bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
No stimulant? No Problem: Analyzing Black Market Sales of Atomoxetine on StreetRx
Authors: Roe Sophie A. , DeSalve Dayna S. , Piper Brian J.
Published: December 2022

Objective

The purpose of this report was to analyze black market diversions of atomoxetine, a non-stimulant medication for ADHD, submitted to StreetRx.

Method

Data related to black market atomoxetine purchases entered on StreetRx between 2015 and 2019 were analyzed. Data included generic drug name, dosage, purchase price, and date and location in the United States. The mean price per milligram was determined and a heatmap generated.

Results

The average price per milligram cost of 113 diverted atomoxetine submissions was $1.35 (± $2.76 SD) (Median = $0.05, Min = $0.01, Max = $20.00). The states with the most submissions included Michigan (11), Pennsylvania (9), Indiana (8), and Ohio (8).

Conclusion

Furture qualitative studies should investigate reasons why individuals are motivated to purchase atomoxetine, a non-stimulant medication, on the black market (recreational vs. nootropic vs. other clinical uses).
Online social networks of individuals with adverse childhood experiences
Authors: Cao Yiding , Rajendran Suraj , Sundararajan Prathic , Law Royal , Bacon Sarah , Sumner Steven A. , Masuda Naoki
Published: December 2022

Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), which include abuse and neglect and various household challenges like exposure to intimate partner violence and substance use in the home can have negative impacts on lifelong health of affected individuals. Among various strategies for mitigating the adverse effects of ACEs is to enhance connectedness and social support for those who have experienced ACEs. However, how social networks of those who experienced ACEs differ from those who did not is poorly understood. In the present study, we use Reddit and Twitter data to investigate and compare social networks among individuals with and without ACEs exposure. We first use a neural network classifier to identify the presence or absence of public ACEs disclosures in social media posts. We then analyze egocentric social networks comparing individuals with self-reported ACEs to those with no reported history. We found that, although individuals reporting ACEs had fewer total followers in online social networks, they had higher reciprocity in following behavior (i.e., mutual following with other users), a higher tendency to follow and be followed by other individuals with ACEs, and a higher tendency to follow back individuals with ACEs rather than individuals without ACEs. These results imply that individuals with ACEs may try to actively connect to others having similar prior traumatic experiences as a positive connection and coping strategy. Supportive interpersonal connections online for individuals with ACEs appear to be a prevalent behavior and may be a way to enhance social connectedness and resilience in those who have experienced ACEs.
The Effect of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Life Expectancy in the US: An Application of Hybrid Life Expectancy
Authors: Sanderson Warren C. , Scherbov Sergei
Published: December 2022

Life expectancy at birth (both sexes) in the US was 1.9 years lower in 2020 than in 2019. This reduction has been widely discussed. This 1.9 year reduction compares a group of people who would live their entire lives at the 2019 survival rates with a group that would live their entire lives experiencing the pandemic survival rates of 2020. Here we introduce hybrid life expectancy. This is the life expectancy of people who experience the 2020 survival rates for various shorter periods followed by a return to the 2019 levels. For pandemic durations of 10 years or less life expectancy at birth does not fall from its 2019 level. For a pandemic duration of 10 years, the life expectancy of 65 year-olds would fall by 0.2 years.
Subtle introgression footprints at the end of the speciation continuum in a clade ofHeliconiusbutterflies
Authors: Rougemont Quentin , Huber Bárbara , Martin Simon , Whibley Annabel , Estrada Catalina , Solano Darha , Orpet Robert , McMillan W. Owen , Frérot Brigitte , Joron Mathieu
Published: December 2022

Quantifying gene flow between lineages at different stages of the speciation continuum is central to understanding speciation.Heliconiusbutterflies have undergone an adaptive radiation in wing colour patterns driven partly by natural selection for local mimicry. Colour patterns are also known to be used as assortative mating cues. Therefore, wing pattern divergence is considered to play a role in speciation. A corollary is that mimicry between closely-related species may be associated with hybridization and interfere with reproductive isolation. Here, we take a multifaceted approach to explore speciation history, species boundaries, and traits involved in species differentiation between the two closely-related speciesH. hecaleandH. ismenius.We focus on geographic regions where the two species mimic each other, and contrast this with geographic regions where they do not mimic each other. To examine population history and patterns of gene flow, we tested and compared a four-population model accounting for linked selection. This model suggests that the two species have remained isolated for a large part of their history, yet with a small amount of gene exchange. Accordingly, signatures of genomic introgression were small except at a major wing pattern allele and chemosensing genes, and stronger in the mimetic populations compared to non-mimetic populations. Behavioural assays confirm that visual confusion exists but that short-range cues determine strong sexual isolation. Tests for chemical differentiation between species identified major differences in putative pheromones which likely mediate mate choice and the maintenance of species differences.
Intramolecular autoinhibition of human PEX13 modulates peroxisomal import
Authors: Gaussmann Stefan , Ott Julia , Zak Krzysztof M. , Delhommel Florent , Popowicz Grzegorz M. , Schliebs Wolfgang , Erdmann Ralf , Sattler Michael
Published: December 2022

