bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Complex Patterns of Genomic Heterogeneity Identified in 42 Tumor Samples and ctDNA of a Pulmonary Atypical Carcinoid Patient
Authors: Robb Tamsin J. , Tsai Peter , Fitzgerald Sandra , Shields Paula , Houseman Pascalene S. , Patel Rachna , Fan Vicky , Curran Ben , Tse Rexson , Ting Jacklyn , Kramer Nicole , Woodhouse Braden J. , Coats Esther , Le Quesne Stabej Polona , Reeve Jane , Parker Kate , Lawrence Ben , Blenkiron Cherie , Print Cristin G.
Published: December 2022

Tumor evolution underlies many challenges facing precision oncology, and improving our understanding has the potential to improve clinical care. This study represents a rare opportunity to study tumor heterogeneity and evolution in a patient with an understudied cancer type.

A patient with pulmonary atypical carcinoid, a neuroendocrine tumor, metastatic to 90 sites, requested and consented to donate tissues for research. 42 tumor samples collected at rapid autopsy from 14 anatomically distinct sites were analyzed through DNA whole-exome sequencing and RNA sequencing, and five analyzed through linked-read sequencing. Targeted DNA sequencing was completed on two clinical tissue biopsies and one blood plasma sample.

Chromosomal alterations and gene variants accumulated over time, and specific chromosomal alterations preceded the single predicted gene driver variant (ARID1A). At the time of autopsy, all sites shared the gain of one copy of Chr 5, loss of one copy of Chr 6 and 21, chromothripsis of one copy of Chr 11, and 39 small variants. Two tumor clones (carrying additional variants) were detected at metastatic sites, and occasionally in different regions of the same organ (e.g., within the pancreas). Circulating tumor DNA (ctDNA) sequencing detected shared tumor variants in the blood plasma and captured marked genomic heterogeneity, including all metastatic clones but few private tumor variants.

This study describes genomic tumor evolution and dissemination of a pulmonary atypical carcinoid donated by a single generous patient. It highlights the critical role of chromosomal alterations in tumor initiation and explores the potential of ctDNA analysis to represent genomically heterogeneous disease.

Significance:

DNA sequencing data from tumor samples and blood plasma from a single patient highlighted the critical early role of chromosomal alterations in atypical carcinoid tumor development. Common tumor variants were readily detected in the blood plasma, unlike emerging tumor variants, which has implications for using ctDNA to capture cancer evolution.
Novel Variant in the USP9X Gene Is Associated with Congenital Heart Disease in a Male Patient: A Case Report and Literature Review
Authors: Agazzi Cristiana , Magliozzi Monia , Iacoviello Onofrio , Palladino Stefano , Delvecchio Maurizio , Masciopinto Maristella , Galati Alessio , Novelli Antonio , Causio Francesco Andrea , Zampino Giuseppe , Ruggiero Claudia , Fischetto Rita
Published: December 2022

Introduction: The X-chromosomal USP9X gene encodes a deubiquitylating enzyme involved in protein turnover and TGF-β signaling during fetal and neuronal development. USP9X variants in females are primarily associated with complete loss-of-function (LOF) alleles, leading to neurodevelopmental delay and intellectual disability, as well as a wide range of congenital anomalies. In contrast, USP9X missense variants in males often result in partial rather than complete LOF, specifically affecting neuronal migration and development. USP9X variants in males are associated with intellectual disability, behavioral disorders, global developmental delay, speech delay, and structural CNS defects. Facial dysmorphisms are found in almost all patients. Case Presentation: We report the case of an Italian boy presenting dysmorphism, intellectual disability, structural brain anomalies, and congenital heart disease. Using next-generation sequencing analysis, we identified a hemizygous de novo variant in the USP9X gene (c.5470A>G, p.Met1824Val) that was never reported in the literature. Conclusion: We provide an overview of the available literature on USP9X variants in males, in order to further expand the genotypic and phenotypic landscape of male-restricted X-linked mental retardation syndrome. Our findings confirm the involvement of USP9X variants in neuronal development and corroborate the possible association between the novel USP9X variant and congenital heart malformation.
Low-Level Light Therapy and Minoxidil Combination Treatment in Androgenetic Alopecia: A Review of the Literature
Authors: Kaiser Michael A. , Almeida Stephanie M. , Rodriguez Mario , Issa Najy , Issa Naiem Tony , Jimenez Joaquin J.
Published: December 2022

