bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Threat assessment and higher education public safety
Authors: Zacarese Lawrence M.
Published: January 2023

While many of us can link the historical discussions about behavioral threat and risk assessments on college campuses to the tragic events at Virginia Tech in 2007, recent events elsewhere have surfaced the issue yet again.
Adjusting for both sequential testing and systematic error in safety surveillance using observational data: Empirical calibration and MaxSPRT
Authors: Schuemie Martijn J. , Bu Fan , Nishimura Akihiko , Suchard Marc A.
Published: January 2023

Post‐approval safety surveillance of medical products using observational healthcare data can help identify safety issues beyond those found in pre‐approval trials. When testing sequentially as data accrue, maximum sequential probability ratio testing (MaxSPRT) is a common approach to maintaining nominal type 1 error. However, the true type 1 error may still deviate from the specified one because of systematic error due to the observational nature of the analysis. This systematic error may persist even after controlling for known confounders. Here we propose to address this issue by combing MaxSPRT with empirical calibration. In empirical calibration, we assume uncertainty about the systematic error in our analysis, the source of uncertainty commonly overlooked in practice. We infer a probability distribution of systematic error by relying on a large set of negative controls: exposure‐outcome pairs where no causal effect is believed to exist. Integrating this distribution into our test statistics has previously been shown to restore type 1 error to nominal. Here we show how we can calibrate the critical value central to MaxSPRT. We evaluate this novel approach using simulations and real electronic health records, using H1N1 vaccinations during the 2009–2010 season as an example. Results show that combining empirical calibration with MaxSPRT restores nominal type 1 error. In our real‐world example, adjusting for systematic error using empirical calibration has a larger impact than, and hence is just as essential as, adjusting for sequential testing using MaxSPRT. We recommend performing both, using the method described here.
They were uncivil, and now I am too: A dual process model exploring relations between customer incivility and instigated incivility
Authors: Hughes Ian M. , Lee Juseob , Hong Junyoung , Currie Richard , Jex Steve M.
Published: January 2023

Incivility from customers is a common occurrence for employees working in service‐oriented organizations. Typically, such incivility engenders instigated mistreatment, both towards customers and colleagues. Not much is understood, however, about the mechanisms underlying the relations between customer incivility and instigated incivility. Answering recent calls from incivility scholars, the present research, drawing from Self‐Regulatory Resource Theory and Stressor‐Emotion models of workplace behaviour, explored cognitive (i.e., self‐regulatory resource depletion) and affective (i.e., negative affect) pathways that would explain relations between customer incivility and instigated incivility towards others. Through two multi‐wave studies with different time lags (N1 = 180, weekly lags; N2 = 192, within‐week lags) and different operationalizations of the instigated incivility construct (i.e., broad [unidimensional] and narrow [multidimensional]), we find consistent support for the mediating effects of the affective pathway. While our first study finds that customer incivility is linked to broad instigated incivility through negative affect, our second study finds that customer incivility is linked to, more specifically, gossip, exclusionary behaviour, and hostility through negative affect. In both studies, however, no support was found for the mediating effects of the cognitive pathway. Implications for both research and practice are discussed, and future research directions are offered.
Dual Engineering of Lattice Strain and Valence State of NiAl‐LDHs for Photoreduction of CO2 to Highly Selective CH4
Authors: Tan Ling , Sun Xiaoliang , Bai Sha , Song Ziheng , Song Yu‐Fei
Published: January 2023

Converting CO2 to clean‐burning fuel such as natural gas (CH4) with high activity and selectivity remains to be a grand challenge due to slow kinetics of multiple electron transfer processes and competitive hydrogen evolution reaction (HER). Herein, the fabrication of surfactants (C11H23COONa, C12H25SO4Na, C16H33SO4Na) intercalated NiAl‐layered double hydroxides (NiAl‐LDH) is reported, resulting in the formation of LDH‐S1 (S1 = C11H23COO−), LDH‐S2 (S2 = C12H25SO4−) and LDH‐S3 (S3 = C16H33SO4−) with curved morphology. Compared with NiAl‐LDH with a 1.53% selectivity of CH4, LDH‐S2 shows higher selectivity of CH4 (83.07%) and lower activity of HER (3.84%) in CO2 photoreduction reaction (CO2PR). Detailed characterizations and DFT calculation indicates that the inherent lattice strain in LDH‐S2 leads to the structural distortion with the presence of VNi/Al defects and compressed MOM bonds, and thereby reduces the overall energy barrier of CO2 to CH4. Moreover, the lower oxidation states of Ni in LDH‐S2 enhances the adsorption of intermediates such as OCOH* and *CO, promoting the hydrogenation of CO to CH4. Therefore, the coupling effect of both lattice strain and electronic structure of the LDH‐S2 significantly improves the activity and selectivity for CO2PR.
Optimized Coiled‐Coil Interactions for Multiplexed Peptide‐PAINT
Authors: Eklund Alexandra S. , Jungmann Ralf
Published: January 2023

