bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
“Religious” and “Gamer”: Negotiating the Legitimacy of Video Games in a Muslim Context
Authors: Cengiz Ömer Faruk , Ataman Kemal
Published: October 2023

Individuals who self-identify as “religious gamers” constitute a relatively new and niche category. This study aims to understand how these individuals evaluate their video game-playing activities in the face of their religious beliefs and commitments. To this end, we conducted semistructured interviews with 15 participants. The data suggests that for the participants, the religious status of video games is based on a broader evaluative framework than the religious one. The “vain act–beneficial act” dichotomy, which we conceptualized in this study, explains the difficulties and contradictions that religious gamers experience in legitimizing their gaming activities because they consider the game a vain act even though they play it with enthusiasm. Based on the evidence gathered, we concluded that religious gamers do not consider playing games illegitimate, either religiously or morally. However, they cannot conclusively legitimize it either—a delicate situation that drags them into a strange predicament.
Complications in Hand Surgery During Early Independent Practice: A Single Surgeon’s 5-Year Experience
Authors: Samade Richard , Gordon Adam M. , Vaghani Parth , Goyal Kanu S.
Published: October 2023

Background:

The objective of this study was to understand the frequency and types of complications, and the associated postoperative outcomes within the first 5 years of practice after hand and upper extremity surgery fellowship.

Methods:

This was a retrospective observational study of all patients seen and surgically treated by a single surgeon at a single institution from August 2014 to September 2019. This corresponded to the first 5 years of practice after fellowship. Data collected included patient demographics, perioperative data, complication type, and outcome of the complication (better/same/worse than preoperative status). Complications were classified using the Clavien-Dindo system and a unique, self-derived system.

Results:

In total, 3301 surgeries were performed during the first 5 years of practice. The overall complication rate was 7.9% (261 complications from 239 patients). The 30-day complication rate was 5.2% (171/3301). Eleven (4.2%) of the 261 complications occurred intraoperatively. The total number of complications significantly declined during the first 5 years of practice as follows: 74, 71, 46, 37, and 33 ( P = .010, R2 = .92). Hand and wrist were the most frequent anatomic locations involved and bone pathology was the predominant indication.

Conclusion:

The overall surgical complication rate for hand and upper extremity surgery was 7.9%, with a 30-day complication rate of 5.2% (171/3301). The rate of complications after fellowship declined over the first 5 years of independent practice. Superficial infections were the most common complication. More than 90% of patients ultimately improved after addressing the complication.

Level of Evidence:

IV
Evaluating the safety and efficacy of transvenous embolization for brain arteriovenous malformation: A systematic review and meta-analysis
Authors: Batista Sávio , Almeida Filho José Alberto , Oliveira Leonardo de Barros , Koester Stefan , Pinheiro Agostinho Camara , Dinato Rafael Alonso , Bertani Raphael , Andreão Filipi Fim , Mounayer Charbel
Published: October 2023

Background

Transvenous embolization is a potential therapy for brain arteriovenous malformation, involving the use of microcatheters to guide an ethylene vinyl alcohol coil for vessel occlusion. However, the safety and efficacy of transvenous embolization are not fully established.

Objective

To evaluate the safety and efficacy of transvenous embolization for brain arteriovenous malformation.

Methods

A systematic review of the literature of studies investigating the safety and efficacy of transvenous embolization for brain arteriovenous malformation was conducted in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis guidelines. Databases, including PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Embase were queried.

Results

In the final analysis of 16 studies involving 368 brain arteriovenous malformation cases who received transvenous embolization, the complete occlusion was achieved in 91% (95% CI: 88%, 94%; I2 = 43%, p = 0.04) of cases. The overall rate of good outcomes after discharge was high at 89% (95% CI: 82%, 95%; I2 = 60%, p < 0.01). Ischemic complications were reported in 1% of cases (95% CI: 0%, 2%; I2 = 0%, p = 0.96), while hemorrhagic complications occurred in 6% of cases (95% CI: 3%, 8%; I2 = 8%, p = 0.37), and technical complications rate of 8% (95% CI: 4%, 11%; I2 = 8%, p = 0.36). Finally, only one death was related to the procedure.

Conclusion

Transvenous embolization for brain arteriovenous malformation shows promising safety and effectiveness, with low mortality, a considerable rate of positive outcomes, and a relatively low incidence of complications. The majority of patients achieved complete occlusion, indicating transvenous embolization as a potential option, especially for challenging deep-seated lesions.
On generalized Bödewadt flow of TiO2/water nanofluid over a permeable surface with temperature jump
Authors: Abbas Zaheer , Siddique Shahana , Rafiq Muhammad Yousuf , Rehman Aqeel U
Published: October 2023

