bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Root cap is an important determinant of rhizosphere microbiome assembly
Authors: Rüger Lioba , Ganther Minh , Freudenthal Jule , Jansa Jan , Heintz‐Buschart Anna , Tarkka Mika Tapio , Bonkowski Michael
Published: June 2023

Plants impact the development of their rhizosphere microbial communities. It is yet unclear to what extent the root cap and specific root zones contribute to microbial community assembly.

To test the roles of root caps and root hairs in the establishment of microbiomes along maize roots (Zea mays), we compared the composition of prokaryote (archaea and bacteria) and protist (Cercozoa and Endomyxa) microbiomes of intact or decapped primary roots of maize inbred line B73 with its isogenic root hairless (rth3) mutant. In addition, we tracked gene expression along the root axis to identify molecular control points for an active microbiome assembly by roots.

Absence of root caps had stronger effects on microbiome composition than the absence of root hairs and affected microbial community composition also at older root zones and at higher trophic levels (protists). Specific bacterial and cercozoan taxa correlated with root genes involved in immune response.

Our results indicate a central role of root caps in microbiome assembly with ripple‐on effects affecting higher trophic levels and microbiome composition on older root zones.
Reconciling fossils with phylogenies reveals the origin and macroevolutionary processes explaining the global cycad biodiversity
Authors: Coiro Mario , Allio Rémi , Mazet Nathan , Seyfullah Leyla J. , Condamine Fabien L.
Published: June 2023

The determinants of biodiversity patterns can be understood using macroevolutionary analyses. The integration of fossils into phylogenies offers a deeper understanding of processes underlying biodiversity patterns in deep time. Cycadales are considered a relict of a once more diverse and globally distributed group but are restricted to low latitudes today. We still know little about their origin and geographic range evolution.

Combining molecular data for extant species and leaf morphological data for extant and fossil species, we study the origin of cycad global biodiversity patterns through Bayesian total‐evidence dating analyses. We assess the ancestral geographic origin and trace the historical biogeography of cycads with a time‐stratified process‐based model.

Cycads originated in the Carboniferous on the Laurasian landmass and expanded in Gondwana in the Jurassic. Through now‐vanished continental connections, Antarctica and Greenland were crucial biogeographic crossroads for cycad biogeography. Vicariance is an essential speciation mode in the deep and recent past. Their latitudinal span increased in the Jurassic and restrained toward subtropical latitudes in the Neogene in line with biogeographic inferences of high‐latitude extirpations.

We show the benefits of integrating fossils into phylogenies to estimate ancestral areas of origin and to study evolutionary processes explaining the global distribution of present‐day relict groups.
DynamicPhaeodactylum tricornutumexometabolites shape surrounding bacterial communities
Authors: Brisson Vanessa , Swink Courtney , Kimbrel Jeffrey , Mayali Xavier , Samo Ty , Kosina Suzanne M. , Thelen Michael , Northen Trent R. , Stuart Rhona K.
Published: June 2023

Roles of different ecological classes of algal exometabolites in regulating microbial community composition are not well understood. Here, we identify exometabolites from the model diatomPhaeodactylum tricornutumand demonstrate their potential to influence bacterial abundances.

We profiled exometabolites across a time course of axenic algal growth using liquid chromatography–tandem mass spectrometry. We then investigated growth of 12 bacterial isolates on individual‐identified exometabolites. Lastly, we compared responses of aP. tricornutum‐adapted enrichment community to additions of two contrasting metabolites: selective growth substrate 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid and putative signaling/facilitator molecule lumichrome.

We identified 50P. tricornutummetabolites and found distinct temporal accumulation patterns. Two exometabolites (of 12 tested) supported growth of distinct subsets of bacterial isolates. While algal exudates and algal presence drove similar changes in community composition compared with controls, exogenous 4‐hydroxybenzoic acid addition promoted increased abundances of taxa that utilized it in isolation, and also revealed the importance of factors relating to algal presence in regulating community composition.

This work demonstrates that secretion of selective bacterial growth substrates represents one mechanism by which algal exometabolites can influence bacterial community composition and illustrates how the algal exometabolome has the potential to modulate bacterial communities as a function of algal growth.
Decoding the black essence of Melianthus nectar
Authors: Gong Yan , Cheung Lily , Kramer Elena M.
Published: June 2023

This article is a Commentary on Magner et al. (2023), 239: 2026–2040.
From panic to business as usual: What coronavirus has revealed about migrant labour, agri‐food systems and industrial relations in the Nordic countries
Authors: Kuns Brian , Börjeson Lowe , Fischer Klara , Hedberg Charlotta , Olofsson Irma , Ovaska Ulla , Refslund Bjarke , Fredrik Rye Johan , Vihinen Hilkka
Published: June 2023

This article focuses on migrant labour in Nordic agriculture, wild berry picking and food processing. The starting point is the fear of a food crisis at the beginning of the coronavirus pandemic (2020) because of the absence of migrant workers. The question was raised early in the pandemic if food systems in the Global North are vulnerable due to dependence on precarious migrant workers. In the light of this question, we assess the reactions of farmers and different actors in Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden to what looked like an unfolding food crisis. In many ways, the reactions in the Nordic countries were similar to each other, and to broader reactions in the Global North, and we follow these reactions as they relate to migrant workers from an initial panic to a return to business as usual despite the continuation of the pandemic. In the end, 2020 proved to be an excellent year for Nordic food production in part because migrant workers were able to come. We discuss reasons why the Nordic countries did not face disruptions during the pandemic, map out patterns of labour precarity and segmentation for migrant labour in agriculture and food production in the Nordic countries and propose questions for further research.
Biomechanical comparison of compact versus standard flute drill bits, and interlocking versus buttress threadself‐tappingcortical bone screws in cadaveric equine third metacarpal condyle
Authors: Pye Jannah L. , Garcia Tanya C. , Kapatkin Amy S. , Samol Monika A. , Stover Susan
Published: June 2023

Objectives

To compare (1) performance of compact versus standard flute drill bits, (2) screw insertion properties and (3) pullout variables between interlocking thread (ITS) and buttress thread (BTS) self‐tapping screws in third metacarpi.

