bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Metabolic dysfunction outperforms ultrasonographic steatosis to stratify hepatocellular carcinoma risk in patients with advanced hepatitis C cured with direct‐acting antivirals
Authors: Pelusi Serena , Bianco Cristiana , Colombo Massimo , Cologni Giuliana , del Poggio Paolo , Pugliese Nicola , Prati Daniele , Pigozzi Marie Graciella , D'Ambrosio Roberta , Lampertico Pietro , Fagiuoli Stefano , Valenti Luca ,   for the NAVIGATORE‐Lombardia Network
Published: April 2023

Background and Aims

Metabolic dysfunction (MD)‐associated fatty liver disease has been proposed to identify individuals at risk of liver events irrespectively of the contemporary presence of other liver diseases. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of MD in patients cured of chronic hepatis C (CHC).

Patients and Methods

We analysed data from a real‐life cohort of 2611 Italian patients cured of CHC with direct antiviral agents and advanced liver fibrosis, without HBV/HIV, transplantation and negative for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) history (age 61.4 ± 11.8 years, 63.9% males, median follow‐up 34, 24–40 months). Information about ultrasonographic steatosis (US) after sustained virological response was available in 1978.

Results

MD affected 58% of patients, diagnosed due to the presence of diabetes (MD‐diabetes, 19%), overweight without diabetes (MD‐overweight, 37%) or multiple metabolic abnormalities without overweight and diabetes (MD‐metabolic, 2%). MD was more frequent than and not coincident with US (32% MD‐only, 23% MD‐US and 13% US‐only). MD was associated with higher liver stiffness (p < 0.05), particularly in patients with MD‐diabetes and MD‐only subgroups, comprising older individuals with more advanced metabolic and liver disease (p < 0.05). At Cox proportional hazard multivariable analysis, MD was associated with increased risk of HCC (HR 1.97, 95% CI 1.27–3.04; p = 0.0023). Further classification according to diagnostic criteria improved risk stratification (p < 0.0001), with the highest risk observed in patients with MD‐diabetes. Patients with MD‐only appeared at highest risk since the sustained virological response achievement (p = 0.008), with a later catch‐up of those with combined MD‐US, whereas US‐only was not associated with HCC.

Conclusions

MD is more prevalent than US in patients cured of CHC with advanced fibrosis and identifies more accurately individuals at risk of developing HCC.
Using the potassium‐argon laser experiment (KArLE) to date ancient, low‐K chondritic meteorites
Authors: Cattani Fanny , Cohen Barbara A. , Mercer Cameron M. , Dahl Agnes J.
Published: April 2023

Several laboratories have been investigating the feasibility of in situ K‐Ar dating for use in future landing planetary missions. One drawback of these laboratory demonstrations is the insufficient analogy of the analyzed analog samples with expected future targets. We present the results obtained using the K‐Ar laser experiment (KArLE) on two old and K‐poor chondritic samples, Pułtusk and Hvittis, as better lunar analogs. The KArLE instrument uses laser ablation to vaporize rock samples and quantifies K content by laser‐induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), Ar by quadrupole mass spectrometry (QMS), and ablated mass by laser profilometry. We performed 64 laser ablations on the chondrites to measure spots with a range of K2O and Ar content and used the data to construct isochrons to determine the chondrite formation age. The KArLE isochron ages on Pułtusk and Hvittis are 5059 ± 892 Ma and 4721 ± 793 Ma, respectively, which is within the uncertainty of published reference ages, and interpreted as the age of their formation. The uncertainty (2σ) on the KArLE ages obtained in this study is better than 20% (18% for Pułtusk and 17% for Hvittis). The precision, which compares our obtained ages to the reference ages, is also better than 20% (11% for Pułtusk and 4% for Hvittis). These results are encouraging for understanding the limits of this technique to measure ancient planetary samples and for guiding future improvements to the instrument.
Curation planning and facilities for asteroid Bennu samples returned by the OSIRIS‐REx mission
Authors: Righter K. , Lunning N. G. , Nakamura‐Messenger K. , Snead C. J. , McQuillan J. , Calaway M. , Allums K. , Rodriguez M. , Funk R. C. , Harrington R. S. , Connelly W. , Cowden T. , Dworkin J. P. , Lorentson C. C. , Sandford S. A. , Bierhaus E. B. , Freund S. , Connolly H. C. , Lauretta D. S.
Published: April 2023

NASA's OSIRIS‐REx spacecraft collected samples from carbonaceous near‐Earth asteroid (101955) Bennu on October 20, 2020, and will deliver them to the Earth on September 24, 2023. The samples will be processed at the NASA Johnson Space Center (JSC), where most of the sample collection will be subsequently curated in a new cleanroom suite. The spacecraft collected loose regolith two ways: in a bulk sample chamber capable of holding up to 2 kg, and on industrial Velcro “contact pads” intended to collect small particles at the surface. Included in the JSC collection will be the bulk sample, the contact pads, contamination‐monitoring witness plates, and supporting hardware. Planning for the curation of the samples and hardware started at the earliest phase of proposal development and continued in parallel with project development and execution. Because a major mission goal is characterization of organic compounds in the Bennu samples, extra effort was spent in the design stage to ensure a clean curation environment. Here, we describe the preparations to receive the sample, including the design, construction, outfitting, and monitoring of the cleanrooms at JSC; the planned recovery of the sample‐containing capsule when it lands on Earth; and the approach to characterizing and cataloging the samples. These curation efforts will result in the distribution of pristine Bennu samples from JSC to the OSIRIS‐REx science team, international partners, and the global scientific community for years to come.
Self‐Regulation and Reading Comprehension: Integrating and Aligning to Improve Reading Outcomes
Authors: Capin Philip , Stevens Elizabeth A. , Vaughn Sharon
Published: April 2023