Titanium dioxide (TiO2) nanomaterial has numerous applications in the fields of cosmetics, medicines, coatings, inks, plastics, food, and textiles. Therefore, the problem of heat and mass transport on Bödewadt flow of TiO2/water nanofluid over a rotating disk subjected to wall suction is studied. The impact of chemical reaction with partial slip and temperature jump conditions are also considered. For the numerical solution to the problem, the similarity variables are added to transform the three-dimensional flow equations into a favorable set of ordinary differential equations. The impacts of shear stresses, rates of heat and mass transport, and cooling efficiency of nanofluid on the flow are investigated by employing a bvp4c routine in Matlab software. Additionally, the plots for two-dimensional streamlines are presented to visualize the impact of slip velocity and rotation. Through asymptotic analysis, it is found that the presence of similarity solutions for nanofluid over the disk can occur only if the disk is driven to a significant amount of suction. The skin friction factor grows by enhancing the nanoparticle volume fraction [Formula: see text] with a slight reduction in heat and mass transport rates. The fluid temperature is reduced by augmenting [Formula: see text] providing the cooling efficiency of TiO2. The fluid concentration falls significantly when a chemical reaction occurs at a faster rate.
Return to play following operative management of anterior shoulder instability in overhead athletes—A systematic review
Authors: Hurley Eoghan T , Lunn Kiera , Bethell Mikhail , Levin Jay , Pasqualini Ignacio , Frangiamore Salvatore , Anakwenze Oke , Klifto Christopher S
Published: October 2023

Background

The purpose of this study was to systematically review the rate and timing of return to play in overhead athletes following operative management of anterior shoulder instability.

Methods

A systematic literature search based on PRISMA guidelines, utilizing the EMBASE, MEDLINE, and The Cochrane Library Databases. Eligible for inclusion were clinical studies reporting on return to play among overhead athletes following arthroscopic Bankart repair, open Latarjet procedure or Remplissage procedure.

Results

There are 23 studies included with 961 patients. Among those undergoing arthroscopic Bankart repair, the rate of return to play was 86.2%, with 70.6% returning to the same level of play and the mean time to return to play was 7.1 months. Among those undergoing an open Latarjet procedure, the rate of return to play was 80.9%, with 77.7% returning to the same level of play and the mean time to return to play was 5.1 months. Among those undergoing a Remplissage procedure, the rate of return to play was 70.6%, with 70.0% returning to the same level of play or mean time to return to play.

Discussion

Overall, there were high rates of return to play following operative management of anterior shoulder instability in overhead athletes.
Use of Continuous Glucose Monitors Upon Hospital Discharge of People With Diabetes: Promise, Barriers, and Opportunity
Authors: Tian Tiffany , Aaron Rachel E. , Seley Jane Jeffrie , Longo Rebecca , Nayberg Irina , Umpierrez Guillermo E. , Levy Carol J. , Klonoff David C.
Published: October 2023

Continuous glucose monitors (CGMs) have increasingly been used in ambulatory and inpatient or hospital settings to improve glycemic outcomes for people with diabetes. Given their capacity to aid individuals in avoiding hypo- and hyperglycemia, they may also be useful when transitioning from hospital to home by reducing rates of hospital readmissions and emergency department visits. Several types of barriers presently exist that make the deployment of CGMs at the time of hospital discharge problematic, including (1) regulatory, (2) behavioral, (3) logistical, (4) technical, (5) staffing, and (6) systemic issues. In this commentary, we review the literature, discuss these barriers, and propose possible solutions to facilitate the use of CGMs in people with diabetes at the time of hospital discharge.
System Accuracy and Interference Evaluation of a New Glucose Dehydrogenase-Based Blood Glucose Meter for Patient Self-Testing
Authors: Pfützner Andreas , Kalasauske Daiva , Hanna Mina , Sachsenheimer Daniela , Raab Gerhard , Weissenbacher Silvia , Thomé Nicole
Published: October 2023

New European medical device regulations require the performance of postmarketing surveillance evaluations for blood glucose meters (BGMs). We conducted an ISO15197:2015-conform system performance evaluation with the approved glucose dehydrogenase (GDH)-based Wellion NEWTON BGM. One hundred subjects were enrolled into the study (44 female, 56 male, 43 healthy subjects, 23 type 1 diabetes, 34 type 2 diabetes, age: 53.7 ± 15.8 years). In addition, manipulated heparinized whole blood was used for a laboratory interference test with ten selected substances (interference definition: substance-induced bias > 10%). The mean absolute relative difference (MARD) was 4.7%, and 100% of the values were in zones A (99.7%) and B (0.3%), respectively, of the consensus error grid. Interference was observed with xylose only, which is a known interfering substance for GDH-based BGMs.
Trends in telehealth use among a cohort of rural patients during the COVID-19 pandemic
Authors: Pullyblank Kristin , Krupa Nicole , Scribani Melissa , Chapman Amanda , Kern Megan , Brunner Wendy
Published: October 2023

Objective

Rural populations faced unique challenges to healthcare access during the COVID-19 pandemic. This analysis assesses trends in digital health technology use at the onset of the pandemic and describes digital health behaviors among a cohort of patients within a rural integrated healthcare network throughout the first 3 years of the pandemic.

Methods

We used data from both the electronic health record (EHR) and a patient survey. EHR data was used to longitudinally assess change over time in patient portal use and telehealth visits. Survey responses were used to provide additional context.

Results

Telehealth appointments peaked in the first quarter of 2020 at 28% of all office visits, before leveling off to 8–10% in 2022. Women and those younger than 65 were more likely to have participated in telehealth appointments. Active patient portal users increased from 34.1% in January 2019 to 63.7% in January 2022. There were no differences noted in portal use trends based on rurality.

