bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
The Efficacy of Short‐Term Bridging Strategies With High‐ and Low‐Dose Prednisolone on Radiographic and Clinical Outcomes in Active Early Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Double‐Blind, Randomized, Placebo‐Controlled Trial
Authors: Krause Dietmar , Mai Anna , Klaassen‐Mielke Renate , Timmesfeld Nina , Trampisch Ulrike , Rudolf Henrik , Baraliakos Xenofon , Schmitz Elmar , Fendler Claas , Klink Claudia , Boeddeker Stephanie , Saracbasi‐Zender Ertan , Christoph Hans‐Joachim , Igelmann Manfred , Menne Hans‐Juergen , Schmid Albert , Rau Rolf , Wassenberg Siegfried , Sonuc Nilüfer , Ose Claudia , Schade‐Brittinger Carmen , Trampisch Hans J. , Braun Juergen
Published: May 2022

Objective

In active early rheumatoid arthritis (RA), glucocorticoids are often used for bridging, due to the delayed action of methotrexate. This study was undertaken to compare the effect of 3 bridging strategies, including high‐dose and low‐dose prednisolone, on radiographic and clinical outcomes.

Methods

Adult RA patients from 1 rheumatology hospital and 23 rheumatology practices who presented with moderate/high disease activity were randomized (1:1:1) to receive 60 mg prednisolone (high‐dose prednisolone [HDP]) or 10 mg prednisolone (low‐dose prednisolone [LDP]) daily (tapered to 0 mg within 12 weeks) or placebo. The 12‐week intervention period was followed by 40 weeks of therapy at the physicians' discretion. The primary outcome measure was radiographic change at 1 year measured using the total modified Sharp/van der Heijde score (SHS). Disease activity was assessed with the Disease Activity Score in 28 joints using the erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28‐ESR).

Results

Of 395 randomized patients (HDP, n = 132; LDP, n = 131; placebo, n = 132), 375 (95%) remained in the modified intention‐to‐treat analysis. Mean ± SD changes in SHS scores in the 3 groups after 1 year were comparable: mean ± SD 1.0 ± 2.0 units in the HDP group, 1.1 ± 2.2 units in the LDP group, and 1.1 ± 1.5 units in the placebo group. The primary analysis showed no superiority of HDP compared to placebo (estimated difference of the mean change −0.04 [95% confidence interval (95% CI) −0.5, 0.4]). At week 12, the mean DAS28‐ESR differed: −0.6 (95% CI −1.0, −0.2) for HDP versus placebo; –0.8 (95% CI −1.2, −0.5) for LDP versus placebo. At week 52, there was no significant difference in DAS28‐ESR between the 3 groups (range 2.6–2.8). Serious adverse events occurred similarly often.

Conclusion

Short‐term glucocorticoid bridging therapy at a high dose showed no benefit with regard to progression of radiographic damage at 1 year.
Risk Assessment for Hip and Knee Osteoarthritis Using Polygenic Risk Scores
Authors: Sedaghati‐Khayat Bahar , Boer Cindy G. , Runhaar Jos , Bierma‐Zeinstra Sita M. A. , Broer Linda , Ikram M. Arfan , Zeggini Eleftheria , Uitterlinden André G. , van Rooij Jeroen G. J. , van Meurs Joyce B. J.
Published: May 2022

Objective

Polygenic risk scores (PRS) allow risk stratification using common single‐nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs), and clinical applications are currently explored for several diseases. This study was undertaken to assess the risk of hip and knee osteoarthritis (OA) using PRS.

Methods

We analyzed 12,732 individuals from a population‐based cohort from the Rotterdam Study (n = 11,496), a clinical cohort (Cohort Hip and Cohort Knee [CHECK] study; n = 908), and a high‐risk cohort of overweight women (Prevention of Knee OA in Overweight Females [PROOF] study; n = 328), for the association of the PRS with prevalence/incidence of radiographic OA, of clinical OA, and of total hip replacement (THR) or total knee replacement (TKR). The hip PRS and knee PRS contained 44 and 24 independent SNPs, respectively, and were derived from a recent genome‐wide association study meta‐analysis. Standardized PRS (with Z transformation) were used in all analyses.

Results

We found a stronger association of the PRS for clinically defined OA compared to radiographic OA phenotypes, and we observed the highest PRS risk stratification for TKR/THR. The odds ratio (OR) per SD was 1.3 for incident THR (95% confidence interval [95% CI] 1.1–1.5) and 1.6 (95% CI 1.3–1.9) for incident TKR in the Rotterdam Study. The knee PRS was associated with incident clinical knee OA in the CHECK study (OR 1.3 [95% CI 1.1–1.5]), but not for the PROOF study (OR 1.2 [95% CI 0.8–1.7]). The OR for OA increased gradually across the PRS distribution, up to 2.1 (95% CI 1.4–3.2) for individuals with the 10% highest PRS compared to the middle 50% of the PRS distribution.