Study design

In vitro experimental study.

Sample population

Paired third metacarpi from 11 Thoroughbreds aged 2–4 years.

Methods

Screws were inserted into the lateral condylar fossae following bone preparation using the respective drill bit for each screw type. Screw pullout was achieved using a mechanical testing system. Density and porosity of bone surrounding screw holes was measured with microcomputed tomography following each pullout test. Drilling, screw insertion and pullout variables were compared between drill bit and screw types using repeated measures ANOVA. Linear regression analyses were used to characterize relationships between bone tissue properties and drill bit and screw outcomes.

Results

Maximum torque power spectral density (PSD) was lower for compact flute drill bits. Insertion torque was 50% higher for ITS. BTS had 33% greater preyield stiffness and 7% greater mean yield force. Bone tissue properties affected measured variables similarly for both screw and drill bit types.

Conclusions

Lower torque PSD may increase durability of the compact flute drill bit. ITS had greater insertional torque, which may reflect greater bone engagement. BTS had greater resistance to axial pullout forces.

Clinical significance

Metacarpal bone provides a simple model for comparison of drill bit and screw designs. Use of ITS to repair equine fractures subject to predominantly tensile forces is not justified based on the results of this study.
Low-redshift estimates of the absolute scale of baryon acoustic oscillations
Authors: Lemos Thais , Ruchika  , Carvalho Joel C. , Alcaniz Jailson
Published: June 2023

Measurements of the characteristic length scale $$r_s$$

r
s

of the baryon acoustic oscillations (BAO) provide a robust determination of the distance-redshift relation. Currently, the best (sub-per cent) estimate of $$r_s$$

r
s

at the drag epoch is provided by Cosmic Microwave Background (CMB) observations assuming the validity of the standard $$\Lambda $$
Λ
CDM model at $$z \sim 1000$$

z
∼
1000

. Therefore, inferring $$r_s$$

r
s

from low-z observations in a model-independent way and comparing its value with CMB estimates provides a consistency test of the standard cosmology and its assumptions at high-z. In this paper, we address this question and estimate the absolute BAO scale combining angular BAO measurements and type Ia Supernovae data. Our analysis uses two different methods to connect these data sets and finds a good agreement between the low-z estimates of $$r_{s}$$

r
s

with the CMB sound horizon at drag epoch, regardless of the value of the Hubble constant $$H_0$$

H
0

considered. These results highlight the robustness of the standard cosmology at the same time that they also reinforce the need for more precise cosmological observations at low-z.
Adversarial Attacks on Large Language Model-Based System and Mitigating Strategies: A Case Study on ChatGPT
Authors: Liu Bowen , Xiao Boao , Jiang Xutong , Cen Siyuan , He Xin , Dou Wanchun
Published: June 2023

Machine learning algorithms are at the forefront of the development of advanced information systems. The rapid progress in machine learning technology has enabled cutting-edge large language models (LLMs), represented by GPT-3 and ChatGPT, to perform a wide range of NLP tasks with a stunning performance. However, research on adversarial machine learning highlights the need for these intelligent systems to be more robust. Adversarial machine learning aims to evaluate attack and defense mechanisms to prevent the malicious exploitation of these systems. In the case of ChatGPT, adversarial induction prompt can cause the model to generate toxic texts that could pose serious security risks or propagate false information. To address this challenge, we first analyze the effectiveness of inducing attacks on ChatGPT. Then, two effective mitigating mechanisms are proposed. The first is a training-free prefix prompt mechanism to detect and prevent the generation of toxic texts. The second is a RoBERTa-based mechanism that identifies manipulative or misleading input text via external detection models. The availability of this method is demonstrated through experiments.
Identifying USP1 Inhibitors with Allosteric Effect on Its Triple Catalytic Center through Virtual Screening
Authors: Xu Jinhong , Li Yongxia , Jiang Tao , Zhu Yi , Zhu Jinyan , Xu Tao , Fang Longji , Hong Zujun , Jia Yuying , Bao Fang
Published: June 2023

Previous studies have shown that downregulation of ubiquitin-specific protease 1 (USP1) can inhibit cell proliferation and promote apoptosis, indicating that targeting USP1 with drugs is a potential treatment for cancer, especially breast and ovarian cancer. In this study, we performed virtual screening on a database containing about 1.37 million molecules using the pharmacophore model, multiple precision molecular docking algorithms, molecular mechanics/generalized born surface area (MM/GBSA), strain energy, and ADMET screening methods. We found that Z28551960, Z423064076, Z1037335610, and Z1129923146 compounds showed excellent performance in terms of binding energy with USP1, ADMET property evaluation, and binding dynamics with USP1, had high potential as USP1 inhibitors, and were identified as hits in virtual screening. In addition, we demonstrated for the first time through molecular dynamics simulations that those molecules can enhance the structural flexibility of the USP1 protein and reduce its structural compactness, providing a basis for protein conformational changes. In summary, our discovery of potential USP1 inhibitors with novel scaffolds provides a theoretical basis for further development of USP1 inhibitors.
AMT-562, a Novel HER3-targeting Antibody–Drug Conjugate, Demonstrates a Potential to Broaden Therapeutic Opportunities for HER3-expressing Tumors
Authors: Weng Weining , Meng Tao , Pu Junyi , Ma Linjie , Shen Yi , Wang Zhaohui , Pan Rong , Wang Mingqiao , Chen Caiwei , Wang Lijun , Zhang Jianjian , Zhou Biao , Shao Siyuan , Qian Yu , Liu Shuhui , Hu Wenhao , Meng Xun
Published: June 2023

