bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Pneumococcal proteins ClpC and UvrC as novel host plasminogen binding factors
Authors: Hirayama Satoru , Yasui Yoshihito , Sasagawa Karin , Domon Hisanori , Terao Yutaka
Published: December 2022

Two plasminogen binding proteins were identified from a mouse infected with Streptococcus pneumoniae. The pneumococcal proteins were annotated as ATP‐dependent Clp protease ATP‐binding subunit (ClpC) and excinuclease ABC subunit C (UvrC) using the isobaric tags for relative and absolute quantification (iTRAQ) method. Recombinants of both proteins showed significant binding to plasminogen and were found to promote plasminogen activation by tissue‐type plasminogen activator. In addition, ClpC and UvrC were LytA‐dependently released into the culture supernatant and bound to the bacterial surface. These results suggest that S. pneumoniae releases ClpC and UvrC by autolysis and recruits them to the bacterial surface, where they bind to plasminogen and promote its activation, contributing to extracellular matrix degradation and tissue invasion.
Macrophage colony‐stimulating factor potentially induces recruitment and maturation of macrophages in recurrent pituitary neuroendocrine tumors
Authors: Matsuzaki Hiroaki , Komohara Yoshihiro , Yano Hiromu , Fujiwara Yukio , Kai Keitaro , Yamada Rin , Yoshii Daiki , Uekawa Ken , Shinojima Naoki , Mikami Yoshiki , Mukasa Akitake
Published: December 2022

Although pituitary neuroendocrine tumors (PitNETs) are usually benign, some are highly invasive and recurrent. Recurrent PitNETs are often treatment‐resistant and there is currently no effective evidence‐based treatment. Tumor‐associated macrophages (TAMs) promote tumor growth in many cancers, but the effect of TAMs on PitNETs remains unclear. This study investigated the role of TAMs in the incidence of recurrent PitNETs. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the densities of CD163‐ and CD204‐positive TAMs tended to increase in recurrent PitNETs. Compared with TAMs in primary lesions, those in recurrent lesions were enlarged. To clarify the cell–cell interactions between TAMs and PitNETs, in vitro experiments were performed using a mouse PitNET cell line AtT20 and the mouse macrophage cell line J774. Several cytokines related to macrophage chemotaxis and differentiation, such as M‐CSF, were elevated significantly by stimulation with macrophage conditioned medium. When M‐CSF immunohistochemistry analysis was performed using human PitNET samples, M‐CSF expression increased significantly in recurrent lesions compared with primary lesions. Although no M‐CSF receptor (M‐CSFR) expression was observed in tumor cells of primary and recurrent PitNETs, flow cytometric analysis revealed that the mouse PitNET cell line expressed M‐CSFR. Cellular proliferation in mouse PitNETs was inhibited by high concentrations of M‐CSFR inhibitors, suggesting that cell‐to‐cell communication between PitNETs and macrophages induces M‐CSF expression, which in turn enhances TAM chemotaxis and maturation in the tumor microenvironment. Blocking the M‐CSFR signaling pathway might be a novel therapeutic adjuvant in treating recurrent PitNETs.
Excess Cash Holdings, Stock Returns, and Investment Organicity: Evidence from UK Investment Announcements
Authors: Jones Edward , Li Hao , Adamolekun Oluwagbenga
Published: December 2022

This paper examines whether the market reaction to investment announcements is conditional on company excess cash holdings. Cash may convey significant price‐relevant information about the future cash flows and strategic direction of a company. Using a sample of 4,256 corporate investment announcements by firms listed on the London Stock Exchange over the period 2005–2019, we show that market reactions to new company investment announcements are higher for firms with excess cash holdings. Furthermore, we provide evidence on the relationship between excess cash holdings and market valuation of various investment classes. The results reveal that organic investments are valued more highly by the market than inorganic investments, and the positive impact of excess cash holdings is more pronounced for the set of organic investment decisions, particularly product launches and R&D. Lastly, we evaluate how the motive for holding cash affects the market perception of excess cash holdings. The market views excess cash holdings as positive when cash is held as a result of high exposure to risk, high debt capacity, and high bid–ask spread. Market perception of excess cash holdings reverses from negative before to positive after the global financial crisis.
MR microscopy of the developing upper extremity of the chicken in ovo using 7 Tesla MRI
Authors: Streckenbach Felix , Jäschke Malte , Jahns Nora , Langner Inga , König Julia , Wree Andreas , Stahnke Thomas , Stachs Oliver , Frank Marcus , Langner Sönke , Lindner Tobias
Published: December 2022

