bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
FGF21 protects against hepatic lipotoxicity and macrophage activation to attenuate fibrogenesis in nonalcoholic steatohepatitis
Authors: Liu Cong , Schönke Milena , Spoorenberg Borah , Lambooij Joost M. , van der Zande Hendrik J.P. , Zhou Enchen , Tushuizen Maarten E. , Andréasson Anne-Christine , Park Andrew , Oldham Stephanie , Uhrbom Martin , Ahlstedt Ingela , Ikeda Yasuhiro , Wallenius Kristina , Peng Xiao-Rong , Guigas Bruno , Boon Mariëtte R. , Wang Yanan , Rensen Patrick C.N.
Published: September 2022

Analogues of the hepatokine FGF21 are in clinical development for type 2 diabetes and nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) treatment. Although their glucose-lowering and insulin-sensitizing effects have been largely unraveled, the mechanisms by which they alleviate liver injury have only been scarcely addressed. Here, we aimed to unveil the mechanisms underlying the protective effects of FGF21 on NASH using APOE*3-Leiden.CETP mice, a well-established model for human-like metabolic diseases. Liver-specific FGF21 overexpression was achieved in mice, followed by administration of a high-fat high-cholesterol diet for 23 weeks. FGF21 prevented hepatic lipotoxicity, accompanied by activation of thermogenic tissues and attenuation of adipose tissue inflammation, improvement of hyperglycemia and hypertriglyceridemia, and upregulation of hepatic programs involved in fatty acid oxidation and cholesterol removal. Furthermore, FGF21 inhibited hepatic inflammation, as evidenced by reduced Kupffer cell (KC) activation, diminished monocyte infiltration and lowered accumulation of monocyte-derived macrophages. Moreover, FGF21 decreased lipid- and scar-associated macrophages, which correlated with less hepatic fibrosis as demonstrated by reduced collagen accumulation. Collectively, hepatic FGF21 overexpression limits hepatic lipotoxicity, inflammation and fibrogenesis. Mechanistically, FGF21 blocks hepatic lipid influx and accumulation through combined endocrine and autocrine signaling, respectively, which prevents KC activation and lowers the presence of lipid- and scar-associated macrophages to inhibit fibrogenesis.
RNASeq as a tool to understand dysregulation of potential biomarkers in HNSC
Authors: Mithu Ezhuthachan , Joshi Madhvi , Raval Ishan , Joshi Chaitanya , Dasgupta Anirban , Majumdar Sharmistha , Shah Siddharth A
Published: September 2022

With its rising fatality rates, oral cancer is one of the most concerning public health issues. To reduce disease-related mortality and morbidity, advancements in screening and detection are critical. Finding specific biomarkers is one of the most successful approaches for screening, diagnosing, and staging this dreadful disease. In this study differentially expressed genes associated with oral cancer were analyzed using RNASeq to find the potential biomarkers. Functional enrichment of upregulated genes found that 253 genes were present in the plasma membrane. Three clusters were formed using KMean Clustering from the PPI networks, and highly connected hub genes were identified from each cluster. Eventually, expression and survival analyses of hub genes were performed using The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) database targeting Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma. Among those genes, expression levels of eight genes SLC2A1, ITGA6, LAMC2, COL1A2, COL1A1, TNC, THY1, and CD276 have significantly changed in Head and Neck Squamous cell carcinoma. There are reports that suggest these genes were significantly dysregulated in Oral Squamous cell carcinoma and can be explored further as potential biomarkers for margin clearance.
Genetic drift promotes and recombination hinders speciation on holey fitness landscapes
Authors: Kalirad Ata , Burch Christina L. , Azevedo Ricardo B. R.
Published: September 2022

Dobzhansky and Muller proposed a general mechanism through which microevolution, the substitution of alleles within populations, can cause the evolution of reproductive isolation between populations and, therefore, macroevolution. As allopatric populations diverge, many combinations of alleles differing between them have not been tested by natural selection and may thus be incompatible. Such genetic incompatibilities often cause low fitness in hybrids between species. Furthermore, the number of incompatibilities grows with the genetic distance between diverging populations. However, what determines the rate and pattern of accumulation of incompatibilities remains unclear. We investigate this question by simulating evolution on holey fitness landscapes on which genetic incompatibilities can be identified unambiguously. We find that genetic incompatibilities accumulate more slowly among genetically robust populations and identify two determinants of the accumulation rate: recombination rate and population size. In large populations with abundant genetic variation, recombination selects for increased genetic robustness and, consequently, incompatibilities accumulate more slowly. In small populations, genetic drift interferes with this process and promotes the accumulation of genetic incompatibilities. Our results suggest a novel mechanism by which genetic drift promotes and recombination hinders speciation.

