bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Actionable Factors Fostering Health Value Generation and Scalability of Prehabilitation
Authors: Risco Raquel , González-Colom Rubèn , Montané-Muntané Mar , Cano Isaac , Vela Emili , Sebio Raquel , Dana Fernando , Faner Joan , Coca Miquel , Laxe Sara , Roca Josep , Martínez-Pallí Graciela
Published: August 2022

Importance:

Prehabilitation has potential for improving surgical outcomes as shown in previous randomized controlled trials. However, a marked efficacy-effectiveness gap is limiting its scalability. Comprehensive analyses of deployment of the intervention in real-life scenarios are required.

Objective:

To assess health outcomes and cost of prehabilitation.

Design:

Prospective cohort study with a control group built using propensity score–matching techniques.

Setting:

Prehabilitation Unit in a tertiary-care university hospital.

Participants:

Candidates for major digestive, cardiac, thoracic, gynecologic, or urologic surgeries.

Intervention:

Prehabilitation program, including supervised exercise training, promotion of physical activity, nutritional optimization, and psychological support.

Main Outcomes and Measures:

The comprehensive complication index, hospital and intensive care unit length of stay, and hospital costs per patient until 30 days after surgery. Patients were classified by the degree of program completion and level of surgical aggression for sensitivity analysis.

Results:

The analysis of the entire study group did not show differences in study outcomes between prehabilitation and control groups (n=328 each). The per-protocol analysis, including only patients completing the program (n=112, 34%), showed a reduction in mean hospital stay [9.9 (7.2) vs 12.8 (12.4) days; P=0.035]. Completers undergoing highly aggressive surgeries (n=60) additionally showed reduction in mean intensive care unit stay [2.3 (2.7) vs 3.8 (4.2) days; P=0.021] and generated mean cost savings per patient of €3092 (32% cost reduction) (P=0.007). Five priority areas for action to enhance service efficiencies were identified.

Conclusions and Relevance:

The study indicates a low rate of completion of the intervention and identifies priority areas for re-design of service delivery to enhance the effectiveness of prehabilitation.
Single-molecule sequencing of animal mitochondrial genomes reveals chloroplast-like architecture and repeat-mediated recombination
Authors: Sharbrough Joel , Bankers Laura , Cook Emily , Fields Peter D. , Jalinsky Joseph , McElroy Kyle E. , Neiman Maurine , Logsdon John M. , Boore Jeffrey L.
Published: August 2022

Recent advances in long-read sequencing technology have allowed for single-molecule sequencing of entire mitochondrial genomes, opening the door for direct investigation of mitochondrial genome architecture and landscapes of recombination. We used PacBio sequencing to re-assemble mitochondrial genomes from two species of New Zealand freshwater snails, Potamopyrgus antipodarum and Potamopyrgus estuarinus. These assemblies revealed a ∼1.7 kb structure within the mitochondrial genomes of both species that was previously undetected by assembly of short sequencing reads and likely corresponding to a large non-coding region commonly present in mitochondrial genomes. The overall architecture of these Potamopyrgus mitochondrial genomes is reminiscent of the chloroplast genomes of land plants, harboring a large single-copy region (LSC) and a small single-copy region (SSC) separated by a pair of inverted repeats (IRa and IRb). Individual sequencing reads that spanned across the Potamopyrgus IRa–SSC–IRb structure revealed the occurrence of “flip-flop” recombination, apparently mediated by the IRs. We also detected evidence for two distinct IR haplotypes and recombination between them in wild-caught P. estuarinus, as well as extensive inter-molecular recombination between SNPs in the LSC region. Together, these observations suggest that mitochondrial inheritance is not strictly maternal in these snails. The chloroplast-like architecture and repeat-mediated mitochondrial recombination we describe here raise fundamental questions regarding the origins and commonness of such architecture, whether and how recombination mediates mitochondrial genome evolution, and the role of genome architecture in driving cytoplasmic genome biology and the maintenance of cytoplasmic genomes.
Shared Graft Versus Leukemia Minor Histocompatibility Antigens in DISCOVeRY-BMT
Authors: Olsen Kelly S , Jadi Othmane , Dexheimer Sarah , Bortone Dante , Vensko Steven , Bennett Sarah , Tang Hancong , Diiorio Marisa , Saran Tanvi , Dingfelder David , Zhu Qianqian , Wang Yiwen , Haiman Christopher A , Pooler Loreall , Sheng Xin , Webb Amy , Pasquini Marcelo C , McCarthy Philip L , Spellman Stephen R , Weimer Eric , Hahn Theresa , Sucheston-Campbell Lara , Armistead Paul , Vincent Benjamin
Published: August 2022