MR microscopy (MRM) is known as ultra‐high‐field (UHF) magnetic resonance imaging with an in‐plane spatial resolution of <100 μm, yields highly resolved non‐invasive anatomical imaging and allows longitudinal assessment of embryonic avian development. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the feasibility of in vivo anatomical MRI assessment of the developing upper extremity of the chicken. Thirty‐eight fertilized chicken eggs were examined at 7 Tesla acquiring high‐resolution T2‐weighted images with an in‐plane resolution of 74 × 74 μm. To reduce motion artefacts, the eggs were moderately cooled before and during MRI. Development of the upper extremity was anatomically and quantitatively assessed. Chondrification and ossification on MRI were correlated with histological examination. MRM allowed the identification of the embryo from stage D5 onwards. First chondrification of the upper extremity was visible at stage D7, and the differentiation of the forearm was possible from stage D9 throughout the developmental period with excellent correlation to histology. MRM also allowed the differentiation between cortical and medullary bone as well as the detection of chondrified areas. UHF MRM allows the in vivo and in ovo evaluation of the upper limb during embryonic development and provides non‐invasive longitudinal anatomical information. This technique allows longitudinal studies of the same embryo during the developmental period and may therefore provide further insights into the development of the upper extremity. With improved coil technique and increasing availability of UHF MR systems, there is great potential regarding several research topics in experimental musculoskeletal radiology.
The role of sequential normothermic regional perfusion and end‐ischemic normothermic machine perfusion in liver transplantation from very extended uncontrolled donation after cardiocirculatory death
Authors: Ghinolfi Davide , Melandro Fabio , Torri Francesco , Esposito Massimo , Bindi Maria , Biancofiore Giandomenico , Basta Giuseppina , Del Turco Serena , Lazzeri Chiara , Rotondo Maria Isabella , Peris Adriano , De Simone Paolo
Published: December 2022

The use of pre‐procurement normothermic regional perfusion (NRP) allowed us to implement controlled DCD liver transplantation with results comparable to brain death donors, but the use of uncontrolled DCD is declining due to logistic challenges and the high incidence of post‐transplant complications. In Italy, the mandatory stand‐off period of 20 min for DCD donors has driven the combined use of NRP and ex‐situ machine perfusion with the intent to counterbalance the negative impact of prolonged warm ischemia. Organ viability during NRP is based on duration of warm ischemia, regional perfusion flow, lactate, transaminases values and histology, and those used in Italy are the widest worldwide. However, this evaluation can be difficult, especially when the acute damage is particularly severe. The use of ex‐situ NRP could provide a safe organ evaluation. In the period from 06/2020 to 06/2022, all DCD grafts exceeding NRP viability criteria at a single center were eventually evaluated using ex‐situ normothermic machine perfusion. Machine perfusion viability criteria were based on lactate clearance, irrespectively to bile production, unless 1‐h transaminases perfusate level were not exceeding 5000 IU/L. Three cases of uncontrolled DCD grafts in excess of NRP viability criteria underwent ex‐situ graft evaluation. Two matched ex‐situ normothermic machine perfusion viability criteria and were successfully transplanted. Both recipients are doing well after 26 and 5 months after surgery with no signs of ischemic cholangiopathy. This experience suggests that the sequential use of NRP and normothermic machine perfusion may further expand the boundaries of organ viability in uncontrolled DCD liver transplantation.
First clinical kidney transplantation series using brief bubble and direct surface oxygenation as alternative for membrane oxygenation during hypothermic machine perfusion
Authors: Darius Tom , Devresse Arnaud , Buemi Antoine , Kanaan Nada , De Meyer Martine , Mourad Michel
Published: December 2022

Background

Active oxygen during hypothermic machine perfusion has the potential to improve mitochondrial preservation and subsequently decrease the harmful effects of ischemia reperfusion injury. Brief bubble, and subsequent surface oxygenation are an alternative oxygenation technique for membrane‐oxygenated kidneys during hypothermic machine perfusion (HMP).

Methods

Between March 20, 2022, and June 13, 2022, 5 kidney grafts originating from 3 donors after circulatory death were oxygenated by bubble and surface oxygenation during HMP.

Results

No adverse events related to this new oxygenation technique were observed. All five recipients experienced no dialysis‐dependency after transplantation with excellent initial graft function at 3 months after transplantation.

Conclusions

For the first time in human, this new oxygenation technique was successfully applied to 5 HMP‐kidneys, originating from donation after circulatory death. If confirmed on larger scale cohorts, this innovative oxygenation technique, as alternative oxygenation technique for membrane‐oxygenated kidneys, has the potential to be widely implemented because its simplicity and efficacy, and reducing economic and ecological costs by eliminating the need for a membrane oxygenator and oxygen source during transport.
A prospective descriptive 1‐year study in France of all BCG therapy dispensations for non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer
Authors: Neuzillet Yann , Leon Priscilla , Seisen Thomas , Allory Yves , Audenet François , Loriot Yohann , Masson‐Lecomte Alexandra , Mejean Arnaud , Pradère Benjamin , Roumiguié Mathieu , Traxer Olivier , Xylinas Evanguelos , Fournier Georges , Roupret Morgan
Published: December 2022

Objectives

To describe the clinico‐pathological characteristics of non‐muscle‐invasive bladder cancer (NMIBC) treated in metropolitan France over 1 year when bacille Calmette‐Guérin (BCG) was subject to a national quota, and to document, in the context of recurrent shortages of intravesical BCG for NMIBC, the real‐life indications for adjuvant treatment.