Super‐resolution microscopy has revolutionized how researchers characterize samples in the life sciences in the last decades. Amongst methods employing single‐molecule localization microscopy, DNA points accumulation for imaging in nanoscale topography (DNA‐PAINT) is a relatively easy‐to‐implement method that uses the programmable and repetitive binding of dye‐labeled DNA imager strands to their respective docking strands. Recently developed Peptide‐PAINT replaces the interaction of oligonucleotides by short coiled‐coil peptide sequences leading to an improved labeling scheme by reducing linkage errors to target proteins. However, only one coiled‐coil pair is currently available for Peptide‐PAINT, preventing multiplexed imaging. In this study, the initial Peptide‐PAINT E/K coil is improved by modifying its length for optimized binding kinetics leading to improved localization precisions. Additionally, an orthogonal P3/P4 coil pair is introduced, enabling 2‐plex Peptide‐PAINT imaging and benchmarking its performance and orthogonality using single‐molecule and DNA origami assays. Finally, the P3/P4 peptide pair is used to image the human epidermal growth factor receptors 2 (ErbB2/Her2) in 2D and 3D at the single receptor level using genetically encoded peptide tags.
Carbon‐Shielded Selenium‐Rich Trimetallic Selenides as Advanced Electrode Material for Durable Li‐Ion Batteries and Supercapacitors
Authors: Kakarla Ashok Kumar , Bandi Hari , Shanthappa R. , Yu Jae Su
Published: January 2023

In order to achieve a sustainable future, researchers must continue to research improved electrode materials. Considering the high electronic conductivity, versatile redox activity, and enhanced energy storage performance, nanostructures have been employed as a novel electrode material for high‐performance lithium‐ion batteries (LIBs) and supercapacitors. Herein, carbon‐coated selenium‐rich trimetallic selenide (Cu2NiSnSe4@C) nanoparticles (NPs) as an efficient electrode material in energy storage devices are prepared. The prepared core‐shell Cu2NiSnSe4@C NPs electrode is employed as an anode material for LIBs, which demonstrated a high reversible specific capacity of 988.46 mA h g−1 over 100 cycles at 0.1 A g−1 with good rate capability. Additionally, the core‐shell Cu2NiSnSe4@C NPs electrode exhibited an outstanding capacity of 202.5 mA h g−1 at 5 A g−1 even after 10 000 cycles. Exploiting the synergistic characteristics, the core‐shell Cu2NiSnSe4@C NPs material is also investigated as a battery‐type electrode for hybrid supercapacitors. The assembled hybrid supercapacitor with Cu2NiSnSe4@C NPs and activated carbon showed excellent rate capability including high power (5597.77 W kg−1) and energy (64.26 Wh kg−1) densities. Considering the simple synthesis and enhanced energy storage properties, carbon‐coated selenium‐rich trimetallic selenide can be used as a durable electrode material for practical energy storage devices.
A Three‐in‐One Nanoscale Coordination Polymer for Potent Chemo‐Immunotherapy
Authors: Liu Jing , Jiang Xiaomin , Feng Xuanyu , Lee Morten J. , Li Youyou , Mao Jianming , Weichselbaum Ralph R. , Lin Wenbin
Published: January 2023

The addition of immune checkpoint blockade to standard chemotherapy has changed the standards of care for some cancer patients. However, current chemo‐immunotherapy strategies do not benefit most colorectal cancer patients and many triple‐negative breast cancer patients. Here, the design of a three‐in‐one nanoscale coordination polymer (NCP), OX/GC/CQ, comprising prodrugs of oxaliplatin (OX), gemcitabine (GC), and 5‐carboxy‐8‐hydroxyquinoline (CQ) for triple‐modality chemo‐immunotherapy is reported. OX/GC/CQ exhibits optimal pharmacokinetics and enhanced particle accumulation and drug release in acidic tumor tissues, wherein CQ greatly enhances immunogenic cell death induced by OX/GC and downregulates programmed cell death‐ligand 1  expression in cancer cells. Consequently, OX/GC/CQ efficiently promotes infiltration and activity of cytotoxic T lymphocytes, while decreasing the proportion of immunosuppressive regulatory T cells. Intravenous injection of OX/GC/CQ reduces the growth of colorectal carcinoma and triple‐negative breast cancer, prevents metastasis to lungs, and extends mouse survival by 30–40 days compared to free drugs. This work highlights the potential of NCPs in co‐delivering synergistic chemo‐immunotherapeutics for the treatment of advanced and aggressive cancers.
Electrocatalysis Mechanism and Structure–Activity Relationship of Atomically Dispersed Metal‐Nitrogen‐Carbon Catalysts for Electrocatalytic Reactions
Authors: Yuan Long‐Ji , Sui Xu‐Lei , Liu Chang , Zhuo Yu‐Ling , Li Qi , Pan Hui , Wang Zhen‐Bo
Published: January 2023

Atomically dispersed metal‐nitrogen‐carbon catalysts (M‐N‐C) have been widely used in the field of energy conversion, which has already attracted a huge amount of attention. Due to their unsaturated d‐band electronic structure of the center atoms, M‐N‐C catalysts can be applied in different electrocatalytic reactions by adjusting their own microscopic electronic structures to achieve the optimization of the structure–activity relationship. Consequently, it is of great significance for the revelation of electrocatalytic mechanism and structure–activity relationship of M‐N‐C catalysts. Thus, this review first introduces the relative research methods, including in situ/operando characterization techniques and theoretical calculation methods. Furthermore, clarifying the electrocatalytic mechanism and structure–activity relationship of M‐N‐C catalysts in different electrochemical energy conversion reactions is focused. Moreover, the future research directions are pointed out based on the discussion. This review will provide good guidance to systematically study the catalytic mechanism of single‐atom catalysts and reasonably design the single‐atom catalysts.
Ionic Liquids for the Chemical Recycling of Polymeric Materials and Control of Their Solubility
Authors: Kamimura Akio , Kawamoto Takuji , Fujii Kenta
Published: January 2023

