bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Optimal duration of imatinib treatment/deep molecular response for treatment‐free remission after imatinib discontinuation from a Canadian tyrosine kinase inhibitor discontinuation trial
Authors: Kim Dennis D. H. , Novitzky‐Basso Igor , Kim Taehyung S. , Atenafu Eshetu G. , Forrest Donna , Savoie Lynn , Bence‐Bruckler Isabelle , Keating Mary‐Margaret , Busque Lambert , Delage Robert , Xenocostas Anargyros , Liew Elena , Paulson Kristjan , Stockley Tracy , Laneuville Pierre , Lipton Jeffrey H. , Kamel‐Reid Suzanne , Leber Brian
Published: April 2021

Although total duration of tyrosine kinase inhibitor (TKI) therapy and of molecular response at 4 log reduction or deeper (MR4) correlates with treatment‐free remission (TFR) success after TKI discontinuation, the optimal cut‐off values of the duration remain unresolved. Thus, 131 patients were enrolled into the Canadian TKI discontinuation study. The molecular relapse‐free survival (mRFS) was defined from imatinib discontinuation till molecular recurrence, that is, major molecular response (MMR) loss and/or MR4 loss. We evaluated mRFS at 12 months after imatinib discontinuation, analyzed it according to the imatinib treatment duration and MR4 duration, and calculated P value, positive (PPV) and negative predictive value (NPV) in the yearly cut‐off period of time. The shortest cut‐off was sought that met the joint criteria of a P value ≤ 0·05, PPV ≥ 60% and NPV ≥ 60%. We propose six years as the shortest imatinib duration cut‐off with a P value 0·01, PPV 68% and NPV 62%: The patients treated with imatinib duration ≥ 6 years showed a superior mRFS rate (61·8%) compared to those with less treatment (36·0%). Also, 4·5 years MR4 duration as the shortest cut‐off with a P value 0·003, PPV 63% and NPV 61%: those with MR4 duration ≥ 4·5 years showed a higher mRFS rate (64·2%) than those with a shorter MR4 duration (41·9%).
Therapists' Experience of Working with Interpreters in NHS settings: Drawing Upon a Psychoanalytic Theoretical Framework to Contextualize the Findings of an IPA Study
Authors: Gerskowitch Chloe , Tribe Rachel
Published: April 2021

NHS therapists are required to work with interpreters. Therapy with an interpreter may take longer and aspects of the work may be challenging. Surveys of NHS mental health staff, particularly those working in Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) services, indicate that they are experiencing burn‐out, low morale, and increasing stress and depression as a result of ever‐increasing targets and workload demands. This study aimed to gain an understanding of the impact of the context of therapy on the experiences of therapists in the NHS of working with interpreters. Semi‐structured interviews were conducted with 10 qualified therapists working within an IAPT or secondary care psychology service from one NHS Trust. The verbal data were analysed using interpretative phenomenological analysis (IPA) methodology. The key finding of the study was that participants’ experience of their organizational context (whether supportive or pressured and demanding) appeared to drive how they related to the interpreter. Previous literature has applied a psychoanalytic framework to understanding organizational, group and individual responses to stress in healthcare settings, including IAPT. Following the initial analysis, aspects of psychoanalytic theory were used to contextualize the findings. Epistemological and ethical tensions in making links to theoretical frameworks within an IPA study are acknowledged and discussed.
The importance of wood density in determining the phenology of tree species in a coastal rain forest
Authors: Galvão Fernanda Gomes , Alves de Lima André Luiz , Candeia de Oliveira Clemir , da Silva Valdemir Fernando , Rodal Maria Jesus Nogueira
Published: April 2021

The phenology of tree species in tropical dry forests is related to a well‐characterized interaction between functional traits (e.g., wood density) and climatic seasonality (e.g., drought stress), but the existence of these relationships in tropical wet forests is largely unknown. For 12 months, we monitored the vegetative and reproductive phases of 281 individuals of 46 tree species in a coastal rain forest in Northeastern Brazil. We hypothesized that wood density and related tissue water storage would reliably distinguish phenological groups of trees, and that leaf shedding, flushing, and flowering in high wood density species would be closely related to rainfall, due to low tissue water storage capacity in these species. By contrast, we predicted leaf unfolding and flowering of low wood density species would depend exclusively on photoperiod. As predicted, wood density and saturated water content were inversely correlated, and species with either high or low wood density had distinct phenological patterns and levels of synchrony within species. Abiotic variables were not strongly associated with phenological events. Phenophases of leaf unfolding, flowering, and fruiting occurred earlier in low wood density species than in high wood density species, possibly indicating an adaptive strategy for preemptive resource capture.