Two potential pathways for improving reading outcomes for students with reading disabilities are presented: (a) systematically integrating self‐regulation instructional practices within reading interventions and (b) aligning small‐group reading intervention with core reading instruction to reduce the pressure on the executive system. Two separate studies conducted with fourth grade students with significant reading difficulties, one related to integrating self‐regulation within a reading intervention and one related to aligning core instruction and reading intervention, are presented. Similar to many past high‐quality studies conducted with older students with reading disabilities, results revealed no statistically significant differences on commercially developed measures of reading comprehension. However, results on standardized measures of word reading and text reading fluency and researcher‐developed measures of vocabulary and text comprehension underscore the promise of these approaches and support the notion that considering self‐regulation in the context of reading instruction may be a productive conduit for supporting the needs of students with significant reading difficulties.
Vertical shareholding, vertical product differentiation and social welfare
Authors: Wang Xingtang , Wang Leonard F. S.
Published: April 2023

A vertically related market with vertical product differentiation is used to analyze the impact of vertical cross‐ownership on industry profit, consumer surplus and social welfare. With forward cross‐ownership, we find that when the upstream firm holds the share of the low‐quality downstream firm, the industry profit is increasing (decreasing) in the cross‐ownership if the product quality difference is large (small). When the upstream firm holds the share of the high‐quality downstream firm, the industry profit is increasing in the cross‐ownership. The cross‐ownership will lead to a higher consumer surplus and social welfare no matter the type of vertical cross‐ownership. We also consider the scenario that the upstream firm holds the share of both downstream firms.
Foxtail mosaic virus: A tool for gene function analysis in maize and other monocots
Authors: Beernink Bliss M. , Whitham Steven A.
Published: April 2023

Many plant viruses have been engineered into vectors for use in functional genomics studies, expression of heterologous proteins, and, most recently, gene editing applications. The use of viral vectors overcomes bottlenecks associated with mutagenesis and transgenesis approaches often implemented for analysis of gene function. There are several engineered viruses that are demonstrated or suggested to be useful in maize through proof‐of‐concept studies. However, foxtail mosaic virus (FoMV), which has a relatively broad host range, is emerging as a particularly useful virus for gene function studies in maize and other monocot crop or weed species. A few clones of FoMV have been independently engineered, and they have different features and capabilities for virus‐induced gene silencing (VIGS) and virus‐mediated overexpression (VOX) of proteins. In addition, FoMV can be used to deliver functional guide RNAs in maize and other plants expressing the Cas9 protein, demonstrating its potential utility in virus‐induced gene editing applications. There is a growing number of studies in which FoMV vectors are being applied for VIGS or VOX in maize and the vast majority of these are related to maize–microbe interactions. In this review, we highlight the biology and engineering of FoMV as well as its applications in maize–microbe interactions and more broadly in the context of the monocot functional genomics toolbox.
Retrospective analysis of 71 patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis
Authors: Zhu Huijun , Xia Xiujiao , Zhi Huilin , Shen Hong , Lv Wenwen , Sang Bo , Li Qiuping , Chen Xiaoyu , Zhong Yan , Liu Zehu
Published: April 2023

Objective

To summarise 71 cases of cutaneous sporotrichosis in Zhejiang over the past 9 years and analyse clinical and epidemiological characteristics.

Methods

This was a retrospective review of patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis attending the Department of Dermatology of the Hangzhou Third People's Hospital between 2013 and 2022.

Results

The male‐to‐female ratio was 1.15:1 among the 71 patients, with a mean age of 55.90 years (±2.02) and an age range of 3 to 94 years. The disease duration was unknown for 17 patients. The intermediate course for the remaining 54 patients lasted 11.90 months, ranging from 1 to 120 months. Thirty‐four patients were involved in mixed occupations, 28 were farmers, 4 were housewives, 3 were manufacturing workers, and 2 were carpenters; 23.95% of cases had a history of trauma. The most common clinical manifestation was fixed cutaneous (69.01%), followed by lymphocutaneous (29.58%) and disseminated cutaneous (1.41%). There were 72 affected sites; the upper limbs (69.44%) were affected the most, followed by the face (16.67%) and lower limbs (12.50%). Forty‐nine patients showed open lesions (69.01%), 15 showed mixed lesions (21.13%), and seven showed closed lesions (9.86%). Seventy‐one patients were confirmed by biopsied tissue or tissue fluid culture. Forty‐four patients underwent direct microscopy; of these, 18 (40.91%) were positive and 26 were negative. Molecular analysis confirmed that all fungal strains were Sporothrix globosa. Fifty‐nine patients underwent histopathological examination, of whom 18 (18.64%) were positive for periodic acid‐Schiff (PAS) staining. Eighteen patients were lost to follow‐up; the remaining patients were cured.

