bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Patellofemoral pain in general practice: the incidence and management
Authors: van Leeuwen Guido J , de Schepper Evelien I T , Bindels Patrick J E , Bierma-Zeinstra Sita M A , van Middelkoop Marienke
Published: September 2023

Background

Patellofemoral pain (PFP) is a nontraumatic knee problem primarily observed in physically active adolescents. The objective of this study was to determine the incidence and management of PFP in children and adolescents in general practice

Methods

A retrospective cohort study was conducted using a regional primary care database containing full electronic health records of over 300,000 patients. Patients with a new PFP diagnosis between the years 2013 and 2019 were extracted using a search algorithm based on International Classification of Primary Health Care coding and search terms in free text. Data on the management of PFP were manually checked and analysed. In addition, a sub-analysis for chronic and nonchronic PFP patients was performed.

Results

The mean incidence of PFP over the study period was 3.4 (95% CI 3.2–3.6) per 1,000 person years in the age group of 7–24 years. Girls had a higher incidence rate (4.6 [95% CI 4.3–5.0]) compared to boys (2.3 [95% CI 2.1–2.5]). Peak incidence was at age 13 years for both sexes. The most commonly applied management strategy was advice (55.1%), followed by referral to physiotherapy (28.2%), analgesics prescription (10.4%), and referral to the orthopaedic surgeon (8.9%). No differences were found in age, sex, and treatment between chronic and nonchronic PFP patients.

Conclusions

The average Dutch general practitioner sees approximately 1.4 new child or adolescent with PFP per year. Overall management strategies were in concordance with current Dutch general practice guideline on nontraumatic knee problems. More insight should be gained in the population with chronic complaints.
Extravasation of Blood and Blood Toxicity Drives Tubular Injury from RBC Trapping in Ischemic AKI
Authors: McLarnon Sarah R , Johnson Chloe , Sun Jingping , Wei Qingqing , Csanyi Gabor , O'Herron Phillip , Marshall Brendan , Giddens Priya , Sullivan Jennifer C , Barrett Amanda , O'Connor Paul M
Published: September 2023

Red blood cell (RBC) trapping is common in ischemic acute kidney injury (AKI) and presents as densely packed RBCs that accumulate within and engorge the kidney medullary circulation. In this study, we tested the hypothesis that “RBC trapping directly promotes tubular injury independent of extending ischemia time.” Studies were performed on rats. Red blood cell congestion and tubular injury were compared between renal arterial clamping, venous clamping, and venous clamping of blood-free kidneys. Vessels were occluded for either 15 or 45 min with and without reperfusion. We found that RBC trapping in the medullary capillaries occurred rapidly following reperfusion from renal arterial clamping and that this was associated with extravasation of blood from congested vessels, uptake of blood proteins by the tubules, and marked tubular injury. To determine if this injury was due to blood toxicity or an extension of ischemia time, we compared renal venous and arterial clamping without reperfusion. Venous clamping resulted in RBC trapping and marked tubular injury within 45 min of ischemia. Conversely, despite the same ischemia time, RBC trapping and tubular injury were minimal following arterial clamping without reperfusion. Confirming the role of blood toward tubular injury, injury was markedly reduced in blood-free kidneys with venous clamping. Our data demonstrate that RBC trapping results in the rapid extravasation and uptake of blood components by tubular cells, causing toxic tubular injury. Tubular toxicity from extravasation of blood following RBC trapping appears to be a major component of tubular injury in ischemic AKI, which has not previously been recognized.
Unveiling the Ghrelin and Obestatin Roles in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis Assessing Their Pathogenic Implications and Biomarker Utility
Authors: Khalaji Amirmohammad , Babajani Nastaran , Amirsardari Zahra , Saeedian Behrad , Peiman Soheil , Berger Nathan A , Behnoush Amir Hossein
Published: September 2023

Background

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), pathologically known as chronic inflammation of the gastrointestinal tract, is among the diseases with a high burden worldwide. Ghrelin and obestatin, as adipocytokines mainly in adipose tissues, are involved in immune responses and inflammatory pathways. Studies have assessed the circulatory ghrelin levels in patients with IBD. Herein, we aim to pool these studies through systematic review and meta-analysis.

Methods

Four international databases, PubMed, Embase, Scopus, and the Web of Science were systematically searched for studies assessing ghrelin or obestatin levels in patients with IBD (either Crohn’s disease [CD] or ulcerative colitis [UC]) in active phase or in remission. Random-effects meta-analysis was conducted in order to calculate the pooled estimate using the standardized mean difference (SMD) and 95% confidence interval (CI).

Results

Nineteen studies were included in our systematic review, comprising 1064 patients with IBD (476 UC and 588 CD). A meta-analysis of 11 studies for comparison of active and quiescent disease showed that patients with active IBD had significantly higher levels of ghrelin (SMD, 0.70; 95% CI, 0.06 to 1.34; P = .03). However, in separate analyses for UC or CD, no such difference was observed (SMD, 1.30; 95% CI, −0.28 to 2.88, P = .11; and SMD, 0.80; 95% CI, −0.41 to 2.01; P = .20, respectively). No significant difference was also observed in ghrelin levels between patients with active IBD and healthy control subjects. Obestatin levels also were not different between patients with active disease and those in remission (SMD, 0.31; 95% CI, −0.05 to 0.68; P = .09). On the other hand, the obestatin/ghrelin ratio was significantly lower in patients with active IBD (SMD, −1.90; 95% CI, −2.45 to −1.35; P < .01).