HER3 is a unique member of the EGFR family of tyrosine kinases, which is broadly expressed in several cancers, including breast, lung, pancreatic, colorectal, gastric, prostate, and bladder cancers and is often associated with poor patient outcomes and therapeutic resistance. U3-1402/Patritumab-GGFG-DXd is the first successful HER3-targeting antibody–drug conjugate (ADC) with clinical efficacy in non–small cell lung cancer. However, over 60% of patients are nonresponsive to U3-1402 due to low target expression levels and responses tend to be in patients with higher target expression levels. U3-1402 is also ineffective in more challenging tumor types such as colorectal cancer. AMT-562 was generated by a novel anti-HER3 antibody Ab562 and a modified self-immolative PABC spacer (T800) to conjugate exatecan. Exatecan showed higher cytotoxic potency than its derivative DXd. Ab562 was selected because of its moderate affinity for minimizing potential toxicity and improving tumor penetration purposes. Both alone or in combination therapies, AMT-562 showed potent and durable antitumor response in low HER3 expression xenograft and heterogeneous patient-derived xenograft/organoid models, including digestive system and lung tumors representing of unmet needs. Combination therapies pairing AMT-562 with therapeutic antibodies, inhibitors of CHEK1, KRAS, and tyrosine kinase inhibitor showed higher synergistic efficacy than Patritumab-GGFG-DXd. Pharmacokinetic and safety profiles of AMT-562 were favorable and the highest dose lacking severe toxicity was 30 mg/kg in cynomolgus monkeys. AMT-562 has potential to be a superior HER3-targeting ADC with a higher therapeutic window that can overcome resistance to generate higher percentage and more durable responses in U3-1402–insensitive tumors.
Physical Frailty and Use of Guideline‐Recommended Drugs in Patients With Heart Failure and Reduced Ejection Fraction
Authors: Kondo Toru , Adachi Takuji , Kobayashi Kiyonori , Okumura Takahiro , Izawa Hideo , Murohara Toyoaki , McMurray John J. V. , Yamada Sumio
Published: June 2023

BACKGROUND

Guideline‐recommended therapies that improve prognosis remain underused in clinical practice. Physical frailty may lead to underprescription of life‐saving therapy. We aimed to investigate the association between physical frailty and the use of evidence‐based pharmacological therapy for heart failure with reduced ejection fraction and the impact of this on prognosis.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The FLAGSHIP (Multicentre Prospective Cohort Study to Develop Frailty‐Based Prognostic Criteria for Heart Failure Patients) included patients hospitalized for acute heart failure, and data on physical frailty were collected prospectively. We analyzed 1041 patients with heart failure with reduced ejection fraction (aged 70 years; 73% male) and divided them by physical frailty categories using grip strength, walking speed, Self‐Efficacy for Walking–7 score, and Performance Measures for Activities of Daily Living–8 score: categories I (n=371; least frail), II (n=275), III (n=224), and IV (n=171). Overall prescription rates of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers, β‐blockers, and mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists were 69.7%, 87.8%, and 51.9%, respectively. The proportion of patients receiving all 3 drugs decreased as physical frailty increased (in category I patients, 40.2%; IV patients, 23.4%;
P
for trend<0.001). In adjusted analyses, the severity of physical frailty was an independent predictor for nonuse of angiotensin‐converting enzyme inhibitors/angiotensin receptor blockers (odds ratio [OR], 1.23 [95% CI, 1.05–1.43] per 1 category increase) and β‐blockers (OR, 1.32 [95% CI, 1.06–1.64]), but not mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists (OR, 0.97 [95% CI, 0.84–1.12]). Patients receiving 0 to 1 drug had a higher risk of the composite outcome of all‐cause death or heart failure rehospitalization than those treated with 3 drugs in physical frailty categories I and II (hazard ratio [HR], 1.80 [95% CI, 1.08–2.98]) and III and IV (HR, 1.53 [95% CI, 1.01–2.32]) in the multivariate Cox proportional hazard model.

CONCLUSIONS

Prescription of guideline‐recommended therapy decreased as severity of physical frailty increased in heart failure with reduced ejection fraction. Underprescription of guideline‐recommended therapy may contribute to the poor prognosis associated with physical frailty.
Effect of Cilostazol on Patients With Diabetes Who Underwent Endovascular Treatment for Peripheral Artery Disease
Authors: Cha Jung‐Joon , Cho Jae Young , Lim Subin , Kim Ju Hyeon , Joo Hyung Joon , Park Jae Hyoung , Hong Soon Jun , Lim Do‐Sun , Kook Hyungdon , Lee Seung Hun , Ko Young‐Guk , Min Pil‐Ki , Lee Jae‐Hwan , Yoon Chang‐Hwan , Chae In‐Ho , Lee Seung Whan , Lee Sang‐Rok , Choi Seung Hyuk , Koh Yoon Seok , Yu Cheol Woong
Published: June 2023

Background

No large‐scale study has compared the clinical impact of triple antiplatelet therapy (TAPT: aspirin, clopidogrel, and cilostazol) and dual antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) on adverse limb events in patients with diabetes after endovascular therapy (EVT) for peripheral artery disease. Thus, we investigate the effect of cilostazol added to a DAPT on the clinical outcomes after EVT in patients with diabetes using a nationwide, multicenter, real‐world registry.