Conclusions

Consistent with the epidemiological situation of sporotrichosis in other areas of China, S. globosa is the primary pathogen in the Zhejiang province. The primary clinical form of sporotrichosis is fixed cutaneous. Susceptible subjects are mainly middle‐aged and elderly rural populations, and males are affected more than females. Patients with cutaneous sporotrichosis do not commonly have a history of obvious trauma. Direct microscopy is important for the diagnosis of sporotrichosis, and itraconazole is a safe and effective treatment option.
The patient with obstructed defecatory symptoms: Management differs considerably between physicians and surgeons
Authors: Mazor Yoav , Schnitzler Margaret , Jones Michael , Ejova Anastasia , Malcolm Allison
Published: April 2023

Background

Patients with obstructed defecatory symptoms (ODS) are commonly referred to either gastroenterologists (GE) or colorectal surgeons (CS). Further management of these patients may be impacted by this choice of referral.

Methods

An online survey of specialist practice was disseminated to GE and CS in Australia and New Zealand. A case vignette of a patient presenting with ODS was described, with multiple subsequent scenarios designed to delineate the responder's preferred approach to management of this patient.

Key Results

A total of 107 responders participated in the study, 62 CS and 45 GE. For a female patient with ODS not responding to pharmacological treatment, GE were more likely than CS to refer patients for anorectal manometry, while CS were more likely to refer for dynamic imaging. A quarter of CS and GE referred patients directly to pelvic floor physiotherapy, without any pre‐treatment testing. Knowing the result of dynamic imaging, especially if a rectocele was demonstrated, substantially influenced management for both of the specialties: GE became more likely to refer the patients for CS consultation and less likely to refer directly for biofeedback or physiotherapy and CS were more likely to opt for an operative pathway over conservative management than they were prior to knowledge of the imaging findings. The majority (>75%) of GE and CS did not find it necessary to obtain a gynecological consultation, even in the presence of a rectocele.

Conclusions & Inferences

Practice variation across medical specialties affects diagnostic and management recommendations for patients with ODS, impacting treatment pathways. Our findings provide an incentive toward establishing interdisciplinary, uniform, management guidelines.
Evaluating the impact of position, volume, and consistency on high‐resolution esophageal manometry outcomes
Authors: Basnayake Chamara , Jandee Sawangpong , Geeraerts Annelies , Geysen Hannelore , Pauwels Ans , Timmermans Lien , Vanuytsel Tim , Rommel Nathalie , Tack Jan
Published: April 2023

Background

The Chicago classification primarily utilizes ten 5 mL liquid swallows in a supine position as the standard high‐resolution esophageal manometry (HRM) protocol. HRM can be performed with varying volumes and consistencies and in an upright position. We aimed to determine the impact on HRM results by (1) position, (2) swallows of differing volume and consistency, and (3) perception of bolus passage.

Methods

HRM was performed in healthy volunteers (HV) with the following protocol of swallows: liquids 10 × 5 mL, 5 × 10 mL, and 3 × 10 mL multiple rapid swallows; applesauce 5 × 5 mL and 5 × 10 mL; and bread 5 × 2 × 2 cm and 5 × 4 × 4cm. HV rated difficulty of each swallow on a 5‐point Likert scale. All HVs performed the protocol in supine position first and then in “semi‐upright” (sitting 70 degrees in a bed) and “upright” (sitting in a chair) in a randomized order.

Key Results

Thirty‐seven HVs, median age 27 years, 64% female completed this study. Median distal contractile integral (DCI) and integrated relaxation pressure 4 s (IRP4) of 5 mL liquid swallows significantly differed (all p < 0.01) between position performed. Large volume swallows resulted in higher DCI and lower IRP4. IRP4 results were significantly increased for 2 × 2 cm pieces of bread compared to 5 mL water swallows. DCI results were higher for 2 × 2 cm pieces of bread compared to 5 mL water swallows. Distal latency was shorter in more upright positions. Among this cohort of HV, perceived difficulty of bolus passage was more likely to occur with solid boluses.

Conclusions and Inferences

The volume and consistency of a swallow and the position it is performed in, significantly alter HRM metrics. Interpretation of HRM studies should incorporate different normative values which are specific to the position and bolus type.
Effect of socioeconomic and malocclusion‐related factors on duration of orthodontic treatment by fixed appliance: A retrospective study
Authors: Shi Xueming , Wu Bin , Cao Dan , Liu Jingjing , Qian Xinyao , Liu Mao , Tang Miaoning , Yin Cheng , Liu Luwei , Yan Bin
Published: April 2023

Objectives

The aims of this study were to evaluate the effect of related factors that influence orthodontic treatment time and to identify the predictors of orthodontic treatment duration in a Chinese population.

Materials and Methods

Information for 29 sociodemographic, malocclusion and orthodontic treatment characteristics was collected. Patients were divided into two groups: the duration ≤24 months group and duration >24 months group. The treatment dates of the initial visit and end of orthodontic treatment were obtained to calculate duration. The data were subjected to univariate and multivariate logistic regression modelling to quantify the association between characteristics and the treatment duration; odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) are reported.

Results

Of 2120 patients, 704 patients (mean age, 15.9 ± 6.0 years) were included. Age, extraction, Bolton ratio (overall), rotated teeth, overjet and crowding (lower arch) were predictors for duration. The nomogram based on predictive factors exhibited strong discrimination ability, with concordance indices of 0.755 (95% CI = 0.712‐0.798) in the training cohort model and 0.717 (95% CI = 0.647‐0.787) in the validation cohort model. The calibration curves for the training and validation cohorts showed that the probabilities of the nomogram agreed well with actual probabilities.

