricted cubic splines to assess non‐linear trends and provide flexible representations. We examined effect measure modification by dietary iodine and selenium intake. In sensitivity analyses, we excluded women with clinically significant thyroid disorders (n = 73).

Results

High maternal T3 was associated with increased risk of ADHD (5th vs 1st quintile odds ratio  2.27, 95% confidence interval 1.21, 4.26). For FT4i, both the lowest and highest quintiles were associated with an approximate 1.6‐fold increase in risk of ADHD, with similar trends found for T4. The FT4i association was modified by dietary iodine intake such that the highest risk strata were confined to the low intake group.

Conclusions

Both high and low concentrations of maternal thyroid hormones, although within population reference ranges, increase the risk of ADHD in offspring. Increased susceptibility may be found among women with low dietary intake of iodine and selenium.
Restoration strategies for water and salt transport in saline soils: A 20‐year bibliometric analysis
Authors: Shu Min , Yu Yang , Yin Mengqi , Bandala Erick R. , Roca Belén Calderón , Rodrigo‐Comino Jesús
Published: December 2022

World Soil Day 2021 encouraged the prevention of soil salinization and improved land productivity. As research underpins this effort, we analysed trends in research on water and salt mobilization in saline soils and groundwater over the past 20 years. We found that the average studies have increased by 30%, from 110 in 2003–2015 to 143 in 2016–2022, with agriculture, water resources and environmental science being the main research fields. The most common research interests were anthropogenic impact (28.6%) and climate change (27.8%), followed by agricultural irrigation management (20%). A keyword clustering analysis revealed that the studies could be classified into four categories: “Agricultural production,” “Freshwater and groundwater salinization,” “Seawater intrusion,” and “Solute dynamic migration.” The most frequently used keyword was “transport” while the use of “freshwater,” “groundwater,” and “seawater intrusion” has increased sharply, suggesting that seawater intrusion and freshwater salinization are an area of increasing interest related to climate change. We identified comprehensive simulating systems for seawater intrusion as an important area for future research. We recommend that promoting a comprehensive and quantitative understanding of water and salt transport in saline soil is needed to ensure stakeholders are provided with science‐based information required for policymaking aimed towards sustainable development.
Long‐term effects of ciclosporin and oclacitinib on mediators of tolerance, regulatory T‐cells, IL‐10 and TGF‐β, in dogs with atopic dermatitis
Authors: Herrmann Ina , Mamo Lisa B. , Holmes Jenny , Mohammed Javid P. , Murphy K. Marcia , Bizikova Petra
Published: December 2022

Background

Atopic dogs often are managed with allergen‐specific immunotherapy (AIT) and concurrent dosages of ciclosporin (CSA) or oclacitinib to alleviate their clinical signs. Both drugs might affect proper tolerance induction by inhibiting regulatory T‐cell (Treg) induction.

Hypothesis/Objectives

We evaluated Treg cell numbers and serum interleukin (IL)‐10 and transforming growth factor‐beta (TGF‐β)1 levels in dogs diagnosed with atopic dermatitis (AD) and successfully treated with either CSA or oclacitinib for nine or more months.

Animals

We included 15 dogs receiving oclacitinib, 14 dogs treated with CSA, 15 healthy dogs, 13 dogs with untreated moderate‐to‐severe AD and 15 atopic dogs controlled with AIT.

Materials and Methods

Peripheral blood CD4+CD25+FOXP3+ T‐cell percentages were determined using flow cytometry. Serum concentrations of IL‐10 and TGF‐β1 were measured by enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay.

Results

The percentage of Treg cells in the CSA group was significantly lower in comparison with the healthy group (p = 0.0003), the nontreated AD group (p = 0.0056) or the AIT group (p = 0.0186). There was no significant difference in Treg cell percentages between the CSA and oclacitinib groups, nor between the oclacitinib and the healthy, nontreated AD or AIT‐treated dogs. No significant differences were detected in IL‐10 and TGF‐β1 serum concentrations between the five groups.

Conclusions and Clinical Relevance

Lower Treg cell percentages in the CSA‐treated dogs suggest an impact of this drug on this cell population; however, it does not necessarily mean that it diminishes tolerance. Functionality and cytokine production may be more important than the number of Treg cells. Further studies evaluating the treatment outcome of dogs receiving AIT and concurrent drugs are needed to show clinical relevance.
γ-Al2O3 by Ag Lα, hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy
Authors: Rodriguez-Pereira Jhonatan , Rincón-Ortiz Sergio A. , Ospina Rogelio
Published: December 2022

γ-alumina (γ-Al2O3) powder was characterized by hard x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy with an Ag Lα (2984.2 eV) excitation source. The sample was fixed to a stainless-steel sample holder with copper double-sided adhesive tape. Survey spectrum, C 1s, O 1s, Al 1s, Al KLL, Al 2s, and Al 2p core levels spectra were acquired.
Associations Between Physical Activity Vital Sign in Patients and Health Care Utilization in a Health Care System, 2018–2020
Authors: Lin Cindy Y. , Ball Trever J. , Gentile Nicole L. , McDonald Valerie F. , Humbert Andrew T.
Published: December 2022