Abstract in Portuguese is available with online material.
A Dollar Is a Dollar Is a Dollar, or Is It? Insights From Children's Reasoning About “Dirty Money”
Authors: Tasimi Arber , Gelman Susan A.
Published: April 2021

Money can take many forms—a coin or a bill, a payment for an automobile or a prize for an award, a piece from the 1989 series or the 2019 series, and so on—but despite this, money is designed to represent an amount and only that. Thus, a dollar is a dollar, in the sense that money is fungible. But when adults ordinarily think about money, they think about it in terms of its source, and in particular, its moral source (e.g., dirty money). Here we investigate the development of the belief that money carries traces of its moral history. We study children ages 5–6 and 8–9, who are sensitive to both object history and morality, and thus possess the component pieces needed to think that a dollar may not be like any other. Across three principal studies (and three additional studies in Appendix S1; N = 327; 219 five‐ and six‐year‐olds; 108 eight‐ and nine‐year‐olds), we find that children are less likely to want money with negative moral history, a pattern that was stronger and more consistent among 8‐ and 9‐year‐olds than 5‐ and 6‐year‐olds. These findings highlight pressing directions for future research that could help shed light on the mechanisms that contribute to the belief that money carries traces of its moral history.
Action Generalization Across Group Members: Action Efficiency Matters
Authors: Duan Jipeng , Jiang Yingdong , He Yunfeng , Zhang Feng , Shen Mowei , Yin Jun
Published: April 2021

Actions are usually generalized among social group members. Importantly, the efficiency of an action with respect to achieving an external target determines action understanding, and it may have different degrees of social relevance to social groups. Thus, this study explored the role of action efficiency in action generalization. We used computer animations to simulate actions in social groups initiated by visual action cues or category labels, and we measured differences in response times between identifying actions that were and were not consistent with group members, without explicit requirements regarding generalization. It was found that in both visually introduced and explicitly labeled social groups, when the group members acted inefficiently toward the external object, perceivers identified group‐consistent actions faster than group‐inconsistent actions, indicating that the exemplars' common inefficient actions are generalized to the unknown ingroup member, accordingly facilitating the identification of expected consistent inefficient action (Experiment 1). As this effect was not present when removing social group cues, it was determined to be specific to social groups (Experiment 2). Importantly, such generalization was not observed when the identical action was deemed efficient toward the external object (Experiment 3) and was specific to the demonstration of the action being completed by multiple group members rather than being repeated twice by one group member, supporting the group‐based inference and ruling out the possibility of the increased memorability of inefficient actions leading to more generalization relative to efficient actions (Experiment 4). Therefore, the efficiency of an action bounds the generalization of the action across social group members through a process that is spontaneous and implicit. This constrained action generalization may be due to inefficient actions being represented as culture‐specific conventional forms.
Inflammation‐driven brain and gut barrier dysfunction in stress and mood disorders
Authors: Doney Ellen , Cadoret Alice , Dion‐Albert Laurence , Lebel Manon , Menard Caroline
Published: April 2021

Regulation of emotions is generally associated exclusively with the brain. However, there is evidence that peripheral systems are also involved in mood, stress vulnerability vs. resilience, and emotion‐related memory encoding. Prevalence of stress and mood disorders such as major depression, bipolar disorder, and post‐traumatic stress disorder is increasing in our modern societies. Unfortunately, 30%–50% of individuals respond poorly to currently available treatments highlighting the need to further investigate emotion‐related biology to gain mechanistic insights that could lead to innovative therapies. Here, we provide an overview of inflammation‐related mechanisms involved in mood regulation and stress responses discovered using animal models. If clinical studies are available, we discuss translational value of these findings including limitations. Neuroimmune mechanisms of depression and maladaptive stress responses have been receiving increasing attention, and thus, the first part is centered on inflammation and dysregulation of brain and circulating cytokines in stress and mood disorders. Next, recent studies supporting a role for inflammation‐driven leakiness of the blood–brain and gut barriers in emotion regulation and mood are highlighted. Stress‐induced exacerbated inflammation fragilizes these barriers which become hyperpermeable through loss of integrity and altered biology. At the gut level, this could be associated with dysbiosis, an imbalance in microbial communities, and alteration of the gut–brain axis which is central to production of mood‐related neurotransmitter serotonin. Novel therapeutic approaches such as anti‐inflammatory drugs, the fast‐acting antidepressant ketamine, and probiotics could directly act on the mechanisms described here improving mood disorder‐associated symptomatology. Discovery of biomarkers has been a challenging quest in psychiatry, and we end by listing promising targets worth further investigation.
Is unethical leadership a negative for Employees' personal growth and intention to stay? The buffering role of responsibility climate
Authors: Ruiz‐Palomino Pablo , Martínez‐Cañas Ricardo , Bañón‐Gomis Alexis
Published: April 2021

Various forms of unethical leadership are associated with a wide range of negative outcomes, including decreases in subordinates' intention to stay, which is associated with higher turnover, among other negative organizational outcomes. Since the strength of the association between unethical leadership and intent to stay is variable, we examined personal growth satisfaction as a mediator and responsibility climate as a moderator of the relationship. In a Spain‐based sample of 150 employees, we found as anticipated, that personal growth satisfaction mediated the negative impact of unethical supervision on intention to stay. In terms of moderation, also as expected, high (versus low) responsibility climate weakened the negative relationship between unethical leadership and subordinates' personal growth satisfaction, as well as the indirect negative impact of unethical leadership on subordinates' intention to stay. Importantly, since unethical leadership is difficult to eliminate totally, our findings are significant because they suggest several ways to minimize its negative effects.
Temporal overexpression of IL‐22 and Reg3γ differentially impacts the severity of experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis
Authors: Eken Ahmet , Erdem Serife , Haliloglu Yesim , Zehra Okus Fatma , Cakir Mustafa , Fatih Yetkin Mehmet , Akcakoyunlu Merve , Karayigit Mehmet Onder , Azizoglu Zehra Busra , Bicer Ayten , Gur Tugba Nur , Aslan Kubra , Hora Mehmet , Oukka Mohamed , Altuntas Hamiyet Donmez , Ufuk Nalbantoglu Ozkan , Gundogdu Aycan , Mirza Meral , Canatan Halit
Published: April 2021

