bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Global intraspecific trait–climate relationships for grasses are linked to a species' typical form and function
Authors: Griffin‐Nolan Robert J. , Sandel Brody
Published: May 2023

Plant traits are useful for predicting how species may respond to environmental change and/or influence ecosystem properties. Understanding the extent to which traits vary within species and across climatic gradients is particularly important for understanding how species may respond to climate change. We explored whether climate drives spatial patterns of intraspecific trait variation for three traits (specific leaf area (SLA), plant height, and leaf nitrogen content (Nmass)) across 122 grass species (family: Poaceae) with a combined distribution across six continents. We tested the hypothesis that the sensitivity (i.e. slope) of intraspecific trait responses to climate across space would be related to the species' typical form and function (e.g. leaf economics, stature and lifespan). We observed both positive and negative intraspecific trait responses to climate with the distribution of slope coefficients across species straddling zero for precipitation, temperature and climate seasonality. As hypothesized, variation in slope coefficients across species was partially explained by leaf economics and lifespan. For example, acquisitive species with nitrogen‐rich leaves grew taller and produced leaves with higher SLA in warmer regions compared to species with low Nmass. Compared to perennials, annual grasses invested in leaves with higher SLA yet decreased height and Nmass in regions with high precipitation seasonality (PS). Thus, while the influence of climate on trait expression may at first appear idiosyncratic, variation in trait–climate slope coefficients is at least partially explained by the species' typical form and function. Overall, our results suggest that a species' mean location along one axis of trait variation (e.g. leaf economics) could influence how traits along a separate axis of variation (e.g. plant size) respond to spatial variation in climate.
Finance research: What are the new frontiers?
Authors: Thakor Anjan V.
Published: May 2023

This paper provides a prospective look at the most exciting open research questions for future finance research in three important areas: (1) banking stability; (2) the intersection of medicine, healthcare, and finance; and (3) organizational higher purpose. In each case, a brief discussion of the existing literature is followed by a list of open research questions for future research to explore.
RETRACTED: The connotation between perioperative glycemic control approach and sternal wound infection in individuals with diabetes mellitus experiencing cardiac surgery: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Tan Gang , Li Yongfang , Zhou Guangpeng
Published: May 2023

