bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
New insights into nonenzymatic browning of non‐PDO Italian hard cheese through a metabolomics approach
Authors: Rocchetti Gabriele , Galimberti Sofia , Callegari Maria Luisa , Lucini Luigi
Published: February 2024

Nonenzymatic browning poses a severe problem to the dairy industry, causing economic losses. In this work, an untargeted metabolomics approach based on ultra‐high‐performance liquid chromatography coupled with Orbitrap mass spectrometry was used to investigate the discoloration found on the inner parts of nonprotected designation of origin Italian hard cheese. Alkyl‐pyrazines, imidazo‐quinoxalines and β‐carbolines were the best markers, suggesting the involvement of microbial methylglyoxal in modulating the browning defect. A better understanding of the microbial composition of natural whey starter could be of interest in future studies to better elucidate the biochemical mechanisms involved and to help generate discriminant metabolites.
Evaluating Chlamydia trachomatis and Neisseria gonorrhoeae screening and treatment among asymptomatic pregnant women to prevent preterm birth and low birthweight in Gaborone, Botswana: A secondary analysis from a non‐randomised, cluster‐controlled trial
Authors: Wynn Adriane , Mussa Aamirah , Ryan Rebecca , Babalola Chibuzor M. , Hansman Emily , Ramontshonyana Kehumile , Tamuthiba Lefhela , Ndlovu Neo , Wilson Melissa L. , Ramogola‐Masire Doreen , Klausner Jeffrey D. , Morroni Chelsea
Published: February 2024

Objective

To evaluate the impact of screening and treating asymptomatic pregnant women for Chlamydia (C.) trachomatis and Neisseria (N.) gonorrhoeae infections on the frequency of preterm birth or low birthweight infants in Botswana.

Design

Non‐randomised, cluster‐controlled trial.

Setting

Four antenatal care clinics in Gaborone, Botswana.

Population

Pregnant women aged ≥15 years, attending a first antenatal care visit, ≤27 weeks of gestation and without urogenital symptoms were eligible.

Methods

Participants in the intervention clinics received screening (GeneXpert®, Cepheid) during pregnancy and at the postnatal visit. Participants in the standard‐of‐care clinics received screening at the postnatal visit only. We used multivariable logistic regression and post‐estimation predictive margins analysis. Post‐hoc analysis was conducted among sub‐samples stratified by parity.

Main outcome measures

Preterm birth (<37 weeks of gestation) and low birthweight (<2500 g).

Results

After controlling for parity, hypertension, antenatal care visits and clinic site, the predicted prevalence of preterm birth or low birthweight was lower in the intervention arm (11%) compared with the standard‐of‐care arm (16%) (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] 0.59; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.28–1.24). In post‐hoc analysis, the intervention was more effective than the standard‐of‐care (aOR 0.20; 95% CI 0.07–0.64) among nulliparous participants.

Conclusion

A C. trachomatis and N. gonorrhoeae infection screening and treatment intervention among asymptomatic pregnant women may have reduced preterm birth or low birthweight outcomes, but results were not statistically significant. Post‐hoc analysis found that the intervention reduced adverse outcomes among nulliparous participants.
Global survey on evaluative reporting on DNA evidence with regard to activity‐level propositions
Authors: Prinz Mechthild , Pirtle Devyn , Oldoni Fabio
Published: February 2024

For many criminal cases, the source of who deposited the DNA is not what the prosecutor and the defense are trying to dispute. In court, the question may be how the DNA was deposited at the crime scene rather than who the DNA came from. Although laboratories in many countries have begun to evaluate DNA evidence given formal activity‐level propositions (ALPs), it is unknown how much other forensic practitioners know and what they think about activity‐level evaluative reporting (ALR). To collect this information, a survey with 21 questions was submitted to international forensic science organizations across Europe, Australia, South America, Canada, Asia, and Africa. The survey combined open‐ended and multiple‐choice questions and received 162 responses. Responses revealed a wide range of knowledge on the topic. Overall, most respondents were somewhat knowledgeable about ALR, ALP, and current practices in court and expressed their support of the concept. A majority of participants identified gaps and obstacles regarding ALR they would like to see addressed. Examples include (1) need for more education/training at all stakeholder levels, (2) need for more DNA evidence‐related data under realistic case scenarios, (3) need to internally implement and validate a formalized and objective approach for reporting, and (4) in some countries the need to achieve court admissibility. This global survey gathered the current concerns of forensic DNA practitioners and outlined several operational concerns. The information can be used to advance the implementation of ALR in laboratories and court testimony worldwide.
Depression mediates the relationship between adverse childhood experiences and risky drinking among Hispanic young adults
Authors: Chavez Sarah J. , Reed Mark B. , Smith Laramie R. , Zúñiga Maria L. , Pitpitan Eileen V. , Trim Ryan S. , Baweja Harsimran S.
Published: February 2024

Background and Objectives

Hispanic young adults in the United States have consistently high rates of risky drinking, adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), depression, and anxiety. There is a positive association between ACEs and alcohol use among Hispanic populations; it is unknown if mental health symptomatology mediates this relationship. The purpose of this study was to test whether depression and anxiety mediated the relationship between ACEs and risky drinking among Hispanic young adults who engage in risky drinking.

