bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Malignancy‐associated immune responses: Lessons from human inborn errors of immunity
Authors: Aliyath Agnel , Eni‐Olotu Ayolola , Donaldson Niamh , Trivedi Priyanka
Published: June 2023

It is widely understood that cancer is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite numerous available treatments, prognosis for many remains poor, thus, the development of novel therapies remains essential. Given the incredible success of many immunotherapies in this field, the important contribution of the immune system to the control, and elimination, of malignancy is clear. While many immunotherapies target higher‐order pathways, for example, through promoting T‐cell activation via immune checkpoint blockade, the potential to target specific immunological pathways is largely not well researched. Precisely understanding how immunity can be tailored to respond to specific challenges is an exciting idea with great potential, and may trigger the development of new therapies for cancer. Inborn Errors of Immunity (IEI) are a group of rare congenital disorders caused by gene mutations that result in immune dysregulation. This heterogeneous group, spanning widespread, multisystem immunopathology to specific immune cell defects, primarily manifest in immunodeficiency symptoms. Thus, these patients are particularly susceptible to life‐threatening infection, autoimmunity and malignancy, making IEI an especially complex group of diseases. While precise mechanisms of IEI‐induced malignancy have not yet been fully elucidated, analysis of these conditions can highlight the importance of particular genes, and downstream immune responses, in carcinogenesis and may help inform mechanisms which can be utilised in novel immunotherapies. In this review, we examine the links between IEIs and cancer, establishing potential connections between immune dysfunction and malignancy and suggesting roles for specific immunological mechanisms involved in preventing carcinogenesis, thus, guiding essential future research focused on cancer immunotherapy and providing valuable insight into the workings of the immune system in both health and disease.
Density measurements of molten Y3Al5O12 and Y2O3‐Al2O3 compounds using an electrostatic levitation technique
Authors: Koyama Chihiro , Ishikawa Takehiko , Watanabe Yuki
Published: June 2023

The densities of molten Y2O3‐Al2O3 compounds, including yttrium aluminum garnet (Y3Al5O12), were determined over a wide temperature range that included an undercooled region, using an electrostatic levitation furnace. The density of the molten Y3Al5O12 varied with temperature according to the relationship 3750 − 0.25(T − Tm) (kg/m3) with Tm = 2240 K and for the range of 1300 K ≤ T ≤ Tm, yielding the thermal expansion coefficient ɑ = 6.7×10−5 K−1. The molar volumes of molten (100‐x)Y2O3‐xAl2O3 (x = 0, 33.3, 50, 55, 62.5, 76.5, 81.5, or 100 mol%) were found to vary with the value of x in a linear manner within the superheated temperature range. However, the molar volumes in the undercooled region deviated from those calculated using an ideal solution model owing to attractive interactions between Y2O3 and Al2O3.
Nurse managers' perceptions of nurses' professional autonomy—A qualitative interview study
Authors: Pursio Katja , Kankkunen Päivi , Kvist Tarja
Published: June 2023

Aims

To describe nurse managers' perceptions of nurses' professional autonomy in hospitals and their role in promoting it.

Design

A qualitative descriptive approach.

Methods

Fifteen nurse managers participated in semi‐structured focus group interviews in two university hospitals in Finland between May and June 2022. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis.

Results

Nurses' professional autonomy in hospitals is perceived according to three themes: individual qualities behind independent actions, limited influencing opportunities in the organization and physicians' central effect. The nurse managers perceive that they enhance nurses' professional autonomy by promoting the nurses' independence at work, their sufficient and up‐to‐date competence, their expert role in multi‐professional cooperation and joint decision‐making and an open and appreciative work community.

Conclusions

Nurse managers can enhance nurses' professional autonomy with shared leadership. However, there are still gaps in nurses' equal possibilities to influence multi‐professional work, especially outside of patient care. Promoting their autonomy requires commitment and support from leadership at all levels of the organization. The results advise nurse managers and the administration of the organization to maximize the potential of nurses' expertise, along with encouraging nurses towards self‐leadership.

Impact

This study provides an innovative approach to nurses' roles through their professional autonomy from the perspective of nurse managers. These managers have an important role in enhancing nurses' professional autonomy, empowering and supporting them in their expertise, enabling necessary advanced training, and maintaining an appreciative work community where all have equal participation opportunities. Thus, nurse managers have the opportunity to strengthen high‐quality multi‐professional teams' ability to jointly develop the patient's care for better outcomes through their leadership.