Introduction: We analyzed randomized clinical trials (RCTs) evaluating the efficacy of combined therapy with low-level light therapy (LLLT) and topical minoxidil for treatment of androgenetic alopecia (AGA). Methods: A literature search within PubMed identified RCTs evaluating hair regrowth following LLLT and minoxidil. Selection criteria were 600–1,100 nm wavelengths, treatment time ≥16 weeks, and objective evaluation for hair regrowth. Results: Five RCTs compared LLLT with minoxidil (2% or 5%) to 5% minoxidil treatment or LLLT treatment. One study showed combination therapy of LLLT, and 5% minoxidil improved hair density more than monotherapy. Another found combination LLLT with 2% minoxidil induced hair regrowth equivalent to 5% minoxidil. Similarly, another study described LLLT with 5% minoxidil versus minoxidil monotherapy to increase the number of hairs with no statistical difference between groups. One trial found that combination group increased hair regrowth in the first 2 months. The last study found a statistically significant increase in hair density with combined therapy compared to monotherapy. Conclusion: The studies describe either superiority or equivalence of combination therapy to minoxidil monotherapy for AGA. Early outcomes appear to support the superiority of combination therapy, but this advantage wanes at the end of the study periods.
Ethnic-Associated Phenotype Variations in Moyamoya Cerebrovascular Outcomes
Authors: Unda Santiago R. , Antoniazzi Aldana M. , Fluss Rose , Yassari Neeky , Esenwa Charles , Haranhalli Neil , Altschul David J.
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Moyamoya has been extensively described in East Asian populations, and despite its accepted clinical presentation and course, it is fundamental to describe major cerebrovascular complications in other ethnically diverse samples. Hence, we sought to determine if distinct ethnic groups are at higher risk of developing stroke using the National Inpatient Sample (NIS) database. Methods: We included all moyamoya patients admitted from January 2013 until December 2018 in the NIS database. Multivariate regression analysis was used to determine the risk of developing stroke and poor outcomes in different races compared to white patients. Results: Out of the 6093 admissions with diagnosis of moyamoya disease that were captured, 2,520 were white (41.6%), 2,078 were African American (AA) (34.1%), 721 were Hispanic (11.8%), and 496 were Asian (8.14%). For arterial ischemic stroke (AIS), we found that AA race had a significantly reduced risk of AIS compared to white patients (odds ratio = 0.8, 95% confidence interval: 0.7–0.9, p = 0.031). While being Hispanic or Asian significantly increased 1.5 and 2-fold the risk of hemorrhagic stroke. Conclusion: This study highlights the unique features and phenotypes of moyamoya cases among different ethnicities. While possibly AA are protected from developing AIS due to underlying causes of moyamoya such as sickle cell disease, Asians seems to be more susceptible to hemorrhagic stroke.
Utilidad de la fracción exhalada de óxido nítrico en las enfermedades profesionales: una revisión sistemática
Authors: Oțelea Marina Ruxandra , Fell Anne Kristin M. , Handra Claudia Mariana , Holm Mathias , Filon Francesca Larese , Mijakovski Dragan , Minov Jordan , Mutu Andreea , Stephanou Euripides , Stokholm Zara Ann , Stoleski Sasho , Schlünssen Vivi
Published: December 2022

La fracción exhalada de óxido nítrico (FeNO) es un biomarcador no-invasivo de la inflamación de las vías respiratorias, concebido originalmente para identificar la inflamación eosinofílica de las vías respiratorias y para predecir la respuesta a los esteroides. El principal campo de aplicación de este biomarcador es el asma, pero la FeNO también se ha utilizado para otros trastornos pulmonares alérgicos y no-alérgicos, como la enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica, la neumonitis por hipersensibilidad y la enfermedad pulmonar intersticial. Una parte importante de las enfermedades respiratorias se relacionan con el trabajo, y la FeNO, una medida segura y fácil de realizar, es un examen potencialmente valioso en el entorno laboral. Esta revisión sistemática evalúa la utilidad de la medición de la FeNO en relación con tres tipos de exposición aérea: alérgenos, irritantes y partículas respiratorias inhaladas durante las actividades laborales. La revisión abarca los resultados de estudios clínicos longitudinales y observacionales, y destaca el valor añadido de este biomarcador en el seguimiento de los efectos de la exposición y en los criterios de diagnóstico de las enfermedades profesionales. Esta revisión también abarca la posible importancia de la FeNO como indicador de la eficacia de las intervenciones para prevenir enfermedades respiratorias relacionadas con el trabajo. Inicialmente se identificaron 246 artículos en PUBMED y SCOPUS. Se excluyeron duplicados y artículos que presentaban resultados de la población general, síntomas (no enfermedad) relacionados con el trabajo, enfermedades no-ocupacionales e informes de casos. Finalmente, se eligieron 39 artículos para esta revisión, lo que llevó a las siguientes conclusiones: a) Para el asma ocupacional no hay consenso sobre la utilidad significativa de la FeNO para el diagnóstico, ni sobre la magnitud del cambio necesario tras una prueba de inhalación específica o la exposición ocupacional en el lugar de trabajo. Existe cierto consenso sobre el momento óptimo para medir la FeNO después de la exposición, principalmente después de 24 h, y la FeNO resultó más sensible que la espirometría para medir el resultado de una intervención. b) Para otras enfermedades respiratorias obstructivas ocupacionales, los datos sugieren realizar la medición después de la jornada laboral. c) Para la enfermedad pulmonar intersticial, la evaluación del componente alveolar del NO podría ser la más adecuada.
Blockade of Ghrelin Receptor Signaling Enhances Conditioned Passive Avoidance and Context-Associated cFos Activation in Fasted Male Rats
Authors: Edwards Caitlyn M. , Guerrero Inge Estefania , Zheng Huiyuan , Dolezel Tyla , Rinaman Linda
Published: December 2022