Conclusions

Our results demonstrate that IBD patients with active disease have higher levels of ghrelin, which needs to be confirmed in future studies. Also, the obestatin/ghrelin ratio might be a promising biomarker for the assessment of disease activity.
Isavuconazole–tacrolimus drug–drug interactions in HSCT patients
Authors: Fructuoso-González L , Najera-Perez M D , Manresa-Ramón N , Torrano-Belmonte P , Caracena-López S , Pacheco-López P
Published: September 2023

Objectives

Because tacrolimus has a narrow therapeutic window and exhibits both intraindividual and interindividual variability, we attempted to establish the percentage of calcineurin inhibitor (CNI) dose reduction to prevent toxicity and ensure stem cell engraftment when using this immunosuppressant with the antifungal isavuconazole (ISA). By calculating the tacrolimus concentration/dose (C/D) ratio, we expected to demonstrate the magnitude of change in the C/D ratio from baseline after ISA administration.

Methods

We evaluated the interaction between ISA, a new triazole antifungal used in prophylaxis for invasive fungal infections, and the CNI class of immunosuppressive drugs, specifically tacrolimus, in 11 blood samples from HSCT recipients.

Results

The mean tacrolimus C/D ratio increased 1.44-fold from baseline 48 h after ISA administration (P = 0.001).

Conclusions

Although further investigation is needed, the results of this study suggest that a reduction of 18% in tacrolimus may be recommended.
High antipersister activity of a promising new quinolone drug candidate in eradicating uropathogenic Escherichia coli persisters and persistent infection in mice
Authors: Wang Yanyan , Liang Bing , Song Zhengming , Chen Wujun , Niu Hongxia , Xing Dongming , Zhang Ying
Published: September 2023

Aims

To develop more potent drugs that eradicate persister bacteria and cure persistent urinary tract infections (rUTIs).

Methods and results

We synthesized eight novel clinifloxacin analogs and measured minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC), minimum bactericidal concentration (MBC), the time-kill curves in uropathogenic Escherichia coli (UPEC) UTI89, and applied the candidate drugs and combinations against biofilm bacteria in vitro and in mice. Transcriptomic analysis was performed for UPEC after candidate drug treatment to shed light on potential mechanism of action. We identified Compound 2, named Qingdafloxacin (QDF), which was more potent than clinafloxacin and clinically used levofloxacin and moxifloxacin, with an MIC of < 0.04 μg ml−1 and an MBC of 0.08∼0.16 μg ml−1. In drug combination studies, QDF + gentamicin + nitrofuran combination but not single drugs completely eradicated all stationary phase bacteria containing persisters and biofilm bacteria, and all bacteria in a persistent UTI mouse model. Transcriptome analysis revealed that the unique antipersister activity of QDF was associated with downregulation of genes involved in bacterial stress response, DNA repair, protein misfolding repair, pyrimidine metabolism, glutamate, and glutathione metabolism, and efflux.

Conclusions

QDF has high antipersister activity and its drug combinations proved highly effective against biofilm bacteria in vitro and persistent UTIs in mice, which may have implications for treating rUTIs.
In vitro activity of hypochlorous acid generating electrochemical bandage against monospecies and dual-species bacterial biofilms
Authors: Kletzer Joseph , Raval Yash S , Mohamed Abdelrhman , Mandrekar Jayawant N , Greenwood-Quaintance Kerryl E , Beyenal Haluk , Patel Robin
Published: September 2023

Aims

As antimicrobial resistance is on the rise, treating chronic wound infections is becoming more complex. The presence of biofilms in wound beds contributes to this challenge. Here, the activity of a novel hypochlorous acid (HOCl) producing electrochemical bandage (e-bandage) against monospecies and dual-species bacterial biofilms formed by bacteria commonly found in wound infections was assessed.

Methods and results

The system was controlled by a wearable potentiostat powered by a 3V lithium-ion battery and maintaining a constant voltage of + 1.5V Ag/AgCl, allowing continuous generation of HOCl. A total of 19 monospecies and 10 dual-species bacterial biofilms grown on polycarbonate membranes placed on tryptic soy agar (TSA) plates were used as wound biofilm models, with HOCl producing e-bandages placed over the biofilms. Viable cell counts were quantified after e-bandages were continuously polarized for 2, 4, 6, and 12 hours. Time-dependent reductions in colony forming units (CFUs) were observed for all studied isolates. After 12 hours, average CFU reductions of 7.75 ± 1.37 and 7.74 ± 0.60 log10 CFU/cm2 were observed for monospecies and dual-species biofilms, respectively.