Conclusions

Our findings corroborate previous research, as well as add context regarding digital health technology use throughout the COVID pandemic in a rural patient population. Future research must focus on understanding constraints to digital health expansion in order to continue providing safe, equitable care.
Party leaders’ tech-awareness matters: Examining the case of Taiwan political party Facebook utilization in the 2016 and 2020 parliamentary elections
Authors: Lin Jiun-Chi , Liao Da-chi , Cytarzyński Mateusz
Published: October 2023

Centering on theories of equalization and normalization, resources are seen as an important determinant. This study highlights two theoretical drawbacks related to resources. First, the mental role of party leaders as an invisible resource has been never studied. Second, party size has been massively employed as a proxy for resources in previous studies. To address these lacunae, this study theoretically proposes tech-awareness—operationalized by ages and educational levels of party leaders —to indicate parties’ expertise in using social media in campaigns. Methodologically, this study argues that parties’ annual final accounts can be an alternative to measure their material resources. Facebook utilization by Taiwanese parties ( N total = 37) in the 2016 and 2020 national elections is analyzed. This study indicates that tech-awareness positively influences parties’ Facebook use. Nevertheless, parties’ annual final accounts reveal curvilinear relationships with parties’ Facebook use.
Big data in crime statistics: Using Google Trends to measure victimization in designated market areas across the United States
Authors: Liu Yu-Hsuan , Wolff Kevin T , Lo Tzu-Ying
Published: October 2023

Google Trends (GT) data could potentially supplement traditional crime measurement strategies, allowing criminologists to better understand crime statistics on a macro level. This study assesses the validity of GT crime estimates. The findings indicate that GT data are reliable for estimating MVT, larceny, and rape. Additionally, we illustrate how to use GT to identify places with high rates of unreported offenses. The results of this study demonstrate the feasibility of leveraging open-source big data such as GT to supplement traditional sources of crime data, particularly for categories of crime with substantial underreporting rates. Results suggest the GT rape measure may be a more accurate estimate of the true incidence of rape than the measure drawn from the Uniform Crime Report (UCR). The limitations associated with the use of GT to generate estimates of crime are also discussed.
The Cultural Transmission of Traditional Ecological Knowledge in Cerekang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia
Authors: Akhmar Andi Muhammad , Rahman Fathu , Supratman  , Hasyim Husain , Nawir Muhammad
Published: October 2023

This article explores how traditional ecological knowledge in Cerekang, South Sulawesi, Indonesia, is culturally transmitted as a strategy for cultural survival amidst internal and external challenges such as social, ecological, and political changes. Traditional ecological knowledge of the Cerekang people lies from mythological construction of the La Galigo epic, which contain beliefs, collection of instructions, and rules on conservation and preservation of sacred forest and non-sacred forest. This knowledge are culturally transmitted through oral stories, rituals, daily life, and customary organization. Generally, the transmission takes place vertically, horizontally, and obliquely. The traditional, linear-vertical mode of transmission, which tends to be closed, is the most dominant pattern of cultural transmission among the Cerekang people. This study also finds out another pattern of transmission beyond the framework given, which we call as conformist transformation. However, this cultural transmission is not without bias as the transmitted messages are generic and incomplete. Therefore, a contextual education in both formal and informal settings as another mode of cultural transmission is suggested to respond to current social, political, and environmental changes in Cerekang. In order to sustain the Cerekang’s TEK, the local government policy-maker should further facilitate indigenous activities by supporting capacity building in non-formal setting and signing a decree to include TEK in formal education.
Dispositional Malicious Envy and Workplace Deviance: Divergent Thinking as a Mediator
Authors: Hussain Umer , Mohr Inga
Published: October 2023

In the extant scholarship, researchers have claimed that malicious envy has a significant relationship with workplace deviance. Nevertheless, there remains a dearth of scholarship detailing how employees can display workplace deviance in an organizational context without being caught. This study aims to examine an association between dispositional malicious envy and workplace deviance, mediated by divergent thinking through the lens of social comparison theory. Data was collected via a cross-sectional survey from employees ( N = 363) working in Pakistan’s banking and telecom sector. The study results reveal that dispositional malicious envy can lead to workplace deviance via the divergent thinking mediation effect. This study adds to the limited scholarship about how dispositional malicious envy relates to workplace deviance in the organizational setting, particularly when employees make lateral comparisons.
Farmers’ Awareness and Perception of Sustainable Agricultural Practices: A Case of Integrated Livestock–Fish Farming System in the State of Assam, India
Authors: Bori Ronuj , Das Runumi
Published: October 2023

The purpose of the study is to assess the farmer’s comprehension of a sustainable agricultural practice: integrated livestock–fish farming system. The study is exploratory and descriptive in nature. Awareness on technical, economic, and environmental aspects of the farming system has been assessed on both fish and livestock farmers. Awareness was measured in a dichotomous variable seeking “true” or “false” to various statements under each required aspects of the farming system. Perception was measured using a pretested standardized scale. The awareness and perception of the farmers were found to be positive and relationship between awareness and perception was found to be significant. The farmers are found to be mostly aware of the economic aspects and believed that the particular farming system could be a great avenue for self-employment. Age, education, experience, pond holdings, and extension contact were found to be significant determinants of farmer’s awareness and perception. The assessment of the farmer’s awareness and perception toward the system does not only aid in dissemination of the particular system but also ensures sustainable usages of farm waste for optimum production by making ecological considerations.
Use of exercise tests in screening for pulmonary arterial hypertension in systemic sclerosis: A systematic literature review
Authors: Madigan Sarah , Proudman Susanna , Schembri David , Davies Huw , Adams Robert
Published: October 2023

Background and objective:

Patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) have a poor prognosis, accounting for 30% of all SSc-related deaths. Guidelines recommend annual screening for PAH regardless of symptoms, as early treatment improves outcomes. Current protocols include combinations of clinical features, biomarkers, pulmonary function tests, and echocardiography. None include exercise testing, although early-stage PAH may only be evident during exercise. This systematic review assessed the performance of exercise tests in predicting the presence of PAH in patients with SSc, where PAH was confirmed through right heart catheterisation (RHC).