Conclusion

Our findings validated the association of PRS across OA definitions. Since OA is becoming frequent and primary prevention is not commonly applicable, PRS‐based risk assessment could play a role in OA prevention. However, the utility of PRS is dependent on the setting. Further studies are needed to test the integration of genetic risk assessment in diverse health care settings.
Longitudinal Immune Cell Profiling in Patients With Early Systemic Lupus Erythematosus
Authors: Sasaki Takanori , Bracero Sabrina , Keegan Joshua , Chen Lin , Cao Ye , Stevens Emma , Qu Yujie , Wang Guoxing , Nguyen Jennifer , Sparks Jeffrey A. , Holers V. Michael , Alves Stephen E. , Lederer James A. , Costenbader Karen H. , Rao Deepak A.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

To investigate the immune cell profiles of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE), and to identify longitudinal changes in those profiles over time.

Methods

We employed mass cytometry with 3 different panels of 38–39 markers (an immunophenotyping panel, a T cell/monocyte panel, and a B cell panel) in cryopreserved peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from 9 patients with early SLE, 15 patients with established SLE, and 14 controls without autoimmune disease. We used machine learning–driven clustering, flow self‐organizing maps, and dimensional reduction with t‐distributed stochastic neighbor embedding to identify unique cell populations in early SLE and established SLE. We used mass cytometry data of PBMCs from 19 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and 23 controls to compare levels of specific cell populations in early RA and SLE. For the 9 patients with early SLE, longitudinal mass cytometry analysis was applied to PBMCs at enrollment, 6 months after enrollment, and 1 year after enrollment. Serum samples were also assayed for 65 cytokines using Luminex multiplex assay, and associations between cell types and cytokines/chemokines were assessed.

Results

Levels of peripheral helper T cells, follicular helper T (Tfh) cells, and several Ki‐67+ proliferating subsets (ICOS+Ki‐67+ CD8 T cells, Ki‐67+ regulatory T cells, CD19intermediateKi‐67high plasmablasts, and PU.1highKi‐67high monocytes) were increased in patients with early SLE, with more prominent alterations than were seen in patients with early RA. Longitudinal mass cytometry and multiplex serum cytokine assays of samples from patients with early SLE revealed that levels of Tfh cells and CXCL10 had decreased 1 year after enrollment. Levels of CXCL13 were positively correlated with levels of several of the expanded cell populations in early SLE.

Conclusion

Two major helper T cell subsets and unique Ki‐67+ proliferating immune cell subsets were expanded in patients in the early phase of SLE, and the immunologic features characteristic of early SLE evolved over time.
Tofacitinib and Risk of Malignancy: Results From the Safety of Tofacitinib in Routine Care Patients With Rheumatoid Arthritis (STAR‐RA) Study
Authors: Khosrow‐Khavar Farzin , Desai Rishi J. , Lee Hemin , Lee Su Been , Kim Seoyoung C.
Published: May 2022

Objectives

Results of the ORAL Surveillance safety trial have indicated that there is an increased risk for the development of malignancies with tofacitinib therapy when compared to treatment with tumor necrosis factor inhibitors (TNFi). This study was undertaken to further examine this safety concern in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients in a real‐world setting.

Methods

Using US insurance claims data from Optum Clinformatics (2012–2020), IBM MarketScan Research Databases (2012–2018), and Medicare (parts A, B, and D, 2012–2017), we created 2 cohorts of RA patients who had initiated treatment with tofacitinib or TNFi. The first cohort, designated the real‐world evidence (RWE) cohort, included RA patients from routine care. For the second cohort, designated the randomized controlled trial (RCT)–duplicate cohort, we emulated the inclusion and exclusion criteria that were applied in the ORAL Surveillance trial of tofacitinib, which allowed us to assess the comparability of our results with the results of that trial. Cox proportional hazards models with propensity score fine‐stratification weighting were used to estimate hazard ratios (HRs) and 95% confidence intervals (95% CIs) for the risk of any malignancy (excluding nonmelanoma skin cancer). Database‐specific estimates were meta‐analyzed using fixed‐effects models with inverse‐variance weighting.

Results

The RWE cohort consisted of 83,295 patients, including 10,504 patients (12.6%) who received treatment with tofacitinib. The pooled weighted HR for the primary outcome of any malignancy associated with tofacitinib treatment compared to any malignancy associated with TNFi therapy was 1.01 (95% CI 0.83, 1.22) in the RWE cohort and 1.17 (95% CI 0.85, 1.62) in the RCT‐duplicate cohort (compared to the ORAL Surveillance trial HR of 1.48 [95% CI 1.04, 2.09]).

Conclusion

We did not find evidence of an increased risk of malignancy development with tofacitinib therapy, in comparison with TNFi therapy, in RA patients treated in a real‐world setting. However, our results cannot rule out the possibility of an increase in risk that may accrue with a longer duration of treatment with tofacitinib.
An application of the trial‐based functional analysis to assess problem behavior evoked by ritual interruption
Authors: Weyman Jennifer R. , Bloom Sarah E. , Campos Claudia , Garcia Anna R.
Published: May 2022

Children with autism spectrum disorder engage in restricted and repetitive behavior. Some of these children engage in problem behavior when these rituals are interrupted. The purpose of the current study was to evaluate the use of the trial‐based functional analysis to assess problem behavior related to ritual interruption and to treat the problem behavior using functional communication training plus a multiple schedule. We found that the trial‐based functional analysis correctly identified the presence of a rituals function and the treatment was effective in four of four participants, and the treatment generalized to additional rituals for three of three participants.
The architecture and metabolic traits of monospecific photosynthetic biofilms studied in a custom flow‐through system
Authors: Fanesi Andrea , Martin Thierry , Breton Cyril , Bernard Olivier , Briandet Romain , Lopes Filipa
Published: May 2022