Conclusions

HOCl producing e-bandages reduce viable cell counts of in vitro monospecies and dual-species bacterial biofilms in a time-dependent manner in vitro. After 12 hours, >99.999% reduction in cell viability was observed for both monospecies and dual-species biofilms.
Breast Cancer Screening in High-risk Women During Pregnancy and Lactation
Authors: Portnow Leah H , Snider Lauren C , Bolivar Kimberly E , Bychkovsky Brittany L , Klehm Margaret R , Yeh Eren D , Gombos Eva C , Chikarmane Sona A
Published: September 2023

Women who are at high risk of developing breast cancer warrant screening that is often initiated at younger ages than in average-risk women; this is usually with a combination of annual mammography and breast MRI. Compared to average-risk women, those at high risk are more frequently recommended to undergo screening during childbearing age and thus potentially during pregnancy and lactation. Understanding the appropriate use of screening breast imaging during pregnancy and lactation can be challenging due to limited data defining the evidence-based roles of the different imaging modalities, including mammography, US, and MRI. There have also been assumptions about the diagnostic accuracy of these modalities secondary to physiological changes. This scientific review discusses the current state of evidence- and expert-based guidelines and data for breast imaging screening of high-risk pregnant and/or lactating women, and the clinical and imaging presentations of breast cancer for these women.
The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Cancer and IBD
Authors: Murthy Sanjay K , Kuenzig M Ellen , Windsor Joseph W , Matthews Priscilla , Tandon Parul , Benchimol Eric I , Bernstein Charles N , Bitton Alain , Coward Stephanie , Jones Jennifer L , Kaplan Gilaad G , Lee Kate , Targownik Laura E , Peña-Sánchez Juan-Nicolás , Rohatinsky Noelle , Ghandeharian Sara , Meka Saketh , Chis Roxana S , Gupta Sarang , Cheah Eric , Davis Tal , Weinstein Jake , Im James H B , Goddard Quinn , Gorospe Julia , Loschiavo Jennifer , McQuaid Kaitlyn , D’Addario Joseph , Silver Ken , Oppenheim Robyn , Singh Harminder
Published: September 2023

Cancer is a major cause of morbidity and mortality among people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Intestinal cancers may arise as a complication of IBD itself, while extra-intestinal cancers may arise due to some of the immunosuppressive therapies used to treat IBD. Colorectal cancer (CRC) and small bowel cancer risks remain elevated among persons with IBD as compared to age-and sex-matched members of the general population, and the lifetime risk of these cancers is strongly correlated to cumulative intestinal inflammatory burden. However, the cumulative risk of cancer, even among those with IBD is still low. Some studies suggest that IBD-CRC incidence has declined over the years, possibly owing to improved treatment standards and improved detection and management of early neoplastic lesions. Across studies of extra-intestinal cancers, there are generally higher incidences of melanoma, hepatobiliary cancer, and lung cancer and no higher incidences of breast cancer or prostate cancer, with equivocal risk of cervical cancer, among persons with IBD. While the relative risks of some extra-intestinal cancers are increased with treatment, the absolute risks of these cancers remain low and the decision to forego treatment in light of these risks should be carefully weighed against the increased risks of intestinal cancers and other disease-related complications with undertreated inflammatory disease. Quality improvement efforts should focus on optimized surveillance of cancers for which surveillance strategies exist (colorectal cancer, hepatobiliary cancer, cervical cancers, and skin cancers) and the development of cost-effective surveillance strategies for less common cancers associated with IBD.
The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Access to and Models of Care
Authors: Mathias Holly , Rohatinsky Noelle , Murthy Sanjay K , Novak Kerri , Kuenzig M Ellen , Nguyen Geoffrey C , Fowler Sharyle , Benchimol Eric I , Coward Stephanie , Kaplan Gilaad G , Windsor Joseph W , Bernstein Charles N , Targownik Laura E , Peña-Sánchez Juan-Nicolás , Lee Kate , Ghandeharian Sara , Jannati Nazanin , Weinstein Jake , Khan Rabia , Im James H B , Matthews Priscilla , Davis Tal , Goddard Quinn , Gorospe Julia , Latos Kate , Louis Michelle , Balche Naji , Dobranowski Peter , Patel Ashley , Porter Linda J , Porter Robert M , Bitton Alain , Jones Jennifer L
Published: September 2023

