bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Assessment of photovoltaic generation penetration effect on the maximum loadability of the system
Authors: Gupta Santosh Kumar , Ranjan Ashish , Kumar Dhananjay , Yadav Lokesh Kumar , Rahman Md Atiqur , Kumar Vikash , Kumar Neeraj
Published: March 2024

This paper proposed a method to investigate the effect of increasing PV penetration on the voltage stability of an IEEE 14-bus test system considering maximum PV penetration and system loadability limit. The critical bus of the test system has been decided based on nose curve analysis. The solar PV system is deployed with the most critical bus of the system. The effect of increasing PV penetration on the improvement in the loading capacity of various power system components like transmission lines, transmission line transformers, and generators is investigated over the adopted test system. Based on solar PV penetration up to 100 MW, the maximum loadability limit of the IEEE 14-bus test system increases, as shown by the results. Bus 14 is found to be the most severe bus of the test system using the continuation power flow (CPF) method. However, in some cases, overloading situations develop after a certain limit of PV penetration in the power system. In this condition, the overloading of the power system equipment is improved by the use of a Static Synchronous Compensator (STATCOM) at bus number 14, a double circuit line in the critical line (9–14), and Static Synchronous Series Compensator (SSSC) in the most severe line (9–14) in the system. The maximum loadability of the system gets maximum enhanced from 4.0349 p.u. to 4.5602 p.u. under simultaneous use of solar PV generation, SSSC, and STATCOM at the most critical bus and in most severe line of the system. As evidence, the enhancement in maximum loadability of the system found using the proposed method has been also compared with the existing research. The maximum system loadability has been also enhanced under normal and (N-1) contingency conditions by the use of PV penetration in the system. PSAT/MATLAB software is used for simulation and maximum loadability has been investigated by continuation power flow (CPF) method.
Perambulations in Print
Authors: Bascom Ben
Published: March 2024

This chapter examines the only remaining copy of Jonathan Plummer’s life narrative (1796–1798) to argue that his local notoriety as a “hermaphrodite”—a charge he disseminated through his public declamations that he circulated in print—articulates a masculinity in conflict with the norms he actively tried to meet. After being established as a poet through the patronage of the eccentric “Lord” Timothy Dexter (examined in Chapter 3), Plummer proceeded to narrate how his dreams and his hearing of divine voices set him apart from the masses. This chapter focuses on how Plummer’s example disturbs a series of norms regarding print—specifically, its connection to constituting privacy—that inform scholarly writings on the public sphere.
Coda
Authors: Bascom Ben
Published: March 2024

The Coda turns to contemporary fantasies regarding monumentalizing masculinity (Donald Trump) and the shadow of Benjamin Franklin. In many ways, Franklin was a larger-than-life eccentric, one whose written life became abstracted into a model for other (white) men to mimic to secure their “way to wealth.” The way Franklin’s textual life writing becomes a synecdoche—a part for a whole—of the U.S. nation shows how one individual’s becoming singular formed an abstract norm against which other lives are measured. Indeed, Franklin’s so-called autobiography is more of a hodgepodge result of four specific writing occasions over the course of nearly twenty years and posthumously manufactured into several iterations of a book. That achievement into book form stabilizes what becomes a norm of written self-production in the nineteenth century.
Direct-to-Implant vs Tissue Expander Placement in Immediate Breast Reconstruction: A Prospective Cohort Study
Authors: Chiang Sarah N , Keane Alexandra M , Ribaudo Joseph G , Tao Yu , Margenthaler Julie A , Tenenbaum Marissa M , Myckatyn Terence M
Published: March 2024

Background

Direct-to-implant (DTI) breast reconstruction after mastectomy has gained increasing popularity. While concerns over ischemic complications related to tension on the mastectomy flap persist, newer techniques and technologies have enhanced safety of this technique.

Objectives

To compare clinical and patient-reported outcomes of DTI and 2-stage tissue expander (TE) reconstruction.

Methods

A prospective cohort design was utilized to compare the incidence of reconstructive failure among patients undergoing DTI and TE reconstruction by unadjusted bivariate and adjusted multivariable logistic regression analyses. Secondary clinical outcomes of interest included specific complications requiring intervention (infection, seroma, hematoma, mastectomy flap necrosis, incisional dehiscence, device exposure) and time to final drain removal. Patient-reported outcomes on BREAST-Q were also compared.

Results

A total of 134 patients (257 breasts) underwent DTI reconstruction and 222 patients (405 breasts) received TEs. DTI patients were significantly younger with lower BMIs; less diabetes, hypertension, and smoking; and smaller breast sizes; they also underwent more nipple-sparing mastectomies with prepectoral reconstructions. Rates of any complication (18% DTI vs 24% TE, P = .047), reconstructive failure (5.1% vs 12%, P = .004), and seroma (3.9% vs 11%, P < .001) were significantly lower in the DTI cohort on unadjusted analyses; however, there were no significant differences on adjusted regressions. Patient-reported satisfaction with breasts, psychosocial well-being, and sexual well-being were more substantively improved with DTI reconstruction.

Conclusions

Prepectoral DTI reconstruction is a viable option for postmastectomy reconstruction in carefully selected patients, with no significant increase in reconstructive failure or other complications.