Introduction: Interoceptive feedback to the brain regarding the body’s physiological state plays an important role in guiding motivated behaviors. For example, a state of negative energy balance tends to increase exploratory/food-seeking behaviors while reducing avoidance behaviors. We recently reported that overnight food deprivation reduces conditioned passive avoidance behavior in male (but not female) rats. Since fasting increases circulating levels of ghrelin, we hypothesized that ghrelin signaling contributes to the ability of fasting to reduce conditioned avoidance. Methods: Ad libitum-fed male rats were trained in a passive avoidance procedure using mild footshock. Later, following overnight food deprivation, the same rats were pretreated with ghrelin receptor antagonist (GRA) or saline vehicle 30 min before avoidance testing. Results: GRA restored passive avoidance in fasted rats as measured by both latency to enter and time spent in the shock-paired context. In addition, compared to vehicle-injected fasted rats, fasted rats that received GRA before reexposure to the shock-paired context displayed more cFos activation of prolactin-releasing peptide (PrRP)-positive noradrenergic (NA) neurons in the caudal nucleus of the solitary tract, accompanied by more cFos activation in downstream target sites of PrRP neurons (i.e., bed nucleus of the stria terminalis and paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus). Discussion: These results support the view that ghrelin signaling contributes to the inhibitory effect of fasting on learned passive avoidance behavior, perhaps by suppressing recruitment of PrRP-positive NA neurons and their downstream hypothalamic and limbic forebrain targets.
David Grimaldi—appreciations
Authors: AZAR DANY , EVENHUIS NEAL L. , LABANDEIRA CONRAD C. , PEÑALVER ENRIQUE , PENNEY DAVID , RASNITSYN ALEXANDR P. , ROSS ANDREW J. , KRAEMER MONICA M. SOLÓRZANO , SZADZIEWSKI RYSZARD , SZWEDO JACEK
Published: December 2022

The previous issue of Palaeoentomology brought the first set of papers honoring David A. Grimaldi on the occasion of his 65th birthday. With the current one, it is continued, in recognition of his impact on the fields of amber studies, palaeontology, palaeo- and neoentomology, and evolutionary biology. After the success of Jurassic Park (both the Michael Crichton book from 1990 and the Steven Spielberg movie from 1993) everyone wants to know more know about the miracles of long ago that are encapsulated in petrified resin. Amber: window to the past (Grimaldi, 1996) originally published to accompany a 1996 exhibition at the American Museum of Natural History in New York, explored the properties of amber and revealed its role in tracing evolutionary history and its use in the decorative arts and jewelry. This surge in interest in amber and palaeoentomology resulted the establishment of the International Palaeoentomological Society in 2001 at the Second International Congress on Palaeoentomology—Fossil Insects, and particularly the study of insect inclusions in amber from various parts of the world. An essential reference for anyone interested in the study of amber fossils, insect evolution, and the earliest stages of the association between insects and angiosperms devoted to amber from New Jersey and edited by Grimaldi (2000), provided an incredibly vivid window into animal and plant evolution in the Late Cretaceous. Another book—Evolution of the insects (Grimaldi & Engel, 2005)—is the first comprehensive synthesis of all aspects of insect evolution integrating the living and fossil record. The book was a great source of information about what we know at the time of its publication, but also highlighted what we do not know, making the book a great source of inspiration for subsequent studies.
Revision of the two small damselflies Eopodagrion scudderi Cockerell, 1921 and Eopodagrion ‘Podagrion’ abortivum (Scudder, 1878) (Odonata, Zygoptera) from the lower Eocene of Green River Formation (USA)
Authors: NEL ANDRÉ
Published: December 2022

Two early Eocene damselfly taxa Eopodagrion scudderi Cockerell, 1921 and Eopodagrion ‘Podagrion’ abortivum (Scudder, 1878) are redescribed and refigured. Their phylogenetic relationships are discussed. Although they could likely belong to the Coenagrionidae, their exact affinities remain uncertain because of the presence of homoplasies affecting crucial characters among the Zygoptera.
First record and two new species of the genus Trichomyia (Diptera: Psychodidae) from the Lower Miocene Dominican amber
Authors: AZAR DANY , PIELOWSKA-CERANOWSKA AGATA , SZWEDO JACEK
Published: December 2022

Trichomyia (Septemtrichomyia) grimaldii sp. nov. and Trichomyia (Trichomyia) fudalai sp. nov. from the Lower Miocene Dominican amber are characterised, described, illustrated and their taxonomic position discussed. These fossils constitute the first record of the Trichomyiinae and increase the knowledge on the biodiversity of the biological inclusions from the Dominican amber. Chresonymy and subgeneric division of the genus Trichomyia are presented and briefly discussed.
Apps, Platforms, and Everyday Practices: How People Perceive and Care (or not) About the Digital Traces They Leave Online
Authors: Marinelli Alberto , Parisi Stefania
Published: December 2022

The paper presents the results of an empirical research on the topic of personal data awareness, conducted through a survey of a representative sample of the Italian population. Considering five self-perceived levels of digital competence, we investigate the perception of digital footprints people leave online, how they act when apps and platforms demand to share personal data, and whether they are concerned about privacy issues. We discuss these topics and the research data in the light of theoretical frameworks regarding the emerging forms of new digital inequalities, which are broadening to include the awareness gaps, among different users, about how apps and online platforms collect and use personal data.
Enhancing Donor Agency to Improve Charitable Giving: Strategies and Heterogeneity
Authors: Esterzon Emilie , Lemmens Aurélie , Van den Bergh Bram
Published: December 2022