Conclusions

Young age, non‐extraction and severe crowding (lower arch) can increase the chance of durations of ≤24 months. Rotated teeth, excessive overjet and Bolton ratio (overall) can increase the chance of durations of >24 months.
Collecting data on the experiences and perspectives of people with dementia in the acute care hospital setting: A systematic scoping review
Authors: Adams Annette , Lole Lisa , Oorloff Anthea , Duffy Cameron
Published: April 2023

Background

People with dementia frequently experience poor health outcomes that require hospitalisation; however, the hospital setting is generally unsuitable for these patients. While it is well‐recognised that understanding patient perspectives is crucial to providing person‐centred care, current clinical care guidelines do not describe how to effectively collect feedback from people with dementia. Historically, people with dementia have generally been neglected from data collection exercises among practitioners and academic researchers, alike.

Objective

The objective of this review is to describe the data collection processes from peer‐reviewed evidence sources that include direct consultation with, and elicit feedback from, patients with dementia about their care experience in the hospital setting.

Methods

The protocol for this systematic scoping review was pre‐registered (https://doi.org/10.6084/m9.figshare.16614667.v1). The review considered primary quantitative and qualitative research involving people with dementia as research participants, regarding the quality of hospital care from the patient's perspective. Four databases were searched (MEDLINE, CINAHL Complete, APA PsycINFO and Embase), with 14 studies meeting the eligibility criteria.

Results

There has been an increased interest in gaining the perspectives of people with dementia on their health care over the past 5 years. Sundry methodologies were employed by these studies, but most used informal qualitative interviews to support and enable participants with diverse symptoms and functional abilities to take part. Procedures concerning recruitment, ethics and consent, and data collection processes were, likewise, varied and not reported consistently across this body of evidence.

Conclusions

People with dementia can be meaningfully consulted as research participants in the hospital setting. Increased rigour when reporting the methodologies and strategies used during data collection is needed to provide guidance for health services and researchers to further enable the inclusion of people with dementia.

Implications for practice

Including people with dementia in data collection endeavours in the hospital setting is essential to improving health outcomes, increasing equity and providing better hospital service delivery to this vulnerable cohort.
Left bundle branch pacing versus biventricular pacing for cardiac resynchronization therapy: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Parlavecchio Antonio , Vetta Giampaolo , Caminiti Rodolfo , Coluccia Giovanni , Magnocavallo Michele , Ajello Manuela , Pistelli Lorenzo , Dattilo Giuseppe , Foti Rosario , Carerj Scipione , Della Rocca Domenico Giovanni , Crea Pasquale , Palmisano Pietro
Published: April 2023

Introduction

Cardiac resynchronization therapy (CRT) reduces heart failure (HF) hospitalization and all‐cause mortality in HF patients with left bundle branch block (LBBB). Biventricular pacing (BVP) is the gold standard for achieving CRT, but about 30%–40% of patients do not respond to BVP‐CRT. Recent studies showed that left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) provided remarkable results in CRT. Therefore, we conducted a meta‐analysis aiming to compare LBBP‐CRT versus BVP‐CRT in HF patients.

Methods

We systematically searched the electronic databases for studies published from inception to December 29, 2022 and focusing on LBBP‐CRT versus BVP‐CRT in HF patients. The primary endpoint was HF hospitalization. The effect size was estimated using a random‐effect model as Risk Ratio (RR) and mean difference (MD).

Results

Ten studies enrolling 1063 patients met the inclusion criteria. Compared to BVP‐CRT, LBBP‐CRT led to significant reduction in HF hospitalization [7.9% vs.14.5%; RR: 0.60 (95%CI: 0.39–0.93); p = .02], QRSd [MD: 30.26 ms (95%CI: 26.68–33.84); p < .00001] and pacing threshold [MD: −0.60 (95%CI: −0.71 to −0.48); p < .00001] at follow up. Furthermore, LBBP‐CRT improved LVEF [MD: 5.78% (95%CI: 4.78–6.77); p < .00001], the rate of responder [88.5% vs.72.5%; RR: 1.19 (95%CI: 1.07–1.32); p = .002] and super‐responder [60.8% vs. 36.5%; RR: 1.56 (95%CI: 1.27–1.91); p < .0001] patients and the NYHA class [MD: −0.42 (95%CI: −0.71 to −0.14); p < .00001] compared to BVP‐CRT.

Conclusion

In HF patients, LBBP‐CRT was superior to BVP‐CRT in reducing HF hospitalization. Further significant benefits occurred within the LBBP‐CRT group in terms of QRSd, LVEF, pacing thresholds, NYHA class and the rate of responder and super‐responder patients.
White epidermal nevus as an early sign of tuberous sclerosis complex—A case series
Authors: Ollech Ayelet , Hilewitz Daniel , Tzadok Michal , Lahav Einat , Debby Assaf , Eliyahu Aviva , Barzilai Aviv , Greenberger Shoshana
Published: April 2023

Tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) is a rare genetic disease with neurocutaneous manifestations, often presenting initially to the dermatology clinic. We report a cohort of neonates who presented with a novel finding of white epidermal nevus and were eventually diagnosed with TSC. White epidermal nevus may be yet another dermatological finding that may aid in the early diagnosis of TSC.
Mood changes and clinical decision making in adolescent patients on isotretinoin therapy for acne vulgaris
Authors: Gradwohl Kelsey , Verghese Michelle , Rosenblatt Adena E.
Published: April 2023

