bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Geochemistry, Fluid Inclusions and Sulfur Isotopes of the Goshgarchay Cu‐Au Deposit (Western Azerbaijan) in Lesser Caucasus: Implications for the Origins of Ore‐forming Fluids
Authors: ARIK Fetullah , ÖZEN Yeşim , ALİMAMMADOV Nicat
Published: September 2023

The Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit is located in the central part of the northwest flank of the Murovdagh region in the Lesser Caucasus. The Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit is associated with Middle Jurassic volcanic and Late Jurassic–Early Cretaceous high‐K calc‐alkaline intrusive rocks. The Cu‐Au mineralization is commonly related to quartz‐sericite‐chlorite alteration dominantly composed of chalcopyrite, gold, sphalerite, pyrite, bornite, hematite, covellite, chalcocite, malachite, and azurite. The Goshgarchay copper‐gold deposit, which is 600 m wide and approximately 1.2 km long, is seen as a fault‐controlled and vein‐, stockwork– and disseminated type deposit. The Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit predominantly comprises Cu (max. 64500 ppm) and Au (max. 11.3 ppm), while it comprises relatively less amounts Zn (max. 437 ppm), Mo (max. 47.5 ppm), Pb (max. 134 ppm), and Ag (max. 21 ppm). The homogenization temperatures and salinities of fluid inclusions in quartz for stage I range from 380°C to 327°C, and 6.9 wt% to 2.6 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. Th and salinities in quartz for stage II range from 304°C to 253°C, and 7.6 wt% to 3.2 wt% NaCl eq., respectively. The calculated δ34Sh2s values (–1.5‰ to 5.5‰) of sulfides and especially the narrow range of δ34Sh2s values of chalcopyrite and bornite (between –0.07‰ and +0.7‰) indicate that the source of the Goshgarchay Cu‐Au mineralization is magmatic. Based on the mineralogical, geochemical, fluid inclusion, and sulfur isotopic data, the Goshgarchay Cu‐Au deposit represents a late stage peripheral magmatic‐hydrothermal mineralization probably underlain by a concealed porphyry deposit.
Coherent Chemical Variation Trends of the 55—25 Ma Magmatic Rocks in SE Tibet: N—S Direction Lithospheric Stretching of Eurasia during Early Stage of India—Eurasia Collision
Authors: YANG Tiannan , DONG Mengmeng , XUE Chuandong , XIN Di , LIANG Mingjuan
Published: September 2023

The progressive indentation of India into Eurasia generated an E‐W‐trending orthogonal collision belt and a N‐S‐trending oblique collision belt. Compiling available data reveals that ∼70% of the Cenozoic igneous rocks in eastern and southeastern Tibet are concentrated within an ENE‐trending, ∼550–km long and ∼250–km wide magmatic zone (CMZ) that once separated the orthogonal and oblique collision belts. The Latitude 26°N Line is now its southern boundary. The onset timing of magmatism of the CMZ varies gradually from ∼55 Ma in the westernmost part to ∼27 Ma in the easternmost. Then the magmatism successively occurred and suddenly stopped at ∼25 Ma. The segmented and coherent chemical variation trends found suggest that the CMZ magmatic rocks were formed due to partial melting of the heterogeneous upper mantle and crusts of Eurasia. Subduction of Paleo‐ and Neotethyan oceanic plates generated this compositional and mineralogical heterogeneity. Combined with available geophysical data, the CMZ was diachronously formed in response to asthenosphere upwelling induced by NNW—SSE‐direction lithosphere stretching. The difference in responses of the orthogonal and oblique collision belts to the indentation of the Indian continent has led to this lithosphere stretching.
Clinical outcomes of advanced NSCLC patients with different EGFR exon 19 deletion subtypes treated with first‐line tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A single‐center ambispective cohort study
Authors: Gu Yangchun , Yu Jinyu , Hu Haifeng , Zhang Hua , Cao Baoshan , Liang Li
Published: September 2023

Background

Clinical significance of various subtypes of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) exon 19 deletion (ex19del) mutation in non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remains unclear.

Methods

We analyzed EGFR ex19del subtypes in NSCLC patients receiving first‐line tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy at our center (January 2018–June 2022) and correlated them with median progression‐free survival (mPFS) and median overall survival (mOS).

Results

We identified 17 different EGFR ex19del variants in 101 patients. Between the classic (E746_A750del, 64.4%) and nonclassic groups (the rest variants), no significant difference was observed in mPFS (13.5 vs. 19.3 months, p = 0.18) or mOS (44.1 vs. 77.0 months, p = 0.06). mPFS showed no significant difference between ex19del subgroups classified based on the presence of insertion (ex19delins), starting position or length of deletion. However, patients with ex19delins starting at E746 showed longer mPFS than the others (29.7 vs. 12.5 months, p = 0.04), and patients with ex19del of 15 nucleotides had shorter mOS than the others (44.1 vs. 77.0 months, p = 0.03). In multivariate analysis, ex19delins independently predicted a better PFS (HR = 0.311, p = 0.03); however, 15 nucleotide deletion was no longer associated with OS (HR = 0.181, p = 0.11). Secondary T790M mutation incidence was significantly higher in the ex19del subgroup starting at E746 than the others (64.7% vs. 30.8%, p = 0.04).