Targeting and import of peroxisomal proteins depends on PEX5, PEX14 and PEX13. We present a biochemical and structural characterization of the PEX13 C-terminal region. By combining NMR spectroscopy, X-ray crystallography and biochemical methods, we show that the PEX13 SH3 domain mediates intramolecular interactions with a newly identified proximal FxxxF motif and also binds to WxxxF peptide motifs from the PEX5 NTD, demonstrating evolutionary conservation of this interaction from yeast to human. Strikingly, the C-terminal FxxxF motif autoinhibits the WxxxF/Y binding surface on the PEX13 SH3 domain. This is supported by high-resolution crystal structures, which show FxxxF or WxxxF/Y binding to the same, non-canonical surface on the SH3 domain. The FxxxF motif also binds the PEX14 NTD with micromolar affinity. Surprisingly, the canonical binding surface for PxxP motifs on the human PEX13 SH3 fold does not recognize PxxP motifs in PEX14, distinct from the yeast ortholog. The dynamic network of PEX13, PEX14 and PEX5 interactions mediated by diaromatic peptide motifs fine-tunes and modulates peroxisomal matrix import in cells.
Assessing the haplotype and spectro-functional traits interactions to explore the intraspecific diversity of common reed in Central Italy
Authors: Castellani Maria Beatrice , Coppi Andrea , Bolpagni Rossano , Gigante Daniela , Lastrucci Lorenzo , Reale Lara , Villa Paolo
Published: December 2022

As reflectance measured via remote sensing is connected to plant light use and morpho-structural features, it can be used to derive spectral proxies of functional traits, or spectro-functional traits. Focusing on disentangling intraspecific trait variability in nature, we evaluated the links between haplotype and spectro-functional traits inPhragmites australispopulations.

Haplotypes sequencing and multi-seasonal satellite data were used to evaluate the temporal dynamics of spectro-functional traits for reed stands sampled from seven wetlands in Central Italy, investigating meteo-climatic drivers, the differences across ecological statuses, sites, and haplotypes, and quantifying intraspecific variability due to haplotype or phenotypic plasticity.

Five haplotypes were identified, including an unedited one, which explained a substantial portion of intraspecific variability in canopy traits, differing for aquatic and terrestrial stands. We found that meteo-climatic factors impact on aquatic reeds traits (not over terrestrial ones) and a dualism between most and less common haplotypes, pointing to different evolutionary strategies. Dynamics in reed canopy traits were linked to ecological status, site and haplotype, with signs of haplotype-variable effects of dieback on aquatic stands.

Evaluating the spectro-functional variability over reed haplotypes may provide a straightforward approach for monitoring the genotype-phenotype relations across scales and assessing their ecological drivers.
A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis on the Transcriptomic Signatures in Alcohol Use Disorder
Authors: Friske Marion M , Torrico Eva C , Haas Maximilian JW , Borruto Anna M , Giannone Francesco , Hade Andreas-Christian , Yu Yun , Gao Lina , Sutherland Greg T , Hitzemann Robert , Philips Mari-Anne , Fei Suzanne S , Mayfield R Dayne , Sommer Wolfgang H , Spanagel Rainer
Published: December 2022

Alcohol use disorder (AUD) is a complex mental health condition. Currently available clinical treatments exhibit limited efficacy and new druggable targets are required. One promising approach to discover new molecular treatment targets involves the transcriptomic profiling of brain regions within the addiction neurocircuitry, utilizing animal models and post-mortem brain tissue from deceased AUD patients. Unfortunately, such studies suffer from large heterogeneity and small sample sizes. To address these limitations, we conducted a cross-species meta-analysis on transcriptome-wide data obtained from brain tissue of AUD patients and animal models. We integrated 36 cross-species transcriptome-wide RNA-expression datasets with an alcohol-dependent phenotype vs. controls, following the PRISMA guidelines. In total, we meta-analyzed 1,000 samples – 502 samples for the prefrontal cortex (PFC), 318 nucleus accumbens (NAc) samples, and 180 amygdala (AMY) samples. The PFC had the highest number of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) across rodents, monkeys, and humans. Commonly dysregulated DEGs pointed towards enrichment in inflammatory responses and alterations in BBB-regulatory mechanisms in astrocytes, microglia and endothelial cells. Gene set enrichment analysis further showed that MAPK/ERK-signaling plays a critical role in AUD and especially in monkeysDusp4as a major inhibitor of the MAPK pathway may be a main driver of these pathway alterations. Our data also suggest that the transcriptomic profile in the NAc is less vulnerable to the maintenance of AUD. Finally, we provide a combination of DEGs that are commonly regulated across different brain tissues as potential biomarker for AUD. In summary, we provide a compendium of genes, signaling pathways, and physiological and cellular processes that are altered in AUD and that require future studies for functional validation.
An Amber-Encoding Helper Phage for More Efficient Phage Display of Noncanonical Amino Acids
Authors: Hampton J. Trae , Cho Chia-Chuan Dean , Geng Zhi Zachary , Coleman Demonta D. , Chen Peng-Hsun Chase , Dubey Gopal K. , Sylvain Lauralee D. , Xu Shiqing , Liu Wenshe Ray
Published: December 2022