Patient or Public Contribution

No patient or public contribution.
Right‐Wing Sovereignism in the European Union: Definition, Features and Implications
Authors: Fabbrini Sergio , Zgaga Tiziano
Published: June 2023

This article investigates how traditionally anti‐European Union (EU) right‐wing parties and leaders in four EU member states reinterpreted their relation with the EU in the post‐Brexit period (2016–2022). Either for the political opportunity structure's constraints or for the costs triggered by Brexit, right‐wing European nationalists had to redefine their role in remaining in the EU. We conceptualize as ‘sovereignism’ their attempt to endogenize nationalism in the EU. Relying on discourse analysis, this article shows that right‐wing sovereignism criticized the supranational character and the centralized policy system that developed within the EU. However, right‐wing sovereignism differed in the rationale of its criticism, based more on an economic discourse in Western Europe and more on a cultural discourse in Eastern Europe, as well as on the policies to repatriate. The sovereignist approach of nationalist right‐wing parties and leaders would lead to the nationally differentiated disintegration of the EU.
BRAFV600 variant allele frequency predicts outcome in metastatic melanoma patients treated with BRAF and MEK inhibitors
Authors: Mandalà Mario , Palmieri Giuseppe , Ludovini Vienna , Baglivo Sara , Marasciulo Francesca , Castiglione Francesca , Gili Alessio , Osella Abate Simona , Rubatto Marco , Senetta Rebecca , Avallone Gianluca , Ribero Simone , Romano Luca , Pimpinelli Nicola , de Giorgi Vincenzo , Roila Fausto , Pisano Marina , Casula Milena , Manca Antonella , Sini Maria Cristina , Massi Daniela , Quaglino Pietro ,   Italian Melanoma Intergroup (IMI)
Published: June 2023

Background

The prognostic impact of variant allele frequency (VAF) on clinical outcome in BRAFV600 mutated metastatic melanoma patients (MMPs) receiving BRAF (BRAFi) and MEK inhibitors (MEKi) is unclear.

Materials and Methods

A cohort of MMPs receiving first line BRAFi and MEKi was identified by inspecting dedicated databases of three Italian Melanoma Intergroup centres. VAF was determined by next generation sequencing in pre‐treatment baseline tissue samples. Correlation between VAF and BRAF copy number variation was analysed in an ancillary study by using a training and a validation cohort of melanoma tissue samples and cell lines.

Results

Overall, 107 MMPs were included in the study. The VAF cut‐off determined by ROC curve was 41.3%. At multivariate analysis, progression‐free survival (PFS) was significantly shorter in patients with M1c/M1d [HR 2.25 (95% CI 1.41–3.6, p < 0.01)], in those with VAF >41.3% [HR 1.62 (95% CI 1.04–2.54, p < 0.05)] and in those with ECOG PS ≥1 [HR 1.82 (95% CI 1.15–2.88, p < 0.05)]. Overall survival (OS) was significantly shorter in patients with M1c/M1d [HR 2.01 (95% CI 1.25–3.25, p < 0.01)]. Furthermore, OS was shorter in patients with VAF >41.3% [HR 1.46 (95% CI 0.93–2.29, p = 0.06)] and in patients with ECOG PS ≥1 [HR 1.52 (95% CI 0.94–2.87, p = 0.14)]. BRAF gene amplification was found in 11% and 7% of samples in the training and validation cohort, respectively.

Conclusions

High VAF is an independent poor prognostic factor in MMP receiving BRAFi and MEKi. High VAF and BRAF amplification coexist in 7%–11% of patients.
The test‐negative design: Opportunities, limitations and biases
Authors: Meester Ronald , Bonte Jan
Published: June 2023

The purpose of this paper is to investigate how to interpret the outcome of a test‐negative design study. We does so by systematically reviewing the properties of the design in relation to its potential applications. We first argue that the application of the design does not depend on certain assumptions (as is sometimes articulated in the literature), which may open new opportunities for using the design. Then, we relate a number of limitations of the design. The design cannot be used for studying the mortality effects of vaccines and is problematic for studies into the effect on hospitalization. The vaccine's effectiveness on the transmission of viruses is also potentially problematic, depending very much on the characteristics of the tests. The implication of our findings is that the test‐negative designs can, at best, be seen as an indication of effectiveness in highly idealized situations that are often far away from reality.
Links between the timing of life‐history transitions and dietary and morphological variation during early life history in the sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus
Authors: Jensen Mikkel , Nielsen Peter J. , Wilson G. Glenn
Published: June 2023

Bipartite life histories involve a suite of morphological changes that support the pelagic to demersal transition and an expanded range of prey options and microhabitats. Pelagic individuals are thought to shift (settle) to their preferred benthic habitat at the earliest opportunity once they have attained a minimum level of morphological competency to access their new environment. In theory, early changes in larval morphology (collectively termed ‘metamorphosis’), habitat and diet—a measure of habitat‐use—ought to be synchronous. Yet relationships may be decoupled by factors linked to behaviour, prey availability or morphological complexity, and few descriptions exist to allow such synchrony to be assessed. The sand goby, Pomatoschistus minutus, is a common coastal fish across north‐western Europe, with a size at larval metamorphosis and settlement of around 10 and 16–18 mm standard length (SL), respectively. We sampled shoreline larval and juvenile populations to examine relationships between morphology, diet and life stage. Prey diversity increased with body length; however, dietary change was clearest at 16–18 mm SL, with a reduction in calanoid copepods and shift to larger prey such as Nereis polychaetes and mysid and amphipod crustacea. Early growth in five prey capture and processing morphologies was rapid. Four of these showed a subsequent marked shift to slower growth, but none of these changes were aligned with size at metamorphosis and only that of mouth width coincided with body size at settlement. Early life history in P. minutus appears geared towards a protracted morphological reorganization prior to demersal life and an alternative suite of prey resources. Larval metamorphosis seems to be of limited consequence in this regard. Comparable studies of other Baltic Sea fishes would confirm whether these dynamics relate to shared environmental pressures or to factors intrinsic to P. minutus biology.
Removal of epigenetic repressive mark on inflammatory genes in fat liver
Authors: Zhang La‐Ying , Wang Chen‐Yu , Xu Qun , Mu Zi‐Qi , Lin Xiang , Li Lian‐Yun , Xiao Yong , Wu Min , Chen Ming‐Kai
Published: June 2023

Nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is the most common chronic liver disease worldwide. The detailed epigenomic changes during fat accumulation in liver are not clear yet. Here, we performed ChIP‐Seq analysis in the liver tissues of high‐fat diet and regular chow diet mice and investigated the dynamic landscapes of H3K27ac and H3K9me3 marks on chromatin. We find that the activated typical enhancers marked with H3K27ac are enriched on lipid metabolic pathways in fat liver; however, super enhancers do not change much. The regions covered with H3K9me3 repressive mark seem to undergo great changes, and its peak number and intensity both decrease in fat liver. The enhancers located in lost H3K9me3 regions are enriched in lipid metabolism and inflammatory pathways; and motif analysis shows that they are potential targets for transcription factors involved in metabolic and inflammatory processes. Our study has revealed that H3K9me3 may play an important role during the pathogenesis of NAFLD through regulating the accessibility of enhancers.
From students to nurses under pressure: Nursing students' entry into employment during the first COVID‐19 wave
Authors: Robledo‐Martín Juana , Acea‐López Lorena , Pérez‐Urdiales Iratxe , Alcolea‐Cosín María Teresa , Bellon Filip , Oter‐Quintana Cristina , Blanco‐Blanco Joan , Pastor‐Bravo María del Mar , Rubinat‐Arnaldo Esther , Briones‐Vozmediano Erica
Published: June 2023

Aims and objective

To describe the experiences of nursing students and their mental health as they entered employment during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic (May–June 2020).

Background

As other healthcare professionals, nursing students who worked during the first COVID‐19 wave suffered from dysfunctional mental health symptoms.

Design

Sequential, mixed‐method, multicentre study.

Methods

The study population comprised 92 students in the third and fourth year of the Nursing degree at three Spanish universities, who entered employment during the pandemic. Data were collected between May and June 2020. In the quantitative phase, data were collected using an online questionnaire containing both validated anxiety and stress scales. In the qualitative phase, semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 18 participants. A descriptive analysis of the quantitative data and a reflexive thematic analysis of the qualitative data were carried out, and analyses were combined. COREQ checklist was used for reporting.

Results

The combined quantitative and qualitative results were organised into five thematic areas: (1) Interruption of clinical placements, (2) Entering employment on a healthcare assistant contract, (3) Preventing contagion, (4) Adapting to the situation and managing emotions, and (5) Lessons learned.

Conclusion

The students had a positive overall experience of entering employment, as they were able to develop their nursing skills. However, they had an emotional impact in form of stress caused by excessive responsibility, academic uncertainty, lack of personal protective equipment and training in its use, and the possibility of spreading disease to their family members.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

In the current context, changes must be made in study programmes to instruct nursing students to be able to cope with extreme clinical situations, such as pandemics. The programmes should include a more extensive coverage of epidemics and pandemics and management of emotional aspects such as resilience.
Evaluation of mid‐buccal gingival recessions and occlusal interferences
Authors: Gürbüz Sühan , Bakhishov Hikmat , Koçyiğit Eda Gizem , Işık Abdullah , Tuncer Burcu Baloş , Özdemir Burcu
Published: June 2023

Background

Dental malocclusions may cause disruption in occlusal harmony, and destructive interferences during mandibular functional movements can be seen. Ideal occlusal contacts during dynamic mandibular movements may be crucial for preventing the occurrence of mid‐buccal gingival recession (mbGR). While determining mbGR risk factors in young adults, the effect of occlusal interferences on mbGR has not yet been focused on. Based on this gap, this field needs to be clarified with new studies.

Objective

The aim of this case–control study was to evaluate the relationships between the presence, extent and severity of mbGRs to dental malocclusions, occlusal interferences in anterior (AG) and lateral guidance (LG) and to determine the potential risk indicators in a young population.

Methods

A total of 149 dental students were comprised and 70 of them presented mbGR(s) and 79 did not (18–25 years, 4553 teeth). Periodontal status was assessed with full mouth bleeding (FMBS) and plaque score (FMPS), probing depth, clinical attachment level, recession depth and keratinised tissue width (KTW) by a periodontist. Malocclusions and occlusal interferences were evaluated by an orthodontist. Logistic regression analyses provided data on the effect of occlusal interferences and the other indicators towards mbGR.

