bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
A review on concrete’s rheological properties
Authors: D.V.S.K. Chaitanya , Satish Kumar Ch. Naga
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims on a broad review of Concrete's Rheological Properties. The Concrete is a commonly used engineering material because of its exquisite mechanical interpretation, but the addition of constituent amounts has significant effects on the concrete’s fresh properties. The workability of the concrete mixture is a short-term property, but it is anticipated to affect the concrete’s long-term property.

Design/methodology/approach

In this review, the concrete and workability definition; concrete’s rheology models like Bingham model, thixotropy model, H-B model and modified Bingham model; obtained rheological parameters of concrete; the effect of constituent’s rheological properties, which includes cement and aggregates; and the concrete’s rheological properties such as consistency, mobility, compatibility, workability and stability were studied in detail.

Findings

Also, this review study has detailed the constituents and concrete’s rheological properties effects. Moreover, it exhibits the relationship between yield stress and plastic viscosity in concrete’s rheological behavior. Hence, several methods have been reviewed, and performance has been noted. In that, the abrasion resistance concrete has attained the maximum compressive strength of 73.6 Mpa; the thixotropy approach has gained the lowest plastic viscosity at 22 Pa.s; and the model coaxial cylinder has recorded the lowest stress rate at 8 Pa.

Originality/value

This paper especially describes the possible strategies to constrain improper prediction of concrete’s rheological properties that make the workability and rheological behavior prediction simpler and more accurate. From this, future guidelines can afford for prediction of concrete rheological behavior by implementing novel enhancing numerical techniques and exploring the finest process to evaluate the workability.
Electrical resistivity and oxidation behavior of Cu and Ti doped laser deposited high entropy alloys
Authors: Dada Modupeola , Popoola Patricia , Mathe Ntombi , Pityana Sisa , Adeosun Samson
Published: September 2022

Purpose

In this study, AlCoCrFeNi–Cu (Cu-based) and AlCoCrFeNi–Ti (Ti-based) high entropy alloys (HEAs) were fabricated using a direct blown powder technique via laser additive manufacturing on an A301 steel baseplate for aerospace applications. The purpose of this research is to investigate the electrical resistivity and oxidation behavior of the as-built copper (Cu)- and titanium (Ti)-based alloys and to understand the alloying effect, the HEAs core effects and the influence of laser parameters on the physical properties of the alloys.

Design/methodology/approach

The as-received AlCoCrFeNiCu and AlCoCrFeNiTi powders were used to fabricate HEA clads on an A301 steel baseplate preheated at 400°C using a 3 kW Rofin Sinar dY044 continuous-wave laser-deposition system fitted with a KUKA robotic arm. The deposits were sectioned using an electric cutting machine and prepared by standard metallographic methods to investigate the electrical and oxidation properties of the alloys.

Findings

The results showed that the laser power had the most influence on the physical properties of the alloys. The Ti-based alloy had better resistivity than the Cu-based alloy, whereas the Cu-based alloy had better oxidation residence than the Ti-based alloy which attributed to the compositional alloying effect (Cu, aluminum and nickel) and the orderliness of the lattice, which is significantly associated with the electron transportation; consequently, the more distorted the lattice, the easier the transportation of electrons and the better the properties of the HEAs.

Originality/value

It is evident from the studies that the composition of HEAs and the laser processing parameters are two significant factors that influence the physical properties of laser deposited HEAs for aerospace applications.
Untangling the link between the human gut microbiota composition and the severity of the symptoms of the COVID‐19 infection
Authors: Mancabelli Leonardo , Milani Christian , Fontana Federico , Lugli Gabriele Andrea , Tarracchini Chiara , Viappiani Alice , Ciociola Tecla , Ticinesi Andrea , Nouvenne Antonio , Meschi Tiziana , Turroni Francesca , Ventura Marco
Published: September 2022

Recent pandemic infection caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 (COVID‐19) led the scientific community to investigate the possible causes contributing to the physiopathology of this disease. In this context, analyses of the intestinal microbiota highlighted possible correlation between host‐associated bacterial communities and development of the COVID‐19. Nevertheless, a detailed investigation of the role of the human microbiota in the severity of the symptoms of this disease is still lacking. This study performed a comprehensive meta‐analysis of 323 faecal samples from public and novel Italian data sets based on the shotgun metagenomic approach. In detail, the comparative analyses revealed possible differences in the microbial biodiversity related to the individual health status, highlighting a species richness decrease in COVID‐19 patients with a severe prognosis. Moreover, healthy subjects resulted characterized by a higher abundance of protective and health‐supporting bacterial species, while patients affected by COVID‐19 disease displayed a significant increase of opportunistic pathogen bacteria involved in developing putrefactive dysbiosis. Furthermore, prediction of the microbiome functional capabilities suggested that individuals affected by COVID‐19 subsist in an unbalanced metabolism characterized by an overrepresentation of enzymes involved in the protein metabolism at the expense of carbohydrates oriented pathways, which can impact on disease severity and in excessive systemic inflammation.
An in silico analysis revealed a novel evolutionary lineage of putative mitoviruses
Authors: Jacquat Andrés Gustavo , Ulla Sofía Belén , Debat Humberto Julio , Muñoz‐Adalia Emigdio Jordán , Theumer Martín Gustavo , Pedrajas María Dolores García , Dambolena José Sebastián
Published: September 2022

