bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
NOTCH3promotes docetaxel resistance of prostate cancer cells through regulatingTUBB3andMAPKsignaling pathway
Authors: Sun Xianchao , Zhang Ying , Xin Shiyong , Jin Liang , Cao Qiong , Wang Hong , Wang Keyi , Liu Xiang , Tang Chaozhi , Li Weiyi , Li Ziyao , Wen Xiaofei , Yang Guosheng , Guo Changcheng , Liu Zhiyu , Ye Lin
Published: December 2023

Docetaxel is the preferred chemotherapeutic agent in patients with castrate‐resistant prostate cancer (CRPC). However, patients eventually develop docetaxel resistance and in the absence of effective treatment options. Consequently, it is essential to investigate the mechanisms generating docetaxel resistance and develop novel alternative therapeutic targets. RNA sequencing was undertaken on docetaxel‐sensitive and docetaxel‐resistant prostate cancer (PCa) cells. Subsequently, chemoresistance, cancer stemness, and lipid metabolism were investigated. To obtain insight into the precise activities and action mechanisms of NOTCH3 in docetaxel‐resistant PCa, immunoprecipitation, mass spectrometry, ChIP, luciferase reporter assay, cell metabolism, and animal experiments were performed. Through RNA sequencing analysis, we found that NOTCH3 expression was markedly higher in docetaxel‐resistant cells relative to parental cells, and that this trend was continued in docetaxel‐resistant PCa tissues. Experiments in vitro and in vivo revealed that NOTCH3 enhanced stemness, lipid metabolism, and docetaxel resistance in PCa. Mechanistically, NOTCH3 is bound to TUBB3 and activates the MAPK signaling pathway. Moreover, NOTCH3 was directly regulated by MEF2A in docetaxel‐resistant cells. Notably, targeting NOTCH3 and the MEF2A/TUBB3 signaling axis was related to docetaxel chemoresistance in PCa. Overall, these results demonstrated that NOTCH3 fostered stemness, lipid metabolism, and docetaxel resistance in PCa via the TUBB3 and MAPK signaling pathways. Therefore, NOTCH3 may be employed as a prognostic biomarker in PCa patients. NOTCH3 could be a therapeutic target for PCa patients, particularly those who have developed docetaxel resistance.
The influence of vertical ridge augmentation techniques on peri‐implant bone loss: A systematic review and meta‐analysis
Authors: Cucchi Alessandro , Maiani Francesco , Franceschi Debora , Sassano Michele , Fiorino Antonino , Urban Istvan A. , Corinaldesi Giuseppe
Published: December 2023

Introduction

The primary aim of this systematic review was to investigate and compare the outcomes of different vertical ridge augmentation (VRA) techniques in relation to peri‐implant bone loss (PBL), after at least 12 months of functional loading.

Material and methods

The search was conducted to find all the studies about VRA and measurements of PBL with at least 12 months follow‐up. Three pairwise meta‐analysis (MA) was performed to completely evaluate the outcomes.

Results

A total of 42 studies were included, of which 11 were randomized clinical trials (RCTs). RCTs were available only for guided bone regeneration (GBR), onlay, and inlay techniques. The weighted mean estimate (WME) of PBL value was found to be 1.38 mm (95% confidence interval [95% CI]: 1.10–1.66) after a mean follow‐up of 41.0 ± 27.8 months. GBR, Inlay, Onlay, osteodistraction, and SBB represented in weight 32.9%, 30.6%, 25.0%, 7.6%, and 3.9%, respectively; and their WME (95% CI) were 1.06 (0.87–1.26) mm, 1.72 (1.00–2.43) mm, 1.31 (0.87–1.75) mm, 1.81 (0.87–1.75) mm, and 0.66 (0.55–0.77) mm, respectively. Among the secondary outcomes, the analysis was conducted for vertical bone gain, healing complication rate, surgical complication rate, implant survival, and success rate.

Conclusions

The primary findings of the meta‐analysis, based on the changes between final and baseline values, showed that the peri‐implant bone loss could be influenced by the type of intervention but there is a need to evaluate in RCTs the behavior of the peri‐implant bone levels after long‐term follow‐up for all techniques.
Sentiment analysis on Hindi tweets during COVID‐19 pandemic
Authors: Saroj Anita , Thakur Akash , Pal Sukomal
Published: December 2023

A gap among the people has been created due to a lack of social interactions. The physical void has led to an increase in online interaction among users on social media platforms. Sentiment analysis of such interactions can help us analyze the general public psychology during the pandemic. However, the lack of data in non‐English and low‐resource languages like ‘Hindi’ makes it difficult to study it among native and non‐English speaking masses. Here, we create a small collection of ‘Hindi’ tweets on COVID‐19 during the pandemic containing 10,011 tweets for sentiment analysis, which is named as sentiment analysis for Hindi (SAFH). In this article, we describe the process of collecting, creating, annotating the corpus, and sentiment classification. The claims have been verified using different word embedding with a deep learning classifier through the proposed model. The achieved accuracy of the proposed model yields up to a permissible rate of 90.9%.
Harnessing Instagram's “platform vernacular” during the COVID‐19 pandemic: A case study of Philbrook Museum of Art
Authors: Hu Nan , Kidd Jenny
Published: December 2023