In the past two decades, phage display has emerged as a powerful technique for the identification of antibodies and peptide ligands for therapeutic targets. Using the amber suppression-based noncanonical amino acid (ncAA) mutagenesis approach, we and others have shown that the chemical space in phage display can be significantly expanded for drug discovery. However, the use of amber codon in phages results in poor phage yields and requires tedious processes to enrich amber codon-containing (amber obligate) phage clones. In this work, we demonstrate the development of a novel helper phage, CMa13ile40, for rapid and continuous enrichment of amber obligate phage clones and efficient production of ncAA-containing phages. CMa13ile40 was constructed by the insertion of aCandidatus Methanomethylophilus alvuspyrrolysyl-tRNA synthetase/PylT gene cassette into a helper phage genome. The afforded novel helper phage allowed for a continuous amber codon enrichment strategy for two different phage display libraries and demonstrated a 100-fold increase in selectivity for packaging of library plasmids in comparison with original helper phage plasmids. To demonstrate the applicability of the system, CMa13ile40 was used to create two phage-displayed peptide libraries containing two separate ncAAs,Nε-tert-butoxycarbonyl-lysine (BocK) andNε-allyloxycarbonyl-lysine (AllocK), respectively. These were then used to identify peptide ligands that bind to the extracellular domain of ZNRF3, a membrane-bound E3 ligase. Each selection showed differential enrichment of unique sequences dependent upon the ncAA used. Using biolayer interferometry, enriched peptides from both selections were confirmed to have low micromolar affinity for ZNRF3 and this affinity is dependent on the presence of the ncAA used for selection. Our results clearly show that ncAAs in phages provide unique interactions for selection of peptides that are different from each other and from canonical amino acids. As an effective tool for phage display, we believe that CMa13ile40 can be broadly applied to a wide variety of applications.
The contribution of maternal oral, vaginal, and gut microbiota to the developing offspring gut
Authors: Russell Amber L. , Donovan Erin , Seilhamer Nicole , Siegrist Melissa , Franklin Craig L. , Ericsson Aaron C.
Published: December 2022

There is limited understanding of how the microbiota colonizing various maternal tissues contribute to the development of the neonatal gut microbiota (GM). To determine the contribution of various maternal microbiotic sites to the offspring microbiota in the upper and lower gastrointestinal tract (GIT) during early life, litters of mice were sacrificed at 7, 9, 10, 11, 12, 14, and 21 days of age, and fecal and ileal samples were collected. Dams were euthanized alongside their pups, and oral, vaginal, ileal, and fecal samples were collected. This was done in parallel using mice with either a low-richness or high-richness microbiota to assess the consistency of findings across multiple microbial compositions. Sample were analyzed using 16S rRNA amplicon sequencing. The similarities between matched pup and dam samples were used to determine the contribution of each maternal source to the pup fecal and ileal composition at each timepoint. As expected, similarity between pup and maternal feces increased significantly over time. During earlier time-points however, the offspring fecal and ileal microbiotas were closer in composition to the maternal oral microbiota than other maternal sites. Prominent taxa contributed by the maternal oral microbiota to the neonatal gut microbiota were supplier-dependent and includedLactobacillusspp.,Streptococcusspp., and a member of thePasteurellaceaefamily. These findings align with the microbial taxa reported in infant microbiotas, highlighting the translatability of mouse models in this regard, as well as the dynamic nature of the gut microbiota during early life.
RBAtools: a programming interface for Resource Balance Analysis modelling
Authors: Bodeit Oliver , Samir Inès Ben , Karr Jonathan R. , Goelzer Anne , Liebermeister Wolfram
Published: December 2022

Motivation

Efficient resource allocation contributes to an organism’s fitness and improves success in competition. The Resource Balance Analysis (RBA) computational framework enables the analysis of an organism’s growth-optimal configurations in various environments, at genome-scale. The existing RBApy software enables the construction of RBA models on genome-scale and the calculation of medium-specific, growth-optimal cell states, including metabolic fluxes and the abundance of macromolecular machines. However, to address the needs of non-expert users, there is a need for a simple programming API, easy to use and interoperable with other software through convenient formats for models and data.

Results

The RBAtools python package enables the convenient use of RBA models and addresses non-expert users.

As a flexible programming interface, it enables the implementation of custom workflows and simplifies the modification of existing genome-scale RBA models and data export to various formats. The features comprise simulation, model fitting, parameter screens, sensitivity analysis, variability analysis, and the construction of Pareto fronts. Models and data are represented as structured tables, in HTML, and common formats for fluxomics and proteomics visualization.

Availability

Details about RBA can be found atrba.inrae.fr. RBAtools documentation, installation instructions, and tutorials are available atsysbioinra.github.io/rbatools.