Materials and Methods

Between February 2021 and February 2022, the French National Agency for the Safety of Medicines (ANSM) asked the French Association of Urology to propose a science‐based quota solution for BCG using a clinical score. The ANSM then asked the distributor of the drug, MEDAC, to collect the scores for all patients for whom BCG was requested by healthcare institutions and to prioritize the requests for patients with the highest scores. Tumour stage, grade, size, number, time to recurrence, carcinoma in situ, age, accessibility of alternative treatments (total cystectomy, radio‐chemotherapy, thermo‐chemotherapy) and BCG treatment progress (initiation or maintenance) were documented for each intravesical BCG prescription. A descriptive analysis of the data collected during the quota year was performed.

Results

During the 1‐year quota, 25 878 requests for BCG were made for 19 024 patients, 60.5% of whom were aged ≥70 years. Requests for induction and maintenance treatment accounted for 12 704 (49.1%) and 13 174 prescriptions (50.9%), respectively. NMIBC treated with BCG maintenance therapy was more frequently high‐risk NMIBC (91.7% vs 90.2%; P < 0.0001) than NMIBC for which induction therapy was requested. The number of cases of NMIBC leading to BCG adjuvant treatment was estimated at 12 704 cases/66 062 188 inhabitants over 1 year in metropolitan France.

Conclusions

Our data suggest that the incidence of NMIBC at high risk of recurrence and progression is underestimated in reference epidemiological studies. These results should help to better define future care needs.
A comparison of ancient deltaic shoreline progradation with modern deltaic progradation rates: Unravelling the temporal structure of the shallow‐marine Blackhawk Formation, Upper Cretaceous Western Interior Seaway, USA
Authors: Aadland Tore , Hampson Gary , Helland‐Hansen William
Published: December 2022

Understanding how sedimentary rocks represent time is one of the significant challenges in sedimentology. Sedimentation rates retrieved from vertical sections are strongly timescale dependent, which means that we cannot use empirical rate data derived from vertical sections in modern environments to interpret the temporal structure of ancient sedimentary deposits. We use the Lower to Middle Campanian Blackhawk Formation deposits in eastern Utah and western Colorado as a natural laboratory to test a source‐to‐sink methodology circumventing this timescale dependence by relating modern progradation rates to the deltaic shoreline progradation of ancient siliciclastic rocks. Our objective is to quantify how much time is needed to account for the observed cumulative deltaic shoreline progradation recorded by the shallow‐marine sandstone bodies of the Blackhawk Formation in terms of progradation rates derived from comparable modern deltaic systems. By making the simplifying assumption that the Blackhawk Formation rocks were deposited along a linear coastline that only grew by aggradation and progradation, it is possible to argue that the stratigraphic completeness of two‐dimensional dip‐oriented stratigraphic cross‐sections through these deposits should be high. Furthermore, we hypothesise that delta progradation estimates capture a significant portion of the biostratigraphically and radiometrically constrained duration of the succession. By comparing the recorded progradation with modern progradation rates, we estimate that we need ca. 20% (median value, with minimum and maximum estimates of 2% and 300%) of the time available from biostratigraphic and radiometric dating to account for the progradation recorded by the sedimentary deposits. This indicates that long‐term progradation rates averaged over the entire duration of the Blackhawk Formation were only a factor of five times slower than the modern progradation rates derived from observations over periods that are five to six orders of magnitude shorter. We conclude that a significant amount of time is represented by prograding deltaic shoreline deposits and that by considering the cumulative shoreline progradation, we could limit the effects of timescale dependence on the rate estimates used in our analysis.
‘Youth are not something to check off your to do list’: Poetic inquiry into the symbols youth, parents and professionals use to reimagine supports for youth in foster care
Authors: Clark Shelby L. , Akin Becci A. , McCall Sarah , Paceley Meg , Byers Kaela , Gomez Mariana
Published: December 2022

The child welfare system is characterized by fixed power structures, coercion and hierarchies that privilege the perspectives of a select few. These oppressive aspects of the system quelch youth voice and others' voices, especially those with lived experience, frequently omitting them from case‐ and system‐level decisions. Acknowledging the empowering potential of creative and arts‐based research, this study used poetic inquiry with youth in or formerly in foster care, parent partners and professionals working in child welfare, inviting them to reimagine how the system could support youth in foster care towards thriving. Through seven poetry focus groups, 41 participants wrote individual and relational poems. Analyses focused on how symbols were used and their suggestions for revisioning child welfare. Seven themes identified the types of symbols used in poems: 1) Nature/Natural Phenomena, 2) Human Body/Senses, 3) Actions, 4) Physical Objects, 5) Paperwork, Cases, Bureaucracy, 6) Connectedness/Family and 7) Strong Emotions. Beyond demonstrating a novel arts‐based method, findings offer a new, creative space for understanding the foster care system. Symbols were powerful and cut across life experiences and identities. A key implication pointed to using symbolic language to aid the work of revisioning child welfare towards humanistic and embodied approaches, social justice and well‐being.
Play and learn: Children's agency through the COVID‐19 pandemic in Mozambique
Authors: Pastore Marina Di Napoli , Salvi Francesca
Published: December 2022