Results

The mean of the number of teeth with mbGR(s) per subject was 4.3. The mean of the overall extent of teeth with mbGR(s) was 14.2%. FMBS, decreased KTW, self‐reported bruxism, group function occlusion, increased contact number of all teeth and only premolars/molars in AG or LG and Class III malocclusions were significantly associated with the presence of mbGR. Decreased KTW presenting mbGR in the mandible and non‐carious cervical lesion adjunct to mbGR significantly increased the odds of the severity of mbGR. Group function occlusion revealed higher mbGRs in premolar/molars than canine guided occlusion.

Conclusion

Increase in the occlusal interferences in premolars/molars during lateral and anterior guidance may have an effect on the presence and severity of mbGR. Further studies should be designed to confirm these findings.
Lapses in long‐term care insurance
Authors: Friedberg Leora , Hou Wenliang , Sun Wei , Webb Anthony
Published: June 2023

About a quarter of long‐term care insurance (LTCI) policy holders aged 65 let their policies lapse before death, forfeiting all benefits. We find that lapse rates are substantially higher among the cognitively impaired in the Health and Retirement Study. This generates a pernicious form of dynamic advantageous selection, as the cognitively impaired are more likely to use care. Simulations show that an inappropriately optimistic asset drawdown path further increases the individual welfare cost of unanticipated lapses. Meanwhile, we find evidence of a significant but very small role for either strategic or financial motives for lapsing.
Local adaptation and demographic history of vulnerable conifer Cephalotaxus oliveri in southern China
Authors: Liu Han‐Jing , Li Ming‐Hui , Wang Zhen , Wang Ting , Su Ying‐Juan
Published: June 2023

Having a comprehensive understanding of genetic differentiation, responses to environmental change and demographic history is critical for genetic improvement and conservation efforts. Forest trees are an excellent resource for understanding population differentiation and adaptive genetic variation due to their ability to adapt to different climates and environments. Cephalotaxus oliveri is a relict conifer endemic to China. In this study, we generated transcriptome data and identified 17 728 high‐quality single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) from 18 populations. We found significant negative correlations between expression diversity and nucleotide diversity within and among populations, suggesting that gene expression and nucleotide diversity have a reciprocal relationship when the species adapts to the environment. The analyses of population structure showed that C. oliveri displayed a striking genetic structure with four groups. BayeScEnv and RDA methods detected the signatures of local adaptation, and identified that 738 outlier SNPs were associated with precipitation, temperature and soil conditions across heterogeneous environmental conditions. Approximate Bayesian computation analyses showed that the first and second divergence occurred in the late Miocene (c. 10.075 million years ago [Ma]) and the middle Pleistocene transition (c. 0.815 Ma), respectively. Ecological niche modeling of C. oliveri revealed signs of westward expansion after the last glacial maximum, while it was predicted to experience significant range contractions in future climate change scenarios. Geographical factors and environmental factors in southern China have played a critical role in establishing the current genetic diversity and population structure of C. oliveri. This study provides an important reference for forest resource management and conservation for C. oliveri.
Patient identity narratives through the cultural formulation interview in a New York City outpatient clinic
Authors: Aggarwal Neil Krishan , Chen Daniel , Lewis‐Fernández Roberto , Guarnaccia Peter
Published: June 2023

Anthropologists have critiqued cultural competence programs in medical settings while introducing mental health clinicians to social theories on culture for practice. We explore how patients articulated narratives about themselves and how clinicians responded to such narratives through an intervention known as the Cultural Formulation Interview that anthropologists have helped develop. We conducted over 500 hours of fieldwork from 2014 to 2019 at an outpatient clinic in New York, analyzing multiple data (participant observation, medical records, patient–clinician sessions, and individual debriefing interviews) in a trial joining clinical and ethnographic methods. Our study enrolled 45 patients and six clinicians, yielding 117 patient–clinician appointments and 98 debriefing interviews. Most patients differed in how they presented their identities through demographic forms and discussed them in sessions with their clinicians. Two‐thirds of the patients drew connections between their personal identities and experiences of mental illness. These results reveal why cultural identities should not be taken for granted in clinical settings.
Artificial intelligence in salivary biomarker discovery and validation for oral diseases
Authors: Adeoye John , Su Yu‐Xiong
Published: June 2023

Salivary biomarkers can improve the efficacy, efficiency, and timeliness of oral and maxillofacial disease diagnosis and monitoring. Oral and maxillofacial conditions in which salivary biomarkers have been utilized for disease‐related outcomes include periodontal diseases, dental caries, oral cancer, temporomandibular joint dysfunction, and salivary gland diseases. However, given the equivocal accuracy of salivary biomarkers during validation, incorporating contemporary analytical techniques for biomarker selection and operationalization from the abundant multi‐omics data available may help improve biomarker performance. Artificial intelligence represents one such advanced approach that may optimize the potential of salivary biomarkers to diagnose and manage oral and maxillofacial diseases. Therefore, this review summarized the role and current application of techniques based on artificial intelligence for salivary biomarker discovery and validation in oral and maxillofacial diseases.
Catheter ablation of atrial fibrillation using FireMagic TrueForce ablation catheter: The TRUEFORCE trial
Authors: Zhang Rongfeng , Chu Huimin , Liu Shaowen , Yang Bing , Han Bing , Xiao Xianjie , Ma Chengming , Sun Yuanjun , Yin Xiaomeng , Xia Yunlong , Gao Lianjun ,   the TRUEFORCE investigators.
Published: June 2023

Background

The use of contact force (CF) sensing catheters has provided a revolutionary improvement in catheter ablation (CA) of atrial fibrillation (AF) in the past decade. However, the success rate of CA for AF remains limited, and some complications still occur.