Researchers have been documenting how museums used social networks during the COVID‐19 global health emergency, however, to date there has been limited assessment of museums' uses of Instagram at that time. This article begins to address that gap with a case study of Philbrook Museum of Art's approach to that platform during the early months of the pandemic. We use a mixed‐method inquiry featuring social media analysis and a series of interviews with staff at the museum to analyze the museum's use of Instagram to maintain a presence within followers' lives during this intensely challenging period. To frame our analysis we introduce Gibbs et al.'s (Information, Communication & Society, 2015, 18, 255) concept of “platform vernacular” to digital heritage studies, trialing its use to critically analyze the combination of affordances, practices, and communicative conventions that Instagram convenes for the museum. We find this approach to be both theoretically and practically insightful, with the potential to inform more meaningful, authentic, and transparent interactions between institutions and users within social networks.
Zoning strategies for human–robot collaborative picking
Authors: Azadeh Kaveh , Roy Debjit , de Koster René , Khalilabadi Seyyed Mahdi Ghorashi
Published: December 2023

During the last decade, several retailers have started to combine traditional store deliveries with the fulfillment of online sales to consumers from omni‐channel warehouses, which are increasingly being automated. A popular option is to use autonomous mobile robots (AMRs) in collaboration with human pickers. In this approach, the pickers' unproductive walking time can be reduced even further by zoning the storage system, where the pickers stay within their zone periphery and robots transport order totes between the zones. However, the robotic systems' optimal zoning strategy is unclear: few zones are particularly good for large store orders, while many zones are particularly good for small online orders. We study the effect of no zoning (NZ) and progressive zoning strategies on throughput capacity for balanced zone configurations with both fixed and dynamic order profiles. We first develop queuing network models to estimate pick throughput capacity that correspond to a given number of AMRs and picking with a fixed number of zones. We demonstrate that the throughput capacity is dependent on the chosen zoning strategy. However, the magnitude of the gains achieved is influenced by the size of the orders being processed. We also show that using a dynamic switching strategy has little effect on throughput performance. In contrast, a fixed switching strategy benefiting from changes in the order profile has the potential to increase throughput performance by 17% compared to the NZ strategy, albeit at a higher robot cost.
Pandemic‐induced De‐urbanization in Indonesia: Urban and Rural Impacts
Authors: Warr Peter , Yusuf Arief Anshory
Published: December 2023

In Indonesia, the negative health impact of COVID‐19 and the initial, direct loss of employment have been largest in urban, not rural areas. But the second‐round effects on labor markets have been very different. They have included a huge, empirically documented migration of newly unemployed urban workers from urban to rural areas, in urgent search of employment, food, and safety from the pandemic. We call this “de‐urbanization.” It placed the migrating workers in economic competition with the least skilled agricultural workers, expanding their numbers by almost 8%. By increasing the supply of unskilled farm labor, de‐urbanization depressed farm workers' real wages. Because the demand for farm labor is inelastic, the total wage income of these workers, aggregated across all unskilled farm laborers, declined. The households relying on this source of income are by far Indonesia's poorest. Similar outcomes may occur in other pandemic‐affected developing countries with large agricultural sectors.
Effect of tirzepatide on albuminuria levels and renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: A systematic review and multilevel meta‐analysis
Authors: Karakasis Paschalis , Patoulias Dimitrios , Fragakis Nikolaos , Klisic Aleksandra , Rizzo Manfredi
Published: December 2023

Aim

The present systematic review aimed to summarize the available evidence from published randomized controlled trials (RCTs) regarding the effect of tirzepatide on albuminuria levels and renal function in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Materials and Methods

Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane Library and Scopus were searched until 20 October 2023. Double‐independent study selection, data extraction and quality assessment were performed. Evidence was pooled with a three‐level mixed‐effects meta‐analysis.

Results

In total, 9533 participants from eight RCTs were analysed. All RCTs had a low risk of bias, according to the Cochrane Collaboration tool (RoB2). Tirzepatide was associated with a significantly greater reduction in urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio compared with controls [mean difference (MD) −26.9%; 95% confidence interval (CI) (−34.76, −19.04); p < .001; level of evidence (LoE) moderate]. This effect remained significant in participants with baseline urine albumin‐to‐creatinine ratio ≥30 mg/g [MD −41.42%; 95% CI (−54.38, −28.45); p < .001; LoE moderate]. Based on subgroup analysis, the comparative effect of tirzepatide was significant against placebo and the insulin regimen, whereas no difference was observed compared with semaglutide. The beneficial effect of tirzepatide on albuminuria levels remained significant across all investigated doses (5, 10 and 15 mg), showing a dose‐response relationship. A neutral effect was observed on the estimated glomerular filtration rate [MD 0.39 ml/min/1.73m2; 95% CI (−0.64, 1.42); p = .46; LoE moderate].

Conclusion

Our findings suggest that tirzepatide probably leads to a significant reduction in albuminuria across all administered doses, while its use is associated with a neutral effect on creatinine clearance as a measure of renal function.
Impact of the diagnosis of gestational diabetes on maternal physical activity after pregnancy
Authors: Mehmood Sadia , Ye Chang , Hanley Anthony J. , Connelly Philip W. , Sermer Mathew , Zinman Bernard , Retnakaran Ravi
Published: December 2023

Aim

The diagnosis of gestational diabetes (GDM) identifies women who are at future risk of developing type 2 diabetes. However, it is unclear if diagnosing GDM thus motivates women to increase physical activity after pregnancy or if this medicalization has the opposite effect of decreasing activity, possibly reflecting assumption of a sick role. We thus sought to evaluate the impact of diagnosing GDM on changes in maternal physical activity after pregnancy.