This research investigates whether charities can enhance fundraising effectiveness by increasing donors’ sense of agency. This article introduces two strategies that allow donors to target individual charitable projects, either via the choice options (targeting-via-options) or via the suggested donation amounts (targeting-via-amounts). A large-scale field experiment involving more than 40,000 prospective donors manipulates the ability to control the allocation of the charity's resources and finds that enhancing donor agency boosts fundraising revenue by 42%. A causal forest analysis indicates significant donor heterogeneity, with a subset of donors being three times more responsive to the opportunity to target their gift than the average donor. Inactive donors, “clumpy” donors (who exhibit uneven donation patterns), and donors who concentrate their gifts during the popular giving periods are less responsive to interventions, whereas frequent, generous, and long-tenured donors are more responsive to them. Three experiments offer stronger internal validity regarding the manipulations and process evidence that agency—and not emotion—is responsible for the increased donation effects. An optimization analysis provides implications for how charities can leverage these insights to manage their fundraising campaigns to greater success.
The Impact of In-Store Inspirational (vs. Deal-Oriented) Communication on Spending: The Importance of Activating Consumption Goal Completion
Authors: Grewal Dhruv , Ahlbom Carl-Philip , Noble Stephanie M. , Shankar Venkatesh , Narang Unnati , Nordfält Jens
Published: December 2022

In-store communication delivered through technological formats (e.g., kiosk, digital display) and nontechnological formats (e.g., magazine cover, flyer) can help retailers enhance sales by delivering relevant content to consumers. Although prior research has examined the effects of deal-oriented content that primarily offers promotions for a single product on shopper spending, the effects of inspirational content that sparks ideas (e.g., ways to use products) on spending are unclear. Inspirational content can affect spending differently from deal-oriented content as it activates stronger motivation for consumption goal completion. This article proposes that inspirational content activates stronger motivations for the consumer’s goal completion and therefore increases spending more than deal-oriented content does. The authors propose and empirically test the hypotheses using data from a set of experimental studies, a field experiment, and an eye-tracking study. The results show that inspirational content increases spending more than deal-oriented content or no content does. This effect is mediated by consumption goal completion, such that it is attenuated when consumers already have consumption goals or when the content detracts from inspiration-induced goals. These results suggest that retailers can increase sales by using clear, inspirational content in their communications.
Family Involvement in Asian American Health Interventions: A Scoping Review and Conceptual Model
Authors: Ali Shahmir H. , Mohsin Farhan M. , Rouf Rejowana , Parekh Ravi , Dhar Biswadeep , Kaur Gurket , Parekh Niyati , Islam Nadia S. , DiClemente Ralph J.
Published: December 2022

Family members play a crucial role in the health of Asian American communities, and their involvement in health interventions can be pivotal in optimizing impact and implementation. To explore how family members can be effectively involved in Asian American health interventions and develop a conceptual framework of methods of involvement at the stages of intervention development, process, and evaluation, this scoping review documented the role of Asian American family members in interventions (across any health objective). Of the 7175 studies identified through database and manual searches, we included 48 studies in the final analysis. Many studies focused on Chinese (54%) or Vietnamese (21%) populations, were conducted in California (44%), and involved spouses (35%) or parents/children (39%). We observed involvement across 3 stages: (1) intervention development (formative research, review process, material development), (2) intervention process (recruitment, receiving the intervention together, receiving a parallel intervention, enlisting support to achieve goals, voluntary intervention support, agent of family-wide change, and participation gatekeepers), and (3) intervention evaluation (received evaluation together, indirect impact evaluation, and feedback during intervention). Impact of family member involvement was both positive (as sources of encouragement, insight, accountability, comfort, and passion) and negative (sources of hindrance, backlash, stigma, obligation, and negative influence). Suggestions for future research interventions include (1) exploring family involvement in South Asian or young adult interventions, (2) diversifying types of family members involved (eg, extended family), and (3) diversifying methods of involvement (eg, family members as implementation agents).
SARS-CoV-2 Infection and Testing Experiences in a Nationwide Sample of Transgender and Gender-Diverse Adults, June–December 2021
Authors: Wirtz Andrea L. , Adams Dee , Poteat Tonia C. , Beckham S. Wilson , Miller Marissa , Brown Carter , Reisner Sari L.
Published: December 2022

Objectives:

COVID-19 surveillance data are rarely collected or disaggregated by gender identity in the United States. We quantified COVID-19 testing experiences and SARS-CoV-2 infection history among transgender and gender-diverse (TGD) people to inform testing strategies and public health responses.

Methods:

From June 14 through December 16, 2021, TGD adults enrolled in a US nationwide online survey with optional SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing. We used multinomial regression analyses to identify correlates of suspected and confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection (vs no known infection). We identified correlates of inability to access COVID-19 testing when needed using generalized linear models for binomial variables.