Author summary

As geographically isolated populations evolve, genetic incompatibilities accumulate between them. Eventually, these incompatibilities may cause the populations to become different species. What determines how quickly species are formed in this way remains unclear. We investigate this question using computer simulations and find that genetic incompatibilities accumulate more slowly among populations with individuals that are robust to genetic perturbations. We identify two factors that influence the accumulation rate via their effects on genetic robustness: the size of the populations and how much recombination takes place in them. Small populations with rare recombination accumulate incompatibilities more quickly.
Affinity-matured homotypic interactions induce spectrum of PfCSP-antibody structures that influence protection from malaria infection
Authors: Martin Gregory M. , Torres Jonathan L. , Pholcharee Tossapol , Oyen David , Flores-Garcia Yevel , Gibson Grace , Moskovitz Re’em , Beutler Nathan , Jung Diana D. , Copps Jeffrey , Lee Wen-Hsin , Gonzalez-Paez Gonzalo , Emerling Daniel , MacGill Randall S. , Locke Emily , King C. Richter , Zavala Fidel , Wilson Ian A. , Ward Andrew B.
Published: September 2022

The generation of high-quality antibody responses to PfCSP, the primary surface antigen ofPlasmodium falciparumsporozoites, is paramount to the development of an effective malaria vaccine. Here we present an in-depth structural and functional analysis of a panel of potent antibodies encoded by theIGHV3-33germline gene, which is among the most prevalent and potent antibody families induced in the anti-CSP immune response and targets the NANP repeat region. Cryo-EM reveals a remarkable spectrum of helical Fab-CSP structures stabilized by homotypic interactions between tightly packed Fabs, many of which correlate with somatic hypermutation. We demonstrate a key role of these mutated homotypic contacts for high avidity binding to CSP and in protection fromP. falciparummalaria infection. These data emphasize the importance of anti-homotypic affinity maturation in the frequent selection ofIGHV3-33antibodies, advance our understanding of the mechanism(s) of antibody-mediated protection, and inform next generation CSP vaccine design.
Theoretical design of a space bioprocessing system to produce recombinant proteins
Authors: Soundararajan Mathangi , Paddock Matthew B. , Dougherty Michael , Jones Harry W. , Hogan John A. , Donovan Frances M. , Galazka Jonathan M. , Settles A. Mark
Published: September 2022

Space-based biomanufacturing has the potential to improve the sustainability of deep space exploration. To advance biomanufacturing, bioprocessing systems need to be developed for space applications. Here, commercial technologies were assessed to design space bioprocessing systems to supply a liquid amine carbon dioxide scrubber with active carbonic anhydrase produced recombinantly. Design workflows encompassed biomass dewatering of 1 L Escherichia coli cultures through to recombinant protein purification. Equivalent system mass (ESM) analyses had limited utility for selecting specific technologies. Instead, bioprocessing system designs focused on minimizing complexity and enabling system versatility. Three designs that differed in biomass dewatering and protein purification approaches had nearly equivalent ESM of 357-522 kg eq. Values from the system complexity metric (SCM), technology readiness level (TRL), and degree of crew assistance metric identified a simpler, less costly, and easier to operate design for automated biomass dewatering, cell lysis, and protein affinity purification.
Three-dimensional chromatin re-organization during muscle stem cell aging
Authors: Yang Benjamin A. , Larouche Jacqueline A. , Sabin Kaitlyn M. , Fraczek Paula M. , Parker Stephen C. J. , Aguilar Carlos A.
Published: September 2022

Age-related skeletal muscle atrophy or sarcopenia is a significant societal problem that is becoming amplified as the world’s population continues to increase. A critical contributor to sarcopenia is the loss in the number and function of muscle stem cells, which maintain tissue homeostasis and regenerate damage. The molecular mechanisms that govern muscle stem cell aging encompass changes across multiple regulatory layers and are integrated by the three-dimensional organization of the genome. To quantitatively understand how hierarchical chromatin architecture changes during muscle stem cell aging, we generated 3D chromatin conformation maps (Hi-C) and integrated these datasets with multi-omic (chromatin accessibility and transcriptome) profiles from bulk populations and single cells. We observed that muscle stem cells display static behavior at global scales of chromatin organization during aging and extensive rewiring of local contacts at finer scales that were associated with variations in transcription factor binding and aberrant gene expression. These data provide insights into genome topology as a regulator of molecular function in stem cell aging.
Post-vaccine epidemiology of serotype 3 pneumococci identifies transformation inhibition through prophage-driven alteration of a non-coding RNA
Authors: Kwun Min Jung , Ion Alexandru V. , Cheng Hsueh-Chien , D’Aeth Joshua C. , Dougan Sam , Oggioni Marco R. , Goulding David A. , Bentley Stephen D. , Croucher Nicholas J.
Published: September 2022

The respiratory pathogen Streptococcus pneumoniae (the pneumococcus) is a genetically diverse bacterium associated with over 100 immunologically-distinct polysaccharide capsules (serotypes). Polysaccharide conjugate vaccines (PCVs) have successfully eliminated multiple targeted serotypes, yet the mucoid serotype 3 has persisted despite its inclusion in PCV13. This capsule type is predominantly associated with a single globally-disseminated strain, GPSC12 (CC180), which was split into clades by a genomic analysis. Clade I, the most common, rarely underwent transformation, but was typically infected with the prophage ϕOXC141. Prior to the introduction of PCV13, this clade’s composition shifted towards a ϕOXC141-negative subpopulation in a systematically-sampled UK collection. In the post-PCV era, more rapidly-recombining non-Clade I isolates, also ϕOXC141-negative, have risen in prevalence. The low in vitro transformation efficiency of a Clade I isolate could not be fully explained by the ∼100-fold reduction attributable to the serotype 3 capsule. Accordingly, prophage ϕOXC141 was found to modify csRNA3, a non-coding RNA that inhibits the induction of transformation. This alteration was identified in ∼30% of all pneumococci, and was particularly common in the unusually-clonal serotype 1 GPSC2 strain. RNA-seq and quantitative reverse transcriptase PCR data demonstrated the altered csRNA3 was more effective at inhibiting production of the competence stimulating peptide pheromone. This interference with the quorum sensing needed to induce competence lowered the rate of spontaneous transformation, reducing the risk of the prophage being deleted by homologous recombination. Hence the selfish prophage-driven alteration of a regulatory RNA limits cell-cell communication and horizontal gene transfer, complicating the interpretation of post-vaccine population dynamics.
RNA degradation heavily impacts mRNA co-expression
Authors: Blay Óscar García , Verhagen Pieter , Martin Benjamin , Hansen Maike M.K.
Published: September 2022

