bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Factors associated with persistent opioid use 6–12 months after primary total knee arthroplasty
Authors: Kluger M. T. , Rice D. A. , Borotkanics R. , Lewis G. N. , Somogyi A. A. , Barratt D. T. , Walker M. , McNair P. J.
Published: June 2022

Persistent pain following knee arthroplasty occurs in up to 20% of patients and may require ongoing analgesia, including extended opioid administration. A comprehensive secondary analysis was performed from results of a study that considered persistent postoperative pain in 242 patients who underwent unilateral knee arthroplasty using a standardised enhanced recovery programme. Opioid prescribing for 12 months before and 12 months after surgery was evaluated and converted to oral morphine equivalents. Demographic, functional, psychological and pain questionnaires were completed along with quantitative sensory testing and genetic analysis. Forty‐nine percent of patients had at least one opioid prescription in the 12 months before surgery. Opioid prescriptions were filled in 93% of patients from discharge to 3 months and in 27% of patients ≥6 months after surgery. Persistent opioid use ≥6 months after surgery was strongly associated with pre‐operative opioid use (RR 3.2, p < 0.001 (95%CI 1.9–5.4)). The median (IQR [range]) oral morphine equivalent daily dose was 3.6 (0.9–10.5 [0–100.0]) mg pre‐operatively, 35.0 (22.5–52.5 [4.6–180.0]) mg in hospital, 12.8 (5.1–24.8 [0–57.9]) mg from discharge to 3 months and 5.9 (4.5–12.0 [0–44.5]) mg at ≥6 months following surgery. Predictors of increased daily oral morphine equivalent ≥6 months after surgery included increased average daily oral morphine equivalent dose compared with previous values (lag), increased body mass index and three or more comorbid pain sites. Persistent opioid use was not associated with the Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) pain (RR 1.003, p = 0.655, 95%CI 0.65–1.002) or WOMAC function (RR 1.001, p = 0.99, 95%CI 0.99–1.03) outcomes 6 months after surgery. There was no association between persistent opioid use and pre‐operative quantitative sensory testing results or psychological distress. Pre‐operatively, patients with a higher body mass index, more comorbid pain sites and those who had filled an opioid prescription in the last 12 months, were at increased risk of persistent opioid use and a higher oral morphine equivalent daily dose ≥ 6 months after surgery. Strategies need to be developed to limit dose and duration of persistent opioid use in patients following knee arthroplasty surgery.
Survival of patients with small bowel neuroendocrine neoplasms in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand
Authors: McGuinness Matthew J. , Woodhouse Braden , Harmston Christopher , Parker Kate , Kramer Nicole , Findlay Michael , Print Cristin , Merrie Arend , Lawrence Ben
Published: June 2022

Background

Small intestinal Neuroendocrine Neoplasms (SI‐NENs) are the most common primary malignancy of the small bowel. The aim of this study is to define the survival of patients with an SI‐NEN in Auckland, Aotearoa New Zealand (AoNZ).

Methods

A retrospective study of all patients diagnosed with a jejunal or ileal SI‐NEN in the Auckland region between 2000 and 2012 was performed. The New Zealand NETwork! Registry was searched to identify the study cohort. Retrospective data collection was performed to collect stage, survival and follow up data.

Results

One hundred and seven patients were included in the study. The mean age of patients was 62.8 years (SD 11.9). The 5 and 10‐year disease‐specific survival for all patients was 66.1% (95% CI 56.5–75.7%) and 61.8% (95% CI 51.8–71.8%), respectively. Ten‐year disease‐specific survival was 100% for stage I and II, 74% (95%CI 61.7–84.4%) for stage III and 33.9% (95%CI 16.9–35.6%) for stage IV SI‐NEN. Eleven of 40 (27.5%) patients with stage III disease had recurrence and 3 of 7 (42.8%) patients with stage IV disease had recurrence. In patients with stage IV disease, neither primary resection (HR 2.25, 95% CI 0.92–5.5) nor distant resection (HR 1.72, 95% CI 0.63–4.7) were significantly associated with a disease‐specific or overall survival benefit.

Conclusion

This study demonstrates that stage at SI‐NEN diagnosis is associated with survival, but resection of the primary or distant metastases in patients with stage IV disease is not. There was no recurrence in patients with stage I or II disease after complete resection.
General Independent Censoring in Event-Driven Trials with Staggered Entry
Authors: Rühl Jasmin , Beyersmann Jan , Friedrich Sarah
Published: June 2022

