bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pobreza menstrual : uma análise sobre a discussão a partir da reportagem exibida no Programa Fantástico
Authors: Gotardo Suelen
Published: December 2022

Este trabalho propõe refletir sobre a pobreza menstrual e a desigualdade de gênero a partir da reportagem exibida no programa da Rede Globo, Fantástico, do dia 02 de maio de 2021. A perspectiva metodológica norteadora deste artigo parte das Tecnologias do Imaginário (SILVA, 2006) e da Análise Discursiva de Imaginários (SILVA, 2019), de modo a (re)pensar as expressões de violência que versam a questão de gênero, a partir do tema da dignidade menstrual. Além disso, se propõe a refletir, de modo experimental, acerca da influência da televisão na cristalização do imaginário social sobre a mulher. Para nortear as questões sobre o imaginário, contou-se com o aporte teórico de Juremir Machado da Silva, enquanto que, para embasar as discussões sobre as expressões de violência e questão de gênero, utilizou-se contribuições de Heleieth Saffioti e Judith Butler. A metodologia do imaginário propõe desvelar discursos e mostrar caminhos alternativos, sendo possível debater sobre a desigualdade de gênero e as expressões de violência, por meio da interlocução entre comunicação e imaginário.
Categorias emergentes de comunicação para gestão da inovação em grandes empresas
Authors: Josgrilberg Fabio Botelho , Hashiba Luciana , Juliotti Renata
Published: December 2022

Este artigo apresenta os resultados de pesquisa sobre as práticas de gestão da inovação aberta em grandes empresas, com especial atenção a processos comunicacionais, por meio de uma abordagem qualitativa, com corpus constituído a partir de entrevistas semiestruturadas e analisado com a técnica de framework analysis. Foram identificadas cinco categorias emergentes de comunicação, que oferecem elementos iniciais para uma futura agenda de pesquisa que permita refinar a contribuição da gestão da comunicação organizacional aos processos inovativos.
Agenda 2030 e os ODS : a comunicação na página da ONU Brasil no Facebook
Authors: Paiva Carla Negrim Fernandes de , Luvizotto Caroline Kraus
Published: December 2022

Com foco na Agenda 2030 da ONU, este artigo analisou os conteúdos publicados na página do Facebook da ONU Brasil para verificar a dinâmica de comunicação utilizada em prol da visibilidade e mobilização para os Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável. Foi identificado que a organização trata constantemente da Agenda 2030, entretanto se utiliza principalmente de publicações voltadas para difusão de informações e não dispõe de conteúdos que estabeleçam maior interação, estratégia necessária para a coletivização que impulsiona a mobilização social.
Uma proposta de leitura crítica da Agenda 2030
Authors: Feltrin Diuan dos Santos
Published: December 2022

O Guia Agenda 2030: integrando ODS, Educação e Sociedade resulta de uma parceria firmada entre a Unesp (Universidade Estadual Paulista) e a UnB (Universidade de Brasília), com organização de Raquel Cabral e Thiago Gehre. A obra foi viabilizada por meio do Convênio Unesp/Santander e encontra-se disponibilizada no site www.guiaagenda2030.org. Um dos principais objetivos da iniciativa foi promover a territorialização da Agenda 2030 e a integralização da extensão universitária no ensino superior, por meio da ação conjunta entre estudantes e docentes de duas universidades públicas brasileiras. Trata-se de um trabalho coletivo, firmado a partir de sólidas redes de apoio, direcionado à consecução das metas globais pautadas pelos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS), com um olhar especialmente voltado às demandas do Sul Global.
Memórias em embate: Israel e Palestina – disputas das/pelas memórias de Shoá e Nakba
Authors: Lucht Ketlin Maria
Published: December 2022

O presente ensaio busca analisar, mediante as catástrofes coletivas referentes à Nakba e Shoá, como as memórias e identidades da Palestina e de Israel, ao passo que tentaram e tentam se constituir como opostas, inexoravelmente se entrelaçam e acabam por constituir uma influência recíproca. Esses países, que possuem histórias indissociáveis e sobrepostas, carregam consigo um passado ainda muito recente, seja por eventos reincidentes ou por memórias dissidentes que não ganham espaço no que tenta se constituir como “memória coletiva”. Analisa-se então como essa disputa, que não ocorre somente em âmbito territorial, decorre através dos meandros da memória.
The Underneaths of Painting, Redux: For Silke Otto-Knapp, 1970–2022
Authors: Baker George
Published: December 2022

This essay explores the untold histories opened up by Francis Picabia's painting The Spanish Night, 1922. Out of place within Dada but clearly in dialogue with the work of Marcel Duchamp and parodying conservative or neo-classical styles of painting but also undermining the avant-garde tactics of a still-nascent Surrealism, Picabia's canvas has been too simply dismissed as part of the artist's own return to figuration, a sudden retrenchment and embrace of a vehement anti-modernism. Instead, the work seethes with connection to underground tactics moving between Dada and Surrealism, and it establishes a formal structure that determines Picabia's painting for the following decades. This essay identifies and attempts to name the formal tactics of the work, tracing their implications for other artists—from Surrealism into the present moment. Among the other people and concepts discussed are William Copley, Man Ray, Hubert Damisch, Robert Desnos, the “return to order,” figuration, kitsch, Surrealism, Superrealism, and bad painting.
Revision of the genus Luridiblatta (Blaberoidea, Ectobiidae, Ectobiinae)
Authors: BOHN HORST
Published: December 2022