Results:

Participants (N = 2092) reported trans masculine (30.5%), trans feminine (27.3%), and nonbinary (42.2%) gender identities. Ten percent of respondents had a confirmed history of SARS-CoV-2 infection, and 29.8% had a history of suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. Nonbinary gender (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.68; 95% CI, 1.12-2.53), experiencing homelessness (aPR = 1.65; 95% CI, 1.05-2.60), and food insecurity (aPR = 1.45; 95% CI, 1.03-2.04) were associated with confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection. Food insecurity (aPR = 1.38; 95% CI, 1.10-1.72), chronic physical health condition (aPR = 1.44; 95% CI, 1.15-1.80), chronic mental health condition (aPR = 3.65; 95% CI, 2.40-5.56), and increased anticipated discrimination scores (aPR = 1.03; 95% CI, 1.01-1.05) were associated with suspected SARS-CoV-2 infection. Thirty-four percent (n = 694 of 2024) of participants reported an inability to access COVID-19 testing when needed, which was associated with Latinx or Hispanic ethnicity, inconsistent telephone access, homelessness, disability, and transportation limitations. The majority (79.4%) reported a complete COVID-19 vaccine course at the time of participation.

Conclusions:

Inclusion of TGD people in public health surveillance and tailored public health strategies to address TGD communities’ social and structural vulnerabilities may reduce barriers to COVID-19 testing.
The nation’s happiness, women’s altruism and the affective politics of self-blame: Generating a ‘mood of commitment’
Authors: Gülçiçek Demet
Published: December 2022

This article contributes to the growing interest in affect and emotions in sociological research, with a specific focus on ‘mood’, developing the concept ‘mood of commitment’. It approaches political commitment as a mood, an affective lens, a dedication to a greater cause, asking how political commitments might be a low intensity affective relationship, and also a heightening, high intensity rhythm at the same time. I conceptualise ‘mood of commitment’ as an object of analysis that can be engaged to critically understand a wide range of political commitments. This article focuses on the case of Ottoman Muslim women’s movements in the early 20th century, amid the turmoil of nationalist movements and ‘modernisation’ processes. It firstly analyses objects of desires that are circulated to be persuasive in the political movements, and attunement of women’s movements with already existing nationalist movements. It secondly unpacks the kind of work involved in claiming to be in the ‘right’ mood of commitment, emphasising the production of hegemonic positions.
Characterizing Ex situ Value: A Customer-Dominant Perspective on Value
Authors: Heinonen Kristina
Published: December 2022

Customer value, an important requirement for the success of tourism, is commonly seen as a phenomenon co-created between the tourist and the tourism provider. Positioned in the customer-dominant logic, this paper focuses on the tourist’s perspective and introduces the notion of ex situ value formed outside of the tourist-provider’s interaction and the on-site experiences. The forthcoming qualitative study, which is conducted in the context of an online travel community, explores customers’ travel-related experiences within their own lifeworld. The main contribution is the notion of ex situ value, which involves individual and collective experiences and develops a nuanced view of value emerging in customers’ experiential lifeworld. Thus, the article invites researchers to expand the boundaries of value into the customer lifeworld domain and encourages tourism providers to consider the tourists’ contexts outside the standard measurements of value (tourist and provider interactions as well as on-site experiences) as sources of customer value.
Relationality of Objective and Constructive Authenticities: Effects on Existential Authenticity, Memorability, and Satisfaction
Authors: Lee Seonjin , Kim Mina , Kim Hany
Published: December 2022

This study sheds new light on the importance of perceived object-related authenticity for a positive tourism experience. We used a novel method of categorizing tourists based on their objective and constructive authenticity perceptions. The authors hypothesized that authenticity perception type would affect tourists’ positive experiences more than other factors. Specifically, differences among authenticity perception types in existential authenticity, satisfaction, and memorability scores were investigated using on-site surveys. The effect was empirically tested in settings with conflicting characteristics: original and re-created heritage sites in South Korea. The results suggest that tourists had more existentially authentic, satisfactory, and memorable experiences when they perceived the site as more objectively authentic. This had a greater impact on positive experience than setting and authenticity orientations. This study makes theoretical contributions by uncovering the relationality of objective and constructive authenticities, which also has implications for practitioners, as it significantly and positively contributes to tourists’ experiences.
Item-Level Psychometrics of the Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment (MAPA) Scale
Authors: Nam Sanghun , Eakman Aaron M. , Bae Suyeong , Hong Ickpyo
Published: December 2022

This study investigates the psychometric properties of the Meaningful Activity Participation Assessment-Meaning (MAPA-M) scale using the Rasch measurement model. For the psychometric properties of MAPA-M, principal component analysis, Rasch analysis, and differential item functioning analysis were conducted. Participants in this study were 480 older adults from the USC Well Elderly 2 study, recruited from 21 locations in the Los Angeles metropolitan area. There were eight items with DIF, but they were accepted because they assumed unidimensionality and showed good person invariance. The 25 items assuming unidimensionality of MAPA-M had values between 0.6 and 1.4 in infit and Outfit MnSq, and all ZSTD values were less than 2.0. The 25 items demonstrated a conceptual item-difficulty hierarchy. The person strata value was 2.68, which is equivalent to a reliability index value of .76. The findings indicate that the revised scale can accurately and reliably measure meaningful activities by older adults.
Older Adults With Functional Limitations and Their Use of Telehealth During COVID-19
Authors: Kim Yijung K. , Ang Shannon
Published: December 2022