A meta‐analysis investigation to measure the connotation between perioperative glycemic control (GC) approach and sternal wound infection (SWI) in individuals with diabetes mellitus (DM) experiencing cardiac surgery (CS). A comprehensive literature inspection till February 2023 was applied and 2654 interrelated investigations were reviewed. The 12 chosen investigations enclosed 1564 individuals with DM and CS in the chosen investigations' starting point, 790 of them were using strict GC, and 774 were using moderate GC. Odds ratio (OR) in addition to 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were used to compute the value of the Connotation between the perioperative GC approach and SWI in individuals with DM experiencing CS by the dichotomous and continuous approaches and a fixed or random model. Strict GC had significantly lower SWI (OR, 0.33; 95% CI, −0.22–0.50, P < .001) compared with those with moderate GC in individuals with DM and CS. Strict GC had significantly lower SWI compared with those with moderate GC in individuals with DM and CS. However, caused of the small sample sizes of several chosen investigations for this meta‐analysis, care must be exercised when dealing with its values.
A NEW METHOD FOR RAPID, PERCUTANEOUS, SHEATH‐LESS INSERTION OF THE INTRA‐AORTIC BALLOON
Authors: Davies MJ , Arsiwala SS
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY Rapid insertion of the intra‐aortic balloon (IAB) via the femoral artery is sometimes necessary. The increasing age of patients in cardiac units means that insertion into atherosclerotic and stenosed vessels can lead to ischaemic complications, particularly when the sheath is used. We present a modified method for rapid, percutaneous insertion of the sheathless IAB using the sheath dilator supplied with the insertion kit.
EQUIVALENCE OF ASTHMA CONTROL WITH NEW CFC‐FREE FORMULATION HFA‐134a BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE AND CFC‐BECLOMETHASONE DIPROPIONATE
Authors: Dahl R , Ringdal N , Ward SM , Stampone P , Donnell D
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY The study was designed to test for equivalence of asthma control between a new aerosol formulation of beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP) incorporating a chlorofluorocarbon‐(CFC) free, hydrofluoroalkane propellant (HFA‐134a) and the conventional beclomethasone aerosol formulated in CFC propellants. Sixty‐eight asthmatic patients entered an eight‐week, randomised, double‐blind crossover study. All patients, previously stabilised on BDP, were randomised to receive the same dose of BDP from each of the study treatments. Statistically significant equivalence was demonstrated between HFA‐BDP and CFC‐BDP for asthma control parameters: FEV1, morning and evening PEF, sleep disturbance, wheeze and cough, morning breathlessness and bronchodilator use. Such equivalence was also demonstrated for safety parameters. To conclude, it has been demonstrated that HFA‐BDP achieves a level of asthma control that is clinically and statistically equivalent to CFC‐BDP in terms of efficacy and safety, at total daily doses ranging from 200 μg to 600 μg in asthma patients previously stabilised on inhaled CFC‐BDP.
DESMOPRESSIN AND IMIPRAMINE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF NOCTURNAL ENURESIS: A MULTICENTRE STUDY
Authors: Vertucci P , Lanzi C , Capece G , Fano M , Gallai V , Margari L , Mazzotta G , Menegati E , Ottaviano S , Perini A , Perniola T , Roccella M , Tiberti A , Vecchio A , Biraghi M
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY The efficacy and safety of desmopressin (Minirin/DDAVP) treatment compared with imipramine were investigated in a multicentre, open, cross‐over design in 57 patients, aged 6‐15 years, affected by nocturnal enuresis to establish the best therapeutic approach to this condition. After a two‐weeks observation and control period, patients were randomised to one of two groups: intranasal administration of desmopressin, 30 μg/day for three weeks, followed by imipramine, 0.9 mg/kg for a further three weeks, or imipramine 0.9 mg/kg for three weeks, followed by desmopressin, 30 μg/day for a further three weeks. Following treatment, all patients were observed for a further two weeks. Administration of either treatment protocol resulted in a statistically significant decline in the number of enuretic episodes per week compared to the control. The greater antidiuretic effect observed in the group receiving imipramine followed by desmopressin suggests the two compounds have different profiles. Also, when the treatment period was compared with the follow‐up, the antidiuretic effect had a longer duration in the group initially given imipramine. No further improvement was seen when desmopressin was administered first, with a mild worsening of the effect sometimes occurring, suggesting a different carry‐over effect between the two treatments. This suggests that desmopressin offers a better approach to the management of nocturnal enuresis.
STRESS ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY
Authors: Mishra MB , Chambers JB
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY Stress echocardiography has a number of advantages over exercise electrocardiography. It has superior sensitivity and specificity as it detects wall motion abnormalities, an earlier and more specific marker for myocardial ischaemia than ST segment depression. It can also localise ischaemia and identify hibernating myocardium. Compared with radionuclide imaging, stress echocardiography has similar accuracy but is cheaper and does not involve exposure to ionising radiation. The disadvantage of stress echocardiograph is that it requires expertise and specialist experience of at least 100 studies. Current research aims at improving objective methods of analysing results. The technique is justifiably being adopted throughout the UK.
INHALED NITRIC OXIDE FOR RIGHT VENTRICULAR DYSFUNCTION FOLLOWING CARDIAC TRANSPLANTATION
Authors: George SJ , Boscoe MJ
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY A 55‐year‐old man developed postoperative hypotension following orthotopic cardiac transplantation, unresponsive to support with inotropes and counterpulsation. Acute right ventricular failure was confirmed by transoesophageal echocardiography, and the introduction of inhaled nitric oxide resulted in immediate improvement. A beneficial effect persisted for 11 days, with hospital discharge two months postoperatively.
MALE BREAST CANCER
Authors: Jepson AS , Fentiman IS
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY Male breast cancer is a rare disease, often with a late presentation and poor prognosis. The mainstay of treatment is modified radical mastectomy, with axillary node dissection to assess stage, prognosis and the need for adjuvant treatment. When matched for age, tumour size, grade and axillary nodal status, the prognosis is similar for males and females. Concerted efforts must be made to educate both the public and health professionals, in order to make earlier diagnoses and thereby improve prognosis.
DIABETIC NEUROPATHIC CACHEXIA: THE IMPORTANCE OF POSITIVE RECOGNITION AND EARLY NUTRITIONAL SUPPORT
Authors: Van Heel DA , Levitt NS , Winter TA
Published: May 2023

SUMMARY We report on a patient with acute painful diabetic neuropathy in whom abdominal pain and severe weight loss mimicked neoplastic disease. Positive recognition of the diabetic neuropathic cachexia syndrome might have avoided extensive invasive investigation. Intensive enteral nutritional support was associated with prompt resolution.
A CASE OF PERCUTANEOUS BALLOON MITRAL VALVULOPLASTY FOR SEVERE SYMPTOMATIC MITRAL STENOSIS IN AN OCTOGENARIAN
Authors: Skyrme‐Jones RAP , Cooke RA , Jackson G
Published: May 2023

Compared with mitral valve replacement as treatment for severe mitral stenosis, balloon mitral valvuloplasty (BMV) is a less invasive and well‐established alternative therapeutic procedure. The best results are obtained with BMV in association with pliable, non‐calcified valves. However, in the western world, mitral stenosis is predominantly a condition of the elderly, in whom less favourable valve anatomy is generally found. In this report we describe the case of an 86‐year‐old woman with severe symptomatic mitral stenosis and breathlessness on minimal exertion who underwent successful BMV. Following the procedure she was able to function independently. This serves to highlight the fact that BMV should be considered in the treatment of symptomatic mitral stenosis, irrespective of age.
Lowering the barriers to change: Can processing‐related self‐affirmations overcome resistance?
Authors: Emonds Thomas , Verwijmeren Thijs , Müller Barbara C. N.
Published: May 2023

People often close themselves off to novel ideas without giving them adequate consideration. By doing so, they possibly miss out on important advantages these ideas may bring. One strategy that appears to effectively reduce such resistance involves self‐affirming techniques, which aim to bolster one's self‐concept by focusing on values of the self which are unrelated to the persuasion topic. The current study focuses on a new aspect that may be essential to increase its effectiveness, so‐called “processing‐related self‐affirmations” which are related to how a person processes a message. We investigated the effect of processing‐related self‐affirmations on resistance to persuasion. Nonvegetarian participants were asked to apply a processing‐related self‐affirmation, an unrelated self‐affirmation, or no self‐affirmation before reading a scientific report about the merits of vegetarianism. Results showed participants were, depending on the weekly amount of meat consumed, more favorable toward the report after being affirmed on an unrelated value compared with participants who were not self‐affirmed, but no similar effect was found for processing‐related self‐affirmations. We cautiously show that relatedness and compatibility with the persuasion domain may not be the only factors influencing this effect, and include relatedness of self‐affirmations to the processing of the persuasive message as a possible new factor.
Two new miniature translucent catfish species of the rare genus Tridens (Siluriformes: Trichomycteridae) from the Madeira River basin, northern Brazil
Authors: Henschel Elisabeth , Ohara Willian M. , Costa Wilson J.E.M.
Published: May 2023