Social distancing, one of the measures adopted in the context of the COVID‐19 pandemic, profoundly impacted on the lives of children. The consequences were, however, not homogenous. By focusing on the daily practices of 41 Mozambican children aged 3–10, we consider how differences in socioeconomic backgrounds led children to respond to the social restrictions in ways that made sense to them. Inspired by Abebe (2019), we identify how the interruptions of daily routines enabled specific instances of agency on children's part. These, we argue, produce new forms of continuity.
Young adult carers—Transitioning to adulthood or to adult caring?
Authors: Boyle Geraldine , Mozdiak Elizabeth
Published: December 2022

Social care policy in the UK emphasises the importance of supporting young adult carers to make positive transitions to adulthood. This paper reports findings from a qualitative study which explored whether young adult carers' services in England are facilitating transitions. The research found that young adult carers' services were endeavouring to raise young adult carers' aspirations and achieve personalised outcomes, in line with the Care Act 2014. However, formal provision for young adult carers in England, in the main, designates them as adult carers. Yet, young adult carers need to have sufficient opportunities for making decisions about their futures. Strategic funding and development of services are required to enable the Act's vision to be achieved.
6 mm short versus 11 mm long inter‐foraminal implants in the full‐arch rehabilitation of edentulous non‐atrophic mandibles: 5‐year results from a multicenter randomized controlled trial
Authors: Guida Luigi , Esposito Umberto , Sirignano Massimiliano , Torrisi Paolo , Annunziata Marco , Cecchinato Denis
Published: December 2022

Objective

The aim of this multicenter parallel‐group randomized controlled trial is to compare, in the same clinical scenario, 6 mm short with 11 mm long implants for the rehabilitation of completely edentulous non‐atrophic mandibles.

Materials and Methods

Thirty patients in three study centers received a fixed full‐arch mandibular rehabilitation supported by five inter‐foraminal implants, with no need for bone augmentation procedures. Patients were randomly allocated (1:1 ratio), at the time of surgery, to test (6 mm implants) or control group (11 mm implants). After 3 months, a screw‐retained full‐arch prosthesis was positioned (baseline). Peri‐implant marginal bone level change (MBLc, primary outcome) together with implant and prosthesis survival rate, and biological/technical complications (secondary outcomes) were evaluated up to 5 years.

Results

Twenty seven patients were controlled at 5 years (3 drop‐outs). No implant or prosthesis loss occurred. No significant intergroup difference for biological/technical complications (p > .05, Fisher's exact test) and no significant intragroup and intergroup difference in the MBLc values were registered (test −0.03 ± 0.17 mm and control −0.13 ± 0.32 mm at 5‐years; p > .025, one‐sided Mann–Whitney U‐test).

Conclusions

When used in comparable anatomic, surgical, and prosthetic conditions, no difference in the clinical and radiographic outcomes between 6‐mm and 11‐mm implants was observed at 5 years of follow‐up. Short implants showed to be a reliable option for the rehabilitation of completely edentulous non‐atrophic mandibles. There is growing clinical evidence supporting the use of short implants, even in the case of non‐atrophic sites.
Tobacco use increases the risk of chronic rhinosinusitis among patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery
Authors: Gill Amarbir S. , Meeks Huong , Curtin Karen , Kelly Kerry , Alt Jeremiah A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Although it has been postulated that tobacco use, as well as other environmental exposures, may contribute to chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), the data remain limited. Here, we utilised a large state population database to assess the association between tobacco use and CRS prevalence among patients undergoing endoscopic sinus surgery (ESS).

Methods

Employing a case–control study design, the Utah Population Database was queried for patients age >18 with a diagnosis of CRS and tobacco use who underwent ESS between 1996 and 2018. Smoking status was compared between patients with CRS (n = 34 350) and random population controls matched 5:1 on sex, birth year, birthplace, time residing in Utah, and pedigree (i.e., familial) information (n = 166 020). Conditional logistic regression models were used for comparisons between CRS patients and their matched controls. All analyses were repeated, additionally adjusting for race, ethnicity, tobacco use, asthma history, and interaction between tobacco use and asthma history.

Results

A total of 200 370 patients were included in the final analysis. Patients with CRS were significantly more likely to demonstrate a history of tobacco use than controls (19.6% vs. 15.0%; p < .001), with an adjusted odds ratio (aOR) of 1.42, 95% confidence interval 1.37–1.47; p < .001. More patients with CRS and comorbid asthma used tobacco (19.5%) than controls with asthma (15.0%; p < .001).

Conclusion

History of tobacco use may portend increased risk for the development of CRS among patients undergoing ESS compared to healthy controls.
Using the BODY‐Q to develop a prospective cohort of patients undergoing bariatric and body contouring surgery: A study protocol
Authors: Grift Annewiek , de Vries Claire , Monpellier Valerie , Makarawung Dennis , de Raaff Christel , Nijland Leontien , Mink van der Molen Aebele , Wiezer Rene , van Wagensveld Bart , van Veen Ruben , de Castro Steve , Florisson Joyce , Hoogbergen Maarten
Published: December 2022