Rising compounding prevalence of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Kaplan GG, Windsor JW. The four epidemiological stages in the global evolution of inflammatory bowel disease. Nat Rev Gastroenterol Hepatol. 2021;18:56–66.) and pandemic-exacerbated health system resource limitations have resulted in significant variability in access to high-quality, evidence-based, person-centered specialty care for Canadians living with IBD. Individuals with IBD have identified long wait times, gaps in biopsychosocial care, treatment and travel expenses, and geographic and provider variation in IBD specialty care and knowledge as some of the key barriers to access. Care delivered within integrated models of care (IMC) has shown promise related to impact on disease-related outcomes and quality of life. However, access to these models is limited within the Canadian healthcare systems and much remains to be learned about the most appropriate IMC team composition and roles. Although eHealth technologies have been leveraged to overcome some access challenges since COVID-19, more research is needed to understand how best to integrate eHealth modalities (i.e., video or telephone visits) into routine IBD care. Many individuals with IBD are satisfied with these eHealth modalities. However, not all disease assessment and monitoring can be achieved through virtual modalities. The need for access to person-centered, objective disease monitoring strategies, inclusive of point of care intestinal ultrasound, is more pressing than ever given pandemic-exacerbated restrictions in access to endoscopy and cross-sectional imaging. Supporting learning healthcare systems for IBD and research relating to the strategic use of innovative and integrative implementation strategies for evidence-based IBD care interventions are greatly needed. Data derived from this research will be essential to appropriately allocating scarce resources aimed at improving person-centred access to cost-effective IBD care.
The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Direct Health System and Medication Costs
Authors: Kuenzig M Ellen , Coward Stephanie , Targownik Laura E , Murthy Sanjay K , Benchimol Eric I , Windsor Joseph W , Bernstein Charles N , Bitton Alain , Jones Jennifer L , Lee Kate , Peña-Sánchez Juan-Nicolás , Rohatinsky Noelle , Ghandeharian Sara , Im James H B , Jogendran Rohit , Meka Saketh , Weinstein Jake , Jones May Tyrel , Jogendran Manisha , Tabatabavakili Sahar , Hazan Elias , Hu Malini , Osei Jessica Amankwah , Khan Rabia , Wang Grace , Browne Mira , Davis Tal , Goddard Quinn , Gorospe Julia , Latos Kate , Mason Kate , Kerr Jack , Balche Naji , Sklar Anna , Kaplan Gilaad G
Published: September 2023

Healthcare utilization among people living with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Canada has shifted from inpatient management to outpatient management; fewer people with IBD are admitted to hospitals or undergo surgery, but outpatient visits have become more frequent. Although the frequency of emergency department (ED) visits among adults and seniors with IBD decreased, the frequency of ED visits among children with IBD increased. Additionally, there is variation in the utilization of IBD health services within and between provinces and across ethnocultural and sociodemographic groups. For example, First Nations individuals with IBD are more likely to be hospitalized than the general IBD population. South Asian children with Crohn’s disease are hospitalized more often than their Caucasian peers at diagnosis, but not during follow-up. Immigrants to Canada who develop IBD have higher health services utilization, but a lower risk of surgery compared to individuals born in Canada. The total direct healthcare costs of IBD, including the cost of hospitalizations, ED visits, outpatient visits, endoscopy, cross-sectional imaging, and medications are rising rapidly. The direct health system and medication costs of IBD in Canada are estimated to be $3.33 billion in 2023, potentially ranging from $2.19 billion to $4.47 billion. This is an increase from an estimated $1.28 billion in 2018, likely due to sharp increases in the use of biologic therapy over the past two decades. In 2017, 50% of total direct healthcare costs can be attributed to biologic therapies; the proportion of total direct healthcare costs attributed to biologic therapies today is likely even greater.
The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Mental Health and Inflammatory Bowel Disease
Authors: Graff Lesley A , Geist Rose , Kuenzig M Ellen , Benchimol Eric I , Kaplan Gilaad G , Windsor Joseph W , Bitton Alain , Coward Stephanie , Jones Jennifer L , Lee Kate , Murthy Sanjay K , Peña-Sánchez Juan-Nicolás , Targownik Laura E , Jannati Nazanin , Jones May Tyrel , Akhtar Sheekha Tasbeen , Davis Tal , Weinstein Jake , Dahlwi Ghaida , Im James H B , Amankwah Osei Jessica , Rohatinsky Noelle , Ghandeharian Sara , Goddard Quinn , Gorospe Julia , Gertsman Shira , Louis Michelle , Wagner Richelle , Brass Colten , Sanderson Rhonda , Bernstein Charles N
Published: September 2023

Psychiatric disorders are 1.5 to 2 times more prevalent in persons with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) than in the general population, with pooled prevalence estimates of 21% for clinical anxiety and 15% for depression. Rates are even higher when considering mental health symptoms, as nearly one-third of persons with IBD experience elevated anxiety symptoms and one-quarter experience depression symptoms. Rates of these symptoms were much higher during periods of disease activity, more common in women than men, and more common in Crohn’s disease than ulcerative colitis. There is robust evidence of the detrimental effects of comorbid depression and anxiety on the subsequent course of IBD based on longitudinal studies tracking outcomes over time. However, psychiatric disorders and IBD have bidirectional effects, with each affecting risk of the other. Elevated mental health concerns have been consistently associated with greater healthcare utilization and costs related to IBD. There is some signal that low resilience in adolescence could be a risk factor for developing IBD and that enhancing resilience may improve mental health and intestinal disease outcomes in IBD. Psychological therapies used to treat anxiety and depression occurring in the context of IBD have been shown to significantly improve the quality of life for persons with IBD and reduce anxiety and depression. There is less evidence in regard to the impact of psychotropic medications on mental health or disease outcomes in persons with IBD. There is consensus, however, that mental health must be addressed as part of comprehensive IBD care for children and adults.
The 2023 Impact of Inflammatory Bowel Disease in Canada: Special Populations—Children and Adolescents with IBD
Authors: El-Matary Wael , Carroll Matthew W , Deslandres Colette , Griffiths Anne M , Kuenzig M Ellen , Mack David R , Wine Eytan , Weinstein Jake , Geist Rose , Davis Tal , Chan Justin , Khan Rabia , Matthews Priscilla , Kaplan Gilaad G , Windsor Joseph W , Bernstein Charles N , Bitton Alain , Coward Stephanie , Jones Jennifer L , Lee Kate , Murthy Sanjay K , Targownik Laura E , Peña-Sánchez Juan-Nicolás , Rohatinsky Noelle , Ghandeharian Sara , Im James H B , Goddard Quinn , Gorospe Julia , Verdugo Jules , Morin Samantha A , Morganstein Taylor , Banning Lisa , Benchimol Eric I
Published: September 2023