Two new miniature species of the trichomycterid genus Tridens are described from the Madeira River drainage, Acre and Rondônia States, Brazil. Until this work, Tridens was a monotypic genus composed solely of Tridens melanops, from the Putumayo/Içá River drainage, upper Amazonas River basin. Tridens vitreus sp.n. is known from upper and middle Madeira River drainage and differs from all other congeners by the lack of pelvic fins and girdle and by vertebra and dorsal‐fin ray counts. Tridens chicomendesi sp.n. is known from Abunã River, middle Madeira River drainage and is distinguished from all other congeners by the number of vertebrae, dorsal‐fin ray count and anal‐fin base colouration pattern. Tr. chicomendesi sp.n. is further distinguished from T. vitreus by a combination of character states regarding the position of urogenital opening, dorsal‐fin position, anal‐fin position, maxillary barbel length, number of premaxillary teeth, number of dorsal‐fin rays, number of anal‐fin rays, number of lateral‐line system pores, frontal bone anatomy, degree of ossification of maxilla, anatomy of quadrate‐hyomandibular joint, size of posterodorsal process of hyomandibula, length of opercular patch of odontodes, number of interopercular odontodes, proportion of upper hypural plate cartilage relative to its area ; by the absence of a proximal, distal and ventral cartilages on ventral hypohyal; by the absence of a lateral process on basibranchial 4; by the presence of a cartilage block on the lateral process of autopalatine, the presence of a well‐developed ossification on proximal margin of ventral hypohyal, the presence of hypobranchial foramen; and by the presence of an anterior cartilaginous joint between quadrate and base of posterodorsal process of hyomandibula. This work represents the first species description for the subfamily Tridentinae in more than 30 years and for the genus Tridens since its original description in 1889.
Protective factors of ethical conflict during a pandemic—Quali‐Ethics‐COVID‐19 research part 2: An international qualitative study
Authors: Falcó‐Pegueroles Anna , Viola Elena , Poveda‐Moral Silvia , Rodríguez‐Martín Dolors , Via‐Clavero Gemma , Barello Serena , Bosch‐Alcaraz Alejandro , Bonetti Loris
Published: May 2023

Aims and Objectives

To determine which factors can be considered protective of ethical conflicts in intensive care unit healthcare professionals during a pandemic.

Background

The COVID‐19 pandemic gave rise to new ethical concerns in relation to the management of public health and the limitations on personal freedom. Continued exposure to ethical conflict can have a range of psychological consequences.

Design

A qualitative design based on phenomenological approach.

Methods

A total of 38 nurses and physicians who were regular staff members of Barcelona and Milan's public tertiary university hospitals and working in intensive care units during the first wave of the COVID‐19 pandemic. Semi‐structured online in‐depth interviews were conducted. A thematic analysis was performed by two independent researchers following the seven steps of Colaizzi's methods. We adhere COREQ guidelines.

Results

One theme ‘Protective factors of ethical conflict in sanitary crisis’ and four subthemes emerged from the data: (1) knowledge of the infectious disease, (2) good communication environment, (3) psychological support and (4) keeping the same work team together.

Conclusions

Four elements can be considered protective factors of ethical conflict for healthcare professionals during a sanitary crisis. While some of these factors have already been described, the joint identification of this set of four factors as a single element is, in itself, novel. This should help in ensuring the right mechanisms are in place to face future pandemics and should serve to improve institutional organisation and guarantee safe and high‐quality patient care in times of healthcare crisis.

Relevance to Clinical Practice

Future strategies for the prevention of ethical conflict during sanitary crises, pandemics or other catastrophes need to consider a set of four factors as a single element. These factors are the knowledge of the infectious disease, a good communication environment, psychological support and keeping the same work team together into joint consideration.
How is the Illusio of Gender Equality in Entrepreneurship Sustained? A Bourdieusian Perspective
Authors: Meliou Elina , Ozbilgin Mustafa
Published: May 2023

Studies of gender and entrepreneurship highlight the problematic emphasis of the gender equality discourse in entrepreneurship that ignores wider structural inequalities but provide a limited explanation of how the allure of this discourse is sustained. To address this lacuna, we draw on Bourdieu's theoretical ideas to theorize and demonstrate how certain women trade‐off their capital endowments to compensate for gender inequality in entrepreneurship. Through an analysis of forty‐nine biographical interviews with women entrepreneurs in London (UK), we show two forms that the ‘illusio’ of gender equality manifests: ‘illusio of work‐life balance’, and ‘illusio of meritocracy’, and reveal how this doxic experience that escapes questioning and allows certain women to continue to play the game, entrenches the illusio of an entrepreneurial field free from gender bias. We thus illustrate the conditions of possibility and the various trade‐off mechanisms through which gender inequality in entrepreneurship is reproduced or contested.
The role of the insula in chronic pain following spinal cord injury: A resting‐state fMRI study
Authors: Mandloi Shreya , Syed Mashaal , Shoraka Omid , Ailes Isaiah , Kang Ki Chang , Sathe Anish , Heller Joshua , Thalheimer Sara , Mohamed Feroze B. , Sharan Ashwini , Harrop James , Krisa Laura , Matias Caio , Alizadeh Mahdi
Published: May 2023