Level of Evidence: 2
Human milk-specific fat components enhance the secretion of ghrelin by MGN3-1 cells
Authors: Kaneko Kentaro , Taniguchi Eriko , Funatsu Yui , Nakamura Yoshitaka , Iwakura Hiroshi , Ohinata Kousaku
Published: March 2024

Triacylglycerols (TAGs) are a major fat component in human milk. Since gastric lipase produces 1,2-diacylglycerol from TAGs, we focused on the bioactivity of human milk-derived diacylglycerols in stomach cells. Ghrelin is produced in the stomach and acts as an important regulator of growth hormone secretion and energy homeostasis. In this study, we showed that 1-oleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OP) increased ghrelin secretion, whereas 1,3-dioleoyl-2-palmitoylglycerol (OPO), a major component of human milk TAGs, did not increase ghrelin secretion in the ghrelin-secreting cell line, MGN3-1. Therefore, diacylglycerol OP may directly contribute to the regulation of ghrelin secretion. We also found that 2-palmitoylglycerol and 1- and 2-oleoylglycerol increased ghrelin secretion. Finally, we demonstrated that intracellular cAMP levels and preproghrelin and ghrelin O-acyl transferase expression levels were enhanced by OP treatment in MGN3-1 cells. This may represent an example of a novel mother-infant interaction mediated by fat components derived from human breast milk.
Biodiesel production from waste cooking oil using calcium oxide derived from scallop shell waste
Authors: Puspitasari Poppy , Dwi Pramono Diki , Nur Fiansyah Davi , Ayu Permanasari Avita , Mufti Nandang , Abd Razak Jeefferie
Published: March 2024

Biodiesel is one of the alternative forms of diesel fuel and can be obtained using the transesterification process of waste cooking oil with a catalyst to accelerate the reaction. The heterogeneous catalyst from waste scallop shells is used due to its potential for being reused in the subsequent transesterification reactions. Heterogeneous catalysts can also be recycled, contributing to their environmentally friendly nature. This study aims to identify the performance of recycling a calcium oxide (CaO) catalyst from scallop shell waste on synthesis biodiesel. The method used is the transesterification method with the basic ingredients of waste cooking oil using a CaO catalyst. Then, after the transesterification process is complete, the catalyst is separated from the biodiesel and recycled to be reused in the transesterification process up to five times. The biodiesel samples obtained are identified for yield value, physico-chemical properties, thermal properties and performance. X-ray diffraction characterization results for the CaO catalyst show that it has a crystal size of 67.83 nm. Scanning electron microscope characterization shows that it has spherical particle shapes. Fourier transform infrared characterization shows the presence of Ca–O bonds. The highest biodiesel yield value of 74.23% is obtained in biodiesel Cycle 1. The flash point value of biodiesel samples ranges from 141.2°C to 149°C. Further, all of the biodiesel samples exhibit a cetane number of 75. The highest lower heating value of 38.22 MJ/kg is obtained in biodiesel Cycle 1 and the viscosity of the biodiesel samples ranges from 5.65 to 5.88 cSt. The density of the biodiesel samples ranges from 881.23 to 882.92 kg/m3. Besides, ester functional groups (C=O) and methyl functional groups have been successfully formed in all samples, with the methyl oleate compound observed as dominating the biodiesel samples. The cloud point value of the biodiesel samples ranges from 12°C to 13°C, and their pour point value ranges from 10°C to 12°C. The lead content in biodiesel is 0.8826 mg/kg. The lowest sulphur content is obtained from biodiesel Cycles 1 and 2 at 0.005%. Performance tests show that biodiesel has lower torque and brake power values than commercial diesel fuel and higher specific fuel consumption values than commercial diesel fuel.
Population genetic analysis based on the polymorphisms mediated by transposons in the genomes of pig
Authors: Zong Wencheng , Zhao Runze , Wang Xiaoyan , Zhou Chenyu , Wang Jinbu , Chen Cai , Niu Naiqi , Zheng Yao , Chen Li , Liu Xin , Hou Xinhua , Zhao Fuping , Wang Ligang , Wang Lixian , Song Chengyi , Zhang Longchao
Published: March 2024

Transposable elements (TEs) mobility is capable of generating a large number of structural variants (SVs), which can have considerable potential as molecular markers for genetic analysis and molecular breeding in livestock. Our results showed that the pig genome contains mainly TE-SVs generated by short interspersed nuclear elements (51,873/76.49%), followed by long interspersed nuclear elements (11,131/16.41%), and more than 84% of the common TE-SVs (Minor allele frequency, MAF > 0.10) were validated to be polymorphic. Subsequently, we utilized the identified TE-SVs to gain insights into the population structure, resulting in clear differentiation among the three pig groups and facilitating the identification of relationships within Chinese local pig breeds. In addition, we investigated the frequencies of TEs in the gene coding regions of different pig groups and annotated the respective TE types, related genes, and functional pathways. Through genome-wide comparisons of Large White pigs and Chinese local pigs utilizing the Beijing Black pigs, we identified TE-mediated SVs associated with quantitative trait loci and observed that they were mainly involved in carcass traits and meat quality traits. Lastly, we present the first documented evidence of TE transduction in the pig genome.
Real world performance of the 21st Century Cures Act population-level application programming interface
Authors: Jones James R , Gottlieb Daniel , McMurry Andrew J , Atreja Ashish , Desai Pankaja M , Dixon Brian E , Payne Philip R O , Saldanha Anil J , Shankar Prabhu , Solad Yauheni , Wilcox Adam B , Ali Momeena S , Kang Eugene , Martin Andrew M , Sprouse Elizabeth , Taylor David E , Terry Michael , Ignatov Vladimir , Mandl Kenneth D
Published: March 2024

Objective

To evaluate the real-world performance of the SMART/HL7 Bulk Fast Health Interoperability Resources (FHIR) Access Application Programming Interface (API), developed to enable push button access to electronic health record data on large populations, and required under the 21st Century Cures Act Rule.