Microalgae biofilms have great ecological importance and high biotechnological potential. Nevertheless, an in‐depth and combined structural (i.e., the architecture of the biofilm) and physiological characterization of microalgae biofilms is still missing. An approach able to provide the same time physiological and structural information during biofilm growth would be of paramount importance to understand these complex biological systems and to optimize their productivity. In this study, monospecific biofilms of a diatom and a green alga were grown under dynamic conditions in custom flow cells represented by UV/Vis spectroscopic cuvettes. Such flow cells were conceived to characterize the biofilms by several techniques mostly in situ and in a nondestructive way. Physiological traits were obtained by measuring variable chlorophyll a fluorescence by pulse amplitude modulated fluorometry and by scanning the biofilms in a spectrometer to obtain in vivo pigments spectral signatures. The architectural features were obtained by imaging the biofilms with a confocal laser scanning microscopy and an optical coherence tomography. Overall, this experimental setup allowed us to follow the growth of two biofilm‐forming microalgae showing that cell physiology is more affected in complex biofilms likely as a consequence of alterations in local environmental conditions.
A qualitative exploration of psychologists' experiences of teletherapy within the Irish Public Mental Health System
Authors: Reilly Katie , Maher Michael , Smith Elaine , Coyne Elaine , Murphy Síle , Wilson Charlotte
Published: May 2022

Objective

The current qualitative study aimed to investigate psychologists' experiences of teletherapy throughout the COVID‐19 pandemic, with a particular focus on teletherapy's impact on therapeutic relationships.

Method

Fifteen participants, consisting of clinical and counselling psychologists employed by the Health Service Executive (HSE) in Ireland, participated in semi‐structured interviews conducted via telephone.

Results

Constructionist thematic analysis yielded three prominent themes: (i) psychologists experienced a lack of control over therapeutic boundaries with their clients, such as the setting and time in which sessions take place. Teletherapy also encroaches on psychologists' personal boundaries from having aspects of their home lives becoming associated with clients' trauma; (ii) psychologists have to work much harder to make the connection with clients due to the substantial loss of information, including non‐verbal cues, transmitted across teletherapeutic platforms; and (iii) psychologists themselves feel uncontained from being insufficiently supported by the HSE, which impacts on their ability to contain high‐risk clients via teletherapy.

Conclusions

Various aspects of the therapeutic relationship, including therapeutic boundaries between psychologists and their clients, and psychologists' ability to make the connection and foster containment with their clients, were impacted by teletherapy. Psychologists need to feel heard, supported and appreciated to ensure optimal delivery of teletherapy in future.
Novice therapist, the client and therapy: Integrating the triad
Authors: Bhandari Anahita , Sriram Sujata
Published: May 2022

Therapy process research focuses on understanding how therapy is conducted by professionals in the field. It is a nascent field of psychotherapy enquiry in India. This paper explores how novice therapists in India perceive their clients, and how this influences the process of therapy. In depth interviews were conducted with ten novice therapists, with less than six years of practice experience, from Mumbai, India. The data was thematically analysed. The data revealed that therapists' perceptions of their clients were defined by socio‐demographic features of age and gender, along with presenting complaints and personal attributes. Participants had defined beliefs about good clients as contrasted with difficult ones. Distinct preferences for particular client types were identified. The antecedents to these beliefs were attributed to the therapist's worldview, their training and the supervision received. These views, and the conceptualisation of the client, influenced the choice of client, the process of therapy and how they proceeded with sessions, and their methods of referral. The data from the study has implications for therapist training, supervision and further research.
Vertical vs. horizontal presentation formats result in different consumption choices due to construal priming
Authors: Mukherjee Sudipta
Published: May 2022

This research shows that vertical versus horizontal presentation of choices influence decision‐making differently. Based on the existing research on construal priming, this research hypothesizes and shows that vertical (vs. horizontal) choice presentation primes a stronger concrete (vs. abstract) construal, and that this systematically affects consumption choices. Across a series of four studies, we show that the stronger concrete (vs. abstract) construal priming by vertical (vs. horizontal) choice presentation results in a greater perceived importance of price (vs. quality) and secondary (vs. primary) choice attributes while making consumption choices. Contributions emerge for literatures on construal priming and contextual framing, and for managerial practice.
Intelligent image‐activated sorting of Chlamydomonas reinhardtii by mitochondrial localization
Authors: Harmon Jeffrey , Findinier Justin , Ishii Natsumi Tiffany , Herbig Maik , Isozaki Akihiro , Grossman Arthur , Goda Keisuke
Published: May 2022