Randomized clinical trials with time-to-event endpoints are frequently stopped after a prespecified number of events has been observed. This practice leads to dependent data and nonrandom censoring, which can in general not be solved by conditioning on the underlying baseline information. In case of staggered study entry, matters are complicated substantially. The present paper demonstrates that the study design at hand entails general independent censoring in the counting process sense, provided that the analysis is based on study time information only. To illustrate that the filtrations must not use abundant information, we simulated data of event-driven trials and evaluated them by means of Cox regression models with covariates for the calendar times. The Breslow curves of the cumulative baseline hazard showed considerable deviations, which implies that the analysis is disturbed by conditioning on the calendar time variables. A second simulation study further revealed that Efron's classical bootstrap, unlike the (martingale-based) wild bootstrap, may lead to biased results in the given setting, as the assumption of random censoring is violated. This is exemplified by an analysis of data on immunotherapy in patients with advanced, previously treated nonsmall cell lung cancer.
d‐Pinitol promotes tau dephosphorylation through a cyclin‐dependent kinase 5 regulation mechanism: A new potential approach for tauopathies?
Authors: Medina‐Vera Dina , Navarro Juan Antonio , Rivera Patricia , Rosell‐Valle Cristina , Gutiérrez‐Adán Alfonso , Sanjuan Carlos , López‐Gambero Antonio Jesús , Tovar Rubén , Suárez Juan , Pavón Francisco Javier , Baixeras Elena , Decara Juan , Rodríguez de Fonseca Fernando
Published: June 2022

Background and Purpose

Recent evidence links brain insulin resistance with neurodegenerative diseases, where hyperphosphorylated tau protein contributes to neuronal cell death. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate if d‐pinitol inositol, which acts as an insulin sensitizer, affects the phosphorylation status of tau protein.

Experimental Approach

We studied the pharmacological effect of d‐pinitol on insulin signalling and tau phosphorylation in the hippocampus of Wistar and Zucker rats. To this end, we evaluated by western blotting the Akt pathway and its downstream proteins as being one of the main insulin‐mediator pathways. Also, we explored the functional status of additional kinases phosphorylating tau, including PKA, ERK1/2, AMPK and CDK5. We utilized the 3xTg mouse model as a control for tauopathy, since it carries tau mutations that promote phosphorylation and aggregation.

Key Results

Surprisingly, we discovered that oral d‐pinitol treatment lowered tau phosphorylation significantly, but not through the expected kinase GSK‐3 regulation. An extensive search for additional kinases phosphorylating tau revealed that this effect was mediated through a mechanism dependent on the reduction of the activity of the CDK5, affecting both its p35 and p25 subunits. This effect disappeared in leptin‐deficient Zucker rats, uncovering that the association of leptin deficiency, obesity, dyslipidaemia and hyperinsulinaemia abrogates d‐pinitol actions on tau phosphorylation. The 3xTg mice confirmed d‐pinitol effectiveness in a genetic AD‐tauopathy.

Conclusion and Implications

The present findings suggest that d‐pinitol, by regulating CDK5 activity through a decrease of CDK5R1, is a potential drug for developing treatments for neurological disorders such as tauopathies.
Forming routines across epistemic communities — A study of interdisciplinary routine creation in breast cancer care
Authors: Markowski Peter
Published: June 2022

As knowledge specialization increases, organizations need to find ways to integrate knowledge from different domains. Modern healthcare is a case in point. With increasingly complex patient conditions, hospitals need to create treatment routines which integrate knowledge from several different medical domains. However, such integration is inhibited by the boundaries resulting from disciplinary knowledge specialization, an aspect largely unexplored in theory on routine formation. Drawing on theory on routines and epistemic communities, this study investigates the dynamics involved in forming routines across disciplinary boundaries. An exploratory case study of the creation of new routines spanning different medical disciplines in breast cancer care is performed. The results indicate an iterative process of boundary spanning, internal analysis, and subsequent synthesis to form routines consistent with the practices of different disciplines.
Synthesis and anti‐tumor activity of Fissitungfine B compounds
Authors: Zhou Shiyang , Zhou Xiaofeng , Huang Gangliang
Published: June 2022

In order to explore the potential anti‐tumor activity functional molecules, a series of Fissitungfine B derivatives were designed and synthesized. Their anti‐tumor activity effects on Hela, MCF‐7 and A‐549 cell lines were evaluated in vitro. The results showed that some of these Fissitungfine B derivatives exhibited moderate to good anti‐tumor activities. Especially, compound 4 g with the highest inhibitory activities against all tested cell lines with the Hela was IC50 = 3.82 ± 0.56 μM, MCF‐7 was IC50 = 5.53 ± 0.68 μM, and A‐549 was IC50 = 4.55 ± 0.53 μM. Furthermore, the compounds 4 g have higher inhibitory effects on TDP2 in vitro. In vivo, the biological activities assay results showed that the target compound 4 g had a good inhibitory effect on tumor growth. The target compound 4 g could inhibit tumor growth well, which might be use as a candidate drug or lead compound for further research and development anti‐tumor agents.
Importance of keratinized mucosa around dental implants: Consensus report of group 1 of the DGI/SEPA/Osteology Workshop
Authors: Sanz Mariano , Schwarz Frank , Herrera David , McClain Pamela , Figuero Elena , Molina Ana , Monje Alberto , Montero Eduardo , Pascual Andrés , Ramanauskaite Ausra , Renouard Franck , Sader Robert , Schiegnitz Eik , Urban Itsvan , Heitz‐Mayfield Lisa
Published: June 2022

Objectives

To assess the literature on (i) the relevance of the presence of a minimum dimension of keratinized peri‐implant mucosa (KPIM) to maintain the health and stability of peri‐implant tissues, and; (ii) the surgical interventions and grafting materials used for augmenting the dimensions of the KPIM when there is a minimal amount or absence of it.