Materials and Methods

We used an open-source Bulk FHIR Testing Suite at 5 healthcare sites from April to September 2023, including 4 hospitals using electronic health records (EHRs) certified for interoperability, and 1 Health Information Exchange (HIE) using a custom, standards-compliant API build. We measured export speeds, data sizes, and completeness across 6 types of FHIR.

Results

Among the certified platforms, Oracle Cerner led in speed, managing 5-16 million resources at over 8000 resources/min. Three Epic sites exported a FHIR data subset, achieving 1-12 million resources at 1555-2500 resources/min. Notably, the HIE’s custom API outperformed, generating over 141 million resources at 12 000 resources/min.

Discussion

The HIE’s custom API showcased superior performance, endorsing the effectiveness of SMART/HL7 Bulk FHIR in enabling large-scale data exchange while underlining the need for optimization in existing EHR platforms. Agility and scalability are essential for diverse health, research, and public health use cases.

Conclusion

To fully realize the interoperability goals of the 21st Century Cures Act, addressing the performance limitations of Bulk FHIR API is critical. It would be beneficial to include performance metrics in both certification and reporting processes.
In-depth human immune cellular profiling from newborn to frail
Authors: Li Wangchun , Liu Hangyu , Gao Lijuan , Hu Yang , Zhang Anna , Li Wenfeng , Liu Guolong , Bai Weibin , Xu Yudai , Xiao Chanchan , Deng Jieping , Lei Wen , Chen Guobing
Published: March 2024

Immune functional decline and remodeling accompany aging and frailty. It is still largely unknown how changes in the immune cellular composition differentiate healthy individuals from those who become frail at a relatively early age. Our aim in this exploratory study was to investigate immunological changes from newborn to frailty and the association between health statute and various immune cell subtypes. The participants analyzed in this study covered human cord blood cells and peripheral blood cells collected from young adults and healthy and frail old individuals. A total of 30 immune cell subsets were performed by flow cytometry based on the surface markers of immune cells. Furthermore, frailty was investigated for its relations with various leukocyte subpopulations. Frail individuals exhibited a higher CD4/CD8 ratio; a higher proportion of CD4+ central memory T cells, CD8+ effector memory T cells, CD27− switched memory B (BSM) cells, CD27+ BSM cells, age-associated B cells, and CD38−CD24− B cells; and a lower proportion of naïve CD8+ T cells and progenitor B cells. The frailty index score was found to be associated with naïve T cells, CD4/CD8 ratio, age-associated B cells, CD27− BSM cells, and CD4+ central memory T cells. Our findings conducted a relatively comprehensive and extensive atlas of age- and frailty-related changes in peripheral leukocyte subpopulations from newborn to frailty. The immune phenotypes identified in this study can contribute to a deeper understanding of immunosenescence in frailty and may provide a rationale for future interventions and diagnosis.
Health-related quality of life and DNA methylation-based aging biomarkers among survivors of childhood cancer
Authors: Plonski Noel-Marie , Pan Yue , Chen Cheng , Dong Qian , Zhang Xijun , Song Nan , Shelton Kyla , Easton John , Mulder Heather , Zhang Jinghui , Neale Geoffrey , Walker Emily , Wang Hui , Webster Rachel , Brinkman Tara , Krull Kevin R , Armstrong Gregory T , Ness Kirsten K , Hudson Melissa M , Li Qian , Huang I-Chan , Wang Zhaoming
Published: March 2024

Background

Childhood cancer survivors are at high risk for morbidity and mortality and poor patient-reported outcomes, typically health-related quality of life (HRQOL). However, associations between DNA methylation–based aging biomarkers and HRQOL have not been evaluated.

Methods

DNA methylation was generated with Infinium EPIC BeadChip on blood-derived DNA (median for age at blood draw = 34.5 years, range = 18.5-66.6 years), and HRQOL was assessed with age at survey (mean = 32.3 years, range = 18.4-64.5 years) from 2206 survivors in the St Jude Lifetime Cohort. DNA methylation–based aging biomarkers, including epigenetic age using multiple clocks (eg, GrimAge) and others (eg, DNAmB2M: beta-2-microglobulin; DNAmADM: adrenomedullin), were derived from the DNAm Age Calculator (https://dnamage.genetics.ucla.edu). HRQOL was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short-Form Health Survey to capture 8 domains and physical and mental component summaries. General linear models evaluated associations between HRQOL and epigenetic age acceleration (EAA; eg, EAA_GrimAge) or other age-adjusted DNA methylation–based biomarkers (eg, ageadj_DNAmB2M) after adjusting for age at blood draw, sex, cancer treatments, and DNA methylation–based surrogate for smoking pack-years. All P values were 2-sided.

Results

Worse HRQOL was associated with greater EAA_GrimAge (physical component summaries: β = -0.18 years, 95% confidence interval [CI] = -0.251 to -0.11 years; P = 1.85 × 10−5; and 4 individual HRQOL domains), followed by ageadj_DNAmB2M (physical component summaries: β = -0.08 years, 95% CI = -0.124 to -0.037 years; P = .003; and 3 individual HRQOL domains) and ageadj_DNAmADM (physical component summaries: β = -0.082 years, 95% CI = -0.125 to -0.039 years; P = .002; and 2 HRQOL domains). EAA_Hannum (Hannum clock) was not associated with any HRQOL.