Background: Physical inactivity is a risk factor for many chronic conditions. This retrospective cohort study examined associations between physical activity (PA) with health care utilization (HU). Methods: A PA vital sign was recorded in clinics from January 2018 to December 2020. Patients were categorized as inactive, insufficiently active, or sufficiently active by US PA aerobic guidelines. Associations between PA vital sign and visits (inpatient admissions, emergency department, urgent care, and primary care) were estimated using population average regression by visit type. Results: 23,721 patients had at least one PA vital sign recorded, with a mean age of 47.3 years and mean body mass index (BMI) of 28; 52% were female and 63% were White. Sufficiently active patients were younger, male, White, and had lower BMI than insufficiently active patients. Achieving 150 minutes per week of moderate to vigorous PA per 1000 patient years was associated with 34 fewer emergency department visits (P < .001), 19 fewer inpatient admissions (P < .001), and 38 fewer primary care visits (P < .001) compared with inactive patients. Stronger associations between lower PA and higher HU were present among those who were older or had a higher comorbidity. BMI, sex, ethnicity, and race did not modify the association between PA and HU. Conclusions: Meeting aerobic guidelines was associated with reduced HU for inpatient, primary care, and emergency department visits.
Oncogenic deubiquitination controls tyrosine kinase signaling and therapy response in acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Jin Qi , Gutierrez Diaz Blanca , Pieters Tim , Zhou Yalu , Narang Sonali , Fijalkwoski Igor , Borin Cristina , Van Laere Jolien , Payton Monique , Cho Byoung-Kyu , Han Cuijuan , Sun Limin , Serafin Valentina , Yacu George , Von Loocke Wouter , Basso Giuseppe , Veltri Giulia , Dreveny Ingrid , Ben-Sahra Issam , Goo Young Ah , Safgren Stephanie L. , Tsai Yi-Chien , Bornhauser Beat , Suraneni Praveen Kumar , Gaspar-Maia Alexandre , Kandela Irawati , Van Vlierberghe Pieter , Crispino John D. , Tsirigos Aristotelis , Ntziachristos Panagiotis
Published: December 2022

Dysregulation of kinase signaling pathways favors tumor cell survival and therapy resistance in cancer. Here, we reveal a posttranslational regulation of kinase signaling and nuclear receptor activity via deubiquitination in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T-ALL). We observed that the ubiquitin-specific protease 11 (USP11) is highly expressed and associates with poor prognosis in T-ALL.
USP11
ablation inhibits leukemia progression in vivo, sparing normal hematopoiesis. USP11 forms a complex with USP7 to deubiquitinate the oncogenic lymphocyte cell–specific protein-tyrosine kinase (LCK) and enhance its activity. Impairment of LCK activity leads to increased glucocorticoid receptor (GR) expression and glucocorticoids sensitivity. Genetic knockout of
USP7
improved the antileukemic efficacy of glucocorticoids in vivo. The transcriptional activation of GR target genes is orchestrated by the deubiquitinase activity and mediated via an increase in enhancer-promoter interaction intensity. Our data unveil how dysregulated deubiquitination controls leukemia survival and drug resistance, suggesting previously unidentified therapeutic combinations toward targeting leukemia.
Plasmonic bound states in the continuum to tailor light-matter coupling
Authors: Aigner Andreas , Tittl Andreas , Wang Juan , Weber Thomas , Kivshar Yuri , Maier Stefan A. , Ren Haoran
Published: December 2022

Plasmon resonances play a pivotal role in enhancing light-matter interactions in nanophotonics, but their low-quality factors have hindered applications demanding high spectral selectivity. Here, we demonstrate the design and 3D laser nanoprinting of plasmonic nanofin metasurfaces, which support symmetry-protected bound states in the continuum up to the fourth order. By breaking the nanofins’ out-of-plane symmetry in parameter space, we achieve high-quality factor (up to 180) modes under normal incidence. The out-of-plane symmetry breaking can be fine-tuned by the nanofins’ triangle angle, opening a pathway to precisely control the ratio of radiative to intrinsic losses. This enables access to the under-, critical, and over-coupled regimes, which we exploit for pixelated molecular sensing. We observe a strong dependence of the sensing performance on the coupling regime, demonstrating the importance of judicious tailoring of light-matter interactions. Our demonstration provides a metasurface platform for enhanced light-matter interaction with a wide range of applications.
Demystifying the roles of single metal site and cluster in CO
2
reduction via light and electric dual-responsive polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks
Authors: Huang Qing , Niu Qian , Li Xiu-Fen , Liu Jiang , Sun Sheng-Nan , Dong Long-Zhang , Li Shun-Li , Cai Yue-Peng , Lan Ya-Qian
Published: December 2022