The present paper deals with the revision of Luridiblatta a genus having an almost circum-mediterranean distribution. The genus contains 10 species of which 7 are new; they can be aligned to 3 species-groups: the longitubulata-group with the species L. longitubulata sp. nov., L. gibberosa sp. nov., L. fenestrata sp. nov., and L. vesiculosa sp. nov.; the trivittata-group with L. trivittata and L. habbachii sp. nov.; and the beybienkoi-group with L. quadrivittata, L. cyprica sp. nov., L. beybienkoi and L. graeca sp. nov. The species descriptions are accompanied by numerous photographs, a taxonomic key to males, and a cladogram showing the presumed interspecific relationships.

Study of the morphology elucidates an unusually high variation in shape and structure of the abdominal tergites T6, T7 and T8. In the species with strongly derived T6 the latter is characterised by enigmatic structures giving the impression for serving as a kind of a drainage system.
William Rimmer
Authors: Evans Dorinda
Published: December 2022

William Rimmer (1816–1879) is arguably the first modernist American sculptor, although his inventive originality has not been fully acknowledged. Rimmer cultivated an art of ideas and personal expression whilst supporting himself as a physician and, later, as a teacher of art anatomy at the Cooper Union School of Design for Women in New York.

Unlike his contemporaries, he advocated the creation of sculpture drawn entirely from the artist’s imagination, as opposed to antique archetypes or live models. In this way, he sought to reframe excellence in American art as something that must be found within, rather than derived from Europe.

In this new monograph, the meaning of Rimmer’s works is for the first time considered from a combination of perspectives, such as close visual analysis (including X-ray and infrared), historical documentation, and social context. These are enriched with discussion of the artist’s own bipolar disorder, deeply-held spiritualism, and views on gender equality—considering women just as talented as men, he used naked male models in all-female classes long before his contemporaries, and produced an allegorical sculpture of fighting lions that criticized the tyranny of men over women.

This book will be of great interest to academics, students, art museums, collectors, dealers, art historians, and members of the public with an affinity for Rimmer’s work. It will also appeal to those with a broader interest in American culture.
Do Submesoscales Affect the Large-Scale Structure of the Upper Ocean?
Authors: Sinha Anirban , Callies Jörn , Menemenlis Dimitris
Published: December 2022

Submesoscale baroclinic instabilities have been shown to restratify the surface mixed layer and to seasonally energize submesoscale turbulence in the upper ocean. But do these instabilities also affect the large-scale circulation and stratification of the upper thermocline? This question is addressed for the North Atlantic Subtropical Mode Water region with a series of numerical simulations at varying horizontal grid spacings (16, 8, 4, and 2 km). These simulations are realistically forced and integrated long enough for the thermocline to adjust to the presence or absence of submesoscales. Linear stability analysis indicates that a 2-km grid spacing is sufficient to resolve the most unstable mode of the wintertime mixed layer instability. As the resolution is increased, spectral slopes of horizontal kinetic energy flatten and vertical velocities increase in magnitude, consistent with previous regional and short-time simulations. The equilibrium stratification of the thermocline changes drastically as the grid spacing is refined from 16 to 8 km and mesoscale eddies are fully resolved. The thermocline stratification remains largely unchanged, however, between the 8-, 4-, and 2-km runs. This robustness is argued to arise from a mesoscale constraint on the buoyancy variance budget. Once mesoscale processes are resolved, the rate of mesoscale variance production is largely fixed. This constrains the variance destruction by submesoscale vertical buoyancy fluxes, which thus remain invariant across resolutions. The bulk impact of mixed layer instabilities on upper-ocean stratification in the Subtropical Mode Water region through an enhanced vertical buoyancy flux is therefore captured at 8-km grid spacing, even though the instabilities are severely underresolved.
Ideal models of good inpatient care for adults with intellectual disability: Lessons from England
Authors: Burrows Lisa , Page Georgia , Plugaru Elena , Kent Bridie , Odiyoor Mahesh , Jaydeokar Sujeet , Williams Jonathan , Elliot Kevin , Laugharne Richard , Shankar Rohit
Published: December 2022

Background:

In recent years, a significant proportion of inpatient facilities for people with intellectual disabilities and/or autism has been de-commissioned in England, This has resulted in individuals with intellectual disabilities being sent to distant hospitals far away from their families and carers leading to challenges in follow-up, community care and interventions. The impact of de-institutionalisation, has often caused patient trauma, family distress and subsequent discharge difficulties. Not every individual with intellectual disabilities and/or autism requires inpatient care but inpatient care when needed has to be local, adequate and appropriate.

Aims:

To evaluate current evidence of utility of inpatient models for people with intellectual disabilities and outline best clinical practice.