Conclusions

Our study revealed potential differences in TKI efficacy, resistance mechanism, and prognosis of various EGFR ex19del subtypes in NSCLC, underscoring the need for precise selection of first‐line therapy.
Clinical significance of DNA damage response mutations in stage I and stage IIIa NSCLC
Authors: Zhang Haoran , Zhang Dongming , Liu Jia , Shi Yuequan , Liu Xiaoyan , Chen Minjiang , Zhong Wei , Zhao Jing , Xu Yan , Wang Mengzhao
Published: September 2023

Background

DNA damage response (DDR) pathways are essential to sustain genomic stability and play a critical role in cancer development and progression. Here, we investigated the profile of DDR gene mutations in early‐stage non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) and their prognostic values.

Methods

We first examined 74 DDR genes involved in seven DDR pathways and then focused on six specific genes: ATM, BRCA1, BRCA2, CHEK1, BARD1, and BRIP1. A total of 179 stage I and IIIa NSCLC patients who received curative resection in Peking Union Medical College Hospital and their corresponding samples were collected for DNA sequencing, immunohistochemistry and survival analysis.

Results

A total of 167 eligible patients were finally analyzed. Mutation frequencies were 82% and 26.3% for the selected 74 genes and six genes, respectively. Mismatch repair (MMR) and nucleotide excision repair (NER) alterations were observed more frequently in lung squamous cell carcinoma (LUSC) and smokers were more likely to develop the selected six DDR gene mutations than those who never smoked. Deleterious mutations in the six genes were independent prognostic indicators of significantly longer disease‐free survival and overall survival. No association was found between DDR gene status and PD‐L1 expression, CD8 positive lymphocyte and tumor‐associated macrophage infiltration in tumor area. However, numbers of mutations were significantly increased among patients with DDR alterations.

Conclusions

Deleterious mutations of these six genes were common in resected NSCLC and could serve as prognostic biomarkers.
Survival outcomes of east Asian patients with advanced non‐small cell lung cancer treated with first‐line EGFR tyrosine kinase inhibitors: A network meta‐analysis of real‐world evidence
Authors: Chang Huang‐Chih , Huang Kuo‐Tung , Tseng Chia‐Cheng , Chen Yu‐Mu , Lai Chien‐Hao , Chang Yu‐Ping , Chen Yung‐Che , Chuang Hung‐Yi , Wang Chin‐Chou
Published: September 2023

Background

The comparative efficacies of different generation tyrosine kinase inhibitors (TKIs) in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR)‐mutated advanced non‐small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) remain largely unknown. Moreover, whether one EGFR‐TKI confers superior survival remains unclear, especially in East Asians. We conducted a network meta‐analysis (NMA) comparing the survival outcomes of East Asian patients with advanced NSCLC treated with first‐line EGFR‐TKIs.

Methods

The NMA included observational real‐world evidence studies on adult patients with EGFR‐mutated advanced NSCLC who received first (gefitinib and erlotinib), second (afatinib), or third (osimertinib) generation EGFR‐TKIs as frontline therapy. Studies were identified through an online bibliographic search of Medline articles in the PubMed, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases.

Results

For overall survival (OS), afatinib had significantly better hazard ratios (HRs) than osimertinib (HR: 0.46, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.23–0.91), gefitinib (HR: 0.56, 95% CI: 0.43–0.72), and erlotinib (HR: 0.71, 95% CI: 0.54–0.92). For progression‐free survival (PFS), afatinib had significantly better HRs than gefitinib (HR: 0.45, 95% CI: 0.36–0.56) and erlotinib (HR: 0.63, 95% CI: 0.49–0.81). Moreover, afatinib was most likely to achieve the longest OS (81.3%), followed by erlotinib (13%), osimertinib, and gefitinib. Furthermore, afatinib was most likely to achieve the longest PFS (48.3%), followed by osimertinib (34.9%) and erlotinib.

Conclusions

This real‐world evidence shows that afatinib confers better survival than other first‐line EGFR‐TKIs in East Asian patients with advanced NSCLC.
Charting the fourth wave: Geographic, temporal, race/ethnicity and demographic trends in polysubstance fentanyl overdose deaths in the United States, 2010–2021
Authors: Friedman Joseph , Shover Chelsea L.
Published: September 2023

Aims

To characterize polysubstance death in the United States during the transition to the fourth wave of the drug overdose crisis. To characterize co‐involved substances in fatal overdose involving synthetic opioids (mainly illicitly manufactured fentanyl analogues) by year, state, and intersectional sociodemographic groups.

Design

Population‐based study of national death records.

Setting

United States.

Participants/cases

All people who died from drug overdose in the United States between 2010 and 2021.

Measurements

Percentage of all fatal overdose involving fentanyls, stimulants, and other drugs. Most commonly co‐involved substances in fentanyl overdose by state and year. Percentage of fatal fentanyl overdose co‐involving stimulants by state and year. Percentage of fatal fentanyl overdose co‐involving stimulants by intersectional region, race/ethnicity, age, and sex.