Organelle positioning in cells is associated with various metabolic functions and signaling in unicellular organisms. Specifically, the microalga Chlamydomonas reinhardtii repositions its mitochondria, depending on the levels of inorganic carbon. Mitochondria are typically randomly distributed in the Chlamydomonas cytoplasm, but relocate toward the cell periphery at low inorganic carbon levels. This mitochondrial relocation is linked with the carbon‐concentrating mechanism, but its significance is not yet thoroughly understood. A genotypic understanding of this relocation would require a high‐throughput method to isolate rare mutant cells not exhibiting this relocation. However, this task is technically challenging due to the complex intracellular morphological difference between mutant and wild‐type cells, rendering conventional non‐image‐based high‐event‐rate methods unsuitable. Here, we report our demonstration of intelligent image‐activated cell sorting by mitochondrial localization. Specifically, we applied an intelligent image‐activated cell sorting system to sort for C. reinhardtii cells displaying no mitochondrial relocation. We trained a convolutional neural network (CNN) to distinguish the cell types based on the complex morphology of their mitochondria. The CNN was employed to perform image‐activated sorting for the mutant cell type at 180 events per second, which is 1–2 orders of magnitude faster than automated microscopy with robotic pipetting, resulting in an enhancement of the concentration from 5% to 56.5% corresponding to an enrichment factor of 11.3. These results show the potential of image‐activated cell sorting for connecting genotype–phenotype relations for rare‐cell populations, which require a high throughput and could lead to a better understanding of metabolic functions in cells.
Convergent regional brain abnormalities in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia: A neuroimaging meta‐analysis of 73 studies
Authors: Kamalian Aida , Khodadadifar Tina , Saberi Amin , Masoudi Maryam , Camilleri Julia A. , Eickhoff Claudia R. , Zarei Mojtaba , Pasquini Lorenzo , Laird Angela R. , Fox Peter T. , Eickhoff Simon B. , Tahmasian Masoud
Published: May 2022

Introduction

Numerous studies have reported brain alterations in behavioral variant frontotemporal dementia (bvFTD). However, they pointed to inconsistent findings.

Methods

We used a meta‐analytic approach to identify the convergent structural and functional brain abnormalities in bvFTD. Following current best‐practice neuroimaging meta‐analysis guidelines, we searched PubMed and Embase databases and performed reference tracking. Then, the coordinates of group comparisons between bvFTD and controls from 73 studies were extracted and tested for convergence using activation likelihood estimation.

Results

We identified convergent abnormalities in the anterior cingulate cortices, anterior insula, amygdala, paracingulate, striatum, and hippocampus. Task‐based and resting‐state functional connectivity pointed to the networks that are connected to the obtained consistent regions. Functional decoding analyses suggested associated dysfunction of emotional processing, interoception, reward processing, higher‐order cognitive functions, and olfactory and gustatory perceptions in bvFTD.

Discussion

Our findings highlighted the key role of the salience network and subcortical regions in the pathophysiology of bvFTD.
Insights on the biomineralisation processes and related diversity of cyanobacterial microflora in thermogenic travertine deposits in Greek hot springs (North‐West Euboea Island)
Authors: Kanellopoulos Christos , Lamprinou Vasiliki , Politi Artemis , Voudouris Panagiotis , Economou‐Amilli Athena
Published: May 2022

The aim of this study is to identify the biomineralisation processes in hot springs of North‐West Euboea Island by assessing the physico‐chemical parameters of the hot water, the travertine mineralogical composition and facies, and the cyanobacterial microflora. In the studied area, the main mineral phases are calcite and aragonite, creating laminated and shrub facies of travertine deposits in close association with the cyanobacterial microflora. Microscopic analysis of fresh and cultured field samples shows the presence of 81 taxa of Cyanobacteria belonging to six orders, that is, Oscillatoriales, Synechococcales, Spirulinales, Chroococcales, Nostocales and Chroococcidiopsidales with the main factors controlling biodiversity being temperature, salinity and access to sunlight. No Cyanobacteria species were identified in areas with temperatures over 65oC. In areas with high salinity (27–37‰), the order Oscillatoriales predominates. On the other hand, in areas with high temperatures (63oC), fewer orders were observed, usually only Synechococcales and Spirulinales. In areas with lower temperatures (37oC), larger numbers of Cyanobacteria orders were identified. Additionally, salinity seems to regulate the presence of the Nostocales order. The combined geobiological study revealed the presence of four biomineralisation processes involving calcium carbonate minerals, that is, (i) filamentous Cyanobacteria and extracellular polymeric substances trapping calcium carbonate crystals, (ii) extracellular polymeric substances acting as a template favouring mineral precipitation for crystal nucleation, (iii) formation of calcified Cyanobacteria sheaths and (iv) alteration of calcium carbonate crystals by endolithic Cyanobacteria. The identified biomineralisation processes suggest that the formation of calcium carbonate crystals is due to the metabolic activity of Cyanobacteria, or that the Cyanobacteria favour the deposition or the alteration of already existing crystals. The combination of these processes and the non‐biotic (abiotic) mineralisation result in the formation of hybrid carbonates in the study area.
Risk‐based seismic design of base‐isolated structures with single surface friction sliders
Authors: O'Reilly Gerard J. , Yasumoto Hiroshi , Suzuki Yoshitaka , Calvi Gian Michele , Nakashima Masayoshi
Published: May 2022