IL‐22 is an alpha‐helical cytokine which belongs to the IL‐10 family of cytokines. IL‐22 is produced by RORγt+ innate and adaptive lymphocytes, including ILC3, γδ T, iNKT, Th17 and Th22 cells and some granulocytes. IL‐22 receptor is expressed primarily by non‐haematopoietic cells. IL‐22 is critical for barrier immunity at the mucosal surfaces in the steady state and during infection. Although IL‐22 knockout mice were previously shown to develop experimental autoimmune encephalomyelitis (EAE), a murine model of multiple sclerosis (MS), how temporal IL‐22 manipulation in adult mice would affect EAE course has not been studied previously. In this study, we overexpressed IL‐22 via hydrodynamic gene delivery or blocked it via neutralizing antibodies in C57BL/6 mice to explore the therapeutic impact of IL‐22 modulation on the EAE course. IL‐22 overexpression significantly decreased EAE scores and demyelination, and reduced infiltration of IFN‐γ+IL‐17A+Th17 cells into the central nervous system (CNS). The neutralization of IL‐22 did not alter the EAE pathology significantly. We show that IL‐22‐mediated protection is independent of Reg3γ, an epithelial cell‐derived antimicrobial peptide induced by IL‐22. Thus, overexpression of Reg3γ significantly exacerbated EAE scores, demyelination and infiltration of IFN‐γ+IL‐17A+ and IL‐17A+GM‐CSF+Th17 cells to CNS. We also show that Reg3γ may inhibit IL‐2‐mediated STAT5 signalling and impair expansion of Treg cells in vivo and in vitro. Finally, Reg3γ overexpression dramatically impacted intestinal microbiota during EAE. Our results provide novel insight into the role of IL‐22 and IL‐22‐induced antimicrobial peptide Reg3γ in the pathogenesis of CNS inflammation in a murine model of MS.
Performance analysis of stand‐alone solar photovoltaic thermal dryer for drying of green chili in hot‐humid weather conditions ofNorth‐EastIndia
Authors: Gupta Ankur , Das Biplab , Biswas Agnimitra
Published: April 2021

In the present study, an innovative stand‐alone solar photovoltaic thermal (PVT) dryer has been designed and tested in hot‐humid weather conditions of North‐East India for drying green chili. The electrical output of the hybrid PVT solar dryer has been utilized to operate the blower for the dryer making the system self‐sustained. A comparative analysis of the drying phenomena under the open sun and in the PVT based dryer is performed. Mathematical modeling is also done to investigate the drying kinetics of green chili for both drying conditions. Results indicate that the moisture content of 0.030 (d.b.) in the solar dryer and 0.035 (d.b.) in the open sun has been reduced for a span of 21 and 37 hr, respectively. Hybrid PVT solar dryer has achieved an average thermal efficiency of 31.37% and an average specific moisture extraction rate of 0.228 kg/kWh. The overall energy consumption for drying green chili is calculated to be 4.90 kWh/kg. Also, the overall thermal efficiency of 64.16%, thermal efficiency of 30.15%, and average electrical efficiency of 12.92% are secured. The results demonstrate the improved performance of the present PVT dryer for green chili drying in comparison to some of the conventional direct/indirect solar dryers.

Practical Applications

The present PVT solar dryer system can be utilized for drying the products using thermal energy produced by PVT air collector as well as generating electrical power in the decentralized off‐grid areas. Solar drying is not adequately popular in the North‐Eastern part of India due to the unavailability of solar drying systems for farmers. The agricultural products can be dried in the farming areas by installing this system. This PVT solar dryer provides a solution to the farmers for drying at zero energy cost and can be used as a source of income generation. This PVT solar drying system can be used to increase the storage life and reduce the spoilage and deterioration of agricultural commodities. Energy efficient solar drying process, high‐quality products, and faster drying rate compared to traditional drying method can be achieved with the help of using this system.
Enablers and barriers in hospital‐to‐home transitional care for stroke survivors and caregivers: A systematic review
Authors: Chen Langduo , Xiao Lily Dongxia , Chamberlain Diane , Newman Peter
Published: April 2021

Aims and objectives

To synthesise qualitative research evidence on the experience of stroke survivors and informal caregivers in hospital‐to‐home transitional care.

Background

Due to a shortened hospital stay, stroke survivors/caregivers must take over complex care on discharge from hospital to home. Gaps in the literature warrant a meta‐synthesis of qualitative studies on perceived enablers and barriers during this crucial period.

Design

A systematic review and meta‐synthesis.

Methods

A review was guided by Enhancing Transparency in Reporting the Synthesis of Qualitative Research (ENTREQ) checklist where six databases were searched from April to June 2020 including CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, PsycINFO, Scopus, Web of Science and ProQuest and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses. There was no date limit to the search. Selected studies were critically appraised. A thematic synthesis approach was applied.