Methods and Results

A total of 990 patients with diabetes who underwent EVT were enrolled from the retrospective cohorts of a Korean multicenter EVT registry and were divided according to the antiplatelet regimen (TAPT [n=350; 35.4%] versus DAPT [n=640; 64.6%]). After propensity score matching based on clinical characteristics, a total of 350 pairs were compared for clinical outcomes. The primary end points were major adverse limb events, a composite of major amputation, minor amputation, and reintervention. For the matched study groups, the lesion length was 125.4±102.0 mm, and severe calcification was observed in 47.4%. The technical success rate (96.9% versus 94.0%;
P
=0.102) and the complication rate (6.9% versus 6.6%;
P
>0.999) were similar between the TAPT and DAPT groups. At 2‐year follow‐up, the incidence of major adverse limb events (16.6% versus 19.4%;
P
=0.260) did not differ between the 2 groups. However, the TAPT group showed less minor amputation than the DAPT group (2.0% versus 6.3%;
P
=0.004). In multivariate analysis, TAPT was an independent predictor of minor amputation (adjusted hazard ratio, 0.354 [95% CI, 0.158–0.794];
P
=0.012).

Conclusions

In patients with diabetes undergoing EVT for peripheral artery disease, TAPT did not decrease the incidence of major adverse limb events but may be associated with a decreased risk of minor amputation.
Silencing of
PKG1
Gene Mimics Effect of Aging and Sensitizes Rat Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells to Cardiotonic Steroids: Impact on Fibrosis and Salt Sensitivity
Authors: Fedorova Olga V. , Shilova Victoria Y. , Zernetkina Valentina , Juhasz Ondrej , Wei Wen , Lakatta Edward G. , Bagrov Alexei Y.
Published: June 2023

Background

Marinobufagenin, NKA (Na/K‐ATPase) inhibitor, causes vasoconstriction and induces fibrosis via inhibition of Fli1 (Friend leukemia integration‐1), a negative regulator of collagen synthesis. In vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC), ANP (atrial natriuretic peptide), via a cGMP/PKG1 (protein kinase G1)‐dependent mechanism, reduces NKA sensitivity to marinobufagenin. We hypothesized that VSMC from old rats, due to downregulation of ANP/cGMP/PKG‐dependent signaling, would exhibit heightened sensitivity to the profibrotic effect of marinobufagenin.

Methods and Results

Cultured VSMC from the young (3‐month‐old) and old (24‐month‐old) male Sprague–Dawley rats and young VSMC with silenced
PKG1
gene were treated with 1 nmol/L ANP, or with 1 nmol/L marinobufagenin, or with a combination of ANP and marinobufagenin. Collagen‐1, Fli1, and PKG1 levels were assessed by Western blotting analyses. Vascular PKG1 and Fli1 levels in the old rats were reduced compared with their young counterparts. ANP prevented inhibition of vascular NKA by marinobufagenin in young VSMC but not in old VSMC. In VSMC from the young rats, marinobufagenin induced downregulation of Fli1 and an increase in collagen‐1 level, whereas ANP blocked this effect. Silencing of the
PKG1
gene in young VSMC resulted in a reduction in levels of PKG1 and Fli1; marinobufagenin additionally reduced Fli1 and increased collagen‐1 level, and ANP failed to oppose these marinobufagenin effects, similar to VSMC from the old rats with the age‐associated reduction in PKG1.

Conclusions

Age‐associated reduction in vascular PKG1 and the resultant decline in cGMP signaling lead to the loss of the ability of ANP to oppose marinobufagenin‐induced inhibition of NKA and fibrosis development. Silencing of the
PKG1
gene mimicked these effects of aging.
Comparison of Outcomes Following Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement Requiring Peripheral Vascular Intervention or Alternative Access
Authors: Isogai Toshiaki , Agrawal Ankit , Shekhar Shashank , Spilias Nikolaos , Puri Rishi , Krishnaswamy Amar , Unai Shinya , Yun James J. , Kapadia Samir R. , Reed Grant W.
Published: June 2023

Background

Peripheral vascular intervention (PVI) is occasionally required to facilitate delivery system insertion or to treat vascular complications during transfemoral transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TF‐TAVR). However, the impact of PVI on outcomes is not well understood. Therefore, we aimed to compare outcomes between TF‐TAVR with versus without PVI and between TF‐TAVR with PVI versus non‐TF‐TAVR.