Choosing friction pendulum isolators to avoid problems with device displacement capacity or boundary wall collision is a critical part of the seismic design of base isolation systems. This paper developed a probabilistic method to quantify the risk of failure in single friction pendulum bearing (FPB) devices. This was done by calibrating a demand‐intensity model for FPBs from numerical analysis for several device property combinations. These properties encompassed the dynamic friction coefficient and effective radius of curvature—key parameters impacting these FPB devices’ seismic response. Through this demand‐intensity model, a closed‐form and relatively simple approach to quantify the mean annual frequency of exceeding a given device displacement threshold, or risk of failure, was proposed. By applying this simplified method to several case study structures and comparing it with a more extensive assessment involving multiple stripe analysis (MSA) using hazard‐consistent ground motions, the proposed simplified approach could provide very accurate estimates of displacement‐based failure risk in FPB devices under the assumption of no non‐linear behaviour in the superstructure. This proposed approach implies that structural engineers can now quickly assess the actual failure rates of different FPB device combinations used in practice to give a more uniform level of safety or reliability when designing and assessing FPB‐isolated systems. It is also arguably much simpler, direct and accurate than currently available code‐based approaches.
Performance improvement of co‐culture inoculated microbial fuel cell using fuzzy modelling and Harris hawks optimization
Authors: Rezk Hegazy , Sayed Enas Taha , Abdelkareem Mohammad Ali , Olabi A. G.
Published: May 2022

Microbial fuel cell (MFC) is a promising technology since two important processes: wastewater treatment and electrical energy, can be obtained simultaneously. The performance of the MFC (maximum power density (MPD) and COD removal) depends mainly on substrate concentration, pH time, and initial COD. Therefore, the main target of this work is to simultaneously increase the MPD and COD removal by determining the optimal controlling parameters. The proposed methodology integrates fuzzy modelling and Harris Hawks optimization (HHO). Firstly, based on the experimental data set, an accurate fuzzy model is created to simulate the performance of MFC in terms of four controlling parameters. To prove the superiority of fuzzy model, the results are compared with response surface methodology (RSM) in terms of RMSE and coefficient of determination (R2). Secondly, using HHO, the optimal values of substrate concentration, co‐culture composition, pH, and time are determined. These four controlling parameters are used as decision variables during the optimization process, whereas the objective function is the simultaneous maximization of the MPD and COD removal. The obtained results proved that the optimal substrate concentration, pH, time, and initial COD values are 58.2%, 7, 14.4 days, and 32 × 10−3 (mg/L) respectively. Under this condition, the integration between fuzzy and HHO, the overall performance of MFC has been improved by 10.37% and 19.13%, respectively, compared with the experimental and RSM.
Family‐reported barriers and predictors of short‐term attendance in a multidisciplinary intervention for managing childhood obesity: A psycho‐family‐system based randomised controlled trial (ENTREN‐F)
Authors: Rojo Marta , Lacruz Tatiana , Solano Santos , Gutiérrez Ana , Beltrán‐Garrayo Lucía , Veiga Oscar L. , Graell Montserrat , Sepúlveda Ana Rosa
Published: May 2022

Objective

This study was aimed to examine patient enrolment in the pre‐intervention stage, family‐reported barriers, attendance rates and underlying predictors of short‐term attendance in a family‐system‐based randomised controlled trial for managing childhood obesity in children aged 8–12‐years‐old (ENTREN‐F).

Method

Psychosocial and anthropometric measures were collected through primary health referral. The data were used for descriptive analyses of sample characteristics and linear regression analyses.

Results

Low enrolment rates and several family‐reported barriers were observed in the pre‐intervention stage. Logistical barriers were the most frequent family‐reported reason for attrition in the different stages of the study. Having a first face‐to‐face orientation session with the families and the use of motivational interviewing helped to improve adherence in the initial phases of the study. After 6 months of intervention, family based treatments (FBTs) under consideration achieve greater adherence compared with the standard intervention. Moreover, family involvement was a predictor of success for better treatment adherence rates. By contrast, participants who attended a brief standard intervention, mothers with primary education, greater body mass index, higher levels of depressive symptomatology and more critical comments towards their children, children with higher weight status and lower levels of self‐reported depressive symptoms at baseline attended interventions less frequently.

Conclusions

In future programmes a comprehensive screening of modifiable factors related to family and their setting characteristics is paramount prior to intervention, identifying key barriers related to drop‐out, especially in the case of less‐advantaged families.
Foredune height variations along the western coast of Taiwan Strait
Authors: He Yanyu , Cai Feng , Liu Jianhui , Qi Hongshuai , Li Bailiang , Zhao Shaohua , Liu Gen , Chen Xu
Published: May 2022