Results

The synthesis of 29 studies identified three major findings. First, partnerships with stroke survivors/caregivers empower discharge preparation, foster competence to navigate health and social care systems and activate self‐management capabilities. Second, gaps in discharge planning and the lack of timely postdischarge support contribute to unmet care needs for stroke survivors/caregivers and affect their ability to cope with poststroke changes. Third, stroke survivors/caregivers expect integrated transitional care that promotes shared decision‐making and enables long‐term self‐management at home.

Conclusions

Hospital‐to‐home transition is a challenging period in the trajectory of poststroke rehabilitation and recovery. Further research is required to deepen understandings of all stakeholders’ views and address unmet needs during transitional care.

Relevance to clinical practice

Protocols and clinical guidelines relating to discharge planning and transitional care need to be reviewed to ensure partnership approach with survivors/caregivers in the design and delivery of individualised transitional care. Stroke nurses are in a unique position to lead timely support for survivors/caregivers and to bridge service gaps in hospital‐to‐home transitional care.
Structured review of primary interventions to reduce group A streptococcal infections, acute rheumatic fever and rheumatic heart disease
Authors: Bennett Julie , Rentta Nelly , Leung William , Anderson Anneka , Oliver Jane , Wyber Rosemary , Harwod Matire , Webb Rachel , Malcom John , Baker Michael G
Published: April 2021

Rheumatic heart disease (RHD) is a large, preventable, global public health burden. In New Zealand (NZ), acute rheumatic fever (ARF) and RHD rates are highest for Māori and Pacific children. This structured review explores the evidence for primary prevention interventions to diagnose and effectively treat group A Streptococcus (GAS) pharyngitis and skin infections to reduce rates of ARF and RHD. Medline, EMBASE and Scopus databases were searched as well as other electronic publications. Included were 50 publications from 1980 onwards. This review has identified that there is little available evidence for effective primary prevention strategies to reduce ARF rates in NZ. However, two primary intervention strategies that should be considered by communities at high‐risk of ARF are: the use of school‐based clinics to identify and treat GAS pharyngitis and GAS skin infections; and intramuscular benzathine penicillin G with lignocaine analgesia in children who present with a GAS positive throat.
Appraisal of clinical practice guidelines for the evaluation and management of neck masses in children
Authors: Shin Max , Prasad Aman , Arguelles Gabriel R , Wakim Jonathan J , Chorath Kevin , Moreira Alvaro , Rajasekaran Karthik
Published: April 2021

Aim

The purpose of this systematic review was to use the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool to assess the methodological quality of clinical practice guidelines (CPGs) for the workup and management of paediatric neck masses.

Methods

MEDLINE, Embase, Cochrane and grey literature were searched to identify CPG incorporating paediatric neck masses. Four authors with previous training of the Appraisal of Guidelines for Research and Evaluation tool evaluated the included studies.

Results

Nine studies met inclusion criteria. The highest scoring domains were ‘Scope and Purpose’ (74.0 ± 4.5) and ‘Clarity of Presentation’ (72.9 ± 6.3). The lowest scoring domains were ‘Rigour and Development’ (18.8 ± 7.5) and ‘Applicability’ (23.7 ± 6.1). One study was ‘High’ quality, three received scores of ‘Average’ and five were found to be ‘Low’ quality.

Conclusion

The majority of paediatric neck mass CPGs were low to average quality. The domains in need of greatest improvement were ‘Rigour and Development’ and ‘Applicability’, suggesting significant concerns in current CPGs focused on paediatric neck masses.
Does getting defensive get you anywhere?—Seasonal balancing selection, temperature, and parasitoids shape real‐world, protective endosymbiont dynamics in the pea aphid
Authors: Smith Andrew H. , O’Connor Michael P. , Deal Brooke , Kotzer Coleman , Lee Amanda , Wagner Barrett , Joffe Jonah , Woloszynek Stephen , Oliver Kerry M. , Russell Jacob A.
Published: April 2021

Facultative, heritable endosymbionts are found at intermediate prevalence within most insect species, playing frequent roles in their hosts’ defence against environmental pressures. Focusing on Hamiltonella defensa, a common bacterial endosymbiont of aphids, we tested the hypothesis that such pressures impose seasonal balancing selection, shaping a widespread infection polymorphism. In our studied pea aphid (Acyrthosiphon pisum) population, Hamiltonella frequencies ranged from 23.2% to 68.1% across a six‐month longitudinal survey. Rapid spikes and declines were often consistent across fields, and we estimated that selection coefficients for Hamiltonella‐infected aphids changed sign within this field season. Prior laboratory research suggested antiparasitoid defence as the major Hamiltonella benefit, and costs under parasitoid absence. While a prior field study suggested these forces can sometimes act as counter‐weights in a regime of seasonal balancing selection, our present survey showed no significant relationship between parasitoid wasps and Hamiltonella prevalence. Field cage experiments provided some explanation: parasitoids drove modest ~10% boosts to Hamiltonella frequencies that would be hard to detect under less controlled conditions. They also showed that Hamiltonella was not always costly under parasitoid exclusion, contradicting another prediction. Instead, our longitudinal survey – and two overwintering studies – showed temperature to be the strongest predictor of Hamiltonella prevalence. Matching some prior lab discoveries, this suggested that thermally sensitive costs and benefits, unrelated to parasitism, can shape Hamiltonella dynamics. These results add to a growing body of evidence for rapid, seasonal adaptation in multivoltine organisms, suggesting that such adaptation can be mediated through the diverse impacts of heritable bacterial endosymbionts.
Sick bats stay home alone: fruit bats practice social distancing when faced with an immunological challenge
Authors: Moreno Kelsey R. , Weinberg Maya , Harten Lee , Salinas Ramos Valeria B. , Herrera M. L. Gerardo , Czirják Gábor Á. , Yovel Yossi
Published: April 2021

