bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Localization and Quantification of Post-Translational Modifications of Proteins Using Electron Activated Dissociation Fragmentation on a Fast-Acquisition Time-of-Flight Mass Spectrometer
Authors: Bons Joanna , Hunter Christie L. , Chupalov Rita , Causon Jason , Antonoplis Alexandra , Rose Jacob P. , MacLean Brendan , Schilling Birgit
Published: April 2023

Protein post-translational modifications (PTMs) are crucial and dynamic players in a large variety of cellular processes and signaling, and proteomic technologies have emerged as the method of choice to profile PTMs. However, these analyses remain challenging due to potential low PTM stoichiometry, the presence of multiple PTMs per proteolytic peptide, PTM site localization of isobaric peptides, and labile PTM groups that lead to neutral losses. Collision-induced dissociation (CID) is commonly used for to characterize PTMs, but the application of collision energy can lead to neutral losses and incomplete peptide sequencing for labile PTM groups. In this study, we compared CID to an alternative fragmentation, electron activated dissociation (EAD), operated on a recently introduced fast-acquisition quadrupole-time-of-flight (QqTOF) mass spectrometer. We analyzed a series of synthetic modified peptides, featuring phosphorylated, succinylated, malonylated, and acetylated peptides. We performed targeted, quantitative parallel reaction monitoring (PRM or MRMHR) assays to assess the performances of EAD to characterize, site-localize and quantify peptides with labile modifications. The tunable EAD kinetic energy allowed the preservation of labile modifications and provided better peptide sequence coverage with strong PTM-site localization fragment ions. Zeno trap activation provided significant MS/MS sensitivity gains by an average of 6–11-fold for EAD analyses, regardless of modification type. Evaluation of the quantitative EAD PRM workflows revealed high reproducibility with coefficients of variation of typically ∼2%, as well as very good linearity and quantification accuracy. This novel workflow, combining EAD and Zeno trap, offers confident, accurate, and robust characterization and quantification of PTMs.
Fight not flight: parasites drive the bacterial evolution of resistance, not escape
Authors: Blazanin Michael , Moore Jeremy , Olsen Sydney , Travisano Michael
Published: April 2023

In the face of ubiquitous threats from parasites, hosts can evolve strategies to resist infection or to altogether avoid parasitism, for instance by avoiding behavior that could expose them to parasites or by dispersing away from local parasite threats. At the microbial scale, bacteria frequently encounter viral parasites, bacteriophages. While bacteria are known to utilize a number of strategies to resist infection by phages, and can have the capacity to avoid moving towards phage-infected cells, it is unknown whether bacteria can evolve dispersal to escape from phages. In order to answer this question, we combined experimental evolution and mathematical modeling. Experimental evolution of the bacteriumPseudomonas fluorescensin environments with differing spatial distributions of the phage Phi2 revealed that the host bacteria evolved resistance depending on parasite distribution, but did not evolve dispersal to escape parasite infection. Simulations using parameterized mathematical models of bacterial growth and swimming motility showed that this is a general finding: while increased dispersal is adaptive in the absence of parasites, in the presence of parasites that fitness benefit disappears and resistance becomes adaptive, regardless of the spatial distribution of parasites. Together, these experiments suggest that parasites should rarely, if ever, drive the evolution of bacterial escape via dispersal.
Unsupervised segmentation of 3D microvascular photoacoustic images using deep generative learning
Authors: Sweeney Paul W. , Hacker Lina , Lefebvre Thierry L. , Brown Emma L. , Gröhl Janek , Bohndiek Sarah E.
Published: April 2023

Mesoscopic photoacoustic imaging (PAI) enables label-free visualisation of vascular networks in tissue at high contrast and resolution. The segmentation of vascular networks from 3D PAI data and interpretation of their meaning in the context of physiological and pathological processes is a crucial but time consuming and error-prone task. Deep learning holds potential to solve these problems, but current supervised analysis frameworks require human-annotated ground-truth labels. Here, we overcome the need for ground-truth labels by introducing an unsupervised image-to-image translation deep learning model called thevessel segmentation generative adversarial network(VAN-GAN). VAN-GAN integrates synthetic blood vessel networks that closely resemble real-life anatomy into its training process and learns to replicate the underlying physics of the PAI system in order to learn how to segment vasculature from 3D biomedical images. With a variety ofin silico, in vitroandin vivodata, including patient-derived breast cancer xenograft models, we show that VAN-GAN facilitates accurate and unbiased segmentation of 3D vascular networks from PAI data volumes. By leveraging synthetic data to reduce the reliance on manual labelling, VAN-GAN lowers the barrier to entry for high-quality blood vessel segmentation to benefit users in the life sciences applying PAI to studies of vascular structure and function.
Cell-autonomous BMP signalling plays a key role in the maintenance of tumour cell EMT and migration programs in human ovarian carcinoma
Authors: Joun George , Zolghadr Fatemeh , Chakraborty Priyanka , Loan Le Thi Yen , Chong James J.H. ,   Australian Ovarian Cancer Study Group, Bowtell David D. L. , DeFazio Anna , Jolly Mohit Kumar , Seyedasli Naisana
Published: April 2023

Epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) plays a key role in tumour initiation, metastasis and resistance to therapy. Cells undergoing EMT, assume multiple semi-stable transitional states along the epithelial-mesenchymal axis that necessitates tight regulatory cascades. Although more is known about pathways involved in the initial induction of EMT, cascades that mediate/maintain the transitional states and/or the final mesenchymal phenotype are yet to be elucidated. In this study, we have assessed the role of bone morphogenic protein (BMP) signalling pathway in the regulation of cancer cell EMT and migration. Mining existing data from ovarian carcinomas, we defined the BMP pathway among the key pathways enriched in tumours with elevated EMT signatures, with a significant correlation in the expression of EMT markers with BMP ligands and downstream targets of the BMP pathway. Functional inhibition of the BMP pathway in ovarian cancer cells by a small molecule inhibitor, DMH1, resulted in impaired migration and depressed EMT signatures in bothin vitroandin vivomodels. Finally, ectopic induction of EMT in ovarian cancer cells through activation of an independent pathway, TNFα, resulted in the selective induction of Smad-mediated BMP pathway suggesting a role in maintenance of EMT, secondary to EMT induction.
Adaptive Bayesian Optimization for State-Dependent Brain Stimulation
Authors: Dabiri Sina , Cole Eric R. , Gross Robert E.
Published: April 2023

Brain stimulation has become an important treatment option for a variety of neurological and psychiatric diseases. A key challenge in improving brain stimulation is selecting the optimal set of stimulation parameters for each patient, as parameter spaces are too large for brute-force search and their induced effects can exhibit complex subject-specific behavior. To achieve greatest effectiveness, stimulation parameters may additionally need to be adjusted based on an underlying neural state, which may be unknown, unmeasurable, or challenging to quantifya priori. In this study, we first develop a simulation of a state-dependent brain stimulation experiment using rodent optogenetic stimulation data. We then use this simulation to demonstrate and evaluate two implementations of an adaptive Bayesian optimization algorithm that can model a dynamically changing response to stimulation parameters without requiring knowledge of the underlying neural state. We show that, while standard Bayesian optimization converges and overfits to a single optimal set of stimulation parameters, adaptive Bayesian optimization can continue to update and explore as the neural state is changing and can provide more accurate optimal parameter estimation when the optimal stimulation parameters shift. These results suggest that learning algorithms such as adaptive Bayesian optimization can successfully find optimal state-dependent stimulation parameters, even when brain sensing and decoding technologies are insufficient to track the relevant neural state.
Operationalizing transparency in supply chains using a systematic literature review and graph theoretic approach
Authors: Faisal Mohd. Nishat , Sabir Lamay Bin , Sharif Khurram Jahangir
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study has two major objectives. First, comprehensively review the literature on transparency in supply chain management. Second, based on a critical analysis of literature, identify the attributes and sub-attributes of supply chain transparency and develop a numerical measure to quantify transparency in supply chains.

Design/methodology/approach

A systematic literature review (SLR) was conducted using the PRISMA approach. Utilizing SCOPUS database past eighteen-year papers search resulted in 249 papers to understand major developments in the domain of supply chain transparency. Subsequently, graph theoretic approach is applied to quantify transparency in supply chain and the proposed index is evaluated for case supply chains from pharma and dairy sectors.

Findings

It can be concluded from SLR that supply chain transparency research has evolved from merely tracking and tracing of the product towards sustainable development of the whole value chain. The research identifies four major attributes and their sub-attributes that influence transparency in supply chains, which are used to develop transparency index. The proposed index for two sectors helps to understand areas that need immediate attention to improve transparency in the case supply chains.

Originality/value

This paper attempts to understand the development of transparency research in supply chain using the PRISMA approach for SLR. In addition, development of mathematical model to quantify supply chain transparency is a novel attempt that would help benchmark best practices in the industry. Further, transparency index would help to understand specific areas that need attention to improve transparency in supply chains.
When and why workplace cyberbullying influences intention to stay: role of workplace social capital and affective commitment
Authors: Ciby Mariam Anil , Sahai Shikha
Published: April 2023

Purpose

COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated the adoption of home-based teleworking globally. Coupled with this, there are rising concerns about workplace cyberbullying. However, less studies have explored workplace cyberbullying in non-western countries. The purpose of the current study is to examine whether workplace cyberbullying affects employees' intention to stay and to find out the mechanisms underlying the relationship.

Design/methodology/approach

Data were collected among Indian home-based teleworkers. Data were analysed using SmartPLS and SPSS-PROCESS macro.

Findings

Results show that workplace cyberbullying negatively impacts intention to stay and affective commitment acts as a mediator between this link. The results also reveal that workplace social capital moderates the negative effects of workplace cyberbullying on affective commitment. The results further confirm that workplace social capital moderated the indirect impact of workplace cyberbullying on intention to stay via affective commitment.

Practical implications

This study highlights the potential of leveraging workplace social capital in order to reduce the negative effects of workplace cyberbullying.