Plastics are wonderful materials that have modernized our daily life; however, importance of effective recycling of plastics is gradually recognized widely. In this account, we describe our discovery of new and efficient methods for the chemical recycling of plastics using ionic liquids (ILs). Since the chemical recycling usually requires high temperature conditions to breakdown chemical bonds in polymeric materials, we thought that less‐flammability and non‐volatility of ionic liquids are the most suitable physical properties for this purpose. Ionic liquids successfully depolymerized polyamides and unsaturated polyesters smoothly and corresponding monomeric materials were obtained in good yields. To the best of our knowledge, this was the first use of Ionic liquids for such reactions. However, we encountered another difficult problem‐separation. To solve the problem, we developed solubility‐switchable ionic liquids, a new type of ionic liquids in which solubility is readily changed using the chemistry of protective groups. Conversion between hydrophilic and lipophilic forms was readily achieved using a simple chemical treatment under mild conditions, and the complete separation of products was achieved by liquid‐liquid‐extraction. The robustness of either form unlocks their wide use as reaction solvents.
Evaluate your credentials to assess whether skills are useful in the workplace, valuable to students
Authors: Sutton Halley
Published: January 2023

CHICAGO — Can students actually demonstrate the skills they learn from your programs in a way that will better their life outcomes? And do employers understand the competencies students gain when they graduate from your institution? It's a question on the minds of many who work in higher education, and it has an impact for your institution in terms of showing students the value of their degrees. The landscape of college credentials is growing, sowing further confusion as each institution often has its own language for discussing similar skills or competencies.
Mining LinkedIn for story and outcomes‐based content ideas
Authors: Talarico Donna
Published: January 2023

I was recently working on a freelance web content project involving writing new content for academic program pages. Outcomes are a highly important aspect of these pages: the information that answers, “What can I do after graduation?”
Post‐mortem redistribution of drugs and other factors affecting interpretation: A review
Authors: Drummer Olaf H. , Gerostamoulos Dimitri
Published: January 2023

Changes in the post‐mortem concentration of drugs, such as through redistributive processes are well known, although not well understood in terms of the mechanisms operating in particular cases and the extent it influences an interpretation of the reported concentrations. This advanced review outlines the mechanisms known to potentially alter blood and tissue concentrations and focuses on publications over the last decade that attempt to quantify the extent of changes occurring for specific drugs or drug classes. Most of the more recent studies show time‐dependent changes that do not always alter concentrations in one direction, let alone to the same extent. This increases the uncertainty of interpretation, particularly for drugs with a narrow therapeutic index. Nevertheless, guidelines are provided in this review to improve interpretation of post‐mortem drug concentrations in cases where a psychoactive substance(s) are a possible contribution to death.

This article is categorized under:

Toxicology > Post‐Mortem
Vulnerabilities and Psychological Adjustment Resources in Career Development
Authors: Rossier Jérôme , Urbanaviciute Ieva , Gander Fabian , Hofmann Jenny , Masdonati Jonas , Ruch Willibald
Published: January 2023

To describe vulnerabilities and resources in career development, it is important to consider a life-span and life-long perspective, the different layers of a person’s self, and the interaction between the person and the surrounding environment. To this end, macro- (i.e., public policies, labor market transformations), meso- (i.e., family structure, organizations), and micro-level (i.e., personal factors) determinants have to be considered. The impact of these different levels in our contemporary word leads to a destandardization of career paths and to an increase in the number and complexity of career transitions posing a challenge to people because of the associated risk of marginalization, especially for disadvantaged and vulnerable populations. To understand the dynamics of career development and related adjustment processes, it is important to consider the interplay between work-related vulnerabilities and employees’ adjustment resources. Several contextual resources, such as peer support, or personal resources, such as adaptability, are known to promote work-related and general well-being. This carries important implications for policy-making, promoting life-long learning and guidance, decent and sustainable work, and social inclusion. Moreover, it informs various interventions, in particular those aimed at increasing access to life-long guidance for all.
Synthesis: Overcoming Vulnerability? The Constitution and Activation of Reserves throughout Life Trajectories
Authors: Widmer Eric D. , Baeriswyl Marie , Ganjour Olga
Published: January 2023

This chapter emphasize several dimensions of resources as reserves. Lifelong dynamics are crucial for the understanding of vulnerability development across adulthood. The chapters of this section all contribute empirically to the understanding of resource dynamics through the life course. They tackle important issues regarding long-term processes of resilience and vulnerability. They show the importance of developing a lifelong perspective on resources when dealing with various outcomes (i.e., health, well-being, income, social capital). The contributions highlight the existence of a diversity of individual reserves to avoid or deal with critical events. This diversity refers to various levels: micro (e.g., educational, psycho-social), meso (e.g. relational) and macro (e.g. social policies). The systematic accumulation of (dis)advantages across life course is questioned, and, conversely, the existence of individual reserves making dynamics of resilience for more vulnerable individuals possible. The impact of socio-historical contexts on reserve dynamics will be considered, enabling the consideration of historical time as a critical factor stressed by the life course paradigm.
Vulnerability and Resilience After Partner Loss Through Divorce and Bereavement: Contributions of the LIVES ‘Intimate partner loss study’
Authors: Jopp Daniela S. , Lampraki Charikleia , Morselli Davide , Znoj Hans-Jörg , Brodbeck Jeannette , Spini Dario , Perrig-Chiello Pasqualina
Published: January 2023