Findings

The percent of US overdose deaths involving both fentanyl and stimulants increased from 0.6% (n = 235) in 2010 to 32.3% (34 429) in 2021, with the sharpest rise starting in 2015. In 2010, fentanyl was most commonly found alongside prescription opioids, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. In the Northeast this shifted to heroin‐fentanyl co‐involvement in the mid‐2010s, and nearly universally to cocaine‐fentanyl co‐involvement by 2021. Universally in the West, and in the majority of states in the South and Midwest, methamphetamine‐fentanyl co‐involvement predominated by 2021. The proportion of stimulant involvement in fentanyl‐involved overdose deaths rose in virtually every state 2015–2021. Intersectional group analysis reveals particularly high rates for older Black and African American individuals living in the West.

Conclusions

By 2021 stimulants were the most common drug class found in fentanyl‐involved overdoses in every state in the US. The rise of deaths involving cocaine and methamphetamine must be understood in the context of a drug market dominated by illicit fentanyls, which have made polysubstance use more sought‐after and commonplace. The widespread concurrent use of fentanyl and stimulants, as well as other polysubstance formulations, presents novel health risks and public health challenges.
Consumer preferences for food away from home: Dine in versus delivery
Authors: Kilders Valerie , Caputo Vincenzina , Lusk Jayson L.
Published: September 2023

Food away from home (FAFH) is an integral part of U.S. consumer diets, with food delivery orders becoming more popular in recent years. However, little research has been done on whether choice patterns vary across dining settings and how this might affect the impact food policies such as a red meat tax would have on consumer welfare. We target this gap by implementing a food menu basket‐based experiment (FM‐BBCE) to determine consumer preferences and demand for FAFH in two dining settings: in‐restaurant dining and food delivery. The FM‐BBCE approach enables us to (a) identify the substitution and complementarity patterns between various food types (meat vs. plant‐based food) and courses (appetizers, main courses, and side dishes), and (b) determine the demand and welfare impact of a red meat tax across the two settings. We find that respondent's orders in the delivery setting are typically higher in calories, and most items act as complements for one another, whereas menu items are substitutes in the dine‐in setting. Consumers were generally more price elastic in dine‐in versus delivery settings. Sociodemographics influence choice; for example, urban consumers have a higher preference for plant‐based meat alternatives than rural or suburban respondents. These sociodemographic differences extend to the welfare effects of a red meat tax that we simulate, which is regressive toward low‐income individuals in the delivery setting but not in the dine‐in setting. Findings from this study provide new insights on FAFH consumption, which can be used by producers, policymakers, and academics.
Poorer outcomes in patients with early postoperative delirium: 120‐day follow‐up of the Delirium Reduction by Analgesia Management in Hip Fracture (DRAM‐HF) study
Authors: Hunter Carol Lu , Ni Chroinin Danielle , McEvoy Lynette , Chuan Alwin
Published: September 2023

Objectives

The Delirium Reduction by Analgesia Management‐Hip Fracture (DRAM‐HF) model of care, which incorporated a multicomponent intervention focussing on perioperative analgesia and medication optimisation, was associated with reduced Day 3 postoperative delirium (POD) amongst hip fracture patients. We investigated whether this effect was seen at 120 days postoperatively.

Methods

We assessed 120‐day outcomes in all patients who were included in the DRAM‐HF study, by telephone, supplemented by electronic medical records, to include death (primary outcome), residential aged care facility (RACF) residence, patient/carer‐reported frailty, hospital readmission and new dementia diagnosis.

Results

Amongst 300 patients (mean age 81.1, 70% female, none lost to follow‐up), by 120 days, 8% (n = 24) had died; 25% of survivors (n = 68/276) were RACF residents. Twenty‐two per cent were readmitted (n = 61/281). A new dementia diagnosis was reported by 6% (n = 17/281). Intervention status in the DRAM‐HF trial (intervention/control) was not associated with death by 120 days (OR 0.83, 95% CI 0.36–1.93, p = 0.67) or other outcomes assessed. POD was independently associated with 120‐day death (aOR 3.3, 95% CI 1.2–9.2, p = 0.02), RACF residence (aOR 2.2, 95% CI 1.1–4.7, p = 0.03) and patient/carer‐reported frailty (aOR 5.6, 95% CI 1.0–30.7, p = 0.05), but not readmission (p = 0.21) or new diagnosis of dementia (p = 0.08).

Conclusions

In this cohort, while the DRAM‐HF bundle of care did not influence 120‐day outcomes, patients who experienced POD had poorer clinical outcomes 120‐day postfracture. Given that delirium was associated with death, RACF residence and frailty, models of care which have the potential to reduce POD may have benefits beyond the acute admission, and further investigation is needed.
The translational value of ligand‐receptor binding kinetics in drug discovery
Authors: Liu Hongli , Zhang Haoran , IJzerman Adriaan P. , Guo Dong
Published: September 2023

The translation of in vitro potency of a candidate drug, as determined by traditional pharmacology metrics (such as EC50/IC50 and KD/Ki values), to in vivo efficacy and safety is challenging. Residence time, which represents the duration of drug‐target interaction, can be part of a more comprehensive understanding of the dynamic nature of drug‐target interactions in vivo, thereby enabling better prediction of drug efficacy and safety. As a consequence, a prolonged residence time may help in achieving sustained pharmacological activity, while transient interactions with shorter residence times may be favourable for targets associated with side effects. Therefore, integration of residence time into the early stages of drug discovery and development has yielded a number of clinical candidates with promising in vivo efficacy and safety profiles. Insights from residence time research thus contribute to the translation of in vitro potency to in vivo efficacy and safety. Further research and advances in measuring and optimizing residence time will bring a much‐needed addition to the drug discovery process and the development of safer and more effective drugs. In this review, we summarize recent research progress on residence time, highlighting its importance from a translational perspective.
Is More Always Better? Testing the Addition Bias for German Language Statistics
Authors: Wolfer Sascha
Published: September 2023