Material & Methods

Two systematic reviews complemented by expert opinion from workshop group participants served as the basis of the consensus statements, implications for clinical practice and future research, and were approved in plenary session by all workshop participants.

Results

Thirty‐four consensus statements, eight implications for clinical practice, and 13 implications for future research were discussed and agreed upon. There is no consistent data on the incidence of peri‐implant mucositis relative to the presence or absence of KPIM. However, reduced KPIM width is associated with increased biofilm accumulation, soft‐tissue inflammation, greater patient discomfort, mucosal recession, marginal bone loss and an increased prevalence of peri‐implantitis. Free gingival autogenous grafts were considered the standard of care surgical intervention to effectively increase the width of KPIM. However, substitutes of xenogeneic origin may be an alternative to autogenous tissues, since similar results when compared to connective tissue grafts were reported.

Conclusion

Presence of a minimum width of KPIM should be assessed routinely in patients with implant supported restorations, and when associated with pathological changes in the peri‐implant mucosa, its dimensions may be surgically increased using autogenous grafts or soft‐tissue substitutes with evidence of proven efficacy.
The alcohol self‐presentation model: Using thematic qualitative analysis to elucidate how college students self‐present via alcohol‐related social media posts
Authors: Steers Mai‐Ly N. , Mannheim Lene C. , Ward Rose Marie , Tanygin Angela B.
Published: June 2022

Introduction

Posting and viewing of alcohol‐related content to social media is prevalent among college students and is related to problematic drinking. However, the cognitive self‐presentation and self‐monitoring processes behind users' alcohol‐related content posts to different platforms are largely unknown.

Methods

Through in‐depth, qualitative interviews with college students (n = 15) who drink heavily and post alcohol‐related content regularly, we developed the Alcohol Self‐Presentation Model.

Results

Using a multi‐step thematic analysis approach, the themes of protectiveness and acquisitiveness emerged; these themes served as the basis of our model. In total, three protectiveness (perceived permanence of the content, privacy and reputation concerns) factors and four acquisitiveness (provocative, impulsive, high‐status, maintaining relevance and connections) factors were derived.

Discussion and Conclusions

Our model delineated the alcohol self‐presentations which allowed participants to demonstrate disparate versions of themselves to certain social media audiences. Our results illuminated that what people identify as being alcohol‐related content, and what motivates the individual to post alcohol‐related content, are essential to better comprehending how their alcohol‐related content uniquely contributes to their drinking. Understanding students' alcohol self‐presentations is important since their alcohol‐related content may be putting themselves, and others, at‐risk by perpetuating patterns of frequent posting and heavy drinking within the network. Our model may inform future behavioural interventions targeting the reduction of drinking among young people who are active on social media.
Reflections on research ethics in a public health emergency: Experiences of Brazilian women affected by Zika
Authors: Ambrogi Ilana , Brito Luciana , Rego Sergio
Published: June 2022

In Brazil, the epicenter of the Zika crisis, brown, black, and indigenous poor women living in municipalities with scarce resources were disproportionally affected. The gendered consequences of the epidemic exposed how intersectional lenses are central to understand the impact of public health emergencies in the lives of women and girls. The demand for Zika‐affected children and women to be research participants is relevant for an ethical analysis of participant protection procedures during a crisis. We investigated how women experienced research participation by analyzing their narratives. Two‐year‐long longitudinal qualitative study in Brazilian sites located in the epidemic's epicenter was performed using mixed methods: ethnography with women from two distinct states and individual semi‐structured interviews with five women in different Zika‐affected states, four of which were community leaders. All women in the study were mothers or grandmothers of Zika‐affected children. Thematic analysis was used for data evaluation. Women perceived being pressured to participate in research and a lack of benefit sharing. Structural determinants of gender inequality, such as its effect on power distribution, were found to impact research participant protection. Formal procedures for research protocols approvals were insufficient in protecting participants because these instruments were unable to account for structural aspects. Communitarian mobilization, through WhatsApp groups, was found to be an important mechanism to create conditions to challenge oppressive structures. Strengthening public health, effective community‐based participation in research planning and implantation of ethical strategies that promotes gender equality can have transformative effect on unequal power structures and promote participant protection.
Ebola, informal settlements, and the role of place in infectious disease vulnerability: evidence from the 2014–16 outbreak in urban Sierra Leone
Authors: Ali S. Harris , Conteh Abu , Macarthy Joseph Mustapha , Sesay Alpha , Blango Victoria Nancy , Hrdličková Zuzana
Published: June 2022

Studies of vulnerability often focus on the differential susceptibility of marginalised groups to the effects of disaster. This paper considers how vulnerability is also associated with the characteristics of place, especially the social setting of the informal settlement. In this light, it assesses specifically how cultural, historical, and political economic forces resulted in increased vulnerability to Ebola virus disease (EVD) within informal settlements in Sierra Leone during the epidemic of 2014–16. Key informant and community member interviews and focus‐group discussions in two communities revealed that increased vulnerability to EVD could, at least in part, be attributed to a set of place‐based social factors pertaining to ‘community beliefs and practices’ (importance of family ties, funeral rites, traditional healing) and ‘structural poverty and low socioeconomic status’ (poor healthcare provision, mobility patterns, overcrowding). Together, these different factors demonstrate how multiple and intersecting vulnerabilities contribute to the spatial production of disease risk.
Numbers matter: Predatory ability increases with forager group size in omnivorous ant species with similar predatory traits
Authors: Elizalde Luciana , Lescano M. Natalia , Werenkraut Victoria , Pirk Gabriela I.
Published: June 2022

Predation is an important force structuring ecological communities. However, it is still controversial whether larger predator groups are more efficient at exploiting abundant resources. Here, we explored the association between the number of foragers and predation ability in generalist ant species that differ in forager numbers when exploiting resources.