Methods

Data from 264 Hispanic young adults, ages 19 to 30, were collected via an online questionnaire. Participants were recruited via social media, emails/listservs across colleges, the community, and web‐panels. The questionnaire assessed ACEs, risky drinking, depression, and anxiety. We conducted a mediational analysis to test whether depression and anxiety mediated the relationship between ACEs and risky drinking.

Results

Of the sample, 59.8% identified as female and 40.2% as male. The average age was 24.37 (SD = 3.069). Participants (61%) identified as Mexican, Mexican American, or Chicano, and 84.1% identified as second‐generation. ACEs were positively associated with risky drinking, depression, and anxiety. Depression mediated the relationship between ACEs and risky drinking.

Conclusion and Scientific Significance

Depression explained the association between ACEs and risky drinking among Hispanic young adults, adding to our understanding of how mediators can illustrate pathways that lead from ACEs to risky drinking. Practitioners and interventionists should continue supporting Hispanic youth by integrating them into early prevention programs to mitigate the mental health consequences of ACEs that could lead to risky drinking.
Understanding inequality in U.S. farm subsidies using large‐scale administrative data
Authors: Yu Jisang , Lim Sunghun
Published: February 2024

Using a large‐scale, individual‐level administrative data set for 2008–2021, we document the inequality in farm program payments across all recipients in the U.S. By examining the relationship between within‐county inequality and demographic characteristics of farmers in a county, we find that there is a positive association between the share of Black operators and within‐county inequality. We also provide suggestive evidence that a substantial portion of racial and gender disparities in farm payments are associated with crop production characteristics. We then utilize name information in farm payment data to infer the race and gender of individual payees. The analysis using approximately 4.9 million payee‐by‐year observations and predicted race and gender information of those payees shows that payments are lower for producers who are Black, Hispanic, and female. Our study provides a comprehensive empirical analysis of the equality of farm subsidy distribution covering most U.S. farm payment programs at a granular level over time. We also provide an empirical approach of utilizing name information from the administrative data that opens up more possibilities for racial and gender inequity research in agricultural economics.
Latent heterogeneity in COVID‐19 hospitalisations: a cluster‐weighted approach to analyse mortality
Authors: Berta Paolo , Ingrassia Salvatore , Vittadini Giorgio , Spinelli Daniele
Published: February 2024

The COVID‐19 pandemic caused an unprecedented excess mortality. Since 2020, many studies have focussed on the characteristics of COVID‐19 patients who did not survive. From the statistical point of view, what seems to dominate is the large heterogeneity of the populations affected by COVID‐19 and the extreme difficulty in identifying subpopulations who died affected by a plurality of contemporary characteristics. In this paper, we propose an extremely flexible approach based on a cluster‐weighted model, which allows us to identify latent groups of patients sharing similar characteristics at the moment of hospitalisation as well as a similar mortality. We focus on one of the hardest hit areas in Italy and study the heterogeneity in the population of patients affected by COVID‐19 using administrative data on hospitalisations in the first wave of the pandemic. Results highlighted that a model‐based clustering approach is essential to understand the complexity of the COVID‐19 patients treated by hospitals and who die during hospitalisation.
Pre‐fusion motion state determines the heterogeneity of membrane fusion dynamics for large dense‐core vesicles
Authors: Xue Renhao , Zhang Enming , Wang Yu
Published: February 2024

Aim

In neuroendocrine cells, large dense‐core vesicles (LDCVs) undergo highly regulated pre‐fusion processes before releasing hormones via membrane fusion. Significant heterogeneity has been found for LDCV population based on the dynamics of membrane fusion. However, how the pre‐fusion status impacts the heterogeneity of LDCVs still remains unclear. Hence, we explored pre‐fusion determinants of heterogeneous membrane fusion procedure of LDCV subpopulations.

Methods

We assessed the pre‐fusion motion of two LDCV subpopulations with distinct membrane fusion dynamics individually, using total internal reflection fluorescence microscopy. These two subpopulations were isolated by blocking Rho GTPase‐dependent actin reorganization using Clostridium difficile toxin B (ToxB), which selectively targets the fast fusion vesicle pool.

Results

We found that the fast fusion subpopulation was in an active motion mode prior to release, termed “active” LDCV pool, while vesicles from the slow fusion subpopulation were also moving but in a significantly more confined status, forming an “inert” pool. The depletion of the active pool by ToxB also eliminated fast fusion vesicles and was not rescued by pre‐treatment with phorbol ester. A mild actin reorganization blocker, latrunculin A, that partially disrupted the active pool, only slightly attenuated the fast fusion subpopulation.

Conclusion

The pre‐fusion motion state of LDCVs also exhibits heterogeneity and dictates the heterogeneous fusion pore dynamics. Rearrangement of F‐actin network mediates vesicle pre‐fusion motion and subsequently determines the membrane fusion kinetics.
Chert sourcing using LIBS: The case of Cova del Parco, Spain
Authors: Le Guirriec Julien , Sánchez de la Torre Marta , Bousquet Bruno , Lefrais Yannick , Mangado Xavier , González Cynthia Belén , Le Bourdonnec François‐Xavier
Published: February 2024