Knowledge of the morphological characteristics of coastal foredunes, particularly crest height, is of crucial importance in evaluating coastal vulnerability to marine disasters. However, the factors driving variation in foredune height and the corresponding mechanisms remain poorly understood, especially for regional, large‐scale landscapes. In this contribution, an extensive foredune–beach topographic survey and comprehensive data collection, including regional wind regime, wave and tide climate, were conducted along the ~400 km‐long western coast of Taiwan Strait. The results show that the factor with the most significant effect on the spatial variation in foredune height is wave power, followed by aeolian drift potential (shore‐normal component), while beach width and grain size appear to have only marginal impacts for our study sites. Under a relatively high‐energy wave climate, significant volumes of sandy sediments can be delivered to the beach–dune system, and the beach state tends to be more dissipative, thus contributing to a higher/larger foredune. In particular, the in‐phase synchronization of sediment supply (contributed by wave processes) and transport potential (controlled by wind processes) can lead to the greatest potential for foredune growth. Finally, the source (river) to sink (coastal foredune) dispersal of sediments along this ~400 km‐long strait coastal regime is summarized.
Shrimp (Penaeus monodon) preservation by using chitosan and tea polyphenol coating combined with high‐pressure processing
Authors: Chen Lihang , Jiao Dexin , Zhou Bihe , Zhu Chen , Liu Jingsheng , Zhang Dali , Liu Huimin
Published: May 2022

The present work investigated the effects of high‐pressure processing (200 and 400 MPa, 5 min) combined with chitosan‐tea polyphenol (1.5% and 0.5% [w/v], respectively) coating to improve the quality and stability of shrimp (Penaeus monodon) during 28 days of storage. The chemical (pH, TVB‐N, TBARS), microbiological, textural, chromatic characteristics, protein oxidation, and endogenous enzyme activities of shrimps were regularly evaluated. Results showed that the combination treatment exerted a better intense antimicrobial effect, stabilized shrimp's freshness, and resulted in lower pH and TVB‐N than the control sample. Also, combined treated samples had better oxidative stability than a single treatment until the end of shelf life. Although combination treatment had no significant effect on endogenous proteases, the combined use of 400 MPa high‐pressure and chitosan‐tea polyphenol coating was most effective in inhibiting the bacteria and improved the hardness and chromatic characteristics of shrimp within the storage.
Physicochemical properties and sensory attributes of cookies prepared from sorghum and millet composite flour
Authors: Aljobair Moneera O.
Published: May 2022

Sorghum and millet are rich in nutrients and bioactive compounds. They can enhance nutrition and health. This study was aimed to develop sorghum–millet gluten‐free cookies from sorghum and millet composite flour. Cookies were made using 100% wheat WF100%, sorghum SF100% ,and millet MF100% flours and composite flours of 25% sorghum–75% millet (SF25%–MF75%), 50% sorghum−50% millet (SF50%–MF50%), and 75% sorghum–25% millet (SF75%–MF25%). The physicochemical, nutritional, bioactive, and sensory quality attributes of the developed cookies were evaluated.

The results of flours displayed that the highest values of peak viscosity and final viscosity were observed in SF100%, breakdown and pasting temperature were observed in WF100%, setback viscosity in composite flour of SF25%–MF75%, and hardness and chewiness in WF 100%. Regarding cookies analysis results, the highest values of hardness were shown in WF100% and SF100% cookies, and the highest water activity was observed in the cookies of (SF25%–MF75% and SF50%–MF50%), and the (SF75%–MF25%) cookies had the best diameter and thickness. The lowest water‐holding capacity (WHC) and oil‐holding capacity (OHC) were found in (WF100%) cookies, while they were high in the cookies of SF and MF flours and their combinations (p ≤ .05). The cookies made using the composite flour of SF25%–MF75% appeared to have the uppermost values of moisture, protein, fat, total phenolic content (TPC), and antioxidant activity. They have the highest contents (p ≤ .05) of potassium, sodium, magnesium, and calcium. The scores of all sensory attributes of all cookie types were higher than the cutoff score (5). Overall, the incorporation of sorghum and millet flour in cookies formulation enhanced the physicochemical, nutritional, and bioactive properties without major effect on the sensory attributes of the product, which make it excellent nutritive and healthy sorghum–millet gluten‐free cookies.
Motivation and competition in health care
Authors: Scott Anthony , Sivey Peter
Published: May 2022

Non‐pecuniary sources of motivation are a strong feature of the health care sector and the impact of competitive incentives on behavior may be lower where pecuniary motivation is low. This paper measures the marginal utility of income (MUY) of physicians from a stated‐choice experiment, and examines whether this measure influences the association between competition faced by physicians and the prices they charge. We find that physicians are more likely to exploit a lack of competition with higher prices if they have a high MUY.
Prognostic utility of key copy number alterations in T cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia
Authors: Kumari Sarita , Ali M. Shadab , Singh Jay , Arora Mohit , Verma Deepak , Pandey Avanish Kumar , Benjamin Mercilena , Bakhshi Sameer , Palanichamy Jayanth Kumar , Sharma Atul , Singh Inder , Tanwar Pranay , Singh Amar Ranjan , Pushpam Deepam , Qamar Imteyaz , Chopra Anita
Published: May 2022