This replication study aims to investigate a potential bias toward addition in the German language, building upon previous findings of Winter and colleagues who identified a similar bias in English. Our results confirm a bias in word frequencies and binomial expressions, aligning with these previous findings. However, the analysis of distributional semantics based on word vectors did not yield consistent results for German. Furthermore, our study emphasizes the crucial role of selecting appropriate translational equivalents, highlighting the significance of considering language‐specific factors when testing for such biases for languages other than English.
Bulk and single‐cell alternative splicing analyses reveal roles of TRA2B in myogenic differentiation
Authors: Chen Genghua , Chen Jiahui , Qi Lin , Yin Yunqian , Lin Zetong , Wen Huaqiang , Zhang Shuai , Xiao Chuanyun , Bello Semiu Folaniyi , Zhang Xiquan , Nie Qinghua , Luo Wen
Published: September 2023

Alternative splicing (AS) disruption has been linked to disorders of muscle development, as well as muscular atrophy. However, the precise changes in AS patterns that occur during myogenesis are not well understood. Here, we employed isoform long‐reads RNA‐seq (Iso‐seq) and single‐cell RNA‐seq (scRNA‐seq) to investigate the AS landscape during myogenesis. Our Iso‐seq data identified 61,146 full‐length isoforms representing 11,682 expressed genes, of which over 52% were novel. We identified 38,022 AS events, with most of these events altering coding sequences and exhibiting stage‐specific splicing patterns. We identified AS dynamics in different types of muscle cells through scRNA‐seq analysis, revealing genes essential for the contractile muscle system and cytoskeleton that undergo differential splicing across cell types. Gene‐splicing analysis demonstrated that AS acts as a regulator, independent of changes in overall gene expression. Two isoforms of splicing factor TRA2B play distinct roles in myogenic differentiation by triggering AS of TGFBR2 to regulate canonical TGF‐β signalling cascades differently. Our study provides a valuable transcriptome resource for myogenesis and reveals the complexity of AS and its regulation during myogenesis.
Reduction of HLA donor specific antibodies in heart transplant patients treated with proteasome inhibitors for antibody mediated rejection
Authors: Horn Edward T. , Xu Qingyong , Dibridge Julie N. , Huston Jessica H. , Hickey Gavin W. , Kaczorowski David J. , Keebler Mary E. , Zeevi Adriana
Published: September 2023

In this project, we describe proteasome inhibitor (PI) treatment of antibody‐mediated rejection (AMR) in heart transplantation (HTX). From January 2018 to September 2021, 10 patients were treated with PI for AMR: carfilzomib (CFZ) n = 8; bortezomib (BTZ) n = 2. Patients received 1–3 cycles of PI. All patients had ≥1 strong donor‐specific antibody (DSA) (mean fluorescence intensity [MFI] > 8000) in undiluted serum. Most DSAs (20/21) had HLA class II specificity. The MFI of strong DSAs had a median reduction of 56% (IQR = 13%–89%) in undiluted serum and 92% (IQR = 53%–95%) at 1:16 dilution. Seventeen DSAs in seven patients were reduced > 50% at 1:16 dilution after treatment. Four DSAs from three patients did not respond. DSA with MFI > 8000 at 1:16 dilution was less responsive to treatment. 60% (6/10) patients presented with graft dysfunction; 4/6 recovered ejection fraction > 40% after treatment. Pathologic AMR was resolved in 5/7 (71.4%) of patients within 1 year after treatment. 9/10 (90%) patients survived to 1 year after AMR diagnosis. Using PI in AMR resulted in significant DSA reduction with some resolution of graft dysfunction. Larger studies are needed to evaluate PI for AMR.
Artificial intelligence‐based PRO score assessment in actinic keratoses from LC‐OCT imaging using Convolutional Neural Networks
Authors: Thamm Janis R. , Daxenberger Fabia , Viel Théo , Gust Charlotte , Eijkenboom Quirine , French Lars E. , Welzel Julia , Sattler Elke C. , Schuh Sandra
Published: September 2023

Background and Objectives

The histological PRO score (I–III) helps to assess the malignant potential of actinic keratoses (AK) by grading the dermal‐epidermal junction (DEJ) undulation. Line‐field confocal optical coherence tomography (LC‐OCT) provides non‐invasive real‐time PRO score quantification. From LC‐OCT imaging data, training of an artificial intelligence (AI), using Convolutional Neural Networks (CNNs) for automated PRO score quantification of AK in vivo may be achieved.

Patients and Methods

CNNs were trained to segment LC‐OCT images of healthy skin and AK. PRO score models were developed in accordance with the histopathological gold standard and trained on a subset of 237 LC‐OCT AK images and tested on 76 images, comparing AI‐computed PRO score to the imaging experts’ visual consensus.

Results

Significant agreement was found in 57/76 (75%) cases. AI‐automated grading correlated best with the visual score for PRO II (84.8%) vs. PRO III (69.2%) vs. PRO I (66.6%). Misinterpretation occurred in 25% of the cases mostly due to shadowing of the DEJ and disruptive features such as hair follicles.