Mitoviruses (family Mitoviridae) are small capsid‐less RNA viruses that replicate in the mitochondria of fungi and plants. However, to date, the only authentic animal mitovirus infecting an insect was identified as Lutzomyia longipalpis mitovirus 1 (LulMV1). Public databases of transcriptomic studies from several animals may be a good source for identifying the often missed mitoviruses. Consequently, a search of mitovirus‐like transcripts at the NCBI transcriptome shotgun assembly (TSA) library, and a search for the mitoviruses previously recorded at the NCBI non‐redundant (nr) protein sequences library, were performed in order to identify new mitovirus‐like sequences associated with animals. In total, 10 new putative mitoviruses were identified in the TSA database and 8 putative mitoviruses in the nr protein database. To our knowledge, these results represent the first evidence of putative mitoviruses associated with poriferan, cnidarians, echinoderms, crustaceans, myriapods and arachnids. According to different phylogenetic inferences using the maximum likelihood method, these 18 putative mitoviruses form a robust monophyletic lineage with LulMV1, the only known animal‐infecting mitovirus. These findings based on in silico procedures provide strong evidence for the existence of a clade of putative mitoviruses associated with animals, which has been provisionally named ‘kvinmitovirus’.
Funding Anti‐Gender Politics in Europe
Authors: Lovenduski Joni
Published: September 2022

Neil Datta's report, Tip of the Iceberg: Religious Extremist Funders against Human Rights for Sexuality and Reproductive Health in Europe 2009–2018, examines the funding, activities and interconnections of anti‐gender politics in Europe between 2009 and 2018. It identifies and traces funding, donors, beneficiaries, outputs and outcomes of a rising number of activities aimed at overturning the achievements of sex and gender equality movements of the last fifty years. Demonstrating a significant level of sustained activity by religious organisations, think tanks, charitable foundations, political parties and individuals, the report author argues that anti‐gender positions attract an expanded range of supporters to alt and far right political parties, and are used to draw in new supporters for illiberal politics in Europe.
The Affordable Care Act's “community first choice” option: Effect on long‐term care expenditures
Authors: Oyeka Onyinye , Arora Kanika
Published: September 2022

Objective

To empirically assess the effect of adopting Affordable Care Act's Community First Choice (CFC) option on overall state home and community‐based services (HCBS) expenditures as well as distribution of HCBS expenditures across different HCBS mechanisms. We also explore the heterogeneous effect of CFC across adopting states.

Data Source

We used data from the Medicaid Long Term Services and Support (LTSS) expenditure reports prepared by Truven Analytics and Mathematica for the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services from 2008–2018 for all 48 states and the District of Columbia.

Study Design

An event‐study difference‐in‐differences model was used to estimate the effect of CFC on HCBS expenditures using Medicaid LTSS expenditure reports from 2008–2018. We also employ the synthetic control method to unmask heterogeneity across CFC adopting states using data from 2008–2018.

Data Collection/Extraction Methods

Not applicable.

Principal Findings

Overall, CFC was not associated with a change in HCBS expenditures per capita or HCBS expenditures as a proportion of LTSS expenditures. However, there appears to be an increase in HCBS expenditures among states that were institutionally‐oriented prior to CFC adoption. Additionally, CFC adoption was associated with an overall decrease in expenditures in alternative HCBS mechanisms (Personal Care Services State Plan Option and 1915(c) waivers), suggesting potential substitution across overlapping programs.

Conclusion

Results indicate heterogeneity across states adopting CFC. More institutionally‐oriented states appear to use CFC to expand HCBS. In contrast, more HCBS‐oriented states appear to employ CFC to strategically restructure their overall portfolio and processes.
Root associated fungal lineages of a tropical montane forest show contrasting sensitivities to the long‐term addition of nitrogen and phosphorus
Authors: Dueñas Juan F. , Hempel Stefan , Homeier Jürgen , Suárez Juan Pablo , Rillig Matthias C. , Camenzind Tessa
Published: September 2022

Root associated fungal (RAF) communities can exert strong effects on plant communities and are potentially sensitive to shifts in soil fertility. As increased atmospheric nitrogen (N) and phosphorus (P) deposition can alter the nutrient balance in natural ecosystems, we assessed the response of RAF communities to a fertilization experiment deployed on a highly diverse Andean forest. The stand level fine root fraction was sampled after 7 years of systematic N and P additions and RAF communities were characterized by a deep sequencing approach. We expected that fertilization will enhance competition of fungal taxa for limiting nutrients, thus eliciting diversity reductions and alterations in the structure of RAF communities. Fertilization treatments did not reduce RAF richness but affected community composition. At the phylum level fertilization reduced richness exclusively among Glomeromycota. In contrast, N and P additions (alone or in combination) altered the composition of several fungal phyla. The lack of a generalized response to long‐term fertilization among RAF lineages suggests that most of these lineages will not be directly and immediately affected by the increasing rates of atmospheric N and P deposition expected for this region by 2050.
Clinical target volume automatic segmentation based on lymph node stations for lung cancer with bulky lump lymph nodes
Authors: Shen Jie , Zhang Fuquan , Di Mingyi , Shen Jing , Wang Shaobin , Chen Qi , Chen Yu , Liu Zhikai , Lian Xin , Ma Jiabin , Pang Tingtian , Dong Tingting , Wang Bei , Guan Qiu , He Lei , Zhang Yue , Liang Hao
Published: September 2022

Background

The lack of standardized delineation of lymph node station in lung cancer radiotherapy leads to nonstandard clinical target volume (CTV) contouring, especially in patients with bulky lump gross target volume lymph nodes (GTVnd). This study defines lymph node region boundaries in radiotherapy for lung cancer and automatically contours lymph node stations based on the International Association for the Study of Lung Cancer (IASLC) lymph node map.