Although numerous studies have demonstrated no causal relationship between isotretinoin and depression or suicide, subtle mood changes and idiosyncratic mood symptoms have been reported in patients on isotretinoin treatment for acne vulgaris, and few studies have described the full range of mood symptoms and clinical course after a mood change arises. We reviewed 247 patients, ages 10–25 years, with acne vulgaris on isotretinoin and found that 26/247 (10.5%) patients experienced mood changes, the most common being depressive symptoms, anxiety, aggression, and emotional lability. Regardless of treatment management, 22/25 (88%) patients experienced improvement of mood symptoms to baseline, and 22/25 (88%) were able to complete their isotretinoin course without symptom recurrence. Our findings highlight the importance of monitoring for a broad range of mood changes in patients on isotretinoin, especially those related to a pre‐existing mood disorder and including those which do not meet formal criteria for a psychiatric disorder.
Analysis of related factors affecting hemoporfin‐mediated photodynamic therapy for port‐wine stain: A retrospective study
Authors: Chen Jiajie , Gui Yu , Wang Sun , Huang Dawei , Lyu Jiajie , Cheng Hui , Ding Yantao , Zhang Huabing , Liu Shengxiu
Published: April 2023

Background

Hemoporfin‐mediated photodynamic therapy (HMME‐PDT) is currently considered one of the most promising therapies for port‐wine stain (PWS). However, the efficacy of this is very variable and needs further studies.

Methods

A total of 101 patients with PWS in the face, neck, or extremities who received at least 2 HMME‐PDT sessions were included in the study, and correlations of efficacy with age, gender, locations, treatment sessions, and PDL treatment history were analyzed.

Results

The efficacy of HMME‐PDT in patients with different ages, locations, and different numbers of prior PDL treatment showed constantly significant differences after 1/2/last session (p < .05). The number of treatments was associated with efficacy, and patients who received more than two sessions had a better response than those who underwent two sessions only (p < .001). Ordinal logistic regression analysis confirmed the above‐mentioned associations. Nevertheless, patients of different sex, subtype, and lesion size showed no significant differences.

Conclusions

Our studies demonstrated that HMME‐PDT is effective in the treatment of PWS. The more prior PDL treatments, older age, lips involvement, PWS on limbs were adverse factors for Hemoporfin‐PDT, while multiple HMME‐PDT sessions can improve effective and response rate. Besides, ambient temperature and lesions temperature should be concerned, local cooling provides some relief from pain but may influence effect.
How incumbents beat disruption? Evidence from hotel responses to home sharing
Authors: Liu Jianwei , Xie Karen , Chen Wei , Liu Yong , Sun Yunlong
Published: April 2023

As the sharing economy continues to disrupt incumbent services, whether and how incumbents respond to the competition remains largely unknown. We investigate how incumbents can utilize management responses—a managerial intervention to guest reviews—to exploit performance improvement opportunities in guest reviews and sustain competitive advantage facing increased competition from home sharing. Our method integrates quasi‐experiments, topic modeling, and deep learning techniques to not only estimate the impact of home sharing but also unveil the performance improvement mechanism. The findings reveal distinctive management response strategies across hotel price segments after home sharing's entry, which lead to divergent performance outcomes in guest satisfaction and sales. Regardless of their price segments, any hotel that responds more actively to guest reviews demonstrates improved guest satisfaction in service areas where home‐sharing leads (e.g., check‐in/out, cleanliness, sightseeing opportunity, and room conditions) and achieves higher sales. In contrast, hotels that respond less to guest reviews appear to lose guest satisfaction and sales to not only home sharing but also peer hotel cohorts that respond more. Our study contributes to the literature on the intersection of service operations and technology and provides timely implications that can inform incumbents’ response strategies to disruptions in the ever‐changing business world.
Partial centralization in a durable‐good supply chain
Authors: Li Jin , Yang Xiaodong , Shi Victor , Cai Gangshu (George)
Published: April 2023

There has been extensive research on the strategic choice between supply chain centralization and decentralization. However, most research assumes complete centralization or complete decentralization but omits the commonly adopted supply chain structure of partial centralization. With partial centralization, a firm owns a portion, but not all, of its partner. To help fill this research gap, in this paper, we make a major contribution by explicitly analyzing partial centralization in a supply chain where a durable‐good manufacturer owns a portion of its downstream retailer. We start with a two‐period model and derive analytical equilibrium outcomes of the supply chain and its members under complete centralization, complete decentralization, and partial centralization. First, our analysis reveals that partial centralization with an appropriate portion of ownership can yield the desirable product sales pattern over periods and alleviate the time‐inconsistency problem in selling durable goods. As a result, partial centralization can become the equilibrium structure for a durable‐good supply chain. Second, the manufacturer's optimal ownership level in the retailer decreases in the product durability and decision horizon length, implying that complete decentralization is more likely to be the supply chain structure in equilibrium for higher product durability and longer decision horizon. Third, our extended analyses demonstrate the robustness of the main results with backward partial centralization. Moreover, partial centralization outperforms conventional strategies such as two‐part tariffs that can coordinate a supply chain but not fully solve the time‐inconsistency problem associated with durable goods.
Building a resilient pork supply chain toSalmonellaspp
Authors: Mu Wenjuan , van Asselt Esther , van Wagenberg Coen , van der Fels‐Klerx H. J
Published: April 2023