Rates of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) in Canadian children and adolescents are among the highest in the world, and the incidence is rising most rapidly in children under five years of age. These young children may have either a typical form of IBD with multi-factorial aetiology, or they may have a monogenic form. Despite the growing number of children in Canada living with this important chronic disease, there are few available medical therapies approved by Health Canada due to the omission of children from most clinical trials of newly developed biologics. As a result, off-label use of medications is common, and physicians have learned to use existing therapies more effectively. In addition, most Canadian children are treated in multidisciplinary, specialty clinics by physicians with extra training or experience in IBD, as well as specialist nurses, dietitians, mental health care providers and other allied health professionals. This specialized clinic approach has facilitated cutting edge research, led by Canadian clinicians and scientists, to understand the causes of IBD, the optimal use of therapies, and the best ways to treat children from a biopsychosocial perspective. Canadians are engaged in work to understand the monogenic causes of IBD; the interaction between genes, the environment, and the microbiome; and how to address the mental health concerns and medical needs of adolescents and young adults transitioning from paediatric to adult care.
A feasibility study on time-lapse controlled-source electromagnetic method for hydraulic fracturing monitoring of Well Eyangye-2HF in Yichang, Hubei Province, China
Authors: Sun Qilong , Tan Handong , Zhang Yunxiao , Wan Wei , Peng Rong , Luo Weifeng
Published: September 2023

Hydraulic fracturing plays a crucial role in enhancing reserves and production of unconventional oil and gas resources. Injecting fracturing fluids into the ground to improve reservoirs also introduces the risk of inducing earthquakes; thus, monitoring the migration of these fluids is crucial. The microseismic positioning method determines the fracturing fluid by locating microseismic events generated by the fractured rock strata; however, this method is susceptible to errors. Low-resistivity subsurface fluids can directly change electromagnetic field signals, making the electromagnetic method a technically advantageous approach for monitoring the migration of hydraulic fracturing fluids. The monitoring test data of Well Eyangye-2HF show that the time-lapse controlled-source electromagnetic (CSEM) method is suitable for hydraulic fracturing and has good monitoring effects. The results of CSEM method can also compensate for deficiencies in microseismic monitoring. The electric field (Ex) observed using the CSEM method can directly predict the distribution edge of the fracturing fluid, and the anomalous zone of the Exrate of change is consistent with the fracturing-fluid injection parameters and microseismic monitoring results. The analysis of field data and forward simulation, based on electrical logging results, led to the conclusion that hydraulic fracturing operations can cause changes in the resistivity of the target layer and surrounding strata. These changes are attributed to the synergistic effects of formation stress, temperature, and the fracturing fluid. The electric-field changes observed using the CSEM method may be caused by multiple factors; however, use of time-lapse CSEM for monitoring hydraulic fracturing is still feasible.
‘The whitest guy in the room’: thoughts on decolonization and paideia in the South African university
Authors: Griffiths Dominic
Published: September 2023

This paper will reflect on the possibility of epistemic decolonization, particularly in terms of curriculum, as a transformative educational process in the context of the South African university, and with respect to my own positionality. The argument will centre around two difficult interdependent positions. On the one hand I will argue for the university’s task as transformational, even offering, via Cornel West, the ‘salvific’ possibility that knowledge offers those who seek it. To develop this claim, I will draw on and develop the notion of paideia though the work of Plato and Heidegger.

On the other hand, within the postcolonial African university, the question of decolonization in the tertiary space cannot be elided, particularly since the 2015 #RhodesMustFall and #FeesMustFall movements. The university is a powerful colonial relic, and it can be used to reinforce and perpetuate epistemic violence through unreflective or unconscious pedagogical and curriculum decisions. Here I draw on decolonial thinkers such as Santos, Mignolo, Maldonado-Torres, and Mbembe: I argue for a reckoning with the forces of coloniality, and advocate for epistemic justice and criticality, as part of the decolonizing project. In conclusion, working with ideas from Cornel West, I argue to reconcile paideia, as the ‘turning of the soul’, with the decolonizing African university.
Fifty years with the Cox proportional hazards model: history, influence, and future
Authors: Andersen Per Kragh
Published: September 2023

A review is given of paper by the author previously published in the Journal of the Indian Institute of Science.
A dynamic social relations model for clustered longitudinal dyadic data with continuous or ordinal responses
Authors: Pillinger Rebecca , Steele Fiona , Leckie George , Jenkins Jennifer
Published: September 2023