Critical life events, such as partner loss, in the second half of life pose a significant threat to well-being. Divorce and bereavement have negative consequences for mental and physical health, identity, social relationships and financial adequacy, among others, which can lead to loss of resources and trigger vulnerability. The LIVES “Intimate Partner Loss Study” investigates adaptation to these critical life events in later life, that is also challenged by age-related changes. Specifically, the focus of this study lied on the investigation of patterns of adaptation and their characteristics, considering different types of resources (e.g., intimate partner, personality traits), personal growth, and accumulation and persistence of disadvantage (e.g., critical life events across the life course). It is a prospective longitudinal study (3 waves of data collection) that was conducted in the French and German-speaking parts of Switzerland from 2012 to 2016. The sample consisted of 963 separated or divorced individuals, 563 widow(er)s, and 1279 continuously married individuals (more than 15 years), who served as a reference group. Results highlighted the different adaptation patterns to later life divorce and bereavement regarding timing, coping mechanisms, and resilience, and furthermore identified individuals who became more vulnerable after the critical partner loss events. Implications for research and practice are discussed.
Vulnerabilities in Local Contexts
Authors: Bühlmann Felix , Morris Katy , Sommet Nicolas , Vandecasteele Leen
Published: January 2023

Meso-level contexts (e.g., neighbourhood or community contexts) have a profound influence on vulnerability trajectories. They may mediate, mitigate, or reinforce the impact of variables such as gender, age or social class. This chapter studies how meso-level economic factors cushion or worsen the negative effects of adverse circumstances on people’s socio-economic trajectories, health outcomes, or political attitudes. This chapter showcases four case studies, which show: (1) that meso-level labour market contexts can alter the size of the penalties associated with low levels of educational attainment or a more disadvantaged background for young people seeking employment for the first time; (2) that meso-level social networks act as multipliers of inequality; close social ties in the neighbourhood increase the probability of exiting unemployment in resourceful neighbourhoods, whereas they decrease the probability of unemployment exits in deprived neighbourhoods; (3) that people residing in locations with higher levels of income inequality perceive others as being more competitive, which produces paradoxical effects on their self-rated health and undermines the psychological health of the most economically vulnerable; (4) how the confrontation with meso-level inequality and diversity shapes people’s beliefs in meritocracy and examine how everyday experiences of local inequality reinforces or weakens people’s belief in meritocratic value.
Cardy expansion of 3d superconformal indices and corrections to the dual black hole entropy
Authors: Lezcano Alfredo González , Jerdee Maximilian , Pando Zayas Leopoldo A.
Published: January 2023

Abstract

We consider the superconformal index of three-dimensional $$ \mathcal{N} $$
N
= 2 supersymmetric field theories computed via localization on S1 × S2. We systematically develop an expansion where the ratio of the radius of S1 to the radius of S2 is taken very small — a Cardy-like expansion. We emphasize the sub-leading structures in this Cardy-like expansion as well as their interplay with the large-N limit for theories with gauge group of the form product of U(N) factors. We demonstrate that taking the large-N limit first leads to an expression for the effective action yielding the index that only includes terms proportional to 1/β and powers of βi=0,1,2 where β is the ratio of radii. As we depart from the β → 0 limit for finite N, we find indications of non-perturbative contributions of the form e−1/β. We present an explicit evaluation of the superconformal index for the ABJM theory in the large-N limit that is exact in β up to non-perturbative corrections. For the ABJM theory we explore the implications of the Cardy-like expansion for corrections to the entropy of the rotating, electricallly charged, asymptotically AdS4 dual black hole. Interestingly, we find a closed form for the entropy that includes all perturbative corrections in β and takes the form of the leading order expression but with shifted charges.
The vibrational properties of native and thermally modified wood in dependence on its moisture content
Authors: Buchelt Beate , Krüger Robert , Wagenführ André
Published: January 2023

The vibrational properties of spruce (Picea abies Karst.) and European beech (Fagus sylvatica L.) were investigated in this study in dependence on the relative humidity (RH). The RH was measured at 20 °C ranging from oven-dried to 85%. For the evaluation of the vibrational properties the dynamic modulus of elasticity E’ and the damping coefficient tan δ were measured at 7 climate steps. The same samples used for the vibrational tests were afterwards mildly thermally modified at 180 °C and measured at the same climate steps. Both wood species were compared and evaluated considering the property changes (E’, tan δ, sorption isotherms and volume swelling) due to the thermal modification. The chosen modification resulted in a marginal change in the vibrational properties of spruce, whereas the properties of beech were clearly changed. The vibrational properties of beech could be improved in the usual RH range (35–85%) due to this thermal modification. For spruce, it was concluded that a mild modification, conducted in this study, is not suitable for improving the vibrational properties. Further conclusions concerning the underlying causes as well as the use in musical instruments were drawn.
Health-economic evaluation of meniscus tear treatments: a systematic review
Authors: Deviandri R. , Daulay M. C. , Iskandar D. , Kautsar A. P. , Lubis A. M. T. , Postma M. J.
Published: January 2023

Purpose

To evaluate the overall evidence of published health-economic evaluation studies on meniscus tear treatment.

Methods

Our systematic review focuses on health-economic evaluation studies of meniscus tear treatment interventions found in PubMed and Embase databases. A qualitative, descriptive approach was used to analyze the studies’ results and systematically report them following PRISMA guidelines. The health-economic evaluation method for each included study was categorized following one of the four approaches: partial economic evaluation (PEE), cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA), cost–benefit analysis (CBA), or cost-utility analysis (CUA). The quality of each included study was assessed using the Consensus on Health Economic Criteria (CHEC) list. Comparisons of input variables and outcomes were made, if applicable.