Methods and Results

We retrospectively reviewed 2386 patients who underwent TAVR with a balloon‐expandable valve at a single institution from 2016 to 2020. The primary outcomes were death and major adverse cardiac/cerebrovascular event (MACCE), defined as death, myocardial infarction, or stroke. Of 2246 TF‐TAVR recipients, 136 (6.1%) required PVI (89% bailout treatment). During follow‐up (median 23.0 months), there were no significant differences between TF‐TAVR with and without PVI in death (15.4% versus 20.7%; adjusted HR [aHR], 0.96 [95% CI, 0.58–1.58]) or MACCE (16.9% versus 23.0%; aHR, 0.84 [95% CI, 0.52–1.36]). However, compared with non‐TF‐TAVR (n=140), TF‐TAVR with PVI carried significantly lower rates of death (15.4% versus 40.7%; aHR, 0.42 [95% CI, 0.24–0.75]) and MACCE (16.9% versus 45.0%; aHR, 0.40 [95% CI, 0.23–0.68]). Landmark analyses demonstrated lower outcome rates following TF‐TAVR with PVI than non‐TF‐TAVR both within 60 days (death 0.7% versus 5.7%,
P
=0.019; MACCE 0.7% versus 9.3%;
P
=0.001) and thereafter (death 15.0% versus 38.9%,
P
=0.014; MACCE 16.5% versus 41.3%,
P
=0.013).

Conclusions

The need for PVI during TF‐TAVR is not uncommon, mainly due to the bailout treatment for vascular complications. PVI is not associated with worse outcomes in TF‐TAVR recipients. Even when PVI is required, TF‐TAVR is associated with better short‐ and intermediate‐term outcomes than non‐TF‐TAVR.
Outcomes of Cerebral Embolic Protection for Bicuspid Aortic Valve Stenosis Undergoing Transcatheter Aortic Valve Replacement
Authors: Zhang Jiajun , Li Xiaoxing , Tian Rui , Zong Mengzhi , Gu Xinghua , Xu Feng , Chen Yuguo , Li Chuanbao
Published: June 2023

Background

There was limited high‐quality evidence that illuminated the efficiency of cerebral embolic protection (CEP) use during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) for bicuspid aortic valve (BAV) stenosis.

Methods and Results

In this retrospective cohort study, patients with BAV stenosis undergoing TAVR with or without CEP were identified by querying the National Inpatient Sample database. The primary end point was any stroke during the hospitalization. The composite safety end point included any in‐hospital death and stroke. We applied propensity score–matched analysis to minimize standardized mean differences of baseline variables and compare in‐hospital outcomes. From July 2017 to December 2020, 4610 weighted hospitalizations with BAV stenosis undergoing TAVR were identified, of which 795 were treated with CEP. There was a significant increase in the CEP use rate for BAV stenosis (
P
‐trend <0.001). A total of 795 discharges with CEP use were propensity score matched to 1590 comparable discharges but without CEP. CEP use was associated with a lower incidence of in‐hospital stroke (1.3% versus 3.8%;
P
<0.001), which in multivariable regression was also independently associated with the primary outcome (adjusted odds ratio=0.38 [95% CI, 0.18–0.71];
P
=0.005) and the safety end point (adjusted odds ratio=0.41 [95% CI, 0.22–0.68]
P
=0.001). Meanwhile, no significant difference was found in the cost of hospitalization ($46 629 versus $45 147;
P
=0.18) or the risk of vascular complications (1.9% versus 2.5%;
P
=0.41).

Conclusions

This observational study supported CEP use for BAV stenosis, which was independently associated with less in‐hospital stroke without burdening the patients with a high hospitalization cost.
Cardiometabolic Risk Factors Associated With Right Ventricular Function and Compensation in Patients Referred for Echocardiography
Authors: Morrison Amanda M. , Huang Shi , Annis Jeffrey S. , Garry Jonah D. , Hemnes Anna R. , Freiberg Matthew S. , Brittain Evan L.
Published: June 2023

Background

Pulmonary hypertension and right ventricular (RV) dysfunction are drivers of adverse outcomes; however, modifiable risk factors for RV dysfunction are not well described. We investigated the association between clinical markers of metabolic syndrome and echocardiographic RV function in a large referral population.

Methods and Results

Using electronic health record data, we performed a retrospective cohort study of patients aged ≥18 years referred for transthoracic echocardiography between 2010 and 2020 with RV systolic pressure (RVSP) or tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion (TAPSE) values. Pulmonary hypertension was defined by RVSP >33 mm Hg and RV dysfunction by TAPSE ≤1.8 cm. Our sample included 37 203 patients of whom 19 495 (52%) were women, 29 752 (83%) were White, with a median age of 63 years (interquartile range, 51–73). Median (interquartile range) RVSP was 30.0 mm Hg (24.0–38.7), and median TAPSE was 2.1 cm (1.7–2.4). Within our sample, 40% had recorded RVSP >33 mm Hg, and 32% with TAPSE <1.8 cm. Increase in RVSP from normal (<33 mm Hg) to mildly elevated (33–39 mm Hg) or elevated (>39 mm Hg) was associated with lower low‐density lipoprotein and high‐density lipoprotein, and higher hemoglobin A1c and body mass index (
P
<0.001). A decrease in TAPSE between groups of TAPSE >1.8 cm, TAPSE 1.5–1.8 cm, and TAPSE <1.5 cm was associated with increased triglyceride:high‐density lipoprotein ratio and hemoglobin A1c, and decreased body mass index, low‐density lipoprotein, high‐density lipoprotein, and systolic blood pressure (
P
<0.001). Most associations between cardiometabolic predictors and RVSP and TAPSE were nonlinear with clear inflection points associated with higher pulmonary pressure and lower RV function.