Conclusions

Overall and domain-specific measures of HRQOL are associated with DNA methylation measures of biological aging. Future longitudinal studies should test biological aging as a potential mechanism underlying the association between poor HRQOL and increased risk of clinically assessed adverse health outcomes.
Opioid use in cancer patients compared with noncancer pain patients in a veteran population
Authors: Mudumbai Seshadri C , He Han , Chen Ji-Qing , Kapoor Aditi , Regala Samantha , Mariano Edward R , Stafford Randall S , Abnet Christian C , Pfeiffer Ruth M , Freedman Neal D , Etemadi Arash
Published: March 2024

Background

Opioid safety initiatives may secondarily impact opioid prescribing and pain outcomes for cancer care.

Methods

We reviewed electronic health record data at a tertiary Veterans Affairs system (VA Palo Alto) for all patients from 2015 to 2021. We collected outpatient Schedule II opioid prescriptions data and calculated morphine milligram equivalents (MMEs) using Centers for Disease Control and Prevention conversion formulas. To determine the clinical impact of changes in opioid prescription, we used the highest level of pain reported by each patient on the 0-to-10 Numeric Rating Scale in each year, categorized into mild (0-3), moderate (4-6), and severe (7 and above).

Results

Among 89 569 patients, 9073 had a cancer diagnosis. Cancer patients were almost twice as likely to have an opioid prescription compared with noncancer patients (69.0% vs 36.7%, respectively). The proportion of patients who received an opioid prescription decreased from 27.1% to 18.1% (trend P < .01) in cancer patients and from 17.0% to 10.2% in noncancer patients (trend P < .01). Cancer and noncancer patients had similar declines of MMEs per year between 2015 and 2019, but the decline was more rapid for cancer patients (1462.5 to 946.4, 35.3%) compared with noncancer patients (1315.6 to 927.7, 29.5%) from 2019 to 2021. During the study period, the proportion of noncancer patients who experienced severe pain was almost unchanged, whereas it increased among cancer patients, reaching a significantly higher rate than among noncancer patients in 2021 (31.9% vs 27.4%, P < .01).

Conclusions

Our findings suggest potential unintended consequences for cancer care because of efforts to manage opioid-related risks.
Diffuse hemispheric glioma with H3 p.K28M (K27M) mutation: Unusual non-midline presentation of diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27M-altered?
Authors: Donev Kliment , Sundararajan Vanitha , Johnson Derek , Balan Jagadheshwar , Chambers Meagan , Paulson Vera A , Scherpelz Kathryn P , Abdullaev Zied , Quezado Martha , Cimino Patrick J , Pratt Drew , Valerio Ediel , Alves de Castro João Vıctor , Carraro Dirce Maria , Torrezan Giovana Tardin , Wolff Beatriz Martins , Kulikowski Leslie Domenici , Costa Felipe D’Almeida , Aldape Kenneth , Ida Cristiane M
Published: March 2024

Diffuse midline glioma, H3 K27-altered (DMG-H3 K27) is an aggressive group of diffuse gliomas that predominantly occurs in pediatric patients, involves midline structures, and displays loss of H3 p.K28me3 (K27me3) expression by immunohistochemistry and characteristic genetic/epigenetic profile. Rare examples of a diffuse glioma with an H3 p.K28M (K27M) mutation and without involvement of the midline structures, so-called “diffuse hemispheric glioma with H3 p.K28M (K27M) mutation” (DHG-H3 K27), have been reported. Herein, we describe 2 additional cases of radiologically confirmed DHG-H3 K27 and summarize previously reported cases. We performed histological, immunohistochemical, molecular, and DNA methylation analysis and provided clinical follow-up in both cases. Overall, DHG-H3 K27 is an unusual group of diffuse gliomas that shows similar clinical, histopathological, genomic, and epigenetic features to DMG-H3 K27 as well as enrichment for activating alterations in MAPK pathway genes. These findings suggest that DHG-H3 K27 is closely related to DMG-H3 K27 and may represent an unusual presentation of DMG-H3 K27 without apparent midline involvement and with frequent MAPK pathway activation. Detailed reports of additional cases with clinical follow-up will be important to expand our understanding of this unusual group of diffuse gliomas and to better define the clinical outcome and how to classify DHG-H3 K27.
Evolutionary pathways of complexity in gender systems
Authors: Shcherbakova Olena , Allassonnière-Tang Marc
Published: March 2024

Humans categorize the experience they encounter in various ways, which is mirrored, for instance, in grammatical gender systems of languages. In such systems, nouns are grouped based on whether they refer to masculine/feminine beings, (non-)humans, (in)animate entities, or objects with specific shapes. Languages differ greatly in how many gender assignment rules are incorporated in gender systems and how many word classes carry gender marking (gender agreement patterns). It has been suggested that these two dimensions are positively associated as numerous assignment rules are better sustained by numerous agreement patterns. We test this claim by analyzing the correlated evolution (Continuous method in BayesTraits) and making the causal inferences about the relationships (phylogenetic path analysis) between these 2 dimensions in 482 languages from the global Grambank database. By applying these methods to linguistic data matched to phylogenetic trees (a world tree and individual families), we evaluate whether various types of gender assignment rules (semantic, phonological, and unpredictable) are causally linked to more gender agreement patterns on the global level and in individual language families. Our results on the world language tree suggest that semantic rules are weakly positively correlated with gender agreement and that the development of agreement patterns is facilitated by different rules in individual families. For example, in Indo-European languages, more agreement patterns are caused by the presence of phonological and unpredictable rules, while in Bantu languages, the driving force of agreement patterns is the variety of semantic rules. Our study shows that the relationships between agreement and rules are family-specific and yields support to the idea that more distinct rules and/or rule types might be more robust in languages with more pervasive gender agreement.
Dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine treatment failure of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in a traveller
Authors: Delandre Océane , Cassir Nadim Shams , Taudon Nicolas , Mosnier Joel , Fonta Isabelle , Benoit Nicolas , Amalvict Remy , Linard Cyril , Jumpertz Marie , L’Ollivier Coralie , Bogreau Hervé , Pradines Bruno , Javelle Emilie
Published: March 2024