Background and Purpose

Spinal cord injury (SCI) results in the loss of motor and sensory function from disconnections between efferent and afferent pathways. Most SCI patients are affected with chronic neuropathic pain, but there is a paucity of data concerning neuroplastic changes following SCI. Chronic pain disrupts default networks and is associated with abnormal insular connectivity. The posterior insula (PI) is associated with the degree of pain and intensity of pain. The anterior insula (AI) is related to signal changes. Comprehension of SCI pain mechanisms is essential to elucidate effective treatment options.

Methods

This study examines the insular gyri functional connectivity (FC) of seven (five male, two female) SCI participants with moderate‐severe chronic pain compared to 10 (five male, five female) healthy controls (HC). All subjects had 3‐Tesla MRI performed and resting‐state functional MRI (fMRI) was acquired. FC metrics were obtained from the comparisons of resting‐state fMRI among our various groups. A seed‐to‐voxel analysis was pursued, encompassing six gyri of the insula. For multiple comparisons, a correction was applied with a significance level of p < .05.

Results

There were significant differences in FC of the insula between SCI participants with chronic pain compared with HC. In the SCI participants, there was hyperconnectivity of the AI and PI to the frontal pole. In addition, there was increased FC noted between the PI and the anterior cingulate cortex. Hyperconnectivity was also observed between the AI and the occipital cortex.

Conclusions

These findings illustrate that there is a complex hyperconnectivity and modulation of pain pathways after traumatic SCI.
Detecting insurance fraud using supervised and unsupervised machine learning
Authors: Debener Jörn , Heinke Volker , Kriebel Johannes
Published: May 2023

Fraud is a significant issue for insurance companies, generating much interest in machine learning solutions. Although supervised learning for insurance fraud detection has long been a research focus, unsupervised learning has rarely been studied in this context, and there remains insufficient evidence to guide the choice between these branches of machine learning for insurance fraud detection. Accordingly, this study evaluates supervised and unsupervised learning using proprietary insurance claim data. Furthermore, we conduct a field experiment in cooperation with an insurance company to investigate the performance of each approach in terms of identifying new fraudulent claims. We derive several important findings. Unsupervised learning, especially isolation forests, can successfully detect insurance fraud. Supervised learning also performs strongly, despite few labeled fraud cases. Interestingly, unsupervised and supervised learning detect new fraudulent claims based on different input information. Therefore, for implementation, we suggest understanding supervised and unsupervised methods as complements rather than substitutes.
The association of short and long sleep with mortality in men and women
Authors: Åkerstedt Torbjörn , Bellocco Rino , Widman Linnea , Eriksson Julia , Ye Weimin , Adami Hans‐Olov , Trolle Lagerros Ylva
Published: May 2023

Both short (< 6 hr) and long (> 8 hr) sleep are associated with increased mortality. We here investigated whether the association between sleep duration and all‐cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortality differs between men and women. A cohort of 34,311 participants (mean age and standard deviation = 50.5 ± 15.5 years, 65% women), with detailed assessment of sleep at baseline and up to 20.5 years of follow‐up (18 years for cause‐specific mortality), was analysed using Cox proportional hazards model to estimate HRs with 95% confidence intervals. After adjustment for covariates, all‐cause, cardiovascular disease and cancer mortalities were increased for both < 5 hr and ≥ 9 hr sleep durations (with 6 hr as reference). For all‐cause mortality, women who slept < 5 hr had a hazard ratio = 1.54 (95% confidence interval = 1.32–1.80), while the corresponding hazard ratio was 1.05 (95% confidence interval = 0.88–1.27) for men, the interaction being significant (p < 0.05). For cardiovascular disease mortality, exclusion of the first 2 years of exposure, as well as competing risk analysis eliminated the originally significant interaction. Cancer mortality did not show any significant interaction. Survival analysis of the difference between the reference duration (6 hr) and the short duration (< 5 hr) during follow‐up showed a gradually steeper reduction of survival time for women than for men for all‐cause mortality. We also observed that the lowest cancer mortality appeared for the 5‐hr sleep duration. In conclusion, the pattern of association between short sleep duration and all‐cause mortality differed between women and men, and the difference between men and women increased with follow‐up time.
Quantitative evolved gas analysis: Winchcombe in comparison with other CM2 meteorites
Authors: Verchovsky A. В. , Abernethy F. A. J. , Anand M. , Barber S. J. , Findlay R. , Franchi I. A. , Greenwood R. C. , Grady M. M.
Published: May 2023