Along with its many advantages, social roosting imposes a major risk of pathogen transmission. How social animals reduce this risk is poorly documented. We used lipopolysaccharide challenge to imitate bacterial infection in both a captive and a free‐living colony of an extremely social, long‐lived mammal—the Egyptian fruit bat. We monitored behavioral and physiological responses using an arsenal of methods, including onboard GPS to track foraging, acceleration sensors to monitor movement, infrared video to record social behavior, and blood samples to measure immune markers. Sick‐like (immune‐challenged) bats exhibited an increased immune response, as well as classic illness symptoms, including fever, weight loss, anorexia, and lethargy. Notably, the bats also exhibited behaviors that would reduce pathogen transfer. They perched alone and appeared to voluntarily isolate themselves from the group by leaving the social cluster, which is extremely atypical for this species. The sick‐like individuals in the open colony ceased foraging outdoors for at least two nights, thus reducing transmission to neighboring colonies. Together, these sickness behaviors demonstrate a strong, integrative immune response that promotes recovery of infected individuals while reducing pathogen transmission inside and outside the roost, including spillover events to other species, such as humans.
Lipopolysaccharides affect compressed periodontal ligament cells via Eph–ephrin signaling
Authors: Li Minjie , Tang Zhongyuan , Zhang Chengfei , Jin Lijian , Matsuo Koichi , Yang Yanqi
Published: April 2021

Objectives

The aim of this study is to investigate the underlying mechanism of the recovery of periodontal ligament cells (PDLCs) sequentially exposed to inflammation and mechanical loading.

Materials and Methods

We divided PDLCs into four groups: control; compressive force (CF) alone (2.0 g/cm2); lipopolysaccharides (LPS) pretreatment (0.1 μg/ml) followed by simultaneous LPS and CF stimulation, simulating uncontrolled periodontitis; and LPS pretreatment followed by CF exposure, simulating controlled periodontitis. The expression of EphB4‐ephrinB2 and EphA2‐ephrinA2, and the level of osteoclastogenesis and osteogenesis were evaluated.

Results

Simultaneous stimulation by LPS and CF, compared with CF alone and sequential LPS and CF exposure, significantly suppressed EphB4 and enhanced ephrinA2 expression. Similarly, the most intense osteoclastic differentiation was observed under simultaneous LPS and CF stimulation, while sequential exposure to LPS and CF only slightly increased osteoclastic cell numbers. Both the activation of EphB4 signaling and ephrinA2 silencing lowered osteoclastic differentiation, which had previously been upregulated by simultaneous LPS and CF stimulation. These treatments also increased osteogenic differentiation.

Conclusions

Simultaneous LPS and CF stimulation critically enhances osteoclastogenesis in PDLCs through the suppression of EphB4 and the induction of ephrinA2 signaling. Sequential LPS and CF exposure partially abolishes the osteolytic effects of simultaneous stimulation.
Prognostic factor identification by screening changes in differentially expressed genes in oral squamous cell carcinoma
Authors: Schminke Boris , Shomroni Orr , Salinas Gabriela , Bremmer Felix , Kauffmann Philipp , Schliephake Henning , Oyelami Felix , Rahat Michal A. , Brockmeyer Phillipp
Published: April 2021

Objective

This study was designed to identify changes in the expression of proteins occurring during the progression of oral squamous cell carcinoma (OSCC) and to validate their impact on patient prognosis.

Materials and Methods

The human OSCC cell line UPCI‐SCC‐040 was treated in vitro with TGF‐β1, and transcriptome analysis of differentially expressed genes (DEGs) revealed putative candidates relative to untreated cells. The respective protein expression levels of the most important genes were immunohistochemically validated on a tissue microarray (TMA) containing tissue samples from 39 patients with OSCC and were correlated with disease‐free survival (DFS) as the primary clinical endpoint.

Results

Our univariate Cox proportional hazard regression (CR) analysis revealed significant correlations among positive N stage (local lymph node metastasis, p = .04), stearoyl‐CoA desaturase‐1 (p < .01), sclerostin (p = .01), and CD137L expression (p = .04) and DFS. Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase‐1 and sclerostin remained the main prognostic factors (p < .01) in the multiple CR model.