Conclusions

The findings suggest that CNNs are helpful for automated PRO score quantification in LC‐OCT images. This may provide the clinician with a feasible tool for PRO score assessment in the follow‐up of AK.
Oviposition fluids from adult wasps mediate interspecific competition between parasitoid larvae
Authors: Paul Ryan L. , Vyas Dhaval K. , Ode Paul J.
Published: September 2023

Parasitoid wasp larvae engage in intense interspecific competition when sharing a host insect, with lethal consequences for the losers. Larval parasitoid competition is generally thought to be resolved by physical traits, such as enlarged mandibles. Although solitary parasitoid larvae are typically superior competitors against gregarious larvae, such physical traits are unlikely to be effective against large numbers of competitors. Larval competition may instead be mediated by maternal factors that increase the survival of offspring facing interspecific competition, thus increasing parental fitness.

When laying eggs inside a host, many female parasitoids also inject oviposition fluids that are known to suppress host immune responses, permitting successful offspring development. We explored whether the oviposition fluids of two wasp species in the genus Cotesia (Cotesia rubecula, a strong competitor that almost always wins interspecific competition against a weaker competitor, Cotesia glomerata) might also represent maternal factors that improve the interspecific competitive ability of their offspring.

We demonstrate that injections of both venom and calyx fluid from C. rubecula can inhibit egg hatching and larval development of C. glomerata. Venom from C. rubecula decreased C. glomerata egg development by 2.7 times, and calyx fluid injections caused deformities in 23% of developing C. glomerata. In contrast, reciprocal injections of the oviposition fluids from C. glomerata did not inhibit the development of C. rubecula.

Our results show that maternal factors can improve the interspecific competitive ability of parasitoid larvae, challenging the previous assumptions that larval competition was resolved primarily through physical combat or larval secretions.
Chlorhexidine gluconate‐coated gel pad dressings for prevention of central venous catheter‐related bloodstream infections in patients with hematologic diseases or autologous stem cell transplantation: A registry‐based matched‐pair analysis
Authors: Teschner Daniel , Berisha Mirjeta , Panse Jens , Schmitt Timo , Fiegle Eva , Naendrup Jan‐Hendrik , Neitz Julia , Schmidt‐Hieber Martin , Hentrich Marcus , Böll Boris , Schalk Enrico
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG)‐coated gel pad dressings for central venous catheter (CVC) may prevent CVC‐related bloodstream infections (CRBSI). However, real‐world data showing beneficial effects in patients with hematologic malignancies are scarce.

Methods

In a matched‐pair analysis with data from a multicenter CVC registry, non‐tunneled jugular and subclavian vein CVC in adults with hematologic malignancies or germ cell tumors (including patients receiving autologous hematopoietic stem cell transplantation [ASCT]) with CHG were compared with non‐CHG dressings. The primary endpoint was definite CRBSI rate within 14 days (dCRBSI14) of CVC insertion; secondary endpoints were combined rate of definite or probable CRBSI within 14 days (dpCRBSI14), overall (dpCRBSI), and CRBSI incidences of all estimates.

Results

In total, 2070 CVCs were assessed. There was no statistically significant difference in dCRBSI14 (2.3% vs. 3.5%) between patients with and without CHG gel dressings. Likewise, with regards to dpCRBSI14 (6.2% vs. 6.3%) and the overall dpCRBSI rate (9.2% vs. 10.5%), no significant difference was detected. Furthermore, dCRBSI14 incidence (2.0 vs. 3.2/1000 CVC days), dpCRBSI14 incidence (5.4 vs. 5.6/1000 CVC days), and overall CRBSI incidence (5.5 vs. 6.0/1000 CVC days) showed no significant differences.

Conclusions

CRBSI rates were not reduced by the use of CHG gel dressings in patients with hematologic malignancies and/or ASCT.
The Joint Working Group, the Roman Catholic Church, and the World Council of Churches
Authors: Mayer Annemarie C.
Published: September 2023

Under the title Walking, Praying, and Working Together: An Ecumenical Pilgrimage, the Joint Working Group (JWG) of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and the Roman Catholic Church (RCC) offered its tenth report to the most recent WCC assembly in Karlsruhe in 2022. This report recounts many instances of cooperation between the RCC and the WCC. This fact raises the question of whether the relations between the RCC and the WCC have changed and, if so, in what way. This article goes back to the roots of the JWG and tries to imagine the ecumenical atmosphere of those days to adequately understand the present situation. It critically assesses selected instances of cooperation mentioned in the tenth report and draws conclusions from the assessment. What does this mean for the work of the JWG? And what does this mean for the relationship between the JWG's parent bodies: the RCC and the WCC?
A mild impairment in reversal learning in a bowl‐digging substrate deterministic task but not other cognitive tests in the Dlg2+/− rat model of genetic risk for psychiatric disorder
Authors: Griesius Simonas , Waldron Sophie , Kamenish Katie A. , Cherbanich Nick , Wilkinson Lawrence S. , Thomas Kerrie L. , Hall Jeremy , Mellor Jack R. , Dwyer Dominic M. , Robinson Emma S. J.
Published: September 2023