Co-expression of genes measured with single-cell RNA sequencing is extensively utilized to understand the principles of gene regulation within and across cell types and species. It is assumed that the presence of correlation in gene expression values at the single-cell level demonstrates the existence of common regulatory mechanisms. However, the regulatory mechanisms that should lead to observed co-expression at an mRNA level often remain unexplored. Here we investigate the relationship between processes upstream and downstream of transcription (i.e., promoter architecture and coordination, DNA contact frequencies and mRNA degradation) and pairwise gene expression correlations at an mRNA level. We identify that differences in mRNA degradation (i.e., half-life) is a pivotal source of single-cell correlations in mRNA levels independently of the presence of common regulatory mechanisms. These findings reinforce the necessity of including post-transcriptional regulation mechanisms in the analysis of gene expression in mammalian cells.
Nanoparticle-mediated Targeting of the Fusion Gene RUNX1/ETO in t(8;21)-positive Acute Myeloid Leukaemia
Authors: Issa Hasan , Swart Laura , Rasouli Milad , Ashtiani Minoo , Nakjang Sirintra , Jyotsana Nidhi , Schuschel Konstantin , Heuser Michael , Blair Helen , Heidenreich Olaf
Published: September 2022

A hallmark of acute myeloid leukaemias (AMLs) are chromosomal rearrangements that give rise to novel leukaemia-specific fusion genes. Most of these fusion genes are both initiating and driving events in AML and therefore constitute ideal therapeutic targets but are challenging to target by conventional drug development. siRNAs are frequently used for the specific suppression of fusion gene expression but require special formulations for efficient in vivo delivery. Here we describe the use of siRNA-loaded lipid nanoparticles for the specific therapeutic targeting of the leukaemic fusion gene RUNX1/ETO. Transient knockdown of RUNX1/ETO reduces its binding to its target genes and alters the binding of RUNX1 and its co-factor CBFβ. Transcriptomic changes in vivo were associated with substantially increased median survival of a t(8;21)-AML mouse model. Importantly, transient knockdown in vivo causes long-lasting inhibition of leukaemic proliferation and clonogenicity, induction of myeloid differentiation and a markedly impaired re-engraftment potential in vivo. These data strongly suggest that temporary inhibition of RUNX1/ETO results in long-term restriction of leukaemic self-renewal. Our results provide proof for the feasibility of targeting RUNX1/ETO in a pre-clinical setting and support the further development of siRNA-LNPs for the treatment of fusion gene-driven malignancies.
Activating words without language: Beta and theta oscillations reflect lexical access and control processes during verbal and non-verbal object recognition tasks
Authors: Branzi Francesca M. , Martin Clara D. , Biau Emmanuel
Published: September 2022

The intention to name an object modulates neural responses during object recognition tasks. However, the nature of this modulation is still unclear. We established whether a core operation in language, i.e., lexical access, can be observed even when the task does not require language (size-judgment task), and whether response selection in verbalversusnon-verbal semantic tasks relies on similar neuronal processes. We measured and compared neuronal oscillatory activities and behavioural responses to the same set of pictures of meaningful objects, while the type of task participants had to perform (picture-namingversussize-judgment) and the type of stimuli to measure lexical access (cognateversusnon-cognate) were manipulated. Despite activation of words was facilitated when the task required explicit word-retrieval (picture-naming task), lexical access occurred even without the intention to name the object (non-verbal size-judgment task). Activation of words and response selection were accompanied by beta (25-35 Hz) desynchronisation and theta (3-7 Hz) synchronisation, respectively. These effects were observed in both picture-naming and size-judgment tasks, suggesting that words became activated via similar mechanisms, irrespective of whether the task involves language explicitly. This finding has important implications to understand the link between core linguistic operations and performance in verbal and non-verbal semantic tasks.
Evolution of new variants of SARS-COV-2 during the pandemic: mutation limited or selection limited?
Authors: Bajpai Srashti , Watve Milind
Published: September 2022