Conclusion

We identified changes in differentially expressed genes during OSCC progression in vitro and translated the impact of the most deregulated genes on patient prognosis. Stearoyl‐CoA desaturase‐1 and sclerostin acted as independent prognostic factors in OSCC and could also be interesting candidates for new cancer targeted therapeutic approaches.
Increased miR‐21‐3p and miR‐487b‐3p serum levels during anaphylactic reaction in food allergic children
Authors: Nuñez‐Borque Emilio , Fernandez‐Bravo Sergio , Rodriguez Del Rio Pablo , Alwashali Ebrahim Mohammed , Lopez‐Dominguez David , Gutierrez‐Blazquez Maria Dolores , Laguna Jose Julio , Tome‐Amat Jaime , Gallego‐Delgado Julio , Gomez‐Lopez Alicia , Betancor Diana , Cuesta‐Herranz Javier , Ibañez‐Sandin Maria Dolores , Benito‐Martin Alberto , Esteban Vanesa
Published: April 2021

Background

Anaphylaxis is the most severe manifestation of allergic disorders. The poor knowledge of its molecular mechanisms often leads to under‐diagnosis. MicroRNAs (miRNA) regulate physiologic and pathologic processes, and they have been postulated as promising diagnostic markers. The main objectives of this study were to characterize the human miRNA profile during anaphylaxis and to assess their capacity as diagnostic markers and determine their participation in the molecular mechanisms of this event.

Methods

The miRNA serum profiles from the acute and baseline phase of 5 oral food‐challenged anaphylactic children (<18 years old) were obtained by next‐generation sequencing (NGS). From the panel of statistically significant miRNAs obtained, several candidates were selected and analyzed in 19 anaphylactic children by qPCR. We performed system biology analysis (SBA) on their target genes to identify main functions and canonical pathways. A functional in vitro assay was carried out incubating endothelial cells (ECs) in anaphylactic conditions.

Results

The NGS identified 389 miRNAs among which 41 were significantly different between acute and baseline samples. The high levels of miR‐21‐3p (fold change = 2.28, P = .006) and miR‐487b‐3p (fold change = 1.04, P = .039) observed by NGS in acute serum samples were confirmed in a larger group of 19 patients. The SBA revealed molecular pathways related to the inflammation and immune system regulation. miR‐21‐3p increased intracellularly and in acute phase serum after EC stimulation.

Conclusions

These findings provide, for the first time, some insights into the anaphylactic miRNA serum profile in children and point to miR‐21‐3p and miR‐487b‐3p as candidate biomarkers. Furthermore, the SBA revealed a possible implication of these molecules in the underlying molecular mechanisms. Moreover, ECs increased miR‐21‐3p intracellularly and released it to the environment in response to anaphylaxis.
Dear Pandemic: Nurses as key partners in fighting the COVID‐19 infodemic
Authors: Ritter Ashley Z. , Aronowitz Shoshana , Leininger Lindsey , Jones Malia , Dowd Jennifer Beam , Albrecht Sandra , Buttenheim Alison M. , Simanek Amanda M. , Hale Lauren , Kumar Aparna
Published: April 2021

The COVID‐19 pandemic and subsequent proliferation of misinformation have created parallel public health crises. Social media offers a novel platform to amplify evidence‐based communication to broader audiences. This paper describes the application of science communication engagement on social media platforms by an interdisciplinary team of female scientists in a campaign called Dear Pandemic. Nurses are trusted professionals trained in therapeutic communication and are central to this effort. The Dear Pandemic campaign now has more than 97,000 followers with international and multilingual impact. Public health strategies to combat misinformation and guide individual behavior via social media show promise, and require further investment to support this novel dissemination of science communication.
The Impact of COVID‐19 on the Latinx Population: A Scoping Literature Review
Authors: Moore Karen S.
Published: April 2021

Objectives

To explore factors associated with the impact of COVID‐19 on the Latinx population, a Scoping Review of literature was undertaken.

Design

A systematic review was conducted utilizing the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta‐Analysis Scoping Review (PRISMA ScR) guidelines. A search of databases PubMed, CINAHL, and APA PsycINFO was conducted and included studies through November 23, 2020.

Sample

Selected articles were limited to English language, included population data from the US, were specific to the topic of COVID‐19, Latinx community findings significantly addressed, and added significant information to the developing narrative not covered elsewhere.

Results

Sixteen studies in the final selection included meta‐analyses, community‐based assessments, and electronic health records reviews of hospital systems and local/state/national public databases. This review describes the prevalence of COVID‐19 in the Latinx population, social factors related to disease burden, and the economic implications and disproportionality of COVID‐19.

Conclusions

The impact of COVID‐19 on the Latinx population is multi‐factorial. More research is needed to examine each of these factors in greater detail.
Optimal Design of Revenue‐Maximizing Position Auctions with Consumer Search
Authors: Chen Ying‐Ju
Published: April 2021

We examine the impact of consumer search from the perspective of revenue‐maximizing optimal auction design. In this two‐sided market, advertisers are endowed with privately known qualities, and consumers incur heterogeneous search costs when clicking on advertisements displayed by the search engine. Our general approach eliminates ad hoc restrictions and therefore allows us to uncover the salient economic trade‐offs. We adopt the optimal mechanism design approach to examine this two‐sided private information problem. The optimal mechanism design approach gives rise to the truly revenue‐maximizing scheme, and yields managerial implications that are substantially different from the literature. We show that from the revenue maximization perspective, the search engine necessarily displays the advertisers in the descending order of their qualities. The search engine shall insert unnecessary hassles to induce the revenue‐maximizing search behaviors. Thus, each consumer stops searching pre‐maturely compared to the socially optimal search behavior. In addition, the search engine shall implement probabilistic forced termination upon consumers’ clicking on advertisements, and this probability is higher for advertisers with poorer qualities. When each advertiser has a two‐dimensional type on consumer learning and matching, even if consumers’ search costs become negligible, the allocative inefficiency does not vanish. Moreover, no strategic obfuscation is imposed. When allowing for non‐independent qualities, we show that product variety does not constitute a rationale for advertisers’ favoritism.
Impact of structured curriculum with simulation on bronchoscopy
Authors: Siow Wen Ting , Tan Gan‐Liang , Loo Chian‐Min , Khoo Kay‐Leong , Kee Adrian , Tee Augustine , bin Mohamed Noor Imran , Tay Noel , Lee Pyng
Published: April 2021