T cell responses to minor histocompatibility antigens (mHAs) mediate graft versus leukemia (GvL) effects and graft versus host disease (GvHD) in allogeneic hematopoietic cell transplant (alloHCT). Therapies that boost T cell responses improve the efficacy of alloHCT; however, these have been limited by concurrent increases in the incidence and severity of GvHD. mHAs with expression restricted to hematopoietic tissue (GvL mHAs) are attractive targets for driving GvL without causing GvHD. Prior work to identify mHAs has focused on a small set of mHAs or population-level SNP association studies. We report here the discovery of a large set of novel GvL mHAs based on predicted peptide immunogenicity, restriction of expression to hematopoietic tissue or GvHD target organs, and degree of sharing among donor-recipient pairs (DRPs) in the DISCOVeRY-BMT dataset of 3231 alloHCT DRPs. The total number of predicted mHAs and count within each class of predicted mHAs significantly differed by recipient genomic ancestry group, with European American>Hispanic>African American for each. The number of mHAs also differed markedly by HLA allele, even among alleles of the same gene. From the pool of predicted mHAs, we identified the smallest sets of GvL mHAs needed to cover 100% of DRPs with a given HLA allele. We then used mass spectrometry to search for high population frequency mHAs for three common HLA alleles. We validated a total of 24 novel predicted GvL mHAs that cumulatively are found within 98.8%, 60.7%, and 78.9% of DRPs within DISCOVeRY-BMT that express HLA-A*02:01, HLA-B*35:01, and HLA-C*07:02 respectively. We also confirmed in vivo immunogenicity of one example novel mHA via coculture of healthy human CD8 T cells with mHA-pulsed dendritic cells. This work demonstrates that identification of shared mHAs is a feasible and promising technique for expanding mHA-targeting immunotherapeutics to larger numbers of patients.
High-Dose Paclitaxel and its Combination with CSF1R Inhibitor in Polymeric Micelles for Chemoimmunotherapy of Triple Negative Breast Cancer
Authors: Lim Chaemin , Hwang Duhyeong , Yazdimamaghani Mostafa , Atkins Hannah Marie , Hyun Hyesun , Shin Yuseon , Ramsey Jacob D. , Perou Charles M. , Sokolsky-Papkov Marina , Kabanov Alexander V.
Published: August 2022

The presence of immunosuppressive immune cells in cancer is a significant barrier to the generation of therapeutic immune responses. Similarly, in vivo triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) models often contain prevalent tumor-associated macrophages in the tumor microenvironment (TME), resulting in breast cancer initiation, invasion, and metastasis by generating immunosuppressive environment. Here, we test systemic chemoimmunotherapy using small-molecule agents, paclitaxel (PTX), and colony-stimulating factor 1 receptor (CSF1R) inhibitor, PLX3397, to enhance the adaptive T cell immunity against TNBCs in immunocompetent mouse TNBC models. PTX and PLX3397 are very poorly soluble in water and shown poor therapeutic outcomes in TNBC animal models in conventional formulation. To address the challenge for the delivery of insoluble drugs to TNBC, we use high-capacity poly(2-oxazoline) (POx)-based polymeric micelles to greatly improve the solubility and widen the therapeutic index of such drugs. The results demonstrate that high-dose PTX in POx, even as a single agent, exerts strong effects on TME and induces the long-term immune memory. In addition, we demonstrate that the PTX and PLX3397 combination provides consistent therapeutic improvement across several TNBC models, resulting from the repolarization of the immunosuppressive TME and enhanced T cell immune response that suppress both the primary tumor growth and metastasis. Overall, the work emphasizes the benefit of drug reformulation and outlines potential translational path for both PTX and PTX with PLX3397 combination therapy using POx polymeric micelles for the treatment of TNBC.
Construction of a three-component regulatory network of transcribed ultraconserved regions for the identification of prognostic biomarkers in gastric cancer
Authors: Khalafiyan Anis , Emadi-Baygi Modjtaba , Wolfien Markus , Salehzadeh-Yazdi Ali , Nikpour Parvaneh
Published: August 2022

Although altered expression and functional roles of the transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) in the pathophysiology of neoplasms has already been investigated, relevance of the functions for T-UCRs in gastric cancer (GC) is still the subject of inquiry. In the current study, The Cancer Genome Atlas Stomach Adenocarcinoma (TCGA-STAD) dataset was used as a resource for the RNA-sequencing data. Differential expression analysis was conducted using DESeq2. Interactions between T-UCRs, miRNAs, and mRNAs were combined into a three-component network. The Survival package was utilized to identify survival-related differentially-expressed T-UCRs (DET-UCRs). Using an in-house cohort of GC tissues, expression of two DET-UCRs was experimentally verified. Thirty-four T-UCRs were dysregulated in TCGA-STAD tumoral samples compared to non-tumoral counterparts. The network was composed of 34 DET-UCRs, 275 miRNAs and 796 mRNAs nodes. Five T-UCRs were significantly correlated with the overall survival. While no expression of uc.232 was observed in our in-house cohort of GC tissues, uc.343 showed an increased expression in gastric tumoral tissues. The constructed three-component regulatory network of T-UCRs in GC presents a comprehensive understanding of the underlying gene expression regulation processes involved in tumor development and can serve as a basis to investigate potential prognostic biomarkers and therapeutic targets.

Simple summary

Gastric cancer (GC) is one of the most common cancers in the world and is considered as a highly heterogeneous disease based on subtypes and genetic alterations. GC is mostly detected in the advanced stages, hence, identifying diagnostic and prognostic biomarkers is of urgent need. Transcribed ultraconserved regions (T-UCRs) are a type of long non-coding RNAs which are linked to human carcinogenesis. Their mechanisms of action and the factors regulating their expression in cancers are poorly understood. In the current study, by applying a systems biology approach and constructing a regulatory network, we have presented a T-UCR as a potential diagnostic biomarker. Additionally, five T-UCRs with significant correlation with patients’ overall survival were found, which can be potentially used as prognostic biomarkers in future.
The RAM signaling pathway links morphology, thermotolerance, and CO2 tolerance in the global fungal pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans
Authors: Chadwick Benjamin J. , Pham Tuyetnhu , Xie Xiaofeng , Ristow Laura C. , Krysan Damian J. , Lin Xiaorong
Published: August 2022