Originality/value

These findings can complement the previous studies on the impact of negative work events on affective commitment and intention to stay as well as extend researchers' understanding of the underlying mechanism between workplace cyberbullying and intention to stay. Furthermore, this research explains how employees can utilise social resources from workplace social capital to mitigate the negative outcomes of workplace cyberbullying.
Wage premium and master's degrees: some empirical evidence from Spain
Authors: Caparrós Ruiz Antonio
Published: April 2023

Purpose

The current expansion of the knowledge economy and its requirements of highly educated workers make interesting to analyse the effects on the labour market outcomes of completing a master's degree. This study examines the factors determining the probability of pursuing a postgraduate programme and observes whether workers reaching this educational attainment reap the benefits of their human capital investment through better paid jobs compared to college-only degree holders. On the other hand, it analyses whether individuals with a master's degree are more prone to upward wage mobility.

Design/methodology/approach

The study relies on data obtained from the second survey on the Labour Insertion of University Graduates conducted by the National Statistics Institute (INE, 2019). This survey allows us to observe labour market transitions of the first group of Spanish university graduates under the European Higher Education Area (EHEA) and their earnings. The methodological procedure consists of the estimation of wage models controlling for the unobservable differences between workers who have or have not completed a master's degree.

Findings

The results indicate a significant positive impact of master's degree on salaries. Furthermore, individuals with postgraduate studies are more prone to upward wage mobility in comparison to college-only degree holders.

Research limitations/implications

Data used does not allow us to identify which competences associated with the completion of a master's degree are more remunerated by employers.

Practical implications

The econometric specification applied allows us to compute the direct effect of a master's degree on wages and predict the average probability that an individual is in a determined wage interval according to the knowledge area and controlling by the rest of characteristics.

Social implications

The findings are helpful to diagnose and understand how the knowledge acquired through postgraduate studies are rewarded by the labour market, which is essential to evaluate the return on educational investments when making decisions about whether or not to continue postgraduate studies.

Originality/value

This research addresses novelty aspects on tertiary education in Spain and its effects on workers' careers.
Employee association in Japanese family and non-family SMEs
Authors: Matsuura Tsukasa , Noda Tomohiko
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aims to investigate the nature of employee associations (EAs) and whether the EAs function as a collective voice similar to enterprise unions in Japanese small- and medium-sized enterprises by clarifying the differences in the determinants and effects between EAs and unions.

Design/methodology/approach

The authors analyze 2,440 Japanese small- and medium-sized firms for determinants of unions and EAs. Using the bivariate probit model, the authors examine whether EAs complement (a way station to unionization) or substitute for (dampening the desire for unionization) traditional unionization. Furthermore, the effects of EAs and unions on voluntary employee turnover rates are compared.

Findings

The authors' findings regarding EAs are as follows: (1) although owner-managers are averse to both unions and EAs, owner-managers are not as averse to EAs as to unions; (2) EAs reduce the turnover rate to the same extent as unions do and (3) EAs are voice institutions that are less affected by the influence of unions.

Research limitations/implications

The limitations of this study are as follows: (1) the dataset is slightly outdated; (2) due to the absence of panel data, the authors could not capture unobserved time-invariant factors that are the primary sources of endogeneity and (3) to overcome this vulnerability, the authors were able to control for the characteristics of management but not for the characteristics of employees because of a lack of information.

Originality/value

This study clarifies that non-union employee representation (NER) has the unique feature of being neither complementary nor substitutive to unions in Japan's industrial relations. EAs are organized not for union avoidance by employers, but voluntarily by employees without the aim of unionization. The associations have the same function as unions in reducing the turnover rate by resolving employees' grievances as entities independent from management.
The effects of knowledge sharing on innovative behaviours of academicians; mediating effect of innovative organization culture and quality of work life
Authors: Budur Taylan , Demirer Halil , Rashid Chnar Abdullah
Published: April 2023

Purpose

Current article aims to investigate the positive link between knowledge sharing (KS), innovative culture (IC), quality of work life (QWL) and innovative behaviours (IB) at higher education institutions in Iraq's Kurdistan Region.

Design/methodology/approach

The study's data was gathered from academic staff at various universities in Iraq's Kurdistan Region. A total of 212 data were collected via survey questionnaire and analysed using structural equation modelling.

Findings

It was discovered that KS has direct and significant positive effects on IC, QWL and IB; IC had direct positive effects on IB; QWL had no considerable influence on IB and IC had a significant mediation and moderation roles between KS and IB. As a result, it is advised that universities in the region are strongly support IC to increase IB among academicians.

Research limitations/implications

Firstly, the data has been collected during the crises time that the lecturers were not receiving regular salary. This might change their quality work life perception. Secondly, data has been collected only from Sulaymaniyah city; other parts of the Iraq could have different perceptions. Lastly, sample size might be another limitation of the study.

Practical implications

It is recommended that universities in the region should strongly support IC to increase IB among academicians, in terms of providing flexible working schedule and conditions, fair opportunities for promotion, and share decision making responsibilities.

Social implications

KS and IC has significant impacts on IB among the academicians. Accordingly, university administrative should improve policies increase KS behaviours and provide IC that academicians feel more comfortable culture to be innovative. Therefore, current paper recommends, tolerance to failure, openness to new ideas and participation to the decisions to improve IB among the academicians.