Background and objective

Simulation enhances a physician's competency in procedural skills by accelerating ascent of the learning curve. Training programmes are moving away from the Halstedian model of ‘see one, do one, teach one’, also referred as medical apprenticeship. We aimed to determine if a 3‐month structured bronchoscopy curriculum that incorporated simulator training could improve bronchoscopy competency among pulmonary medicine trainees.

Methods

We prospectively recruited trainees from hospitals with accredited pulmonary medicine programmes. Trainees from hospitals (A, B and C) were assigned to control group (CG) where they received training by traditional apprenticeship while trainees from hospital D were assigned to intervention group (IG) where they underwent 3‐month structured curriculum that incorporated training with the bronchoscopy simulator. Two patient bronchoscopy procedures per trainee were recorded on video and scored independently by two expert bronchoscopists using the modified Bronchoscopy Skills and Tasks Assessment Tool (BSTAT) forms. A 25 multiple choice questions (MCQ) test was administered to all participants at the end of 3 months.

Results

Eighteen trainees participated; 10 in CG and eight in IG with equal female:male ratio. Competency assessed by modified BSTAT and MCQ tests was variable and not driven by volume as IG performed fewer patient bronchoscopies but demonstrated better BSTAT, airway anaesthesia and MCQ scores. Bronchoscopy simulator training was the only factor that correlated with better BSTAT (r = 0.80), MCQ (r = 0.85) and airway anaesthesia scores (r = 0.83), and accelerated the learning curve of IG trainees.

Conclusion

An intensive 3‐month structured bronchoscopy curriculum that incorporated simulator training led to improved cognitive and technical skill performance as compared with apprenticeship training.
Gatekeeper training needs of community pharmacy staff
Authors: Carpenter Delesha M. , Roberts Courtney A. , Lavigne Jill E. , Cross Wendi F.
Published: April 2021

Objective

To develop an online suicide prevention gatekeeper training program to prepare community pharmacy staff to communicate with patients who exhibit warning signs of suicide.

Method

A convenience sample of 17 community pharmacy staff members completed a 1‐hr semi‐structured interview during which they viewed content from an existing gatekeeper training program and provided suggestions for improvement. Once thematic saturation was achieved, interviews were digitally recorded, transcribed, and analyzed by two independent coders who reached consensus on the themes present in each transcript.

Results

Participants noted barriers to communicating about suicide, including lack of time and privacy, discomfort with using the word “suicide” and limited referral options. Participants wanted gatekeeper training to include local suicide prevention referral resources, take less than 30 min to complete, and incorporate 3–4 realistic role play scenarios, including a phone interaction.

Conclusions

Many environmental, interpersonal, and individual‐level barriers complicate pharmacy staff members’ ability to act as gatekeepers and communicate about suicide with at‐risk patients. To maximize the public health impact of pharmacy staff, skills‐based training on how to identify, communicate with, and refer at‐risk patients is needed. Gatekeeper training should model brief, realistic interactions with patients and provide pharmacy staff with local referral resources.
Supporting a public health approach to suicide prevention: Recommendations for state infrastructure
Authors: Quinlan Kristen , Nickerson Kerri , Ebin Julie , Humphries‐Wadsworth Terresa , Stout Ellyson , Frankini Elisabeth
Published: April 2021

The U.S. National Strategy for Suicide Prevention calls for states to identify supportive structures that encourage efficient, effective, and sustainable suicide prevention programming at the state, territorial, tribal, and local levels (HHS & Action Alliance, 2012). To meet this objective, the Suicide Prevention Resource Center (SPRC) completed a literature review and environmental scan, convened an advisory panel of suicide prevention experts, and conducted interviews with suicide prevention and policy experts to identify six essential state‐level infrastructure elements:

Authorize—Designate a lead organization for suicide prevention in the state and give it the resources to put a state plan into practice.

Lead—Maintain a dedicated leadership and core staff positions in order to enact the plan. Create collaboration within state government.

Partner—Ensure a state‐level public‐private partnership with a shared vision for suicide prevention.

Examine—Encourage the collection and analysis of high‐quality suicide data.

Build—Support a multifaceted lifespan approach to suicide prevention across the state.

Guide—Build state and local capacity for prevention.

In this commentary, we recommend a framework for organizing an emerging evidence base on the infrastructure and systems that are needed to support an effective, sustainable, public health approach to suicide prevention.
Memorialization as a Mechanism of Power in the Present: The Creation and Contestation of National Narratives in the Wake of Internal Armed Conflict
Authors: Billingsley Krista
Published: April 2021

Objective

The objectives of this article are to understand how national narratives are created and maintained, which discourses are utilized, and what inhibits people from understanding perspectives divergent from their own within the context of postarmed conflict processes of transitional justice. Through examining these objectives, I outline what studies of transitional justice can contribute to understandings of Confederate memory in the United States.