Photo- or electroreduction of carbon dioxide into highly valued products offers a promising strategy to achieve carbon neutrality. Here, a series of polyoxometalate-based metal-organic frameworks (M-POMOFs) were constructed by metalloporphyrins [tetrakis(4-carboxyphenyl)-porphyrin-M (M-TCPPs)] and reductive POM for photo- and electrocatalytic carbon dioxide reductions (PCR and ECR, respectively), and the mysteries between the roles of single metal site and cluster in catalysis were disclosed. Iron-POMOF exhibited an excellent selectivity (97.2%) with high methane production of 922 micromoles per gram in PCR, together with superior Faradaic efficiency for carbon dioxide to carbon monoxide (92.1%) in ECR. The underlying mechanisms were further clarified. Photogenerated electrons transferred from iron-TCPP to the POM cluster for methane generation under irradiation, while the abundant electrons flowed to the center of iron-TCPP for carbon monoxide formation under the applied electric field. The specific multielectron products generated on iron-POMOF through switching driving forces to control electron flow direction between single metal site and cluster catalysis.
Exploiting extraordinary topological optical forces at bound states in the continuum
Authors: Qin Haoye , Shi Yuzhi , Su Zengping , Wei Guodan , Wang Zhanshan , Cheng Xinbin , Liu Ai Qun , Genevet Patrice , Song Qinghua
Published: December 2022

Polarization singularities and topological vortices in photonic crystal slabs centered at bound states in the continuum (BICs) can be attributed to zero amplitude of polarization vectors. We show that such topological features are also observed in optical forces within the vicinity of BIC, around which the force vectors wind in the momentum space. The topological force carries force topological charge and can be used for trapping and repelling nanoparticles. By tailoring asymmetry of the photonic crystal slab, topological force will contain spinning behavior and shifted force zeros, which can lead to three-dimensional asymmetric trapping. Several off-Γ BICs generate multiple force zeros with various force distribution patterns. Our findings introduce the concepts of topology to optical force around BICs and create opportunities to realize optical force vortices and enhanced reversible forces for manipulating nanoparticles and fluid flow.
PIK3CA gain-of-function mutation in adipose tissue induces metabolic reprogramming with Warburg-like effect and severe endocrine disruption
Authors: Ladraa Sophia , Zerbib Lola , Bayard Charles , Fraissenon Antoine , Venot Quitterie , Morin Gabriel , Garneau Alexandre P. , Isnard Pierre , Chapelle Célia , Hoguin Clément , Fraitag Sylvie , Duong Jean-Paul , Guibaud Laurent , Besançon Alix , Kaltenbach Sophie , Villarese Patrick , Asnafi Vahid , Broissand Christine , Goudin Nicolas , Dussiot Michael , Nemazanyy Ivan , Viel Thomas , Autret Gwennhael , Cruciani-Guglielmacci Céline , Denom Jessica , Bruneau Julie , Tavitian Bertrand , Legendre Christophe , Dairou Julien , Lacorte Jean-Marc , Levy Pacifique , Pende Mario , Polak Michel , Canaud Guillaume
Published: December 2022

PIK3CA
-related overgrowth syndrome (PROS) is a genetic disorder caused by somatic mosaic gain-of-function mutations of
PIK3CA
. Clinical presentation of patients is diverse and associated with endocrine disruption. Adipose tissue is frequently involved, but its role in disease development and progression has not been elucidated. Here, we created a mouse model of
PIK3CA
-related adipose tissue overgrowth that recapitulates patient phenotype. We demonstrate that
PIK3CA
mutation leads to GLUT4 membrane accumulation with a negative feedback loop on insulin secretion, a burst of liver IGFBP1 synthesis with IGF-1 sequestration, and low circulating levels. Mouse phenotype was mainly driven through AKT2. We also observed that
PIK3CA
mutation induces metabolic reprogramming with Warburg-like effect and protein and lipid synthesis, hallmarks of cancer cells, in vitro, in vivo, and in patients. We lastly show that alpelisib is efficient at preventing and improving
PIK3CA
-adipose tissue overgrowth and reversing metabolomic anomalies in both animal models and patients.
From ka to Ma: A multi-timescale record of accelerating Cenozoic tectonic uplift between the Qilian Shan and Qaidam Basin, northern Tibetan Plateau
Authors: Li Zhimin , Liu Runchao , He John , Zhu Wenjun , Wang Wanhe , Xu Yueren , Li Wenqiao , Ding Lin
Published: December 2022

Constraining tectonic uplift history within the Tibetan Plateau is critical to understanding its deformational response to continental collision. However, it is difficult to extrapolate orogen-scale uplift history from any single method alone. Here, we combined high-resolution deep and shallow seismic imaging (on the order of 103 to 102 meters in depth, respectively) with geologic paleoseismic trenching (on the order of several meters in depth) in the Qilian Shan−Qaidam Basin (QSQB) transition zone within the northern Tibetan Plateau, which provide a fault-to-basin, ka-to-Ma-scale record of mountain building. Tectonic uplift began in the early Cenozoic (>40 Ma), with slow uplift rates persisting until ca. 15.3 Ma. Tectonic tilting with limited thrust faulting along the QSQB transition zone was the predominant form of deformation during this period. Accelerated uplift since the middle Miocene is attributed to the activation of more thrust faults, and an increase in fault vertical slip rates by an order of magnitude, reaching ∼0.2−0.25 mm/a.