We investigated the association between functional limitations and telehealth use among older Medicare beneficiaries in 2020. We use logistic regression models to estimate associations between functional limitations and the use of technological tools (i.e., computers, Internet, telehealth). We consider Internet use and informal technological support as moderators for telehealth use. Respondents ( N = 3151; Mage = 78.31) with more functional limitations were more likely to use video-based telehealth. Net of functional limitations, those with a consistent Internet use were more likely to use emails/texts/portal messages to communicate with a healthcare provider. Further, more functional limitations were associated with a higher probability of using emails/texts/portal messages, but only among respondents who received informal technological support. Healthcare access may have been more difficult for older adults with functional limitations during the COVID-19 pandemic, especially for those with little prior experience with the Internet, or those without friends/family to provide technological support.
Thoraflex Hybrid vs. AMDS: To replace the arch or to stent it in type A aortic dissection?
Authors: Al-Tawil Mohammed , Jubouri Matti , Tan Sven ZCP , Bailey Damian M. , Williams Ian M. , Mariscalco Giovanni , Piffaretti Gabrielle , Chen Edward P. , Velayudhan Bashi , Mohammed Idhrees , Bashir Mohamad
Published: December 2022

Background

Acute type A aortic dissection (ATAAD) is a life-threatening medical emergency that requires urgent surgical intervention. The mainstay surgical approach to treating ATAAD with aortic arch involvement is total arch replacement (TAR). The frozen elephant trunk (FET) procedure involves TAR with hybrid endovascular stenting of the DTA in a single step using a hybrid prosthesis (HP). The prime example of a FET HP is Thoraflex Hybrid Prosthesis (THP). Another treatment option is the novel Ascyrus Medical Dissection Stent (AMDS) that is deployed as a non-covered stent along with the aortic arch as an adjunct to prior hemi-arch replacement.

Aims

This comparative review highlights the clinical applications and outcomes of THP and AMDS in the treatment of ATAAD and discusses the main differences between both approaches.

Methods

A comprehensive literature search was conducted using multiple electronic databases including PubMed, Google Scholar, Ovid, Scopus and Embase.

Results

TAR with FET can be considered the superior approach to managing ATAAD with arch involvement relative to AMDS with hemi-arch replacement due to more optimal clinical outcomes. Upon comprehensively searching the literature, early mortality was substantially lower with FET ranging from 0–11% compared to 12.5–18.7% using AMDS, with more favourable long-term survival. The incidence of kidney injury and new stroke post-FET ranged from 3–20% and 5–16%, and 11–37.5% and 0–18.8% following AMDS implantation. However, evidence supporting the use of AMDS is extremely limited. Meanwhile, TAR with FET is a well-established and well-described procedure for ATAAD repair.

Conclusion

Despite the novel nature of AMDS, its clinical safety and effectiveness are yet to be proven. In conclusion, THP remains the best evidenced-based approach to treat ATAAD in this era.
The Effects of Urolithin B and Auraptene on Quinolinic Acid-induced Toxicity in the SH-SY5Y Neuroblastoma Cell Line
Authors: Abbasinezhad-Moud Farzaneh , Mirzavi Farshad , Rakhshandeh Hassan , Mohebbati Reza , Forouzanfar Fatemeh , Jalili-Nik Mohammad , Azadi Nadia , Sanati Mehdi , Afshari Amir R. , Soukhtanloo Mohammad
Published: December 2022

The pathological accumulation of quinolinic acid (QA) is often associated with neuritis and neuronal cell death in several neurodegenerative diseases, through the overproduction of free radicals. Urolithin B and auraptene have been reported to exert potent antioxidant effects — however, little is known about the protective effects of these compounds against QA-induced neurotoxicity. Therefore, this study aimed to explore the in vitro protective effects of urolithin B and auraptene against QA-induced neurotoxicity in the SH-SY5Y neuroblastoma cell line. The MTT assay was used to evaluate cell viability, and flow cytometry was carried out to evaluate effects on the cell cycle and apoptosis. The intracellular levels of reactive oxygen species (ROS) were also determined. Our findings showed that auraptene at non-toxic concentrations had no protective effect on QA-induced toxicity. However, urolithin B at concentrations of 0.6 μM and 2.5 μM enhanced the viability of cells treated with QA. Moreover, while the percentage of apoptotic cells (i.e. in the sub-G1 phase) was shown to significantly increase after QA treatment, pre-treatment with urolithin B reduced the number of these apoptotic cells. Furthermore, urolithin B, as an antioxidant, also significantly reduced QA-induced ROS production. Our findings suggest that urolithin B may possess potent antioxidant and neuroprotective effects against QA-induced neurotoxicity that merit further investigation.
Breast adipose tissue attenuation as a novel imaging biomarker for cardiometabolic risk
Authors: Bunnell Katherine M , Galdamez Marilyn E , Torriani Martin , Bredella Miriam A
Published: December 2022

Background

Certain adipose tissue depots infer higher cardiometabolic risk than body mass index (BMI).

Purpose

To assess breast adipose tissue (BrAT) attenuation as a novel imaging biomarker for cardiometabolic risk.

Material and Methods

We studied 151 women (mean age = 56 ± 1 years) across the weight spectrum. BrAT attenuation, abdominal adipose tissue cross-sectional areas (CSA), and attenuation were quantified using non-contrast computed tomography (CT) scans. Cardiometabolic risk factors were assessed from medical records.

Results

BrAT attenuation was lower in obese women compared to lean women. BrAT attenuation was inversely associated with BMI, waist circumference, abdominal fat CSA, fasting glucose, and triglycerides ( P ≤ 0.02), and positively associated with abdominal adipose tissue attenuation ( P < 0.001). BrAT attenuation had a sensitivity of 90% but a specificity of only 35% in detecting the metabolic syndrome (area under the curve = 0.63).