The recent pandemic caused by SARS-Cov-2 has witnessed an evolving succession of variants of the virus. While the phenomenon of invasion by immunity evading variants is known for other viruses such as influenza, the dynamics of the ecological and evolutionary process in the succession is little known. Since during the Covid-19 pandemic, large scale epidemiological data were collected and made available in the public domain, it is possible to seek answers to a number of evolutionary questions, which will also have public health implications. We list multiple alternative hypotheses about the origin and invasion of the variants and evaluate them in the light of epidemiological data. Our analysis shows that invasion by novel variants is selection limited and not mutation limited. Further novel variants are not the necessary and sufficient causes of the repeated waves during the pandemic. Rather there is substantial overlap between the conditions leading to a wave and those favoring selection of a partial immune evading variant. This is likely to lead to an association between invasion by new variant and the rise of a new wave. But the association is not sufficiently strong and does not support a causal role of the new variant. The dynamics of interaction between epidemiological processes and selection on viral variants have many public health implications that can guide future policies for effective control of infectious epidemics.
The greater the incentives, the better the effect? Interactive moderating effects on the relationship between green motivation and green creativity
Authors: Liu Jingyan , Liu Jiaman
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This study aims to address the gap in hospitality and tourism (H&T) research concerning green creativity (GC) and seeks to identify the ways in which the interaction between spiritual incentives (SI) and material incentives (MI) affects the relationships among green intrinsic motivation (GIM), green extrinsic motivation (GEM) and GC.

Design/methodology/approach

In accordance with the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines, this paper examines studies related to GC in the H&T industry and analyses them using content analysis and critical analysis.

Findings

By integrating self-determination theory and the componential theory of creativity, this study enhances the understanding of the interactive moderating role played by SI and MI in the relationship between green motivation and GC. When the level of SI is high and the level of MI is low, GIM has the strongest positive impact on GC. When the levels of MI and SI are both high, GEM has the strongest positive effect on GC.

Practical implications

In practical terms, “high SI-low MI” is the optimal combination for achieving high GC and promoting sustainable long-term green-oriented incentives.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper represents the first investigation of the interactive moderating effects of SI and MI on the relationships among GIM, GEM and GC, thus enriching the research on the factors influencing green motivation and GC. In addition, this paper proposes a better decision-making basis for organizations facing a green-oriented incentive situation, according to which “high SI-low MI” can facilitate the achievement of high GC at a low cost.
ZnO nanoparticles and compositional dependence of structural, thermal, mechanical and electrical properties of eutectic SAC355 lead-free solder
Authors: Al-sorory Hamed , Gumaan Mohammed S. , Shalaby Rizk Mostafa
Published: September 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to summarise the effects of ZnO nanoparticles (0.1, 0.3, 0.5, 0.7 and 1.0 Wt.%) on the structure, mechanical, electrical and thermal stability of Sn–3.5Ag–0.5Cu (SAC355) solder alloys for high-performance applications.

Design/methodology/approach

The phase identification and morphology of the solders were studied using X-ray diffraction and scanning electron microscopy. Thermal parameters were investigated using differential scanning calorimetry. The elastic parameters such as Young's modulus (E) and internal friction (Q−1) were investigated using the dynamic resonance technique, whereas the Vickers hardness (Hv) and creep indentation (n) were examined using a Vickers microhardness tester.

Findings

Microstructural analysis revealed that ZnO nanoparticles (NPs) were distributed uniformly throughout the Sn matrix. Furthermore, addition of 0.1, 0.3 and 0.7 Wt.% of ZnO NPs to the eutectic (SAC355) prevented crystallite size reduction, which increased the strength of the solder alloy. Mechanical parameters such as Young's modulus improved significantly at 0.1, 0.3 and 0.7 Wt.% ZnO NP contents compared to the ZnO-free alloy. This variation can be understood by considering the plastic deformation. The Vickers hardness value (Hv) increased to its maximum as the ZnO NP content increased to 0.5. A stress exponent value (n) of approximately two in most composite solder alloys suggested that grain boundary sliding was the dominant mechanism in this system. The electrical resistance (ρ) increased its maximum value at 0.5 Wt.% ZnO NPs content. The addition of ZnO NPs to plain (SAC355) solder alloys increased the melting temperature (Tm) by a few degrees.

Originality/value

Development of eutectic (SAC355) lead-free solder doped with ZnO NPs use for electronic packaging.
Digital technologies and circular economy practices: vital enablers to support sustainable and resilient supply chain management in the post-COVID-19 era
Authors: Cherrafi Anass , Chiarini Andrea , Belhadi Amine , El Baz Jamal , Chaouni Benabdellah Abla
Published: September 2022

Purpose

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused major disruptions and revealed the fragilities in supply chains. This crisis has re-opened the debate on supply chain resilience and sustainability. This paper aims to investigate distinct impacts of COVID-19 on supply chains. It identifies both short- and medium-to-long-term measures taken to mitigate the different effects of the pandemic and highlights potential transformations and their impacts on supply chain sustainability and resilience.

Design/methodology/approach

To address the purpose of the study, a qualitative research approach based on case studies and semi-structured interviews with 15 practitioners from various supply chain types and sectors was conducted. Studied organizations included necessary and non-necessary supply chain sectors, which are differently impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Findings

This study reveals five main challenges facing supply chains during COVID-19, including uncertain demand and supply, suppliers' concentration in specific regions, globalized supply chains, reduced visibility in the supply network, and limited supplier capacity. To help mitigate these challenges and develop both sustainability and resilience, this paper identifies some mitigating actions focusing on the promotion of the health and wellbeing of employees and supply chain stabilization. Further, in the post-COVID era, sustainable and resilient supply chains should consider regionalization of the supply chain, diversification of the supply network, agility, collaboration, visibility, and transparency; and should accelerate the use of smart technologies and circular economy practices as dynamic capabilities to improve supply chain resilience and sustainability.