Contact

wolfram.liebermeister@inrae.fr,anne.goelzer@inrae.fr
Universal chromatin state annotation of the mouse genome
Authors: Vu Ha , Ernst Jason
Published: December 2022

Genome-wide chromatin states learned from integrating genome-wide maps of multiple epigenetic marks within the same cell type have been widely used to generate genome annotations of individual cell types. An alternative strategy based on ‘stacked modeling’ can provide a single ‘universal’ chromatin state annotation based jointly on data from many cell types. In human, such an approach was recently demonstrated and the resulting chromatin state annotation, denoted full-stack, was shown to have complementary advantages to per-cell-type annotations. However, an analogous annotation has not been previously available in mouse. Here, we produce a chromatin state annotation for mouse based on 901 datasets assaying 14 chromatin marks in 26 different cell or tissue types. To characterize each chromatin state, we relate the states to other external annotations and compare them to analogously defined states in human. We expect the full-stack chromatin state annotation for mouse will be a useful resource for studying the genome of this key mammalian model organism.
A Double-Blind, Randomized, Controlled Phase III Trial Investigating Efficacy and Safety of Varenicline for Vaping Cessation in Adult Users
Authors: Caponnetto Pasquale , Campagna Davide , Ahluwalia Jasjit S. , Russell Chistopher , Maglia Marilena , Riela Paolo Marco , Longo Carmelo Fabio , Busa’ Barbara , Polosa Riccardo
Published: December 2022

Background

Vaping cessation is virtually unexplored. The efficacy and safety of varenicline for vaping cessation has not been studied and rigorous research is required to advance best practice and outcomes for e-cigarettes users who want to quit.

Methods

Eligible patients were randomized to either varenicline (1 mg, administered twice daily for 12 weeks) or placebo treatment (administered twice daily, for 12 weeks) combined with vaping cessation counseling. The trial consisted of a 12-week treatment phase followed by a 12-week follow-up, nontreatment phase. The primary efficacy endpoint of the study was biochemically validated continuous abstinence rate (CAR) at weeks 4 to 12. Secondary efficacy end points were the CAR at weeks 4 to 24 and 7-day point prevalence of vaping abstinence at weeks 12 and 24.

Results

CAR was significantly higher for varenicline vs placebo at each interval: weeks 4-12, 40.0% and 20.0%, respectively (OR = 2.67, 95% CI = [1.25 - 5.68], P = 0.011); weeks 4-24, 34.3% for varenicline and 17.2% for placebo (OR = 2.52, 95% CI = [1.14 - 5.58], P = 0.0224). The 7-day point prevalence of vaping abstinence was also higher for the varenicline than placebo at each time point. Serious adverse events were infrequent in both groups and not treatment-related.

Conclusions

Inclusion of varenicline and counseling in a vaping cessation program for EC users intending to quit may result in prolonged abstinence. These positive findings may also help guiding future recommendations for vaping cessation by health authorities and healthcare providers.
Impact of guidance on trends of steroid prescriptions for COVID-19 inpatients: an analysis of the nation-wide administrative database in Japan
Authors: Higuchi Takuya , Shin Jung-ho , Takada Daisuke , Morishita Tetsuji , Kunisawa Susumu , Imanaka Yuichi
Published: December 2022

Background

Since the outbreak of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, guidance (“Japanese Guide”) has been published by a working group of several academic societies and announced by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. Steroids as a candidate treatment for COVID-19 were noted in the Japanese Guide. However, the prescription details for steroids, and whether the Japanese Guide changed its clinical practice, were unclear. This study aimed to examine the impact of the Japanese Guide on the trends in the prescription of steroids for COVID-19 inpatients in Japan.

Methods

We selected our study population using Diagnostic Procedure Combination (DPC) data from hospitals participating in the Quality Indicator/Improvement Project (QIP). The inclusion criteria were patients discharged from hospital between January 2020 and December 2020, who had been diagnosed with COVID-19, and were aged 18 years or older. The epidemiological characteristics of cases and the proportion of steroid prescriptions were described on a weekly basis. The same analysis was performed for subgroups classified by disease severity.

Results

The study population comprised 8603 cases (410 severe cases, 2231 moderate II cases, and 5962 moderate I/mild cases). The maximum proportion of cases prescribed with dexamethasone increased remarkably from 2.5% to 35.2% in the study population before and after week 29 (July 2020), when dexamethasone was included in the guidance. These increases were 7.7% to 58.7% in severe cases, 5.0% to 57.2% in moderate II cases, and 1.1% to 19.2% in moderate I/mild cases. Although the proportion of cases prescribed prednisolone and methylprednisolone decreased in moderate II and moderate I/mild cases, it remained high in severe cases.

Conclusions

We showed the trends of steroid prescriptions in COVID-19 inpatients. The results showed that guidance can influence drug treatment provided during an emerging infectious disease pandemic.
Association of smoking using with ALS risk and prognosis in China
Authors: Liu Wenchao , Li XiaoGang , Jiang JingSi , Deng Shuai , Song Ying , Liu Na , Deng Min
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Cigarette smoking using have been posited as possible risk factors for amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), but few epidemiological studies supporting this hypothesis in China. We therefore explored the association between smoking with ALS incidence and prognosis in Chinese patients.

Design

Population-based case-control study.

Setting, participants

We performed a population-based case-control study in 812 ALS patients and 1500 matched controls. All the objects were recruited from Peking University Third Hospital, from January 2011 to December 2018 throughout China.

Outcome measures

Demographic data and information about premorbid cigarette smoking habits were collected at the time of diagnosis. The association of smoking with ALS was investigated using logistic regression analysis. Kaplan-Meier curves were used to compare survival time. Cox proportional hazards function and the hazard ratio were used to identify adjusted prognostic predictors.