Originality/value

The paper is important that investigate KS and IC at the higher education institutions in Kurdistan region. Further, QWL perception has been investigated respectively. However, it has been observed that lecturers do not have quality of life perception at the investigated period of time.
What drives perceived internal reputation? Empirical evidence from Chile
Authors: Yue Cen April , Thelen Patrick
Published: April 2023

Purpose

This study aimed to examine the impact of servant leadership on employees' perception of organizational reputation by investigating the sequential mediating effects of employee psychological empowerment and employee thriving at work.

Design/methodology/approach

A quantitative online survey with 357 employees from Chile was conducted in this study.

Findings

Findings of this study showed that servant leadership both directly and indirectly relates to perceived organizational reputation. Employees perceiving servant leadership behaviors from the employees' supervisors report higher levels of psychological empowerment and, in turn, feel a greater sense of vitality and learning at work that eventually leads to higher ratings of perceived organizational reputation.

Originality/value

This study's novelty lies in extending the internal drivers of organizational reputation by adding behavioral and psychological factors rarely explored in past research.
Tight sandstone gas reservoir characterization via amplitude‐versus‐offset attributes
Authors: Tian Yajun , Stovas Alexey , Gao Jinghuai , Xu Wenhao , Yu Jiaxin
Published: April 2023

The low porosity and low permeability of tight sandstone pose considerable challenges on characterizing the reservoir fluid. Moreover, the geophysical characteristics of the tight sandstone are usually similar to the surrounding rocks, leading to small impedance contrast, compounding the difficulty of reservoir parameters inversion. Amplitude‐versus‐offset technology is an important tool to invert the reservoir parameters from seismic data. The existing amplitude‐versus‐offset inversion methods are challenged to predict the tight sandstone reservoir parameters for the reasons above. In this paper, we propose a new workflow based on amplitude‐versus‐offset attributes to characterize the tight sandstone gas reservoirs in the Xihu Depression, East China Sea. The proposed workflow utilizes the Backus average method and Gassmann's equation to construct the rock physics model. Based on the analysis of the anisotropic model, we introduce Rüger's anisotropic equation for amplitude‐versus‐offset forward modelling. We compare the amplitude‐versus‐offset gathers with the real data and adjust the reservoir parameters. Through the sensitivity analysis, we select the gas saturation and porosity as the inversion parameters. The relationship between the reservoir parameters and amplitude‐versus‐offset attributes is established by fitting the fifth‐order polynomials. We use Shuey's equation and the least squares inversion method to calculate the amplitude‐versus‐offset attributes (intercept and gradient). For real data, we introduce the Toeplitz‐sparse matrix factorization method to calculate the reflectivity of the amplitude‐versus‐offset gathers. Finally, we proposed a multi‐well joint inversion approach to invert the gas saturation and porosity. The application results demonstrate the effectiveness of the proposed workflow for the characterization of the gas reservoir in tight sandstone for the describedcase.
The role of access to finance in disaster recovery: Evidence from coastal communities in India
Authors: Hossain Marup , Songsermsawas Tisorn , Toguem Robinson H.
Published: April 2023

Natural disasters affect economic activities and welfare of small‐scale producers in developing countries, but may also offer opportunities to reinvest in productive asset, economic capital, and new technologies for future economic prospects. This paper investigates the impacts of a livelihood recovery project that provided access to finance and rehabilitated communal infrastructures in the coastal communities of Tamil Nadu, India which were severely affected by the 2004 tsunami. We replicate the project's eligibility criteria to build the counterfactual to identify control households based on the validation of secondary data and administrative records. Using data from a carefully designed primary survey, we estimate the impacts of providing access to finance and rehabilitating communal infrastructures on economic and livelihood outcomes. Results indicate positive and significant impacts on income, asset and food security. These impacts are mainly driven by improved access to finance provided and participation in groups. Findings highlight the importance of ensuring access to finance for sustainable economic recovery among small‐scale producers, particularly in the aftermath of natural disasters.
Systematic review and meta‐analysis showed that complementary and alternative medicines were not effective for infantile colic
Authors: Cabanillas‐Barea Sara , Jiménez‐del‐Barrio Sandra , Carrasco‐Uribarren Andoni , Ortega‐Martínez Anna , Pérez‐Guillén Silvia , Ceballos‐Laita Luis
Published: April 2023

Aim

Osteopathy and chiropractic techniques are used for babies for different reasons, but it is unclear how effective they are. The aim of this study was to evaluate their effectiveness in reducing crying time and increasing sleeping time in babies with infantile colic.

Methods

A systematic review and meta‐analysis was conducted on infantile colic studies that used complementary and alternative medicine techniques as interventions. The outcome measures were hours spent crying and/or sleeping. We used the PubMed, Physiotherapy Evidence Database, Cochrane Library, Embase, Web of Science, Scopus, Osteopathic Medicine Digital Database and Google Scholar databases from inception to 11 November 2022.

Results

The methodological quality of the randomised control trials ranged from fair to high. We focused on five studies with 422 babies. Complementary treatments failed to decrease the crying time (mean difference −1.08, 95% CI: −2.17 to 0.01, I2 = 92%) and to increase sleeping time (mean difference 1.11, 95% CI: −0.20 to 2.41; I2: 91%), compared with no intervention. The quality of the evidence was rated as very low for both outcome measures.