We report a late dihydroartemisinin–piperaquine treatment failure of uncomplicated Plasmodium falciparum malaria infection in a traveller without evidence of drug resistance. The correct treatment intake was confirmed, isolates drugs susceptibility was confirmed by RSA-PSA and chemosusceptibility. No molecular markers associated with resistance to artemisinin derivatives or piperaquine were identified.
Discovery of Globular Cluster Candidates in the Dwarf Irregular Galaxy IC 2574 Using HST/ACS Imaging
Authors: Karim Noushin , Collins Michelle L M , Forbes Duncan A , Read Justin I
Published: March 2024

We report the discovery of 23 globular cluster (GC) candidates around the relatively isolated dwarf galaxy IC 2574 within the Messier 81 (M81) group, at a distance of 3.86 Mpc. We use observations from the HST Advanced Camera for Surveys (ACS) to analyse the imaging in the F814W and F555W broad-band filters. Our GC candidates have luminosities ranging from −5.9 ≥ MV ≥ −10.4 and half-light radii of 1.4 ≤ rh ≤ 11.5 pc. We find the total number of GCs (NGC) = 27 ± 5 after applying completeness corrections, which implies a specific frequency of SN = 4.0 ± 0.8, consistent with expectations based on its luminosity. The GC system appears to have a bimodal colour distribution, with 30 percent of the GC candidates having redder colours. We also find five objects with extremely blue colours that could be young star clusters linked to an intense star formation episode that occurred in IC 2574 ∼1 Gyr ago. We make an independent measurement of the halo mass of IC 2574 from its kinematic data, which is rare for low mass galaxies, and find log M200 = 10.93 ± 0.08. We place the galaxy on the well-known GC system mass–halo mass relation and find that it agrees well with the observed near-linear relation. IC 2574 has a rich GC population for a dwarf galaxy, which includes an unusually bright ω Cen-like GC, making it an exciting nearby laboratory for probing the peculiar efficiency of forming massive GCs in dwarf galaxies.
Comparison of effectiveness of methotrexate in patients with late-onset versus younger-onset rheumatoid arthritis: Real-world data from an inception cohort in Japan (NICER-J)
Authors: Asai Shuji , Suzuki Mochihito , Hara Ryota , Hirano Yuji , Nagamine Satomi , Kaneko Tetsuya , Suto Takahito , Okano Tadashi , Yoshioka Yutaka , Hirao Makoto , Wakabayashi Hiroki , Fujibayashi Takayoshi , Watanabe Tatsuo , Takakubo Yuya , Ishikawa Hajime , Nasu Yoshihisa , Takemoto Toki , Kato Takefumi , Torikai Eiji , Koyama Kensuke , Takagi Hideki , Fujiwara Toshifumi , Sobue Yasumori , Ohashi Yoshifumi , Nishiume Tsuyoshi , Terabe Kenya , Kojima Masayo , Kojima Toshihisa , Imagama Shiro
Published: March 2024

Objective

To compare the effectiveness of methotrexate (MTX) as initial therapy in patients with late-onset and younger-onset rheumatoid arthritis (LORA and YORA).

Methods

Of 114 patients with YORA and 96 patients with LORA, defined as RA occurring at ≥65 years of age, enrolled in a multicentre RA inception cohort study, 71 and 66 patients who had been followed up to 6 months after starting MTX treatment were included in this study.

Results

Proportions of patients on MTX treatment at 6 months were 96% and 92% in the YORA and LORA groups, respectively. Despite lower doses of MTX in the LORA group compared with the YORA group, no significant difference was observed in clinical disease activity index scores between the two groups throughout the follow-up period. The proportion of patients in clinical disease activity index remission at 6 months was 35% in both groups. Logistic regression analysis revealed that knee joint involvement and high Health Assessment Questionnaire-Disability Index were significant negative predictors of achieving clinical disease activity index remission at 6 months in the LORA group.

Conclusion

Observations up to 6 months revealed that the effectiveness of MTX administered based on rheumatologist discretion in patients with LORA is comparable to that in patients with YORA in clinical settings.
CALMODULIN-LIKE16 and PIN-LIKES7a cooperatively regulate rice seedling primary root elongation under chilling
Authors: Liu Shuang , Zheng Yuying , Zhao Liyan , Gulam Mihray , Ullah Aman , Xie Guosheng
Published: March 2024