Methods:

Comprehensive literature searches were performed using MEDLINE, EMBASE, Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trails, CINAHL, Scopus and Web of Science from inception to May 2023. Articles were screened for eligibility by two independent reviewers. Eligibility criteria included the use of a non-invasive exercise test to screen adult patients to detect PAH in a population without a previous diagnosis of PAH, with diagnosis confirmed by RHC.

Results:

Eight studies met the inclusion criteria, describing at least one of three different non-invasive exercise tests: cardiopulmonary exercise test, six-minute walk test and stress Doppler echocardiography. All studies found that exercise tests had some ability to predict the presence of PAH, with sensitivity between 50% and 100% and specificity from 73% to 91%.

Conclusion:

Exercise tests are infrequently used for screening for PAH in SSc but can predict the presence of PAH. More data are required to establish which tests are most effective.
Long-Term Control of Retinal Thickness Variability and Vision Following the 0.19 mg Fluocinolone Acetonide Implant
Authors: Sheth Veeral S. , Singer Michael , MacCumber Mathew , Cutino Antonio , Kasper Jonathan , Coughlin Brandon A. , Riemann Christopher D.
Published: October 2023

Purpose: To assess the impact of retinal thickness variability (RTV) control on visual and treatment burden outcomes in patients with diabetic macular edema (DME) who received the 0.19 mg fluocinolone acetonide (FAc) intravitreal implant (Iluvien, Alimera Sciences). Methods: This post hoc analysis examined the outcomes of a 3-year, phase 4, nonrandomized, open-label observational study. Retinal thickness was measured as central subfield thickness (CST). RTV was quantified by CST area under the curve (CST-AUC), retinal thickness amplitude (RTA), and retinal thickness standard deviation (RTSD). Visual outcomes were measured as best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA), and treatment burden was measured as the number of yearly supplemental DME treatments. Results: The percentage of eyes with a CST ≤300 µm fluctuated throughout the study but was significantly increased relative to baseline at 36 months (baseline: 32.9% vs 36 months: 46.8%; P < .05). FAc significantly reduced RTV in all measures more than 36 months ( P < .0001). When divided into quartiles, eyes with the best RTV control post FAc had the greatest BCVA gains and improved disease control (ie, reduced need for supplemental therapy). The last-observed BCVA letter score exhibited linear correlations with CST-AUC ( R2 = −0.100), RTA ( R2 = −0.125), and RTSD ( R2 = −0.162). A multivariate linear regression with baseline BCVA as a covariate displayed improved correlations with the last-observed BCVA, CST-AUC ( R2 = −0.448), RTA ( R2 = −0.432), and RTSD ( R2 = −0.436). Conclusions: The sustained corticosteroid release of the 0.19 mg FAc implant reduced RTV in patients with DME, which directly correlated with significantly improved vision and a reduced supplemental treatment burden.
Practising difference across geography: A transdisciplinary and Deleuzian approach to intradisciplinary thinking
Authors: Miles Heather J
Published: October 2023

The quality of intradisciplinary thinking during research design is crucial not only for alleviating multifaceted problems – such as global environmental change – but potentially to avoid worsening them. This article builds on the emphasis placed on research framing by human, physical and critical physical geographers by drawing from ideas on iterative framing in transdisciplinarity studies – as related to collaboration between geography’s internal subdisciplines – as well as from Gilles Deleuze, especially in Difference and Repetition (Deleuze, 1994 (1968)). Here, research reframing is based on a critical engagement with the contrasts in subdisciplinary foci and research methodologies, which I argue is achieved through a consideration of contrasting axiologies and facilitated by subdisciplinary encounter. I explore this approach to intradisciplinary thinking using examples from the literature in geography and beyond. Given that collaboration across research methodologies is challenging, I demonstrate one example practical approach to such intradisciplinary thinking: mapping. Different map-making and map-using activities can reflect contrasting forms of data and understandings from the field, and can therefore act as a shared space of encounter for geographers of all kinds.
Direct to Surgery? Surgical Outcomes in Pediatric Patients With Facial Infantile Hemangioma: A Retrospective Case-Control Study
Authors: Shah Pearl , Kumar Anand R.
Published: October 2023

Background:

The effects of medical pre-treatment prior to surgical excision of infantile hemangiomas (IH) remains understudied. We hypothesized that medical pretreatment may improve outcomes after surgical excision. This study aimed to evaluate the difference in surgical outcomes/complications between direct to surgery (NPT) versus medical pre-treatment prior to surgery (PT).