We conducted a field experiment by increasing caterpillar density around nests of two abundantDorymyrmexant species in the semiarid Patagonian steppe, whereD. tenerallocates a higher number of foragers to resource exploitation thanD. antarcticus.We (1) compared the association between predation effectiveness (success to complete a task) and efficiency (speed of task performance and economy of foragers) with the number of foragers involved between species, and (2) studied how they responded numerically to increasing prey densities, by sequentially adding 3, 6 and 12 larvae in the same foraging arena. Finally, (3) we compared behavioural and morphological traits related to predation between these ant species.

AlthoughD. tenerdiscovered a similar number of arenas with larvae thanD. antarcticus, it was more effective as it recruited more and removed more larvae. This species was also more efficient thanD. antarcticusin all predation subtasks, and the time used to remove one larva depended on prey density, being faster for the high‐larvae density.

Besides the number of foragers, ant species did not differ in other behavioural traits, andD. tener's foragers were slightly larger than those ofD. antarcticus.

This study illustrates how, in social predators, the predator group size and individual behavioural characteristics may act in conjunction, with relevant consequences at ecological, evolutionary, and applied levels, including potential implications for pest control.
High‐level nitrogen additions accelerate soil respiration reduction over time in a boreal forest
Authors: Xing Aijun , Du Enzai , Shen Haihua , Xu Longchao , Zhao Mengying , Liu Xiuyuan , Fang Jingyun
Published: June 2022

Increased nitrogen (N) inputs are widely recognised to reduce soil respiration (Rs), but how N deposition affects the temporal dynamics of Rs remains unclear. Using a decade‐long fertilisation experiment in a boreal larch forest (Larix gmelini) in northeast China, we found that the effects of N additions on Rs showed a temporal shift from a positive effect in the short‐term (increased by 8% on average in the first year) to a negative effect over the longer term (decreased by 21% on average in the 11th year). The rates of decrease in Rs for the higher N levels were almost twice as high as those of the low N level. Our results suggest that the reduction in Rs in response to increased N input is accelerated by high‐level N additions, and experimental high N applications are likely to overestimate the contribution of N deposition to soil carbon sequestration in a boreal forest.
Twitter investor sentiment and corporate earnings announcements
Authors: Karampatsas Nikolaos , Malekpour Soheila , Mason Andrew , Mavis Christos P.
Published: June 2022

We examine the impact of firm‐specific investor sentiment (FSIS) on stock returns for negative and positive earnings surprises. Using a measure constructed from firm‐specific tweets, we find that FSIS has a greater impact on stock returns for negative relative to positive earnings surprises. We further show that the impact of FSIS is greater for firms whose valuation is uncertain and difficult to arbitrage. Moreover, we provide evidence of return reversals over post‐announcement periods. Our results highlight the importance of FSIS around earnings announcements.
Digital affordances and remote public audit practice
Authors: Aquino André Carlos Busanelli de , Lino André Feliciano , Azevedo Ricardo Rocha de , Silva Polyana Batista da
Published: June 2022

As public sector organizations are undergoing a digital transformation, public auditing is increasingly relying on technology to enable it to collect and analyze large amounts of data. We analyze how the introduction and development of digital artifacts in a governmental audit setting end up affording audit practices. Focusing on the introduction of computer‐assisted audit tools and techniques (CAATTs) developed by Courts of Accounts in Brazil, our findings indicate that the digital infrastructure maintained by each Court in Brazil is the material center of a dominant frame of remote compliance audit practice. Besides CAATTs’ interface, scripts and algorithms in the infrastructure's backstage also add to the affordance of the digital devices used by auditors—that is, auditors’ action possibilities molded by technology. Through interviews with governmental auditors, we provide evidence on how CAATTs afford their practices while showing that auditors are not fully aware of how their skepticism and autonomy are being affected by the introduction of such devices and by the reinforcement of remote audit practice.
Immunomodulatory effect of N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐proline and vasoactive intestinal peptide on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease pathophysiology
Authors: Cai Jian , Chen Qianyi , Mehrabi Nasab Entezar , Athari Seyyed Shamsadin
Published: June 2022

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) as an inflammatory respiratory system disease is caused by exposure to cigarette smoke and tobacco in long‐term. Some anti‐inflammatory peptides can control inflammation in COPD. N‐acetyl‐seryl‐aspartyl‐proline (Ac‐SDKP) and vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP) as peptide have anti‐inflammatory effect, and, in this study, the effect of Ac‐SDKP and VIP on COPD inflammation was studied.