Cherts originating from carbonate lacustrine environments have been widely exploited by Upper Palaeolithic hunter‐gatherers in the south of the Pyrenees. Archaeo‐petrographic sourcing studies have identified different potential sources but were unable to distinguish them. This study conducted geochemical characterisation of geological and archaeological lacustrine chert samples using laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and applied the supervised classification model partial least squares–discriminant analysis to LIBS spectra. The model was able to discriminate geological sources and provide predictions for the origin of a selection of chert artefacts recovered at the Middle Magdalenian level from Cova del Parco (Lleida, Spain).
Parenchymal volume preservation during partial nephrectomy: improved methodology to assess impact and predictive factors
Authors: Kazama Akira , Attawettayanon Worapat , Munoz‐Lopez Carlos , Rathi Nityam , Lewis Kieran , Maina Eran , Campbell Rebecca A. , Lone Zaeem , Boumitri Melissa , Kaouk Jihad , Haber Georges‐Pascal , Haywood Samuel , Almassi Nima , Weight Christopher , Li Jianbo , Campbell Steven C.
Published: February 2024

Objective

To rigorously evaluate the impact of the percentage of parenchymal volume preserved (PPVP) and how well the preserved parenchyma recovers from ischaemia (Recischaemia) on functional outcomes after partial nephrectomy (PN) using an accurate and objective software‐based methodology for estimating parenchymal volumes and split renal function (SRF). A secondary objective was to assess potential predictors of the PPVP.

Patients and Methods

A total of 894 PN patients with available studies (2011–2014) were evaluated. The PPVP was measured from cross‐sectional imaging at ≤3 months before and 3–12 months after PN using semi‐automated software. Pearson correlation evaluated relationships between continuous variables. Multivariable linear regression evaluated predictors of ipsilateral glomerular filtration rate (GFR) preserved and the PPVP. Relative‐importance analysis was used to evaluate the impact of the PPVP on ipsilateral GFR preserved. Recischaemia was defined as the percentage of ipsilateral GFR preserved normalised by the PPVP.

Results

The median tumour size and R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score were 3.4 cm and 7, respectively. In all, 49 patients (5.5%) had a solitary kidney. In all, 538 (60%)/251 (28%)/104 (12%) patients were managed with warm/cold/zero ischaemia, respectively. The median pre/post ipsilateral GFRs were 40/31 mL/min/1.73 m2, and the median (interquartile range [IQR]) percentage of ipsilateral GFR preserved was 80% (71–88%). The median pre/post ipsilateral parenchymal volumes were 181/149 mL, and the median (IQR) PPVP was 84% (76–92%). In all, 330 patients (37%) had a PPVP of <80%, while only 34 (4%) had a Recischaemia of <80%. The percentage of ipsilateral GFR preserved correlated strongly with the PPVP (r = 0.83, P < 0.01) and loss of parenchymal volume accounted for 80% of the loss of ipsilateral GFR. Multivariable analysis confirmed that the PPVP was the strongest predictor of ipsilateral GFR preserved. Greater tumour size and endophytic and nearness properties of the R.E.N.A.L. nephrometry score were associated with a reduced PPVP (all P ≤ 0.01). Solitary kidney and cold ischaemia were associated with an increased PPVP (all P < 0.05).

Conclusions

A reduced PPVP predominates regarding functional decline after PN, although a low Recischaemia can also contribute. Tumour‐related factors strongly influence the PPVP, while surgical efforts can improve the PPVP as observed for patients with solitary kidneys.
Phase I trial of apatinib and paclitaxel+oxaliplatin+5‐FU/levoleucovorin for treatment‐naïve advanced gastric cancer
Authors: Zhao Shen , Su LiYu , Huang Feng , Zhuo Changhua , Ye Zaisheng , Li Hui , Yin Yi , Gao Pengqiang , Zhu Yong , Lin Rongbo
Published: February 2024

Chinese guidelines recommend POF (paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, and 5‐FU/levoleucovorin) as first‐line treatment for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Apatinib can augment the antitumor effect of paclitaxel, oxaliplatin, or fluorouracil in preclinical studies of AGC. A phase I clinical trial was conducted to evaluate the anticancer activity and maximum tolerated dose (MTD) of apatinib plus POF in treatment‐naïve patients with AGC and to establish a recommended phase II dose. Participants received escalating doses of daily oral apatinib (250, 375, 500, 625, 750, and 850 mg) plus POF every 2 weeks using a conventional “3 + 3” study design. Among 21 treated patients, one experienced a dose‐limiting toxicity (grade 3 skin ulceration at 850 mg). No MTD was reached. Apatinib 750 mg plus POF was recommended for phase II study. The most common grade 3–4 adverse events (AEs) were neutropenia (33.3%), mucositis (14.3%), and hand‐foot syndrome (14.3%). Median progression‐free and overall survival were 10.4 months (95% CI: 6.3, 14.6) and 18.4 months (95% CI: 9.8, 28.2), respectively. Apatinib up to 850 mg coadministered with POF was well tolerated with manageable AEs. The safety and anticancer activity of this regimen warrants its further investigation as first‐line treatment for AGC in a larger study.
Supporting cognitive catch‐up: The effects of cluster‐randomized psychosocial stimulation interventions on preterm low birthweight children in rural China
Authors: Emmers Dorien , Yu Wenjing , Shen Yun , Feng Cindy , Misra Marat , Peng Andrew , Wang Jerry , Wu Florence , Ye Sean , Rozelle Scott
Published: February 2024