Methods:

A retrospective study was conducted at a pediatric tertiary center between 2007 and 2018. Children 0 and 18 years who underwent surgical resection (confirmed GLUT-1 positive IH) were included. Visceral and congenital hemangiomas, PHACE, and vascular malformations/neoplasms were excluded. Pre-treatment was the primary predictor for post-surgical complications. Literature meta-analysis was also performed.

Results:

Our institution identified 185 IH patients, 85 (46%) underwent surgical resection. Of these, n = 28, (32.9%) had pre-treatment (PT) (8.24% propranolol, 9.41% topical timolol, 12.94% steroids, 2.35% laser); n = 57, (67.1%) had no pre-treatment (NPT). Pre-surgical lesion size was comparable ( P = .829). Surgical outcomes between PT and NPT were comparable for wound dehiscence, infection, scarring, and repeat surgery ( P = .162, 1.0, 1.0, 0.483), including pooled complications ( P = .448). Where documented, PT had higher functional improvement ( P = .039). Results were comparable when selecting for beta-blockers versus NPT. Meta-analysis included 7 studies and 169 patients, 39.1% PT and 68.1% NPT. The most common PT was systemic/intralesional steroids. Five received beta-blockers. All patients had functional improvement where recorded. Complications were slightly higher for PT ( P = .041).

Conclusion:

The incidence of surgical complications is comparable between direct to surgery and medical pre-treatment patients. Early surgical management without pre-treatment was not associated with improved complications/outcomes except select subgroup analysis identified improved functional outcomes with pre-treatment. Future directions include defining appropriate candidates for early direct to surgery versus best candidates for medical pre-treatment using patient specific variables.
Critical physical geographies of air, atmosphere, and climate
Authors: Colucci Alex R , Vecellio Daniel J , Allen Michael J
Published: October 2023

The material condition of the earth's atmosphere exerts a significant influence on how humans live and die. Therefore, understanding how and why atmospheric processes unevenly impact communities, because of the changing material condition of air, provides an opportunity to address current and future climate risks through interdisciplinary perspectives. Using critical physical geography as a framework, this review provides perspective on how physical geographers may interact more closely with human geographers in addressing social-environmental issues related to the state of the earth's atmosphere and climate, and related processes in other earth systems. Climatic and atmospheric variability and change disproportionately impact populations already disadvantaged within this capitalist social formation. Using labor policy, flooding, wildfires, and incarceration as materially grounded examples where atmospheric inequities are experienced by everyday people, we demonstrate how taking a critical physical geography approach to the earth's air might highlight disciplinary synergies and build stronger cross-geography relationships. These examples demonstrate the interconnectedness of the atmosphere with other earth systems, both environmental and social, and how these connections co-produce atmospheric inequities experienced by human populations.
Displacement, Out-of-placeness, and urban research in the south: An experiential perspective
Authors: Guma Prince K.
Published: October 2023

Interdisciplinary engagements encounter a significant challenge in surmounting defensive barriers within conventional urban research. This emphasizes the necessity of creating space for comprehensive dialogs to tackle pivotal issues related to social justice in urban practice and academia. Urban research in the global south mandates a specific perspective that extends beyond the common oversight and veiling of specific viewpoints and encounters. Black geographies offers a language that acknowledges experiential, ingrained, and incarnate realities, contexts, and expressions of urbanization that surpass materiality. By extension, and as Bloch and Meyer argue, it expands the scope of contemplation to contemporary themes such as displacement.
RILP inhibits tumor progression in osteosarcoma via Grb10-mediated inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway
Authors: Wei Zhun , Xia Kezhou , Zheng Di , Gong Changtian , Guo Weichun
Published: October 2023

Background

Rab-interacting lysosomal protein (RILP) contains an alpha-helical coil with an unexplored biological function in osteosarcoma. This study investigated the expression of RILP in osteosarcoma cells and tissues to determine the effect of RILP on the biological behaviors of osteosarcoma cells and the underlying mechanism.

Methods

Tumor Immune Estimation Resource (TIMER) database, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database and Gene Expression Omnibus (GEO) database were used for bioinformatic analysis. Co-immunoprecipitation experiment was used to determine whether the two proteins were interacting. In functional tests, cell counting kit-8 (CCK-8) assay, colony formation assay, wound healing assay, transwell invasion assay, Immunofluorescence (IF) assay and immunohistochemical (IHC) assay were performed.

Results

Overexpression of RILP significantly inhibited proliferation and impaired metastasis ability of osteosarcoma cells, while silencing of RILP showed the opposite trend. RNA-seq data analysis was applied in 143B cells and pathway enrichment analysis revealed that differentially expressed genes were mainly enriched in the PI3K/AKT pathway. We further verified that overexpression of RILP restrained the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway and induced autophagy in osteosarcoma cells, while the opposite trend was observed when PI3K pathway activator 740Y-P was used. 3-Methyladenine (3-MA), a selective autophagy inhibitor, partially attenuated the inhibitory effect of RILP on the migration and invasion ability of osteosarcoma cells, suggesting the involvement of autophagy in epithelial–mesenchymal transition regulation in osteosarcoma cells. Growth factor receptor binding protein-10 (Grb10), an adaptor protein, was confirmed as a potential target of RILP to restrain the PI3K/AKT signaling pathway. We subcutaneously injected stably overexpressing 143B osteosarcoma cells into nude mice and observed that overexpression of RILP inhibited tumor growth by inhibiting the PI3K/AKT/mTOR pathway.