Methods

Computed tomography (CT) scans of 200 patients with small cell lung cancer were collected. The lymph node zone boundaries were defined based on the IASLC lymph node map, with adjustments to meet radiotherapy requirements. Contours of lymph node stations were confirmed by two experienced oncologists. A model (DiUNet) was constructed by incorporating the contours of GTVnd to precisely contour the boundaries. Quantitative evaluation metrics and clinical evaluations were conducted.

Results

The mean 3D Dice similarity coefficient (Dice similarity coefficient) values of DiUNet in most lymph node stations was greater than 0.7, 98.87% of the lymph node station slices are accepted. The mean DiUNet score was not significantly different from that of the man contoured in the evaluation of lymph node stations and CTV.

Conclusion

This is the first study to propose a method that automatically contours lymph node regions station by station based on the IASLC lymph node map with bulky lump GTVnd. Delineation of lymph node stations based on the DiUNet model is a promising strategy to obtain accuracy and efficiency for CTV delineation in lung cancer patients, especially for bulky lump GTVnd.
What firm risk factors drive bank loan pricing and other terms? Evidence from China
Authors: Jin Hongmin , Wang Lu , Xiao Zuoping , Fung Hung‐Gay
Published: September 2022

This study investigates how firm risk factors affect bank loan pricing. Although firm‐specific stock price crash risk affects bank loan costs directly, it also prompts other risks, including financial restatement and litigation, which in turn trigger higher bank loan costs. Strong internal and external governance mechanisms help reduce agency problems and improve information transparency, alleviating the adverse effect of stock price crash risk on loan costs. Our results confirm that bankers take good corporate governance into account in their bank loan decisions. We also show that bond investors price the adverse effect of stock price crash risk, prompting higher corporate bond costs. Futher evidence suggests that banks impose stricter non‐price terms, such as smaller loan size, shorter loan maturity, and a higher likelihood of collateral requirement, on firms with higher crash risk.
Matters of concern and engaged research
Authors: Chua Wai Fong
Published: September 2022

This paper argues that repeated concerns about the nature of academic accounting research should be taken seriously. It proposes engaged research as a means of deepening our social license. Anchored in the argument of Chua and Fiedler (2022), engaged research is characterised as follows. It engages with complex relations of practice, is a crosscultural journey and it co‐produces research on matters that matter (to practitioners, regulators, academics, communities). The paper outlines how accounting research could engage with a contemporary business landscape characterised by pervasive digitisation as well as new risks and opportunities brought about by climate change.
Urbanicity, posttraumatic stress disorder, and effect modification by socioeconomic position: A nested case–control study of the Korean National Health Insurance Database
Authors: Kim Kwanghyun , Tsai Alexander C. , Lowe Sarah , Stewart Robert , Jung Sun Jae
Published: September 2022

Background

We aimed to estimate the association between urbanicity and the onset of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and to investigate heterogeneity therein according to age and socioeconomic position (SEP).

Methods

We analyzed administrative data from the Korean National Health Insurance Database for patients with PTSD from 2004 to 2018 (N = 109,230) and for a 1:4 sample of age‐, sex‐, and enrollment year‐matched controls. Information on eligibility, SEP (proxied by insurance premium), place of residence, diagnosis, and medical claims was obtained. Urbanicity of administrative districts was assessed using data from the Korean Statistical Information Service, 2005–2018. We estimated hazard ratios (HRs) from baseline and time‐dependent models. Subgroup analyses and polynomial splines were used to investigate heterogeneity by age and SEP.

Results

Urbanicity was associated with an increased risk of PTSD (per 10%p increase, HR = 1.056, 95% CI 1.050–1.061). A positive association was estimated among patients aged 0–29 years (HR = 1.115, CI 1.106–1.124), while negative associations were estimated among patients aged 30–64 years (HR = 0.990, CI 0.987–0.994) and 65 years or older (HR = 0.992, CI 0.979–1.014). The estimated associations with urbanicity were more prominent at the extremes of SEP, but only among younger participants.

Conclusion

Urban residence was associated with an increased risk of PTSD diagnosis. The estimated association was larger among younger individuals (but not among middle‐aged and older individuals). Among younger individuals, the estimated association was larger at both extremes of SEP.
Efficacy and safety of lamotrigine in pediatric mood disorders: A systematic review
Authors: Kumar Rakesh , Garzon Juan , Yuruk Deniz , Hassett Leslie C. , Saliba Maria , Ozger Can , Oztosun Cinar , Ahern Kelly , Athreya Arjun P. , Singh Balwinder , Croarkin Paul E. , Vande Voort Jennifer L.
Published: September 2022

Aim

To appraise the current evidence on the efficacy and safety of lamotrigine (LAM) in the treatment of pediatric mood disorders (PMD) (i.e., Major Depressive disorder [MDD], bipolar disorder [BD]).