Conclusions

Clinical measures of cardiometabolic function were highly associated with echocardiographic measures of right ventricular function and pressure.
Trends in Treatment Patterns and Outcomes of Patients With Pulmonary Embolism in Japan, 2010 to 2020: A Nationwide Inpatient Database Study
Authors: Nishimoto Yuji , Ohbe Hiroyuki , Matsui Hiroki , Nakajima Mikio , Sasabuchi Yusuke , Sato Yukihito , Watanabe Tetsuya , Yamada Takahisa , Fukunami Masatake , Yasunaga Hideo
Published: June 2023

Background

The impact of major changes in the treatment practice of pulmonary embolism (PE), such as limited indications for systemic thrombolysis and the introduction of direct oral anticoagulants, is not well documented. This study aimed to describe annual trends in the treatment patterns and outcomes in patients with PE.

Methods and Results

Using the Japanese Diagnosis Procedure Combination inpatient database from April 2010 to March 2021, we identified hospitalized patients with PE. Patients with high‐risk PE were defined as those admitted for out‐of‐hospital cardiac arrest or who received cardiopulmonary resuscitation, extracorporeal membrane oxygenation, vasopressors, or invasive mechanical ventilation on the day of admission. The remaining patients were defined as patients with non–high‐risk PE. The patient characteristics and outcomes were reported with fiscal year trend analyses. Of 88 966 eligible patients, 8116 (9.1%) had high‐risk PE, and the remaining 80 850 (90.9%) had non–high‐risk PE. Between 2010 and 2020, in patients with high‐risk PE, the annual proportion of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation use significantly increased from 11.0% to 21.3%, whereas that of thrombolysis use significantly decreased from 22.5% to 15.5% (
P
for trend <0.001 for both). In‐hospital mortality significantly decreased from 51.0% to 43.7% (
P
for trend=0.04). In patients with non–high‐risk PE, the annual proportion of direct oral anticoagulant use increased from 0.0% to 38.3%, whereas that of thrombolysis use significantly decreased from 13.7% to 3.4% (
P
for trend <0.001 for both). In‐hospital mortality significantly decreased from 7.9% to 5.4% (
P
for trend <0.001).

Conclusions

Substantial changes in the PE practice and outcomes occurred in patients with high‐risk and non–high‐risk PE.
Blood Pressure Variability and Cerebral Perfusion Decline: A Post Hoc Analysis of the SPRINT MIND Trial
Authors: Sible Isabel J. , Nation Daniel A.
Published: June 2023

Background

Blood pressure variability (BPV) is predictive of cerebrovascular disease and dementia, possibly though cerebral hypoperfusion. Higher BPV is associated with cerebral blood flow (CBF) decline in observational cohorts, but relationships in samples with strictly controlled blood pressure remain understudied. We investigated whether BPV relates to change in CBF in the context of intensive versus standard antihypertensive treatment.

Methods and Results

In this post hoc analysis of the SPRINT MIND (Systolic Blood Pressure Intervention Trial–Memory and Cognition in Decreased Hypertension) trial, 289 participants (mean, 67.6 [7.6 SD] years, 38.8% women) underwent 4 blood pressure measurements over a 9‐month period after treatment randomization (intensive versus standard) and pseudo‐continuous arterial spin labeling magnetic resonance imaging at baseline and ≈4‐year follow‐up. BPV was calculated as tertiles of variability independent of mean. CBF was determined for whole brain, gray matter, white matter, hippocampus, parahippocampal gyrus, and entorhinal cortex. Linear mixed models examined relationships between BPV and change in CBF under intensive versus standard antihypertensive treatment. Higher BPV in the standard treatment group was associated with CBF decline in all regions (ß comparing the first versus third tertiles of BPV in whole brain: −0.09 [95% CI, −0.17 to −0.01];
P
=0.03), especially in medial temporal regions. In the intensive treatment group, elevated BPV was related to CBF decline only in the hippocampus (ß, −0.10 [95% CI, −0.18, −0.01];
P
=0.03).

Conclusions

Elevated BPV is associated with CBF decline, especially under standard blood pressure–lowering strategies. Relationships were particularly robust in medial temporal regions, consistent with prior work using observational cohorts. Findings highlight the possibility that BPV remains a risk for CBF decline even in individuals with strictly controlled mean blood pressure levels.

Registration

URL:
http://clinicaltrials.gov
. Identifier: NCT01206062.
Seeing Digital Asia Spatially: Vignettes of Digital Sociospatial Relations
Authors: Morris Carwyn
Published: June 2023

In this short article, I use several vignettes on digital relations in Asia to discuss the spatialities of digital relations across Asia’s digital geography and to highlight the application of spatial lenses to hybrid phenomena. These vignettes from Beijing, Weibo, Weixin, Telegram, Google Drive, Myanmar, India, and the Wa State show that territory, positionality, scale, place, network, and mobility are spatialities that can be used to understand both Asia’s digital development and the spatial complexities of Asia. In doing so, I highlight some of the benefits of a spatial approach in digital relations, some of the thorny issues with which this approach intersects, and the research agendas that emerge from this approach. I conclude by reflecting on the multiple states of the field, focusing on points of optimism and pessimism.
Towards Comparative Internet Studies: Internet Service Providers in Japan and China
Authors: Wu Shuxi
Published: June 2023

This article describes comparative internet studies as a useful paradigm through which to study Asian internet(s). It defines comparative internet studies as the systemic comparison of how material and immaterial internet infrastructure developed historically in different countries. This approach has the explicit aim of theoretical intervention and is located at the intersection of three strands of literature: internet studies, infrastructure studies, and regionality. This article brings together these three bodies of literature to illuminate areas of complementarity and cross-semination and to demonstrate how they contribute to a comparative internet studies project that is useful for grappling with Asian internet(s). Then, to illustrate how a comparative internet studies project can be realized, it draws on the author’s prior work on two internet service provider (ISP) projects: i-mode in Japan and Monternet in China.
Digital Vietnam: State of the ‘State of the Field’, Saigonese Motorbike YouTubers, and Diasporic Vietnamese Social Memories of the Republic of Việt Nam
Authors: Bùi Alvin Khiêm
Published: June 2023