Methods

The TRUEFORCE trial (Catheter Ablation of Atrial Fibrillation using FireMagic TrueForce Ablation Catheter) is a multicenter, prospective, single‐arm objective performance criteria study of AF patients who underwent their first CA procedure using FireMagic TrueForce ablation catheter.

Results

A total of 120 patients (118 with paroxysmal AF) were included in this study, and 112 patients included in the per‐protocol analysis. Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) was achieved in 100% of the patients, with procedure and fluoroscopy time of 146.63 ± 40.51 min and 12.89 ± 5.59 min, respectively. Freedom from recurrent atrial arrhythmia after ablation was present 81.25% (95% confidence interval [CI]: 72.78%–88.00%) of patients. No severe adverse events (death, stroke/transient ischemic attack [TIA], esophageal fistula, myocardial infarction, thromboembolism, or pulmonary vein stenosis) were detected during the follow‐up. Four (4/115, 3.33%) adverse events were documented, including one abdominal discomfort, one femoral artery hematoma, one coughing up blood, and one postoperative palpitation and insomnia.

Conclusions

This study demonstrated the clinical feasibility of FireMagic force‐sensing ablation catheter in CA of AF, with a satisfactory short‐ and long‐term efficacy and safety.
Fucoxanthin levels in maternal serum at birth and eczema risk in offspring in early childhood: A birth cohort study
Authors: Ziyab Ali H. , Jones A. Daniel , Chen Su , Anthony Thilani M. , Mukherjee Nandini , Arshad Syed Hasan , Karmaus Wilfried
Published: June 2023

Background

Fucoxanthin, a marine xanthophyll carotenoid, has been shown to exert beneficial health effects. Cell‐based and animal‐based experimental studies have shown that fucoxanthin has the potential to mitigate eczema symptoms. Hence, we sought to assess whether fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate, a fucoxanthin metabolite, measured in maternal serum at birth is associated with eczema development during early childhood.

Methods

Data from the 1989/1990 Isle of Wight birth cohort were analyzed. We focused on data obtained from the 1, 2, and 4 years follow‐ups. Fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate was measured in maternal serum at the child's birth as abundance relative to the reference lipids. Eczema was ascertained according to parent‐reported clinical history and characteristic morphology and distribution. Log‐binomial regression models were used to estimate adjusted risk ratios (aRR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

A total of 592 subjects (49.2% males and 50.8% females) were included in the current analysis. Associations between fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate levels and eczema risk during the first 4 years of life (longitudinal analysis) were evaluated using four modeling approaches, which showed higher fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate levels were associated with reduced eczema risk: (i) aRRper 10 unit increase = 0.88, 95% CI: 0.76–1.03; (ii) aRR>0 vs. =0 = 0.67, 0.45–0.99; (iii) aRR≥2.3 vs. <2.3 = 0.66, 0.44–0.98; and (iv) aRRtertile 3 vs. tertile 1 = 0.65, 0.42–0.99.

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that increased fucoxanthinol 3‐arachidate levels measured in maternal serum at the child's birth is associated with reduced eczema risk during the first 4 years of the offspring life.
Plastid‐mediated RNA interference: A potential strategy for efficient pest control
Authors: Li Shengchun , Kim Dae Sung , Zhang Jiang
Published: June 2023

RNA interference (RNAi) technology is a promising and effective approach for pest insect management. Owing to its sequence‐guided working mechanism, RNAi has a high degree of species‐selectivity, thus minimizing potential adverse effects on nontarget organisms. Recently, engineering plastid (chloroplast) genome, rather than the nuclear genome, to produce double‐stranded RNAs has emerged as a powerful way to protect plants from multiple arthropod pests. Here, we review the recent progresses in the plastid‐mediated RNAi (PM‐RNAi) approach for pest control and the factors influencing its efficacy, and propose the strategies for further efficiency improvement. We also discuss the current challenges and the biosafety‐related issues of PM‐RNAi technology that need to be addressed for commercial production.
Nighttime hypoxia effects on ATP availability for photosynthesis in seagrass
Authors: Che Xingkai , Zhang Tie , Li Hu , Li Yongfu , Zhang Litao , Liu Jianguo
Published: June 2023