Improved survival of preterm low birthweight (LBW) infants due to advances in neonatal care has brought issues such as postnatal development trajectories to the foreground. This study pools evidence from three cluster‐randomized experiments evaluating community‐based psychosocial stimulation programs conducted from 2014 to 2017 that included 3571 rural Chinese children aged 6–24 months (51.1% male, 96.2% Han Chinese). The risk of severe cognitive delay was found to be 26.5 percentage points higher for preterm LBW children than for their peers at age 2.5, with a prevalence rate of 48.3%. Results show that psychosocial stimulation interventions can improve child cognitive development at scale, with beneficial impacts on child cognition disproportionately larger for preterm LBW children, helping them to catch up developmentally.
On household food stock and waste under risk
Authors: Li Jian , Hu Wuyang , Qing Ping , Chavas Jean‐Paul
Published: February 2024

This paper investigates household behavioral response to disruptions in the food supply chain, with a focus on the role for risk and its effects on household food stocks and food waste. We present an empirical analysis based on data from Chinese consumers over multiple periods in 2019 and during the COVID‐19 crisis of 2020. We investigate how household behavior changed during the COVID‐19 crisis, documenting both food stockpiling and increased food waste. The econometric analysis relies on a control function approach to handle endogeneity. We decompose the effects of increased risk on waste during the crisis into two components: the direct effect reflecting household decisions conditional on food stock; and the indirect effect associated with induced adjustments in food stock. Both effects on food waste are found to be positive, reflecting difficulties households have in managing large food stocks. We present evidence that one percentage point increase in household stocks during a period of supply disruption contributed to a 0.055–0.297 percentage point increase in food waste across food categories. We also present evidence that these effects may persist over time.
Chronic but not acute nicotine treatment ameliorates acute inflammation‐induced working memory impairment by increasing CRTC1 and HCN2 in adult male mice
Authors: Wang Xiaona , Wang Qian , Song Min , Wang Yihui , Shen Xianzhi , Sun Yanyun , Guo Chun , Geng Panpan , Ma Chaolin , Jin Xinchun
Published: February 2024

Background

Systemic inflammation in which lipopolysaccharide (LPS) is released into circulation can cause cognitive dysfunction and we have previously shown that LPS impaired working memory (WM) which refers to the ability to guide incoming behavior by retrieving recently acquired information. However, the mechanism is not very clear, and currently, there is no approved strategy to improve inflammation‐induced WM deficit. Notably, epidemiological studies have demonstrated a lower occurrence rate of inflammatory‐related diseases in smoking patients, suggesting that inflammation‐induced WM impairment may be improved by nicotine treatment. Here, our object is to investigate the effect and potential mechanisms of acute and chronic nicotine treatment on LPS‐produced WM deficiency.

Methods

Delayed alternation T‐maze task (DAT) was applied for evaluating WM which includes both the short‐term information storage and the ability to correct errors in adult male mice. Immunofluorescence staining and immunoblotting were used for assessing the levels and distribution of CREB‐regulated transcription coactivator 1 (CRTC1) and hyperpolarization‐activated cation channels 2 (HCN2) in the medial prefrontal cortex (mPFC) and hippocampus. Quantitative PCR and ELISA were employed for analyzing the mRNA and protein levels of TNF‐α and IL‐1β.

Results

Our results revealed that administration of LPS (i.p.) at a dose of 0.5 mg/kg significantly produced WM impairment in the DAT task accompanied by an increase in IL‐1β and TNF‐α expression in the mPFC. Moreover, intra‐mPFC infusion of IL‐1Ra, an IL‐1 antagonist, markedly alleviated LPS‐induced WM deficiency. More important, chronic (2 weeks) but not acute nicotine (0.2 mg/kg, subcutaneous) treatment significantly alleviated LPS‐induced WM deficiency by upregulating CRTC1 and HCN2. Of note, intra‐mPFC infusion of HCN blocker ZD7288 produced significant WM deficiency.

Conclusions

In summary, in this study, we show that chronic nicotine treatment ameliorates acute inflammation‐induced working memory deficiency by increasing CRTC1 and HCN2 in adult male mice.
Financial toxicity among patients undergoing resectional surgery for inflammatory bowel disease in the United States
Authors: Lee Yung , Anvari Sama , Padoan Adelia , McKechnie Tyler , Park Lily , Doumouras Aristithes G. , Eskicioglu Cagla , Hong Dennis
Published: February 2024

Aim

Financial toxicity describes the financial burden and distress that patients experience due to medical treatment. Financial toxicity has yet to be characterized among patients with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) undergoing surgical management of their disease. This study investigated the risk of financial toxicity associated with undergoing surgery for IBD.

Methods

This study used a retrospective analysis using the National Inpatient Sample from 2015 to 2019. Adult patients who underwent IBD‐related surgery were identified using the International Classification of Diseases (10th Revision) diagnostic and procedure codes and stratified into privately insured and uninsured groups. The primary outcome was risk of financial toxicity, defined as hospital admission charges that constituted 40% or more of patient's post‐subsistence income. Secondary outcomes included total hospital admission cost and predictors of financial toxicity.

Results

The analytical cohort consisted of 6412 privately insured and 3694 uninsured patients. Overall median hospital charges were $21 628 (interquartile range $14 758–$35 386). Risk of financial toxicity was 86.5% among uninsured patients and 0% among insured patients. Predictors of financial toxicity included emergency admission, being in the lowest residential income quartile and having ulcerative colitis (compared to Crohn's disease). Additional predictors were being of Black race or male sex.