Low-temperature sensitivity at the germination stage is a challenge for direct seeding of rice in Asian countries. How Ca2+ and auxin (IAA) signaling regulate primary root growth under chilling remains unexplored. Here, we showed that OsCML16 interacted specifically with OsPILS7a to improve primary root elongation of early rice seedlings under chilling. OsCML16, a subgroup 6c member of the OsCML family, interacted with multiple cytosolic loop regions of OsPILS7a in a Ca2+-dependent manner. OsPILS7a localized to the endoplasmic reticulum membranes and functioned as an auxin efflux carrier in a yeast growth assay. Transgenics showed that presence of OsCML16 enhanced primary root elongation under chilling, whereas the ospils7a knockout mutant lines showed the opposite phenotype. Moreover, under chilling conditions, OsCML16 and OsPILS7a-mediated Ca2+ and IAA signaling and regulated the transcription of IAA signaling-associated genes (OsIAA11, OsIAA23, and OsARF16) and cell division marker genes (OsRAN1, OsRAN2, and OsLTG1) in primary roots. These results show that OsCML16 and OsPILS7a cooperatively regulate primary root elongation of early rice seedlings under chilling. These findings enhance our understanding of the crosstalk between Ca2+ and IAA signaling and reveal insights into the mechanisms underlying cold-stress response during rice germination.
Ethylene regulates auxin-mediated root gravitropic machinery and controls root angle in cereal crops
Authors: Kong Xiuzhen , Xiong Yali , Song Xiaoyun , Wadey Samuel , Yu Suhang , Rao Jinliang , Lale Aneesh , Lombardi Marco , Fusi Riccardo , Bhosale Rahul , Huang Guoqiang
Published: March 2024

Root angle is a critical factor in optimizing the acquisition of essential resources from different soil depths. The regulation of root angle relies on the auxin-mediated root gravitropism machinery. While the influence of ethylene on auxin levels is known, its specific role in governing root gravitropism and angle remains uncertain, particularly when Arabidopsis (Arabidopsis thaliana) core ethylene signaling mutants show no gravitropic defects. Our research, focusing on rice (Oryza sativa L.) and maize (Zea mays), clearly reveals the involvement of ethylene in root angle regulation in cereal crops through the modulation of auxin biosynthesis and the root gravitropism machinery. We elucidated the molecular components by which ethylene exerts its regulatory effect on auxin biosynthesis to control root gravitropism machinery. The ethylene-insensitive mutants ethylene insensitive2 (osein2) and ethylene insensitive like1 (oseil1), exhibited substantially shallower crown root angle compared to the wild type. Gravitropism assays revealed reduced root gravitropic response in these mutants. Hormone profiling analysis confirmed decreased auxin levels in the root tips of the osein2 mutant, and exogenous auxin (NAA) application rescued root gravitropism in both ethylene-insensitive mutants. Additionally, the auxin biosynthetic mutant mao hu zi10 (mhz10)/tryptophan aminotransferase2 (ostar2) showed impaired gravitropic response and shallow crown root angle phenotypes. Similarly, maize ethylene-insensitive mutants (zmein2) exhibited defective gravitropism and root angle phenotypes. In conclusion, our study highlights that ethylene controls the auxin-dependent root gravitropism machinery to regulate root angle in rice and maize, revealing a functional divergence in ethylene signaling between Arabidopsis and cereal crops. These findings contribute to a better understanding of root angle regulation and have implications for improving resource acquisition in agricultural systems.
Blame culture: The line between blame and accountability in policing
Authors: Farrow Kathryn
Published: March 2024

Policing is a job characterised by high levels of blame risk, with the notion of blame becoming particularly prominent feature in law enforcement in recent years, with organisations often being quick to identify other external bodies as being cognisant in perpetuating this problem. This paper investigates the extent to which fear of blame exists within policing organisations, as well as the techniques utilised by staff to neutralise this particular hazard. I will utilise Hood’s concept of ‘the blame game’ to investigate such techniques and will also outline how engaging in such games leads the organisation and its staff to pit themselves against one another by engaging in framing contests designed to shift the blame away from themselves onto other individuals within the organisation. This paper thus examines the extent to which policing organisations themselves perpetuate blaming practises and preserve the never-ending cycle of blame by engaging in such processes.
Rethinking the Basic Models of Presidential Leadership: Eisenhower, Greenstein, and Federal Highway Expansion
Authors: Zug Charles U
Published: March 2024

Fred Greenstein famously presented Eisenhower's secretive “hidden hand” style as an alternative to Richard Neustadt's model of presidential leadership, which had emphasized the need for overt control over the legislative process. Yet both models assume that the most important component of presidential leadership is the ability to manipulate governing elites. This article shows that the 1956 Highway Act contradicts Greenstein's characterization of Eisenhower as a successful hidden-hand leader. Through archival research, I show that Eisenhower's role in the Highway Act—by far the most ambitious legislative program attempted during his administration—was a decisive leadership failure. This finding does not merely undercut Greenstein's assessment of Eisenhower's distinctive leadership style, however. It exposes problems that result from assuming that presidential success should be defined as the ability to control the political process by denying other political actors substantive input in decision-making and the ability to reach some decisions on their own. Greenstein and Neustadt—the originators of widely shared contemporary assumptions about the presidency—thus incorrectly theorized the presidency's place in the American constitutional system. By empowering independently elected legislators, the separation of powers incentivizes presidents with ambitious legislative agendas to accommodate the agency of other constitutional actors through a degree of transparency and deliberativeness. I conclude by sketching an alternative presidential leadership model to the one offered by Greenstein and Neustadt, one that accommodates rather than resists the Constitution's constraints.
Bureaucratic Autonomy and the Performance of International Institutions
Authors: Mansfield Edward D
Published: March 2024