Methods

Major databases were searched for randomized controlled trials (RCTs), open‐label trials, and observational studies reporting on pediatric (age < 18 years) patients treated with LAM for mood disorders.

Results

A total of 3061 abstracts were screened and seven articles were selected for inclusion. Seven studies (319 BD and 43 MDD patients), including one RCT (n = 173), three prospective (n = 105), and three retrospective (n = 84) studies, met the study criteria with a study duration range from 8 to 60.9 weeks. The mean age of this pooled data is 14.6 ± 2.0 years. LAM daily dosage varied from 12.5 to 391.3 mg/day among the studies. In an important finding, the RCT reported favorable outcomes with LAM (HR = 0.46; p = 0.02) in 13‐ to 17‐year‐old age group as compared with 10‐ to 12‐year‐old age group (HR = 0.93; p = 0.88). In addition, time to occurrence of a bipolar event trended toward favoring LAM over placebo. All the studies identified LAM as an effective and safe drug in PMDs especially, BDs. Overall, LAM was well tolerated with no major significant side effects and no cases of Stevens–Johnson syndrome.

Conclusions

Most studies suggested that LAM was safe and effective in pediatric patients with mood disorders. However, the data regarding the therapeutic range for LAM are lacking. Based on the data, there is inconsistent evidence to make conclusive recommendations on therapeutic LAM dosage for mood improvement in the pediatric population. Further studies including larger sample sizes are required to address this relevant clinical question.
Genome‐wide scan for runs of homozygosity in Asian wild boars and Anqing six‐end‐white pigs
Authors: Wu Xudong , Zhou Ren , Wang Yuanlang , Zhang Wei , Zheng Xianrui , Zhao Guiying , Zhang Xiaodong , Yin Zongjun , Ding Yueyun
Published: September 2022

Inbreeding and loss of genetic diversity are serious problems in local Chinese pig breeds. Runs of homozygosity (ROHs) are contiguous lengths of homozygous genotypes that can provide information on inbreeding levels, mating schemes, selection pressure, and genetic events. The Anqing six‐end‐white (AQ) pig, an important autochthonous pig breed bred in the Anhui province of China, plays a key role in the local pig industry. In recent decades, AQ pigs have become a closed breed with a small population size in conservation farms, raising the issue of inbreeding decline. In this study, we used 10× resequencing to detect the whole genome of 24 AQ pigs and six Asian wild boars (AWBs). We used the Plink software to analyze the homozygosity of the genome and the distribution of ROHs in the genome based on the resequencing data. We obtained 935.04 Gb of raw data from the resequencing results and more than 45 822 239 SNPs. Additionally, we identified 28 702 ROHs. Compared with AWB, AQ pigs had higher ROH numbers, longer ROH rates, and higher FROH values, which revealed that artificial selection influenced ROH distribution and genome inbreeding level. A total of 307 and 205 ROH islands were identified in the AQ pigs and AWBs respectively. The genes of ROH islands in AQ pigs were mainly enriched in immune biological processes. Our findings provide a useful reference for developing breeding programs to maintain genetic diversity and germplasm resources in AQ pigs.
De novo assembly of a wild swan goose (Anser cygnoides) genome
Authors: Zhang Yonghong , Ni Hongyu , Xie Hengli , Yin Yijing , Zheng Jinlei , Dong Liping , Diao Jizhe , Yan Shouqing , Yang Yuwei , Sun Hao , Sun Xueqi
Published: September 2022

The swan goose (Anser cygnoides) is the ancestor of the Chinese domestic goose. A previous study reported a scaffold‐level genome version for a Chinese indigenous goose breed, and this assembly was used as the swan goose's reference genome. To date, there is still a lack of a chromosome‐level genome for the swan goose. Here, we reported a de novo assembly of the genome of a wild swan goose using an integrated strategy that combines Illumina Hiseq, Oxford Nanopore and chromosome conformation capture (Hi‐C) sequencing. A total of 134.6 Gb Nanopore data with sequencing coverage of 110.33 and 69.45 Gb Illumina data with coverage of 56.93 were obtained. The genome assembly size was 1153.41 Mb, with a contig N50 of 22.75 Mb. The total size and N50 length of our assembly were larger than the previously reported scaffold‐level genome version. In addition, whole‐genome sequencing data of 10 geese were mapped to the previous and the current assemblies. On average, 97.88 and 93.18% of the reads were properly mapped and paired into our and the previous assemblies. This high‐quality chromosome‐level swan goose genome could provide a valuable resource for the utilisation of goose studies and breeding.
Mitochondrial fission factor (MFF) frameshift variant in Bullmastiffs with mitochondrial fission encephalopathy
Authors: Christen Matthias , Gutierrez‐Quintana Rodrigo , Vandenberghe Helene , Kaczmarska Adriana , Penderis Jacques , José‐López Roberto , Rupp Angie , Griffiths Ian R. , Jagannathan Vidhya , Leeb Tosso
Published: September 2022