Method:

PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, Scopus, Web of Science were searched with key search terms. The search was conducted by the information specialist and identified abstracts screened further for inclusion criteria, methodological issues, and other appropriate characteristics. Twenty-three papers were included in the rapid review. Papers shortlisted had the inclusion criteria applied against the full text version independently by two reviewers. Disagreements regarding eligibility of studies was resolved by discussion and consensus within the project team. Key data related to in-patient models of care was extracted from the included papers, which included year of study, design, study objectives, target population, method/s tested, outcomes reported, country of study/studies, and results. Data extraction was performed by two reviewers and reviewed by the project team.

Results:

From the review of services for people with intellectual disabilities, we came across four broad models/frameworks/approaches. Evidence on what worked for inpatient service provision tended to be based on models developed and implemented locally.

Conclusions:

We make recommendations for the best clinical practice and standards. Both clinical service providers and policymakers need to be aware of specific needs of individuals with intellectual disability and/or autism.
The life balance inventory in patients with multiple sclerosis: Cross-cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of the Turkish version
Authors: Özden Fatih , Özkeskin Mehmet , Yüceyar Nur
Published: December 2022

Introduction:

The aim of the study was to present the psychometric properties of the Turkish version of the life balance inventory in individuals with multiple sclerosis.

Methods:

Life balance inventory was translated and adapted considering common suggestions. Participants were cross-sectionally evaluated twice with life balance inventory, with a 1-week interval. Expanded Disability Status Scale, Beck Depression Scale, and Short Form-12 were used to assess the convergent validity.

Results:

A total of 113 individuals with multiple sclerosis were enrolled in the study. Test-retest reliability of the total score and all subscores of the life balance inventory were excellent (intraclass correlation coefficient > 0.80). The internal consistency of the life distress inventory was excellent (α = 0.73–0.95). The correlation of Expanded Disability Status Scale with life balance inventory and its subscores was low in the scope of divergent validity, as expected ( r < 0.35). The correlation between life balance inventory total score and Expanded Disability Status Index was −0.337 ( p < 0.01). Life balance inventory scores were moderately correlated ( p < 0.01), except life balance inventory health score. Life balance inventory scores were correlated with SF-12 physical-subscales and mental-subscales, in a low and moderate degree, respectively. The life balance inventory total score was highly correlated with the life balance inventory subscores ( r = 0.69–0.96, p < 0.01).

Conclusion:

The Turkish life balance inventory is a reliable and valid inventory in patients with multiple sclerosis. Life balance inventory comprehensively evaluates the life balance parameters of multiple sclerosis patients.
Personal Support Worker Socio-Demographic Differences Across Care Sectors in Canada
Authors: Zagrodney Katherine A. P. , Deber Raisa , Saks Mike , Laporte Audrey
Published: December 2022

With the growing reliance on Personal Support Workers (PSWs) in health care delivery for older adults across hospital, nursing and long-term care home, and home and community (HC) sectors, understanding the PSW labor market is critical for healthcare human resource capacity to care for an aging population. This study utilizes a longitudinal, cross-provincial, individual-level dataset of PSWs in Canada from 1996–2010 to provide socio-demographic characteristics of PSWs by sector. Means, proportions, and multivariate tests of significance showed that PSWs differed significantly by care sector across many factors—including sex, health, family, and education characteristics. That HC PSWs were more likely to be older with lower health and higher disability status is important to consider when examining labor policies. Evidence of sector heterogeneity can lead to important differential effects on PSW labor supply behaviors and this research highlights the importance of tailoring initiatives aimed at recruitment and retention by sector.
What’s Keeping Residents “Out of the Mainstream”: Challenges to Participation in the News Media for Older People Living in Residential Care
Authors: Allen Laura D. , Bradley Dana Burr , Ayalon Liat
Published: December 2022

The voices of older people living in residential care are often excluded from news articles about residential care, and this exclusion was especially apparent during the COVID-19 pandemic. The aim of this study is to identify and understand the barriers which may be obstructing the news media participation of older residents. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 7 journalists, 7 administrators, and 12 residents. Interview transcripts were analyzed using a thematic analysis, which resulted in the following themes: (1) residents are physically separated from their communities; (2) journalists do not consider residents to be official sources for news stories; (3) administrators feel they must manage their care home’s reputation and control access to residents; and (4) journalists and administrators are not equipped to handle issues of consent and privacy. The role of ableism and ageism in the news reporting process is discussed.
Duration of Referral-to-Death and its Associated Factors Among Cancer and Noncancer Patients: Retrospective Cohort Study of a Community Palliative Care Setting in Malaysia
Authors: Yip Yan Yee , Hwong Wen Yea , McCarthy Sylvia Ann , Hassan Chin Aidah Abdul , Woon Yuan Liang
Published: December 2022