This article employs two approaches to characterize the nascent field of research on digital Vietnam. I first analyze the source base and methodologies in state of the field essays about Vietnam. I then turn to digital autoethnography to weave my academic journey with digital Vietnam studies and resources that I encountered along the way. In the second half, I use a case study from an emerging genre in YouTube videos uploaded by Saigonese motorbikers. These motorbikers not only provide a record of the city today that can offer points of entry for social-scientific studies of contemporary Hồ Chí Minh City but also helps historians and members of the Vietnamese diaspora alike to identify histories and memories of a Sài Gòn of the past.
Confucianism and Public Political Discussion
Authors: Mang Franz
Published: June 2023

What role, if any, should Confucianism play in the politics of our time? In some of my previous works, I claimed that modern liberal states should not seek to promote Confucian values on the basis of their intrinsic merits. Yet, drawing insights from Joseph Chan’s moderate state perfectionism and John Rawls’s wide view of public political culture, I proposed the “wide view of moderate perfectionism.” According to this view, in public political discussion, citizens should be allowed to deliberate whether and how Confucianism, among other reasonable moral doctrines, can make positive contributions to their social and political thinking and public policymaking, provided that certain conditions are met. This view has been criticized by some scholars, in particular Zhuoyao Li. Li argues that the practice of the wide view of moderate perfectionism would inevitably harm civility. In this article, I clarify and develop the wide view, and respond to Li’s criticisms.
Cordyceps poluscapitis sp. nov., an ant-pathogenic fungus from Guizhou, China
Authors: PENG XING-CAN , XIAO YUAN-PIN , ZHANG YAN , CHOMNUNTI PUTARAK , TANGTRAKULWANICH KHANOBPORN , WEN TING-CHI
Published: June 2023

A species of entomopathogenic fungi was found on ants in Guizhou Province, China. It is described as Cordyceps poluscapitis (Cordycipitaceae), a novel species with both a sexual and an asexual morph. Cordyceps species are characterized by producing brightly coloured, fleshy stromata and long, filiform ascospores. Cordyceps poluscapitis is unique in that it is parasitic on ants and produces multiple-septate conidia. Multi-gene phylogeny based on combined sequence data of 6-loci genes (ITS, SSU, LSU, TEF, RPB1 and RPB2) confirmed that it is a new species in Cordyceps.
Amphibians and reptiles in North Sweden: distribution, habitat affinities, and abundance (Classes: Amphibia and Reptilia)
Authors: ELMBERG JOHAN
Published: June 2023

North Sweden (‘Norrland’ in Swedish) covers 243 000 km2 and lies mainly in the boreal biome. The herpetofauna comprises five amphibian and four reptile species: Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Zootoca vivipara, Anguis fragilis, Natrix natrix, and Vipera berus.
Successful conservation and management of amphibians and reptiles depend on accurate information about distribution, habitat affinities, and abundance. Such knowledge is also essential as a benchmark to assess changes in distribution and abundance that may come about as a result of climate change and human habitat alteration.
This paper aims to present accurate distribution maps, describe habitat affinities, and provide abundance estimates for the herpetofauna of North Sweden for the period 1970–2022. Distribution data are presented by traditional faunistic provinces, as well as by biotic regions and alpine life zones. Separate sections address post-glacial colonization and a herpetological perspective on anthropogenic changes in relation to species´ present status.
Bufo bufo, Rana temporaria, Rana arvalis, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus are widely distributed throughout the boreal sub-regions. Rana temporaria, Zootoca vivipara, and Vipera berus also extend into the alpine region. Triturus cristatus, Anguis fragilis, and Natrix natrix occur mainly in the coastal parts of the Southern Boreal region. There are no signs of recent changes in distribution range, but Lissotriton vulgaris, Triturus cristatus, and Rana arvalis have been largely overlooked in the past and have a much wider occurrence than previously recognized. Most species are found in habitats usually not described in all-European field guides. Nearly all anurans hibernate in water. Abundance estimates suggest that some species are more common in the boreal than thought, supporting the notion that a large share of their total European population occurs there. Although local extinctions and declines are known, there are no signs of widespread population decline for any species during the study period.
Effects of resistance training on body weight and body composition in older adults: An inter-individual response difference meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials
Authors: Kelley George A. , Kelley Kristi S. , Stauffer Brian L.
Published: June 2023

Whether true inter-individual response differences (IIRD) occur as a result of resistance training on body weight and body composition in older adults with overweight and obesity is not known. To address this gap, data from a previous meta-analysis representing 587 men and women (333 resistance training, 254 control) ≥ 60 years of age nested in 15 randomized controlled trials of resistance training ≥ 8 weeks were included. Resistance training and control group change outcome standard deviations treated as point estimates for body weight and body composition (percent body fat, fat mass, body mass index in kg.m2, and lean body mass) were used to calculate true IIRD from each study. True IIRD as well as traditional pairwise comparisons were pooled using the inverse-variance (IVhet) model. Both 95% confidence intervals (CI) and prediction intervals (PI) were calculated. While statistically significant improvements were found for body weight and all body composition outcomes (p < 0.05 for all), no statistically significant IIRD was observed for any of the outcomes (p > 0.05 for all) and all 95% PIs overlapped. Conclusions: While resistance training is associated with improvements in body weight and body composition in older adults, the lack of true IIRD suggests that factors other than training response variation (random variation, physiological responses associated with behavioral changes that are not the result of resistance training) are responsible for the observed variation in body weight and body composition.
Post-Instrument Bias in Linear Models
Authors: Glynn Adam N. , Rueda Miguel R. , Schuessler Julian
Published: June 2023