Familial cerebellar ataxia with hydrocephalus in Bullmastiffs was described almost 40 years ago as a monogenic autosomal recessive trait. We investigated two young Bullmastiffs showing similar clinical signs. They developed progressive gait and behavioural abnormalities with an onset at around 6 months of age. Neurological assessment was consistent with a multifocal brain disease. Magnetic resonance imaging of the brain showed intra‐axial bilateral symmetrical focal lesions localised to the cerebellar nuclei. Based on the juvenile age, nature of neurological deficits and imaging findings, an inherited disorder of the brain was suspected. We sequenced the genome of one affected Bullmastiff. The data were compared with 782 control genomes of dogs from diverse breeds. This search revealed a private homozygous frameshift variant in the MFF gene in the affected dog, XM_038574000.1:c.471_475delinsCGCTCT, that is predicted to truncate 55% of the wild type MFF open reading frame, XP_038429928.1: p.(Glu158Alafs*14). Human patients with pathogenic MFF variants suffer from ‘encephalopathy due to defective mitochondrial and peroxisomal fission 2’. Archived samples from two additional affected Bullmastiffs related to the originally described cases were obtained. Genotypes in a cohort of four affected and 70 unaffected Bullmastiffs showed perfect segregation with the disease phenotype. The available data together with information from previous disease reports allow classification of the investigated MFF frameshift variant as pathogenic and probably causative defect of the observed neurological phenotype. In analogy to the human phenotype, we propose to rename this disease ‘mitochondrial fission encephalopathy (MFE)’.
Copy number variation association studies for sheep tail‐relevant traits in Hulunbuir sheep
Authors: Li Mianyan , Yin Chang , Zhao Fuping , Liu Yang
Published: September 2022

Tail type is an important trait that influences meat quality and consumer purchasing attitudes. As a novel genetic marker, the study of genomic copy number variations (CNVs) provides a new research method to study the genetic mechanisms underlying trait formation. In the present paper, we conducted CNV‐based association studies for sheep tail type and growth traits in Hulunbuir sheep. A total of 167 CNVs and 288 individuals were analyzed at the marker and individual level, respectively. Association studies of 10 traits were carried out using two mixed linear models. We found that three, one and one CNV loci were significantly associated with tail type, tail length and tail fat weight, respectively, which together contained a total of 52 candidate genes. Out of these genes, five have been documented to be associated with fat metabolism in sheep. Our findings provide a reference for further studies on fat deposition in sheep as well as a theoretical basis for breeding Hulunbuir sheep with the required tail type.
Farm support and market distortion: Evidence from India
Authors: Narayanan Abhinav , Tomar Shekhar
Published: September 2022

This paper studies market distortions due to farm support policies. Using a recently implemented Price Deficiency Payments (PDP) policy in India, we examine how PDP affects farm‐gate prices and crop supply. We document a new channel, the fall in reservation price of farmers under PDP, behind the decline in farm‐gate prices. This impact depends on the magnitude of the deficiency payments and can lead to a supply glut and price crash. Empirically, the scheme led to a 4% decrease in farm‐gate prices and a 51% increase in market arrivals for black‐gram, a crop with a high magnitude of PDP. Using bid‐level data on crop auctions, we rule out collusion among the market participants, another potential channel for price crash under PDP. The effects of the policy are transitory and disappear after the policy is withdrawn. In terms of welfare effects, this scheme is associated with a monetary loss of INR 1 billion. We discuss an alternate payment scheme that can reduce such losses. In summary, our results extend the current understanding of PDP schemes and contribute to the optimal design of such policies.
Arthralgia induced by endocrine therapy with or without cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors in breast cancer: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Takatsuka Daiki , Sawaki Masataka , Hattori Masaya , Yoshimura Akiyo , Kotani Haruru , Kataoka Ayumi , Horisawa Nanae , Ozaki Yuri , Endo Yuka , Nozawa Kazuki , Iwata Hiroji
Published: September 2022

Cyclin‐dependent kinase 4/6 inhibitors (CDK4/6i) in combination with endocrine therapy (ET) have been approved for breast cancer (BC) treatment. Several trials suggested that arthralgia was reduced in patients treated with ET plus CDK4/6i compared with that in those with ET‐alone. We aimed to compare arthralgia rates in BC patients treated with/without CDK4/6i. We reviewed randomized controlled phase II/III trials investigating CDK4/6i with ET in hormone receptor‐positive and epidermal growth factor 2‐negative BC. Publications were retrieved from PubMed from January 2014 to April 2021. We compared arthralgia rates between patients who were administered ET plus CDK4/6i (CDK4/6i group) and those treated with ET‐alone (control group). We reviewed 12 trials that reported data on adverse effects for arthralgia. These trials included 17,440 patients (9255 in the CDK4/6i group and 8185 in the control group). The arthralgia rate in the CDK4/6i group was significantly lower than that in the control group (27.6% vs. 34.8%, p < .001), especially in early BC (28.8% vs. 37.3%, p < .001). These suggested that the arthralgia rate in patients treated with ET plus CDK4/6i was lower than that in patients treated with ET‐alone and that CDK4/6i may decrease the arthralgia rate in BC patients treated with ET, especially in early BC.
The status of anti‐ovarian antibody immunoassays: Valid or invalid, in or out?
Authors: Pires Eusebio S. , Parikh Firuza R.
Published: September 2022