Methods

In this prospective cohort study, physical activity patterns were assessed by the Baecke questionnaire for the year before pregnancy and the first year postpartum in 405 white women comprising the following three gestational glucose tolerance groups: (a) those who did not have GDM (non‐GDM; n = 247), (b) women with undiagnosed GDM (n = 46) and (c) those diagnosed with GDM (n = 112).

Results

In the year before pregnancy, mean adjusted total physical activity progressively decreased from non‐GDM to undiagnosed GDM to diagnosed GDM (p = .067). Conversely, at 1 year postpartum, total physical activity was highest in those who had been diagnosed with GDM (p = .02). Compared with non‐GDM, diagnosed GDM predicted an increase in total physical activity from pre‐pregnancy to 1 year postpartum (t = 2.3, p = .02) whereas undiagnosed GDM predicted a concurrent decrease in leisure‐time activity (t = −2.74, p = .006). Accordingly, the mean adjusted increase in body mass index from pre‐pregnancy to 1 year postpartum was lowest in those with diagnosed GDM (0.26 ± 0.25 kg/m2), highest in undiagnosed GDM (1.23 ± 0.38 kg/m2) and intermediate in non‐GDM (0.89 ± 0.22 kg/m2) (overall p = .04).

Conclusion

Diagnosis of GDM leads to increased physical activity after pregnancy that may partially attenuate postpartum weight retention.
A meta‐analysis exploring associations between habitat degradation and Neotropical bat virus prevalence and seroprevalence
Authors: Heckley Alexis M. , Lock Lauren R. , Becker Daniel J.
Published: December 2023

Habitat degradation can increase zoonotic disease risks by altering infection dynamics in wildlife and increasing wildlife–human interactions. Bats are an important taxonomic group to consider these effects, because they harbour many relevant zoonotic viruses and have species‐ and context‐dependent responses to degradation that could affect zoonotic virus dynamics. Yet our understanding of the associations between habitat degradation and bat virus prevalence and seroprevalence are limited to a small number of studies, which often differ in the bats or viruses sampled, the study region, and methodology. To develop a broad understanding of the associations between bat viruses and habitat degradation, we conducted an initial phylogenetic meta‐analysis that combines published prevalence and seroprevalence (‘(sero)prevalence') with remote‐sensing habitat degradation data. Our dataset includes 588 unique records of (sero)prevalence across 16 studies, 64 bat species, and five virus families. We quantified the overall strength and direction of the relationship between habitat degradation and bat virus outcomes and tested how this relationship is moderated by the time between habitat degradation and bat sampling and by ecological traits of bat hosts while controlling for phylogenetic non‐independence among bat species. We found no effect of degradation on prevalence overall, although a weak effect may exist when forest loss occurs the year prior to bat sampling. In contrast, we detected a negative but weak association between degradation and seroprevalence overall that was strengthened when forest loss occurred the year prior to bat sampling. No bat traits that we investigated interacted with habitat degradation to impact virus outcomes, suggesting observed trends are independent of these traits. Biases in our initial dataset highlight opportunities for future work; prevalence was highly zero‐inflated, and seroprevalence was dominated by Desmodus rotundus and rabies virus. These findings and subsequent analyses will improve our understanding of how global change affects host–pathogen dynamics.
Effects of alpha‐tocopherol antioxidant on fracture strength and adhesion of endodontically treated teeth restored after dental bleaching
Authors: Marcomini Natália , Albaricci Maria Carolina da Costa , Costa Joatan Lucas de Sousa Gomes , Besegato João Felipe , Godoy Eduardo Fernández , Dantas Andréa Abi Rached , Kuga Milton Carlos
Published: December 2023

This study evaluated the effect of different concentrations of alpha‐tocopherol in gel form on fracture strength, hybrid layer formation, and microtensile bond strength of endodontically treated teeth bleached with 40% hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). Sixty bovine incisors were randomized into one of six groups (n = 10 incisors per group) defined by the interventions carried out after endodontic treatment. In the control group, no additional intervention was carried out, while all teeth in the five intervention groups were bleached with 40% H2O2 and subsequently treated with alpha‐tocopherol at concentrations of 15% (15AT), 20% (20AT), or 25% (25AT), with 10% sodium ascorbate (10SA), or with nothing (40HP). Fracture strength was evaluated in a mechanical testing machine, hybrid layer formation was assessed using scanning electron microscopy, and bond strength was determined using microtensile bond‐strength testing. Data were analyzed using Kruskal–Wallis and Dunn's tests. No statistically significant difference regarding fracture strength was observed among groups. Hybrid layer formation was greater in the 15AT group than in groups 40HP and 10SA. Teeth in groups 15AT, 20AT, and 25AT demonstrated higher bond strength than teeth in groups 40HP and 10SA. Alpha‐tocopherol, preferably at 15%, effectively reverses the deleterious effects, of bleaching, on hybrid layer formation and bond strength to dentin.
An improved hybrid model for cardiovascular disease detection using machine learning in IoT
Authors: Naseer Arslan , Khan Muhammad Muheet , Arif Fahim , Iqbal Waseem , Ahmad Awais , Ahmad Ijaz
Published: December 2023