Originality/value

This study contributes to exploring the sustainability- and resilience-related challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its findings can be used by researchers and supply chains decision-makers to limit disruptions and improve responsiveness, resilience, sustainability, and restoration of supply chains. The results support benchmarking through sharing of the best practices and organizations can also integrate the different capabilities discussed in this study into the processes of selection and auditing of their suppliers.
Achievement of age‐friendly health systems committed to care excellence designation in a convenient care health care system
Authors: Pohnert Anne M. , Schiltz Nicholas K. , Pino Lilia , Ball Sarah , Duffy Evelyn G. , McCormack Mary E. , Oliver Brant , Patterson Angela , Pelton Leslie , Dolansky Mary A.
Published: September 2022

Objective

To describe the implementation of the age‐friendly health systems (AFHS) 4Ms Framework, an evidence‐based framework to assess and act on “What Matters, Medication, Mentation and Mobility to deliver Age‐Friendly health care for patients 65 and older”, to achieve the Institute for Health care Improvement (IHI) Committed to Care Excellence recognition in a convenient care health system and test two novel implementation strategies.

Setting

The study was conducted in over 1100 convenient care clinics in 35 states and DC. MinuteClinics are located in community‐based retail pharmacies in rural, suburban, and urban areas and staffed with approximately 3300 nurse practitioners and physician associates.

Design

In Year 1, the project used a quality improvement design, and in Year 2, a quasi‐experimental implementation research design to pilot two strategies at the provider level (Virtual Clinic and Plan‐Do‐Study‐Act (PDSA)). Statistical process control charts were used to assess changes in 4Ms documentation over time. Mixed‐effects Poisson regression was used to assess the effectiveness of the pilot studies.

Data Collection

The electronic health record (EHR) was enhanced to capture documentation of the AFHS 4Ms assessments and actions. A learning platform was created to teach and evaluate provider 4Ms competency, and the two data sources were merged into a registry. A formative evaluation was conducted using Tableau and reporting dashboards.

Findings

After 18 months and the implementation of 20 strategies to improve the uptake of the 4Ms, MinuteClinic achieved the IHI Committed to Care Excellence recognition. A significant increase over time in the reliable delivery of all 4Ms and each M component individually was found. For the research, there were significant improvements in the mean number of Ms delivered per visit (M‐Score) in the Virtual Clinic (Incident Rate Ratio [IRR]: 2.47, p = 0.001) and PDSA (IRR: 3.08, p = 0.002) strategy intervention groups when compared to controls.

Conclusions

Application of quality improvement and implementation methodologies contributed to the success of implementing age‐friendly 4Ms evidence‐based practice.
The Structure of Social and Environmental Accounting Research: A Citation‐Based Social Network Analysis*
Authors: Isack Markus , Mittelbach‐Hörmanseder Stéphanie , Aschauer Ewald
Published: September 2022

We investigate the structure and progress of the emergent field of social and environmental accounting (SEA) research by combining social network analysis (SNA) with a systematic literature review based on 461 papers containing 26,872 citations in total. Our approach, which to the best of our knowledge this study is the first to apply, enables us to use research metrics to identify the knowledge database of SEA research and examine how the field has been evolving. We analyze the connections and structure of foundational SEA research spanning the period 1973–2015. In line with previous research, our results reveal network characteristics typical of an emerging field—that is, subgroups without distinguishing content characteristics and low network density. Our additional analyses show that the results remain unchanged until 2021. The state‐of‐the‐art SNA we apply, the knowledge database we identify, and the insights into the SEA field's structure that we provide support the growth of the field.
Preoperative systemic chemotherapy does not benefit for appendiceal pseudomyxoma peritonei
Authors: Ma Ruiqing , Lu Dongmei , Xue Shilin , Fan Xiwen , Zhai Xichao , Wang Chong , Xu Hongbin , Pang Shaojun
Published: September 2022

Background

Pseudomyxoma peritonei (PMP) is a clinically malignant tumour syndrome mainly derived from mucin‐producing appendiceal tumours. This study aimed to explore the effect of preoperative systemic chemotherapy (PSC) before cytoreductive surgery (CRS) plus hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) on the safety and postoperative survival in patients with appendiceal PMP.

Methods

We performed a retrospective analysis including consecutive patients with PMP undergoing primary surgery between January, 2008 and December, 2019 in Aerospace Center Hospital. The clinical data and postoperative survival were compared between PSC group and non‐PSC group.

Results

Seven hundred and fifty patients were included in the study. Significant differences were found between PSC group and non‐PSC group on clinicopathological data and perioperative outcomes and the independent risk factor of serious complications was blood loss >1000 mL (P = 0.026). Shorter median overall survival (OS) was found (42 months, 95% CI 31.9–52.1) in PSC group than that (67 months 95% CI 44.5–89.5) in non‐PSC group. In the stratified study with PCI < 20, CC 0/1 and low‐grade pathological subtype, the OS from non‐PSC group was significantly better than that in PSC group (log rank P‐values are <0.001, 0.006 and <0.001, respectively). Multivariate survival analysis showed that CC 0/1, HIPEC, PCI < 20 and low‐grade pathological subtype were the independent prognostic factors for better OS.