There has been a paradign shift in the status of immunoassays. There used to be a time where immunoassays had a very narrow role in clinical medicine, but that is not the case in today‘s world. Immunoassays have taken a central role in helping us better understand and treat human diseases. The literature around anti‐ovarian antibodies (AOA) immunoassay testings have been conflicting. Researchers challenged the specificity of the reported assays, but a systematic study was never elucidated on what/who the trouble maker was in rendering these tests so nonspecific. Attempts were made by our group in Mumbai, India, to throw light on the culprit behind the nonspecificity casative factor in the immunoassays and a method to overcome this was reported and published. This review highlights the stories back five and a half decades to date, to demonstrate where the status of AOA testing was, is and will be.
Occurrence of ventricular septal perforation in patients with permanent left bundle branch pacing followed up using echocardiographic and computed tomography images
Authors: Li Qiaoyuan , Dai Wenlong , Fang Dongping , Ma Weili , Lin Cancan , Lu Chunshan , He Dongfang , Liu Xu , Guo Chengjun
Published: September 2022

Objective

To explore short‐term changes after left bundle branch pacing (LBBP) using echocardiography and computed tomography (CT), especially for postoperative ventricular septal perforation.

Methods

Between January and September 2019, 33 patients with atrioventricular block underwent LBBP at Beijing Anzhen Hospital. All the patients were evaluated using electrocardiography, pacing, parameters and echocardiographic measurements, including for major complications, during the 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24‐month follow‐up. Interval perforations were examined during a 1‐month follow‐up echocardiogram and CT.

Results

Left bundle branch pacing was successfully performed in 100% (33/33) of patients. The mean seizure threshold was stable and unchanged postoperatively at the 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24‐month follow‐up. The paced QRS duration of the LBBP was 119.72 ± 2.53 ms and <130 ms in all patients. Unipolar impedance during the procedure was higher than 500 Ω (662.00 ± 181.50 Ω). No ventricular septal perforation occurred at the end of the procedure. At the 1‐month follow‐up, two patients reported transthoracic echocardiography, with CT revealing septal lead perforation. Through CT, two other patients were found to have septal lead perforation, and echocardiography indicated that the pacing lead had penetrated the interventricular septum and entered the left subendocardium. At the 1, 3, 6, 12 and 24‐month follow‐up, these four patients exhibited no significant increase in pacing threshold or impedance (p > .05). No ventricular thrombus or stroke was detected.

Conclusion

Permanent LBBP is safe and feasible in patients with bradycardia. Echocardiography and/or CT can more accurately evaluate changes in cardiac structure and function after LBBP.
Evaluating the effect of online surgical education on intraoperative cholangiogram interpretation: a pilot study
Authors: Kaldas Peter , Suthakaran Reshi , Weinberg Laurence , Lee Dong‐Kyu , Al‐Habbal Yahya
Published: September 2022

Background

Web‐based educational tools can support practitioners in their early years of surgical training. Such tools may be an alternative platform to meet the changing needs in surgical training and professional development and may help explain complex surgical principles providing a structured learning platform that is relevant in the day‐to‐day surgical operating room setting. We investigated the impact of an online surgical education initiative on inter‐observer variability and accuracy of IOC interpretation.

Methods

A convenience sample of seven surgical observers evaluated 100 IOCs before and after an online surgical series to evaluate their interpretation. The online video series characterized IOCs using nine key elements. The seven observers were surgical trainees of varying experience, from first‐year surgical trainees to surgical fellows, within a metropolitan hospital in Melbourne, Australia.

Results

Inter‐observer variability improved within six of nine key elements following the online tutorial. The accuracy of three out of these interpretations also significantly improved following the tutorial. Inter‐observer agreement of proximal biliary opacification improved from moderate (kappa (κ) = 0.491) to good (κ = 0.725), with an improvement in accuracy from 95% to 99% (P = 0.009). Similarly, inter‐observer agreements of cystic duct leaks dramatically improved from no agreement (κ = −0.089) to moderate agreement (κ = 0.548), with detection rates improving from 67% to 82% (P < 0.05).

Conclusion

Through an innovative pilot online surgical education, inter‐observer agreement and overall accuracy in the key elements of IOC interpretation improved. A larger multicenter study evaluating the effect of online surgical education on intraoperative cholangiogram interpretation is justified.
Mechanical intestinal obstruction in underweight, elderly women due to an incarcerated obturator hernia
Authors: Sun Ke‐kang , Wu Yong‐you
Published: September 2022

Background

Obturator hernia is an infrequent pelvic hernia observed in elderly, emaciated and multiparous women. It often presents with nonspecific clinical symptoms, making it difficult to diagnose.

Methods

We conducted a retrospective descriptive study on 11 patients admitted to our hospital for obturator hernia from 2009 to 2020.

Results

All the patients were diagnosed with intestinal obstruction due to incarcerated obturator hernia preoperatively. Eight patients underwent laparotomy with low midline incision. Laparoscopic approach was tried on the other three patients with two patients converting to open surgery because of inadequate visualization, and only one patient received laparoscopic repair. Of the 10 patients receiving laparotomy, seven cases received obturator hernia repair with a match and three cases were subjected to bowel resection (two cases intestinal necrosis and one case intestinal perforation). Simple peritoneal closure was performed on the three contaminated cases. One patient died of septic shock and multiple organ failure.