Conclusion

Our study revealed that the expression of RILP was associated with favorable prognosis of osteosarcoma and RILP inhibits proliferation, migration, and invasion and promotes autophagy in osteosarcoma cells via Grb10-mediated inhibition of the PI3K/AKT/mTOR signaling pathway. In the future, targeting RILP may be a potential strategy for osteosarcoma treatment.
Association of risk perception and transport mode choice during the temporary closure of a major inner-city road bridge: results of a cross-sectional study
Authors: Kemmerer Pascal , Brach Benedikt , Kubiak Thomas , Singer Susanne , Gianicolo Emilio A. L.
Published: October 2023

Background

Since air pollution and physical inactivity pose major public health risks, switching from cars to alternatives like public transport, cycling, and walking is important. Therefore, it is beneficial to identify key events for changes of mode choice.

Methods

We examined the association between risk perception and mode choice during the temporary closure of a road bridge between two major German cities in early 2020 using binary and multinomial regression models.

Results

679 people participated in the survey. We found that 22% of car users switched to alternatives. The higher the perceived health risk from traffic-related air pollution, the more likely car users switched to alternatives (odds ratio [OR] = 1.76, 95% CI [1.14, 2.71]).

Discussion

Attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioral control were associated with maintaining but not with switching transport modes. In conclusion, the closure of a main road bridge may present a key event. To explain mode choice, risk perception is a potential extension to the theory of planned behavior.
SeqPredNN: a neural network that generates protein sequences that fold into specified tertiary structures
Authors: Lategan F. Adriaan , Schreiber Caroline , Patterton Hugh G.
Published: October 2023

Background

The relationship between the sequence of a protein, its structure, and the resulting connection between its structure and function, is a foundational principle in biological science. Only recently has the computational prediction of protein structure based only on protein sequence been addressed effectively by AlphaFold, a neural network approach that can predict the majority of protein structures with X-ray crystallographic accuracy.

A question that is now of acute relevance is the “inverse protein folding problem”: predicting the sequence of a protein that folds into a specified structure. This will be of immense value in protein engineering and biotechnology, and will allow the design and expression of recombinant proteins that can, for instance, fold into specified structures as a scaffold for the attachment of recombinant antigens, or enzymes with modified or novel catalytic activities.

Here we describe the development of SeqPredNN, a feed-forward neural network trained with X-ray crystallographic structures from the RCSB Protein Data Bank to predict the identity of amino acids in a protein structure using only the relative positions, orientations, and backbone dihedral angles of nearby residues.

Results

We predict the sequence of a protein expected to fold into a specified structure and assess the accuracy of the prediction using both AlphaFold and RoseTTAFold to computationally generate the fold of the derived sequence. We show that the sequences predicted by SeqPredNN fold into a structure with a median TM-score of 0.638 when compared to the crystal structure according to AlphaFold predictions, yet these sequences are unique and only 28.4% identical to the sequence of the crystallized protein.

Conclusions

We propose that SeqPredNN will be a valuable tool to generate proteins of defined structure for the design of novel biomaterials, pharmaceuticals, catalysts, and reporter systems. The low sequence identity of its predictions compared to the native sequence could prove useful for developing proteins with modified physical properties, such as water solubility and thermal stability. The speed and ease of use of SeqPredNN offers a significant advantage over physics-based protein design methods.
Studies on genetic diversity, gene flow and landscape genetic in Avicennia marina: Spatial PCA, Random Forest, and phylogeography approaches
Authors: Malekmohammadi Laleh , Sheidai Masoud , Ghahremaninejad Farrokh , Danehkar Afshin , Koohdar Fahimeh
Published: October 2023

Mangrove forests grow in coastal areas, lagoons, estuaries, and deltas and form the main vegetation in tidal and saline wetlands. Due to the mankind activities and also changes in climate, these forests face degradations and probably extinction in some areas. Avicennia marina is one of the most distributed mangrove species throughout the world. The populations of A. marina occur in a limited region in southern parts of Iran. Very few genetic and spatial analyses are available on these plants from our country. Therefore, the present study was planned to provide detailed information on Avicennia marina populations with regard to genetic diversity, gene flow versus genetic isolation, effects of spatial variables on connectivity and structuring the genetic content of trees populations and also identifying adaptive genetic regions in respond too spatial variables. We used SCoT molecular markers for genetic analyses and utilized different computational approaches for population genetics and landscapes analyses. The results of present study showed a low to moderate genetic diversity in the studied populations and presence of significant Fst values among them. Genetic fragmentation was also observed within each province studied. A limited gene flow was noticed among neighboring populations within a particular province. One population was almost completely isolated from the gene flow with other populations and had peculiar genetic content.Spatial PCA analysis revealed both significant global and local genetic structuring in the studied populations. Spatial variables like humidity, longitude and altitude were the most important spatial features affecting genetic structure in these populations.
Low lean mass with obesity in older adults with hypertension: prevalence and association with mortality rate
Authors: Qu Qiang , Guo Qixin , Sun Jinyu , Lu Xinyi , Cheang Iokfai , Zhu Xu , Yao Wenming , Li Xinli , Zhang Haifeng , Zhou Yanli , Liao Shengen , Gao Rongrong
Published: October 2023

Background

The influence of sarcopenic obesity (SO) on overall survival in older adults with hypertension has not been addressed. The aim of this study was to investigate the prevalence and mortality predictive value of various body composition phenotypes, focusing mainly on SO, in older adults with hypertension.