Conclusions

PSC does not increase the risk of major perioperative complications in patients with appendiceal PMP, but it also does not bring postoperative survival benefits to patients either.
The rapid assessment for prostate imaging and diagnosis (RAPID) prostate cancer diagnostic pathway
Authors: Eldred‐Evans David , Connor Martin J. , Bertoncelli Tanaka Mariana , Bass Edward , Reddy Deepika , Walters Uma , Stroman Luke , Espinosa Easter , Das Raj , Khosla Nalin , Tam Henry , Pegers Elizabeth , Qazi Hasan , Gordon Stephen , Winkler Mathias , Ahmed Hashim U.
Published: September 2022

Objective

To report outcomes within the Rapid Assessment for Prostate Imaging and Diagnosis (RAPID) diagnostic pathway, introduced to reduce patient and healthcare burdens and standardize delivery of pre‐biopsy multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and transperineal biopsy.

Patients and Methods

A total of 2130 patients from three centres who completed the RAPID pathway (3 April 2017 to 31 March 2020) were consecutively entered as a prospective registry. These patients were also compared to a pre‐RAPID cohort of 2435 patients. Patients on the RAPID pathway with an MRI score 4 or 5 and those with PSA density ≥0.12 and an MRI score 3 were advised to undergo a biopsy. Primary outcomes were rates of biopsy and cancer detection. Secondary outcomes included comparison of transperineal biopsy techniques, patient acceptability and changes in time to diagnosis before and after the introduction of RAPID.

Results

The median patient age and PSA level were 66 years and 6.6 ng/mL, respectively. Biopsy could be omitted in 43% of patients (920/2130). A further 7.9% of patients (168/2130) declined a recommendation for biopsy. The percentage of biopsies avoided among sites varied (45% vs 36% vs 51%;P< 0.001). In all, 30% (221/742) had a local anaesthetic (grid and stepper) transperineal biopsy. Clinically significant cancer detection (any Gleason score ≥3 + 4) was 26% (560/2130) and detection of Gleason score 3 + 3 alone constituted 5.8% (124/2130); detection of Gleason score 3 + 3 did not significantly vary among sites (P= 0.7). Among participants who received a transperineal targeted biopsy, there was no difference in cancer detection rates among local anaesthetic, sedation and general anaesthetic groups. In the 2435 patients from the pre‐RAPID cohor, time to diagnosis was 32.1 days (95% confidence interval [CI] 29.3–34.9) compared to 15.9 days (95% CI 12.9–34.9) in the RAPID group. A total of 141 consecutive patient satisfaction surveys indicated a high satisfaction rate with the pathway; 50% indicated a preference for having all tests on a single day.

Conclusions

The RAPID prostate cancer diagnostic pathway allows 43% of men to avoid a biopsy while preserving good detection of clinically significant cancers and low detection of insignificant cancers, although there were some centre‐level variations.
The legacy of forest logging on organic matter inputs and storage in tropical streams
Authors: Bambi Paulino , Tonin Alan M. , Rezende Renan de Souza , Vieira Fernando Carvalho , Graciano Miranda Fernanda Gabriela , Boyero Luz , Gonçalves Júnior José F.
Published: September 2022

Riparian forests play an important role in stream ecosystems, as they support biodiversity, reduce water erosion, and provide litter that fuels aquatic biota. However, they are affected by great array of anthropogenic threats (e.g., fire, logging, and organic pollution), which alter species composition and their physical structure. Although forest recovery after disturbance such as logging can take decades, the legacy of forest clear‐cut logging on key processes in tropical riparian ecosystems is mostly unknown. Here, we investigated how litter inputs (leaves, twigs, and reproductive parts) and storage, key processes for carbon and nutrient recycling and for forest and stream biota, are influenced by riparian vegetation undergoing succession (after 28 years from logging) through the comparison of reference and logged forest sites in the Cerrado biome. Litterfall was overall similar between forest types, but litterfall of twigs was twofold higher at logged than reference sites. Similarly, litter inputs from the bank to the stream (i.e., lateral inputs) and streambed storage were 50–60% higher at logged than reference sites. The higher litterfall observed in logged forests could be related to higher proportion of tree species that are characteristic of primary and secondary successional stages, including fast‐growing and liana species, which often are more productive and common in anthropogenic areas. Our results showed that the legacy impact of clear‐cut logging, even if residual woody vegetation is maintained in riparian buffers, can shift the type, quantity, and seasonality of litter subsidies to tropical streams. This knowledge should be considered within the context of management and conservation of communities and ecosystem processes in the forest‐stream interfaces.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
Dynamic changes in perfectionism dimensions and psychological distress among adolescents assessed before and during the COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Molnar Danielle S. , Thai Sabrina , Blackburn Melissa , Zinga Dawn , Flett Gordon L. , Hewitt Paul L.
Published: September 2022