Cardiovascular disease (CVD) believes to be a major cause of transience and indisposition worldwide. Early diagnosis and timely intervention are critical in preventing the progression of CVD and improving patient outcomes. Machine learning (ML) algorithms have emerged as powerful tools in CVD recognition, with the potential to assist physicians in making accurate and efficient diagnoses. This research paper explores the combination of multiple ML algorithms for CVD recognition, utilizing diverse datasets such as the Cleveland, Hungarian, Switzerland, statlog, and VA Long Beach datasets. Additionally, a CVD dataset comprising 12 attributes and 70,000 records is employed, demonstrating improved results through the proposed and trained model compared to previous prediction techniques for CVD. The performance of various ML techniques, including support vector machines (SVM), naive Bayes (NB), K‐nearest neighbour (KNN), random forest (RF), and logistic regression (LR), is evaluated and compared. The impact of feature selection and feature scaling on the models' performance is also examined. An ensemble bagging technique is applied which is being embedded with other classifiers. LR classifier embedded with bagging techniques proved to be our proposed model. The findings reveal that the proposed Hybrid Linear Regression Bagging Model (HLRBM) outperforms other models. Furthermore, the study highlights the significance of data preprocessing techniques, such as data normalization and class balancing, which significantly enhance the performance of all models. To this end, standard scalar and synthetic minority over‐sampling technique (SMOTE) are employed. The study emphasizes the importance of selecting an appropriate ensemble technique in conjunction with various ML algorithms and preprocessing methods for CVD prediction. Overall, the research provides valuable insights into the potential of ML in improving CVD risk assessment.
Deep neural network aided cohesive zone parameter identifications through die shear test in electronic packaging
Authors: Zhao Libo , Dai Yanwei , Wei Jiahui , Qin Fei
Published: December 2023

The die shear test is a feasible and conventional method to characterize the shear strength of die‐attaching layer materials in electronic packaging. A new method for determining cohesive zone model (CZM) parameters using deep neural networks (DNN) and die shear tests is proposed, different from classical fracture framework or lap shear test‐based methods. With the sintered nano‐silver die shear test, the results show that the bilinear CZM inversion results agree well with the experimental results. It is found that the DNN model has high accuracy in predicting and identifying the maximum shear traction strength τmax, separation displacement of the interface δf, and the interface stiffness k1 of CZM parameters for sintered nano‐silver adhesive layer through die shear test load versus displacement curves. The presented DNN‐aided inverse identifying method through the die shear test in this paper could provide an alternative and convenient method for extracting CZM parameters of various kinds of adhesive materials in electronic packaging.
Spindle cell rhabdomyosarcomas: With TFCP2 rearrangements, and novel EWSR1::ZBTB41 and PLOD2::RBM6 gene fusions. A study of five cases and review of the literature
Authors: Bradová Martina , Mosaieby Elaheh , Michal Michael , Vaněček Tomáš , Ing Stanislav Kormunda , Grossmann Petr , Koshyk Olena , Kinkor Zdeněk , Laciok Šimon , Nemcová Antónia , Straka Ľubomír , Farkas Mihaela , Michal Michal , Švajdler Marián
Published: December 2023

Aims

Spindle‐cell/sclerosing rhabdomyosarcomas (SS‐RMS) are clinically and genetically heterogeneous. They include three well‐defined molecular subtypes, of which those with EWSR1/FUS::TFCP2 rearrangements were described only recently. This study aimed to evaluate five new cases of SS‐RMS and to perform a clinicopathological and statistical analysis of all TFCP2‐rearranged SS‐RMS described in the English literature to more comprehensively characterize this rare tumour type.

Methods and Results

Cases were retrospectively selected and studied by immunohistochemistry, fluorescence in situ hybridization with EWSR1/FUS and TFCP2 break‐apart probes, next‐generation sequencing (Archer FusionPlex Sarcoma kit and TruSight RNA Pan‐Cancer Panel). The PubMed database was searched for relevant peer‐reviewed English reports. Five cases of SS‐RMS were found. Three cases were TFCP2 rearranged SS‐RMS, having FUSex6::TFCP2ex2 gene fusion in two cases and triple gene fusion EWSR1ex5::TFCP2ex2, VAX2ex2::ALKex2 and VAX2intron2::ALKex2 in one case. Two cases showed rhabdomyoblastic differentiation and spindle‐round cell/sclerosing morphology, but were characterized by novel genetic fusions including EWSR1ex8::ZBTB41ex7 and PLOD2ex8::RBM6ex7, respectively. In the statistical analysis of all published cases, CDKN2A or ALK alterations, the use of standard chemotherapy and age at presentation in the range of 18–24 years were negatively correlated to overall survival.

Conclusion

EWSR1/FUS::TFCP2‐rearranged SS‐RMS is a rare rhabdomyosarcoma subtype, affecting predominantly young adults with average age at presentation 34 years (median 29.5 years; age range 7–86 years), with a predilection for craniofacial bones, rapid clinical course with frequent bone and lung metastases, and poor prognosis (3‐year overall survival rate 28%).
Individualistic culture and firm default risk: Cross‐country evidence
Authors: Nadarajah Sivathaasan , Liu Benjamin , Atif Muhammad , Richardson Grant
Published: December 2023