Salmonellaspp. control in pork supply chains has always been a challenging issue and insufficient control can lead to high social and economic consequences. Conventional risk management and risk management approaches and models are not sufficient to address potential food safety shocks caused bySalmonellaspp., as they mainly focus on assessing measures to reduceSalmonellaspp. risks instead of developing the resilience capability (e.g., flexibility to adapt to sudden changes in the risks). Our study is the first that incorporated the resilience concept to the quantitative modeling ofSalmonellaspp. spread in the pork supply chain. The objective of this study was to explore the resilience performance of the pork supply chain under different food safety shocks caused bySalmonellaspp., and to investigate the effectiveness of interventions on reducing the impact of these shocks on the resilience performance of the chain. Scenario analysis indicated that the effectiveness of the investigated resilience strategies or interventions depended on the risk profile (i.e., default, minimum, maximum level ofSalmonellaspp. contamination) of the pork supply chain. For pork supply chains with minimum and default risk profiles, more attention should be paid to increasing resilience of pigs towardsSalmonellaspp. infection. For supply chains with maximum risk profile, the focus should be on improving the performance of the slaughterhouse, such as careful evisceration, logistic slaughtering. To conclude, enhancing resilience performance of the pork supply chain can contribute to a safe pork supply.
Virtual reality informs clinical observation tool
Authors: Real Francis J. , DeBlasio Dominick , Ollberding Nicholas J. , Sikora Kimberley , Herbst Rachel , Whitehead Monica , Rosen Brittany L. , Meisman Andrea , Crosby Lori E. , Klein Melissa D.
Published: April 2023

Background

Assessing trainees' skills via workplace‐based assessments is challenging given the lack of psychometrically valid instruments. Our team previously developed an observation instrument to assess residents' competencies in behavioral health anticipatory guidance (BHAG) and motivational interviewing (MI) though its reliable usage required expert raters (e.g., paediatric psychologists). Our purpose was to establish validity evidence for a modified tool for clinicians.

Approach

This study utilised data from a prior educational trial of a virtual reality (VR)‐based behavioural health curriculum for paediatric residents. First, group interviews were conducted with clinicians to modify the expert instrument. Next, recorded VR simulations (n = 10) were scored to assess interrater reliability between clinicians. Finally, a physician used the tool to assess its ability to discriminate between residents' skill levels (n = 55).

Evaluation

Modifications during group interviews included a change from frequency counts for items related to MI to the binary outcome of present/absent and the addition of an entrustment item. On interrater‐reliability testing, the clinician tool demonstrated mostly substantial or near perfect agreement for items related to BHAG. MI items demonstrated a range of agreement. Using 55 recorded VR simulations, the clinician tool discriminated between trained versus untrained residents in BHAG skills (p = 0.002) and level of entrustment (p = 0.001). Differences between groups in MI adherence was not statistically significant (p = 0.095) as it was on the expert instrument.

Implications

VR demonstrated potential as a novel approach for obtaining validity evidence for tool development to support workplace‐based assessments. Further work assessing usage of the clinician tool in real‐world settings is warranted.
Elongated galactan side chains mediate cellulose–pectin interactions in engineered Arabidopsis secondary cell walls
Authors: Gao Yu , Lipton Andrew S. , Munson Coyla R. , Ma Yingxuan , Johnson Kim L. , Murray Dylan T. , Scheller Henrik V. , Mortimer Jenny C.
Published: April 2023

The plant secondary cell wall is a thickened matrix of polysaccharides and lignin deposited at the cessation of growth in some cells. It forms the majority of carbon in lignocellulosic biomass, and it is an abundant and renewable source for forage, fiber, materials, fuels, and bioproducts. The complex structure and arrangement of the cell wall polymers mean that the carbon is difficult to access in an economical and sustainable way. One solution is to alter the cell wall polymer structure so that it is more suited to downstream processing. However, it remains difficult to predict what the effects of this engineering will be on the assembly, architecture, and properties of the cell wall. Here, we make use of Arabidopsis plants expressing a suite of genes to increase pectic galactan chain length in the secondary cell wall. Using multi‐dimensional solid‐state nuclear magnetic resonance, we show that increasing galactan chain length enhances pectin–cellulose spatial contacts and increases cellulose crystallinity. We also found that the increased galactan content leads to fewer spatial contacts of cellulose with xyloglucan and the backbone of pectin. Hence, we propose that the elongated galactan side chains compete with xyloglucan and the pectic backbone for cellulose interactions. Due to the galactan topology, this may result in comparatively weak interactions and disrupt the cell wall architecture. Therefore, introduction of this strategy into trees or other bioenergy crops would benefit from cell‐specific expression strategies to avoid negative effects on plant growth.
Disentangling the causes of RBC loss and anemia in ECMO patients: Some questions answered?
Authors: Goel Ruchika , Roubinian Nareg H. , Bembea Melania M.
Published: April 2023

See article on page 933–941, in this issue
Watching TV Series in Distance Education during the Periods of Pandemic and Martial Law
Authors: Goian Vita , Goian Oles , Biletska Tetiana , Kobynets Alla
Published: April 2023

The purpose of the article is to hypothesize that the viewing of TV series by students, future creators of TV series, during the period of distance learning in conditions of restrictions and prohibitions, namely during the pandemic (2020-2021) and martial law (Russian-Ukrainian war, 2022) can become a segment of the professional educational model and one of the algorithms of crisis educational management in TV series production. The study is based on survey, comparison and content analysis methods. The target audience of the study are professional artists and media people, as well as students, i.e. future directors, screenwriters, cameramen, actors, editors, journalists, producers and advertisers. It allowed us to determine the motivation of the target audience regarding the frequency of watching TV series for the period under study, their professional interest and the choice of thematic, stylistic and genre aspects of the creation of TV series in Ukraine. The authors of the article claim that the research data represent essential empirical material that can be used in the period of distance learning as practical cases within the disciplines of the specialty for educational institutions that train specialists in "audiovisual arts and production" and "journalism", namely, future creators of TV series.
Carotid body hypersensitivity in intermittent hypoxia and obtructive sleep apnoea
Authors: Prabhakar Nanduri R. , Peng Ying‐Jie , Nanduri Jayasri
Published: April 2023