T‐cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (T‐ALL) is a genetically heterogeneous disease, characterized by an abnormal transformation of T cells into highly proliferative leukemic lymphoblasts. Identification of common genetic alterations has provided promising opportunities for better risk stratification in T‐ALL. Current treatment in T‐ALL still poses the major challenge of integrating the knowledge of molecular alterations in the clinical setting. We utilized the Multiplex Ligation Dependent Probe Amplification (MLPA) method to determine the frequency of common copy number alterations (CNAs) in 128 newly diagnosed T‐ALL patients. We also studied the association of these CNAs with patient's clinical characteristics and survival. The highest frequency of deletion was observed in CDKN2A (59.38%), followed by CDKN2B (46.88%), LMO1 (37.5%), and MTAP (28.12%). PTPN2 (22.66%), PHF6 (14.06%), and MYB (14.06%) had the highest number of duplication events. A total of 89.06% patients exhibited CNAs. STIL::TAL1, NUP214::ABL1, and LMO2::RAG2 fusions were observed in 5.47%, 3.12%, and 0.78% of patients, respectively. CDKN2A, CDKN2B, and PTPN2 gene deletions were mainly observed in pediatric patients, while CNAs of NF1 and SUZ12 were observed more frequently in adults. In pediatric patients, alterations in CDKN2B, CASP8AP2, and AHI1 were associated with poor prognosis, while SUZ12 and NF1 CNAs were associated with favorable prognosis. In adult patients, ABL1 CNA emerged as an independent indicator of poor prognosis. The observed molecular heterogeneity in T‐ALL may provide the basis for variations observed in clinical response in T‐ALL and MLPA based CNA detection may help in risk stratification of these patients.
Risk factors for cardiovascular events and mortality in patients diagnosed with diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma and treated with anthracyclines
Authors: Diamond Akiva , Ayyappan Sabarish , Cao Shufen , Tashtish Nour , Boughan Kirsten , Cooper Brenda , Fu PingFu , Caimi Paolo F.
Published: May 2022

There is an increased risk of congestive heart failure (CHF) following anthracycline‐based chemotherapy in patients with Diffuse Large B‐cell lymphoma (DLBCL). Little is known about risk factors of CHF, other cardiovascular events (CVE), and CVE effect on outcomes. We conducted a retrospective review of 463 newly diagnosed DLBCL patients treated between 2002 and 2016 with anthracycline containing regimens. At a median follow up of 71.3 months, 10.4% patients developed new CHF, 4.97% had new atrial fibrillation and 3.2% had new coronary artery disease. Age over 65, advanced stage DLBCL and diabetes were associated with increased cumulative incidence of CVE. Patients with prior diabetes had decreased progression‐free survival and overall survival in comparison to non‐diabetics. Patients who had a CVE in the first year had significant worse OS then patients who did not have a CVE (Hazard Ratio 10.0, 95% CI, 7.24–13.88). A risk score incorporating age at DLBCL diagnosis, baseline lymphocyte count, disease stage and diabetes stratified into groups with low, intermediate and high risk for CVE, with 1‐year cumulative incidence of CVE of 5.3%, 7.9% and 13.4%. Diffuse large B‐cell lymphoma patients treated with anthracycline containing regimens have high incidence of CVE, which are not limited to CHF. Clinical variables at the time of diagnosis can identify the group of DLBCL patients at highest risk of CVE, for whom preventive interventions should be considered.
Barriers and challenges of using health information technology in home care: A systematic review
Authors: Galavi Zahra , Montazeri Mahdieh , Ahmadian Leila
Published: May 2022

Objective

Despite the benefits of applying Information technology (IT) in‐home care some challenges may affect the quality of the services. To deal with these challenges, it is required to identify them before providing such services. Therefore, the aim of this study is to systematically determine the challenges and barriers of using health IT in‐home care. Moreover, the possible solutions reported in the included studies were examined.

Materials and Methods

We performed a systematic search of the PubMed, Web of Science, and Embase databases for studies published between January 2010 and January 2020. For quality assessment of the included articles the Critical Appraisal Skills Programme and the Effective Public Health Practice Project checklists were used. The Supporting the Use of Research Evidence (Supporting the Use of Research Evidence (SURE)) framework was used to categorise the identified barriers and challenges.

Results

Of 1755 retrieved studies, 47 studies were included. The main barriers and challenges based on the SURE framework were categorised to Facilities (n = 35), Legislation or regulations (n = 19), Knowledge and skills (n = 18), Attitudes regarding programme acceptability, appropriateness and credibility (n = 16), Financial resources (n = 10), Motivation to change (n = 9), and External communication (n = 8). Studies mostly provided solutions regarding challenges related to the usability and functionality of the applied technology.

Conclusions

The results of this study can help policy‐makers and managers of health care organisations to be informed regarding the existing barriers, and implement safer and more effective home care systems. Awareness regarding barriers and potential challenges can help to provide optimal IT‐based interventions and facilitate providing home services.
Health policy response to mobility during the pandemic: Evaluating the effectiveness using location‐based services big data
Authors: Yuan Bocong , Zhao Hairong , Li Jiannan
Published: May 2022

As an emergent health policy response, the population mobility restriction policy was implemented to cope with the unprecedented pandemic that outbroke in early 2020, but its effectiveness showed vast disparities even within a single country. Using multisource data from Baidu mobility big data and the statistics of novel coronavirus disease in China, mobility restrictions (including restrictions on inflow‐mobility, outflow‐mobility, and intra‐city mobility) were examined. It was found that the mobility restriction had contained the development of pandemic, but such effect would gradually recede over time. Moreover, there existed region‐specific policy effectiveness. Specifically, outflow‐mobility restrictions were ineffective in reducing death cases in population influx areas, and restrictions on inflow‐mobility (or intra‐city mobility) were ineffective in reducing confirmed cases (or death cases) in population outflow areas. It was concluded that the mobility restriction policy can be effective in epidemic prevention and control in spatial‐temporal pattern. However, there was a remarkable disparity in policy effectiveness between different regions with different population mobility patterns.
Patient engagement in healthcare planning and evaluation: A call for social justice
Authors: Snow M. Elizabeth
Published: May 2022