Two bulk Winchcombe along with six other CM2 meteorite samples were subjected to quantitative evolved gas analysis. The observed release patterns for almost all volatile species demonstrate close similarity for all the samples and especially between those for Winchcombe. This can be considered as a fingerprint for this petrological type of meteorites. We identified several gases including H2, H2O, O2, CO, CO2, and SO2 released in different temperature ranges. The sources and mechanisms of their release were also established. Some of the gases, H2, CO, and CO2, are released as a result of oxidation of macromolecular organic material from oxygen derived from oxygen‐bearing minerals (a part of CO2 is also released as a result of decomposition of carbonates). The others, O2 and H2O, are associated with the phase transformation/decomposition of phyllosilicates and (oxy)hydrates, while a high‐temperature release of SO2 is associated mostly with the decomposition of sulfides and in few cases also with sulfates. A low‐temperature release of SO2 is due to evaporation and oxidation of elemental sulfur from the meteoritic matrix and organic material. The total concentrations of H (mostly represented by H2O), C, and S, calculated according to calibration of the quadrupole mass spectrometer with reference gases and decomposition of solid samples (CaSO4·2H2O and NaHCO3) are in reasonable agreement with those determined by independent methods. Variations in the ratio of the carbon amounts released as CO2 and CO (/CCO) between the samples could be an indicator of their terrestrial weathering.
Establishment of cross‐cradle hold technique combined with intensive breastfeeding counselling positively impacts the weight gain rate in early infancy
Authors: Dalal Rupal , Fancy Manish K. , Chaudhary Shalu , Abraham Marian , Vir Sheila C. , Gaurav Sarthak
Published: May 2023

A quasiexperimental field study was undertaken in 576 exclusively breastfed (EBF) infants from 0 to 14 weeks in Gujarat, India to assess the effect of the use of appropriate breastfeeding techniques on daily weight gain rate and on reducing the underweight rate in early infancy. The interventions were delivered through the existing health system and focused primarily on counselling pregnant women during antenatal and post‐natal sessions for ensuring ‘effective breastfeeding’ by adoption of the technique of ‘cross cradle hold’, appropriate breast attachment, emptying of one breast before shifting to the other along with conducting regular monitoring of infant's weight. The intervention care group (ICG) of 300 EBF infants were compared with 276 EBF infants in the control standard care group (SCG). The findings revealed that median weight gain per day between 0 and 14 weeks was significantly higher (p = 0.000) in ICG (32.7 g) as compared with SCG (28.05 g). The median weight‐for‐age Z at 14 weeks of age was also significantly higher in ICG compared with SCG (p = 0.000). Underweight prevalence was three times lower in ICG (5.3%) compared with SCG (16.7%) at 14 weeks of age. Infants in the ICG were noted to be 2.65‐fold more likely to achieve a weight gain of 30 g or more per day compared with infants in SCG. Nutrition interventions, therefore, must aim not only on mere promotion of EBF for up to 6 months but stress on ensuring EBF is ‘effective’ for optimum transfer of breastmilk through adoption of appropriate techniques, including cross‐cradle hold, by mothers.
Risk factors for pulmonary mucormycosis in subjects with diabetes mellitus—A case‐control study
Authors: Garg Deepak , Soundappan Kathirvel , Agarwal Ritesh , Mukherjee Soham , Kumar Mahendra , Dhooria Sahajal , Sehgal Inderpaul Singh , Prasad Kuruswamy Thurai , Ramachandran Raja , Patil Shivakumar , Aggarwal Ashutosh Nath , Rudramurthy Shivaprakash Mandya , Chakrabarti Arunaloke , Muthu Valliappan
Published: May 2023

Background

Factors associated with pulmonary mucormycosis (PM) among subjects with diabetes mellitus (DM) remain unclear. Following the coronavirus disease (COVID‐19)‐associated mucormycosis outbreak in India, specific environmental exposures (especially cattle dung exposure) were proposed as possible aetiology. We hypothesized that environmental factors are associated with PM. We compared subjects with DM with (cases) and without PM (controls).

Methods

In this case‐control study, for each PM case, we included five unmatched diabetic controls (hospital [n = 2], community [n = 3]) without PM. We collected information on demography, COVID‐19 infection, glycated haemoglobin% (HbA1c), the type of house (pucca vs. kutcha) where the participants reside, and other environmental factors. The primary exposure tested was cattle dung exposure (CDE; using cattle dung cakes as fuel or cattle handling). We performed a multivariate logistic regression to explore factors associated with PM and report the association as an adjusted odds ratio (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI).

Results

We enrolled 39 PM cases and 199 controls (hospital [n = 80], community [n = 119]). CDE (OR 0.68, 95% CI [0.14‐3.31]; p = 0.63) was not associated with increased PM in DM. We found male sex (OR 4.07, 95% CI [1.16‐14.31]), higher HbA1c (OR 1.51, 95% CI [1.18‐16.32]), COVID‐19 (OR 28.25, 95% CI [7.02‐113.6]) and residence at kutcha house (OR 4.84, 95% CI [1.33‐17.52]) associated with PM.

Conclusion

Cattle dung exposure was not associated with PM in subjects with DM. Instead, male sex, poor glycaemic control, COVID‐19 and the type of housing were associated with pulmonary mucormycosis.
Hyptis albolanata (Hyptidinae, Lamiaceae), a new species from the Cerrado of Brazil
Authors: Soares Arthur de Souza , Mervyn Harley Raymond , Lúcia de Morais Isa , Antar Guilherme Medeiros
Published: May 2023

Hyptis albolanata is here described and illustrated. This new species is morphologically similar to Hyptis tetragona due to having ovate to elliptic leaves and a pedunculate capitula, differing mainly in the indumentum, leaf base, and calyx morphology. We provide a full description, a line drawing, and photographs of Hyptis albolanata, as well as a distribution map, a preliminary conservation status assessment, comments on the species ecology and comparison with morphologically similar taxa.
Carnivory on demand: phosphorus deficiency induces glandular leaves in the African liana Triphyophyllum peltatum
Authors: Winkelmann Traud , Bringmann Gerhard , Herwig Anne , Hedrich Rainer
Published: May 2023

Triphyophyllum peltatum, a rare tropical African liana, is unique in its facultative carnivory. The trigger for carnivory is yet unknown, mainly because the plant is difficult to propagate and cultivate. This study aimed at identifying the conditions that result in the formation of carnivorous leaves.