Conclusion

Financial toxicity is a serious consequence of IBD‐related surgery among uninsured patients. Given the pervasive nature of this consequence, future steps to support uninsured patients receiving surgery, in particular emergency surgery, related to their IBD are needed to protect this group from financial risk.
Artificial intelligence and Internet of Things‐enabled decision support system for the prediction of bacterial stalk root disease in maize crop
Authors: Al‐Otaibi Shaha , Khan Rahim , Ali Jehad , Ahmed Aftab
Published: February 2024

Although the Internet of Things (IoT) has been considered one of the most promising technologies to automate various daily life activities, that is, monitoring and prediction, it has become extremely useful for problem solving with the introduction and integration of artificial intelligence (AI)‐enabled smart learning methodologies. Therefore, due to their overwhelming characteristics, AI‐enabled IoTs have been used in different application environments, such as agriculture, where detection, prevention (if possible), and prediction of crop diseases, especially at the earliest possible stage, are desperately required. Bacterial stalk root is a common disease of tomatoes that severely affects its production and yield if necessary measures are not taken. In this article, AI and an IoT‐enabled decision support system (DSS) have been developed to predict the possible occurrence of bacterial stalk root diseases through a sophisticated technological infrastructure. For this purpose, Arduino agricultural boards, preferably with necessary embedded sensors, are deployed in the agricultural field of maize crops to capture valuable data at a certain time interval and send it to a centralized module where AI‐based DSS, which is trained on an equally similar data set, is implemented to thoroughly examine captured data values for the possible occurrence of the disease. Additionally, the proposed AI‐ and IoT‐enabled DSS has been tested on benchmark data sets, that is, freely available online, along with real‐time captured data sets. Both experimental and simulation results show that the proposed scheme has achieved the highest accuracy level in timely prediction of the underlined disease. Finally, maize crop plots with the proposed system have significantly increased the yield (production) ratio of crops.
A bioenergetically‐active ploy (glycerol sebacate)‐based multiblock hydrogel improved diabetic wound healing through revitalizing mitochondrial metabolism
Authors: Qi Xin , Liu Chenjun , Si Jingyi , Yin Bohao , Huang Jingjing , Wang Xin , Huang Jinghuan , Sun Hui , Zhu Changfeng , Zhang Wei
Published: February 2024

Diabetic wounds impose significant burdens on patients' quality of life and healthcare resources due to impaired healing potential. Factors like hyperglycemia, oxidative stress, impaired angiogenesis and excessive inflammation contribute to the delayed healing trajectory. Mounting evidence indicates a close association between impaired mitochondrial function and diabetic complications, including chronic wounds. Mitochondria are critical for providing energy essential to wound healing processes. However, mitochondrial dysfunction exacerbates other pathological factors, creating detrimental cycles that hinder healing. This study conducted correlation analysis using clinical specimens, revealing a positive correlation between mitochondrial dysfunction and oxidative stress, inflammatory response and impaired angiogenesis in diabetic wounds. Restoring mitochondrial function becomes imperative for developing targeted therapies. Herein, we synthesized a biodegradable poly (glycerol sebacate)‐based multiblock hydrogel, named poly (glycerol sebacate)‐co‐poly (ethylene glycol)‐co‐poly (propylene glycol) (PEPGS), which can be degraded in vivo to release glycerol, a crucial component in cellular metabolism, including mitochondrial respiration. We demonstrate the potential of PEPGS‐based hydrogels to improve outcomes in diabetic wound healing by revitalizing mitochondrial metabolism. Furthermore, we investigate the underlying mechanism through proteomics analysis, unravelling the regulation of ATP and nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide metabolic processes, biosynthetic process and generation during mitochondrial metabolism. These findings highlight the therapeutic potential of PEPGS‐based hydrogels as advanced wound dressings for diabetic wound healing.
Securing threads with a novel clip to prevent preceding stent migration in multiple biliary inside plastic stents
Authors: Mandai Koichiro , Nakamura Shiho
Published: February 2024

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Development and initial validation of the AL‐PROfile patient‐reported outcome measure in light chain (AL) amyloidosis
Authors: D'Souza Anita , Szabo Aniko , Akinola Idayat , Finkel Muriel , Flynn Kathryn E.
Published: February 2024

Objective

To evaluate the psychometric properties of the AL‐PROfile, a patient‐reported outcome measure combining the Patient‐Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS)‐29, two items from PROMIS Cognitive Function, and select Patient‐Reported Outcomes version of the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (PRO‐CTCAE) items.

Methods

Content validity was assessed through cognitive debriefing interviews of 20 patients who completed the AL‐PROfile (Study 1). Study 2 involved 297 participants who completed the AL‐PROfile and Medical Outcomes Study 36‐item Short‐Form Health Survey (SF‐36). Reliability (internal consistency and test–retest reliability) and validity (convergent and discriminant validity, known groups validity by stage/organ involvement) were calculated.

Results

Study 1 participants found the AL‐PROfile straightforward confirming the relevance of the included content. Some felt that certain questions were not related to their amyloidosis experience. Study 2 demonstrated acceptable internal consistency for all domains/items except PROMIS Cognitive Function and acceptable test–retest reliability for all except PROMIS Cognitive Function and PRO‐CTCAE nausea. Large correlations were seen for the same domain across measures while correlations for divergent domains within a measure and different domains across different measures were small. The PRO‐CTCAE items showed small to medium correlations with each other and with PROMIS and SF‐36 domains. Stage was associated with physical function, fatigue, social roles, swelling, and shortness of breath scores.