Results

Sixteen studies were included; of these, six studies performed PEE, seven studies CUA, two studies CEA, and one study combined CBA, CUA, and CEA. The following economic comparisons were analyzed and showed the respective comparative outcomes: (1) meniscus repair was more cost-effective than arthroscopic partial meniscectomy (meniscectomy) for reparable meniscus tear; (2) non-operative treatment or physical therapy was less costly than meniscectomy for degenerative meniscus tear; (3) physical therapy with delayed meniscectomy was more cost-effective than early meniscectomy for meniscus tear with knee osteoarthritis; (4) meniscectomy without physical therapy was less costly than meniscectomy with physical therapy; (5) meniscectomy was more cost-effective than either meniscus allograft transplantation or meniscus scaffold procedure; (6) the conventional arthroscopic instrument cost was lower than laser-assisted arthroscopy in meniscectomy procedures.

Conclusion

Results from this review suggest that meniscus repair is the most cost-effective intervention for reparable meniscus tears. Physical therapy followed by delayed meniscectomy is the most cost-effective intervention for degenerative meniscus tears. Meniscus scaffold should be avoided, especially when implemented on a large scale.

Level of evidence

Systematic review of level IV studies.
Doxorubicin-induced acute cardiotoxicity is associated with increased oxidative stress, autophagy, and inflammation in a murine model
Authors: Dulf Patricia Lorena , Mocan Mihaela , Coadă Camelia Alexandra , Dulf Daniel Vasile , Moldovan Remus , Baldea Ioana , Farcas Anca-Daniela , Blendea Dan , Filip Adriana Gabriela
Published: January 2023

Drug-induced cardiotoxicity is a life-threatening side effect of doxorubicin (DOX) treatment that impacts patient prognosis and survival. In the majority of cases, the acute clinical form often remains asymptomatic, with few patients presenting rather nonspecific electrocardiographic abnormalities. While chronic toxicity has been more widely studied, the alterations appearing in acute cardiotoxicity are much less investigated. Thus, our in vivo study aimed to evaluate the process of DOX-induced acute myocardial toxicity by investigating oxidative stress and autophagy markers as mechanisms of myocardial toxicity in correlation with echocardiography and electrocardiography findings. Our results show that both autophagy and oxidative homeostasis were disrupted as soon as 7 days after DOX treatment, alterations that occurred even before the significant increase of NT-proBNP, a clinical marker for cardiac suffering. Moreover, we found a large number of alterations in the electrocardiography and echocardiography of treated rats. These findings suggest that DOX-induced myocardial toxicity started early after treatment initiation, possibly marking the initial phase of the unfolding process of cardiac damage. Further studies are required to completely decipher the mechanisms of DOX-induced cardiotoxicity.

Graphical Abstract
Evaluating the “wrong-way-round” electrospray ionization of antiretroviral drugs for improved detection sensitivity
Authors: Venter Pieter , van Onselen Rianita
Published: January 2023

The presence of antiretroviral drugs (ARVDs) in the aquatic environment poses a significant health risk to the ecosystem. The dilution of these compounds during wastewater treatment processes, followed by discharge into the environment, results in extremely low concentrations in the range of ng/L. Therefore, to enable detection of these low concentrations, it is important to determine the most efficient electrospray ionization (ESI) mode using the right mobile phase modifier and to establish a selective extraction procedure. In this study, we compared the ESI intensity in the positive and negative mode using both formic acid (FA) and ammonium hydroxide (NH4OH) as mobile phase modifiers. The results revealed a phenomenon known as the “wrong-way-round” (WWR) ESI in which high intensity [M + H]+ ions were detected under basic conditions using NH4OH as modifier and, similarly, high intensity [M-H]− ions were detected under acidic conditions using FA as modifier. Furthermore, mixed-mode strong cation (MCX) and mixed-mode strong anion (MAX) exchange sorbents were evaluated for extraction recoveries, which yielded extraction recoveries between 60 and 100%. Finally, the recoveries obtained using mixed-mode ion exchange sorbents compared to ion production during the ESI process provide evidence that ions produced in solution do not necessarily reflect the ions that are produced during the ESI process. Based on the results of this study, it is recommended to evaluate the optimal ionization mode under basic and acidic conditions, instead of defaulting to the use of acidic modifiers with positive ion detection.
Threat Perception and Adaptive Capacity of Natural World Heritage Site Management
Authors: Falk Martin Thomas , Hagsten Eva
Published: January 2023

This study offers new insights into the largest threats to natural and mixed World Heritage sites in developed countries as considered by their management. In addition to this, the capacity of the management to deal with threats is examined. An Ordered Probit model is used that distinguishes three groups of threats and four categories of adaptive capacity of the management. Data originate from the 2014 UNESCO Periodic Report II for sites in economically advanced countries (Europe, North America, Australia, New Zealand, Japan and South Korea) linked to the World Heritage Site database. Estimation results reveal that the probability of a major threat to World Heritage sites is perceived to be highest in the category of climate change and extreme weather events, followed by local conditions affecting the physical structure (temperature, rain, dust). Sites in tropical climates are perceived as significantly more threatened, as are those earlier listed as in danger. The likelihood of perceiving a major threat is highest in Turkey, Italy, Norway and North America. Threats related to climate change are those the management has the lowest capacity to deal with when other important aspects are controlled for. Large and natural areas have a higher perceived administrative capacity to deal with threats than others.
Herpes zoster in patients with inflammatory arthritides or ulcerative colitis treated with tofacitinib, baricitinib or upadacitinib: a systematic review of clinical trials and real-world studies
Authors: Gialouri Chrysoula G. , Moustafa Savvina , Thomas Konstantinos , Hadziyannis Emilia , Vassilopoulos Dimitrios
Published: January 2023