Carotid bodies are the principal sensory organs for detecting changes in arterial blood oxygen concentration, and the carotid body chemoreflex is a major regulator of the sympathetic tone, blood pressure and breathing. Intermittent hypoxia is a hallmark manifestation of obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), which is a widespread respiratory disorder. In the first part of this review, we discuss the role of carotid bodies in heightened sympathetic tone and hypertension in rodents treated with intermittent hypoxia, and the underlying cellular, molecular and epigenetic mechanisms. We also present evidence for hitherto‐uncharacterized role of carotid body afferents in triggering cellular and molecular changes induced by intermittent hypoxia. In the second part of the review, we present evidence for a contribution of a hypersensitive carotid body to OSA and potential therapeutic intervention to mitigate OSA in a murine model.

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Using Video Cameras as a Research Tool in Public Spaces: Addressing Ethical and Information Governance Challenges Under Data Protection Legislation
Authors: Benton Jack S. , Evans James , Mourby Miranda , Elliot Mark J. , Anderson Jamie , Hipp J. Aaron , French David P.
Published: April 2023

Systematic observation is a promising unobtrusive method of assessing human behavior in urban environments without many issues typically associated with self-report measures (e.g., recall bias, low response rates). Improvements in video camera technologies make it more feasible for researchers to conduct systematic observation, which could reduce the time, labor, and cost to facilitate high-quality observational research in urban environments at scale. However, there are important ethical and information governance challenges driven by data protection laws, which discourage many researchers from using camera-based observation methods. The European Union General Data Protection Regulation is a leading global standard for data protection. Drawing on our experiences of conducting three studies using video cameras in public spaces, we discuss how to conduct this kind of research in line with General Data Protection Regulation requirements. The paper outlines issues concerning data protection, privacy, informed consent, and confidentiality, and how we addressed them. In doing this, the paper provides support for responsible use of camera-based observation methods, which will be of value to researchers, ethics committees, and funders. Outlining how to use video cameras responsibly will enable more research to be conducted that, in turn, will build the case for its benefits to researchers and society.
The evolution of the Galápagos mantle plume
Authors: Soderman Caroline R. , Shorttle Oliver , Gazel Esteban , Geist Dennis J. , Matthews Simon , Williams Helen M.
Published: April 2023

The lavas associated with mantle plumes may sample domains throughout Earth’s mantle and probe its dynamics. However, plume studies are often only able to take snapshots in time, usually of the most recent plume activity, leaving the chemical and geodynamic evolution of major convective upwellings in Earth’s mantle poorly constrained. Here, we report the geodynamically key information of how the lithology and density of a plume change from plume head phase to tail. We use iron stable isotopes and thermodynamic modeling to show that the Galápagos plume has contained small, nearly constant, amounts of dense recycled crust over its 90-million-year history. Despite a temporal evolution in the amount of recycled crust-derived melt in Galápagos-related lavas, we show that this can be explained by plume cooling alone, without associated changes in the plume’s mantle source; results are also consistent with a plume rooted in a lower mantle low-velocity zone also sampling primordial components.
ATP-releasing SWELL1 channel in spinal microglia contributes to neuropathic pain
Authors: Chu Jiachen , Yang Junhua , Zhou Yuan , Chen Jianan , Chen Kevin Hong , Zhang Chi , Cheng Henry Yi , Koylass Nicholas , Liu Jun O. , Guan Yun , Qiu Zhaozhu
Published: April 2023

Following peripheral nerve injury, extracellular adenosine 5′-triphosphate (ATP)–mediated purinergic signaling is crucial for spinal cord microglia activation and neuropathic pain. However, the mechanisms of ATP release remain poorly understood. Here, we show that volume-regulated anion channel (VRAC) is an ATP-releasing channel and is activated by inflammatory mediator sphingosine-1-phosphate (S1P) in microglia. Mice with microglia-specific deletion of Swell1 (also known as Lrrc8a), a VRAC essential subunit, had reduced peripheral nerve injury–induced increase in extracellular ATP in spinal cord. The mutant mice also exhibited decreased spinal microgliosis, dorsal horn neuronal hyperactivity, and both evoked and spontaneous neuropathic pain–like behaviors. We further performed high-throughput screens and identified an FDA-approved drug dicumarol as a novel and potent VRAC inhibitor. Intrathecal administration of dicumarol alleviated nerve injury–induced mechanical allodynia in mice. Our findings suggest that ATP-releasing VRAC in microglia is a key spinal cord determinant of neuropathic pain and a potential therapeutic target for this debilitating disease.
Role of MXRA8 in Ross River Virus Disease Pathogenesis
Authors: Ng Wern Hann , Ling Zheng L. , Kueh Andrew J. , Herold Marco J. , West Nicholas P. , King Nicholas J. C. , Mahalingam Suresh , Liu Xiang
Published: April 2023