Hypoxia is a major emerging threat to coastal ecosystems, which is closely related to the decline in seagrass meadows, but its damage mechanism is still unclear. This study found that hypoxia at night significantly reduced the photosynthetic capacity of Enhalus acoroides after reillumination. Photosystem II (PSII) was damaged by high‐light stress during daytime low‐tide exposure, but high‐light‐damaged PSII of E. acoroides could recover part of its activity indark normoxic seawater to maintain the normal operation of photosynthesis after reillumination during the next day. However, hypoxia inhibited the recovery of damaged PSII under darkness. By transcriptomic analysis and inhibitor verification experiments, dark hypoxia was shown to inhibit respiration, thereby reducing ATP production and preventing ATP from being transported into chloroplasts, which, in turn, led to an insufficient supply of energy required for PSII to recover. This study demonstrated that hypoxia has several negative impacts on the photosynthetic apparatus of E. acoroides at night reducing photosynthetic capacity after reillumination, which may be an important factor leading to the decline of the seagrass meadows.
Detection of tomato brown rugose fruit virus is influenced by infection at different growth stages and sampling from different plant parts
Authors: Skelton Anna , van Gemert Jerom , Fowkes Aimee , Frew Leanne , Alraiss Kinda , Hodgson Rachel , Cressey Jessica , Barnhoorn Ruud , Macarthur Roy , Stijger Ineke , Verbeek Martin , van der Vlugt Rene , Koenraadt Harrie , Roenhorst Annelien , Botermans Marleen , Fox Adrian
Published: June 2023

Since the first report of the virus in 2014, tomato brown rugose fruit virus (ToBRFV) has spread widely through Europe, the Americas and Asia. Within Europe there is currently a requirement for annual surveillance for the virus. However, little is known about the relative impact of sampling strategy with respect to timing of infection and the detection of virus from different plant parts. To test reliably for ToBRFV in crops of unknown infection status, this issue needed to be addressed. To do this, two different approaches were followed: (1) inoculation experiments were conducted at two institutes to look at the relative effects of time of infection, plant parts, cropping season and cultivar on detection of the virus; and (2) sampling and testing various plant parts were carried out during active outbreaks from two tomato production sites in the Netherlands to look at the effect of sampling plant parts on detection of the virus. In inoculation experiments, the greatest impact on detection was timing of infection, with plants infected early in the growth cycle showing a predictable development of infection. In plants infected later, infection was detectable in sepals (calyx) earlier than in older leaves. In the studies carried out on commercial crops during ToBRFV outbreaks, the highest virus concentrations were obtained from testing sepals and young leaves. Thus, in a young crop where sepals and fruit are not yet developed, sampling should focus on the young leaves; in a mature crop it may be better to sample sepals and/or fruit.
The effect of emotion counter‐regulation to anger on working memory updating
Authors: Zhang Jing , Guan Wanyao , Lipp Ottmar V.
Published: June 2023

Emotion counter‐regulation has been suggested as the core cognitive mechanism of automatic emotion regulation. Emotion counter‐regulation not only induces an unintentional transfer of attention from the current emotional state to stimuli with the opposite valence but also prompts approach to stimuli of the opposite valence and increases response inhibition to stimuli of the same valence. Working memory (WM) updating has been shown to be related to attention selection and response inhibition. However, it remains unclear whether emotion counter‐regulation would affect WM updating with emotional stimuli. In the present study, 48 participants were recruited and randomly assigned to the angry‐priming group that watched highly arousing angry video clips, or the control group that watched neutral video clips. Then participants performed a two‐back face identity matching task with happy and angry face pictures. Behavioral results showed higher accuracy for identity recognition of happy than of angry faces. The event‐related potential (ERP) results revealed smaller P2 to angry faces than to happy faces in the control group. In the angry‐priming group, there was no difference in P2 amplitude between angry and happy trials. Between groups, P2 to angry faces was larger in the priming group than in the control group. Late positive potential (LPP) was smaller for happy faces than for angry faces in the priming group, but not in the control group. These findings suggest that emotion counter‐regulation affects the onset updating and maintenance of emotional face stimuli in WM.
Boar sperm motility is modulated by CCK at a low concentration of bicarbonate under capacitation conditions
Authors: Moros‐Nicolás C. , López‐Úbeda R. , Luongo C. , Sòria‐Monzó P. , Abril‐Sánchez S. , Grudzinska P. , Avilés M. , Izquierdo‐Rico M. J. , García‐Vázquez F. A.
Published: June 2023