This study examines the association between individualistic culture and firm default risk across countries. Using a sample of 15,225 firms across 32 countries over the 2005–2018 period (115,464 firm‐year observations), we find that firms based in countries with high levels of individualism are associated with greater default risk. Our results are robust to a battery of endogeneity and other robustness checks. In additional analyses, we show that risk‐taking behavior is a channel through which individualism impacts firm default risk. We also find that the effect of individualistic culture on firm default risk is weak in countries with stringent bankruptcy laws. Overall, the findings of this study can improve our understanding of the impact of major informal institutions, such as individualistic culture, on manager behavior, which has significant implications for firms operating in global financial markets.
Macroeconomics factor, institutional quality and export performance: Empirical evidence from Pakistan
Authors: Khan Abbas , Khan Muhammad Yar , Ahmad Manzoor
Published: December 2023

A country's institutional quality (INS) influences its export performance (EXP) and plays a vital role in international trade. The purpose of this study is to investigate the short‐run and long‐run relationships among these macroeconomic factors in Pakistan. Annual data from the World Development Indicators and the International Country Risk Guide were used from ‘1989 to 2019’. To investigate the short‐run and long‐run linkage between INS and EXP, the non‐linear auto‐regressive distributed lag and error correction model are used after incorporating structural breaks. Additionally, the macroeconomic explanatory variables used are the exchange rate (ER), human capital (HC), gross domestic product (GDP) and foreign direct investment (FDI). In the long run, INS, HC, GDP and FDI have a significant positive relationship with EXP, whereas the ER has a significant negative relationship. In the short run, INS is significant and positive, whereas HC, GDP and FDI with EXP are modest but significantly positive. To improve export performance in Pakistan, strategic reform of governmental institutions is required.
Impact of preoperative chemotherapy on cutaneous wound healing in lung cancer patients: A meta‐analysis
Authors: Zhao Jialai , Cui Hanwen , Qu Mingyue , Xu Zigeng , Zhang Yiling , Ma Chenguang
Published: December 2023

As part of their treatment, lung cancer patients frequently endure thoracic oncological surgery, with preoperative chemotherapeutic interventions being the common approach. However, the potential impact of these chemotherapeutic regimens on cutaneous wound healing outcomes following surgery remains the topic of considerable clinical interest. This meta‐analysis sought to evaluate comprehensively the effect of preoperative chemotherapeutic regimens on cutaneous wound healing in lung cancer patients following thoracic oncological surgery. Extensive literature searches were conducted using the leading databases PubMed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Scopus. Eight studies out of 1342 identified satisfied the inclusion criteria. Consideration was given to both randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and observational studies. Data pertaining to study characteristics, patient demographics, chemotherapeutic regimens and wound healing outcomes were extracted with great attention to detail. The examination of these varied studies provided insights into the fluctuations in rates of recovery following treatment, incidences of wound infections and frequencies of surgical complications. The research studies provided odds ratios for recovery that varied significantly in magnitude from 0.95 to 0.38, with regard to the probability of wound infection. Furthermore, a range of odds ratios for complications were disclosed, with certain odds ratios displaying narrow confidence intervals. The complexity of the effect of preoperative chemotherapy on wound closure subsequent to thoracic oncologic surgery is highlighted by our findings. The results underscore the need for individualized treatment strategies for lung cancer patients undergoing surgical procedures that strike a balance between patient safety and optimal clinical outcomes.
Efficacy and safety of tirbanibulin 1% ointment in actinic keratoses: Data from two phase‐III trials and the real‐life clinical practice presented at the European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology Congress 2022
Authors: Pellacani G. , Schlesinger T. , Bhatia N. , Berman B. , Lebwohl M. , Cohen J. L. , Patel G. K. , Kunstfeld R. , Hadshiew I. , Lear J. T.
Published: December 2023

Background

The 31st European Academy of Dermatology and Venereology (EADV) Congress took place between 7th and 10th of September 2022 in Milan, Italy.

Objectives

We report presented clinical data on the efficacy/effectiveness, safety and tolerability of tirbanibulin 1% ointment that has recently been licensed for actinic keratosis (AK) of the face or scalp in adults.

Methods

Summary of presentations given at the EADV Congress.

Results

Prof. Pellacani presented two post hoc analyses from two phase‐III trials with AK patients (NCT03285477 [N = 351] and NCT03285490 [N = 351]): A descriptive analysis of medical history, concomitant medications, and safety results confirming a favourable profile for tirbanibulin showing that number of baseline AK lesions was not correlated to severity of local skin reactions. The latter analysis showed that cases of tirbanibulin application site pain or pruritus were few, and most were found to be mild. Prof. Kunstfeld reported six real‐life clinical cases in Austria showing good tirbanibulin effectiveness, safety and tolerability for the treatment of new or recurring AK lesions. Results demonstrated that after 2‐ to 4‐month follow‐up, tirbanibulin was well tolerated and effective in AK patients. Presentations by Dr. Patel confirmed good outcomes and tolerability of tirbanibulin in Olsen grade 1–2 AK (N = 12) and porokeratosis patients (N = 4) treated once daily for 5 consecutive days in the United Kingdom. Furthermore, real‐world experience in solid organ transplant recipients (N = 2) demonstrated effectiveness of tirbanibulin in skin field cancerization treatment. A symposium sponsored by Almirall was conducted during the congress in which Dr. Hadshiew and Dr. Lear brought together their clinical experience in Germany and the United Kingdom respectively. Interesting clinical cases of 5 consecutive days of tirbanibulin treatment compared to other treatments were discussed with attendees, as well as current treatment needs of AK patients.