Conclusion

The emergent computed tomography allow for early and precise diagnosis of incarcerated obturator hernia. Laparotomy with low midline incision is commonly used to manage obturator hernia in an emergency, whereas laproscopic approach may only apply to some selected cases.
Teachers' behaviour and children's academic achievement: Evidence of gene–environment interactions
Authors: Guimond Fanny‐Alexandra , Brendgen Mara , Vitaro Frank , Dionne Ginette , Boivin Michel
Published: September 2022

Background

Children's academic achievement is considerably influenced by genetic factors, which rarely operate independently of environmental influences such as teachers' behaviour. Praise and punitive discipline are commonly used management strategies by teachers. However, their effects on the genetic expression of children's academic achievement are still unclear.

Aims

This study examined potential gene–environment interactions in the associations between children's estimated genetic disposition for academic achievement and teachers' use of praise and punitive discipline in predicting academic achievement.

Sample

The participants were 165 twin pairs in sixth grade (M = 12.1 years).

Methods

Teachers reported on children's academic achievement, as well as on their own behaviour.

Results

Multilevel regression analyses showed significant interactions between children's estimated genetic disposition for academic achievement and teachers' use of praise and punitive discipline, respectively, in predicting academic achievement. These interactions indicated an enhancement process, suggesting that genetically advantaged children are those most likely to benefit from regular praise and infrequent punishments from their teacher. Moreover, genetically advantaged children were not more (nor less) likely to receive praise or punishments than other students. However, students from underprivileged backgrounds were less likely to receive praise from their teachers.

Conclusions

The results emphasize the importance of teachers' regular use of praise and infrequent punitive discipline to help genetically advantaged children reach their full potential. Future studies should investigate other protective factors of the school environment that might reduce the role of genetic influences that undermine disadvantaged youth's academic achievement.
‘It's not my greengrocer, it's someone from the medical profession’: A qualitative study regarding acceptability of deceptive and open‐label placebo prescribing in France
Authors: Druart Leo , Vauthrin Oriana , Pinsault Nicolas , Locher Cosima , Blease Charlotte
Published: September 2022

Objectives

To explore participants' views regarding clinical use of deceptive placebo (DP) and open‐label placebo (OLP) treatments.

Design

Qualitative thematic analysis.

Methods

We conducted eight semi‐structured interviews with healthy participants in an experimental trial comparing the efficacy of OLP and DP (Clinical trials n°NCT03934138). Interviewees' opinions were solicited following administration of placebos during the trial. Interviews were analysed using data‐driven analysis.

Results

We identified three themes. First, participants considered trust central in judging a placebo treatment to be acceptable. They expressed the importance of an implicit trust both in their health care professionals' (HCPs') competency as well as in the profession at large. A second theme was the perception of how placebo treatments might solve health problems. Acceptability of both types of placebo treatments was dependent on the perception patients had about the treatment solving their problem and/or doubts regarding the effectiveness of placebos The third theme encompassed perceived risks associated with placebo prescribing. Some comments viewed placebos positively as facilitating reduced medication intake. However, participants also identified the potential of placebos to generate adverse side effects.

Conclusions

Treatment acceptability by patients is a pre‐requisite, alongside effectiveness, to harness OLPs in clinical care. Our study identified the importance of trust in HCPs prescribing placebos, the clinical effectiveness of placebos and the potential risks of these interventions in assessing their acceptability. Future research is needed to explore the contexts in which placebos might be used, and how best to communicate information about placebo interventions.
Impact of darolutamide on local symptoms: pre‐planned and post hoc analyses of the ARAMIS trial
Authors: Shore Neal D. , Stenzl Arnulf , Pieczonka Christopher , Klaassen Zachary , Aronson William J. , Karsh Lawrence , Ryan Charles J. , Ortiz Jorge , Srinivasan Shankar , Mohamed Ateesha F. , Verholen Frank
Published: September 2022

Objective

To assess, the effect of darolutamide (a structurally distinct androgen receptor inhibitor) on urinary and bowel symptoms, using data from the phase III ARAMIS trial (NCT02200614) that showed darolutamide significantly reduced the risk of metastasis and death versus placebo.

Patients and Methods

Patients with non‐metastatic castration‐resistant prostate cancer (nmCRPC) were randomised 2:1 to darolutamide (n = 955) or placebo (n = 554). Local symptom control was assessed by first prostate cancer‐related invasive procedures and post hoc analyses of time to deterioration in quality of life (QoL) using total urinary and bowel symptoms, and individual questions for these symptoms from the European Organisation for Research and Treatment of Cancer Quality of Life Questionnaire Prostate Cancer Module subscales and Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy‐Prostate prostate cancer subscale. Prostate‐specific antigen (PSA) responses were correlated with urinary and bowel adverse events (AEs).

Results

Fewer patients receiving darolutamide (4.7%) versus placebo (9.6%) underwent invasive procedures, and time to first procedure was prolonged with darolutamide (hazard ratio 0.42, 95% confidence interval 0.28–0.62). Darolutamide significantly (P < 0.01) delayed worsening of QoL for total urinary and bowel symptoms versus placebo, mostly attributed by individual symptoms of urinary frequency, associated pain, and interference with daily activities. AEs of urinary retention and dysuria were less frequent with darolutamide, and greater PSA response (≥90%, ≥50% and <90%, <50%) among darolutamide‐treated patients was associated with lower incidences of urinary retention (2.2%, 4.2%, 5.1%) and dysuria (0.5%, 3.2%, 5.1%), respectively.