The environmental pathogen Cryptococcus neoformans claims over 180,000 lives each year. Survival of this basidiomycete at host CO2 concentrations has only recently been considered an important virulence trait. Through screening gene knockout libraries constructed in a CO2-tolerant clinical strain, we found mutations leading to CO2 sensitivity are enriched in pathways activated by heat stress, including calcineurin, Ras1-Cdc24, cell wall integrity, and Regulator of Ace2 and Morphogenesis (RAM). Overexpression of Cbk1, the conserved terminal kinase of the RAM pathway, partially restored defects of these mutants at host CO2 or temperature levels. In ascomycetes such as Saccharomyces cerevisiae and Candida albicans, transcription factor Ace2 is an important target of Cbk1, activating genes responsible for cell separation. However, no Ace2 homolog or any downstream component of the RAM pathway has been identified in basidiomycetes. Through in vitro evolution and comparative genomics, we characterized mutations in suppressors of cbk1Δ in C. neoformans that partially rescued defects in CO2 tolerance, thermotolerance, and morphology. One suppressor is the RNA translation repressor Ssd1, which is highly conserved in ascomycetes and basidiomycetes. The other is a novel ribonuclease domain-containing protein, here named PSC1, which is present in basidiomycetes and humans but surprisingly absent in most ascomycetes. Loss of Ssd1 in cbk1Δ partially restored cryptococcal ability to survive and amplify in the inhalation and intravenous murine models of cryptococcosis. Our discoveries highlight the overlapping regulation of CO2 tolerance and thermotolerance, the essential role of the RAM pathway in cryptococcal adaptation to the host condition, and the potential importance of post-transcriptional control of virulence traits in this global pathogen.
Destabilized 3’UTR ARE therapeutically degrades ERBB2 in drug-resistant ERBB2+ cancer models
Authors: Awah Chidiebere U , Glemaud Yana , Levine Fayola , Yang Kiseok , Ansary Afrin , Dong Fu , Ash Leonard , Zhang Junfei , Weiser Daniel , Ogunwobi Olorunseun O
Published: August 2022

Breast, lung, and colorectal cancer resistance to molecular targeted therapy is a major challenge and unfavorably impacts clinical outcomes, leading to hundreds of thousands of deaths yearly. In ERBB2+ cancers regardless of the tissue of origin, ERBB2 is the driver oncogene of resistance. We discovered that the ERBB2+ cancers are enriched with poly U sequences on their 3’UTR AU rich elements which are mRNA stabilizing sequences. We developed a novel technology, in which we engineered these ERBB2 mRNA stabilizing sequences to unstable forms and specifically controlled and degraded ERBB2 transcript and protein across multiple cancer types both in the wildtype and drug resistance settings in vitro and in vivo, offering a unique novel modality to control ERBB2 and other pervasive oncogenic signals where other therapies fail.

One-Sentence Summary

Engineered destabilized 3’UTR ARE of ERBB2 degrades ERBB2 in many cancer types and controlled resistance.

Graphical abstract

A. Depiction represents multiple ERBB2 expressing cancer cells with stable 3’UTR ARE and the signaling cascade known to cause chemo resistance. B. Depiction of the engineered destabilized 3’UTR ARE of ERBB2 and the destabilization and degradation of the ERBB2 transcript, protein and kinases involved in mediation of drug resistance
Analysis of the hypothalamic oxytocin system and oxytocin receptor-expressing astrocytes in a mouse model of Prader-Willi syndrome
Authors: Althammer Ferdinand , Wimmer Moritz , Krabichler Quirin , Küppers Stephanie , Schimmer Jonas , Fröhlich Henning , Dötsch Laura , Kirchner Matthew K. , Stern Javier E. , Charlet Alexandre , Grinevich Valery , Schaaf Christian P.
Published: August 2022

Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterized by hyperphagia, obesity, developmental delay and intellectual disability. Studies suggest dysfunctional signaling of the neuropeptide oxytocin as one of the key mechanisms in PWS, and administration of oxytocin via intranasal or systemic routes yielded promising results in both humans and mouse models. However, a detailed assessment of the oxytocin system in mouse models of PWS such as the Magel2-deficientMagel2tm1.Stwmouse, is lacking. In this study, we performed an automated counting of oxytocin cells in the entire paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus ofMagel2tm1.Stwand wild-type control mice and found a significant reduction in the caudal part, which represents the parvocellular subdivision. In addition, based on the recent discovery that some astrocytes express the oxytocin receptor (OTR), we performed detailed analysis of astrocyte numbers and morphology in various brain regions, and assessed expression levels of the astrocyte marker GFAP, which was significantly decreased in the hypothalamus, but not other brain regions inMagel2tm1.Stwmice. Finally, we analyzed the number of OTR-expressing astrocytes in various brain regions and found a significant reduction in the nucleus accumbens ofMagel2tm1.Stwmice, as well as a sex-specific difference in the lateral septum. This study suggests a role for caudal PVN OT neurons as well as OTR-expressing astrocytes in a mouse model of PWS, provides novel information about sex-specific expression of astrocytic OTRs, and presents several new brain regions containing OTR-expressing astrocytes in the mouse brain.
Dissecting the co-segregation probability from genome architecture mapping
Authors: Liu Lei , Cao Xinmeng , Zhang Bokai , Hyeon Changbong
Published: August 2022