Results

Current smokers had an increased risk of ALS (odds ratio = 1.66, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.46, 1.87) compared to never smokers. Current cigarette pack years ≥20 had a significantly shorter median survival (63.89 months, IQR 55.90–71.87) compared with current cigarette pack years<20 (81.09 months, IQR 77.35–84.84) (p<0.001). Smoking habits were retained in Cox multivariable model.

Conclusions

Our study has proved current smoking is associated with an increased risk of ALS. Current cigarette pack years ≥20 is an independent negative prognostic factor for survival, with a dose–response gradient. Its influence is irrelevant to the presence ofchronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) or to respiratory status at time of diagnosis. These results can be helpful for understanding and preventing ALS.
Management control matching pattern and company strategic aggressiveness: empirical test based on annual report text information
Authors: Zeng Xiangfei , Zhang Ting , Zu Yafei
Published: December 2022

Purpose

This paper aims to investigate the law and logic mechanism of management control matching pattern and company strategy aggressiveness under different strategies by textual analysis, based on the empirical data of Chinese A-share listed companies during the period from 2010 to 2018. Additional analyses further investigate the moderating effect of environmental uncertainty and R&D intensity on the relationship between management control matching type and strategy aggressiveness. The conclusion can help relevant departments to develop management control theory and method system with Chinese characteristics and provide theoretical reference for the matching mode of dual control.

Design/methodology/approach

This paper uses the text analysis method. The main explanatory variables are analyzed using the computer SQL Server database software through the relevant text of the board of directors report in the company annual report. Other financial data came from the CSMAR database, excluding ST and PT and companies with missing data, and 16,902 samples were finally obtained. This paper conducted statistical analysis through Stata12.

Findings

This paper shows that the matching pattern between formal and informal control is divided into three types. They have different impacts on strategy aggressiveness. Specifically, consistent matching type II significantly positively influences the aggressiveness of offensive strategy. Consistent matching type I significantly positively influences the aggressiveness of defensive strategy. Complementary matching type I significantly positively influences the aggressiveness of analytical strategy. Additional analyses find that compared with non-high-tech companies, high-tech companies have more significant influence on the relationship between management control matching pattern and company strategic aggressiveness. And compared with other two “strategy-control” matching patterns, both environmental uncertainty and product innovation have more significant influence on the relationship between consistent matching II and offensive strategy aggressiveness.

Originality/value

To the best of the authors’ knowledge, this paper divides the formal and informal control matching patterns of management control into three categories for the first time. It examines the relationship between the formal and informal control matching of management accounting and the degree of strategy aggressiveness. The conclusion provides new empirical evidence to promote the effective implementation of development strategies for companies. It can help relevant departments to develop management control theory and method systems with Chinese characteristics and provide theoretical references for the matching mode of dual control.
Summer of migration: consolidating institutional repositories into a redesigned singular platform
Authors: Symulevich Allison , Boczar Jason
Published: December 2022

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to describe a state mandated merger of two institutional repositories from two separate campuses of a university into one new institutional repository. Due to a State Legislature mandate, the University of South Florida was required to merge institutional repositories from two campus into one new institutional repository.

Design/methodology/approach

USF Libraries formed a committee, planned for the migration and executed of the migration.

Findings

The authors discovered many unforeseen issues during the process of the migration such as difficulties with site redirects and hidden collections.

Originality/value

This project was a large-scale migration of institutional repositories, under a tight deadline due to a legislative mandate, that has not been discussed in detail in the literature.
Alternatives to the quality‐adjusted life year: How well do they address common criticisms?
Authors: Rand Leah Z. , Melendez‐Torres G. J. , Kesselheim Aaron S.
Published: December 2022

Objective

To analyze whether other outcome measures used in health technology assessment (HTA) address the criticisms of quality‐adjusted life years (QALYs).

Data Sources and Study Setting

HTA methods guidance from 11 US comparator countries (the G10 and Australia) and six value frameworks from US organizations were reviewed to identify health outcome measures currently used to evaluate the benefits of a drug.

Study Design

The study involved a documentary analysis of guidelines to identify outcome measures used by the sampled HTA organizations. Similar outcomes were grouped together into outcome types. Each type was analyzed to determine the extent to which it replicates key advantages and responds to criticisms of QALYs extracted from the literature.

Extraction Methods

Outcomes were included if guidance from at least one HTA organization identified the outcome as acceptable for HTA. Outcomes measuring or evaluating the benefit, clinical effect, or impact of a drug or health technology was included; methods of calculating costs were excluded.

Principal Findings

Seven types of outcome measures were identified falling into three groups: preference‐based, single‐dimension outcomes, and outcomes using non‐health perspectives. Among the seven QALY alternative outcome measures currently used for HTA by the sampled countries, no one outcome measure addresses all the QALY criticisms while retaining the advantageous features of the QALY.