Despite longstanding scholarly interest in international institutions, remarkably little research has been conducted in variation in performance across organizations. In this essay, I review Ranjit Lall's book, which aims to fill that gap. Lall argues that the chief impediment to high-functioning international organizations (IOs) are member-states with particularistic interests that attempt to capture the institutions. The solution, he maintains, is to bolster the de facto autonomy of the bureaucrats who staff these institutions by forging operational alliances with nonstate stakeholders and mandating that they perform functions that are difficult for members to monitor. I evaluate Lall's argument and evidence. I then discuss a set of additional issues that are related to the performance of international institutions. First, why do stakeholders often continue to support those organizations that perform poorly? Second, what mechanisms exist for improving the performance of ailing IOs? Third, how does the widely documented backlash against globalization that has transpired during the past few decades bear on IOs? Fourth, Lall and others tout the benefits of well-performing IOs, but such institutions, nonetheless, can have costly and unanticipated side effects that merit greater scrutiny. Finally, formal international institutions have been key features of world politics. However, additional research is needed on whether and, if so, why they have become less important aspects of global governance.
Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapy: A Modern Definition and Description
Authors: Silvernail Jason L , Deyle Gail D , Jensen Gail M , Chaconas Eric , Cleland Josh , Cook Chad , Courtney Carol A , Fritz Julie , Mintken Paul , Lonnemann Elaine
Published: March 2024

Currently, orthopaedic manual physical therapy (OMPT) lacks a description of practice that reflects contemporary thinking and embraces advances across the scientific, clinical, and educational arms of the profession. The absence of a clear definition of OMPT reduces understanding of the approach across health care professions and potentially limits OMPT from inclusion in scientific reviews and clinical practice guidelines. For example, it is often incorrectly classified as passive care or incorrectly contrasted with exercise-therapy approaches. This perspective aims to provide clinicians, researchers, and stakeholders a modern definition of OMPT that improves the understanding of this approach both inside and outside the physical therapist profession. The authors also aim to outline the unique and essential aspects of advanced OMPT training with the corresponding examination and treatment competencies. This definition of practice and illustration of its defining characteristics is necessary to improve the understanding of this approach and to help classify it correctly for study in the scientific literature. This perspective provides a current definition and conceptual model of OMPT, defining the distinguishing characteristics and key elements of this systematic and active patient-centered approach to improve understanding and help classify it correctly for study in the scientific literature.
Weight loss response to semaglutide in postmenopausal women with and without hormone therapy use
Authors: Hurtado Maria D. , Tama Elif , Fansa Sima , Ghusn Wissam , Anazco Diego , Acosta Andres , Faubion Stephanie S. , Shufelt Chrisandra L.
Published: March 2024

Objective

To compare weight loss response and changes in cardiometabolic risk markers in postmenopausal women using semaglutide with and without menopause hormone therapy (HT) use.

Methods

Retrospective cohort study of postmenopausal women treated with semaglutide for overweight or obesity for ≥3 months. Endpoints: total body weight loss percentage (TBWL%) at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months after semaglutide initiation; and percentage of women achieving ≥5% and ≥10% TBWL and changes in cardiometabolic risk markers (glucose, blood pressure, and lipids) at 12 months.

Results

There were 16 women on HT and 90 on no-HT; mean age 56 ± 8 vs 59 ± 8 yr, P = 0.2 and mean BMI 36 ± 5 vs 39 ± 8 kg/m2, P = 0.1; respectively. Among women on no-HT, White race, dyslipidemia, and depression were more prevalent. Women on HT had a higher TBWL% at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months: 7 ± 3% vs 5 ± 4%, P = 0.01; 13 ± 6% vs 9 ± 5%, P = 0.01; 15 ± 6% vs 10 ± 6%, P = 0.02; and 16 ± 6% vs 12 ± 8%, P = 0.04; respectively. After adjusting for potential confounders, this association remained significant across time. At 12 months, a greater percentage of women on HT achieved ≥5% and ≥10% TBWL. Both groups experienced an improvement in cardiometabolic risk markers.

Conclusion

In postmenopausal women with overweight or obesity treated with semaglutide, HT use was associated with an improved weight loss response. This association was maintained when adjusted for confounders. Larger studies should be conducted to confirm these results.
Map activation of various brain regions using different frequencies of electroacupuncture ST36, utilizing the FosCreER strategy
Authors: Guo Zi , Wei Naixuan , Ye Ru , Sun Tiancheng , Qiu Shuang , Shao Xiaomei , Ge Xiaochang , Guan Lu , Fang Junfan , Fang Jianqiao , Du Junying
Published: March 2024

Objective:

Electroacupuncture (EA) is an alternative treatment option for pain. Different frequencies of EA have different pain-relieving effects; however, the central mechanism is still not well understood.

Methods:

The Fos2A-iCreER (TRAP):Ai9 mice were divided into three groups (sham, 2 Hz, and 100 Hz). The mice were intraperitoneally injected with 4-hydroxytamoxifen (4-OHT) immediately after EA at Zusanli (ST36) for 30 min to record the activated neurons. One week later, the mice were sacrificed, and the number of TRAP-treated neurons activated by EA in the thalamus, amygdala, cortex, and hypothalamus was determined.

Results:

In the cortex, 2 Hz EA activated more TRAP-treated neurons than 100 Hz EA did in the cingulate cortex area 1 (Cg1) and primary somatosensory cortex (S1), and 2 and 100 Hz EAs did not differ from sham EA. TRAP-treated neurons activated by 2 Hz EA were upregulated in the insular cortex (IC) and secondary somatosensory cortex (S2) compared with those activated by 100 Hz and sham EA. In the thalamus, the number of TRAP-treated neurons activated by 2 Hz EA was elevated in the paraventricular thalamic nucleus (PV) compared with those activated by sham EA. In the ventrolateral thalamic nucleus (VL), the number of TRAP-treated neurons activated by 2 Hz EA was significantly upregulated compared with those activated by 100 Hz EA, and sham EA showed no difference compared with 2 or 100 Hz EA. TRAP-treated neurons were more frequently activated in the ventral posterolateral thalamic nucleus (VPL) by 2 Hz EA than by 100 Hz or sham EA.