In a previous study, our group detected the cholecystokinin (CCK) protein in the porcine oviduct. This fact, together with the involvement of CCK in the regulation of sperm protein tyrosine phosphorylation by the modulation of HCO3− uptake (in mice and humans) suggests a role for CCK during sperm capacitation. Therefore, on the one hand, the expression of CCK receptors (CCK1R and CCK2R) on boar testes has been investigated and probed; on the other hand, boar spermatozoa (from seminal doses of 1‐day and 5‐day storage) were exposed to different concentrations of CCK (0‐control, 25 or 50 μM) in a medium supporting capacitation supplemented with 0, 5 or 25 mmol/L of HCO3− for 1 h at 38.5°C. Sperm motion (total and progressive motility), kinetic parameters, viability, acrosome status, and mitochondrial activity were determined. No differences between groups (0, 25 or 50 μM of CCK) were observed when HCO3− was absent in the media (p > .05). However, the results showed that when the media was supplemented with 5 mmol/L HCO3− in 1‐day seminal dose storage, the linearity index (LIN, %), straightness index (STR, %) and oscillation index (WOB, %) (sperm kinetics parameters) increased in the presence of CCK regardless the concentration (p < .05). Nevertheless, CCK in sperm from 5‐day storage only increased the WOB parameter in comparison to the control (p < .05). Furthermore, the average amplitude of the lateral displacement of the sperm head (ALH, μm) and curvilinear velocity (VCL, μm/s) decreased when CCK was present, depending on its concentration and sperm aging (1‐day vs. 5‐days) (p < .05). In the case of the media supporting capacitation supplemented with 25 mmol/L HCO3−, any differences were observed except for sperm viability in the 5‐day seminal doses, which increased in the 50 μM‐CCK group compared to the control (p < .05). In conclusion, these data suggest an implication of CCK protein during sperm capacitation under low bicarbonate concentration increasing the sperm linear trajectory.
Contouring in the optic plane improves the accuracy of computed tomography‐based segmentation of the optic pathway
Authors: Walther Eric , Griffin Lynn , Randall Elissa , Sandmeyer Lynne , Osinchuk Stephanie , Sukut Sally , Hansen Katherine , Keyerleber Michele , Lawrence Jessica , Parker Sarah , Mayer Monique
Published: June 2023

Canine optic pathway structures are often contoured on CT images, despite the difficulty of visualizing the optic pathway with CT using standard planes. The purpose of this prospective, analytical, diagnostic accuracy study was to examine the accuracy of optic pathway contouring by veterinary radiation oncologists (ROs) before and after training on optic plane contouring. Optic pathway contours used as the gold standard for comparison were created based on expert consensus from registered CT and MRI for eight dogs. Twenty‐one ROs contoured the optic pathway on CT using their preferred method, and again following atlas and video training demonstrating contouring on the optic plane. The Dice similarity coefficient (DSC) was used to assess contour accuracy. A multilevel mixed model with random effects to account for repeated measures was used to examine DSC differences. The median DSC (5th and 95th percentile) before and after training was 0.31 (0.06, 0.48) and 0.41 (0.18, 0.53), respectively. The mean DSC was significantly higher after training compared with before training (mean difference = 0.10; 95% CI, 0.08–0.12; P < 0.001) across all observers and patients. DSC values were comparable to those reported (0.4–0.5) for segmentation of the optic chiasm and nerves in human patients. Contour accuracy improved after training but remained low, potentially due to the small optic pathway volumes. When registered CT‐MRI images are not available, our study supports routine addition of an optic plane with specific window settings to improve segmentation accuracy in mesaticephalic dogs ≥11 kg.
Development of a Base-Actuated Three-Rhombus Configured Remote Center of Motion Mechanism for Lumbar Puncture
Authors: Duan Yuzhou , Ling Jie , Feng Zhao , Yao Daojin , Zhu Yuchuan
Published: June 2023

Owing to the advantages of safety and reproducibility, remote center of motion (RCM) mechanisms are widely adopted in lumbar puncture (LP) procedures to guide the insertion angle and depth of the end effector. However, the proximal-actuated pattern in existing RCM mechanisms occupies a large space near the end effector, which obstructs the visual field and increases the system inertia. In this work, a base-actuated three-rhombus configured RCM mechanism for LP operation is first proposed, where the symmetric three-rhombus scheme is designed for motion transmission. As a result, the rotational and translational motions of the needle are respectively realized through the homodromous and heterodromous actuation of the two base-mounted motors. Kinematic models are established to analyze the manipulability, singularity, and workspace of the RCM mechanism theoretically. The parameter optimization procedure is provided to minimize the footprint of the RCM mechanism. Experimental results show that the mechanism reaches an insertion angle from −29.2 deg to 29.2 deg, a maximum insertion depth of 60.02 mm, and a footprint of 4.98 × 104 mm2. The relative error of the RCM point is 1.1 mm.
Nuclear Valves
Authors: Jolly Guy A.
Published: June 2023

This chapter describes how the ASME Boiler and Pressure Vessel Code requirements are implemented for safety-related nuclear valves. It explains the relevancy of the ASME Code requirements for safety-related nuclear valves using the latest issue of the Code. The chapter discusses the role of system and component design engineers, as well as the integrity of the Manufacturer. It provides a historical perspective for the Code rules, cross-referencing other Subsections of the Code. The chapter states that the Owner’s responsibilities for system design play an important part in establishing the rules applicable to the Design Specification for each safety-related valve. It also covers the operational and qualification requirements for the procurement of these items from the Manufacturer. The chapter discusses these items for different service conditions with the aid of schematics and references. It then provides details of the ASME B16.34 historical development and provides the current reference dimensional standards from the 2013 and 2015 editions of the Code for use in the construction of “N” stamped valves based on the Code’s B16.34 reference. A list of widely used Valve Standards referenced in ASME B31 Piping Codes is also presented. The coverage on pressure-relief valves includes details on activity underway at Section III to clarify requirements related to pilot-operated and power-actuated pressure relief valves. It also includes details relevant to QME-1 relating to qualification testing required for active valves used in nuclear power plants.