JAK inhibitors (JAKi) are new targeted-synthetic drugs, approved for various immune-mediated inflammatory diseases (IMIDs), including inflammatory arthritides (rheumatoid arthritis—RA, psoriatic arthritis—PsA, ankylosing spondylitis—AS) and ulcerative colitis (UC). JAKi have been associated with increased risk for herpes zoster (HZ), but the relative risk among different JAKi in these IMIDs remains unclear. We aimed to systematically review the incidence of HZ among RA, PsA, AS and UC patients treated with the approved doses of tofacitinib (TOFA), baricitinib (BARI) or upadacitinib (UPA). PubMed, Embase, Scopus, Cochrane and Web-of-Science were searched up to 30 March 2022. Clinical trials and real-world studies (RWS) were included. Outcomes assessed were the incidence rate (/100 patient-years) or/and cumulative incidence of HZ. From 1710 records, 53 clinical trials and 25 RWS were included (RA: 54, PsA: 8, AS: 4, and UC: 12). In clinical trials, the HZ-incidence was higher in TOFA-treated patients with RA (2.2–7.1/100 patient-years) or UC (1.3–7.6/100 patient-years) compared to PsA (1.7/100 patient-years), and with higher doses of TOFA in UC (10 mg/twice daily: 3.2–7.6/100 patient-years vs. 5 mg/twice daily: 1.3–2.3/100 patient-years). Evidence for HZ-risk in JAKi-treated patients with AS and in UPA-treated patients was limited. The HZ-incidence between TOFA and BARI groups in 2 RA RWS did not differ significantly. Concomitant glucocorticoid, but not methotrexate, use in RA increased the HZ-risk. This systematic review showed higher HZ-risk in RA or UC than PsA patients treated with TOFA, in those treated with higher TOFA doses or with concomitant glucocorticoids. Preventive measures and monitoring of JAKi-treated patients with IMIDs are essential in daily practice.
Dynamic Transcriptome Changes Driven by the Mutation of OsCOP1 Underlie Flavonoid Biosynthesis and Embryogenesis in the Developing Rice Seed
Authors: Kim Backki , Shim Sangrea , Zhang Hongjia , Lee Chunseok , Jang Su , Jin Zhuo , Seo Jeonghwan , Kwon Soon-Wook , Koh Hee-Jong
Published: January 2023

CONSTITUTIVE PHOTOMORPHOGENIC 1 (COP1), an E3 ubiquitin ligase, functions as a central repressor of light signaling and regulates various light-mediated developmental and metabolic processes in plants. However, detailed mechanisms underlying COP1-regulated flavonoid biosynthesis and embryogenesis in rice seeds remain largely unknown. Here, we performed transcriptome analysis of the rice cop1 (yellowish-pericarp embryo lethal [yel]) null mutant, characterized by flavonoid accumulation in pericarp and abnormal development of embryo, to identify and profile the expression genes involved in flavonoid biosynthesis and embryo development. Comparative transcriptome analysis of yel-hc and wild-type seeds revealed 979 differentially expressed genes (DEGs), of which 577 were upregulated and 402 were downregulated in yel-hc seeds. Functional annotation of DEGs revealed that DEGs were mainly enriched in ‘metabolism’, ‘transcription factors’, ‘secondary metabolites’, and ‘flavonoid biosynthesis’. The DEGs encoding AP2-EREBP, MYB, and bZIP transcription factors (TFs) were predominantly upregulated, whereas those encoding HB, bHLH, and ABI3VP1 TFs were downregulated in yel-hc seeds. Comparative gene expression analysis revealed that genes involved in the C-glycosyl flavone biosynthesis pathway, including OsP1, were activated, whereas anthocyanin biosynthesis genes showed no significant change in expression. In addition, transcript levels of embryo development-related genes, especially homeobox auxin regulation genes, as well as somatic embryogenesis-related genes, were significantly downregulated in yel-hc. Taken together, these results indicate that OsCOP1 plays a crucial role in regulation of flavonoid biosynthesis and embryo structure formation, and changes in the expression of light signal transduction-related genes could have a significant impact on flavonoid biosynthesis and embryogenesis in rice seed.
Long-term functional outcome after tubular laparoscopic sigmoid resection for diverticular disease
Authors: Abdalla Thaer S. A. , Zimmermann Markus , Weisheit Lena , Thomaschewski Michael , Deichmann Steffen , Nolde Jan , Keck Tobias , Benecke Claudia
Published: January 2023

Purpose

Sigmoid resection for diverticular disease is a frequent surgical procedure in the Western world. However, long-term bowel function after sigmoid resection has been poorly described in the literature. This study aims to assess the long-term bowel function after tubular sigmoid resection with preservation of inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) for diverticular disease.

Methods

We retrospectively identified patients who underwent sigmoid resection for diverticular disease between 2002 and 2012 at a tertiary referral center in northern Germany. Using well-validated questionnaires, bowel function was assessed for fecal urgency, incontinence, and obstructed defecation. The presence of bowel dysfunction was compared to baseline characteristics and perioperative outcome.