After producing cigarette smoke‐induced COPD mice model, which were treated with VIP and Ac‐SDKP, the levels of antioxidant‐related factors (malondialdehyde (MDA) and superoxide dismutase (SOD)), fibrotic factors (hydroxyproline (HP) and TGF‐β), pro‐inflammatory cytokines (TNF‐α, IL‐1β, and IL‐6), and inflammation in histopathological examination were studied.

MDA, Remodeling factors, pro‐inflammatory cytokines, and inflammation in lung tissue were controlled by VIP and Ac‐SDKP treatment. These treatments could enhance SOD.

VIP and Ac‐SDKP as immuno‐regulatory factors had benefit effect in treatment of COPD. The anti‐inflammatory, anti‐fibrosis, and anti‐oxidant properties of VIP and Ac‐SDKP may be effective therapy in COPD.
Modeling of fatigue failure mode in U‐rib to deck joints in orthotropic bridge structures
Authors: Yang Haibo , Wang Ping , Qian Hongliang , Dong Pingsha
Published: June 2022

Various fatigue failure modes (i.e., cracking position and orientation with respect to a weld) can develop in welded rib to deck connections in orthotropic bridge deck structures. After demonstrating its effectiveness in correlating fatigue test data covering different failure modes, the master S‐N curve method was then adopted in this study for determining the critical failure mode in welded U‐rib to deck connections. These include considerations of additional failure modes potentially present in double‐sided welds between U‐rib and deck versus the traditional single‐sided weld design. The effects of weld penetrations and test loading conditions on failure mode development have been quantitatively established by means of the master S‐N curve method.
Shear‐induced amorphization in boron subphosphide (B12P2): Direct transition versus stacking fault mediation
Authors: Li Jun , An Qi
Published: June 2022

The shear‐induced amorphization has been observed in many strong ceramics and is responsible for their cracking and fragmentation. But its underlying mechanism remains elusive due to the complex structure and bonding environment in strong ceramics. To illustrate the deformation mechanism of local amorphization in strong ceramics, we employed molecular dynamics simulations with a deep‐learning force field to examine the shear‐induced amorphization in B12P2. Surprisingly, we identified a stacking‐fault‐mediated amorphization mechanism along the most plausible slip system (1 1 1)/[1 1 ]. This mechanism is even more favorable at a higher temperature than room temperature. In contrast, the direct crystal to amorphization transition, due to the icosahedral slip, is observed for the other most plausible slip system (0 1 1)/[2 ]. We report the activation volume and the activation free energy for the amorphization along the (1 1 1)/[1 1 ] slip system. The derived activation volume is only 41.47 A3, which is roughly 2–3 icosahedra, suggesting that the localized amorphization in B12P2 is mediated by stacking fault formation. The previous results suggest complex amorphization mechanisms in strong ceramics.
Cold plasma for microbial safety: Principle, mechanism, and factors responsible
Authors: Punia Bangar Sneh , Suri Shweta , Nayi Pratik , Phimolsiripol Yuthana
Published: June 2022

Elimination of microbiological contamination of food products is predominant for consumer food safety. Cold plasma (CP) technology has evolved as a unique, cost‐effective, and environmentally friendly solution to microbial decontamination that is gaining popularity due to its great efficacy in ensuring food safety. As increasing the demand of food industries to produce and supply the safe food with minimal processing. Cold plasma application is being used to sanitize the food surface to be used for different food industry sectors for microbial inactivation. The rapid microbial inactivation obtained by cold plasma has sparked a surge in interest in the field. The current review will give a critical snapshot of the potential application of cold plasma in microbial safety, including food safety, quality, and enzyme inactivation. The rapid microbiological inactivation achieved with cold plasma has led to an interest in this subject. Further, factors affecting, that is, food composition, PH, water activity, and microorganism type for microbial inactivation by cold plasma, are summarized and discussed. There is an increasing demand for food industries to produce and supply safe food with minimal processing. Cold plasma has the potential to sanitize the food surface to be used in different food industry sectors for microbial inactivation.

Novelty impact statement

This review discussed the principle, equipment, and process mechanism of cold plasma. The mechanism of microbial inactivation by cold plasma was summarized. Also, the effect of cold plasma on factors including food composition, pH, water activity, microorganism type, and enzyme inactivation was explored.
Stigma, identity and support in social relationships of transgender people throughout transition: A qualitative analysis of multiple perspectives
Authors: Lewis Tom O.G. , Barreto Manuela , Doyle David Matthew
Published: June 2022

Supportive social relationships are vital for health and well‐being as they serve to ameliorate stress and therefore reduce the likelihood of suffering from disease across the life course. This social support could be more essential for transgender people, who experience unique social stress due to their marginalized status. The current study compared and contrasted the experiential accounts of transgender people, their relational partners and gender service providers using a thematic phenomenological methodology across a series of focus groups and interviews. In total, there were 17 participants across three focus groups (eight transgender people, six relational partners, and three service providers) and nine participants in the interviews (three transgender people, three relational partners and three service providers). Four overarching themes were identified: (1) Coming out and identity management, (2) Reciprocal support in relationships, (3) Social transition and gender identity affirmation, (4) Experiences in the LGBTQ+ community. Issues of stigma, identity, and support were present throughout all the themes. Receiving gender identity affirmation from supportive relational partners was essential for transgender people, while external support was highlighted as something relational partners needed (but did not often seek). This research has implications for understanding how transgender people and their relational partners support one another when facing stress and stigma.
Assignment maximization
Authors: Afacan Mustafa Oğuz , Bó Inácio , Turhan Bertan
Published: June 2022