Conclusion

Osteopathy and chiropractic treatment failed to reduce the crying time and increase sleeping time in babies with infantile colic, compared with no additional intervention.
Paediatric clinical trials need paediatric clinical trial budgets
Authors: Koulizakos Stavros , Kjellén Tina , Mellgren Karin , Kindblom Jenny M.
Published: April 2023

Aim

Clinical trials and the need for new treatments were recently listed among the most important factors for child health. The aim of the present study was to describe some of our experiences with budget preparations in paediatric clinical trials.

Methods

We selected 10 trials sponsored by the pharmaceutical industry at the Pediatric Clinical Research Center at Sahlgrenska University Hospital in Gothenburg, Sweden. We compared the sponsor's initial budget (budget proposal from the sponsor), with the final budget (negotiated and agreed between sponsor and site) and identified areas where discrepancies may arise.

Results

The mean difference in total budget amount between the initial budget and the final budget was +60% (mean 59%, range 31%–139%). The costs for preparation of the clinical trial, time spent for study activities and costs for examinations were identified as key budget items for these differences.

Conclusion

Our findings indicate that a substantial part of the trial‐related costs would not be covered by the sponsor, had the initial budget been accepted. A thorough review and budget negotiation, as well as to have a dedicated team member for this task, are essential to ensure equitable responsibility for the study‐related costs and to avoid discontinuation of trials.
Estimating vital rate variation to assess early success of scrub mint translocations
Authors: Koontz Stephanie M. , López‐Borghesi Federico , Smith Stacy A. , Haller Crate Sarah J. , Quintana‐Ascencio Pedro F. , Menges Eric S.
Published: April 2023

Species translocations are increasingly common in rare plant conservation. Wild populations can provide basic ecological knowledge to improve their chance of success. In the heavily fragmented Florida scrub, USA, many listed species require translocations to persist, including Dicerandra christmanii. In 1994, we began monitoring the only protected population of D. christmanii growing both in gaps (open areas) within the shrub matrix and on roadsides. In 2010, we augmented this population by adding plants and seeds to unoccupied gaps. In 2012, we introduced plants to a separate protected site to create a new population. We evaluated early translocation success using generalized linear mixed‐effect models of vital rate variation among habitat types. Survival probability increased with size, peaking at 0.6–0.8, and was lowest in augmentations and highest in introductions. Growth increased with plant size across all habitat types, except for the largest adults which experienced senescence. Naturally recruited plants in gaps showed the highest reproduction probability and fecundity at smaller sizes, but larger plants in translocations had the highest fecundity. Yearling recruitment was higher in translocated plants relative to naturally recruited plants in gaps during the initial years following outplanting. Experimental components of translocations also affected outplanting performance with positive effects of fire. These analyses suggest a high potential for translocations to become established and contribute to species recovery.
Negotiated Agreements, Indigenous Peoples and Extractive Industry in the Salar de Atacama, Chile: When Is an Agreement More than a Contract?
Authors: O'Faircheallaigh Ciaran , Babidge Sally
Published: April 2023

While acknowledging advances in legal recognition of Indigenous rights, much of the research literature positions negotiated agreements between Indigenous peoples and corporations simply as ‘neoliberal technology’ that gives the appearance of Indigenous consent while allowing exploitation to continue. This analysis is flawed in considering agreements as discrete, stand‐alone phenomena. It ignores the possibility that Indigenous peoples may use agreements as part of broader strategies to achieve control over extractive industry activity and to secure a share of ‘development’ benefits — strategies that involve selective engagement with the state. This article supports its argument by locating an agreement between the Chilean lithium mining company, Albemarle, and the Council of Atacameño Peoples within a broad and sustained strategy by Atacameño people to address the negative impacts of mining in the Salar de Atacama, Chile, while securing its economic benefits. This strategy includes using the agreement to voice Atacameño territorial claims and environmental concerns to the state, and to insist that the state lives up to its responsibilities. The analysis leads to a fuller appreciation of the agency exercised by Indigenous peoples in dealing with the sustained expansion of extractive activity on their territories, and a more nuanced understanding of negotiated agreements between Indigenous peoples and mining corporations and between Indigenous people and the state.
How hindgut microbiota may shape sympatric speciation in an invasive phytophagous scarab
Authors: Lefort M. C. , Glare T. R. , Bouchon D. , Boyer S.
Published: April 2023