Social relations models allow the identification of cluster, actor, partner, and relationship effects when analysing clustered dyadic data on interactions between individuals or other units of analysis. We propose an extension of this model which handles longitudinal data and incorporates dynamic structure, where the response may be continuous, binary, or ordinal. This allows the disentangling of the relationship effects from temporal fluctuation and measurement error and the investigation of whether individuals respond to their partner’s behaviour at the previous observation. We motivate and illustrate the model with an application to Canadian data on pairs of individuals within families observed working together on a conflict discussion task.
Wheat cis-zeatin-O-glucosyltransferase cZOGT1 interacts with the Ca2+-dependent lipid binding protein TaZIP to regulate senescence
Authors: Wang Wenqiang , Zhang Gaungqiang , Wang Wenlong , Wang Zhigang , Lv Yuelin , Guo Fenxia , Di Yindi , Zhang Jifa , Wang Yuhai , Wang Wei , Li Yuanyuan , Hao Qunqun
Published: September 2023

Premature senescence is an important factor affecting wheat yield and quality. Wheat yield can be increased by delaying senescence and prolonging the effective photosynthetic time. Previously, we found that the cis-zeatin-O-glucosyltransferase (cZOGT1) gene plays an important role in the stay-green wheat phenotype. In this study, cZOGT1-overexpressing lines exhibited a delayed senescence phenotype, despite a significant reduction in the total cytokinin content. Further, we found that cZOGT1 interacted with the Ca2+-dependent lipid binding protein TaZIP (cZOGT1-interacting protein), and that a high level of cZOGT1 expression led to the suppression of TaZIP expression, which in turn, reduced abscisic acid (ABA) content. The synergistic reduction in cytokinins and ABA levels eventually caused the stay-green phenotype in cZOGT1-overexpressing lines. This study provides a new theoretical basis to explain the mechanism underlying the wheat stay-green phenotype and provides a genetic resource for wheat molecular-design breeding.
Reactive oxygen species- and nitric oxide-dependent regulation of ion and metal homeostasis in plants
Authors: Sandalio Luisa M , Espinosa Jesús , Shabala Sergey , León José , Romero-Puertas María C
Published: September 2023

Deterioration and impoverishment of soil, caused by environmental pollution and climate change, result in reduced crop productivity. To adapt to hostile soils, plants have developed a complex network of factors involved in stress sensing, signal transduction, and adaptive responses. The chemical properties of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and reactive nitrogen species (RNS) allow them to participate in integrating the perception of external signals by fine-tuning protein redox regulation and signal transduction, triggering specific gene expression. Here, we update and summarize progress in understanding the mechanistic basis of ROS and RNS production at the subcellular level in plants and their role in the regulation of ion channels/transporters at both transcriptional and post-translational levels. We have also carried out an in silico analysis of different redox-dependent modifications of ion channels/transporters and identified cysteine and tyrosine targets of nitric oxide in metal transporters. Further, we summarize possible ROS- and RNS-dependent sensors involved in metal stress sensing, such as kinases and phosphatases, as well as some ROS/RNS-regulated transcription factors that could be involved in metal homeostasis. Understanding ROS- and RNS-dependent signaling events is crucial to designing new strategies to fortify crops and improve plant tolerance of nutritional imbalance and metal toxicity.
Secular outflows from 3D MHD hypermassive neutron star accretion disc systems
Authors: Fahlman Steven , Fernández Rodrigo , Morsink Sharon
Published: September 2023

Magnetized hypermassive neutron stars (HMNSs) have been proposed as a way for neutron star mergers to produce high electron fraction, high-velocity ejecta, as required by kilonova models to explain the observed light curve of GW170817. The HMNS drives outflows through neutrino energy deposition and mechanical oscillations, and raises the electron fraction of outflows through neutrino interactions before collapsing to a black hole (BH). Here, we perform 3D numerical simulations of HMNS–torus systems in ideal magnetohydrodynamics, using a leakage/absorption scheme for neutrino transport, the nuclear APR equation of state, and Newtonian self-gravity, with a pseudo-Newtonian potential added after BH formation. Due to the uncertainty in the HMNS collapse time, we choose two different parametrized times to induce collapse. We also explore two initial magnetic field geometries in the torus, and evolve the systems until the outflows diminish significantly ($\sim\!\! 1\!\! - \!\!2\ \mathrm{s}$). We find bluer, faster outflows as compared to equivalent BH–torus systems, producing M ∼ 10−3 M⊙ of ejecta with Ye ≥ 0.25 and v ≥ 0.25c by the simulation end. Approximately half the outflows are launched in disc winds at times $t\lesssim 500 \ \mathrm{ms}$, with a broad distribution of electron fractions and velocities, depending on the initial condition. The remaining outflows are thermally driven, characterized by lower velocities and electron fractions. Nucleosynthesis with tracer particles shows patterns resembling solar abundances in all models. Although outflows from our simulations do not match those inferred from two-component modelling of the GW170817 kilonova, self-consistent multidimensional detailed kilonova models are required to determine whether our outflows can power the blue kilonova.
Microorganisms and dissolved metabolites distinguish Florida's Coral Reef habitats
Authors: Becker Cynthia C , Weber Laura , Zgliczynski Brian , Sullivan Chris , Sandin Stuart , Muller Erinn , Clark Abigail S , Kido Soule Melissa C , Longnecker Krista , Kujawinski Elizabeth B , Apprill Amy
Published: September 2023