Background: Addressing timely community palliative care integration is prioritized due to the increased burden of noncommunicable diseases. Objectives: To compare referral-to-death duration among palliative cancer and noncancer patients and to determine its associated factors in a Malaysian community palliative care center. Methods: This retrospective cohort study included decedents referred to a Malaysian community palliative care center between January 2017 and December 2019. Referral-to-death is the interval between the date of community palliative care referral and to date of death. Besides descriptive analyses, negative binomial regression analyses were conducted to identify factors associated with referral-to-death among both groups. Results: Of 4346 patients referred, 86.7% ( n  =  3766) and 13.3% ( n  =  580) had primary diagnoses of cancer and noncancer respectively. Median referral-to-death was 32 days (interquartile range [IQR]: 12–81) among cancer patients and 19 days (IQR: 7–78) among noncancer patients. The shortest referral-to-death among cancer patients was for liver cancer (median: 22 days; IQR: 8–58.5). Noncancer patients with dementia, heart failure, and multisystem organ failure had the shortest referral-to-death at 14 days. Among cancer patients, longer referral-to-death was associated with women compared to men (IRR: 1.26; 95% CI: 1.16–1.36) and patients 80 to 94 years old compared to those below 50 years old (IRR: 1.19; 95% CI: 1.02–1.38). Cancer patients with analgesics prescribed before or upon referral had 29% fewer palliative care days compared to no prescribing analgesics. In contrast, noncancer patients 50 to 64 years old had shorter referral-to-death compared to those below 50 years old (IRR: 0.51; 95% CI: 0.28–0.91). Conclusion: Shorter referral-to-death among noncancer patients indicated possible access inequities with delayed community palliative care integration. Factors associated with referral-to-death are considered in developing targeted approaches ensuring timely and equitable community palliative care.
Gender Discrimination, Competition and Efficiency
Authors: Marjit Sugata , Ray Moushakhi
Published: December 2022

The standard literature on discrimination in labour market discusses discrimination-generated inefficiency at the firm level which cannot be sustained under competition. As competition gets intense, firms would be more disciplined and would be forced to refrain from practising discrimination. This forms the core of the pioneering works by Becker (1957) and Arrow (1973). In this article, we argue that when firms are heterogeneous in terms of productivity, some of the more efficient firms can easily survive practising discrimination and only relatively inefficient firms will quit the market. Thus, incentives to discriminate, if any, would be greater for more efficient firms. Once they survive, measured efficiency of the market would, in fact, increase. Thus ironically, discriminating industries would exhibit higher efficiency. This article shows that, in a model with heterogeneous firms, a competitive market system cannot eliminate the problem of discrimination. Thus, competition and discrimination may coexist.
Adolescent Women's Perspectives on Barriers and Facilitators to High School Bathroom Use
Authors: Allen Elissa S. , Kane Low Lisa
Published: December 2022

Bathroom access and use in conjunction with biological urge to void is an important part of optimal bladder health. School settings are uniquely positioned to influence the development of bladder habits. The aim of this study was to identify barriers and facilitators to high school bathroom use for adolescent women. A qualitative study design was used to conduct semi-structured interviews focused on experiences with bathroom use while at school. Thirty adolescent women were interviewed, and transcripts were analyzed using thematic analysis methods. Barriers included unpleasant bathroom environments, lack of privacy, and school/teacher policies. Facilitators included clean, private bathrooms and menstruation. Improving bathroom cleanliness, privacy, and eliminating policies aimed at controlling bathroom access may reduce barriers to bathroom use. School nurses have a unique role in educating teachers, administrators, and students about the importance of clean bathrooms and policies that support bathroom use in conjunction with biological urge.
Mind your heart to bear the weight: Cardiac interoception predicts action-related visual perception when wearing a heavy backpack
Authors: Magnon Valentin , Dutheil Frederic , Chausse Pierre , Vallet Guillaume T
Published: December 2022

Visual perception can be modulated by the physiological potential for action. For instance, it was famously shown that a geographical slant appears steeper when wearing a heavy backpack than not wearing any. However, those results are not always replicated. In the present exploratory study, we test the hypothesis that the backpack weight’s effect on perception relies on the ability of the cognitive system to integrate the physiological constraint’s change rather than the change itself. Young adults ( n = 54) wore an electrocardiogram monitor and completed a computerised task in which photographs of real geographical slants were displayed on a screen while wearing a heavy versus light backpack. The activity of the vagus nerve, as an index of physiological adaptability, was recorded as a proxy of the physiological state during the task. The participants also completed an interoception task assessing one’s ability to detect his or her own heartbeat as the index of integration ability of the cognitive system. While Bayesian analyses revealed no difference in angle estimation between carrying a heavy versus light backpack, the results indicated that interoception predicted less accurate angle estimation only when wearing a heavy backpack. In contrast, there was anecdotal evidence that vagal activity changes predicted visual perception. Interoception might thus play a crucial role in the interplay between the physiological potential for action and action-related visual perception.
Reassessing the Relationship Between Mortgage Loan Investment and Crime Across Race/Ethnicity, Disadvantage, and Instability
Authors: Boggess Lyndsay N. , Stucky Thomas D.
Published: December 2022

Home loans are associated with fewer crimes in neighborhoods and some research shows investment may be especially helpful in disadvantaged or minority neighborhoods. To replicate and extend this research, we estimate a series of multilevel negative binomial models on crime to (1) replicate prior research, (2) examine the robustness of extant findings to variable specification, and (3) expand on prior work by examining the conditional role of residential instability. In line with prior work, our results show that tracts receiving larger absolute and relative loan amounts experience fewer violent crimes. However, the magnitude of crime-reduction benefits of investment are attenuated when including aggravated assaults or accounting for the relative value of the loans. Though investment was associated with lower violent crime in all types of tracts, disproportionate benefits of investment—that is, more bang for the buck—occurs more consistently in White tracts than tracts of color. These findings underscore the importance of replication for ensuring sound housing and anti-crime policies.
Long-distance dependency combined multi-hop graph neural networks for protein–protein interactions prediction
Authors: Zhong Wen , He Changxiang , Xiao Chen , Liu Yuru , Qin Xiaofei , Yu Zhensheng
Published: December 2022