Conclusions

This article provides an overview of presentations and symposium discussions, summarizing key phase‐III results and real‐life clinical experience with tirbanibulin shared by dermatologists across Europe.
Broadening and strengthening the health providers caring for patients with chronic hepatitis C may improve continuity of care
Authors: Clark Paul J , Valery Patricia C , Strasser Simone I , Weltman Martin , Thompson Alex , Levy Miriam T , Leggett Barbara , Zekry Amany , Rong Julian , Sinclair Marie , George Jacob , Bollipo Steven , McGarity Bruce , Sievert William , MacQuillan Gerry , Tse Edmund , Nicoll Amanda , Wade Amanda , Cheng Wendy , Roberts Stuart K
Published: December 2023

Background

Direct‐acting antiviral (DAA) therapies for hepatitis C virus infection (HCV) lead to excellent rates of sustained virological response (SVR). However, loss to follow‐up (LTFU) for SVR testing remains a challenge. We examine factors associated with LTFU in a real‐world setting.

Methods

Adults who received DAA therapy for HCV in one of 26 centers across Australia during 2016–2021 were followed up for 2 years. Data sources included the patient medical records and the national Pharmaceutical and Medicare Benefits Schemes. Linkage to Medicare provided utilization data of other health‐care providers and re‐treatment with DAAs. LTFU was defined as no clinic attendance for SVR testing by at least 52 weeks after DAA treatment commencement. Multivariable logistic regression assessed factors associated with LTFU.

Results

In 3619 patients included in the study (mean age 52.0 years; SD = 10.5), 33.6% had cirrhosis (69.4% Child–Pugh class B/C), and 19.3% had HCV treatment prior to the DAA era. Five hundred and fifteen patients (14.2%) were LTFU. HCV treatment initiation in 2017 or later (adj‐OR = 2.82, 95% confidence interval [CI] 2.25–3.54), younger age (adj‐OR = 2.63, 95% CI 1.80–3.84), Indigenous identification (adj‐OR = 1.99, 95% CI 1.23–3.21), current injection drug use or opioid replacement therapy (adj‐OR = 1.66, 95% CI 1.25–2.20), depression treatment (adj‐OR = 1.49, 95% CI 1.17–1.90), and male gender (adj‐OR = 1.31, 95% CI 1.04–1.66) were associated with LTFU.

Conclusions

These findings stress the importance of strengthening the network of providers caring for patients with HCV. In particular, services targeting vulnerable groups of patients such as First Nations Peoples, youth health, and those with addiction and mental health disorders should be equipped to treat HCV.
Effectiveness and safety of baricitinib in patients with moderate‐to‐severe refractory alopecia areata in real world: An open‐label, single‐center study
Authors: Bi Lingbo , Wang Chaofan , Du Yimei , Su Tong , Zhao Min , Lin Xuewen , Fan Weixin , Sun Weiling
Published: December 2023

Purpose

Baricitinib is a small‐molecular drug that selectively inhibits the Janus Kinase (JAK) 1 and 2. However, it showed various efficiency and safety in treating moderate‐to‐severe alopecia areata (AA). This study was to describe the real‐world effectiveness of baricitinib in treating moderate‐to‐severe refractory AA.

Methods

Patients who were affected by moderate‐to‐severe AA and reported no shrinkage in the alopecia area after 6 months of conventional treatment were enrolled in the retrospective study. The patients were treated with baricitinib orally for at least 24 weeks. The severity of alopecia was evaluated at the end of 4, 12, and 24 weeks of treatment.

Results

The 32 patients included 23 females and nine males, with a median duration of AA of 14.5 months. Among them, 28 patients received baricitinib 2 mg per day for 24 weeks while the other four patients increased the daily dose from 2 to 4 mg after the first 12 weeks due to the unobvious hair restoration. SALT value showed a significant decrease from baseline at week 12 and 24 (64.45 [44.68–100.00] vs. 26.80 [13.40–62.32], p < 0.0001 and 64.45 [44.68–100] vs. 9.40 [4.85–34.95], p < 0.0001). After 24 weeks of treatment, 50% of patients had an improvement of ≥2 points in IGA scores from the baseline, and IGA scores of 68.75% of patients were less than 2.

Conclusion

This 24‐week research showed that baricitinib had favorable clinical efficacy and safety in treating moderate‐to‐severe AA, which is worthy of attention and expectation.
A parcellation‐based connectomic model of hemispatial neglect
Authors: Ahsan Syed A. , Dadario Nicholas B. , Dhaliwal Jasneet , Briggs Robert G. , Osipowicz Karol , Ahsan Syed M. , Chendeb Kassem , Conner Andrew K. , O'Neal Christen M. , Glenn Chad A. , Sughrue Michael E.
Published: December 2023

Background and Purpose

Hemispatial neglect is characterized by a reduced awareness to stimuli on the contralateral side. Current literature suggesting that damage to the right parietal lobe and attention networks may cause hemispatial neglect is conflicting and can be improved by investigating a connectomic model of the “neglect system” and the anatomical specificity of regions involved in it.

Methods

A meta‐analysis of voxel‐based morphometry magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of hemispatial neglect was used to identify regions associated with neglect. We applied parcellation schemes to these regions and performed diffusion spectrum imaging (DSI) tractography to determine their connectivity. By overlaying neglect areas and maps of the attention networks, we studied the relationship between them.

Results

The meta‐analysis generated a list of 13 right hemisphere parcellations. These 13 neglect‐related parcellations were predominantly linked by the superior longitudinal fasciculus (SLF) throughout a fronto‐parietal‐temporal network. We found that the dorsal and ventral attention networks showed partial overlap with the neglect system and included various other higher‐order networks.