In vitro shoots were subjected to abiotic stressors in general and deficiencies of the major nutrients nitrogen, potassium and phosphorus in particular, to trigger carnivorous leaves' development. Adventitious root formation was improved to allow verification of the trigger in glasshouse‐grown plants.

Among all the stressors tested, only under phosphorus deficiency, the formation of carnivorous leaves was observed. These glandular leaves fully resembled those found under natural growing conditions including the secretion of sticky liquid by mature capture organs. To generate plants for glasshouse experiments, a pulse of 55.4 μM α‐naphthaleneacetic acid was essential to achieve 90% in vitro rooting. This plant material facilitated the confirmation of phosphorus starvation to be essential and sufficient for carnivory induction, also under ex vitro conditions.

Having established the cultivation of T. peltatum and the induction of carnivory, future gene expression profiles from phosphorus starvation‐induced leaves will provide important insight to the molecular mechanism of carnivory on demand.
GroEL of Porphyromonas gingivalis‐induced microRNAs accelerate tumor neovascularization by downregulating thrombomodulin expression in endothelial progenitor cells
Authors: Lin Feng‐Yen , Tsai Yi‐Ting , Huang Chun‐Yao , Lai Ze‐Hao , Tsai Chien‐Sung , Shih Chun‐Ming , Lin Cheng‐Yen , Lin Yi‐Wen
Published: May 2023

We found that GroEL in Porphyromonas gingivalis accelerated tumor growth and increased mortality in tumor‐bearing mice; GroEL promoted proangiogenic function, which may be the reason for promoting tumor growth. To understand the regulatory mechanisms by which GroEL increases the proangiogenic function of endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), we explored in this study. In EPCs, MTT assay, wound‐healing assay, and tube formation assay were performed to analyze its activity. Western blot and immunoprecipitation were used to study the protein expression along with next‐generation sequencing for miRNA expression. Finally, a murine tumorigenesis animal model was used to confirm the results of in vitro. The results indicated that thrombomodulin (TM) direct interacts with PI3K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. When the expression of TM is decreased by GroEL stimulation, molecules in the PI3K/Akt signaling axis are released and activated, resulting in increased migration and tube formation of EPCs. In addition, GroEL inhibits TM mRNA expression by activating miR‐1248, miR‐1291, and miR‐5701. Losing the functions of miR‐1248, miR‐1291, and miR‐5701 can effectively alleviate the GroEL‐induced decrease in TM protein levels and inhibit the proangiogenic abilities of EPCs. These results were also confirmed in animal experiments. In conclusion, the intracellular domain of the TM of EPCs plays a negative regulatory role in the proangiogenic capabilities of EPCs, mainly through direct interaction between TM and PI3K/Akt to inhibit the activation of signaling pathways. The effects of GroEL on tumor growth can be reduced by inhibiting the proangiogenic properties of EPCs through the inhibition of the expression of specific miRNAs.
Deploying fetal death: “Fetal burial” laws and the necropolitics of reproduction in Indiana
Authors: Cromer Risa , Bjork‐James Sophie
Published: May 2023

While abortion foes in the United States rhetorically promote “life,” discursive invocations of death are foundational to antiabortion advocacy. Pro‐life strategists have made gains mandating the mourning of aborted fetuses through fetal burial bills, which require abortion providers to cremate or bury fetal tissue from abortion procedures. Fetal burial bills are inextricably tied to biopolitical regimes that make and manage grievable life. Drawing on cultural anthropology, feminist social science, critical race theory, and long‐term research on white evangelicalism, this article examines government documents (e.g., Indiana statutes, court rulings, health reports, legislative activity, and state prosecutions) to provide a discursive critique of Indiana's fetal burial law. Constructions of aborted fetuses as grievable human life and the formations of personhood they promote undergird what anthropologist Leith Mullings called the necropolitics of reproduction—a framework explaining how reproduction is constitutive of political regimes that use systemic violence to determine who (or what) lives and dies. Legal conceptions of fetal personhood that hyper‐value fetal subjects entwine with systemic racism, Christian ideology, and anti‐environmentalism to diminish the Black and Brown bodies and environments on which their futures depend. This case is a bellwether for broader dynamics in anti‐abortion policy and activism in the post‐Roeera.
Association between poor oral health and overall mortality in palliative care patients: An analysis using time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic curves
Authors: Nakao Mifumi , Shimosato Maiko , Sakane Naoki , Nakashima Takeshi
Published: May 2023

Aims

To determine the Oral Health Assessment Tool (OHAT) critical score in palliative care patients and the optimal timing for predicting mortality using time‐dependent receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves.