Variations in the Dlg2 gene have been linked to increased risk for psychiatric disorders, including schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorders, intellectual disability, bipolar disorder, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, and pubertal disorders. Recent studies have reported disrupted brain circuit function and behaviour in models of Dlg2 knockout and haploinsufficiency. Specifically, deficits in hippocampal synaptic plasticity were found in heterozygous Dlg2+/− rats suggesting impacts on hippocampal dependent learning and cognitive flexibility. Here, we tested these predicted effects with a behavioural characterisation of the heterozygous Dlg2+/− rat model. Dlg2+/− rats exhibited a specific, mild impairment in reversal learning in a substrate deterministic bowl‐digging reversal learning task. The performance of Dlg2+/− rats in other bowl digging task, visual discrimination and reversal, novel object preference, novel location preference, spontaneous alternation, modified progressive ratio, and novelty‐suppressed feeding test were not impaired. These findings suggest that despite altered brain circuit function, behaviour across different domains is relatively intact in Dlg2+/− rats, with the deficits being specific to only one test of cognitive flexibility. The specific behavioural phenotype seen in this Dlg2+/− model may capture features of the clinical presentation associated with variation in the Dlg2 gene.
Characterization of a recombinant factor IX molecule fused to coagulation factor XIII‐B subunit
Authors: Desage Stephanie , Leuci Alexandre , Enjolras Nathalie , Holle Lori A. , Singh Sneha , Delavenne Xavier , Wolberg Alisa S. , Biswas Arijit , Dargaud Yesim
Published: September 2023

Introduction and aim

Severe haemophilia B (HB) is characterized by spontaneous bleeding episodes, mostly into joints. Recurrent bleeds lead to progressive joint destruction called haemophilic arthropathy. The current concept of prophylaxis aims at maintaining the FIX level >3–5 IU/dL, which is effective at reducing the incidence of haemophilic arthropathy. Extended half‐life FIX molecules make it easier to achieve these target trough levels compared to standard FIX concentrates. We previously reported that the fusion of a recombinant FIX (rFIX) to factor XIII‐B (FXIIIB) subunit prolonged the half‐life of the rFIX‐LXa‐FXIIIB fusion molecule in mice and rats 3.9‐ and 2.2‐fold, respectively, compared with rFIX‐WT. However, the mechanism behind the extended half‐life was not known.

Materials and methods

Mass spectrometry and ITC were used to study interactions of rFIX‐LXa‐FXIIIB with albumin. Pharmacokinetic analyses in fibrinogen‐KO and FcRn‐KO mice were performed to evaluate the effect of albumin and fibrinogen on in‐vivo half‐life of rFIX‐LXa‐FXIIIB. Finally saphenous vein bleeding model was used to assess in‐vivo haemostatic activity of rFIX‐LXa‐FXIIIB.

Results and conclusion

We report here the key interactions that rFIX‐LXa‐FXIIIB may have in plasma are with fibrinogen and albumin which may mediate its prolonged half‐life. In addition, using the saphenous vein bleeding model, we demonstrate that rFIX‐FXIIIB elicits functional clot formation that is indistinguishable from that of rFIX‐WT.
‘A good decision is the one that feels right for me’: Codesign with patients to inform theoretical underpinning of a decision aid website
Authors: Kohut Kelly , Morton Kate , Hurley Karen , Turner Lesley ,   The CanGene‐CanVar Patient Reference Panel, Dale Caroline , Eastbrook Susan , Gold Rochelle , Henwood Kate , Patton Sonia , Punjabi Reshma , White Helen , Young Charlene , Young Julie , Bancroft Elizabeth , Barnett Lily , Cable Sarah , Connolly Gaya , Coad Beth , Forman Andrea , Hanson Helen , Kavanaugh Grace , Sahan Katherine , Snape Katie , Torr Bethany , Way Rosalind , Winchester Elizabeth , Youngs Alice ,   The International Lynch Decision Aid Stakeholder Panel, Eccles Diana , Foster Claire
Published: September 2023

Introduction

Patient decision aids (PtDA) complement shared decision‐making with healthcare professionals and improve decision quality. However, PtDA often lack theoretical underpinning. We are codesigning a PtDA to help people with increased genetic cancer risks manage choices. The aim of an innovative workshop described here was to engage with the people who will use the PtDA regarding the theoretical underpinning and logic model outlining our hypothesis of how the PtDA would lead to more informed decision‐making.

Methods

Short presentations about psychological and behavioural theories by an expert were interspersed with facilitated, small‐group discussions led by patients. Patients were asked what is important to them when they make health decisions, what theoretical constructs are most meaningful and how this should be applied to codesign of a PtDA. An artist created a visual summary. Notes from patient discussions and the artwork were analysed using reflexive thematic analysis.

Results

The overarching theme was: It's personal. Contextual factors important for decision‐making were varied and changed over time. There was no one ‘best fit’ theory to target support needs in a PtDA, suggesting an inductive, flexible framework approach to programme theory would be most effective. The PtDA logic model was revised based on patient feedback.

Conclusion

Meaningful codesign of PtDA including discussions about the theoretical mechanisms through which they support decision‐making has the potential to lead to improved patient care through understanding the intricately personal nature of health decisions, and tailoring content and format for holistic care.