Conclusions

Darolutamide demonstrated a positive impact on local disease recurrence and symptom control in patients with nmCRPC, delayed time to deterioration in QoL related to urinary and bowel symptoms, and a favourable safety profile showing similar incidence of urinary‐ and bowel‐related AEs compared with placebo.
Pan‐HER inhibitors overcome lorlatinib resistance caused by NRG1/HER3 activation in ALK‐rearranged lung cancer
Authors: Taniguchi Hirokazu , Akagi Kazumasa , Dotsu Yosuke , Yamada Tadaaki , Ono Sawana , Imamura Erika , Gyotoku Hiroshi , Takemoto Shinnosuke , Yamaguchi Hiroyuki , Sen Triparna , Yano Seiji , Mukae Hiroshi
Published: September 2022

Lorlatinib, a third‐generation anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK)‐tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) with a broad coverage against ALK mutations, has demonstrated dramatic effects in patients with ALK‐rearranged lung cancer. The mechanisms of acquired resistance to lorlatinib by secondary ALK compound mutations have recently been reported; however, resistance mechanisms other than secondary mutations remain unclear. Here, we investigated the molecular mechanisms of the acquired resistance in ALK‐rearranged lung cancer cells in vitro. We established two different lorlatinib‐resistant ALK‐rearranged lung cancer cell lines (H3122LR and A925LLR) via long‐term administration of lorlatinib. These resistant cells did not harbor the secondary ALK mutations and showed cross‐resistance to the other kinds of ALK‐TKIs (crizotinib or alectinib) compared with the parental cells; however, these resistant cells overexpressed the phosphorylated human epidermal growth factor receptor 3 (HER3) protein and the ligand of HER3 (neuregulin 1; NRG1). Pharmacological inhibition of HER3 with pan‐HER inhibitors or genetic knockdown of HER3 with siRNA resensitized H3122LR and A925LLR cells to lorlatinib in vitro, indicating that H3122LR and A925LLR acquired resistance by NRG1/HER3 activation. These findings demonstrated that targeting NRG1/HER3 is a potential novel therapeutic option for lorlatinib‐resistant ALK‐rearranged lung cancer.
Targeting the PTP1B‐Bcr‐Abl1 interaction for the degradation of T315I mutant Bcr‐Abl1 in chronic myeloid leukemia
Authors: Elgehama Ahmed , Wang Yixuan , Yu Ying , Zhou Lin , Chen Zhixiu , Wang Liwei , Sun Lijun , Gao Jian , Yu Biao , Shen Yan , Xu Qiang
Published: September 2022

Small‐molecule‐induced degradation of mutant Bcr‐Abl1 provides a potential approach to overcome Bcr‐Abl1 tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI)‐resistant chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). Our previous study reported that a synthetic steroidal glycoside SBF‐1 showed remarkable anti‐CML activity by inducing the degradation of native Bcr‐Abl1 protein. Here, we observed the comparable growth inhibition for SBF‐1 in CML cells harboring T315I mutant Bcr‐Abl1 in vitro and in vivo. SBF‐1 triggered its degradation through disrupting the interaction between protein‐tyrosine phosphatase 1B (PTP1B) and Bcr‐Abl1. Using SBF‐1 as a tool, we found that Tyr46 in the PTP1B catalytic domain and Tyr852 in the Bcr‐Abl1 pleckstrin‐homology (PH) domain are critical for their interaction. Moreover, the phosphorylation of Tyr1086 within the Bcr‐Abl1 SH2 domain recruited the E3 ubiquitin ligase c‐Cbl to catalyze K27‐linked ubiquitin chains, which serve as a recognition signal for p62‐dependent autophagic degradation. PTP1B dephosphorylated Bcr‐Abl1 at Tyr1086 and prevented the recruitment of c‐Cbl, leading to the stability of Bcr‐Abl1. This study unravels the action mechanism of PTP1B in stabilizing Bcr‐Abl1 protein and indicates that the PTP1B‐Bcr‐Abl1 interaction might be one of druggable targets for TKI‐resistant CML with point mutations.
A blockchain framework data integrity enhanced recommender system
Authors: Altulyan May , Yao Lina , Kanhere Salil , Huang Chaoran
Published: September 2022

Recommender system for the IoT (RSIoT) has attracted considerable attention. By leveraging emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT), artificial intelligence, and blockchain, RSIoT improves various indicators of residents' life. However, data integrity threats may affect the accuracy and consistency of the data particularly in the IoT environment where most devices are inherently dynamic and have limited resources that could fail in ensuring the quality of data transmission. Prior work has focused on processing big data and ensuring their integrity by considering cloud storage service as the popular way. In this article, we address integrity of data leveraging blockchain capabilities to ensure the integrity of the critical data. We adapted the Ethereum blockchain to our RCS for ensuring integrity of data during sharing them between doctor and patient without handling their data by third party. We build four smart contracts that enable our system of gaining more advantage of blockchain. We evaluated the performance of our smart contracts in Kovan and Rinkeby test networks. The preliminary results show the feasibility and effectiveness of the proposed solution.