Methods

We included 1105 hypertensive patients aged ≥ 60 years from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey 1999–2004. Sarcopenia was broadly defined based on low lean mass (LLM; as measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry), and was defined using appendicular lean mass (ALM) divided by height squared (ALM/height2), weight (ALM/weight), and body mass index (BMI; ALM/BMI), respectively. Obesity was defined as BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2, body fat percentage ≥ 30/42%, or waist circumference ≥ 102/88 cm. The prevalence of LLM with obesity was estimated according to each ALM index (ALMI). Multivariable Cox regression analysis and sensitivity analysis were used to examine the association between various body composition phenotypes and all-cause mortality.

Results

In older adults with hypertension, the prevalence of LLM with obesity by the ALM/height2 index (9.8%) was lower relative to the ALM/weight (11.7%) and ALM/BMI indexes (19.6%). After a median follow-up of 15.4 years, 642 deaths occurred. In the fully adjusted models, LLM with obesity was significantly associated with a higher risk of all-cause mortality (hazard ratio [HR] 1.69, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.14–2.49, P = 0.008; HR 1.48, 95% CI 1.04–2.10, P = 0.028; HR 1.30, 95% CI 1.02–1.66, P = 0.037; respectively) compared with the normal body phenotype, with no statistical differences found in individuals with LLM or obesity alone. Sensitivity analysis confirmed the robustness of the results.

Conclusions

The prevalence of LLM with obesity markedly differed in older adults with hypertension according to the 3 different ALMIs, varying from 9.8%, 11.7%, to 19.6%. Patients with both LLM and obesity had a higher risk of all-cause mortality. Further large, prospective, cohort studies are warranted to validate these findings and uncover underlying mechanisms.
Gestational diabetes is associated with the risk of offspring’s congenital anomalies: a register-based cohort study
Authors: Kinnunen Jenni , Nikkinen Hilkka , Keikkala Elina , Mustaniemi Sanna , Gissler Mika , Laivuori Hannele , Eriksson Johan G. , Kaaja Risto , Pouta Anneli , Kajantie Eero , Vääräsmäki Marja
Published: October 2023

Background

Gestational diabetes mellitus (GDM) is a common pregnancy-related disorder and a well-known risk factor for adverse pregnancy outcomes. There are conflicting findings on the association of GDM with the risk of congenital anomalies (CAs) in offspring. In this study, we aimed to determine study whether maternal GDM is associated with an increased risk of major CAs in offspring.

Methods

This Finnish Gestational Diabetes (FinnGeDi) register-based study included 6,597 women with singleton pregnancies and a diagnosis of GDM and 51,981 singleton controls with no diabetes identified from the Finnish Medical Birth Register (MBR) in 2009. Data from MBR were combined in this study with the Register of Congenital Malformations, which includes the data of CAs. We used logistic regression to calculate odds ratios (OR) for CAs, together with their 95% confidence intervals (CIs), adjusting for maternal age, parity, pre-pregnancy body mass index (BMI), and maternal smoking status.

Results

The risk of major CAs was higher in the GDM-exposed (n = 336, 5.09%) than in the non-exposed group (n = 2,255, 4.33%) (OR: 1.18, 95% CI: 1.05–1.33, p = 0.005). The adjusted OR (aOR) was 1.14 (95% CI: 1.00-1.30, p = 0.047). There was a higher overall prevalence of CAs, particularly chromosomal abnormalities (0.52% vs. 0.21%), in the GDM-exposed group (OR: 2.49, 95% Cl: 1.69–3.66, p < 0.001). The aOR was 1.93 (95% Cl: 1.25–2.99, p = 0.003).

Conclusions

Offspring exposed to GDM have a higher prevalence of major CAs. Of note, risk factors other than GDM, such as older maternal age and a higher pre-pregnancy BMI, diminished the between group differences in the prevalence of major CAs. Nevertheless, our findings suggest that offspring exposed to maternal GDM are more likely to be diagnosed with a chromosomal abnormality, independent of maternal age, parity, pre-pregnancy BMI, and smoking.
Exploring factors influencing the uptake of kangaroo mother care: key informant interviews with parents
Authors: Foong Wai Cheng , Foong Siew Cheng , Ho Jacqueline J. , Gautam Divya , Leong Jen Jen , Tan Pek Yong , Baskaran Mehala
Published: October 2023

Background

The updated World Health Organization (WHO) guideline recommends immediate kangaroo mother care (KMC) for all infants, particularly those born preterm. However, its uptake and sustainability have been unsatisfactory. Therefore, we aimed to gain deeper insight into factors influencing the uptake of KMC practice in our setting, and thereby identify possible solutions for the development of relevant interventions to improve its adoption and make KMC a routine practice for all infants.

Methods

Using the Triandis model of social behaviour as our framework, we conducted key informant interviews with parents and healthcare providers. Trained interviewers conducted interviews with nine parents, recruited via purposive sampling. These parents were parents of preterm infants who had been introduced to KMC. Data was transcribed and analysed based on Triandis’ Theory of Interpersonal Behaviour. This paper only reports the results of the parent interviews.