Background

Protein–protein interactions are widespread in biological systems and play an important role in cell biology. Since traditional laboratory-based methods have some drawbacks, such as time-consuming, money-consuming, etc., a large number of methods based on deep learning have emerged. However, these methods do not take into account the long-distance dependency information between each two amino acids in sequence. In addition, most existing models based on graph neural networks only aggregate the first-order neighbors in protein–protein interaction (PPI) network. Although multi-order neighbor information can be aggregated by increasing the number of layers of neural network, it is easy to cause over-fitting. So, it is necessary to design a network that can capture long distance dependency information between amino acids in the sequence and can directly capture multi-order neighbor information in protein–protein interaction network.

Results

In this study, we propose a multi-hop neural network (LDMGNN) model combining long distance dependency information to predict the multi-label protein–protein interactions. In the LDMGNN model, we design the protein amino acid sequence encoding (PAASE) module with the multi-head self-attention Transformer block to extract the features of amino acid sequences by calculating the interdependence between every two amino acids. And expand the receptive field in space by constructing a two-hop protein–protein interaction (THPPI) network. We combine PPI network and THPPI network with amino acid sequence features respectively, then input them into two identical GIN blocks at the same time to obtain two embeddings. Next, the two embeddings are fused and input to the classifier for predict multi-label protein–protein interactions. Compared with other state-of-the-art methods, LDMGNN shows the best performance on both the SHS27K and SHS148k datasets. Ablation experiments show that the PAASE module and the construction of THPPI network are feasible and effective.

Conclusions

In general terms, our proposed LDMGNN model has achieved satisfactory results in the prediction of multi-label protein–protein interactions.
Comparative Genomics of Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri isolated from dairy, KEM complex, Makgeolli, and Saliva Microbiomes
Authors: Gumustop Ismail , Ortakci Fatih
Published: December 2022

Background

Lentilactobacillus parabuchneri is of particular concern in fermented food bioprocessing due to causing unwanted gas formation, cracks, and off-flavor in fermented dairy foods. This species is also a known culprit of histamine poisonings because of decarboxylating histidine to histamine in ripening cheese. Twenty-eight genomes in NCBI GenBank were evaluated via comparative analysis to determine genomic diversity within this species and identify potential avenues for reducing health associated risks and economic losses in the food industry caused by these organisms.

Result

Core genome-based phylogenetic analysis revealed four distinct major clades. Eight dairy isolates, two strains from an unknown source, and a saliva isolate formed the first clade. Three out of five strains clustered on clade 2 belonged to dairy, and the remaining two strains were isolated from the makgeolli and Korean effective microorganisms (KEM) complex. The third and fourth clade members were isolated from Tete de Moine and dairy-associated niches, respectively. Whole genome analysis on twenty-eight genomes showed ~ 40% of all CDS were conserved across entire strains proposing a considerable diversity among L. parabuchneri strains analyzed. After assigning CDS to their corresponding function, ~ 79% of all strains were predicted to carry putative intact prophages, and ~ 43% of the strains harbored at least one plasmid; however, all the strains were predicted to encode genomic island, insertion sequence, and CRISPR-Cas system. A type I-E CRISPR-Cas subgroup was identified in all the strains, with the exception of DSM15352, which carried a type II-A CRISPR-Cas system. Twenty strains were predicted to encode histidine decarboxylase gene cluster that belongs to not only dairy but also saliva, KEM complex, and unknown source. No bacteriocin-encoding gene(s) or antibiotic resistome was found in any of the L. parabuchneri strains screened.

Conclusion

The findings of the present work provide in-depth knowledge of the genomics of L. parabuchneri by comparing twenty-eight genomes available to date. For example, the hdc gene cluster was generally reported in cheese isolates; however, our findings in the current work indicated that it could also be encoded in those strains isolated from saliva, KEM complex, and unknown source. We think prophages are critical mobile elements of L. parabuchneri genomes that could pave the way for developing novel tools to reduce the occurrence of this unwanted species in the food industry.
Plasma membrane aquaporins of the PIP1 and PIP2 subfamilies facilitate hydrogen peroxide diffusion into plant roots
Authors: Israel David , Lee Seong Hee , Robson Thomas Matthew , Zwiazek Janusz Jerzy
Published: December 2022

Background

The permeability of plasma membrane aquaporins (PIPs) to small solutes other than water greatly diversifies their potential functions in plant development and metabolic processes. One such process is stress signalling in which hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) plays a major role. Based on transport assays carried out in yeast, there are differences in the degree to which PIPs of Arabidopsis thaliana, are permeable to H2O2 and thus they may differentially facilitate transmembrane diffusion. Here, we test whether specific PIPs aid in the transmembrane diffusion of H2O2 to such an extent that knocking-out PIPs affects plant phenotype. We examined changes in growth and morphology, including biomass accumulation, root system architecture and relative water content, as well as gas exchange, across two H2O2 treatments in knockout mutants of A. thaliana.