Method

I conducted 14 months of ethnographic research with conflict victims after a decade‐long internal armed conflict in Nepal.

Results

I argue finding new ways to conceptualize and discuss that Confederate monuments in the United States require acknowledgement of the economic and political power structures that constrain equitable access to public memory projects.

Conclusion

I conclude that how memorialization processes obfuscate, rather than illuminate, marginalized histories in the present, and legitimate ongoing inequalities must be questioned and redressed.
Multilingualism, nation branding, and the ownership of English in Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan
Authors: Djuraeva Madina
Published: April 2021

This study examines the ownership of English and linguistic (in)security of multilingual English learners in two post‐Soviet nation‐states. Using the chronotopic and scalar analysis of discourse, I examine students’ ideologies of English vis‐à‐vis their linguistic repertoires in the context of national imaginary and globalization. I utilize the concept of ‘nation branding’ to trace the relationship between language ideologies and broader sociopolitical factors, including neoliberalism. The analysis of 60 individual student interviews revealed that the state‐circulated nation‐branding discourse is a powerful tool for instilling the sense of linguistic ownership. The findings showed that students in Uzbekistan regard English as opportunistic and more valuable in the global market than their local languages. In contrast, students in Kazakhstan see all of their languages including English as pivotal in enacting trilingual identity at local, national, and global scales.
A Computational Fluid–Structure Interaction Study for Carotids With Different Atherosclerotic Plaques
Authors: Bennati Lorenzo , Vergara Christian , Domanin Maurizio , Malloggi Chiara , Bissacco Daniele , Trimarchi Santi , Silani Vincenzo , Parati Gianfranco , Casana Renato
Published: April 2021

Atherosclerosis is a systemic disease that leads to accumulation of deposits, known as atherosclerotic plaques, within the walls of the carotids. In particular, three types of plaque can be distinguished: soft, fibrous, and calcific. Most of the computational studies who investigated the interplay between the plaque and the blood flow on patient-specific geometries used nonstandard medical images to directly delineate and segment the plaque and its components. However, these techniques are not so widely available in the clinical practice. In this context, the aim of our work was twofold: (i) to propose a new geometric tool that allowed to reconstruct a plausible plaque in the carotids from standard images and (ii) to perform three-dimensional (3D) fluid–structure interaction (FSI) simulations where we compared some fluid-dynamic and structural quantities among 15 patients characterized by different typologies of plaque. Our results highlighted that both the morphology and the mechanical properties of different plaque components play a crucial role in determining the vulnerability of the plaque.
In Silico Analysis of Elastomer-Coated Cerclage for Reducing Sternal Cut-Through in High-Risk Patients
Authors: Subasi Omer , Oral Atacan , Torabnia Shams , Erdogan Deniz , Erdogan Mustafa Bilge , Lazoglu Ismail
Published: April 2021

Background: AISI 316 L stainless steel wire cerclage routinely used in sternotomy closure causes lateral cut-through damage and fracture, especially in cases of high-risk patients, which leads to postoperative complications. A biocompatible elastomer (Pellethane®) coating on the standard wire is proposed to mitigate the cut-through effect. Methods: Simplified peri-sternal and transsternal, sternum-cerclage contact models are created and statically analyzed in a finite element (FE) software to characterize the stress-reduction effect of the polymer coating for thicknesses between 0.5 and 1.125 mm. The performance of the polymer-coated cerclage in alleviating the detrimental cortical stresses is also compared to the standard steel cerclage in a full sternal closure FE model for the extreme cough loading scenario. Results: It was observed via the simplified contact simulations that the cortical stresses can be substantially decreased by increasing the coating thickness. The full closure coughing simulation on the human sternum further corroborated the simplified contact results. The stress reduction effect was found to be more prominent in the transsternal contacts in comparison to peri-sternal contacts. Conclusions: Bearing in mind the promising numerical simulation results, it is put forth that a standard steel wire coated with Pellethane will majorly address the cut-through complication.
Research On Non-boiling Evaporation Behavior of Fixed Droplets On Aluminum Plate Surface
Authors: Liu Liansheng , Liu Xuanchen , Ren Wenjia , Duan Hongbin , Duan Runze , Bin Liu , Chen Yadong
Published: April 2021

In this paper, the non-boiling evaporation (30 -70?) of the fixed droplets on the Aluminum plate surface was investigated by the experiment. The effect of the plate temperature and initial volume on the contact angle, contact diameter and evaporation time were considered. The results showed that the temperature and initial volume were important for the droplets evaporation. As the heating plate temperature increased, the evaporation rate increased and the initial contact angle decreased. At the same heating plate temperature, the evaporation rate and the initial contact angle decreased with the increase of the droplets initial volume. At the constant temperature hydrophilic surface, the droplet evaporation is performed in two modes: Constant contact radius mode (CCR mode) and mix mode. The CCR mode were about 90% of the time at the droplets evaporation process and the droplet contact diameters kept constant with the increase of the evaporation time. For the mix mode, the contact angle and contact diameter decreased with the increase of the evaporation time.