The BODY‐Q is a patient‐reported outcome measure designed to measure health‐related quality of life, satisfaction with appearance and experience with healthcare in patients with obesity who undergo bariatric surgery and/or body contouring surgery after massive weight loss. The aim of this study is to collect long term PRO‐data from patients living with obesity undergoing bariatric surgery, comparing patient undergoing or not undergoing body contouring surgery. This study will be a multicentre, prospective longitudinal cohort study with participation of three bariatric medical centres in the Netherlands. The BODY‐Q will be used to measure the satisfaction with appearance and HRQL. Patients undergoing bariatric surgery, age >18 years and <65 years and who are able to read and understand Dutch can be included. All bariatric procedures are eligible for inclusion. Administration of the questionnaires will be done preoperatively for bariatric and body contouring surgery as well as at 3, 12, 24, 36, 48 and 60 months post‐operatively. Patient‐reported outcomes measurements are becoming more important with the shift to patient‐centred healthcare. The collected longitudinal data can be helpful in determining the effectiveness and value of bariatric and body contouring surgery from the patient's perspective, and can contribute to patient tailored postoperative care.
The prevalence and relevance of patch testing with textile dyes
Authors: Nijman Lars , Rustemeyer Thomas , Franken Sylvie M. , Ipenburg Norbertus A.
Published: December 2022

Background

Textile dye mix (TDM) is included in the European baseline series (EBS), but it is unknown if TDM identifies all patients with a textile dye allergy.

Objectives

To assess the added value of performing patch testing with individual textile dyes in addition to TDM.

Methods

Two hundred and nine patients suspected to have a contact allergy to textile dyes were patch tested between January 2015 and December 2021 with the EBS, as well as an individual textile dye test series containing textile dyes part of TDM (TDM‐dyes) and outside the scope of TDM (non‐TDM dyes).

Results

Fifty‐four patients (25.8%) tested positive for TDM or an individual textile dye. Disperse Orange 3 (9.6%) followed by Disperse Blue 106 (4.8%) were the most common individual textile dyes causing a positive patch test reaction. Of the 54 dye positive patients, 28 (51.9%) had a clinically relevant reaction. No clinically relevant reactions were seen in patients that solely tested positive for non‐TDM dyes.

Conclusions

It is beneficial to test individual textile dyes in addition to TDM in patients suspected of having a textile dye allergy. Otherwise, 46.3% of the dye positive patients and 35.7% of the patients with a clinically relevant reaction would have been missed.
Clinical impact of preoperative and postoperative sarcopenia on oncological outcomes in non‐metastatic colorectal cancer
Authors: Lee Jeehye , Cho Jung Rae , Kim Duck‐Woo , Yang In Jun , Suh Jung Wook , Oh Heung‐Kwon , Kang Sung‐Bum
Published: December 2022

Aim

This study investigated the association between preoperative and postoperative changes in skeletal muscle mass and long‐term oncological outcomes in patients with non‐metastatic colorectal cancer.

Method

Patients who underwent surgery for Stages I–III colorectal cancer from January 2014 to December 2015 were included. Skeletal muscle mass was evaluated through preoperative and postoperative abdominopelvic CT scans. A multivariable analysis was conducted to determine the factors affecting disease‐free survival rates.

Results

A total of 238 patients were analysed. Forty‐nine (25.9%) patients had preoperative sarcopenia. Patients with preoperative sarcopenia showed lower 3‐year disease‐free survival (58.5% vs. 78.4%, P = 0.001). Patients with postoperative sarcopenia also showed significantly lower 3‐year disease‐free survival compared to postoperative patients without sarcopenia at 6, 12 and 18 months, respectively (53.9% vs. 77.8%; 69.7% vs. 81.8%; 69.1% vs. 87.7%, P = 0.004). In a subgroup analysis, patients with both preoperative and postoperative sarcopenia showed the lowest 3‐year disease‐free survival rates (50.9%). The incidence of tumour recurrence was higher among the patients who had lost more skeletal muscle mass at 12, 18 and 24 months (−14.3 cm2/m2 vs. −1.5 cm2/m2, P < 0.001; −24.5 cm2/m2 vs. −1.1 cm2/m2, P < 0.001; and −31.6 cm2/m2 vs. −1.4 cm2/m2, P < 0.001, respectively). A multivariable analysis demonstrated that the factors associated with disease‐free survival included tumour stage, venous invasion, adjuvant chemotherapy, and preoperative or postoperative sarcopenia.

Conclusion

Not only preoperative but also postoperative sarcopenic changes adversely affect oncological outcomes following curative resection of colorectal cancer. Careful attention should be given to correcting sarcopenic status from the preoperative to the postoperative period.
An optimal cluster based security and resilience of smart home environments using hybrid soft computing techniques
Authors: Saravanan Thapasimuthu Rajeswari , Kalaivani Jeyaraj , Nagarajan Govindan
Published: December 2022