We evaluate the goal of maximizing the number of individuals matched to acceptable outcomes. We present two mechanisms that maximize assignments. The first is Pareto efficient and undominated—in terms of the number of assignments—in equilibrium. The second is fair for unassigned agents and assigns weakly more agents than any stable mechanism in equilibrium.
Transcriptomic analysis of preovipositional embryonic arrest in a nonsquamate reptile (Chelonia mydas)
Authors: Gárriz Angela , Williamson Sean A. , Shah Anup D. , Evans Roger G. , Deveson Lucas Deanna S. , Powell David R. , Walton Sarah L. , Marques Francine Z. , Reina Richard D.
Published: June 2022

After gastrulation, oviductal hypoxia maintains turtle embryos in an arrested state prior to oviposition. Subsequent exposure to atmospheric oxygen upon oviposition initiates recommencement of embryonic development. Arrest can be artificially extended for several days after oviposition by incubation of the egg under hypoxic conditions, with development recommencing in an apparently normal fashion after subsequent exposure to normoxia. To examine the transcriptomic events associated with embryonic arrest in green sea turtles (Chelonia mydas), RNA‐sequencing analysis was performed on embryos from freshly laid eggs and eggs incubated in either normoxia (oxygen tension ~159 mmHg) or hypoxia (<8 mmHg) for 36 h after oviposition (n = 5 per group). The patterns of gene expression differed markedly among the three experimental groups. Normal embryonic development in normoxia was associated with upregulation of genes involved in DNA replication, the cell cycle, and mitosis, but these genes were commonly downregulated after incubation in hypoxia. Many target genes of hypoxia inducible factors, including the gene encoding insulin‐like growth factor binding protein 1 (igfbp1), were downregulated by normoxic incubation but upregulated by incubation in hypoxia. Notably, some of the transcriptomic effects of hypoxia in green turtle embryos resembled those reported to be associated with hypoxia‐induced embryonic arrest in diverse taxa, including the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans and zebrafish (Danio rerio). Hypoxia‐induced preovipositional embryonic arrest appears to be a unique adaptation of turtles. However, our findings accord with the proposition that the mechanisms underlying hypoxia‐induced embryonic arrest per se are highly conserved across diverse taxa.
Interactions between vector competence to chikungunya virus and resistance to deltamethrin in Aedes aegypti laboratory lines?
Authors: Wang Lanjiao , Fontaine Albin , Gaborit Pascal , Guidez Amandine , Issaly Jean , Girod Romain , Kazanji Mirdad , Rousset Dominique , Vignuzzi Marco , Epelboin Yanouk , Dusfour Isabelle
Published: June 2022

The urban mosquito species Aedes aegypti is the main vector of arboviruses worldwide. Mosquito control with insecticides is the most prevalent method for preventing transmission in the absence of effective vaccines and available treatments; however, the extensive use of insecticides has led to the development of resistance in mosquito populations throughout the world, and the number of epidemics caused by arboviruses has increased. Three mosquito lines with different resistance profiles to deltamethrin were isolated in French Guiana, including one with the I1016 knock‐down resistant allele. Significant differences were observed in the cumulative proportion of mosquitoes with a disseminated chikungunya virus infection over time across these lines. In addition, some genes related to resistance (CYP6BB2, CYP6N12, GST2, trypsin) were variably overexpressed in the midgut at 7 days after an infectious bloodmeal in these three lines. Our work shows that vector competence for chikungunya virus varied between Ae. aegypti laboratory lines with different deltamethrin resistance profiles. More accurate verification of the functional association between insecticide resistance and vector competence remains to be demonstrated.
A case report: Anesthetic management for open‐heart surgery in a child with congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis
Authors: Jiang Jialong , Wang Xuefeng , Hu Jicheng , Wang Sheng
Published: June 2022

Congenital insensitivity to pain with anhidrosis (CIPA) is a rare disease also known as hereditary sensory and autonomic neuropathy. CIPA is characterized by a lack of pain sensitivity and impaired development of sweat glands. Surgery is required for patients with self‐mutilation and skeletal developmental disorders. Due to the disease's rarity and intricacy, anesthesia poses its challenges. Although there have been a few cases of CIPA patients receiving surgery and anesthesia, the number is very limited. Here, we report a case of a child with CIPA who underwent open‐heart surgery and discuss the anesthetic considerations. We conclude that patients with CIPA undergoing open‐heart surgery require some opioids, that muscle relaxants and volatile anesthetics should be used with extreme caution, and that airway management and temperature control require special attention.
Spatiotemporal dynamics in a twisted, circular waveguide array
Authors: Parker Ross , Shen Yannan , Aceves Alejandro , Zweck John
Published: June 2022