Conclusion

BrAT attenuation is associated with cardiometabolic risk markers and could serve as an imaging biomarker for opportunistic risk assessment in patients undergoing CT examination of the chest.
Microbiological study on foreign body and vitreous samples of patients with intraocular foreign body
Authors: Tabatabaei Seyed Ali , Sheikhi Kazhaal , Ghaffari Reza , Soleimani Mohammad , Shahriari Mansoor , Esmaili Kosar , Hobaby Sara , Cheraqpour Kasra
Published: December 2022

Objective

To evaluate the relationship between the microbiological results of the vitreous humor and those of foreign body specimens in patients with intraocular foreign body (IOFB).

Methods

Seventy-one patients with an IOFB were included in this descriptive prospective case series. All patients underwent immediate IOFB removal. Vitreous sampling was performed during vitrectomy. Foreign bodies were placed directly into culture media for microbiological study.

Results

Thirteen (18.3%) patients developed endophthalmitis. The results of microbiological analysis of IOFB and vitreous humor specimens were negative in nine patients and positive in four. Fifty-eight (81.6%) patients with an IOFB had no evidence of endophthalmitis. Among them, seven patients showed positive microbiological results of foreign bodies with no manifestations of endophthalmitis. In five patients, a Staphylococcus epidermidis strain was observed in the culture of the IOFB specimen. Two patients had only positive smear test results of their vitreous humor specimen.

Conclusion

A correlation appears to be present between the microbiological results of the vitreous humor and IOFB specimens in patients with clinical findings of endophthalmitis but not in patients with a pure IOFB without clinical features of endophthalmitis. This may justify early use of intravitreal and intravenous antibiotics before the development of endophthalmitis.
Labour geography I: Labour agency, informal work, global south perspectives and the ontology of futures
Authors: Raj-Reichert Gale
Published: December 2022

This review builds on Strauss’s (2020) discussion of how labour geographers conceptualise worker agency ontologically and epistemologically. Research on labour agency has been dominated by a narrow and limited lens based on a materialist ontology of capitalistic production which tends to depict labour agency as a ‘spatial fix’. Considering this critique, I review three themes of research on labour agency that push the boundaries of such dominant conceptualisations: understanding labour agency in informal work and by workers on the fringes of formalised economic spaces; from perspectives in the Global South; and via an ontology of the future.
Preceding Clinical Events in High-risk, Postoperative, Pediatric Cardiac Patients—A Novel Association With Bacteremia
Authors: Shostak Eran , Schiller Ofer , Amir Gabriel , Georgy Frenkel , Shochat Tzippy , Livni Gilat , Ben-Zvi Haim , Manor Orit , Dagan Ovadia
Published: December 2022

Objective: Blood stream infections (BSIs) are well described in pediatric cardiac intensive care units (PCICU). We noted that postoperative high-risk patients may develop BSI after a preceding clinical event (PCE). The study aim was to investigate whether high-risk patients who developed bacteremia experienced more PCEs than a similar group of high-risk patients. Design: Retrospective case-control study. Setting: Referral pediatric center. Patients: We enrolled patients who developed bacteremia from March 2010 to November 2019, after undergoing open-heart surgery at a pediatric center. The control group was comprised of case-matched patients with immediate consecutive same surgery. Interventions: None. Measurements: We recorded operative data, common risk factors, postoperative indicators of organ dysfunction, mortality, and PCEs 72 to 24 h before bacteremia emerged. Main results: A total of 200 patients were included (100 with bacteremia and 100 controls). Key demographic and operative parameters were matched. Bacteremia emerged on average on postoperative day 12.8. Skin-associated Gram-positive bacteria were cultured in 10% and Gram-negative bacteria in 84% of the patients. Average central-venous lines (CVL) duration was 9.5 ± 8.4 days. Postoperatively (72 h), indicators of organ dysfunction were significantly worse in patients with bacteremia, with a higher rate of postoperative complications during PCICU length-of-stay (LOS). In the bacteremia group, 72 to 24 h prior to the development of bacteremia, 92 (92%) PCEs were recorded, as compared to 21 (21%) in controls during their entire LOS (odds ratio [OR] 43.3, confidence interval [CI] 18.2−103.1, P < .0001). Conclusions: We propose a 3-hit model demonstrating that high-risk patients undergoing open-heart surgery have significantly higher risk for bacteremia after a PCE.
Numerical study on the thermal-hydraulic characteristic of an automotive parallel-flow condenser under non-uniform airflow
Authors: Zhao Lanping , Bao Guo , Pang Jiabin
Published: December 2022