Post-instrument covariates are often included as controls in instrumental variable (IV) analyses to address a violation of the exclusion restriction. However, we show that such analyses are subject to biases unless strong assumptions hold. Using linear constant-effects models, we present asymptotic bias formulas for three estimators (with and without measurement error): IV with post-instrument covariates, IV without post-instrument covariates, and ordinary least squares. In large samples and when the model provides a reasonable approximation, these formulas sometimes allow the analyst to bracket the parameter of interest with two estimators and allow the analyst to choose the estimator with the least asymptotic bias. We illustrate these points with a discussion of the settler mortality IV used by Acemoglu, Johnson, and Robinson.
Rumination Moderates the Association between Neuroticism, Anxiety and Depressive Symptoms in Indian Women
Authors: Singh Parwinder , Mishra Navneet
Published: June 2023

Background:

The higher prevalence of depressive symptoms among women demands an in-depth exploration of every possible mechanism through which depressive symptoms may prevail. Identifying any malleable mechanism may open a new pathway through which such symptoms could be targeted. We explored the association between neuroticism, rumination, anxiety, and depressive symptoms and tested a moderated mediation model with anxiety as a mediator in the relationship between neuroticism and depressive symptoms, and rumination as a moderator of the effect of neuroticism on anxiety.

Method:

This cross-sectional study was conducted on Indian women living in the state of Punjab. A total of 671 adult females responded to the translated versions of standardized questionnaires measuring the relevant constructs.

Results:

The mean (SD) age of the sample was 23.71 (6.09) years. As hypothesized, anxiety significantly mediated the relationship between neuroticism and depression, and the use of rumination moderated the effect of neuroticism on anxiety. Among women with a high score on neuroticism, those with low ruminating tendencies showed less anxiety and depression than others who scored high on rumination.

Conclusion:

The findings imply that a reduction in rumination may help women, especially those who are high on neuroticism, manage their vulnerabilities toward anxiety and depressive symptoms. Personality traits being not that malleable, targeting a reduction of rumination usage, which is both a trans-diagnostic factor and a malleable one, can help address the surging prevalence of common mental disorders such as anxiety and depression through appropriately devised interventions.
Survival Analysis, Kaplan-Meier Curves, and Cox Regression: Basic Concepts
Authors: Andrade Chittaranjan
Published: June 2023

Survival analysis is used to analyze data from patients who are followed for different periods of time and in whom the outcome of interest, a dichotomous event, may or may not have occurred at the time the study is halted; data from all patients are used in the analysis, including data from patients who dropped out, regardless of the duration of follow-up. This article discusses basic concepts in survival analysis, explains technical terms such as censoring, and provides reasons why ordinary methods of analysis cannot be applied to such data. The Kaplan-Meier survival curve is described, as is the Cox proportional hazards regression and the hazard ratio. Supplementary information includes a data file, graphs with explanations, and additional discussions; these are provided to enhance the reader’s experience and understanding.
Effect of Virtual Reality on Sleep-Deprived Individuals
Authors: Chitra Jeba , Eremita Marissa De Souza
Published: June 2023

Background:

Sleep deprivation (SD) refers to getting less than the required amount of sleep, which for adults ranges from 7 to 9 h of sleep per night and can be caused by social and biological factors. College students experience SD, which can affect their academic performance, health, and mood. Virtual Reality Therapy (VRT), an upcoming method of intervention, has been used in other psychological conditions with positive outcomes. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of VRT on individuals with SD.

Methods:

This quasi-experimental study recruited 28 individuals based on the scores of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Athens Insomnia Scale, and Beck’s Depression Inventory, which were used as the inclusion and exclusion criteria. VRT sessions of 20 min were given twice a week for 2 weeks. PSQI was also used as an outcome measure, immediately and 2 weeks after the intervention

Results:

A significant difference was found between the baseline and post-intervention PSQI scores ( p = 0.001, effect size = 1.2). There was not much difference between the PSQI scores immediately and 2 weeks after the intervention.

Conclusion:

VRT was effective in improving sleep in individuals with SD.
An Empirical Analysis of Telecommuters: Their Level of Satisfaction, Commitment and Loyalty
Authors: Jamal Mohd Tariq , Anwar Imran , Khan Nawab Ali , Singh Manisha
Published: June 2023

The present study measures the influence of telecommuting on job satisfaction by taking job autonomy, schedule flexibility and work control, work–life balance and reduced job stress as outcome variables of telecommuting. The role of job satisfaction has also been investigated in determining organizational commitment and turnover intention. Confirmatory factor analysis was done to test the fitness of the data to the model along with ensuring the convergent and discriminant validity of the data. For testing the proposed hypotheses, the structural equations modelling technique was used. Results from the study confirm the role of telecommuting in enhancing the overall job satisfaction of employees which in turn improves their level of organizational commitment and reduces turnover intention. The findings of the study contribute empirically to the literature on voluntary part-time telecommuting and provide implications for the proper adoption of a part-time telecommuting arrangement post-COVID-19 and the using of telecommuting as a talent retention strategy.