Smart home is the main part of smart intelligent system here the remote users share the sensitive information through an insecure medium to access such smart devices, which becomes security issues. The recent user authentication protocols have used to solve those problems and provide secure communication. Consumer traffic increase the risk of illegal user as legal user and radio channels are extra vulnerable to listeners. For further security enhancement, we proposed an optimal cluster based remote user authentication (OCRUA) protocol for smart home environment using hybrid soft computing techniques. The first contribution of proposed protocol is to introduce squirrel induced butterfly optimization (SBO) algorithm for cluster formation, which groups the smart devices. Then, we compute the cluster head (CH) using the teacher learning based deep neural network (TL‐DNN) based on multiple design constraints. The second contribution is to illustrate remote user authentication using optimal elliptic curve cryptography (OECC) which encrypts the sensitive information before forward to gateway. At long last, the concert of planned OCRUA protocol evaluates use different replication scenarios and shows the effectiveness over the existing state‐of‐art protocols.
Risk and prognostic factors of invasive gastric cancer detection during surveillance endoscopy: Multi‐institutional cross‐sectional study
Authors: Yasuda Takeshi , Dohi Osamu , Yamada Shinya , Ishida Tsugitaka , Iwai Naoto , Hongo Hitoshi , Terasaki Kei , Tanaka Makoto , Yamada Nobuhisa , Kamada Kazuhiro , Horie Ryusuke , Harusato Akihito , Horii Yusuke , Takayama Shun , Zen Keika , Majima Atsushi , Mizuno Naoki , Motoyoshi Takayuki , Yagi Nobuaki , Naito Yuji , Itoh Yoshito
Published: December 2022

Objectives

Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) is important for the detection of curable gastric cancer (GC). However, there are no appropriate surveillance data during routine endoscopic inspections. This study aimed to clarify the risk factors of pT1b or deeper GC detection during surveillance endoscopy.

Methods

This was a retrospective, multicenter, cross‐sectional study conducted in 15 Japanese hospitals. We retrospectively analyzed patients with GC who had previously undergone surveillance endoscopy at each institution from January 2014 to March 2020. Patients who had undergone gastrectomy, non‐infection of Helicobacter pylori (Hp), and those with intervals <3 months or >10 years from a previous endoscopy were excluded.

Results

In total, 1085 patients with GCs detected during surveillance endoscopy were enrolled. The multivariate logistic analysis revealed that current Hp infection (odds ratio [OR] 2.18; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.50–3.16) and a surveillance interval of >1.5 years (OR 1.96; 95% CI 1.35–2.84) were independent risk factors for pT1b or deeper GC. The 5‐year disease‐specific survival (5y‐DSS) rate of GC was significantly lower in patients with surveillance interval of >1.5 years than in those with surveillance interval of ≤1.5 years (93.7% vs. 98.3%, P < 0.001). Similarly, the 5y‐DSS rate of GC was significantly lower in patients with active Hp infection than in those without (93.7% vs. 99.4%, P < 0.001).

Conclusion

In this study, a surveillance interval of >1.5 years and current Hp infection were independent risk factors for detecting pT1b or deeper GC. Additionally, these factors were poor prognostic factors of the detected GC during surveillance endoscopy.
Assessing the effectiveness of government and non‐governmental organization in assisting internally displaced women in Nigeria
Authors: Bamidele Seun , Pikirayi Innocent
Published: December 2022

Motivation

There is scant information on support systems for internally displaced persons in Nigeria, and none on internally displaced women in the New Kuchingoro camp. This limits the operations of aid agencies and other stakeholders, preventing them from providing targeted assistance.

Purpose

First, it examined the support provided by two government agencies: the National Commission for Refugees, Migrants and Internally Displaced Persons (NCFRMI) and the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA). Second, it investigated and examined the support given by non‐governmental organizations, religious organizations, and philanthropists. Third, it analysed the challenges facing these bodies, drew conclusions about the policy implications of the situation in New Kuchingoro, and made recommendations for changes that would improve the lives of internally displaced women in the camp.

Methods and approach

Using qualitative research methods, the study investigated and evaluated the various support systems provided by NCFRMI and NEMA to internally displaced women in the New Kuchingoro camp in Abuja, along with some NGOs, religious groups, and philanthropists.

Findings

The study revealed the inadequacy of co‐ordination between government agencies and NGOs in the provision of humanitarian assistance to the New Kuchingoro camp. While these NGOs were willing to provide humanitarian assistance to the women, the lack of administrative support from NCFRMI and NEMA frustrated this objective.

Policy implications

The government needs to clarify the respective roles of NCFRMI and NEMA with regard to IDPs and relationships with non‐government aid providers, ensure adequate funding for IDPs, stamp out corruption, respect the humanitarian principles of impartiality and neutrality, and ultimately address the underlying causes of displacement.
Transforming epilepsy research: A systematic review on natural language processing applications
Authors: Yew Arister N. J. , Schraagen Marijn , Otte Willem M. , van Diessen Eric
Published: December 2022

Despite improved ancillary investigations in epilepsy care, patients' narratives remain indispensable for diagnosing and treatment monitoring. This wealth of information is typically stored in electronic health records and accumulated in medical journals in an unstructured manner, thereby restricting complete utilization in clinical decision‐making. To this end, clinical researchers increasing apply natural language processing (NLP)—a branch of artificial intelligence—as it removes ambiguity, derives context, and imbues standardized meaning from free‐narrative clinical texts. This systematic review presents an overview of the current NLP applications in epilepsy and discusses the opportunities and drawbacks of NLP alongside its future implications. We searched the PubMed and Embase databases with a “natural language processing” and “epilepsy” query (March 4, 2022) and included original research articles describing the application of NLP techniques for textual analysis in epilepsy. Twenty‐six studies were included. Fifty‐eight percent of these studies used NLP to classify clinical records into predefined categories, improving patient identification and treatment decisions. Other applications of NLP had structured clinical information retrieval from electronic health records, scientific papers, and online posts of patients. Challenges and opportunities of NLP applications for enhancing epilepsy care and research are discussed. The field could further benefit from NLP by replicating successes in other health care domains, such as NLP‐aided quality evaluation for clinical decision‐making, outcome prediction, and clinical record summarization.
Crisaborole efficacy in murine models of skin inflammation and Staphylococcus aureus infection
Authors: Youn Christine , Dikeman Dustin A. , Chang Evelyn , Liu Haiyun , Nolan Sabrina J. , Alphonse Martin P. , Joyce Daniel P. , Liu Qi , Meixiong James , Dong Xinzhong , Miller Lloyd S. , Archer Nathan K.
Published: December 2022