The genome architecture mapping (GAM) is a recently developed methodology that offers the co-segregation probability of two genomic segments from an ensemble of thinly sliced nuclear profiles, enabling to probe and decipher the 3D chromatin organization. The co-segregation probability from GAM, which typically probes the length scale associated with the genomic separation greater than 1 MB, is, however, not identical to the contact probability obtained in Hi-C, and its correlation with inter-locus distance measured with FISH is not so good as the contact probability. In this study, by using a polymer-based model of chromatins, we derive a theoretical expression of the co-segregation probability as well as that of the contact probability, and carry out quantitative analyses of how they differ from each other. The results from our study, validated with in-silico GAM analysis on 3D genome structures from FISH, suggest that to attain strong correlation with the inter-locus distance, a properly normalized version of co-segregation probability needs to be calculated based on a large number of nuclear slices (n > 103).

SIGNIFICANCE

By leveraging a polymer model of chromatin, we critically assess the utility of co-segregation probability captured from GAM analysis. Our polymer model, which offers analytical expressions for the co-segregation probability as well as for the contact probability and inter-locus distance, enables quantitative comparison between the data from GAM, Hi-C, and FISH. Although the plain co-segregation probabilities from GAM are not well correlated with inter-locus distances measured from FISH, properly normalized versions of the probability calculated from a large number of nuclear profiles can still reasonably represent the inter-locus distance. Our study offers instructions of how to take full advantage of GAM analysis in deciphering 3D genome organization.
Distribution and abundance of tetraether lipid cyclization genes in terrestrial hot springs reflects pH
Authors: Blum Laura N. , Colman Daniel R. , Eloe-Fadrosh Emiley A. , Kellom Matthew , Boyd Eric S. , Zhaxybayeva Olga , Leavitt William D.
Published: August 2022

Many Archaea produce membrane-spanning glycerol dibiphytanyl glycerol tetraether (GDGTs) lipids that serve as unique biomarkers of past environments. These lipids can contain up to eight cyclopentane rings, where an increase in ring cyclization is generally associated with growth in more acidic, higher temperature, or more energy limited conditions. Recently the genes that encode GDGT ring synthases, grsAB, were identified and characterized in model thermoacidophiles Sulfolobus acidocaldarius and Saccharolobus solfataricus. However, the distribution and abundance of grs homologs across environments inhabited by these and related Archaea remains unknown. To address this, we examined the distribution of grs homologs in archaeal and bacterial cultivar genomes, single cell genomes, metagenomes, and metatranscriptomes from thermal springs across the planet, where temperature, pH, and geochemical data take at time of sampling. The relative abundance of grs in these microbial communities exhibits a strong negative correlation with pH, and weak positive correlation with temperature. Genomes and metagenome-assembled genomes (MAGs) from Archaea that encode two or more copies of grs are significantly more widespread in low pH springs. Homologs of grs were detected in MAGs from 12 archaeal classes, with the most well-represented being the Thermoproteia. Homologs of grs were also detected among several classes of uncultured Archaea, including the Korarchaeia, Bathyarchaeia, and Hadarchaeia. Several Nitrososphaeria MAGs had high copy numbers of grs (> 3), and the functional role of these copies cannot yet be explained. Notably, grs genes were also found in MAGs from the bacterial class Acidobacteria. Based on phylogenetic analyses, it is likely that Acidobacteria acquired these genes horizontally from Archaea. Broadly, our results highlight the key role of grs-catalyzed lipid cyclization in the diversification of Archaea in hot and acidic environments.
Serial small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering with laboratory sources
Authors: Levenstein Mark A. , Robertson Karen , Turner Thomas D. , Hunter Liam , O'Brien Cate , O'Shaughnessy Cedrick , Kulak Alexander N. , Le Magueres Pierre , Wojciechowski Jakub , Mykhaylyk Oleksandr O. , Kapur Nikil , Meldrum Fiona C.
Published: August 2022

Recent advances in X-ray instrumentation and sample injection systems have enabled serial crystallography of protein nanocrystals and the rapid structural analysis of dynamic processes. However, this progress has been restricted to large-scale X-ray free-electron laser (XFEL) and synchrotron facilities, which are often oversubscribed and have long waiting times. Here, we explore the potential of state-of-the-art laboratory X-ray systems to perform comparable analyses when coupled to micro- and millifluidic sample environments. Our results demonstrate that commercial small- and wide-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS/WAXS) instruments and X-ray diffractometers are ready to access samples and timescales (≳5 ms) relevant to many processes in materials science including the preparation of pharmaceuticals, nanoparticles and functional crystalline materials. Tests of different X-ray instruments highlighted the importance of the optical configuration and revealed that serial WAXS/XRD analysis of the investigated samples was only possible with the higher flux of a microfocus setup. We expect that these results will also stimulate similar developments for structural biology.
The psychological mechanism of consumers’ behavioral intentions of suboptimal food products from the perspective of economic value
Authors: Adel Ahmed M. , Dai Xin , Roshdy Rana S.
Published: August 2022

Purpose

This study examines the effect of five price perception dimensions (price consciousness, price mavenism, sale proneness, price-quality schema, and prestige sensitivity) on consumer's perceived value (acquisition value, and transaction value), and how perceived value affects consumers' behavioral intentions (purchase intentions, and intentions to recommend). It also examines the moderation role of face consciousness.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative research methodology using online survey technique is employed to collect cross-cultural data from respondents from China (n = 371) and Egypt (n = 384). Structural equation model (SEM) via SmartPLS v.3.2.9 is conducted to analyze data.