We consider the existence and spectral stability of nonlinear discrete localized solutions representing light pulses propagating in a twisted multicore optical fiber. By considering an even number, N, of waveguides, we derive asymptotic expressions for solutions in which the bulk of the light intensity is concentrated as soliton‐like pulses confined to a single waveguide. The leading order terms obtained are in very good agreement with results of numerical computations. Furthermore, as in the model without temporal dispersion, when the twist parameter, ϕ, is given by , these standing waves exhibit optical suppression, in which a single waveguide remains unexcited, to leading order. Spectral computations and numerical evolution experiments suggest that these standing wave solutions are stable for values of the coupling parameter less than a critical value, at which point a spectral instability results from the collision of an internal eigenvalue with the eigenvalues at the origin. This critical value has a maximum when .
Hansenapp: Development of a mobile application to assist primary healthcare providers to control leprosy
Authors: Matos Daniella Pontes , Torres Mateus Dantas , da Silva Liniker Scolfild Rodrigues , dos Santos Carlos Alberto Andrade Serra , de Oliveira Francisca Jacinta Feitoza , de Araújo Márcio Flávio Moura , de Oliveira Serra Maria Aparecida Alves
Published: June 2022

Objective

To describe the development and validation of a mobile application to assist health professionals in the management of patients with leprosy and surveillance of contacts in primary healthcare.

Method

A methodological and developmental study was conducted in three phases: integrative literature review, mobile application development and application validation by health professionals. The construction of the application was supported by the literature review, Nielsen's heuristics and expert validation. Five experts individually analysed the prototype draft and performed two rounds of iterations to refine their recommendations. The validation step was performed by consulting health professionals working in primary healthcare, who evaluated the application for relevance, clarity and usability using a questionnaire based on task–technology fit theory.

Results

The mobile app's content, navigation methods and interaction were refined based on the discussions with experts. Their recommendations were applied, and the mobile app was revised until the final version was approved. Content validity indexes of 0.94 (p = 0.007), 0.99 (p > 0.0001) and 0.93 (p = 0.01) were obtained.

Conclusion

The developed application is a technological tool that could assist primary healthcare providers in dealing with leprosy patients and their contacts in terms of management, planning, monitoring, evaluation, treatment and follow‐up, in addition to leprosy control actions.
Transforming growth factor β1 impairs the transcriptomic response to contraction in myotubes from women with polycystic ovary syndrome
Authors: McIlvenna Luke C. , Altıntaş Ali , Patten Rhiannon K , McAinch Andrew J. , Rodgers Raymond J. , Stepto Nigel K. , Barrès Romain , Moreno‐Asso Alba
Published: June 2022

Polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) is characterised by a hormonal imbalance affecting the reproductive and metabolic health of reproductive‐aged women. Exercise is recommended as a first‐line therapy for women with PCOS to improve their overall health; however, women with PCOS are resistant to the metabolic benefits of exercise training. Here, we aimed to gain insight into the mechanisms responsible for such resistance to exercise in PCOS. We employed an in vitro approach with electrical pulse stimulation (EPS) of cultured skeletal muscle cells to explore whether myotubes from women with PCOS have an altered gene expression signature in response to contraction. Following EPS, 4719 genes were differentially expressed (false discovery rate <0.05) in myotubes from women with PCOS compared to 173 in healthy women. Both groups included genes involved in skeletal muscle contraction. We also determined the effect of two transforming growth factor β (TGFβ) ligands that are elevated in plasma of women with PCOS, TGFβ1 and anti‐Müllerian hormone (AMH), alone and on the EPS‐induced response. While AMH (30 ng/ml) had no effect, TGFβ1 (5 ng/ml) induced the expression of extracellular matrix genes and impaired the exercise‐like transcriptional signature in myotubes from women with and without PCOS in response to EPS by interfering with key processes related to muscle contraction, calcium transport and actin filament. Our findings suggest that while the fundamental gene expression responses of skeletal muscle to contraction is intact in PCOS, circulating factors like TGFβ1 may be responsible for the impaired adaptation to exercise in women with PCOS.

image

Key points

Gene expression responses to in vitro contraction (electrical pulse stimulation, EPS) are altered in myotubes from women with polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) compared to healthy controls, with an increased expression of genes related to pro‐inflammatory pathways.

Transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) upregulates genes related to extracellular matrix remodelling and reduces the expression of contractile genes in myotubes, regardless of the donor's health status.

TGFβ1 alters the gene expression response to EPS, providing a possible mechanism for the impaired exercise adaptations in women with PCOS.
VO2 films on flexible thin polyimide films: Fabrication and characterization of electrical and optical properties in insulator-metal transition
Authors: Miyatake Yuta , Ozawa Yukito , Okimura Kunio , Nakanishi Toshihiro
Published: June 2022