The performance of an automotive parallel-flow condenser was numerically investigated considering both airside and refrigerant-side flow mal-distributions, the thermal-hydraulic characteristic of the condenser under the air-side blockage of each tube pass was first studied, then the influence of the form and degree of uneven airflow that may be revealed in vehicles on the performance of the condenser was analyzed. At last, using the simulation model combined with the measurements of the vehicle in the climatic wind tunnel, the thermal-hydraulic features of the condenser as well as the performance of the A/C system under various front-end status and vehicle conditions was evaluated. It was found that the performance degradation of the condenser resulting from the air-side blockage of the first pass exceeds that caused by the obstruction of all the other three passes together. According to the performance deterioration sequence of the condenser from high to low, the order of the four possible non-uniform airflow patterns in vehicles is low on the top and high at the bottom (LTHB), low in the middle (LM), high in the middle (HM), and high on the top and low at the bottom (HTLB), and the last two forms could even enhance the performance of the condenser under certain working conditions. The rule of cooling airflow optimization is to arrange large/small air velocity on the area with intrinsically large/small refrigerant side heat transfer coefficient of the condenser. The possible direction of cooling airflow design in vehicles is inferred.
Transfer learning supported accurate assessment of multiclass cervix type images
Authors: Natarajan Thendral , Devan Lakshmi
Published: December 2022

Cervical cancer predominately affects women compared to lung, breast and endometrial cancer. Premature stage identification and proper treatment of this cancer may lead to 100% survival rate. The cervix type is very prominent in the detailed diagnosis of cervical cancer. High expertise and experienced gynecologist are required for an accurate diagnosis of cervical cancer. To reduce their burden, a model is proposed, based on deep learning that automatically classifies the cervix types. This paper presents Modified Deep Convolutional Neural Networks namely Modified VGG16 (MVGG16), Modified VGG19 (MVGG19), Modified ResNet50 (MRN50), Modified InceptionV3 (MIV3), and Modified InceptionResNetV2 (MIRNV2) for the classification of cervix type images. These modified networks are implemented using a Multiclass Support Vector Machine classifier. The performance metrics are tabulated and compared with pre-trained models. The simulation results show that MIRNV2 achieves the best performance compared to other models with an overall Accuracy of 92.91% and a Kappa score of 0.88. MIRNV2 model also gives better classification accuracy of 96.62% for type 1, 93.58% for type 2, and 95.61% for type 3 cervix images. Hence, this facilitates the application of MIRNV2 as a diagnostic tool to assist the gynecologist in the classification of cervix type images.
Hematologist Bracha Ramot (1927–2006): Between the bedside and the bench
Authors: Grunseid Laura Veronica , Kirsh Nurit
Published: December 2022

The Hebrew University of Jerusalem opened the first medical school in Israel in May 1949. One of the select 45 students of its first class was Bracha (Chweidan) Ramot. After completing her medical studies with distinction, she went on to specialize in internal medicine and hematology and soon became a central figure in the development of hematology in Israel. In 1958, Ramot established the Hematological Institute at Tel-Hashomer hospital and served as its director until 1991. She devoted much of her time and effort to researching environmental and genetic factors that influence hematological conditions: deficiencies in coagulation factors, glucose metabolism disorders, and especially leukemias and lymphomas, including the type known as Hodgkin’s disease. In 2001, Ramot, “The Doyenne of Israeli Hematology” as she was called in publications of the Albert Einstein Institute, was awarded the Israel Prize in Medical Sciences, the country’s most prestigious prize. Her biography personifies the ability to overcome obstacles and challenges in one’s personal life while concurrently becoming an exceedingly successful physician and researcher of extraordinary achievement.
Ethical harms for migrant 24h caregivers in home care arrangements
Authors: Kuhn Eva , Seidlein Anna-Henrikje
Published: December 2022

The glaring lack of formal and informal caregivers in Germany has not only become apparent in hospitals and nursing homes but also in home care arrangements. One tension is particularly pertinent in such arrangements: a ‘family-oriented’ logic of the long-term care insurance and the individual wishes of those in need of care meet the actual possibilities of family carers. This care gap has been compensated for by 24-hour care workers, so-called ‘live-ins’, from Eastern Europe for some years. This contribution maps the ‘live-ins’ situation comprehensively from an ethical perspective. Based on different constellations regarding the ‘live-ins’ status as a professional nurse or non-professional caregiver, which ethical principles and moral norms are affected by whom and potentially conflict with each other in such home care arrangements at a micro and meso level of care are outlined. Special attention is paid to the tension between self-care and care for others, and to questions of the shared responsibility in and social responsibility of those external services that are involved in home care in addition to the ‘live-in’.

In order to uncover, understand and influence the current ethical problems, an ethical framework that considers both the divergent interests of all individuals involved in the home care arrangement and their mutual dependency and vulnerability is needed.
The role of subjective well-being in serious leisure and active aging: Evidence from older Chinese Tai Chi participants
Authors: Shang Yi , Qiu Yajun , Tang Jiagang
Published: December 2022

As leisure awareness has improved, increasing numbers of older adults have begun to participate seriously in leisure activities to experience greater happiness and enhance their quality of life. This study examined the mediating role of subjective well-being in serious leisure and active aging (AA) among older Tai Chi (TC) participants. We proposed a model mediated by subjective well-being and validated this model using stepwise regression and bootstrapping methods. Data were collected from 286 older adults who engaged seriously in TC in Hangzhou, China. The results showed that (a) subjective well-being partially mediates the relationship between serious leisure and AA; (b) subjective well-being partially mediates the relationships between serious leisure and the four subdimensions of AA; (c) among the four subdimensions, the mediating effect of subjective well-being on the relationship between serious leisure and interpersonal support and the direct effect of serious leisure on body vitality are relatively large. These results help explain the intricate relationship between serious leisure and AA among older TC participants and have theoretical and practical implications for those who are interested in the phenomenon of aging.