History

Late Douglas B. Nickerson was the original author of this chapter. Marcus N. Bressler updated the second edition and third editions. Guy A. Jolly, updated this chapter specific to valves for 4th edition and 5th editions. The current online edition was updated by Jason Lambin and the ASME Working Group on Valves.
Subsection NE—Class MC Components
Authors: Reedy Roger F.
Published: June 2023

This chapter provides a summary of some of the significant requirements of the ASME Code Section III, Subsection NE Class MC vessels, and a commentary on these requirements. It begins with an overview of the scope of Subsection NE and the boundaries of its jurisdiction. The chapter then outlines the general material requirements for Class MC vessels that are specified in Article NE-2000. This is followed by a discussion on material toughness requirements and design and analysis requirements. The chapter provides information on Certified Material Test Reports and on certifications that must be performed by engineers who prepare design and overpressure protection reports. The chapter then describes the rules for the following analyses of containment vessels as defined in Subsection NE: fatigue analysis, buckling analysis, design by analysis, and plastic analysis. An outline of the rules for reinforcement of cone-to-cylinder junctions, overpressure protection, bolted flange connections, and welded connections, is also presented. The closing pages cover the following topics: tolerance requirements for some commonly used shells; fabrication requirements for each weld category as specified in NE-4240; welding procedure qualification; rules for marking, examining, and repairing welds; and nondestructive testing personnel qualification and certification. A number of Code Cases and references regarding the rules of Subsection NE are cited, with cross-references to other Code Sections and Subsections.

History

Kamran Mokhtarian was the original author of this chapter and revised it for the second edition. Roger Reedy updated it for the third through current online edition.
Functions, advantages and challenges facing private healthcare organisations in China’s healthcare system: a qualitative analysis through open-ended questionnaires
Authors: Wang Meijiao , Chen Xiaotong , Sun Yu , Wang Qi , Liu Gordon
Published: June 2023

Objectives

The medical reform in 2009 stimulated the growth of private healthcare organisations in China, but there is still room for their further development in the healthcare market. The objectives of the study were to provide more information about the healthcare market in China and to explore the challenges private healthcare organisations faced.

Design

Qualitative descriptive study using a web-based open-ended questionnaire and thematic content analysis. Data were collected between 12 February and 20 February 2020.

Setting

This study was conducted in China.

Participants

124 respondents from private healthcare organisations across 20 provinces in China.

Results

Our content analysis identified three themes: (1) functioning and positioning of the healthcare institutions: current private healthcare organisations generally serve as a supplement to public hospitals and focus more on specialised medical and high-end services; (2) institutions’ advantages: private healthcare organisations can flexibly respond to market demands, formulate effective strategies, introduce advanced management concepts and methods, provide personalised and diversified services, and introduce new technologies which can stimulate market vitality and promote healthy competition; and (3) institutions’ challenges: private healthcare organisations face difficulties in professional development and talent cultivation, branding and establishing a reputation, and the policies for institution establishment, tax and medical insurance pose drawbacks to their development.

Conclusion

This study illustrates that private healthcare organisations need more government support for further development, such as providing a fairer insurance strategy and taxation policy, affording ground for a more equitable scientific research environment and promotion opportunities, and evaluating reputation score for healthcare institutions.
Acupuncture for protracted opioid abstinence syndrome: study protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Li Tao , Zeng Yi Wei , Zhang Feng , Zhou Xin , Ren Yulan
Published: June 2023

Introduction

Protracted opioid abstinence syndrome (POAS) refers to a series of physical discomforts and neuropsychiatric symptoms after discontinuation of opioid-type substances for a certain amount of time and is one of the main causes of relapse. Studies have shown that acupuncture is effective in the treatment of POAS. We plan to conduct this systematic review and meta-analysis to assess the efficacy and safety of acupuncture for POAS.

Methods and analysis

A comprehensive search of studies will be carried out in the following databases from inception to 31 January 2023: Web of Science, Embase, PubMed, Chinese Biology Medicine, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wan Fang Database and Chinese Scientific Journal Database (VIP). WHO International Clinical Trials Registry Platform, ClinicalTrials.gov and Chinese Clinical Trial Registry will also be searched for ongoing relevant trials, and ‘grey literatures’ will be identified from GreyNet International, OpenGrey and Google Scholar. Randomised controlled trials regarding acupuncture therapy for treatment of POAS will be included. The primary outcome is the severity of protracted withdrawal symptoms. Two reviewers will screen studies using the inclusion criteria, extract data and assess the risk of bias, respectively. The quality of evidence will be assessed using the Grading of Recommendations, Assessment, Development and Evaluation. Data synthesis will be performed using RevMan V.5.4.1.

Ethics and dissemination

This study will not invade patients' personal privacy, and so ethical review is not required. The results will be disseminated in a peer-reviewed journal.

PROSPERO registration number

CRD42022382978.