Results

Major findings were how positive feelings like warmth and contentment, the sense of parenthood with KMC, the benefits of KMC for their infant and parents being enablers for KMC uptake. Conversely, the lack of KMC awareness, the initial negative feelings such as fear, uncertainty and embarrassment, the prioritization of time for milk expression, overcrowding in the ward, lack of space and privacy, limited visiting hours, lack of support and poor communication resulting in misapprehension about KMC were major barriers.

Conclusion

A deeper understanding of the factors influencing the uptake of KMC using the Triandis behavioural model provided a way forward to help improve its uptake and sustainability in our settings.

Trial registration

This study was registered with the National Medical Research Registry (NMRR-17-2984-39191).
Dietary advanced glycation end products are associated with an increased risk of breast cancer in Iranian adults
Authors: Jahromi Mitra Kazemi , Tehrani Asal Neshatbini , Farhadnejad Hossein , Emamat Hadi , Ahmadirad Hamid , Teymoori Farshad , Heidari Zeinab , Saber Niloufar , Rashidkhani Bahram , Mirmiran Parvin
Published: October 2023

Background

Dietary advanced glycation end products (AGEs) can play an important role in increasing inflammatory factors and oxidative stress as risk factors for cancers. In the present study, we aimed to assess the relationship between dietary AGEs and the risk of breast cancer (BC) in Iranian adult women.

Methods

This hospital-based case-control study includes 401 participants aged ≥ 30 years old. The cases group consisted of 134 women diagnosed with histologically confirmed BC. The control group included 267 women enrolled randomly from patients admitted to the same hospitals. Dietary intake information was determined using a validated food frequency questionnaire, and dietary AGEs intake was computed for all participants. Logistic regression models, adjusted for potential confounders, were used to determine the odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of BC across tertiles of dietary AGEs.

Results

The mean ± SD age and body mass index of the study population were 47.92 ± 10.33 years and 29.43 ± 5.51 kg/m2, respectively. The median (interquartile) of dietary AGEs in all individuals was 9251(7450, 11,818) kU/day. After adjusting for age, first pregnancy age, and energy intake, participants in the highest tertile of dietary AGEs intakes had higher odds of BC compared to those in the lowest tertile of dietary AGEs (OR:2.29;95%CI:1.19–4.39, Ptrend:0.012). Additionally, in the multivariable model, after adjusting for age, age at first pregnancy, energy, menopausal status, family history of cancer, anti-inflammatory drug use, Vitamin D supplementation, physical activity, body mass index, number of childbirths, and history of abortion, breastfeeding, and oral contraceptive pills use, the odds of BC were increased across tertiles of dietary AGEs intake (OR: 2.33; 95%CI: 1.18–4.60, Ptrend: 0.017).

Conclusion

The present findings suggest that a diet with high AGEs is associated with a higher likelihood of BC in adult women.
Breast-conserving surgery is an appropriate procedure for centrally located breast cancer: a population-based retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yuan Ye-Wei , Liu Peng-Cheng , Li Fang-Fang , Yang Ya-Han , Yang Wei , Fan Li , Mou De-Wu , Yang Hong-Wei , Chen Mao-Shan
Published: October 2023

Background

The evidence of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) applied in centrally located breast cancer (CLBC) is absent. This study aims to investigate the long-term survival of breast-conserving therapy (BCT) in centrally located breast cancer (CLBC) compared with mastectomy in CLBC and BCT in non-CLBC.

Methods

Two hundred ten thousand four hundred nine women with unilateral T1-2 breast cancer undergoing BCT or mastectomy were identified from the Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results database. Kaplan–Meier survival curves were assessed via log-rank test. Propensity score matching (PSM) was used to balance baseline features, and the multivariable Cox model was used to estimate the adjusted hazard ratio [HR] and its 95% confidence interval [CI] for breast cancer-specific survival (BCSS) and overall survival (OS).

Results

With a median follow-up of 91 months, the BCSS and OS rates in patients who received BCT were greater than those patients treated with mastectomy in the entire CLBC set. Multivariable Cox analyses showed that CLBC patients who received BCT had better BCSS (HR = 0.67, 95%CI: 0.55–0.80, p < 0.001) and OS (HR = 0.78, 95%CI: 0.68–0.90, p = 0.001) than patients who received a mastectomy, but there were no significant differences of BCSS (HR = 0.65, 95%CI: 0.47–0.90, p = 0.009) and OS (HR = 0.82, 95%CI: 0.65–1.04, p = 0.110) after PSM. In patients treated with BCT, CLBC patients had a similar BCSS (HR = 0.99, 95%CI: 0.87–1.12, p = 0.850) but a worse OS (HR = 1.09, 95%CI: 1.01–1.18, p = 0.040) compared to that of the non-CLBC patient, but there was no significant difference both BCSS (HR = 1.05, 95%CI: 0.88–1.24, p = 0.614) and OS (HR = 1.08, 95%CI: 0.97–1.20, p = 0.168) after PSM.

Conclusion

Our findings revealed that BCT should be an acceptable and preferable alternative to mastectomy for well-selected patients with CLBC.