Conclusions

Proposals to adopt health technology assessment (HTA) to support value‐based pricing of prescription drugs in the US have faced pushback over the use of the QALY. There is no single “right” outcome measure, and the criticisms of QALYs apply to other outcome measures used to evaluate health. The measures identified have different features and strengths, which may be appropriate for specific decision making goals, but the QALY remains the best option for decision making that requires comparisons of the overall societal value of health gains.
Resistant ecologies
Authors: Khayyat Munira
Published: December 2022

In South Lebanon, war is lived as landscape, environment, milieu. Those pursuing life in such quarters do what they can to make‐live, and their lifelines are often as vitalizing as they are deadly: tobacco farmers ally themselves with what they call a “bitter crop” that flourishes in an arid war zone, while pastoralists walk in explosive fields with their mine‐evading goats. These multispecies alliances flourish because they can survive the deadly infrastructures of war. Dwelling alongside two steadfast families in the borderlands of South Lebanon, this ethnography of life in war moves away from tropes of trauma to grasp a militarized world from within the lived terrain of its operations. Neither green‐tinged utopia nor total devastation, these resistant ecologies make being possible in an insistently deadly region. Thinking life from disastrous war zones forces anthropological theory to reckon with harsh ethnographic realities while bringing to light unsung alliances of hope for life ongoing.
Epidemiology of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis at the population level in Germany
Authors: Kuron David , Voran Jakob Christoph , von Samson‐Himmelstjerna Friedrich Alexander , Baldus Claudia , Kunzendorf Ulrich , Schulte Kevin , Kolbrink Benedikt
Published: December 2022

We retrospectively analysed all German inpatient cases of haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) from 2014 to 2020 to describe the epidemiology, clinical course, and underlying diseases of 4065 HLH patients. The age‐standardized incidence rate of HLH in Germany was 0.52/100 000 people in 2014 and steadily increased by 10% per year to 0.97/100 000 in 2020 (mean 0.70/100 000). Inpatient deaths related to HLH increased from 0.84/1 000 000 people in 2014 to 2.32/1 000 000 people in 2020, caused by rising numbers of older HLH patients. Overall, HLH is more frequent than previously expected and incidence as well as HLH‐related deaths increased significantly.
Punctuated propagation of a corrugated extensional detachment offshore Ireland
Authors: Lymer Gaël , Childs Conrad , Walsh John
Published: December 2022

Low‐angle detachments are fundamental crustal structures found in many extensional systems and plate tectonic boundaries, including onshore extensional basins, rifted margins and mid‐oceanic ridges. Direct observations of the complete geometry of extensional detachments are rare so that aspects of our understanding of their development and evolution rely mainly on proxy observations and numerical simulations. A high‐resolution 3D seismic reflection survey Offshore West of Ireland images a complete corrugated extensional detachment, from its steep oceanward breakaway faults to its back‐rotated domal crest. The detachment surface, the P reflector, developed during the Jurassic hyperextension of the Porcupine Basin and is preserved in its slip position. It covers 95 × 35 km area and has a N‐S elongate domal shape, at right angles to the prevailing extension direction, with a crest at ca. 6.3 s two‐way travel time. It is overlain by a syn‐rift sequence offset by steep frontal faults that pass eastward into shallower, predominantly west‐dipping highly listric faults that merge downwards with the detachment. The detachment has pronounced E‐W corrugations parallel to the basin opening direction, and N‐S lineaments that correspond with the footwall cutoff lines of overlying Jurassic faults. The most significant N‐S lineaments correspond with changes in dip of the detachment. We propose that the geometry of P can be explained by a conceptual model in which the detachment was assembled from initially steep faults that developed at the front of P and back‐rotated to form listric faults during extension, with punctuated oceanward propagation of the segments of the detachment. Comparisons with 2D profiles and 3D surfaces of published detachments suggest that our conceptual model may be applicable to other detachments that accommodate extreme extension at other rifted margins and at mid‐oceanic slow and ultra‐slow spreading ridges.
Preference for talented naturals over hard workers emerges in childhood and shapes behavior
Authors: Ma Shaocong , Tsay Chia‐Jung , Chen Eva E.
Published: December 2022

Both talent and effort are considered essential sources of achievement, but past research suggests a preference for people who appear to achieve through talent. This research examined the potential naturalness preference in 306 Chinese children (Mage: 6.12 years; 164 girls) and 352 adults (Mage: 19.87 years; 182 women) in 2019. In Study 1, participants evaluated a natural or striver protagonist of equal achievement. Children attributed greater competence and warmth to naturals than strivers; adults exhibited this preference only when attributing competence. In Study 2, participants indicated their behavioral preferences between the two protagonists. Children, but not adults, interacted more with naturals than strivers. These findings indicate the naturalness preference emerges early (ds ≥ .27) but declines in strength over time.
Incidence of facial pressure injuries in health‐care professionals during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Su Honghong , Zhou Wenguang , Kong Yue , Zhu Fangfang , Xu Baoling , Shen Xianying , Zhang Weiqin , Zhou Qijun , Lv Qian
Published: December 2022

Aim

To evaluate the incidence of facial pressure injuries in health‐care professionals during the COVID‐19 pandemic in a meta‐analysis.

Methods

Related studies were obtained through electronic databases, including PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI) Chinese Scientific Journal (VIP) China Biomedical Literature service systems (CBM) and Wanfang Data (from inception to 27 November 2021). The pooled incidence and the 95% confidence interval of facial pressure injuries were calculated with Review Manager v5.4 software.