Results

Two hundred and thirty-eight patients with a mean age of 59.2 ± 10 years responded to our survey. The follow-up was conducted 117 ± 32 months after surgery. At follow-up, 44 patients (18.5%) had minor LARS (LARS 21–29) and 35 (15.1%) major LARS (LARS ≥ 30–42), 35 patients had moderate-severe incontinence (CCIS ≥ 7), and 2 patients (1%) had overt obstipation (CCOS ≥ 15). The multivariate analysis showed that female gender was the only prognostic factor for long-term incontinence (CCIS ≥ 7), and ASA score was the only preoperative prognostic factor for the presence of major LARS at follow-up.

Conclusion

Sigmoid resection for diverticular disease can be associated with long-term bowel dysfunction, even with tubular dissection and preservation of IMA. These findings suggest intercolonic mechanisms of developing symptoms of bowel dysfunction after disruption of the colorectal continuity that are so far summarized as “sigmoidectomy syndrome.”
Effectiveness of radiation protection systems in the cardiac catheterization laboratory: a comparative study
Authors: Cammann Victoria L. , Schweiger Victor , Cieslik Maciej , Seifert Burkhardt , Gilhofer Thomas , Koleva Iva , Würdinger Michael , Candreva Alessandro , Gajic Marko , Michel Jonathan , Jakob Philipp , Stehli Julia , Stähli Barbara , Templin Christian , Gotschy Alexander
Published: January 2023

Background

As numbers and complexity of percutaneous coronary interventions are constantly increasing, optimal radiation protection is required to ensure operator safety. Suspended radiation protection systems (SRPS) and protective scatter-radiation absorbing drapes (PAD) are novel methods to mitigate fluoroscopic scattered radiation exposure. The aim of the study was to investigate the effectiveness regarding radiation protection of a SRPS and a PAD in comparison with conventional protection.

Methods

A total of 229 cardiac catheterization procedures with SRPS (N = 73), PAD (N = 82) and standard radiation protection (N = 74) were prospectively included. Real-time dosimeter data were collected from the first operator and the assistant. Endpoints were the cumulative operator exposure relative to the dose area product [standardized operator exposure (SOE)] for the first operator and the assistant.

Results

For the first operator, the SRPS and the PAD significantly decreased the overall SOE compared to conventional shielding by 93.9% and 66.4%, respectively (P < 0.001). The protective effect of the SRPS was significantly higher compared to the PAD (P < 0.001). For the assistant, the SRPS and the PAD provided a not statistically significant reduction compared to conventional shielding in the overall SOE by 38.0% and 30.6%, respectively.

Conclusions

The SRPS and the PAD enhance radiation protection significantly compared to conventional protection. In most clinical scenarios, the protective effect of SRPS is significantly higher than the additional protection provided by the PAD.

Graphical abstract
Imatinib attenuates reperfusion injury in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction
Authors: Konijnenberg Lara S. F. , Luiken Tom T. J. , Veltien Andor , Uthman Laween , Kuster Carolien T. A. , Rodwell Laura , de Waard Guus A. , Kea-te Lindert Mariska , Akiva Anat , Thijssen Dick H. J. , Nijveldt Robin , van Royen Niels
Published: January 2023

Following an acute myocardial infarction, reperfusion of an occluded coronary artery is often accompanied by microvascular injury, leading to worse long-term prognosis. Experimental studies have revealed the potential of tyrosine-kinase inhibitor imatinib to reduce vascular leakage in various organs. Here, we examined the potential of imatinib to attenuate microvascular injury in a rat model of myocardial reperfusion injury. Isolated male Wistar rat hearts (n = 20) in a Langendorff system and male Wistar rats (n = 37) in an in vivo model were randomly assigned to imatinib or placebo and subjected to ischaemia and reperfusion. Evans-blue/Thioflavin-S/TTC staining and Cardiac Magnetic Resonance Imaging were performed to assess the extent of reperfusion injury. Subsequently, in vivo hearts were perfused ex vivo with a vascular leakage tracer and fluorescence and electron microscopy were performed. In isolated rat hearts, imatinib reduced global infarct size, improved end-diastolic pressure, and improved rate pressure product recovery compared to placebo. In vivo, imatinib reduced no-reflow and infarct size with no difference between imatinib and placebo for global cardiac function. In addition, imatinib showed lower vascular resistance, higher coronary flow, and less microvascular leakage in the affected myocardium. At the ultrastructural level, imatinib showed higher preserved microvascular integrity compared to placebo. We provide evidence that low-dose imatinib can reduce microvascular injury and accompanying myocardial infarct size in a rat model of acute myocardial infarction. These data warrant future work to examine the potential of imatinib to reduce reperfusion injury in patients with acute myocardial infarction.
Smokers have increased risk of soft-tissue complications following primary elective TKA
Authors: Starzer Moritz , Smolle Maria Anna , Vielgut Ines , Hauer Georg , Leitner Lukas , Radl Roman , Ehall Reinhard , Leithner Andreas , Sadoghi Patrick
Published: January 2023

Introduction

Smoking has been associated with numerous adverse outcomes following surgical procedures. The purpose of this study was to investigate, whether smoking status at time of surgery influences the outcome of primary TKA.

Materials and methods

Six hundred and eighty-one patients who underwent primary TKA between 2003 and 2006 were included in the study. Smoking status was defined as current, former, and never smoker. Complications leading to revisions were assessed until 17 years of follow-up. Functional outcome was evaluated using clinical scores: Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC), Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for pain, Short Form-12 Physical and Mental Component Summaries (SF-12PCS/MCS), and Knee Society Function and Knee Score (KSFS and KSKS).