Methods and Results

A retrospective observational study was conducted on 176 patients treated by the palliative care team of our medical center between April 2017 and March 2020. Oral health was assessed using the OHAT. Prediction accuracy was evaluated using the area under the curve (AUC) analysis, sensitivity, and specificity, using time‐dependent ROC curves. Overall survival (OS) was compared using Kaplan‐Meier curves with the log‐rank test; hazard ratios (HRs) adjusted for covariates were calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model. A OHAT score of 6 was shown to best predict 21‐day OS (AUC 0.681, sensitivity 42.2%, specificity 80.0%). The median OS was significantly shorter in patients with total OHAT scores ≥6 than in patients with scores < 6 (21 days vs. 43 days, p = .017). For individual OHAT items, the unhealthy status of the lips and tongue was associated with decreased OS (HR = 1.91; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–3.05 and adjusted HR = 1.48; 95% CI, 1.00–2.20).

Conclusion

Predicting disease prognosis based on patient oral health can enable clinicians to provide timely treatment.
HLA antibody affinity determination: From HLA‐specific monoclonal antibodies to donor HLA specific antibodies (DSA) in patient serum
Authors: Hug Melanie N. , Keller Sabrina , Marty Talea , Gygax Daniel , Meinel Dominik , Spies Peter , Handschin Joëlle , Kleiser Marc , Vazquez Noemi , Linnik Janina , Buchli Rico , Claas Frans , Heidt Sebastiaan , Kramer Cynthia S. M. , Bezstarosti Suzanne , Lee Jar‐How , Schaub Stefan , Hönger Gideon
Published: May 2023

Organs transplanted across donor‐specific HLA antibodies (DSA) are associated with a variety of clinical outcomes, including a high risk of acute kidney graft rejection. Unfortunately, the currently available assays to determine DSA characteristics are insufficient to clearly discriminate between potentially harmless and harmful DSA. To further explore the hazard potential of DSA, their concentration and binding strength to their natural target, using soluble HLA, may be informative. There are currently a number of biophysical technologies available that allow the assessment of antibody binding strength. However, these methods require prior knowledge of antibody concentrations. Our objective within this study was to develop a novel approach that combines the determination of DSA‐affinity as well as DSA‐concentration for patient sample evaluation within one assay. We initially tested the reproducibility of previously reported affinities of human HLA‐specific monoclonal antibodies and assessed the technology‐specific precision of the obtained results on multiple platforms, including surface plasmon resonance (SPR), bio‐layer interferometry (BLI), Luminex (single antigen beads; SAB), and flow‐induced dispersion analysis (FIDA). While the first three (solid‐phase) technologies revealed comparable high binding‐strengths, suggesting measurement of avidity, the latter (in‐solution) approach revealed slightly lower binding‐strengths, presumably indicating measurement of affinity. We believe that our newly developed in‐solution FIDA‐assay is particularly suitable to provide useful clinical information by not just measuring DSA‐affinities in patient serum samples but simultaneously delivering a particular DSA‐concentration. Here, we investigated DSA from 20 pre‐transplant patients, all of whom showed negative CDC‐crossmatch results with donor cells and SAB signals ranging between 571 and 14899 mean fluorescence intensity (MFI). DSA‐concentrations were found in the range between 11.2 and 1223 nM (median 81.1 nM), and their measured affinities fall between 0.055 and 24.7 nM (median 5.34 nM; 449‐fold difference). In 13 of 20 sera (65%), DSA accounted for more than 0.1% of total serum antibodies, and 4/20 sera (20%) revealed a proportion of DSA even higher than 1%. To conclude, this study strengthens the presumption that pre‐transplant patient DSA consists of various concentrations and different net affinities. Validation of these results in a larger patient cohort with clinical outcomes will be essential in a further step to assess the clinical relevance of DSA‐concentration and DSA‐affinity.
Young apheresis platelet donors show significant and sustained growth over the last decade in the US, 2010–2019: A favorable sign of the resiliency of the platelet supply
Authors: Lasky Baia , Singh Umesh , Young Pampee P.
Published: May 2023

Background

Platelet demand continues to rise and US hospitals frequently face shortages. The peak median age of apheresis platelet donors (APD) is believed to have increased over the last decade, raising concerns that the APD base is not being adequately replenished with young donors.

Study Design/Methods

American Red Cross (ARC) apheresis platelet collections were evaluated from calendar years 2010 through 2019. APD, products per procedure/split rate (PPP) and donation frequencies were stratified into age groups.

Results/Findings

The number of unique APD from calendar year 2010 through 2019 in the ARC donor pool increased from 87,573 to 115,372 donors, representing a 31.7% overall growth. Donors in the 16–40 year‐old (y) age group increased by 78.8% overall, with the largest absolute increases seen in the 26–30 y (4852 donors, 99.9% growth), followed by the 31–35 y (3991, 94.1%) group. Donors aged 56+ increased by 50.4% overall, with the largest increase seen in the 66–70 y (5988 donors, 108.1% growth) group. Middle‐aged donors, aged 41–55 y, demonstrated a decrease of 16.5%. Over the last decade, the youngest age groups (16–40 y) comprised 61.3% of first‐time donors (FTD). Annual donation frequency increased with increasing age and PPP. The highest donation frequencies were seen in the oldest age groups.