Phosphodiesterase 4 (PDE4) is highly expressed in keratinocytes and immune cells and promotes pro‐inflammatory responses upon activation. The activity of PDE4 has been attributed to various inflammatory conditions, leading to the development and approval of PDE4 inhibitors as host‐directed therapeutics in humans. For example, the topical PDE4 inhibitor, crisaborole, is approved for the treatment of mild‐to‐moderate atopic dermatitis and has shown efficacy in patients with psoriasis. However, the role of crisaborole in regulating the immunopathogenesis of inflammatory skin diseases and infection is not entirely known. Therefore, we evaluated the effects of crisaborole in multiple mouse models, including psoriasis‐like dermatitis, AD‐like skin inflammation with and without filaggrin mutations, and Staphylococcus aureus skin infection. We discovered that crisaborole dampens myeloid cells and itch in the skin during psoriasis‐like dermatitis. Furthermore, crisaborole was effective in reducing skin inflammation in the context of filaggrin deficiency. Importantly, crisaborole reduced S. aureus skin colonization during AD‐like skin inflammation. However, crisaborole was not efficacious in treating S. aureus skin infections, even as adjunctive therapy to antibiotics. Taken together, we found that crisaborole reduced itch during psoriasis‐like dermatitis and decreased S. aureus skin colonization upon AD‐like skin inflammation, which act as additional mechanisms by which crisaborole dampens the immunopathogenesis in mouse models of inflammatory skin diseases. Further examination is warranted to translate these preclinical findings to human disease.
Estimation of optimum thresholds for binary classification using genetic algorithm: An application to solve a credit scoring problem
Authors: Kazemi Hamid Reza , Khalili‐Damghani Kaveh , Sadi‐Nezhad Soheil
Published: December 2022

The main issue in a classification problem is classifying observations into various disjoint classes. Different classification techniques generate a continuous number between a and b, usually between 0 and 1; thus, the optimal cut‐off value(s) must be carefully selected to discriminate classes precisely. The decision is about setting a threshold value and transforming the continuous score into a binary output. Therefore, in addition to using the so‐called sophisticated classification methods to have a more accurate classification, there is a need to identify and choose the optimal threshold value(s). However, the latter has not been thoroughly investigated. Hence, this study proposes an approach based on a Genetic Algorithm (GA) and Neural Networks (NNs) to automatically find customized cut‐off values, considering different performance criteria and given datasets. Since credit scoring is a binary classification problem, two popular credit scoring datasets, namely “Australian” and “German” credit datasets, are used to test the proposed approach. Our numerical results revealed that the proposed GA‐NN model could successfully find customized acceptance thresholds, considering predetermined performance criteria, including Accuracy, Estimated Misclassification Cost (EMC), and Area under ROC Curve (AUC) for the tested datasets. Furthermore, the best‐obtained results and the paired‐samples t‐test results show that utilizing the customized cut‐off points leads to a more accurate classification than the commonly‐used threshold value of 0.5.
A compass but not a road map: Diversity considerations with the AFCC Guidelines on Parenting Plan Evaluations
Authors: Harris‐Britt April
Published: December 2022

The 2022 Guidelines for Parenting Plan Evaluations in Family Law Cases were developed taking into account membership feedback which identified guidance around issues of Diversity Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) as a high priority. The current Guidelines have integrated issues of diversity in many areas of the document, by adding a section on guiding principles and values, expanding and clarifying evaluator education and training, and embedding cultural and diversity considerations in many sections of the document. The Guidelines do not provide more direct instruction or education on specific topics or aspects of culture and diversity.
Multi‐omics characterization of synthetic lethality‐related molecular features: implications for SL‐based therapeutic target screening
Authors: Weng Shenghui , Ruan Hang
Published: December 2022

Synthetic lethality (SL) represents the co‐occurrence of two or more non‐lethal disordered genes that could lead to cell death. SL‐based anticancer therapeutics could specifically kill the cancer cells carrying the targeted mutated gene while leaving normal cells alive. Recent large‐scale computational and experimental screenings provide rich resources of SL information while lacking systematic research on molecular features of SL genes. Combined with comprehensive multi‐omics data analysis and experimental validation of one SL gene pair, Guo et al. portrayed a systematic layout of cancer‐specific SL interactions that could improve understanding of carcinogenesis and potentially assist the subsequent screening of anticancer therapeutic targets.
Revisiting attending to form during meaning comprehension in learning Spanish as an additional foreign language
Authors: Pan Junlan , Zhang Yuyang , Zhang Wen
Published: December 2022