Conclusions:

Low-frequency EA ST36 effectively activates neurons in the Cg1, S1, S2, IC, VPL, PV, and VL. The enhanced excitability of the aforementioned nuclei induced by low-frequency EA may be related to its superior efficacy in the treatment of neuropathological pain.
Assessing the application of barbed sutures in comparison to conventional sutures for surgical applications: a global systematic review and meta-analysis of preclinical animal studies
Authors: Xiang Nanyan , Lin Yifei , Su Xiaoyi , Hu Zifan , Zhou Jinyu , Wu Yi , Du Liang , Huang Jin
Published: March 2024

Background:

Following an initiative published by Lancet in 2002 and an IDEAL-D framework, the value of preclinical animal studies has garnered increasing attention in recent research. Numerous preclinical animal experiments tried to generate evidence to guide the development of barbed sutures. However, discernible drawbacks and incongruities in outcomes have emerged between clinical and preclinical animal studies. Therefore, this meta-analysis aimed to review the preclinical animal experiments comparing barbed sutures with conventional sutures. We hope to facilitate clinical translation of barbed sutures by evaluating effectiveness, safety, and physical properties/reliability.

Materials and Methods:

A systematic search of PubMed, EMBASE, Cochrane Library, and ClinicalTrials.gov was conducted to identify controlled preclinical animal experiments comparing barbed sutures with conventional sutures. The risk of bias was assessed using SYRCLE. GRADE approach was used to evaluate evidence quality. Revman was applied to analyze all the data. Subgroup, sensitivity, and meta-regression analyses were also performed.

Results:

A total of 55 articles were eligible with low to moderate quality, including 1937 samples from 10 different animal species across 25 surgical procedures. Barbed suture exhibited a significant reduction in suture time, limited change in Cross-Sectional Area (CSA), and decreased instances of tissue disruption (all P ＜0.05). Subgroup analyses, considering both clinical and research significance, indicated that barbed sutures might cause more specific adverse events and demonstrate suboptimal performance of physical properties/reliability. Meta-regression suggested that heterogeneity resulted from variations in studies and animal models.

Conclusion:

Although barbed suture demonstrated superiority in numerous surgeries for time efficiency, its safety and physical properties/reliability might be influenced by diverse preclinical models, sutures’ brand, surgeries, and anatomical sites. Further evaluation, based on standardized and well-designed animal experiments, is essential for medical device development and applications in human beings.
The Incidence of Postoperative Complications Following Lumbar and Bone Marrow Punctures in Pediatric Anesthesia: Insights From APRICOT
Authors: Dagher Krystelle , Benvenuti Claudia , Virag Kathy , Habre Walid
Published: March 2024

Objective:

Bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture are procedures frequently performed in pediatric oncology. We aimed at assessing the incidence and risk factors of perioperative complications in children undergoing these procedures under sedation or general anesthesia.

Methods:

Based on the APRICOT study, we performed a secondary analysis, including 893 children undergoing bone marrow aspiration and lumbar puncture. The primary outcome was the incidence of perioperative complications. Secondary outcomes were their risk factors.

Results:

We analyzed data of 893 children who underwent 915 procedures. The incidence of severe adverse events was 1.7% and of respiratory complications was 1.1%. Prematurity (RR 4.976; 95% CI 1.097-22.568; P= 0.038), intubation (RR: 6.80, 95% CI 1.66-27.7; P=0.008), and emergency situations (RR 3.99; 95% CI 1.14-13.96; P= 0.030) increased the risk for respiratory complications. The incidence of cardiovascular instability was 0.4%, with premedication as risk factor (RR 6.678; 95% CI 1.325-33.644; P=0.021).

Conclusion:

A low incidence of perioperative adverse events was observed in children undergoing bone marrow aspiration or lumbar puncture under sedation and/or general anesthesia, with respiratory complications being the most frequent. Careful preoperative assessment should be undertaken to identify risk factors associated with an increased risk, allowing for appropriate adjustment of anesthesia management.
The Relationship Between Illness Uncertainty and Social Support Among Cancer Patients
Authors: Wu Sijia , Guo Xiajun , Tang Haishan , Li Yuanyuan , Dong Wanglin , Lu Guangli , Hou Cui , Chen Chaoran
Published: March 2024

Background

As a common psychological problem in cancer patients, illness uncertainty has attracted wide attention from scholars. Some studies have pointed out that the level of social support may affect illness uncertainty in patients with cancer, but the results of these studies remain controversial.

Objective

The aim of this study was to evaluate the correlation between illness uncertainty and social support in patients with cancer using meta-analysis.

Methods

PubMed, Web of Science, EMBASE, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, China National Knowledge Infrastructure, Wanfang Data Knowledge Service Platform, and VIP Citation Database were searched for articles published up to 2022. The screening of the literature, data extraction, and quality assessment of the included studies were performed independently by 2 researchers. Stata 17.0 software was used to analyze the overall and moderation effects.

Results

Notably, 41 studies involving 5403 patients were included. The results showed that the illness uncertainty of adults with cancer was moderately negatively correlated with social support (r = −0.33). Country, publication year, cancer type, and instrument used to measure social support moderated the association between illness uncertainty and social support.

Conclusion

Improving the level of social support can reduce illness uncertainty experienced by adults with cancer to a certain extent.

Implications for Practice

This review provides a clear direction for implementing precise interventions to reduce illness uncertainty among adults with cancer. Furthermore, patients with cancer with high morbidity and mortality rates deserve greater attention from healthcare personnel and family caregivers.