Conclusion

Although the peak median age of APD increased over the study period, relative contribution of the 16–40 y APD base also increased. Older donors exhibited the highest donation frequencies and thus contributed the largest volume of apheresis platelet units. Platelet donor activity declined in the middle age (41–55 y) group.
Sentinel lymph node mapping in canine mast cell tumours using a preoperative radiographic indirect lymphography: Technique description and results in 138 cases
Authors: Annoni Maurizio , Borgonovo Simone , Aralla Marina
Published: May 2023

Several sentinel lymph node (SLN) mapping techniques, to detect nodal metastasis in canine tumours have been investigated in the last 10 years in veterinary oncology. The purpose of this prospective study was to describe a reliable, quick, and inexpensive technique for SLN mapping in canine patients affected by cutaneous and subcutaneous mast cell tumours (MCT). Eighty dogs were enrolled in this study for a total of 138 cytologically diagnosed MCTs. Sentinel lymph node mapping was performed by injecting iomeprole peritumorally followed by serial radiographs at 1, 3, 6 and 9‐min post injection. A total of 168 SLNs were detected, 90% at first radiograph, 1 min after the peritumoral iomeprole injection, while in the rest of the cases SLN was identified at 3 min. Sentinel lymph nodes detected by the preoperative radiographic indirect lymphography with iomeprole (PRILI) differed from regional lymph nodes in 57% of cases. The PRILI technique detected simultaneously multiple SLNs in the 26% of cases and multiple lymph centers in the 31% of MCTs. To allow the surgical identification of the SLNs, a peritumoral injection of methylene blue was performed at the time of surgery. This study reports a widely available technique for SLN mapping using digital radiographs in combination with a water‐soluble medium, representing a cost‐effective alternative to other SLN mapping procedures. Based on our results, this technique can be effective for SLNs mapping in dogs with MCTs but further comparative studies are needed to assess its reliability and efficacy in different tumours.
Evolving the gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men time‐based deferral to sexual risk screening for all donors: The contribution of Canadian research programmes
Authors: Caffrey Niamh , O'Brien Sheila F. , Walsh Geraldine M. , Haw Jennie , Goldman Mindy
Published: May 2023

Background and Objectives

In Canada, the time deferral for gay, bisexual and other men who have sex with men (gbMSM) to donate blood has gradually decreased. In September 2022, this deferral was replaced with sexual behaviour‐based screening for all donors. We investigate how data from targeted research programmes addressed knowledge gaps to support this change.

Materials and Methods

We conducted a scoping review describing the Canadian literature available before the research programmes relating to (1) behavioural indicators of HIV risk and (2) attitudes to blood donation among gbMSM, current donors and the general population. We summarize the targeted research programmes, their outputs and impact to date.

Results

For question 1, five projects met inclusion criteria. For question 2, three articles met inclusion criteria. Knowledge gaps identified were insufficient evidence of HIV incidence in gbMSM who met other donor eligibility criteria and scant data on opinions and views of blood donation and screening criteria for sexual risk behaviours. The research programmes funded 19 projects at 11 different research sites involving over 100 individual researchers/collaborators resulting in 19 peer‐reviewed publications to date. Leveraging existing gbMSM cohorts yielded relevant HIV incidence data to inform safety modelling studies. Findings indicated that sexual behaviour‐based screening was acceptable to gbMSM and donors, and donor discomfort around specific questions could be mitigated with clear explanations.

Conclusion

Targeted research programmes filled critical knowledge gaps and informed a change to gender‐neutral, sexual behaviour‐based screening for all donors. Findings supported successful implementation of these changes with research‐informed staff training.
Two Simple Numerical Implementation Methods for Damage-Coupled Viscoplastic Constitutive Model
Authors: Wang YuanLiang , Liao YanQing , Peng JiaHui , Ni YongZhong , Xu Hong
Published: May 2023

This paper is concerned with the two simple numerical implementation methods for a damage-coupled Chaboche-type viscoplastic constitutive model. By considering the damage variable as a constant in each incremental step, the return-mapping procedure is reduced to the solution of only one nonlinear scalar equation. Depending on the use of damage value in the current or prior incremental state, the two methods are named the backward difference implicit integration scheme and the two-step explicit integration scheme respectively. These two numerical algorithms are implemented into the ansys software by developing the usermat subroutine and verified by comparing them with available experimental data. Several numerical examples on the Gauss point level are studied in terms of stability, accuracy, computational efficiency, and applicability for further numerical observation. In addition to higher computational efficiency and lower memory requirements, the two methods can be easily extended to other damage models due to their simplicity.
Dislocation in a Strained Layer Embedded in a Semi-Infinite Matrix
Authors: Colin Jérôme
Published: May 2023

The misfit stress in a thin layer embedded in a semi-infinite matrix has been first determined near the free surface of the structure, using the virtual dislocation formalism. From a Peach–Koehler force analysis, the different equilibrium positions (unstable and stable) of an edge dislocation gliding in a plane of the layer inclined with respect to the upper interface and emerging at the point of intersection of the upper interface and this free surface have been then characterized with respect to the lattice mismatch and the inclination angle of the gliding plane. It has been found that the dislocation may exhibit stable equilibrium position near the interface and/or near the free surface. A diagram of the position stability has been then determined versus the misfit parameter and the inclination angle. The energy variation due to the introduction of an edge dislocation from the free surface until the matrix layer interface has been finally determined, when the dislocation is gliding in the plane inclined with respect to the interface horizontal axis. A critical thickness of the layer beyond which the formation of the dislocation in the interfaces is energetically favorable has been finally determined as well as its position with respect to the free surface in the lower interface.