Results

At a mean follow-up of 95 months (± 47 months), 124 complications led to revision surgery. Soft-tissue complications (OR, 2.35 [95% CI 1.08–5.11]; p = 0.032), hematoma formation (OR, 5.37 [95% CI 1.01–28.49]; p = 0.048), and restricted movement (OR, 3.51 [95% CI 1.25–9.84]; p = 0.017) were more likely to occur in current smokers than never smokers. Current smokers were more likely to score higher at KSFS (p < 0.001) and SF-12PCS (p = 0.0197) compared to never smokers. For overall revision, differences were noted.

Conclusion

Current smoking increases risk of soft-tissue complications and revision after primary TKA, especially due to hematoma and restricted movement. Smoking cessation programs could reduce the risk of revision surgery.
Heat acclimation reduces the effects of whole-body hyperthermia on knee-extensor relaxation rate, but does not affect voluntary torque production
Authors: Gordon Ralph Joseph Frederick Hills , Moss Jodie Natasha , Castelli Federico , Reeve Thomas , Diss Ceri Elen , Tyler Christopher James , Tillin Neale Anthony
Published: January 2023

Purpose

This study investigated the effects of acute hyperthermia and heat acclimation (HA) on maximal and rapid voluntary torque production, and their neuromuscular determinants.

Methods

Ten participants completed 10 days of isothermic HA (50 °C, 50% rh) and had their knee-extensor neuromuscular function assessed in normothermic and hyperthermic conditions, pre-, after 5 and after 10 days of HA. Electrically evoked twitch and octet (300 Hz) contractions were delivered at rest. Maximum voluntary torque (MVT), surface electromyography (EMG) normalised to maximal M-wave, and voluntary activation (VA) were assessed during brief maximal isometric voluntary contractions. Rate of torque development (RTD) and normalised EMG were measured during rapid voluntary contractions.

Results

Acute hyperthermia reduced neural drive (EMG at MVT and during rapid voluntary contractions; P < 0.05), increased evoked torques (P < 0.05), and shortened contraction and relaxation rates (P < 0.05). HA lowered resting rectal temperature and heart rate after 10 days (P < 0.05), and increased sweating rate after 5 and 10 days (P < 0.05), no differences were observed between 5 and 10 days. The hyperthermia-induced reduction in twitch half-relaxation was attenuated after 5 and 10 days of HA, but there were no other effects on neuromuscular function either in normothermic or hyperthermic conditions.

Conclusion

HA-induced favourable adaptations to the heat after 5 and 10 days of exposure, but there was no measurable benefit on voluntary neuromuscular function in normothermic or hyperthermic conditions. HA did reduce the hyperthermic-induced reduction in twitch half-relaxation time, which may benefit twitch force summation and thus help preserve voluntary torque in hot environmental conditions.
Algorithms and Lower Bounds for Comparator Circuits from Shrinkage
Authors: Cavalar Bruno P. , Lu Zhenjian
Published: January 2023

In this paper, we initiate the study of average-case complexity and circuit analysis algorithms for comparator circuits. Departing from previous approaches, we exploit the technique of shrinkage under random restrictions to obtain a variety of new results for this model. Among them, we show

Average-case Lower Bounds For every $$k = k(n)$$

k
=
k
(
n
)

with $$k \geqslant \log n$$

k
⩾
log
n

, there exists a polynomial-time computable function $$f_k$$

f
k

on n bits such that, for every comparator circuit C with at most $$n^{1.5}/O\!\left( k\cdot \sqrt{\log n}\right) $$

n

1.5

/
O

k
·

log
n

gates, we have $$\begin{aligned} \mathop {{{\,\mathrm{\textbf{Pr}}\,}}}\limits _{x\in \left\{ 0,1\right\} ^n}\left[ C(x)=f_k(x)\right] \leqslant \frac{1}{2} + \frac{1}{2^{\Omega (k)}}. \end{aligned}$$

Pr

x
∈

0
,
1

n

C

(
x
)

=

f
k

(
x
)

⩽

1
2

+

1

2

Ω
(
k
)

.

This average-case lower bound matches the worst-case lower bound of Gál and Robere by letting $$k=O\!\left( \log n\right) $$

k
=
O

log
n

.

$$\#$$
#
SAT Algorithms There is an algorithm that counts the number of satisfying assignments of a given comparator circuit with at most $$n^{1.5}/O\!\left( k\cdot \sqrt{\log n}\right) $$

n

1.5

/
O

k
·

log
n

gates, in time $$2^{n-k}\cdot {{\,\textrm{poly}\,}}(n)$$

2

n
-
k

·

poly

(
n
)

, for any $$k\leqslant n/4$$

k
⩽
n
/
4

. The running time is non-trivial (i.e., $$2^n/n^{\omega (1)}$$

2
n

/

n

ω
(
1
)

) when $$k=\omega (\log n)$$

k
=
ω
(
log
n
)

.

Pseudorandom Generators and $$\textsf {MCSP} $$
MCSP
Lower Bounds There is a pseudorandom generator of seed length $$s^{2/3+o(1)}$$

s

2
/
3
+
o
(
1
)

that fools comparator circuits with s gates. Also, using this PRG, we obtain an $$n^{1.5-o(1)}$$

n

1.5
-
o
(
1
)

lower bound for $$\textsf {MCSP} $$
MCSP
against comparator circuits.