Findings

The results show that consumers’ behavioral intentions toward suboptimal fresh produce are positively affected by both dimensions of perceived value. As well as, perceived value is influenced by different price perception dimensions. Moreover, face consciousness partially moderates the relationship between perceived value and behavioral intentions.

Originality/value

To best of the authors’ knowledge, it is the first study to associate price perception dimensions with purchase value dimensions in the context of suboptimal products. It also contributes to utility and purchase value theory by employing the distinct measures of both perceived acquisition value and transaction value, to enable us to obtain a better understanding of the whole picture of perceived value. In addition, it contributes to regulatory focus theory through the inclusion of face consciousness in the purchase value model. Moreover, up to the researchers' knowledge, prior investigation on these issues in Egypt and China as a cross-cultural research does not exist.
A note on synthetic data for replication purposes in agricultural economics
Authors: Wimmer Stefan , Finger Robert
Published: August 2022

Empirical studies in agricultural economics usually involve policy implications. In many cases, such studies rely on proprietary or confidential data that cannot be published along with the article, challenging the replicability and credibility of the results. To overcome this problem, the use of synthetic data—that is, data that do not contain a single unit of the original data—has been proposed. In this note, we illustrate the utility of synthetic data generation methods for replication purposes using a range of methods from agricultural production analysis. More specifically, we compare input elasticities and technical efficiency scores based on different farm‐level production data between original data and synthetic data. We generate synthetic data using a non‐parametric method of classification and regression trees (CART) and parametric linear regressions. We find synthetic data result in elasticities and technical efficiency distributions that are very similar to the original data, especially when generated with CART, and conclude with implications for the research community.
Post‐repair laxative management in obstetric anal sphincter injury guidelines: A narrative review
Authors: Tucker Julie , Hassam Tayla , Juszczyk Karolina , Briley Annette , Parange Anupam , Murphy Elizabeth Mary Anne
Published: August 2022

Background

Childbirth is a common factor which increases the risk of obstetric anal sphincter injuries (OASIS). Damage to the anal sphincters increases the risk of anal incontinence, which has a debilitating impact on the quality of life. Post‐repair laxatives are prescribed in this group of women. However, there is no consensus regarding the type or frequency with which they are used, and available guidelines lack consistency and evidence to support the recommendations.

Aim

The aim was to review and compare the international, national and local Australian management guidelines for recommendations regarding laxative use in women after OASIS.

Method

An online literature search of medical and nursing databases such as PubMed, Embase, MEDLINE, CINAHL, Web of Science, Scopus and Cochrane was performed between January 2000 and October 2020. Full‐text articles with MeSH headings and Text Words [TW] identified guidelines in the prevention, management and care of OASIS. The search terms included ‘obstetric anal sphincter injury’, ‘OASIS’, ‘perineal tear’, ‘postpartum continence’, ‘bowel injury’, ‘aperient’, ‘laxative use’ and ‘bulking agents’.

Results

Thirteen guidelines were included. Laxatives were recommended in most guidelines; however, there was a lack of consistency regarding the type of laxative used, frequency, dose and duration of use. Guidelines were based on historical evidence, with paucity of recently acquired data identified.

Conclusions

There is no consensus regarding an optimal laxative regime for women who sustain an anal sphincter injury after childbirth. Further research is required to develop evidence‐based robust clinical guidelines regarding laxative use in women who sustain OASIS.
Defensive emotions and evaluative judgements: Sensitivity to anger and fear predicts moral judgements, whereas sensitivity to disgust predicts aesthetic judgements
Authors: Dorado Alejandro , Skov Martin , Rosselló Jaume , Nadal Marcos
Published: August 2022

Aesthetic and moral evaluations engage appetitive and defensive emotions. While the role played by pleasure in positive aesthetic and moral judgements has been extensively researched, little is known about how defensive emotions influence negative aesthetic and moral judgements. Specifically, it is unknown which defensive emotions such judgements tap into, and whether both kinds of judgement share a common emotional root. Here, we investigated how participants' individual sensitivity to disgust, fear, anger and sadness predicted subjective judgements of aesthetic and moral stimuli. Bayesian modelling revealed that participants who were more sensitive to anger and fear found conventional and moral transgressions more wrong. In contrast, participants who were more sensitive to disgust disliked asymmetrical geometric patterns and untidy rooms more. These findings suggest that aesthetic and moral evaluations engage multiple defensive emotions, not just disgust, and that they may rely on different defensive emotions as part of their computational mechanism.
LUCAS Soil Biodiversity and LUCAS Soil Pesticides, new tools for research and policy development
Authors: Orgiazzi Alberto , Panagos Panos , Fernández‐Ugalde Oihane , Wojda Piotr , Labouyrie Maëva , Ballabio Cristiano , Franco Antonio , Pistocchi Alberto , Montanarella Luca , Jones Arwyn
Published: August 2022

The European Green Deal puts a healthy environment at the core of policy‐making initiatives in the European Union (EU). Soil, due to its nature, is a central actor to be considered when developing and implementing actions in many areas, from biodiversity and agriculture to climate and pollution. New means for monitoring the impact of decisions taken in these sectors are needed. The Land Use and Coverage Area frame Survey (LUCAS modules of Soil Biodiversity and Pesticides provide both policy‐makers and the research community with tools in this direction. The first component corresponds to the largest analysis of soil biodiversity across the EU through molecular biology techniques. The second component is the most extensive harmonised pan‐European assessment of pesticide residues in agricultural soils. Specific features, together with policy and research potential of these instruments for achieving Green Deals targets under the Biodiversity 2030 Strategy, the Farm to Fork Strategy and the Zero Pollution Action Plan, are presented. All generated data are made available to the public through the EU Soil Observatory and European Soil Data Centre.