Conclusion

The AL‐PROfile has acceptable reliability and validity for use in systemic light chain amyloidosis patients.
Pancreas‐related persisting sequelae in ALL survivors with a history of asparaginase‐associated pancreatitis: A part of the ALL‐STAR study
Authors: Skipper Mette Tiedemann , Birkebæk Niels , Jensen Rikke Beck , Rank Cecilie Utke , Tuckuviene Ruta , Wehner Peder Skov , Lambine Trine‐Lise , Hørlyck Arne , Schmiegelow Kjeld , Frandsen Thomas Leth , Andrés‐Jensen Liv , Albertsen Birgitte Klug
Published: February 2024

Objectives

Asparaginase‐associated pancreatitis (AAP) occurs in up to 18% of patients treated for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL); however, long‐term sequelae are largely unexplored. We aimed to explore pancreatic sequelae among ALL survivors with and without AAP.

Methods

We investigated pancreatic sequelae in a national cohort of ALL survivors, aged 1–45 years at ALL diagnosis treated according to the NOPHO‐ALL2008 protocol and included sex‐ and age‐matched community controls.

Results

We included 368 survivors (median follow‐up 6.9 years), including 47 survivors with AAP and 369 controls. The p‐lipase and p‐pancreas‐type amylase levels were lower in AAP survivors compared with both non‐AAP survivors (Medians: 23 U/L [IQR 14–32] and 18 U/L [IQR 10–25] versus 29 [IQR 24–35] and 22 [17–28], p < .001 and p = .002) and community controls (28 U/L [IQR 22–33] and 21 U/L [IQR 17–26], both p < .006). Fecal‐elastase was more frequently reduced in AAP survivors compared with non‐AAP survivors (7/31 vs. 4/144, p = .001). Persisting pancreatic sequelae were found in 15/47 of AAP survivors and 20/323 of non‐AAP survivors (p < .001), including diabetes mellitus in 2/39 of AAP survivors and 2/273 of non‐AAP survivors.

Conclusions

ALL survivors with AAP are at increased risk of persisting pancreatic dysfunction and require special attention during follow‐up.
Genomic evidence for domestication selection in three hatchery populations of Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha
Authors: Howe Natasha S. , Hale Matthew C. , Waters Charles D. , Schaal Sara M. , Shedd Kyle R. , Larson Wesley A.
Published: February 2024

Fish hatcheries are widely used to enhance fisheries and supplement declining wild populations. However, substantial evidence suggests that hatchery fish are subject to differential selection pressures compared to their wild counterparts. Domestication selection, or adaptation to the hatchery environment, poses a risk to wild populations if traits specific to success in the hatchery environment have a genetic component and there is subsequent introgression between hatchery and wild fish. Few studies have investigated domestication selection in hatcheries on a genomic level, and even fewer have done so in parallel across multiple hatchery–wild population pairs. In this study, we used low‐coverage whole‐genome sequencing to investigate signals of domestication selection in three separate hatchery populations of Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, after approximately seven generations of divergence from their corresponding wild progenitor populations. We sequenced 192 individuals from populations across Southeast Alaska and estimated genotype likelihoods at over six million loci. We discovered a total of 14 outlier peaks displaying high genetic differentiation (FST) between hatchery–wild pairs, although no peaks were shared across the three comparisons. Peaks were small (53 kb on average) and often displayed elevated absolute genetic divergence (Dxy) and linkage disequilibrium, suggesting some level of domestication selection has occurred. Our study provides evidence that domestication selection can lead to genetic differences between hatchery and wild populations in only a few generations. Additionally, our data suggest that population‐specific adaptation to hatchery environments likely occurs through different genetic pathways, even for populations with similar standing genetic variation. These results highlight the need to collect paired genotype–phenotype data to understand how domestication may be affecting fitness and to identify potential management practices that may mitigate genetic risks despite multiple pathways of domestication.
Research on a creep constitutive model of compacted graphite cast iron and its parameter identification method
Authors: Jing Guoxi , Ma Tian , Ma Teng , Li Shubo , Chen Guang , Sun Xiuxiu , Sun Shuai
Published: February 2024

In order to accurately predict the minimum creep rate under the actual working conditions of compacted graphite cast iron cylinder head, this paper conducted creep experiments in the temperature range of 723.15–823.15 K and the stress range of 100–300 MPa. The creep damage evolution and damage mechanisms under test conditions were also analyzed. Then the data fitting performances were analyzed and compared from three aspects: the optimization‐seeking algorithm, the form of the objective function and the construction of the creep constitutive model. Finally, the chosen optimization algorithm combined with the proposed objective function and creep constitutive model resulted in 100% of the predicted values within the 3 times error band and 26.67% of the predicted values within the 1.5 times error band. This improves the prediction accuracy while reducing the effect of data overfitting.
Matteo Ricci's teaching on the goodness of human nature: its Thomistic and neo‐Confucian sources
Authors: Cai Yilun
Published: February 2024