Results

We could infer that PIP-type aquaporins are permeable to H2O2in planta and that this permeability is physiologically relevant in a plant’s response to oxidative stress. In particular, the lack of functional PIP2;3 confers resistance to exogenously applied H2O2 indicating that it facilitates H2O2 entry into root cells. Additionally, PIP1;1 and PIP2;6 were found to facilitate H2O2 diffusion, while PIP2;2 is required for proper root growth under controlled conditions.

Main findings

We conclude that PIPs are physiologically relevant conduits for H2O2 diffusion in the A. thaliana roots and participate in the regulation of stress responses.
Modified chair method: an easy and efficient reduction method without medication for anterior shoulder dislocation
Authors: Ge Yufeng , Yang Minghui , Gao Feng , Peng Weidong , Wu Xinbao
Published: December 2022

Background

Various maneuvers have been introduced to address anterior shoulder dislocations. Chair method allows the patient to sit comfortably and feel less pain during the reduction procedure. However, the rarity of comparative studies led to a lack of evidence to popularize. The present study aimed to introduce a modified chair (MOC) reduction method for anterior shoulder dislocation and explore its effectiveness compared with the traditional Hippocratic approach.

Methods

This is a single-center retrospective study of 257 patients with anterior shoulder dislocation from September 2020 and July 2021. Patients were divided into two groups according to the reduction method they received (either the Hippocratic method or the MOC method). Success rate, reduction time, visual analog scale (VAS) pain score, satisfaction level, and a new indicator, pain index (reduction time (s)* VAS/ 10), were compared.

Results

One hundred sixteen patients (43 females, 73 males) underwent the Hippocratic method, and 141 (65 females, 76 males) MOC method. A significantly higher success rate was seen in the MOC group (96.5%(136/141) vs. 84.5%(98/116) in the Hippocratic group; OR 5, 95%CI 1.79 ~ 13.91;p = 0.002). Pain index of the patients in the MOC group was much lower than that in the Hippocratic group (3.20 (2.10, 4.53) vs. 36.70 (22.40, 47.25),p <  0.001). The reduction time, VAS pain score, and satisfaction level also favored the MOC method.

Conclusions

The MOC method is an easy and efficient reduction method with minimum assistance for anterior shoulder dislocations. Physicians can skillfully perform this procedure with the help of their body weight. The MOC method could be attempted for shoulder dislocations in the emergency department.
Adherence to coprescribing of laxatives with opioids and associated characteristics in general practices in the Netherlands
Authors: Hek Karin , Lghoul-Oulad Saïd Fouzia , Korevaar Joke C. , Flinterman Linda E. , van Dijk Liset , van den Bemt Patricia M. L. A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Guidelines recommend to prescribe a laxative with an opioid to prevent constipation. We aimed to determine the adherence by general practitioners (GPs) to this recommendation and to explore which GP- and patient related factors were associated with it from the perspective of the GP. 

Methods

We conducted an observational study using GPs’ prescription data from the Nivel Primary Care Database combined with a questionnaire asking for reasons of non-adherence. The proportion of first opioid prescriptions prescribed together with a laxative was determined as primary outcome. Possible explanatory factors such as the quality of registration, the level of collaboration with the pharmacy, familiarity with the recommendation and use of a clinical decision support system were explored, as were the self-reported reasons for non-adherence (classified as either GP-related or patient-related). We assessed the association of factors with the primary outcome using univariable multilevel logistic regression analysis.

Results

The recommendation was measured in 195 general practices. The median proportion of first opioid prescriptions prescribed together with a laxative in these practices was 54% (practice range 18–88%). None of the determinants was consistently associated with the primary outcome. GPs from 211 practices filled out the questionnaire and the most frequently mentioned reason not to prescribe a laxative was that the patient has laxatives in stock, followed by that the patient doesn’t want a laxative; both were patient-related factors.

Conclusion

There was room for improvement in following the guideline on laxative prescribing in opioid use. A main reason seemed to be that the patient refuses a laxative. Improvement measures should therefore focus on communication between GPs and patients on the relevance of co-using a laxative with opioids. Future studies need to establish the effect of such improvement measures, and determine whether reasons for non-adherence to the guideline changed over time.
Assessing the longitudinal association between the GGT/HDL-C ratio and NAFLD: a cohort study in a non-obese Chinese population
Authors: Xie Qiyang , Lu Song , Kuang Maobin , He Shiming , Yu Changhui , Hu Chong , Zou Yang
Published: December 2022

Background

A cross-sectional association between the combination indicator of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and gamma-glutamyl transferase (GGT) and fatty liver has been described in several recent studies, and this study aims to further evaluate the longitudinal relationship between the ratio of GGT to HDL-C (GGT/HDL-C ratio) and nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD).