As coral reef ecosystems experience unprecedented change, effective monitoring of reef features supports management, conservation, and intervention efforts. Omic techniques show promise in quantifying key components of reef ecosystems including dissolved metabolites and microorganisms that may serve as invisible sensors for reef ecosystem dynamics. Dissolved metabolites are released by reef organisms and transferred among microorganisms, acting as chemical currencies and contributing to nutrient cycling and signaling on reefs. Here, we applied four omic techniques (taxonomic microbiome via amplicon sequencing, functional microbiome via shotgun metagenomics, targeted metabolomics, and untargeted metabolomics) to waters overlying Florida's Coral Reef, as well as microbiome profiling on individual coral colonies from these reefs to understand how microbes and dissolved metabolites reflect biogeographical, benthic, and nutrient properties of this 500-km barrier reef. We show that the microbial and metabolite omic approaches each differentiated reef habitats based on geographic zone. Further, seawater microbiome profiling and targeted metabolomics were significantly related to more reef habitat characteristics, such as amount of hard and soft coral, compared to metagenomic sequencing and untargeted metabolomics. Across five coral species, microbiomes were also significantly related to reef zone, followed by species and disease status, suggesting that the geographic water circulation patterns in Florida also impact the microbiomes of reef builders. A combination of differential abundance and indicator species analyses revealed metabolite and microbial signatures of specific reef zones, which demonstrates the utility of these techniques to provide new insights into reef microbial and metabolite features that reflect broader ecosystem processes.
Enhanced vibrational stability in glass droplets
Authors: Chakraborty Surajit , Krishnan Vishnu V , Ramola Kabir , Karmakar Smarajit
Published: September 2023

We show through simulations of amorphous solids prepared in open-boundary conditions that they possess significantly fewer low-frequency vibrational modes compared to their periodic boundary counterparts. Specifically, using measurements of the vibrational density of states, we find that the D(ω)∼ω4 law changes to D(ω)∼ωδ with δ≈5 in two dimensions and δ≈4.5 in three dimensions. Crucially, this enhanced stability is achieved when utilizing slow annealing protocols to generate solid configurations. We perform an anharmonic analysis of the minima corresponding to the lowest frequency modes in such open-boundary systems and discuss their correlation with the density of states. A study of various system sizes further reveals that small systems display a higher degree of localization in vibrations. Lastly, we confine open-boundary solids in order to introduce macroscopic stresses in the system, which are absent in the unconfined system and find that the D(ω)∼ω4 behavior is recovered.
Negative Nominal Interest Rates and the Bank Lending Channel
Authors: Eggertsson Gauti B , Juelsrud Ragnar E , Summers Lawrence H , Wold Ella Getz
Published: September 2023

We investigate the bank lending channel of negative nominal policy rates from an empirical and theoretical perspective. For the empirical results, we rely on Swedish data, including daily bank-level lending rates. We find that retail household deposit rates are subject to a lower bound (DLB). Empirically, once the DLB is met, the pass-through to mortgage lending rates and credit volumes is substantially lower and bank equity values decline in response to further policy rate cuts. We construct a banking sector model and use our estimate of the pass-through of negative policy rates to lending rates as an identified moment to parameterize the model and assess the impact of negative policy rates in general equilibrium. Using the theoretical framework, we derive a sufficient statistic for when negative policy rates are expansionary and when they are not.
Hydraulic segmentation explains differences in loss of branch conductance caused by fire
Authors: West Adam G , Bloy Shonese T , Skelton Robert P , Midgley Jeremy J
Published: September 2023

The hydraulic death hypothesis suggests that fires kill trees by damaging the plant’s hydraulic continuum in addition to stem cambium. A corollary to this hypothesis is that plants that survive fires possess ‘pyrohydraulic’ traits that prevent heat-induced embolism formation in the xylem and aid post-fire survival. We examine whether hydraulic segmentation within stem xylem may act as such a trait. To do so, we measured the percentage loss of conductance (PLC) and vulnerability to embolism axially along segments of branches exposed to heat plumes in two differing species, fire-tolerant Eucalyptus cladocalyx F. Muell and fire-sensitive Kiggelaria africana L., testing model predictions that fire-tolerant species would exhibit higher degrees of hydraulic segmentation (greater PLC in the distal parts of the branch than the basal) than fire-intolerant species (similar PLC between segments). Following exposure to a heat plume, K. africana suffered between 73 and 84% loss of conductance in all branch segments, whereas E. cladocalyx had 73% loss of conductance in whole branches, including the distal tips, falling to 29% in the most basal part of the branch. There was no evidence for differences in resistance segmentation between the species, and there was limited evidence for differences in distal vulnerability to embolism across the branches. Hydraulic segmentation in E. cladocalyx may enable it to resprout effectively post-fire with a functional hydraulic system. The lack of hydraulic segmentation in K. africana reveals the need to understand possible trade-offs associated with hydraulic segmentation in long-lived woody species with respect to drought and fire.
Brief windows with more favorable atmospheric conditions explain patterns of Polylepis reticulata tree water use in a high-altitude Andean forest
Authors: Carabajo-Hidalgo Aldemar , Sabaté Santiago , Crespo Patricio , Asbjornsen Heidi
Published: September 2023