The Jesuit missionary Matteo Ricci's teaching on the goodness of human nature in The True Meaning of the Lord of Heaven represents the fruit of the first encounter between Catholicism and Confucianism. This article will consider the Thomistic and neo‐Confucian sources in Ricci's enunciation of the Catholic doctrine on the goodness of human nature in this Chinese catechism. It will illustrate that Ricci developed his teaching, which is fundamentally Thomistic, with the help of terminology borrowed from the Chinese philosophical tradition. His distinction between the good of nature and the good of virtue leads to prioritising the cultivation of human nature. Ricci's teaching reflects the early modern Jesuits’ appreciation of human freedom. It also displays a Catholic reaction to the sixteenth‐century neo‐Confucian intellectual trend that ignored the importance of moral cultivation.
Cytomegalovirus infection among people living with HIV in Sweden: Case profiles, treatment strategies and patient outcomes at Karolinska University Hospital 2010–2020
Authors: Xu Xinling , Andersson Emmi , Rahbar Afsar , Söderberg‐Nauclér Cecilia , Nowak Piotr
Published: February 2024

Objectives

In countries with access to early antiretroviral treatment (ART), opportunistic infections caused by cytomegalovirus (CMV) in people living with HIV (PLWH) are becoming increasingly rare. As potential complications are severe, it is critical to remain aware of this important diagnosis. However, clinical characteristics and prognosis of CMV infection in PLWH in the era of modern ART have not been well described.

Methods

Here, we compiled the clinical presentation, management and outcome of CMV infection in PLWH treated at the infectious diseases clinic of Karolinska University Hospital during 2010–2020.

Results

We identified 51 cases of active CMV infection, based on detection of CMV‐DNA, mainly diagnosed in patients with CD4 T‐cell count <200 cells/μL (86%). Median time from HIV diagnosis to detection of CMV infection was 16 days. In 20 cases (39%), CMV infection was symptomatic with retinitis identified as a manifestation in 70% of cases. Symptomatic CMV infection was treated for 73 (20–313) days upon diagnosis, mostly using valganciclovir. One‐year mortality was 22% and was associated with longer time to ART initiation from HIV diagnosis and with comorbidities, but not with CMV‐DNA levels or CD4 count. Immune reconstitution was not significantly compromised in patients with symptomatic CMV, although CD4/8 ratio tended to be lower in patients with systemic CMV infection.

Conclusions

Retinitis remains the most common manifestation of symptomatic CMV infection in PLWH. Recognizing CMV infection is important, especially in the management of ‘late presenters’. Adequate duration of antiviral therapy and appropriate follow‐up must be ensured to avoid complications.
Clinicopathological and cellular senescence biomarkers in chronic stalled wounds
Authors: Yu Grace T. , Gomez Paul T. , Prata Larissa G. , Lehman Julia S. , Tchkonia Tamar , Kirkland James L. , Meves Alexander , Wyles Saranya P.
Published: February 2024

Background

Chronic wounds have been associated with an elevated burden of cellular senescence, a state of essentially irreversible cell cycle arrest, resistance to apoptosis, and a secretory phenotype. However, whether senescent cells contribute to wound chronicity in humans remains unclear. The objective of this article is to assess the role of clinicopathological characteristics and cellular senescence in the time‐to‐healing of chronic wounds.

Methods

A cohort of 79 patients with chronic wounds was evaluated in a single‐center academic practice from February 1, 2005, to February 28, 2015, and followed for up to 36 months. Clinical characteristics and wound biopsies were obtained at baseline, and time‐to‐healing was assessed. Wound biopsies were analyzed histologically for pathological characteristics and molecularly for markers of cellular senescence. In addition, biopsy slides were stained for p16INK4a expression.

Results

No clinical or pathological characteristics were found to have significant associations with time‐to‐healing. A Cox proportional hazard ratio model revealed increased CDKN1A (p21CIP1/WAF1) expression to predict longer time‐to‐healing, and a model adjusted for gender and epidermal hyperplasia revealed increased CDKN1A expression and decreased PAPPA expression to predict longer time‐to‐healing. Increased p16INK4a staining was observed in diabetic wounds compared to non‐diabetic wounds, and the same association was observed in the context of high dermal fibrosis.

Conclusions

The findings of this pilot study suggest that senescent cells contribute to wound chronicity in humans, especially in diabetic wounds.
Wars of attrition with spending constraints
Authors: Hwang Sung‐Ha , Koh Youngwoo
Published: February 2024

We study wars of attrition with spending constraints. Specifically, there are two players with different values of the prize and costs of continuing wars, and they are endowed with limited budgets that can be used during the war. Two players compete by choosing the time at which they intend to give up within the constraints. We find the constrained mixed strategy equilibrium for this model and provide a full characterization of equilibrium depending on whether each player's constraint is binding or nonbinding.
Statistical proxy based mean‐reverting portfolios with sparsity and volatility constraints
Authors: Mousavi Ahmad , Michilidis George
Published: February 2024