Previous studies have shown the importance of the cell surface protein MXRA8 as an entry receptor for several different prominent alphaviruses such as CHIKV, RRV, MAYV, and ONNV. In particular, the role of MXRA8 in the tissue tropism, viral pathogenesis, and immune response of a CHIKV mouse model have already been briefly characterized.
Genome Sequence of a Bangladeshi Strain of Raoultella ornithinolytica, a Pathogen with Metal and Antimicrobial Resistance Genes Isolated from a Pet Cat
Authors: Alam Jahangir , Hossain Mridha M. Kamal , Hossain M. Shahdat , Ahmed Shamima , Ehsan M. Amimul , Rubaya Rubaya , Bhuyan Anjuman Ara
Published: April 2023

Raoultella ornithinolytica
is an emerging pathogen that causes human infections. We report the isolation and genome sequencing of
R. ornithinolytica
from an oral swab of a Persian pet cat in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The genome length was 5,375,160 bp, with 55.9% G+C content. It carries putative genes associated with resistance to antibiotics and metals.
Plasmodium
Parasite Malate-Quinone Oxidoreductase Functionally Complements a Yeast Deletion Mutant of Mitochondrial Malate Dehydrogenase
Authors: Ito Takeshi , Kajita Sayaka , Fujii Minori , Shinohara Yasuo
Published: April 2023

We constructed a model organism to study the physiological role and function of
P. falciparum
malate-quinone oxidoreductase (PfMQO) in a yeast expression system. PfMQO is actively expressed in yeast mitochondria and functions in place of yeast mitochondrial malate dehydrogenase, which catalyzes the oxidation of malate to oxaloacetate in the TCA cycle.
Computed Tomography Imaging for Monitoring of Marburg Virus Disease: a Nonhuman Primate Proof-Of-Concept Study
Authors: Sword Jennifer , Lee Ji Hyun , Castro Marcelo A. , Solomon Jeffrey , Aiosa Nina , Reza Syed M. S. , Chu Winston T. , Johnson Joshua C. , Bartos Christopher , Cooper Kurt , Jahrling Peter B. , Johnson Reed F. , Calcagno Claudia , Crozier Ian , Kuhn Jens H. , Hensley Lisa E. , Feuerstein Irwin M. , Mani Venkatesh
Published: April 2023

Marburg virus (MARV) is a highly virulent zoonotic filovirid that causes Marburg virus disease (MVD) in humans. Much is unknown about disease progression and, thus, prevention and treatment options are limited.
Large Multicountry Outbreak of Invasive Listeriosis by a Listeria monocytogenes ST394 Clone Linked to Smoked Rainbow Trout, 2020 to 2021
Authors: Halbedel Sven , Sperle Ida , Lachmann Raskit , Kleta Sylvia , Fischer Martin A. , Wamp Sabrina , Holzer Alexandra , Lüth Stefanie , Murr Larissa , Freitag Christin , Espenhain Laura , Stephan Roger , Pietzka Ariane , Schjørring Susanne , Bloemberg Guido , Wenning Mareike , Al Dahouk Sascha , Wilking Hendrik , Flieger Antje
Published: April 2023

Listeriosis is a severe infectious disease in humans and characterized by an exceptionally high case fatality rate. The disease is transmitted through consumption of food contaminated by the bacterium
Listeria monocytogenes
.
Amylopectin Partially Substituted by Cellulose in the Hindgut Was Beneficial to Short-Chain Fatty Acid Production and Probiotic Colonization
Authors: Bai Yu , Zhang Yaowen , Wang Zhenyu , Pi Yu , Zhao Jinbiao , Wang Shujun , Han Dandan , Wang Junjun
Published: April 2023

A high-starch (mainly amylopectin) diet is usually accompanied by the fermentation of undigested amylopectin in the hindgut of humans and pigs with low digestive capacity and might be detrimental to the intestinal microbiota. In this research, we investigated the fermentation characteristics of amylopectin through an
in vitro
fermentation method and used an ileal infusion pig model to verify the fermentation trial results and explore the microbiota regulatory effect.
Experimental Evolution Reveals a Novel Ene Reductase That Detoxifies α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes in Listeria monocytogenes
Authors: Sun Lei , Van Loey Ann , Buvé Carolien , Michiels Chris W.
Published: April 2023

While bacterial resistance against clinically used antibiotics has been well studied, less is known about resistance against other antimicrobials, such as natural compounds that could replace traditional food preservatives. In this work, we report that the food pathogen
Listeria monocytogenes
can rapidly develop an elevated tolerance against t-cinnamaldehyde, a natural antimicrobial from cinnamon, by single base pair changes in the yhfK gene.
Gauge Equivalence Between 1 + 1 Rational Calogero–Moser Field Theory and Higher Rank Landau–Lifshitz Equation
Authors: Atalikov K. , Zotov A.
Published: April 2023

In this paper we study 1 + 1 field generalization of the rational N-body Calogero–Moser model. We show that this model is gauge equivalent to some special higher rank matrix Landau–Lifshitz equation. The latter equation is described in terms of $${\text{G}}{{{\text{L}}}_{N}}$$ rational R-matrix, which turns into the 11-vertex R-matrix in the $$N = 2$$ case. The rational R-matrix satisfies the associative Yang–Baxter equation, which underlies construction of the Lax pair for the Zakharov–Shabat equation. The field analogue of the IRF-Vertex transformation is proposed. It allows to compute explicit change of variables between the field Calogero–Moser model and the Landau–Lifshitz equation.