Methods

This cohort study included 12,126 individuals without NAFLD at baseline, followed prospectively for 5 years, and the endpoint of interest was new-onset NAFLD. The relationship of the GGT/HDL-C ratio with new-onset NAFLD and the shape of the association was assessed by Cox regression models and restricted cubic spline (RCS) regression, respectively. Time-dependent receiver operator characteristics (ROC) curves were constructed to evaluate the predictive value of GGT, HDL-C, GGT/HDL-C ratio and BMI for the occurrence of NAFLD at different time points in the future.

Results

The prevalence of NAFLD was 72.46/1000 person-years during the 5-year follow-up period. Results of multivariate Cox regression analysis showed a positive association of the GGT/HDL-C ratio with new-onset NAFLD after adequate adjustment of the related confounding factors, and the degree of correlation was slightly higher than that of GGT, and further subgroup analysis found that this association was more significant in the population with elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP). In addition, we also found a nonlinear relationship of the GGT/HDL-C ratio with the risk of new-onset NAFLD using the RCS regression, where the saturation threshold was about 31.79 U/mmol. Time-dependent ROC analysis results showed that the GGT/HDL-C ratio was increasingly valuable in predicting NAFLD over time, and was better than HDL-C in predicting NAFLD in the early stage (1–3 years), but was not superior to BMI and GGT.

Conclusions

In this large longitudinal cohort study based on a Chinese population, our results supported that the GGT/HDL-C ratio was positively and nonlinearly associated with the risk of new-onset NAFLD in a non-obese population. In the assessment of future NAFLD risk, the GGT/HDL-C ratio was slightly better than GGT alone; However, the GGT/HDL-C ratio did not appear to have a significant advantage over GGT and BMI alone in predicting NAFLD.
Chromosomal analysis of 262 miscarried conceptuses: a retrospective study
Authors: Gui Juan , Ding Jinli , Yin Tailang , Liu Qian , Xie Qingzhen , Ming Lei
Published: December 2022

Background

Embryonic chromosomal abnormality is one of the significant causative factors of pregnancy loss. Our goal was to investigate the differences of chromosomal abnormality between different conception modes in miscarried products of conception (POCs).

Methods

A retrospective study included 262 miscarried POCs from 167 women undergoing assisted reproductive treatment (ART) and 95 spontaneous pregnant (SP) women during March 2019 to March 2022 in Renmin Hospital of Wuhan University. Subgroups were divided according to age, fertilization method, types and stages of embryo transfer. The profiles of cytogenetic abnormalities in the miscarried POCs were measured via next-generation sequencing.

Results

The rate of chromosomal abnormality in the fresh embryo transfer group and the cleavage embryo transfer group was significantly higher than that in the frozen embryo transfer group (79.2% vs. 36%, P = 0.0001) and the blastocyst transfer group (66.7% vs. 32.1%, P = 0.0001) respectively. There was no significant difference in the rate of chromosomal abnormalities when compared by maternal age (49.2% vs. 62%, P = 0.066), types of conception (49.7% vs. 57.9%, P = 0.202), fertilization method (49.6% vs. 48.7%, P = 0.927) and frequency of abortion (56% vs. 47.6%, P = 0.183). However, the women aged ≥ 35 years had more frequent numerical abnormality (P = 0.002); patients using assisted reproductive technology had more rate of chromosomal structural abnormalities (26.5% vs. 7.3%, P = 0.005); the ICSI fertilization group has more frequency of deletion/microdeletion than the IVF fertilization group (80% vs. 31.3%, P = 0.019).

Conclusion

Blastocyst transfer might help to reduce the incidence of miscarriage. In addition, “freezing all” should be considered if encountered hyper ovarian stimulation, to avoid the negative effect of high estrogen environment on embryo development. The higher incidence of structural abnormalities in miscarried POCs from assisted reproductive patients reminds us to pay attention to the safety of the technology for offspring.
Study protocol of the TEC-ORL clinical trial: a randomized comparative phase II trial investigating the analgesic activity of capsaicin vs Laroxyl in head and neck Cancer survivors presenting with neuropathic pain sequelae
Authors: Boden Antoine , Lusque Amélie , Lodin Sabrina , Bourgouin Marie , Mauries Valérie , Moreau Christelle , Fabre Amandine , Mounier Muriel , Poublanc Muriel , Caunes-Hilary Nathalie , Filleron Thomas
Published: December 2022

Background

Neuropathic pain is common in cancer survivorship and is one of the most distressing symptoms for patients previously treated for head and neck cancer. Persistent neuropathic pain, when it is ongoing and uncontrolled, has a detrimental effect and erodes patients’ quality of life. Patients treated for head and neck cancer are chronic opioid users to manage their post-treatment pain, which may entail an increased risk of addiction and overdose. We propose to evaluate the analgesic activity of high-concentration capsaicin patches for the treatment of head and neck cancer survivors presenting with neuropathic pain sequelae.