Patient Contribution

Patients with lived experience were involved in codesign and coproduction of this workshop and analysis as partners and coauthors. Patient discussions were the primary data source. Facilitators provided a semi‐structured guide, but they did not influence the patient discussions or provide clinical advice. The premise of this workshop was to prioritise the importance of patient lived experience: to listen, learn, then reflect together to understand and propose ideas to improve patient care through codesign of a PtDA.
Ballistic prediction of ceramic armor backed by thin metal plate against threats of small and medium‐calibers
Authors: Dou Linlong , He Liling , Yin Yihui
Published: September 2023

Based on the principle of energy balance, a new analytical model is established to estimate the ballistic performance of ceramic‐faced armor against small and medium‐caliber projectiles. The energy consumption of ceramic is described as the product of compressive strength and erosion volume of ceramic. Despite its simple form, it represents the main response characteristic of ceramic erosion. Moreover, considering the dependence of the fracture cone half‐angle on the ceramic/metal thickness ratio and projectile velocity, one has innovatively incorporated them in the present model to predict reasonably the half‐angle evolution. To further simplify the analytical calculation and facilitate its application, an explicit prediction formula of the central deflection on thin metal plate is adopted. Then, the accuracy of analytical prediction has been carefully checked with the ballistic test data of small and medium‐caliber projectiles to penetrate light ceramic‐faced armor. The satisfactory consistency between the experimental and analytical results has confirmed the validity of the present model. It is therefore expected to be a powerful tool for the optimal design of new ceramic‐faced armor.
Unveiling deception: Characterizing false amber necklace messages on Facebook
Authors: Jorge Olívia Santana , Remiro Mariana dos Santos , Lotto Matheus , Zakir Hussain Irfhana , Moreira Maria Aparecida Andrade , Morita Plinio Pelegrini , Cruvinel Thiago
Published: September 2023

Background

Messages promoting the benefits of amber necklaces for children are common on social media, despite their health risks.

Aim

This study characterized Facebook posts with false content about the efficacy of amber necklaces in teething.

Design

A sample of 500 English‐language Facebook posts was analyzed by two investigators to determine the motivations, author's profile, and sentiments of posts. Latent Dirichlet Allocation topic modeling was used to identify salient terms and topics. An intertopic distance map was created to calculate the topic similarity. These data were analyzed using descriptive analysis, the Mann–Whitney U test, Cramer's V test, and multiple logistic regression models, regarding the time since initial posting and interaction metrics.

Results

Most posts were made by business profiles and expressed positive sentiments, with social, psychological, and financial motivations. The posts were categorized into the topics “giveaway,” “healing features,” and “sales.” Overperforming scores and total interaction increased with time since the initial posting. Posts with links had higher overperforming scores.

Conclusion

The findings suggest that Facebook posts about the efficacy of amber necklaces in teething are motivated by financial interests, using psychological and social mechanisms to achieve greater interaction with their target audience.
Do Staggered Boards Matter for Firm Value?
Authors: Amihud Yakov , Schmid Markus , Solomon Steven Davidoff
Published: September 2023

The authors address, and attempt to settle, the heated debate over the effect of staggered boards on corporate performance. Critics of staggered boards claim they enable the entrenchment of inefficient managements and boards; and by working in tandem with poison pills to discourage hostile takeovers of underperforming companies, such boards end up generally reducing corporate values. Consistent with this theory, some institutional investors and shareholder rights advocates have urged companies to eliminate their staggered boards, while the most extreme critics have gone so far as to call for a regulatory ban. By contrast, supporters of staggered boards argue that they help increase corporate values by allowing managements and boards to focus on long‐term goals, and by providing board members a degree of independence from corporate executives who might want them replaced. The most extreme proponents of staggered boards have proposed that such boards be not only permitted, but indeed mandated.

Both sides of the debate claim to be backed by empirical studies whose findings provide sharply conflicting pictures of the consequences of staggered boards. Whereas the earlier studies found that companies with staggered boards have significantly lower values, more recent studies have concluded that staggered boards lead to higher corporate values.

The authors show that neither side of the debate has convincing empirical support. The earlier studies failed to account or control for important variables and corporate characteristics that explain corporate decisions to stagger their boards, or for changes in the companies' characteristics over time. For example, to the extent that a company's poor performance drives its decision to adopt or retain a staggered board provision—presumably to give it more freedom to restructure and improve its operations—the association of staggered boards with poor performance ends up confusing cause and effect.

When the authors control for variables that affect both corporate values and the choice of staggered boards in a sample of close to 3,000 U.S. companies from 1990 to 2013, they find that the effect of a staggered board on firm value becomes generally insignificant. As the authors put it, “The effect of a staggered board is idiosyncratic; for some firms it increases value, while for other firms it is value destroying.” On the basis of such findings, the authors caution against legal solutions advocating either wholesale adoption or repeal of staggered boards, urging managements and boards to determine the value‐maximizing approach that reflects their own companies' opportunities and circumstances.
The Market Price of Managerial Indiscretions
Authors: Cline Brandon N. , Walkling Ralph A. , Yore Adam S.
Published: September 2023

To what extent should investors be concerned about the personal behavior of the top managers of the companies they invest in? In a study published recently in the Journal of Financial Economics, the authors shed light on this question by examining the market responses to revelations of over 300 cases of personal misconduct by senior executives and directors, including episodes of domestic violence, DUIs, extramarital affairs, and public dishonesty. In so doing, they provide suggestive evidence of how “tone at the top” can affect corporate policy by way of its culture and how a manager's reputation spills over to that of the firm.