This prospective longitudinal study evaluated changes in psychological distress among adolescents, pre‐pandemic to intra‐pandemic, the extent to which within‐person and between‐person differences in trait multidimensional perfectionism were associated with such changes, and the role of stress in explaining associations between perfectionism and psychological distress. Adolescents (N = 187; 80% female; 78% White, 7% Asian Canadian, 2% Indigenous Peoples in Canada, 2% Black or African Canadian, 2% Latin Canadian, or 9% Other; Mage = 17.96 years) completed online surveys assessing perfectionism (i.e., self‐oriented perfectionism and socially prescribed perfectionism), depression, anxiety, and stress pre‐pandemic (i.e., March 12, 2020 or earlier) and during Ontario, Canada's first (i.e., March 13, 2020 to July 24, 2020) and second (December 26, 2020 to February 7, 2021) government‐mandated lockdowns. Between‐person differences and within‐person changes in multidimensional trait perfectionism were associated with increases in psychological distress and perceived stress. Perceived stress served as an intermediary pathway linking multidimensional trait perfectionism to psychological distress during the pandemic.
The potential bidirectional association betweenHelicobacter pyloriinfection and gallstone disease in adults: A two‐cohort study
Authors: Cen Li , Wu Jiali , Zhu Shefeng , Pan Jiaqi , Zhou Tianyu , Yan Tianlian , Shen Zhe , Yu Chaohui
Published: September 2022

Background

Previous studies have suggested thatHelicobacter pylori(H. pylori) may act as a precipitating factor in gallstone formation, and the potential association betweenH. pyloriinfection and gallstone disease (GD) is still unclear and controversial. This study aimed to clarify the potential bidirectional relationship betweenH. pyloriinfection and GD.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study was performed in a population that underwent health checkups at the hospital between 2013 and 2018.H. pyloriinfection status was evaluated by urea breath test (UBT), and GD was diagnosed via ultrasound. Cox regression and propensity score matching (PSM) were used.

Results

Among 1011 participants withoutH. pyloriinfection at baseline, 134 participants were infected withH. pylori. Among 1192 participants without gallstones or cholecystectomy at baseline, 60 participants developed gallstones or cholecystectomy. The hazard ratio (HR) (95% CI) for incidentH. pyloriinfection comparing the GD versus the no GD group was 1.84 (1.19, 2.85). The age‐ and sex‐adjusted HR (95% CI) for incident GD comparingH. pylori‐positive subjects toH. pylori‐negative subjects was 1.74 (1.01, 2.98). Consistent results were also found with PSM and multivariate analysis.

Conclusions

This cohort study demonstrated a potential bidirectional association betweenH. pyloriinfection and GD, which provides a basis for indicating the risk of GD and implementing the clinical strategies for GD. For the prevention and treatment of GD,H. pyloriinfection should be carefully considered and evaluated.
Seasonal patterns of dietary partitioning in vertebrates
Authors: Porter Cody K. , Golcher‐Benavides Jimena , Benkman Craig W.
Published: September 2022

Dietary partitioning plays a central role in biological communities, yet the extent of partitioning often varies dramatically over time. Food availability may drive temporal variation in dietary partitioning, but alternative paradigms offer contrasting predictions about its effect. We compiled estimates of dietary overlap between co‐occurring vertebrates to test whether partitioning is greater during periods of high or low food abundance. We found that dietary partitioning was generally greatest when food abundance was low, suggesting that competition for limited food drives partitioning. The extent of dietary partitioning in birds and mammals was also related to seasonality in primary productivity. As seasonality increased, partitioning increased during the nonbreeding season for birds and the breeding season for mammals. Although some hypotheses invoke changes in dietary breadth to explain temporal variation in dietary partitioning, we found no association between dietary breadth and partitioning. These results have important implications for the evolution of dietary divergence.
A hybrid data‐level sampling approach in learning from skewed user‐click data for click fraud detection in online advertising
Authors: Sisodia Deepti , Sisodia Dilip Singh
Published: September 2022

One of the challenging issues in user‐click data of online advertising is the uneven class distribution which biases classification models. Resampling the data is a popular choice for obtaining class balance. However, oversampling results in overfitting, whilst under‐sampling results in information loss. Moreover, enhancing separability between samples, where the classes overlap closer to the decision boundary, is another challenge, which requires a careful pruning of instances towards increasing the separability in data space. Therefore, in this work, a new hybrid data sampling algorithm SMOTEOSS is designed and evaluated, concatenating the synthetic minority oversampling technique (SMOTE) followed by one‐sided selection (OSS) to balance the class distribution. The working of SMOTEOSS is twofold‐ first, it oversamples the under‐represented class distribution using the SMOTE by generating synthetic instances. However, the generation of synthetic instances closer to the decision boundary directly influences the learning model's decision‐making. Utilising OSS, the proposed method then identifies TOMEKLINKS and eliminates the noisy majority instances whilst eliminating the redundant instances. The proposed method's effectiveness is validated on the FDMA 2012 dataset against 10 state‐of‐the‐art sampling methods utilising the gradient tree boosting learning model. To authenticate SMOTEOSS, a fair comparison is made by conducting experiments on other 10 benchmark imbalanced datasets using 10‐fold cross‐validation. Performance is measured using average precision, recall, F1‐score, G‐mean, the area under curve (AUC) and reduction rate. Results showed that the designed hybrid methodology is an efficient alternative to existing sampling methods. The Wilcoxon signed‐rank test is employed to demonstrate significant differences amidst the proposed and conventional sampling algorithms.
Excess deaths from COVID‐19 among Medicare beneficiaries with psychiatric diagnoses: Community versus nursing home
Authors: Xu Huiwen , Li Shuang , Mehta Hemalkumar B. , Hommel Erin L. , Goodwin James S.
Published: September 2022

Background

Psychiatric illness may pose an additional risk of death for older adults during the COVID‐19 pandemic. Older adults in the community versus institutions might be influenced by the pandemic differently. This study examines excess deaths during the COVID‐19 pandemic among Medicare beneficiaries with and without psychiatric diagnoses (depression, anxiety, bipolar disorder, and schizophrenia) in the community versus nursing homes.