Highlights

LUCAS Soil Biodiversity is a monitoring survey of biodiversity in the European Union.

LUCAS Soil Pesticides is a monitoring survey of pesticide residues in the European Union.

Protocols and data from LUCAS Soil Biodiversity and Pesticides are open access.

LUCAS Soil Biodiversity and Pesticides can support policy and research development.
Effect of catch‐and‐release and temperature at release on reproductive success of Atlantic salmon (Salmo salar L.) in the Rimouski River, Québec, Canada
Authors: Bouchard Raphaël , Wellband Kyle , Lecomte Laurie , Bernatchez Louis , April Julien
Published: August 2022

Catch‐and‐release fishing is a common conservation practice in recreational fisheries for Atlantic Salmon, although the effects on the reproductive success of caught‐and‐released fish are poorly understood. Herein, we compared the relative reproductive success of caught‐and‐released to non‐caught salmon and tested the effect of temperature at release on reproductive success in the Rimouski River, Québec, Canada. At least 83% of caught‐and‐released salmon that moved upstream of a dam successfully reproduced, including fish that have been released in water above 20°C. However, the reproductive success of caught‐and‐released female salmon was only 73% of the reproductive success of non‐caught salmon. Moreover, the increasing temperature did not affect the reproductive success of released fish that entered a trap, but fish caught at warmer temperatures were less likely to enter the trap. Our findings should be useful for evaluating the risks and benefits of catch‐and‐release, and for optimising conservation practices used for the preservation of Atlantic salmon populations.
Systemic minoxidil for hair disorders in pediatric patients: a safety and tolerability review
Authors: John Jared M. , Sinclair Rodney D.
Published: August 2022

Topical minoxidil has been used for many years to treat adult alopecia, and there is growing evidence supporting the off‐label use of low‐dose oral minoxidil (LDOM). However, there is little data on its use in pediatrics, and there are no recommended treatment guidelines. Adverse events are of particular concern in this population. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 63 patients aged between 0 and 12 years from a specialist hair clinic who were treated with LDOM or sublingual minoxidil (SM) to evaluate its safety and tolerability. LDOM and SM were generally well‐tolerated, with mild hypertrichosis being the most commonly reported adverse event. Further large‐scale studies are warranted to determine the efficacy and optimum dosage of systemic minoxidil for alopecia in the pediatric population.
Effects of an outpatient exercise programme for Australians with cancer‐related fatigue: an unmet need
Authors: Datta Gupta Anupam , Wilson David , Tucker Graeme , Albanese Daniella , Berrigan Sonia , Nath Shriram
Published: August 2022

Background

Cancer‐related fatigue (CRF) is a common debilitating condition. International evidence supports an exercise prescription for CRF. The majority of Australians with cancer do not meet recommended exercise targets.

Aims

To analyse the effects of a guideline‐based supervised exercise programme on CRF among a representative private hospital cancer patient sample (n = 268).

Methods

We collected data from 268 patients recruited from haematology and oncology over a 5‐year period. Participants underwent a 3‐month CRF exercise programme based on internationally recognised exercise guidelines. The programme, conducted by a multidisciplinary team, operated twice weekly sessions of 2 h duration comprising aerobic, resistance and balance exercises; hydrotherapy and condition counselling; fatigue management; and dietetic, speech pathology and swallowing education (head and neck cancers). The effect of the programme was measured in relation to the following outcomes: Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy, Fatigue (self‐reported fatigue); Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy, general quality of life (health‐related quality of life in cancer); six‐minute walk test; and Lawton's Instrumental Activities of Daily Living Scale.

Results

Multivariate outcomes showed statistically significant improvements in all four major outcome measures, plus a programme effect of greater than 0.7 for each outcome variable. The programme treatment outcomes were consistent over the 5 years of the programme.

Conclusions

The outcomes of this programme contribute to exercise guidelines in Australia. Currently only position statements exist on the subject, but there are no programme guidelines. An exercise prescription is critical to cancer outcomes. This programme is likely to benefit cancer survivors experiencing CRF across private and public hospitals in Australia.
Factors associated with the financial strain of transgender and gender diverse college students
Authors: White Kenneth J. , Love Kim , McCoy Megan , Reiter Miranda , Seponski Desiree M. , Koposko Janet , Regan Erica
Published: August 2022