Results

Overall, 16 studies with 14 430 health‐care professionals were included. Pooled results showed that the pooled incidence of facial pressure injury in health‐care professionals was 58.8% (95% CI: 49.0%–68.7%; p < 0.01). The results of the subgroup analysis showed that the incidence of facial pressure injury in these staff was high, and predominantly stage I pressure injury, in the following cases: in health‐care professionals who wore personal protective equipment for longer than 4 h, in those without any training experience, and on the nose.

Conclusion

Administrators and researchers should pay attention to preventing facial pressure injury related to the wearing of personal protective equipment (PPE) by ensuring all health‐care professionals receive training and by limiting prolonged periods of use.
Physiotherapists' knowledge on pressure ulcer prevention
Authors: Ozcan Ozlem , Karaali Hayriye Kul
Published: December 2022

Pressure ulcers can develop in bedridden or immobile patients which physiotherapists frequently encounter. Although physiotherapists receive training for preventing pressure ulcers, there is limited evidence of physiotherapists' knowledge level. Our study evaluated physiotherapists' pressure ulcer prevention knowledge. The level of knowledge for pressure ulcer prevention was inquired with the Turkish version of the Pressure Ulcer Prevention Knowledge Assessment Instrument (PUPKAI‐T). Two hundred and sixty‐five physiotherapists participated in our study. The median PUPKAI‐T total score ranged from 8 to 21. Only two physiotherapists (0.8%) got good points from the questionnaire. The highest score was Nutrition (Theme 4; 59.2%), and the lowest score belonged to the contact preventive interventions that reduce pressure/shearing (Theme 5; 26.7%). The question with the lowest success rate was the positioning question of Theme 5 (Question 2; 12.5%). In our study, physiotherapists' pressure ulcer prevention knowledge was evaluated with a relatively high number of participants compared to the literature. These results brought to mind that training programs that specifically emphasise techniques to prevent pressure ulcers and positioning manoeuvres to be organised increase the knowledge level of physiotherapists.
Quarterly earnings guidance and real earnings management
Authors: García Osma Beatriz , Guillamón Saorín Encarna , Mercado Facundo
Published: December 2022

We examine if quarterly earnings guidance induces real earnings management. Quarterly guidance may cause myopia and inefficient decision‐making, if managers become overly concerned with setting and beating short‐term earnings targets. We test these associations on a large sample of US firms. Our evidence suggests that quarterly guidance is informative and lowers myopic incentives. However, our analyses also reveal endogenous associations exist between guidance and real earnings management. In contrast with existing concerns over frequent guiders, we find that guidance appears problematic in infrequent guiders, and in firms that issue good news earnings guidance and that operate in settings where earnings pressures are high.
Consequences of the Covid‐19 pandemic on complex multimorbid elderly: Follow‐up of a community‐based cohort. SAMAC3 Study
Authors: Ruzafa‐Martinez Maria , García‐González Jessica , Morales‐Asencio José Miguel , Leal‐Costa Cesar , Hernández‐Méndez Solanger , Hernández‐López María Jesús , Albarracín‐Olmedo Juana , Ramos‐Morcillo Antonio Jesús
Published: December 2022

Background

The restrictions imposed during the management of the pandemic led to lack of care of other health problems.

Purpose

To assess changes in the health status of complex multimorbidity elderly, functional and cognitive capacities, perception of the social surroundings, care provided by the nurses, including nursing diagnosis and interventions, use of health services, adverse events, and use of devices and technical help during the first 6 months of the Covid‐19 pandemic.

Design

A 1‐year longitudinal cohort study was conducted.

Methods

Ninety‐seven complex multimorbid elderly attended in primary care were evaluated every 3 months in a health area of the Spanish National Health System (SNHS). The research was called “SAMAC3 study”.

Results

Significant negative changes were observed in the functional and cognitive capacity of the elderly, and in several nursing diagnoses. A decrease was observed in the frequency of visit to the nurses, hospital admittance, length of hospital stays, and falls.

Conclusions

The functional and cognitive capacities of the cohort became worse. However, a significant decrease in the frequency of use of health services was observed. The nurses detected significant changes in activity‐exercise, cognitive‐perception, and roles‐relationships, but their interventions were mostly centered on resolving clinical matters that required immediate attention.

Clinical Relevance

The present study allowed us to observe that a situation of social and health stress has worsened the health indicators of multimorbid elderly, and the clinical care of community nurses was insufficient to providing care for the deterioration of the physical and cognitive domains.
Does vitamin D level associate with pregnancy outcomes in Chinese women undergoing in vitro fertilization/intracytoplasmic sperm injection‐embryo transfer? A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Yu Zhengchen , Sun Yiqun , Wang Peng , Hu Yinkai , Zhou Yuxi , Xie Jinrui , Lu Zhenzhen , Xu Luxuan , Zhao Junzhao , Chi Haihong
Published: December 2022

Aim

To explore the relationship between serum 25(OH)D level and pregnancy outcomes (clinical pregnancy rate [CPR] and live birth rate [LBR]) in Chinese women receiving in vitro fertilization (IVF)/intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI)‐embryo transfer (ET) (IVF/ICSI‐ET).