The authors' findings show that the companies employing these executives experienced meaningful financial and product market penalties following the disclosure of their unethical behavior. Following the revelation of an indiscretion, investors suffered immediate losses in shareholder wealth—on the order of 4% in cases involving CEOs—and the company's stock continued to underperform during the ensuing year, with total losses amounting to 12 %–14% of firm value. Such companies also tended to lose joint venture partnerships and major customers following these scandals, thereby forcing them into lower‐margin lines of business. The authors also find that such companies were more likely later to commit fraud and be targeted in shareholder class‐action lawsuits.

The offending managers themselves were disciplined by the labor market for their missteps in that they faced a higher likelihood of dismissal, and those who were retained earned around $400,000 less pay following the indiscretion. Nevertheless, it is notable that a majority of these executives were not fired, implying that their supervising boards felt they contributed more value to the firm than the damage they caused through their off‐the‐job behavior. Interestingly, the board members supervising these executives were also held accountable for managerial indiscretions in that they received less shareholder support in director elections following the scandals.
How Have Green Companies Fared in Transactions with Banks? A Stakeholder‐Management Perspective
Authors: Jin Dawei , Liu Liuling , Ma Jun , Wang Haizhi , Yin Desheng
Published: September 2023

In a recent study, the authors investigated whether and to what extent a company's environmental practices and record affect the terms of its bank loans. The study reports evidence of a clear association between environment‐friendly corporate practices and both lower borrowing costs and less use of restrictive financial covenants. And consistent with the above findings, the authors also report that companies with better environmental practices have more stable income streams, lower leverage ratios, and higher future valuations. The authors also find that relationship (as opposed to first‐time) lenders respond to improvements in companies' environmental records by offering more favorable borrowing terms over time.

Moreover, the authors find that the association between more effective environmental management and lower loan costs is more pronounced for corporate borrowers that operate in industries facing greater industry competition and stricter environmental regulation. In addition, borrowers with better records for green management are less likely to violate covenants, default on loans, or file for bankruptcy—a conclusion that should shed light on the current green finance policy debate among central banks and regulators as to whether they should reduce capital requirements or offer other policy inducements for bank financing of green assets.
Identification of fruit fly (Tephritidae) pupae parasitized by hymenoptera parasitoids
Authors: de Almeida Tiago Tognolli , Roel Antonia Railda , de Oliveira Carina Elisei , Rocha Bruno Fines , Dias Angélica Maria Penteado Martins
Published: September 2023

One of the major problems in orchards is the presence of Tephritidae fly maggots, especially in Mirtaceae species. Various biological control tools include the use of Hymenoptera parasitoids, which naturally control fly populations. However, identification of the host species of parasitoids is challenging, because only the puparium remains after the parasitoid hatches. Therefore, the aim of this work was to determine the host species of Hymenoptera parasitoids, through the puparium. Host species were identified by amplification and sequencing of cytochrome C oxidase subunit I (COI) of mitochondrial DNA. The results of the present study show that COI DNA sequencing was able to reliably identify host pupae to the genus level, allowing the identification of the Anastrepha genus in this study. This suggests that this method can be used to identify agriculturally relevant hosts through its puparium remains, since this genus has already been described as a pest of Campomanesia adamantium. Knowledge of the species that cause damage to crop is extremely important to study the biological and ecological aspects of these pests and their control. In this way, our results suggest that this method can be used to identify economically relevant host pupal species since the genus identified in this study has already been described as a pest of C. adamantium.
Comprehensive analysis of Vibrio alginolyticus: Environmental risk factors in the cultured Gilthead seabream (Sparus aurata) under seasonal fluctuations and water parameter alterations
Authors: Aly Salah M. , Elatta Mohamed A. , ElBanna Noha I. , El‐Shiekh Mustafa A. , Mabrok Mahmoud , Kelany Mahmoud S. , Fathi Mohamed
Published: September 2023

This study aimed to investigate the relationship between seasonal variations, water parameters and the prevalence of Vibriosis in Gilthead seabream. A total of 160 Gilthead seabream fish were sampled over the course of 1 year from private earthen pond farms in the Suez Canal area and examined for abnormalities and internal lesions. Vibrio alginolyticus, the causative agent of Vibriosis, was isolated and characterized from the sampled Gilthead seabream fish. The study revealed a significant correlation between different seasons and the prevalence of V. alginolyticus, with lower occurrence during autumn. Analysis of water parameters showed that toxic ammonia concentration was not effective in distinguishing between positive and negative cases of V. alginolyticus. Dissolved oxygen showed weak predictive ability for the occurrence of V. alginolyticus, while temperature demonstrated moderate potential as a predictor of its prevalence. pH values, organic matter concentrations and salinity showed no significant association with the occurrence of V. alginolyticus. Experimental challenges highlighted the vulnerability of Gilthead seabream to V. alginolyticus and emphasized the impact of environmental factors, such as pH and toxic ammonia, on their mortality and survival. The study emphasizes the importance of considering seasonal changes and water quality parameters in managing V. alginolyticus in mariculture. It underscores the need for careful monitoring and control of environmental factors to ensure the health and well‐being of cultured fish populations. The findings contribute to our understanding of Vibriosis management and provide valuable insights for developing effective strategies in the aquaculture industry.