We report on the realization of thin polyimide films on which phase transition vanadium dioxide (VO2) films grow. Biased reactive sputtering achieved b-axis-oriented growth of VO2 films on ZnO-buffered polyimide films with a thickness of 8.5 μm. By peeling off the polyimide films from a quartz substrate, stand-alone VO2/ZnO/polyimide layered films that exhibited insulator-metal transition (IMT) with nearly three orders of resistivity change were fabricated. Dependence of IMT on a mechanical curvature was investigated for demonstrating the high flexibility. Temperature-dependent optical transmittance at 1.45 μm showed a high switching ratio for infrared light in VO2/ZnO/polyimide layered films. The proposed structure can be utilized for active metasurfaces that control terahertz waves with quite low reflection loss due to its small thickness.
Thresholds for noise induced hearing loss in harbor porpoises and phocid seals
Authors: Tougaard Jakob , Beedholm Kristian , Madsen Peter T.
Published: June 2022

Intense sound sources, such as pile driving, airguns, and military sonars, have the potential to inflict hearing loss in marine mammals and are, therefore, regulated in many countries. The most recent criteria for noise induced hearing loss are based on empirical data collected until 2015 and recommend frequency-weighted and species group-specific thresholds to predict the onset of temporary threshold shift (TTS). Here, evidence made available after 2015 in light of the current criteria for two functional hearing groups is reviewed. For impulsive sounds (from pile driving and air guns), there is strong support for the current threshold for very high frequency cetaceans, including harbor porpoises (Phocoena phocoena). Less strong support also exists for the threshold for phocid seals in water, including harbor seals (Phoca vitulina). For non-impulsive sounds, there is good correspondence between exposure functions and empirical thresholds below 10 kHz for porpoises (applicable to assessment and regulation of military sonars) and between 3 and 16 kHz for seals. Above 10 kHz for porpoises and outside of the range 3–16 kHz for seals, there are substantial differences (up to 35 dB) between the predicted thresholds for TTS and empirical results. These discrepancies call for further studies.
Acoustic localization, validation, and characterization of Rice's whale calls
Authors: Soldevilla Melissa S. , Ternus Katrina , Cook Ashley , Hildebrand John A. , Frasier Kaitlin E. , Martinez Anthony , Garrison Lance P.
Published: June 2022

The recently named Rice's whale in the Gulf of Mexico is one of the most endangered whales in the world, and improved knowledge of spatiotemporal occurrence patterns is needed to support their recovery and conservation. Passive acoustic monitoring methods for determining spatiotemporal occurrence patterns require identifying the species' call repertoire. Rice's whale call repertoire remains unvalidated though several potential call types have been identified. This study uses sonobuoys and passive acoustic tagging to validate the source of potential call types and to characterize Rice's whale calls. During concurrent visual and acoustic surveys, acoustic-directed approaches were conducted to obtain visual verifications of sources of localized sounds. Of 28 acoustic-directed approaches, 79% led to sightings of balaenopterid whales, of which 10 could be positively identified to species as Rice's whales. Long-moan calls, downsweep sequences, and tonal-sequences are attributed to Rice's whales based on these matches, while anthropogenic sources are ruled out. A potential new call type, the low-frequency downsweep sequence, is characterized from tagged Rice's whale recordings. The validation and characterization of the Rice's whale call repertoire provides foundational information needed to use passive acoustic monitoring for better understanding and conservation of these critically endangered whales.
A reduced aperture allows for transcranial focus localization at lower pressure
Authors: Phipps M. Anthony , Jonathan Sumeeth , Yang Pai-Feng , Chen Li Min , Grissom William , Caskey Charles F.
Published: June 2022

Localizing the focus during transcranial focused ultrasound procedures is important to ensure accurate targeting of specific brain regions and interpretation of results. Magnetic resonance acoustic radiation force imaging uses the displacement induced by the ultrasound focus in the brain to localize the beam, but the high pressure required to displace brain tissue may cause damage or confounds during subsequent neuromodulatory experiments. Here, reduced apertures were applied to a phased array transducer to generate comparable displacement to the full aperture but with 20% lower free field pressure.
Extensional flow affecting shear viscosity: Experimental evidence and comparison to models
Authors: Hodgkinson Richard , Chaffin Stephen T. , Zimmerman William B. J. , Holland Chris , Howse Jonathan R.
Published: June 2022

The effect of extensional flow on apparent shear viscosity has never previously been directly measured nor is it often considered. Here, for the first time, through using a novel flow configuration (two-phase shear response under extensional flow), we have directly measured the effect extensional flow has on the apparent shear viscosity of a viscoelastic polymer solution in a controlled and kinematically mixed manner. We show, via a control transient shear experiment, that the apparent shear viscosity of the solution under mixed deformation depends not only on the shear rate but also on the extension rate and their relative direction: shear thinning being enhanced by parallel and reduced by perpendicular extensional flow, respectively. A 62% reduction in apparent viscosity with parallel extension was seen in this work. We then test the ability of the commonly used Giesekus and Carreau–Yasuda (incorporating generalized shear rate) models to predict the effect of extension rate on apparent shear viscosity against our data. The Giesekus model was found to predict the correct qualitative behavior under both parallel and perpendicular extensional flow, and depending on the fitting parameters, also provided a loosely quantitative agreement. Conversely, the generalized shear rate description does not capture the qualitative behavior, with the most significant errors occurring for perpendicular extension (i.e., expansion) flows. This work emphasizes the rarely noted shortcomings of the latter approach when used for experimental analysis and engineering design when extensional flows are additionally present.