Methods

A total of 612 patients included in the study were divided into four cohorts according to serum 25(OH)D with the threshold of 20 ng/ml, 25 ng/ml, 30 ng/ml, and retrospectively analyzed.

Results

None of the baseline characteristics of participants was significantly different in the four cohorts except gravid status. The trend of 25(OH)D concentration was positively correlated with CPR and LBR. The younger (age: p < 0.001 both in CPR and LBR) women with primary infertility (infertility type: p = 0.004 in LBR) were more likely to get a better pregnancy outcome under the same 25(OH)D concentration stages. As shown on heatmap plots, CPR, and LBR were significantly increased for 25(OH)D concentrations above 30.00 ng/ml and women younger than 30 years old. The adjusted binary logistic regression and restricted cubic spline (RCS) showed that there existed a nonlinear positive correlation between 25(OH)D concentration and pregnancy outcome (CPR and LBR) (Pnonlinear < 0.001, respectively). The women with a sufficient 25(OH)D concentration (30 ng/ml) had 1.07 (clinical pregnancy) and 1.05 (live birth) times higher successful birth outcomes compared to women with an insufficient 25(OH)D concentration (25 ng/ml). (OR25 ng/ml, ref = 30 ng/ml [95% CI] = 0.935 [0.932–0.938] and 0.947 [0.945–0.950], p < 0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

In Chinese women receiving IVF/ICSI‐ET, the serum level of 25(OH)D demonstrated a nonlinear positive correlation with pregnancy outcomes (CPR and LBR), with stronger correlations above 25 ng/ml and worse yields below 30 ng/ml. However, it could not yet be considered different in distinct ages.
Intracranial atherosclerotic plaque enhancement and long‐term risk of future strokes: A prospective, longitudinal study
Authors: Gómez‐Vicente Beatriz , Hernández‐Pérez María , Martínez‐Velasco Elena , Rodríguez‐Velasco Margarita , Munuera Josep , Rubiera Marta , Vert Carla , Dorado Laura , de Lera Mercedes , Calleja Ana Isabel , Cortijo Elisa , Agulla Jesús , López‐Cancio Elena , Arenillas Juan Francisco
Published: December 2022

Background and Purpose

The prognostic significance of postcontrast enhancement of intracranial atheromatous plaque is uncertain. Prospective, long‐term follow‐up studies in Caucasians, using a multicenter design, are lacking. We aimed to evaluate whether this radiological sign predicts long‐term new stroke in symptomatic and asymptomatic intracranial atherosclerotic disease (ICAD) patients.

Methods

This was a prospective, observational, longitudinal, multicenter study. We included a symptomatic and an asymptomatic cohort of ICAD patients that underwent 3T MRI including high‐resolution sequences focused on the atheromatous plaque. We evaluated grade of stenosis, plaque characteristics, and gadolinium enhancement ratio (postcontrast plaque signal/postcontrast corpus callosum signal). The occurrence of new events was evaluated at 3, 6, 9, and 12 months and annually thereafter. The association between plaque characteristics and new stroke was studied using Cox multiple regression survival analysis and Kaplan‐Meier curves.

Results

Forty‐eight symptomatic and 13 asymptomatic patients were included. During 56.3 ± 16.9 months, 11 patients (18%) suffered a new event (seven ischemic, two hemorrhagic, and two transient ischemic attacks). A receiver operating characteristic curve identified an enhancement ratio of >1.77 to predict a new event. In a multivariable Cox regression, postcontrast enhancement ratio >1.77 (hazard ratio [HR]= 3.632; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.082‐12.101) and cerebral microbleeds (HR = 5.244; 95% CI, 1.476‐18.629) were independent predictors of future strokes. Patients with a plaque enhancement ratio >1.77 had a lower survival free of events (p < .05).

Conclusions

High intracranial postcontrast enhancement is a long‐term predictor of new stroke in ICAD patients. Further studies are needed to elucidate whether postcontrast enhancement reflects inflammatory activity of intracranial atheromatous plaque.
Front‐loading STEM enrichment to prepare learners for STEM pathways
Authors: Olszewski‐Kubilius Paula
Published: December 2022

In this article, we describe a collaboration between a university and school district aimed at preparing more students who are typically underidentified and underserved in gifted programs for advanced STEM coursework in high school. Features of the collaboration included early intervention, significant outside‐of‐school programming and coursework in STEM through elementary and middle school (over 400 h), tutoring, and support for families. Data included scores on two standardized achievement tests for 14 cohorts of students who self‐identified as African American and/or Hispanic (361 total students) as they progressed from Grade 3 to Grade 8, placement in accelerated mathematics courses in Grade 9, and college matriculation. Comparisons were made to data for comparable demographic groups within the school district. Results showed greater growth in reading and mathematics compared to demographic peers in the district reaching achievement levels comparable to the highest‐scoring students in the district. There were significant increases in the percentage of students entering high school with advanced placement in mathematics as well as improvement over multiple cohorts in matriculation at more selective institutions of higher education. Results are discussed with respect to best practices for the identification of students with potential STEM talent, effective university–school partnerships, and STEM‐talent development pathways.