Methods

This is a retrospective cohort study of a 20% random sample of 15,229,713 fee‐for‐service Medicare beneficiaries, from January 2019 through December 2021. Unadjusted monthly mortality risks, COVID‐19 infection rates, and case‐fatality rates after COVID‐19 diagnosis were calculated. Excess deaths in 2020, compared to 2019 were estimated from multivariable logistic regressions.

Results

Of all included Medicare beneficiaries in 2020 (N = 5,140,619), 28.9% had a psychiatric diagnosis; 1.7% lived in nursing homes. In 2020, there were 246,422 observed deaths, compared to 215,264 expected, representing a 14.5% increase over expected. Patients with psychiatric diagnoses had more excess deaths than those without psychiatric diagnoses (1,107 vs. 403 excess deaths per 100,000 beneficiaries, p < 0.01). The largest increases in mortality risks were observed among patients with schizophrenia (32.4% increase) and bipolar disorder (25.4% increase). The pandemic‐associated increase in deaths with psychiatric diagnoses was only found in the community, not in nursing homes. The increased mortality for patients with psychiatric diagnoses was limited to those with medical comorbidities. The increase in mortality for psychiatric diagnoses was associated with higher COVID‐19 infection rates (1‐year infection rate = 7.9% vs. 4.2% in 2020), rather than excess case fatality.

Conclusions

Excess deaths during the COVID‐19 pandemic were disproportionally greater in beneficiaries with psychiatric diagnoses, at least in part due to higher infection rates. Policy interventions should focus on preventing COVID‐19 infections and deaths among community‐dwelling patients with major psychiatric disorders in addition to those living the nursing homes.
Nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract: A hub linking the water homeostasis‐associated supraoptic nucleus‐arginine vasopressin circuit and neocortical regions to promote social behavior under osmotic challenge
Authors: Hernández‐Pérez Oscar R. , Hernández Vito S. , Zetter Mario A. , Eiden Lee E. , Zhang Limei
Published: September 2022

Homeostatic challenges may alter the drive for social interaction. The neural activity that prompts this motivation remains poorly understood. In the present study, we identify direct projections from the hypothalamic supraoptic nucleus to the cortico‐amygdalar nucleus of the lateral olfactory tract (NLOT). Dual in situ hybridization with probes for pituitary adenylate cyclase‐activating polypeptide (PACAP), as well as vesicular glutamate transporter (VGLUT)1, VGLUT2, V1a and V1b, revealed a population of vasopressin‐receptive PACAPergic neurons in NLOT layer 2 (NLOT2). Water deprivation (48 h, WD48) increased sociability compared to euhydrated subjects, as assessed with the three‐chamber social interaction test (3CST). Fos expression immunohistochemistry showed NLOT and its main efferent regions had further increases in rats subjected to WD48 + 3CST. These regions strongly expressed PAC1 mRNA. Microinjections of arginine vasopressin (AVP) into the NLOT produced similar changes in sociability to water deprivation, and these were reduced by co‐injection of V1a or V1b antagonists along with AVP. We conclude that, during challenge to water homeostasis, there is a recruitment of a glutamatergic‐multi‐peptidergic cooperative circuit that promotes social behavior.
Was she wearing red? The function of victim‐blaming in women's intrasexual competition
Authors: Brown Mitch , Burnett Lucienne , Boykin Kaitlyn
Published: September 2022

Previous research indicates that women frequently use red clothing to signal their sexual receptivity, with men and women both recognizing this as a reliable cue to such receptivity. Nonetheless, receptivity cues can inform perceptions of women's culpability for experiencing sexual assault. Thus, women experiencing sexual assault could become more of a target for victim‐blaming if assaulted while wearing red. Such victim‐blaming could be especially apparent especially among those who believe the world is just. The current study presented a sexual assault vignette to American undergraduates (155 women, 66 men) describing a woman wearing either red or green whom participants evaluated for the degree of culpability she has for the assault. Results indicated that the red‐wearing target was viewed as more culpable for the assault, particularly for women with heightened just‐world beliefs. We frame results from an evolutionary framework considering victim‐blaming as part of women's intrasexual competition.
Inclusión de migrantes en el sistema escolar chileno: estado del arte
Authors: Baeza-correa Jorge Benedicto , Bustos-Reyes Carlos Antonio , Guzmán-Droguett María Angélica , Imbarack-Dagach Patricia , Mercado-Guerra Javier Leonardo
Published: September 2022

Este artículo da cuenta del estado del arte sobre la inclusión de migrantes en el sistema escolar chileno, y analiza tanto las tensiones no resueltas en las políticas educativas sobre la materia como las demandas que surgen para el logro de una educación inclusiva. Se trabajó a partir de una revisión sistemática, en la que se analizaron 53 artículos publicados entre 2015 y 2020, indexados en WoS, Scopus o Scielo. Se concluye la existencia de desafíos para la inclusión en el diseño de políticas, en la formación docente en interculturalidad, en la pertinencia curricular y en el abordaje de conductas de exclusión y racismo.