The current replication study aims to examine the effects of learners' attention to lexical and grammatical forms on meaning comprehension while listening to a passage in Spanish. The registered protocol and materials in the aural mode from Morgan‐Short et al.'s (2018) multisite replication study were used, with first language (L1) Chinese–second language (L2) English participants (N = 122) learning Spanish as the third language (L3). The results partially reproduced the previous findings that there was no effect of attending to a lexical item (sol) on meaning comprehension. However, a small to medium effect was found on comprehension scores for simultaneously attending to a grammatical form (la). This finding reveals a site‐specific effect with learners from different L1 backgrounds, suggesting that learners' attending to a grammatical form absent in their L1 is detrimental to their meaning comprehension even if this form exists in their earlier learned L2.
Abundance trends for river macroinvertebrates vary across taxa, trophic group and river typology
Authors: Powell Kathryn E. , Oliver Tom H. , Johns Tim , González‐Suárez Manuela , England Judy , Roy David B.
Published: December 2022

There is mounting evidence that terrestrial arthropods are declining rapidly in many areas of the world. It is unclear whether freshwater invertebrates, which are key providers of ecosystem services, are also declining. We addressed this question by analysing a long‐term dataset of macroinvertebrate abundance collected from 2002 to 2019 across 5009 sampling sites in English rivers. Patterns varied markedly across taxonomic groups. Within trophic groups we detected increases in the abundance of carnivores by 19% and herbivores by 14.8%, while we estimated decomposers have declined by 21.7% in abundance since 2002. We also found heterogeneity in trends across rivers belonging to different typologies based on geological dominance and catchment altitude, with organic lowland rivers having generally higher rates of increase in abundance across taxa and trophic groups, with siliceous lowland rivers having the most declines. Our results reveal a complex picture of change in freshwater macroinvertebrate abundance between taxonomic groups, trophic levels and river typologies. Our analysis helps with identifying priority regions for action on potential environmental stressors where we discover macroinvertebrate abundance declines.
Soil phosphorus drawdown by perennial bioenergy cropping systems in the Midwestern US
Authors: Hussain Mir Zaman , Hamilton Stephen K. , Robertson G. Philip
Published: December 2022

Without fertilization, harvest of perennial bioenergy cropping systems diminishes soil nutrient stocks, yet the time course of nutrient drawdown has not often been investigated. We analyzed phosphorus (P) inputs (fertilization and atmospheric deposition) and outputs (harvest and leaching losses) over 7 years in three representative biomass crops—switchgrass (Panicum virgatum L.), miscanthus (Miscanthus × giganteus) and hybrid poplar trees (Populus nigra × P. maximowiczii)—as well as in no‐till corn (maize; Zea mays L.) for comparison, all planted on former cropland in SW Michigan, USA. Only corn received P fertilizer. Corn (grain and stover), switchgrass, and miscanthus were harvested annually, while poplar was harvested after 6 years. Soil test P (STP; Bray‐1 method) was measured in the upper 25 cm of soil annually. Harvest P removal was calculated from tissue P concentration and harvest yield (or annual woody biomass accrual in poplar). Leaching was estimated as total dissolved P concentration in soil solutions sampled beneath the rooting depth (1.25 m), combined with hydrological modeling. Fertilization and harvest were by far the dominant P budget terms for corn, and harvest P removal dominated the P budgets in switchgrass, miscanthus, and poplar, while atmospheric deposition and leaching losses were comparatively insignificant. Because of significant P removal by harvest, the P balances of switchgrass, miscanthus, and poplar were negative and corresponded with decreasing STP, whereas P fertilization compensated for the harvest P removal in corn, resulting in a positive P balance. Results indicate that perennial crop harvest without P fertilization removed legacy P from soils, and continued harvest will soon draw P down to limiting levels, even in soils once heavily P‐fertilized. Widespread cultivation of bioenergy crops may, therefore, alter P balances in agricultural landscapes, eventually requiring P fertilization, which could be supplied by P recovery from harvested biomass.
Dynein intermediate chains DYCI‐1 and WDR‐60 have specific functions in Caenorhabditis elegans
Authors: Higashida Maki , Niwa Shinsuke
Published: December 2022

Dynein is a microtubule‐dependent motor protein required for cell division, retrograde intracellular transport, and intraflagellar transport (IFT). Dynein 1 and dynein 2 serve as molecular motors in the cytoplasm and cilia, respectively. Each dynein consists of multiple subunits. Although the components of dynein 1 and dynein 2 are different and specific in most species, a previous study has suggested that dynein intermediate chain subunit DYCI‐1 is shared by both dynein 1 and 2 in Caenorhabditis elegans (C. elegans). Here, we show that C. elegans has two dynein intermediate chains—DYCI‐1 and WDR‐60—and their functions are different. Mutational analysis showed that dyci‐1 is essential for the retrograde axonal transport of synaptic vesicles. In the same mutant allele, IFT is not affected at all. Instead, wdr‐60 is essential for IFT. Thus, we suggest that dynein 1 and dynein 2 have specific intermediate chains in C. elegans as in other organisms.