Polylepis trees occur throughout the Andean mountain region, and it is the tree genus that grows at the highest elevation worldwide. In the humid Andes where moisture is rarely limiting, Polylepis trees must adapt to extreme environmental conditions, especially rapid fluctuations in temperature, ultraviolet radiation and vapor pressure deficit (VPD). However, Polylepis’ water-use patterns remain largely unknown despite the importance of understanding their response to microclimate variation to determine their capacity to maintain resilience under future environmental change. We conducted a study in a Polylepis reticulata Kunth forest in the Ecuadorian Andes to evaluate its tree water-use dynamics and to identify the main environmental drivers of transpiration. Tree sap flow was monitored simultaneously with soil volumetric water content (VWC) and microclimate during 2 years for trees growing in forest edge and interior locations. We found that sap flow was primarily controlled by VPD and that VWC exerted a secondary role in driving sap flow dynamics. The highest values for sap flow rates were found when VPD > 0.15 kPa and VCW < 0.73 cm3 cm−3, but these threshold conditions only occurred during brief periods of time and were only found in 11% of our measurements. Moreover, these brief windows of more favorable conditions occurred more frequently in forest edge compared with forest interior locations, resulting in edge trees maintaining 46% higher sap flow compared with interior trees. Our results also suggest that P. reticulata has a low stomatal control of transpiration, as the sap flow did not decline with increasing VPD. This research provides valuable information about the potential impacts of projected future increases in VPD due to climate change on P. reticulata water-use dynamics, which include higher sap flow rates leading to greater transpirational water loss due to this species’ poor stomatal control.
Head morphology reflects the introduction history in a globally invasive carnivore—the small Indian mongoose
Authors: Louppe Vivien , Fabre Anne-Claire , Lorvelec Olivier , Veron Géraldine
Published: September 2023

Species displaced outside their native range may face new pressures resulting from both environmental gradients and important differences in ecosystem structure. We investigated how this may impact the morphological variation of a globally introduced carnivoran, the small Indian mongoose. Previous research showed size variations in several introduced populations, suggesting that these differences resulted from character release in response to the absence of competition from native species. Here, we contrasted the morphological evolution of indigenous and introduced populations using geometric morphometric approaches on the head system of a large sample of specimens belonging to several regions. Our analyses revealed that differences in size and shape between introduced and native populations do not support hypothesis of character release. These results suggest that morphological variations in introduced populations may reflect the introduction history of the species, rather than evolutionary processes resulting from changes in ecosystem composition.
Upregulation of SOX9 promotes the self‐renewal and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer through activating the Wnt/β‐catenin signaling pathway
Authors: Feng Qian , Cui Nan , Li Shan , Cao Jing , Chen Qian , Wang Haiyan
Published: September 2023

Sry‐box9 (SOX9) maintains stem cell properties and plays crucial roles in many cancers. However, whether SOX9 is correlated with cervical cancer cell stemness and its detailed mechanism remains obscure. We studied the relationship between SOX9 and prognosis of cervical cancer through public database, and SOX9 was related to poor prognosis of cervical cancer. Elevated SOX9 expression enhanced the self‐renewal properties and promotes tumorigenicity in cervical cancer. Overexpression of SOX9 could promote the expression of stem cell‐related factors in cervical cancer cells and xenografts. Meanwhile, overexpression of SOX9 could also enhance the expressions of FZD10, β‐catenin, and c‐Myc in cervical cancer cells and xenografts, while inhibiting the expression of DDK1. The activation of Wnt pathway by chir‐99 021 raised the tumor spheroid ability of SOX9 knockdown HeLa cells. In addition, SOX9 could transcriptional inhibit DKK1 and activate FZD10 and MYC by binding to their promoters to affect the Wnt/β‐catenin pathway. These results demonstrated SOX9 regulated the self‐renewal and tumorigenicity of cervical cancer through Wnt/β‐catenin pathway by directly transcriptional activation of FZD10, MYC and transcriptional inhibition of DKK1.
Improving access to care for underserved communities through telemedicine
Authors: Guthrie Jennifer D. , Snyder Jennifer A.
Published: September 2023

Telemedicine use expanded rapidly during the COVID-19 pandemic, giving patients access to quality care while reducing the spread of infection. Although beneficial changes were made to reimbursement and privacy guidelines to increase the ease of telemedicine for clinicians, the lack of digital devices, Internet, digital knowledge, and trust in this method of delivery are potential barriers to telemedicine for healthcare visits, and may have widened the care gap for underserved patients. To ensure that patients of all socioeconomic levels have access to telemedicine requires education, expanding broadband Internet access across the United States, and offering free or reduced Internet services to patients in need.
Should urinary catheters be avoided in patients with total joint arthroplasty?
Authors: Baldwin Michael
Published: September 2023

Patients undergoing total joint arthroplasty typically have indwelling urinary catheters placed preoperatively to decompress the bladder, assess urinary output, and prevent postoperative urinary retention. However, catheterization is associated with several complications and increased hospital length of stay, and research supports eliminating routine placement of urinary catheters in most patients undergoing elective joint arthroplasty and certain general surgeries lasting no more than 2 hours.