Patient engagement in healthcare planning and evaluation has been promoted as a way to improve healthcare's ability to meet patients' needs. However, populations experiencing oppression and discrimination, such as racism, colonialism, sexism, heterosexism, cisnormativity, ableism, classism, and poverty, are often underrepresented in patient engagement spaces. The context and structure of patient engagement processes may systematically exclude certain populations from participating in meaningful ways or from participating at all. By excluding certain populations from active, meaningful patient engagement, we risk planning and evaluating health services on the basis of the values, needs, and preferences of the dominant population. This, in turn, will further entrench health inequities and preclude the ability to surface ideas that challenge dominant conceptualisations of health and healthcare, thereby reinforcing the status quo rather than promoting healthcare transformation. Recognising that experiences of health, healthcare, and patient engagement processes are mediated through gender, race, ability, sexual orientation, and other dimensions of diversity, it is proposed that processes for engaging patients in healthcare planning and evaluation must by intersectional, attend to systemic and power relations, and truly put patients in the driver's seat of engagement processes. Health services planners and evaluators need to create more inclusive, accessible, and appropriate patient engagement experiences in order to focus on transforming healthcare towards a more socially just system.
Collaboration between health system decision makers and professional researchers to coproduce knowledge, a scoping review
Authors: Becerril‐Montekio Víctor , García‐Bello Luis Alberto , Torres‐Pereda Pilar , Alcalde‐Rabanal Jacqueline , Reveiz Ludovic , Langlois Etienne V.
Published: May 2022

Background

Recent literature uses different terms and approaches to the collaboration between researchers and health system decision‐makers in the research process. In 2012, the World Health Organisation proposed to “Embed research within decision‐making processes”. Yet, important contributions use other terms and perspectives for the same issue. This scoping review aimed to identify these terms, approaches, their application and eventual influence on the utilization of evidence.

Methods

We searched papers published between January 2000 and February 2019 in English, Spanish, French and Portuguese in the databases of PubMed, Scielo, Google Scholar and EBSCOhost, thus accessing MedicLatina, MEDLINE Complete and eBook Collection. Our main inclusion criterion was the participation of health personnel in non‐clinical research activities. We considered three domains for in depth analysis: Definition, name and description of the participation of decision makers and health staff; Forms of collaboration and actual/effective participation of health staff in research; Eventual influence on the utilization of research results.

Results

We identified 607 articles and selected 74 for full text analysis. Nineteen different terms are currently used in twelve countries to describe the participation of health decision‐makers and staff in research activities. Most publications refer to Integrated Knowledge Translation or Embedded Research, and were published in Canada and the United Kingdom. Forty‐five papers discuss the participation of health staff in research activities; 20 leading the whole process and 21 as collaborators.

Conclusions

The identification of the different terms and approaches to the close collaboration of health staff and decision‐makers with professional researchers is essential to promote its effective application and influence on the utilization of evidence. Yet, it is also necessary to insist in their co‐participation throughout the whole investigation process as a relevant way to improve research results uptake, strengthen health systems and advance towards universal health coverage.
Unilateral Loss of Maxillary Molars in Young Mice Leads to Bilateral Condylar Adaptation and Degenerative Disease
Authors: Chen Christopher Phillip , Zhang Jiehua , Zhang Bin , Hassan Mohamed G. , Hane Kyle , Chen Caroline C. , Navarro Palacios Ana Alejandra , Kapila Sunil , Jheon Andrew H. , Goodwin Alice F.
Published: May 2022

The adaptive response of the mandible and temporomandibular joint (TMJ) to altered occlusion in juvenile patients is presently unclear. To address this question, we established a mouse model in which all molars were extracted from the maxillary right quadrant in prepubertal, 3‐week‐old mice and analyzed morphological, tissue, cellular, and molecular changes in the mandible and condyle 3 weeks later. Unilateral loss of maxillary molars led to significant, robust, bilateral changes, primarily in condylar morphology, including anteroposterior narrowing of the condylar head and neck and increased convexity at the condylar surface, as determined by geometric morphometric analysis. Furthermore, both condyles in experimental mice exhibited a degenerative phenotype, which included decreased bone volume and increased mineral density near the condylar head surface compared to control mice. Changes in condylar morphology and mineralized tissue composition were associated with alterations in the cellular architecture of the mandibular condylar cartilage, including increased expression of markers for mature (Col2a1) and hypertrophic (Col10a1) chondrocytes, suggesting a shift toward differentiating chondrocytes. Our results show significant bilateral condylar morphological changes, alterations in tissue composition, cellular organization, and molecular expression, as well as degenerative disease, in response to the unilateral loss of teeth. Our study provides a relatively simple, tractable mouse tooth extraction system that will be of utility in uncovering the cellular and molecular mechanisms of condylar and mandibular adaptation in response to altered occlusion. © 2022 The Authors. JBMR Plus published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.