Mean‐reverting portfolios with volatility and sparsity constraints are of prime interest to practitioners in finance since they are both profitable and well‐diversified, while also managing risk and minimizing transaction costs. Three main measures that serve as statistical proxies to capture the mean‐reversion property are predictability, portmanteau criterion, and crossing statistics. If in addition, reasonable volatility and sparsity for the portfolio are desired, a convex quadratic or quartic objective function, subject to nonconvex quadratic and cardinality constraints needs to be minimized. In this paper, we introduce and investigate a comprehensive modeling framework that incorporates all the previous proxies proposed in the literature and develop an effective unifying algorithm that is enabled to obtain a Karush–Kuhn–Tucker (KKT) point under mild regularity conditions. Specifically, we present a tailored penalty decomposition method that approximately solves a sequence of penalized subproblems by a block coordinate descent algorithm. To the best of our knowledge, our proposed algorithm is the first method for directly solving volatile, sparse, and mean‐reverting portfolio problems based on the portmanteau criterion and crossing statistics proxies. Further, we establish that the convergence analysis can be extended to a nonconvex objective function case if the starting penalty parameter is larger than a finite bound and the objective function has a bounded level set. Numerical experiments on the S&P 500 data set demonstrate the efficiency of the proposed algorithm in comparison to a semidefinite relaxation‐based approach and suggest that the crossing statistics proxy yields more desirable portfolios.
Evaluating color change and hydrogen peroxide penetration in human and bovine teeth through in‐office bleaching procedures
Authors: Favoreto Michael Willian , Cordeiro Deisy Cristina Ferreira , Centenaro Gabrielle Gomes , Bosco Leonardo Dal , Arana‐Gordillo Luis Alfonso , Reis Alessandra , Loguercio Alessandro D.
Published: February 2024

Objective

Assess color alteration and hydrogen peroxide (HP) penetration in human and bovine teeth using various in‐office bleaching protocols with different application times.

Materials and Methods

Thirty healthy human premolars and 30 healthy bovine incisors were divided into five groups and subjected to different bleaching protocols: 2 × 15 min, 1 × 30 min, 2 × 20 min, or 1 × 40 min, with a control group for each tooth type. All teeth were treated with 35% HP gel. Color alteration was measured using digital spectrophotometry before and 1 week after bleaching. HP concentration within the pulp was determined via UV–Vis spectrophotometry. Statistical analysis included one‐way ANOVA, Tukey's, and Dunnett's tests (α = 0.05).

Results

All groups exhibited significant color alteration, with no statistically differences among them (p > 0.05). However, significant differences were observed when compared with their respective control groups (p < 0.05). HP penetration into the pulp was evident in all bleached teeth compared to the control groups (p < 0.05), with the 2 × 20 group showing the highest HP levels within the pulp cavity, irrespective of tooth type (p < 0.05).

Conclusion

A simplified 1 × 30‐min protocol can be recommended as it effectively maintains color alteration and HP penetration, irrespective of whether human or bovine teeth.

Clinical Significance

This study suggests that an in‐office dental bleaching protocol using a 1 × 30‐min session is recommended, as it ensures both effective color change and no increase in the amount of HP penetration.
Daily age, growth rate, and pelagic larval duration of commercially important snapper species in Abrolhos National Marine Park
Authors: Silva Jeane Campos , Soeth Marcelo , Hackradt Carlos Werner , Lima Andre , Félix‐Hackradt Fabiana Cézar
Published: February 2024

The age and daily growth of fish are registered through the deposition of increments in their otoliths, which are concretions formed by the precipitation of substances present in the endolymphatic fluid, mainly calcium carbonate (CaCO3). Faced with the need to fill some of the gaps in the knowledge on the occurrence and duration of the initial stages of snapper species' life cycles in the Abrolhos Bank, this study aimed to describe the growth rates, age, and period of pelagic larval duration (PLD) of three snapper species during the larval pre‐settlement phase, in the Abrolhos Bank region. The post‐larvae were captured using light traps. Otoliths were removed from 117 samples of snapper species; however, only 69 were viable for age estimation, of which 15 were Lutjanus analis, 25 were Lutjanus jocu, and 29 were Lutjanus synagris. Together, the samples presented individuals with total lengths ranging from 16.14 to 24.76 mm and ages from 21 to 39 days. Settlement marks were found for all three species, and the average PLD was ~25 days. The somatic growth of the snapper species was positively correlated with otolith growth. L. jocu presented the greatest daily growth compared to the other species. The three species use the Abrolhos Bank as a larval settlement site, demonstrating plasticity by using different habitats throughout their lives.
Challenges Faced by Mothers With Visual Impairment From the Preconception Period Through the Postpartum Period
Authors: Acar Zehra , Oskay Ümran , Kula Gülcan
Published: February 2024

Introduction

There is a misperception in society that individuals with visual impairment are asexual and cannot marry, have children, or take care of children. In addition, individuals with visual impairment face difficulties in many aspects of life due to accessibility issues. Although it is expected that visually impaired individuals experience difficulties when having children, very few studies have focused on understanding the challenges women with visual impairment face in the process of having children. The aim of this study was to identify the challenges faced by mothers with visual impairment from preconception through the postpartum period in Turkey.

Methods

Semistructured interviews were conducted with a purposive sample of 17 mothers with visual impairment. Participants were from 28 to 38 years of age, and their youngest children were 2 years old or younger. Participants were asked about their experiences with the decision to have children, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Content analysis was used to analyze and present the data.

Results

Participants had 1 to 3 children and a mean age of 32.4 years. Eleven themes were identified within 4 periods: preconception, pregnancy, birth, and postpartum. Themes related to the experience of the preconceptional period included concern about the decision to have a child and the social pressure on the decision to have a child. Themes related to the experience of pregnancy included inaccessible pregnancy tests, emotional reactions to pregnancy, dissatisfaction with health care providers, and unmet expectations. Themes related to labor and birth included mixed feelings about labor dissatisfaction with health care providers and unmet expectations. Themes related to the postpartum period included personal care, infant care, reaction of the social network, and unmet expectations.

Discussion

The mothers with visual impairment faced many challenges in the process of becoming a parent. Mothers expressed the need for accessible health services from institutions and health professionals.