Following the introduction of new host plants, rapid evolutionary changes in invasive phytophagous insects can sometimes result in sympatric speciation. The underlying processes and facilitation factors are still to be investigated in detail. The role of hindgut microbiota is one of these factors. In this paper, we examined the differences in the gut microbiota of two species of Costelytra scarabs (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae, Melolonthinae), one non‐invasive [Costelytra brunneum (Broun)] and one invasive (Costelytra giveni Coca‐Abia & Romero‐Samper), for which several ecotypes were analysed. In terms of bacterial assemblages, we found significant variation between the invasive and the non‐invasive species. Three main groups of bacteria contributed to these differences, namely Oxalobacteracea, Rhizobiales, and Porphyromonadacea, with the last two potentially providing advantages in the exploitation of a new host plant. Among these bacteria, Porphyromonadacea were systematically present in high proportion in the gut of the invasive species C. giveni. The occurrence of these bacteria might have contributed to the initial capability of this insect to feed and benefit from newly introduced host plants. Furthermore, this study also revealed significant differences in the gut bacterial communities of four C. giveni ecotypes, supporting the hypothesis that part of the gut microbiota in this invasive phytophagous insect is likely to have been acquired horizontally from the newly exploited niche.
Stimulation‐induced respiratory enhancement in corticothalamic regions
Authors: Talavera Blanca , Chaitanya Ganne , Hupp Norma , Pati Sandipan , Hampson Johnson P. , Luo Xi , Hampson Jaison , Vakilna Yash S. , Rani M. R. Sandhya , Noor Rabeha , Mosher John C. , Tandon Nitin , Lhatoo Samden D. , Lacuey Nuria
Published: April 2023

Objective

We aimed to identify corticothalamic areas and electrical stimulation paradigms that optimally enhance breathing.

Methods

Twenty‐nine patients with medically intractable epilepsy were prospectively recruited in an epilepsy monitoring unit while undergoing stereoelectroencephalographic evaluation. Direct electrical stimulation in cortical and thalamic regions was carried out using low (<1 Hz) and high (≥10 Hz) frequencies, and low (<5 mA) and high (≥5 mA) current intensities, with pulse width of .1 ms. Electrocardiography, arterial oxygen saturation (SpO2), end‐tidal carbon dioxide (ETCO2), oronasal airflow, and abdominal and thoracic plethysmography were monitored continuously during stimulations. Airflow signal was used to estimate breathing rate, tidal volume, and minute ventilation (MV) changes during stimulation, compared to baseline.

Results

Electrical stimulation increased MV in the amygdala, anterior cingulate, anterior insula, temporal pole, and thalamus, with an average increase in MV of 20.8% ± 28.9% (range = 0.2%–165.6%) in 19 patients. MV changes were associated with SpO2 and ETCO2 changes (p < .001). Effects on respiration were parameter and site dependent. Within amygdala, low‐frequency stimulation of the medial region produced 78.49% greater MV change (p < .001) compared to high‐frequency stimulation. Longer stimulation produced greater MV changes (an increase of 4.47% in MV for every additional 10 s, p = .04).

Significance

Stimulation of amygdala, anterior cingulate gyrus, anterior insula, temporal pole, and thalamus, using certain stimulation paradigms, enhances respiration. Among tested paradigms, low‐frequency, low‐intensity, long‐duration stimulation of the medial amygdala is the most effective breathing enhancement stimulation strategy. Such approaches may pave the way for the future development of neuromodulatory techniques that aid rescue from seizure‐related apnea, potentially as a targeted sudden unexpected death in epilepsy prevention method.
JAK inhibitors: a novel, safe, and efficacious therapy for pyoderma gangrenosum
Authors: Castro Luiz G. M.
Published: April 2023

Background

Pyoderma gangrenosum currently lacks standardized therapy. New safer and more efficacious therapies are welcome.

Aims

To present two new PG cases treated with JAK inhibitors, adding to the small existing experience

Methods & Methods

Two case reports of PG patients successfully treated with tofacitinib and baricitinib.

Results

Both patients were cured and presented no relapse. Patient # 1 used baricitinib 2 mg bid for 39 days while patient # 2 was treated with tofacitinib 5 mg bid for 120 days. No adverse reactions were seen.

Discussion

The increasing usage of JAKi to treat inflammatory diseases had a positive reflex on PG therapy. Fifteen PG cases treated with these drugs had been found in literature and the two new cases here described add to the limited existing experience.

Conclusion

This is a novel use of tofacitinib and baricitinib beyond the approved indications. JAKi are a welcome addition to our options to manage patients with PG.
SSRIs AND HYPONATRAEMIA
Authors: Lane RM
Published: April 2023

Increasing age, certain medications such as diuretics, disease processes such as malignant neoplasm and schizophrenia, and a history of hyponatraemia or polydipsia may predispose patients to the development of hyponatraemia. In addition, certain psychotropic medications, including TCAs, MAOIs, carbamazepine, trazodone and neuroleptics, may predispose to hyponatraemia, yet a causative role for most has not been firmly established and the effect is most likely to be more idiosyncratic. The SSRIs have been associated with hyponatraemia in a small number of case reports. The mean age and sex of patients in reported cases is over 70 years and predominantly female, and patients were often receiving concomitant diuretic therapy. The frequency of hyponatraemia in elderly female patients receiving fluoxetine has been estimated to be as high as eight per 1000. The risk of developing hyponatraemia appears to be highest during the first few weeks of treatment. Because of the potential seriousness of hyponatraemia, if an elderly patient receiving an SSRI develops unexplained symptoms during the first few weeks of therapy, it is necessary to measure the serum sodium level.
EUROPEAN STROKE PREVENTION STUDY 2: DIPYRIDAMOLE AND ACETYLSALICYLIC ACID IN THE SECONDARY PREVENTION OF STROKE
Authors: Forbes CD ,   ESPS‐2 Collaborators
Published: April 2023