Conclusions

We provide an anatomically specific connectomic model of the neurobehavioral substrates underlying hemispatial neglect. Our model suggests a fronto‐parietal‐temporal network linked via the SLF supports the functions impaired in neglect and implicates various higher‐order networks which are not limited to the attention networks.
Count network autoregression
Authors: Armillotta Mirko , Fokianos Konstantinos
Published: December 2023

We consider network autoregressive models for count data with a non‐random neighborhood structure. The main methodological contribution is the development of conditions that guarantee stability and valid statistical inference for such models. We consider both cases of fixed and increasing network dimension and we show that quasi‐likelihood inference provides consistent and asymptotically normally distributed estimators. The article is complemented by simulation results and a data example.
Statistical inference for GQARCH‐Itô‐jumps model based on the realized range volatility
Authors: Fu Jin Yu , Lin Jin Guan , Liu Guangying , Hao Hong Xia
Published: December 2023

This article introduces a novel approach that unifies two types of models: one is the continuous‐time jump‐diffusion used to model high‐frequency market financial data, and the other is discrete‐time GQARCH for modeling low‐frequency financial data by embedding the discrete GQARCH structure with jumps in the instantaneous volatility process. This model is named GQARCH‐Itô‐Jumps model. Quasi‐likelihood functions for the low‐frequency GQARCH structure are developed for the parametric estimations. In the quasi‐likelihood functions, for high‐frequency financial data, the realized range‐based estimations are adopted as the ‘observations’, rather than the realized return‐based volatility estimators which entail the loss of intra‐day information of the price movements. Meanwhile, the asymptotic properties are mainly established for the proposed estimators in the case of finite activity jumps. Moreover, simulation studies and some financial data are implemented to check the finite sample performance of the proposed methodology.
Soil water availability strongly drives the differentiation of acquisitive and conservative strategies for coexisting woody species in a Chinese subtropical evergreen forest
Authors: Li Shuqiong , Chatterjee Madhuparna , Yao Zhiliang , Wen Handong , Cao Min , Chen Yajun , Lin Luxiang
Published: December 2023

Questions

Trait–environment relationships hold great promise for elucidating the mechanisms that drive community assembly. We asked to what extent does functional trait coordination underlie the differentiation of acquisitive–conservative strategies along environmental gradients? Also, to what extent does soil water availability determine trait combinations and subsequently shape microhabitat preferences for species with distinct ecological strategies?

Location

Yunnan Province, southwest China.

Methods

Pearson correlation and trait network analyses were used to quantify trait associations. A combined RLQ–fourth‐corner analysis and a spatial autoregressive error model were employed to examine trait–environment relationships and explain species distribution along environmental gradients.

Results

Leaf and stem traits were tightly coordinated along the first RLQ axis. Herein, traits representing construction cost exhibited trade‐offs against traits representing resource acquisition rate, underlying an acquisitive–conservative strategy differentiation along the environmental gradients. Significant overall and bivariate trait–environment relationships were found. In addition, the topographic wetness index contributed substantially to the environmental variation, and significantly influenced most traits alone. These results supported the hypothesis that soil water availability was the key environmental factor in selecting trait combinations and driving the differentiation of acquisitive and conservative strategies for coexisting species compared with other environmental factors. Finally, deciduous and a proportion of the evergreen species were acquisitive, whereas the remaining evergreen species were conservative, preferring wetter and drier microhabitats, respectively.

Conclusions

Our findings indicate that soil water availability plays a central role in shaping both the trait combinations and microhabitat preferences of species with different ecological strategies rather than different leaf habits. These findings also highlight the fundamental significance of functional traits in facilitating the differentiation between acquisitive and conservative strategies along environmental gradients.
Functional‐trait contrasts between terrestrial and epiphytic ferns in Taiwanese subtropical cloud forests
Authors: Helsen Kenny , Viana Jéssica Lira , Lin Tsung‐Yi , Kuo Li‐Yaung , Zelený David
Published: December 2023

Aims

Extensive research on the leaf economics spectrum (LES) has improved insights into functional traits and their environmental interactions. Several studies explored trait correlations in angiosperms and ferns, expanding their ecological significance. However, knowledge gaps persist, especially concerning East‐Asian ferns and the differences between terrestrial and epiphytic ferns in LES.

Location

East Asia, Northern Taiwan.

Methods

Data were collected along an elevation gradient (870–2130 m a.s.l.) in northern Taiwan, where we measured nine leaf traits for 47 terrestrial and 34 epiphytic ferns across 59 vegetation plots within subtropical forests. We explored trait–trait and trait–environment relationships at the species and community levels for both terrestrial and epiphytic ferns while accounting for phylogenetic constraints.

Results

Epiphytes had lower specific leaf area (SLA) and leaf nitrogen, greater trait variance and trait space than terrestrial species, suggesting they are ecologically distinct. These differences observed at species and community levels appear to emerge because epiphytes undergo stronger water and nutritional stress along the elevation gradient. In addition, three groups were detected within epiphytes reflecting their strategies for water and nutrient stress adaptation. Trait correlations largely resembled angiosperm LES patterns but were less apparent in epiphytes. SLA and leaf dry matter content (LDMC) were consistently correlated to water stress traits, which might contribute to the restricted LES trait range of both life forms in our study. Traits exhibited a strong phylogenetic signal, with marked differences between SLA and LDMC correlations in phylogenetics‐corrected vs raw data. Trait–environment relationships were similar for several water stress‐related traits across both species groups, but stronger relationships were more evident in terrestrial ferns.