The financial health of transgender and gender diverse (TGD) college students is an understudied topic despite prior research showing significant financial distress in this population. Utilizing Brüggen et al.'s financial well‐being framework and the 2017 and 2020 waves of the Study on Collegiate Financial Wellness dataset, this study examines factors related to financial strain for TGD college students. Results indicate that TGD college students experience significant indirect impacts of their gender identity on financial strain. TGD students had significantly lower financial optimism, financial self‐efficacy, and financial socialization than their cisgender peers; they also engaged in behaviors associated with poor financial management significantly more frequently. These differences between TGD students and cisgender students each lead directly to significant increases in financial strain. This means that the average financial strain for TGD students is higher than for cisgender students, because of the way gender identity impacts other factors related to their financial well‐being.
Longitudinal characterization of EEG power spectra during eyes open and eyes closed conditions in children
Authors: Isler Joseph R. , Pini Nicolò , Lucchini Maristella , Shuffrey Lauren C. , Morales Santiago , Bowers Maureen E. , Leach Stephanie C. , Sania Ayesha , Wang Lily , Condon Carmen , Nugent J. David , Elliott Amy J. , Friedrich Christa , Andrew Rebecca , Fox Nathan A. , Myers Michael M. , Fifer William P.
Published: August 2022

This study is the first to examine spectrum‐wide (1 to 250 Hz) differences in electroencephalogram (EEG) power between eyes open (EO) and eyes closed (EC) resting state conditions in 486 children. The results extend the findings of previous studies by characterizing EEG power differences from 30 to 250 Hz between EO and EC across childhood. Developmental changes in EEG power showed spatial and frequency band differences as a function of age and EO/EC condition. A 64‐electrode system was used to record EEG at 4, 5, 7, 9, and 11 years of age. Specific findings were: (1) the alpha peak shifts from 8 Hz at 4 years to 9 Hz at 11 years, (2) EC results in increased EEG power (compared to EO) at lower frequencies but decreased EEG power at higher frequencies for all ages, (3) the EEG power difference between EO and EC changes from positive to negative within a narrow frequency band which shifts toward higher frequencies with age, from 9 to 12 Hz at 4 years to 32 Hz at 11 years, (4) at all ages EC is characterized by an increase in lower frequency EEG power most prominently over posterior regions, (5) at all ages, during EC, decreases in EEG power above 30 Hz are mostly over anterior regions of the scalp. This report demonstrates that the simple challenge of opening and closing the eyes offers the potential to provide quantitative biomarkers of phenotypic variation in brain maturation by employing a brief, minimally invasive protocol throughout childhood.
High‐frequency ultrasound features in vulvar lichen sclerosus and correlation with histopathology
Authors: Zhou Meng‐Yuan , Wang Yu‐Kun , Zhu Qing‐Li , Liu Jie
Published: August 2022

Background

Vulvar lichen sclerosus (VLS) is a chronic inflammatory disease initially involving anogenital areas. Noninvasive assessment is essential for precise management in VLS. We aim to analyze high‐frequency ultrasound (HFUS) features and correlate HFUS with histopathological changes.

Materials and methods

Forty patients with histopathologically confirmed VLS lesions were retrospectively identified from August 2020 to September 2021. The clinical manifestations, dermoscopic images as well as both 20 and 50 MHz HFUS images were assessed. HFUS assessment included epidermal morphology, hypoechoic dermal band thickness, and hypoechoic dermal band internal echo. We compared HFUS images with histopathology, and Pearson's correlation coefficient was used to assess the relationship between hypoechoic dermal band thickness and histopathological depth.

Results

Hypoechoic dermal band was present in 100% (40/40) VLS lesions. There was a significant linear positive correlation between the histopathological depth and corresponding hypoechoic dermal band thickness, with a Pearson correlation coefficient of 0.685 (p < 0.001). Besides, 95% (38/40) lesions revealed smooth epidermis, and the internal echo of hypoechoic dermal band was assessed as homogeneous in 60% (24/40) and inhomogeneous in 40% (16/40) lesions.

Conclusion

HFUS characteristics, as well as measurable hypoechoic dermal band thickness, may provide valuable information in the precise diagnosis and the treatment monitoring of VLS.
Drivers of blood use in paediatric trauma: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Gebregiorgis Hermela T. , Hasan Rida A. , Liu Zhinan , Phuong Jim , Stansbury Lynn G. , Khan Jenna , Tsang Hamilton C. , Vavilala Monica S. , Hess John R.
Published: August 2022

Objectives

We asked whether age or injury severity drives blood use patterns in paediatric trauma.

Background

Transfusion for paediatric trauma care is complicated by known developmental differences in coagulation and injury patterns.

Methods/Materials

We linked 10 years of Trauma Registry and blood bank data, 2011–2020, for all acute trauma patients aged <18 treated at a large US Level 1 adult and paediatric trauma centre. We assessed age, injury severity and mechanism for association with any blood use, use within the first 4 h of care, and resuscitation balance, using grouped‐age Chi‐square and multivariable regression models.

Results

Of 60 066 acute trauma arrivals at our centre in the study period, 7979 (13.3%) met inclusion criteria. Median age (IQR) was (7.6[2.4–14.5]); 6230(78.1%) were < 15 years old; 590(7.4%) received any blood products; and 128(1.6%) died. Among the 5842(73.2%) patients with impact‐related injury, 2023(34.6%) met standards for severe injury (New Injury Severity Score [NISS] ≥ 16); 541(9.3%) were transfused, 171(31.6%) in the first 4 h and 72(13.3%) using ≥3 units of products in the first hour. Firearms injuries were the most severe, most likely to be transfused urgently, using balanced resuscitation, and to die (p < 0.001 for all). Multivariable logistic regression showed any blood use as strongly associated with NISS (Odds Ratio 1.124832; p < 0.0001; 95% CI 1.11–1.13) but not with age (OR 0.98; p = 0.07; 95% CI 0.96–1.00).