In 1988, an optimal antiplatelet regimen for secondary stroke prevention remained to be defined. We undertook a randomised, placebo‐controlled, double‐blind trial to investigate the safety and efficacy of low‐dose acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), modified‐release dipyridamole, and the two agents in combination. Patients with prior stroke or transient ischaemic attack (TIA) were randomised to treatment with ASA alone (50 mg daily), modified‐release dipyridamole alone (400 mg daily), the two agents in a combined formulation, or placebo. Primary endpoints were stroke, death, and stroke or death. TIA and other vascular events were secondary endpoints. Patients were followed on treatment for two years. We concluded that dipyridamole, in a modified‐release form, at a dose of 200 mg b.d. and ASA 25 mg b.d., have been shown to be equally effective in the secondary prevention of ischaemic stroke and TIA; that when co‐prescribed, the protective effects are additive, the combination being significantly more effective than each agent prescribed singly; and that low‐dose ASA does not eliminate the propensity for induced bleeding.
WIDENING OF THE MEDIASTINUM FOLLOWING A STERNAL FRACTURE
Authors: Saab M , Kurdy NMG , Birkinshaw R
Published: April 2023

Sternal fractures, once thought of as uncommon, occur with increasing frequency, parallelling the incidence of motor vehicle accidents. A fractured sternum can produce a widening of the mediastinum even in the absence of an aortic injury. The Advanced Trauma Life Support course teaches that a widening of the mediastinum after blunt chest injury is an indication for aortography. In this case report we recommend computerised axial tomography (CT) scan of the chest as the investigation of choice in the non‐hypotensive patient who has sustained a fractured sternum after a blunt chest trauma, and who has widening of the mediastinum on the chest X‐ray, with no other radiological features suggesting traumatic aortic rupture.
OBSESSIVE COMPULSIVE DISORDER FOLLOWING HEAD INJURY
Authors: Soo‐Meng KO
Published: April 2023

Although researchers continue to report neurological abnormalities and neuropsychiatric associations in patients with obsessive compulsive disorders, there is a paucity of published reports on this condition following head injury. Such a case is described here, including the efficacy of behavioural intervention in ameliorating the symptoms.
DOCTORS' KNOWLEDGE OF POST‐SPLENECTOMY PROPHYLAXIS
Authors: Palejwala AA , Hong LYC , King D
Published: April 2023

A questionnaire was sent to 160 hospital doctors and 200 general practitioners about post‐splenectomy prophylaxis during the month of September 1995. A total of 118 questionnaires were returned (43% hospital doctors and 25% GPs). Most doctors (99%) knew that splenectomised patients were at risk of pneumococcal infection; 72% of hospital doctors and 50% of GPs knew of the risk of Haemophilus influenza infection but only 50% of hospital doctors and 33% of GPs knew of the same risks involving meningococcal infection and malaria. Half of the GPs were not aware of H. influenzae type B (Hib) vaccine for prophylaxis and 85% of these and 50% of hospital doctors did not know prophylaxis should be lifelong. There was no significant difference in the knowledge between hospital doctors and GPs.
AN INVESTIGATION INTO THE PRACTICE AND BENEFITS OF STATUTORY AFTERCARE IN AN INNER CITY PSYCHIATRIC SERVICE
Authors: Hall AD , Puri BK , Meehan K , Read JHM
Published: April 2023

The implementation of statutory aftercare for psychiatric inpatients, as outlined in Section 117 of the Mental Health Act 1983 (England and Wales), was studied by examining current practice in an inner city psychiatric service. Seventy‐seven per cent of patients received Section 117 aftercare; 56% of patients did not have an identified key worker. A significant proportion of those receiving statutory aftercare did not have evidence of adequate forward planning. General practitioners did not attend any meetings. Patients who had Section 117 aftercare were compared with those who did not. Using the Cox regression model, it was found there was no significant difference between these two groups in terms of time between discharge and first readmission, readmission rate, and length of first readmission.
CARDIAC AMYLOIDOSIS AND THE USE OF DIURETIC AND ACE INHIBITOR THERAPY IN SEVERE HEART FAILURE
Authors: Nash KL , Brij SO , Clesham GJ
Published: April 2023

The underlying cause of heart failure should be established, where possible. In particular the failure to respond to diuretic and vasodilator therapy requires careful evaluation.
SMALL BOWEL STENOSIS FROM BLUNT ABDOMINAL TRAUMA
Authors: Chan S‐C , Chen H‐Y , Lee C‐M , Tsai C‐H
Published: April 2023

A patient with a segmental stricture of the small bowel resulting from blunt abdominal trauma is reported. Symptoms and signs developed as vague abdominal distension with chronic, incomplete small bowel obstruction four weeks after the accident. A small bowel barium examination provided the important images for preoperative evaluation.
WHY DO IMMINENT VICTIMS OF A CARDIAC EVENT FEEL SO TIRED?
Authors: Appels A
Published: April 2023