Methods

TEC-ORL is a parallel, multicenter randomized comparative phase II study evaluating whether Capsaïcin patches (Qutenza®) reduce neuropathic pain when compared to Amitriptyline (Laroxyl®) in head and neck cancer survivors presenting with neuropathic pain sequelae. The primary efficacy outcome is the rate of patients with a pain reduction of at least two points at 9 months compared to baseline. Assuming that 5% of patients become lost to follow-up, 130 patients will need to be randomized to detect a 25% improvement (i.e., standard: 25%, experimental: 50%) using a one-sided chi-square test with an alpha of 0.05%. According to the recommendations for comparative phase II trials, the target differences and type I error rates are relaxed. Randomized patients will either be treated with a capsaicin 8% (Qutenza®) patch applied at three time intervals in the experimental arm or with Amitriptyline (Laroxyl®) (oral solution 40 mg/ml) taken for 9 months at the recommended daily dose of 25 mg to 75 mg in the control arm.

Discussion

TEC-ORL is a randomized comparative phase II trial designed to comprehensively evaluate the analgesic activity of capsaicin compared to Laroxyl in Head and Neck Cancer survivors presenting with neuropathic pain sequelae.

Trial registration

ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT04704453 Date of registration: 2021/01/13.
Role of IDO expression in patients with locally advanced rectal cancer treated with preoperative chemoradiotherapy
Authors: Takasu Chie , Nishi Masaaki , Yoshikawa Kozo , Tokunaga Takuya , Nakao Toshihiro , Kashihara Hideya , Wada Yuma , Yoshimoto Toshiaki , Okikawa Shohei , Yamashita Shoko , Shimada Mitsuo
Published: December 2022

Background

The role of the immune system in locally advanced rectal cancer (LARC) following preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) has been widely investigated in recent years. This study examined the prognostic significance of indoleamine-pyrrole 2,3-dioxygenase (IDO) expression in patients with LARC who received preoperative CRT.

Methods

Ninety patients with LARC who underwent preoperative CRT and curative resection were enrolled. IDO and programmed death-ligand 1 (PD-L1) expression was evaluated by immunohistochemistry.

Results

Clinicopathological factors did not significantly differ between patients with positive or negative IDO expression, excluding the correlation of positive IDO expression with better tumor differentiation (p = 0.02). IDO expression was not associated with pathological response (p = 0.44), but it was associated with PD-L1 expression. The 5-year overall survival (OS) rate was significantly worse in the IDO-positive group than in the IDO-negative group (64.8% vs. 85.4%, p = 0.02). Univariate analysis identified IDO and PD-L1 expression (p = 0.02), surgical procedure (p = 0.01), final pathological stage (p = 0.003), lymph node metastasis (p < 0.001), and lymphatic invasion (p = 0.002) as significant prognostic factors for OS. Multivariate analysis revealed that IDO expression (HR: 7.10, p = 0.0006), surgical procedure (HR: 5.03, p = 0.01), lymph node metastasis (HR: 2.37, p = 0.04) and lymphatic invasion (HR: 4.97, p = 0.01) were independent prognostic indicators. Disease-free survival was not correlated with IDO or PD-L1 expression.

Conclusions

IDO expression in patients with LARC who received preoperative CRT could be a potential prognostic indicator. IDO expression could be a useful marker for specifying individual treatment strategies in LARC.
Frequency, severity, and factors associated with clinically significant drug-drug interactions among patients with cancer attending Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Cancer Unit, Uganda
Authors: Luzze Bonny , Atwiine Barnabas , Lugobe Henry Mark , Yadesa Tadele Mekuriya
Published: December 2022

Background

Cancer is a major public health problem with pharmacotherapy being the cornerstone of its management. Cancer patients receive multiple drugs concurrently risking Drug-Drug Interactions (DDIs). DDIs, though avoidable, can significantly contribute to morbidity, mortality, and increased healthcare costs in this population of patients. Currently, there is no published study from Uganda on clinically significant DDIs (cs-DDIs) among cancer patients. This study identifies frequency, severity, and factors associated with cs-DDIs at Mbarara Regional Referral Hospital Cancer Unit (MRRHCU).

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 300 cancer patients receiving chemotherapy from a tertiary care hospital in western Uganda from January–February 2022. A questionnaire and data collection form were used to collect patient data. Lexicomp® Drug interaction software was used to screen the patient drug information for DDIs and assess their severity. Predictors of DDIs were identified using logistic regression using SPSS (Statistical Package for Social Sciences).

Result

Three hundred participants were enrolled with a mean age of 48 ± 23.3 years. One hundred eighty-one patients experienced 495 cs-DDIs; with a mean of 1.7 ± 2.2. The prevalence of cs-DDI was 60.3% (55.0-66.0% at 95% CI). Digestive organ neoplasms were the most commonly (80, 26.7%) diagnosed category, and ‘plant alkaloids and other natural products were the most frequently (143, 47.7%) used chemotherapeutic drug classes. About three-quarters of cs-DDIs were rated as category C risk (367, 74.1%) whereas over two-thirds (355, 71.7%) were moderate in severity.. Being female (aOR = 2.43 [1.23–4.48 at 95% CI];P-value = 0.011) and use of ≥ 6 drugs concurrently (aOR = 18.82 [9.58–36.95 at 95% CI];P-value < 0.001)) were significantly associated with cs-DDIs.

Conclusion

More than half of the participants experienced at-least one cs-DDI which is generally higher than what was reported in high-income settings. About three-quarters were category C and moderate in severity, and require enhanced monitoring for safety and treatment outcome. Being female and using ≥ 6 drugs were significantly associated with cs-DDIs.