Conclusion

Transfusion in the care of acute paediatric trauma is uncommon (<10% of injured minors in our cohorts received any blood products), and injury severity, particularly firearms injury—not age—drove transfusion.
Siderophores Produced by the Fish Pathogen Flavobacterium columnare Strain MS-FC-4 Are Not Essential for Its Virulence
Authors: Conrad Rachel A. , Evenhuis Jason P. , Lipscomb Ryan S. , Birkett Clayton , McBride Mark J.
Published: August 2022

Columnaris disease, which is caused by
Flavobacterium columnare
, is a major problem for freshwater aquaculture. Little is known regarding
F. columnare
virulence factors, and control measures are limited.
Microbial Metabolites Orchestrate a Distinct Multi-Tiered Regulatory Network in the Intestinal Epithelium That Directs P-Glycoprotein Expression
Authors: Foley Sage E. , Dente Michael J. , Lei Xuqiu , Sallis Benjamin F. , Loew Ethan B. , Meza-Segura Mario , Fitzgerald Katherine A. , McCormick Beth A.
Published: August 2022

Preventing aberrant inflammation is essential to maintaining homeostasis in the mammalian intestine. Although P-glycoprotein (P-gp) expression in the intestine is critical for protecting the intestinal epithelium from toxins and damage due to neutrophil infiltration, its regulation in the intestine is poorly understood.
T Cell-Specific STAT1 Expression Promotes Lytic Replication and Supports the Establishment of Gammaherpesvirus Latent Reservoir in Splenic B Cells
Authors: Sylvester P. A. , Jondle C. N. , Schmalzriedt D. L. , Dittel B. N. , Tarakanova V. L.
Published: August 2022

Interferons (IFNs) represent a major antiviral host network vital to the control of multiple infections, including acute and chronic gammaherpesvirus infections. Ubiquitously expressed STAT1 plays a critical effector role in all classical IFN responses.
Tetraspanin-29 activates Notch signaling by interacting with ADAM10 to enhance its activity in colorectal cancer
Authors: Yuan Shijie , Yin Yan , Wang Kuansong , Zhou Haiyan , Qian Cheng
Published: August 2022

ADAM10 acts upstream of Notch signaling and plays oncogenic roles in various cancers. Tetraspanin family proteins regulate ADAM10 trafficking and activity. Here, we aimed to investigate whether and how tetraspanin-29 modulates ADAM10 in colorectal cancer (CRC). We found that ADAM10 expression was upregulated in CRC tissues and this was cross-validated in the TCGA COAD data set. The ADAM10 protein level and its α-secretase activity were enhanced in CRC cell lines compared with control cell lines. Co-immunoprecipitation showed ADAM10 interacted with tetraspanin-29 in the LoVo cell line. Tetraspanin-29 knockdown reduced the cell surface trafficking and α-secretase activity of ADAM10. In addition, tetraspanin-29 knockdown inhibited Notch activity in a luciferase reporter assay and reduced the levels of cleaved Notch1 and Notch target genes such as HES2, c-MYC, and cyclin D3. Consistently, tetraspanin-29 overexpression increased cleaved Notch1 and this effect was blocked by ADAM10 inhibitors. The TCGA COAD data set confirmed the positive correlations of tetraspanin-29 with HES2, c-MYC, and cyclin D3. Thus, the tetraspanin-29/ADAM10/Notch pathway plays an important role in CRC.
Probing bumblebee gravity with black hole X-ray data
Authors: Gu Jiale , Riaz Shafqat , Abdikamalov Askar B. , Ayzenberg Dimitry , Bambi Cosimo
Published: August 2022

Bumblebee gravity is one of the simplest gravity theories with spontaneous Lorentz symmetry breaking. Since we know a rotating black hole solution in bumblebee gravity, we can potentially test this model with the available astrophysical observations of black holes. In this work, we construct a reflection model in bumblebee gravity and we use our model to analyze the reflection features of a NuSTAR spectrum of the Galactic black hole EXO 1846-031 in order to constrain the Lorentz-violating parameter $$\ell $$
ℓ
. We find that the analysis of the reflection features in the spectrum of EXO 1846-031 cannot constrain the parameter $$\ell $$
ℓ
because of a very strong degeneracy between the estimates of $$\ell $$
ℓ
and of the black hole spin parameter $$a_*$$

a

∗

. Such a degeneracy may be broken by combining other observations.
Preoperative Three-Dimensional Simulation of Osteotomy for Correction of Malunion of Both Bones of Forearm: A Case Report
Authors: SHIM Bum J. , LEE Jeong H. , GONG Hyun S.
Published: August 2022

Corrective osteotomy of malunion of both forearm bones is a challenging procedure because it needs accurate angular and rotational correction of both bones. Recent advances in three-dimensional (3D) printing techniques have shown promising results in the correction of complex deformities. We report a patient with malunion of both bones of the forearm in whom we determined site and degree of correction required based on the computed tomography images of the affected side and mirrored images of the contralateral healthy side. We then created 3D printed sawbones and simulated osteotomy to confirm stable dynamic forearm rotation. This method enabled satisfactory restoration of anatomical and functional outcomes. Preoperative dynamic motion simulation using 3D printed anatomic bone model is helpful for complex corrective osteotomy of forearm fracture malunion.

Level of Evidence: Level V (Therapeutic)