A state of vital exhaustion, characterised by unusual tiredness and lack of energy, increased irritability and feelings of demoralisation, has been found to be one of the precursors of myocardial infarction and other cardiac events. These feelings probably reflect decreased activity of the hypothalamic‐pituitary‐adrenal axis. Treatment of the conditions leading to this state of vital exhaustion might decrease the risk of a cardiac event.
A CASE OF SCHISTOSOMAL APPENDICITIS
Authors: Lee JFY , Chung CC , Lau WY
Published: April 2023

Acute appendicitis is a great masquerader in surgical practice; its diverse clinical presentation can sometimes lead to delay in diagnosis. Nonetheless, the underlying aetiology of acute appendicitis may not be apparent if the appendix is not sent for histological examination.
SCROTAL SUPPURATION FOLLOWING APPENDICITIS
Authors: Pal KMI
Published: April 2023

Inguinoscrotal sepsis following intraperitoneal infection is a recognised but infrequent complication. Incidence of this condition seems to have decreased because of the routine use of broad spectrum antibiotics. It is believed that a persistent communication between the peritoneal cavity and scrotum, in the form of a patent tunic vaginalis, is needed for this complication. There may or may not be an associated hernia. Intrascrotal sepsis can lead to testicular loss from vascular thrombosis. The treatment of choice is early operative drainage.
WOMEN'S AWARENESS OF, AND ATTITUDES TOWARDS, HORMONE REPLACEMENT THERAPY: ETHNIC DIFFERENCES AND EFFECTS OF AGE AND EDUCATION
Authors: Lydakis C , Kerr H , Hutchings K , Lip GYH
Published: April 2023

To investigate ethnic differences and the effect of age and education on awareness and attitudes of women towards hormone replacement therapy (HRT), we conducted a questionnaire survey of 180 women attending a gynaecology clinic, of whom 152 (84.4%) responded. Seventy‐one of the women had heard of HRT. Awareness of HRT was higher in the 50‐59 year age group and in women with higher education, but lower in Indo‐Asian women than in white and black/Afro‐Caribbean women. Friends, relatives and the media were important sources of information (apart from the doctor), especially among the younger age groups. The women themselves ranked their overall understanding of HRT as ‘low’; 78% felt they did not know enough about the subject. A distorted perception of benefits/risks associated with HRT was also noted – cardiovascular protection was not appreciated, whereas there was an excessive fear of breast cancer. Twenty‐eight per cent of the menopausal, postmenopausal and hysterectomised women surveyed were current HRT users. We conclude that factors such as ethnicity, age and educational level have an impact on women's awareness of and attitudes towards HRT. Some confusion about the real benefits/risks still exists, which probably accounts for low acceptance of this treatment, and suggests that clinicians prescribing HRT need to be aware of these problems.
RECTAL ADMINISTRATION OF DEMECLOCYCLINE IN A PATIENT WITH THE SYNDROME OF INAPPROPRIATE ADH SECRETION
Authors: Hussain I , Mackellar A , Knowles GK
Published: April 2023

A patient with the syndrome of inappropriate ADH secretion (SIADH) who was unable to tolerate oral therapy was successfully treated with demeclocycline administered rectally.
TSH SECRETING PITUITARY ADENOMA: A RARE CAUSE OF THYROTOXICOSIS
Authors: So WY , Yeung VTF , Chow CC , Ko GTC , Szeto CC , Cockram CS
Published: April 2023

Thyroid‐stimulating hormone (TSH) secreting pituitary adenoma is a rare but important cause of thyrotoxicosis. It poses a challenge for both diagnosis and management. We report the case of a young Chinese man presenting with thyrotoxicosis, complicated by congestive heart failure, secondary to a TSH secreting pituitary adenoma. The case illustrates the importance of prompt diagnosis and allows discussion of both medical and surgical management, including the use of a long‐acting somatostatin analogue.
AN UNUSUAL PRESENTATION OF SACRAL AGENESIS IN A NEWBORN BABY
Authors: Oei J , Koh THHG
Published: April 2023

A potentially difficult situation can arise when a sick newborn baby presents with a common clinical sign that subsequently turns out to be a manifestation of a rare condition. The baby's birth sometimes results in the diagnosis of a new condition in other members of the family.1 Necrotising enterocolitis is the commonest surgical condition among babies in the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU). We report a case where abdominal distension in an acutely ill baby at high risk of necrotising enterocolitis masqueraded as an unusual presentation of familial sacral agenesis.
COMMUNITY‐ACQUIRED CLOSTRIDIUM DIFFICILE‐ASSOCIATED DIARRHOEA IN A PATIENT WITH COLONIC CARCINOMA
Authors: Heymann TD , Rampton DS
Published: April 2023

In the vast majority of cases, Clostridium difficile‐associated diarrhoea and pseudomembranous colitis develop following the use of antibiotics. We report a case in which C. difficile‐associated diarrhoea was diagnosed in the absence of previously reported predisposing factors. It transpired that the patient had a colonic carcinoma. We suggest that a diagnosis of C. difficile‐associated diarrhoea in the absence of a history of antibiotics or other established causes should prompt a colonoscopy to search for alternative explanations for the alteration in bowel flora which such an infection indicates.