Conclusions

Trait patterns are not entirely equivalent for epiphytic and terrestrial species or communities and should not be extrapolated across life forms. Distantly related species with various evolutionary backgrounds could dismantle LES patterns at the species level. Strong phylogenetic constraints may influence the trait–environment response of epiphytic species.
Ongoing convergent evolution of a selfing syndrome threatens plant–pollinator interactions
Authors: Acoca‐Pidolle Samson , Gauthier Perrine , Devresse Louis , Deverge Merdrignac Antoine , Pons Virginie , Cheptou Pierre‐Olivier
Published: December 2023

Plant–pollinator interactions evolved early in the angiosperm radiation. Ongoing environmental changes are however leading to pollinator declines that may cause pollen limitation to plants and change the evolutionary pressures shaping plant mating systems.

We used resurrection ecology methodology to contrast ancestors and contemporary descendants in four natural populations of the field pansy (Viola arvensis) in the Paris region (France), a depauperate pollinator environment. We combine population genetics analysis, phenotypic measurements and behavioural tests on a common garden experiment.

Population genetics analysis reveals 27% increase in realized selfing rates in the field during this period. We documented trait evolution towards smaller and less conspicuous corollas, reduced nectar production and reduced attractiveness to bumblebees, with these trait shifts convergent across the four studied populations.

We demonstrate the rapid evolution of a selfing syndrome in the four studied plant populations, associated with a weakening of the interactions with pollinators over the last three decades. This study demonstrates that plant mating systems can evolve rapidly in natural populations in the face of ongoing environmental changes. The rapid evolution towards a selfing syndrome may in turn further accelerate pollinator declines, in an eco‐evolutionary feedback loop with broader implications to natural ecosystems.
Immigrants as natural supporters? Cross‐nation analysis with a multilevel mixed‐effects model
Authors: Sun Skylar Biyang , Zhao Xiaohang , Liu Mengran , Qiu Xinru
Published: December 2023

Research often finds that immigrants tend to have a different profile from locals regarding confidence in the government. Both the origin's and destination's institutional features can influence immigrants' confidence. Scholars have relied on three major models—the cultural‐persistence model, the performance model, and the dual‐reference model—to explain the possible mechanisms behind this difference. Our research builds on previous studies by expanding the country coverage to explore the heterogeneity in immigrants' confidence. Specifically, we focus on how the level of democracy as an institutional factor is associated with immigrants' confidence. Using integrated datasets from the World Value Survey (WVS, 2017–21) and the European Value Study (EVS, 2017–20) and employing a multilevel model, we confirm that immigrants, on average, tend to have a higher level of confidence in the government. However, their confidence is contingent on institutional performance. In countries with high levels of democracy, the disparity in confidence between immigrants and locals becomes more pronounced. Moreover, the institutional performance in the origin country also influences immigrants' confidence in the government of the destination country. Immigrants constantly compare the institutional performance between the two places. Compared to immigrants from countries with a high level of democracy, immigrants from countries with a lower level of democracy tend to have higher confidence in the destination government. Our results provide support for all three major theoretical models.
Intergenerational trauma and long‐term lung dysfunction: Early life exposures and pulmonary function in Indigenous Australian adults
Authors: Kovesi Thomas
Published: December 2023

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Rigorous estimates on mechanical balance laws in the Boussinesq–Peregrine equations
Authors: Khorbatly Bashar , Kalisch Henrik
Published: December 2023

It is shown that the Boussinesq–Peregrine system, which describes long waves of small amplitude at the surface of an inviscid fluid with variable depth, admits a number of approximate conservation equations. Notably, this paper provides accurate estimations for the approximate conservation of the mechanical balance laws associated with mass, momentum, and energy. These precise estimates offer valuable insights into the behavior and dynamics of the system, shedding light on the conservation principles governing the wave motion.
Rayleigh–Bénard Convection in a Gas-Saturated Porous Medium at Low Darcy Numbers
Authors: Bavandla K. C. , Srinivasan V.
Published: December 2023

Natural convection heat transfer is measured in a horizontal enclosure filled with a gas-saturated porous medium composed of glass spheres. The height-to-pore scale ratio (H/d) is in the range of 25–150, yielding a low Darcy number (5.87×10−8≤Da≤1.94×10−6), which satisfies the porous medium assumption more rigorously. The maximum values attained for the modified Rayleigh numbers (Ra* up to 6150) and fluid Rayleigh numbers (Raf up to 2.5×1011) at these low Darcy numbers enable access to both the Darcy and Forchheimer flow regimes. The heat transfer relationship just beyond the onset of convection is in good accordance with theory and previous experiments, varying linearly with the modified Rayleigh number. For higher modified Rayleigh numbers, the data diverge as a function of the Darcy number, depending on both Da and the modified Rayleigh number. Transition points between the Darcy and Forchheimer regimes are estimated. At the highest fluid Rayleigh numbers, the data with the largest pore scales show some evidence of moving toward a regime similar to that of Rayleigh–Bénard convection, where boundary layer and plume length scales are small enough that the details of the porous medium cease to matter. It is argued that even in this regime, the boundary layer length scales are not diminished enough to make the contribution of Brinkman drag significant.