bluuebunny/crossref_metadata_2025 huggingface dataset:
Trends in diabetic ketoacidosis‐ and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state‐related mortality during theCOVID‐19 pandemic in the United States: A population‐based study
Authors: He Xinyuan , Huang Amy Huaishiuan , Lv Fan , Gao Xu , Guo Yuxin , Liu Yishan , Hu Xiaoqin , Xie Jingyi , Gao Ning , Jiao Yang , Wang Yuan , Zu Jian , Zhang Lei , Ji Fanpu , Yeo Yee Hui
Published: August 2024

Background

During the pandemic, a notable increase in diabetic ketoacidosis (DKA) and hyperosmolar hyperglycemic state (HHS), conditions that warrant emergent management, was reported. We aimed to investigate the trend of DKA‐ and HHS‐related mortality and excess deaths during the pandemic.

Methods

Annual age‐standardized mortality rates related to DKA and HHS between 2006 and 2021 were estimated using a nationwide database. Forecast analyses based on prepandemic data were conducted to predict the mortality rates during the pandemic. Excess mortality rates were calculated by comparing the observed versus predicted mortality rates. Subgroup analyses of demographic factors were performed.

Results

There were 71 575 DKA‐related deaths and 8618 HHS‐related deaths documented during 2006–2021. DKA, which showed a steady increase before the pandemic, demonstrated a pronounced excess mortality during the pandemic (36.91% in 2020 and 46.58% in 2021) with an annual percentage change (APC) of 29.4% (95% CI: 16.0%–44.0%). Although HHS incurred a downward trend during 2006–2019, the excess deaths in 2020 (40.60%) and 2021 (56.64%) were profound. Pediatric decedents exhibited the highest excess mortality. More than half of the excess deaths due to DKA were coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) related (51.3% in 2020 and 63.4% in 2021), whereas only less than a quarter of excess deaths due to HHS were COVID‐19 related. A widened racial/ethnic disparity was observed, and females exhibited higher excess mortality than males.

Conclusions

The DKA‐ and HHS‐related excess mortality during the pandemic and relevant disparities emphasize the urgent need for targeted strategies to mitigate the escalated risk in these populations during public health crises.

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Probiotic treatment with viable α‐galactosylceramide‐producing Bacteroides fragilis reduces diabetes incidence in female nonobese diabetic mice
Authors: Hansen Camilla H. F. , Jozipovic Danica , Zachariassen Line F. , Nielsen Dennis S. , Hansen Axel K. , Buschard Karsten
Published: August 2024

Background

We aimed to investigate whether alpha‐galactosylceramide (α‐GalCer)‐producing Bacteroides fragilis could induce natural killer T (NKT) cells in nonobese diabetic (NOD) mice and reduce their diabetes incidence.

Methods

Five‐week‐old female NOD mice were treated orally with B. fragilis, and islet pathology and diabetes onset were monitored. Immune responses were analyzed by flow cytometry and multiplex technology. Effects of ultraviolet (UV)‐killed α‐GalCer‐producing B. fragilis and their culture medium on invariant NKT (iNKT) cells were tested ex vivo on murine splenocytes, and the immunosuppressive capacity of splenocytes from B. fragilis‐treated NOD mice were tested by adoptive transfer to nonobese diabetic/severe combined immunodeficiency (NOD/SCID) mice.

Results

B. fragilis reduced the diabetes incidence from 69% to 33% and the percent of islets with insulitis from 40% to 7%, which doubled the serum insulin level compared with the vehicle‐treated control mice. Furthermore, the early treatment reduced proinflammatory mediators in the serum, whereas the proportion of CD4+ NKT cell population was increased by 33%. B. fragilis growth media stimulated iNKT cells and anti‐inflammatory M2 macrophages ex vivo in contrast to UV‐killed bacteria, which had no effect, strongly indicating an α‐GalCer‐mediated effect. Adoptive transfer of splenocytes from B. fragilis‐treated NOD mice induced a similar diabetes incidence as splenocytes from untreated NOD mice.

Conclusions

B. fragilis induced iNKT cells and M2 macrophages and reduced type 1 diabetes in NOD mice. The protective effect seemed to be more centered on gut–pancreas interactions rather than a systemic immunosuppression. B. fragilis should be considered for probiotic use in individuals at risk of developing type 1 diabetes.

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Discovery of a new bacterium, Microbacterium betulae sp. nov., in birch wood associated with hypersensitivity pneumonitis in woodworkers
Authors: Paściak Mariola , Pawlik Krzysztof J. , Martynowski Dariusz , Łaczmański Łukasz , Ciekot Jarosław , Szponar Bogumiła , Wójcik‐Fatla Angelina , Mackiewicz Barbara , Farian Ewelina , Cholewa Grażyna , Cholewa Alicja , Dutkiewicz Jacek
Published: August 2024

A Gram‐positive, aerobic, rod‐shaped mesophilic bacterium was isolated from birch wood, referred to as the AB strain. Allergological tests suggest that this strain may cause allergic alveolitis in sawmill workers. Employing a polyphasic taxonomic approach, the AB strain's 16S rRNA gene sequence showed high similarity to Microbacterium barkeri and M. oryzae, with 97.25% and 96.91%, respectively, a finding supported by rpoB and gyrB sequence analysis. Further genome sequence comparison with the closely related M. barkeri type strain indicated a digital DNA–DNA hybridization value of 25.5% and an average nucleotide identity of 82.52%. The AB strain's cell wall peptidoglycan contains ornithine, and its polar lipids comprise diphosphatidylglycerol, phosphatidylglycerol, and unidentified glycolipids. Its major fatty acids include anteiso C15:0, anteiso C17:0, and iso C16:0, while MK‐10 is its predominant respiratory quinone. Comprehensive analysis through 16S rRNA, whole‐genome sequencing, phenotyping, chemotaxonomy, and MALDI‐TOF MS profiling indicates that the AB strain represents a new species within the Microbacterium genus. It has been proposed to name this species Microbacterium betulae sp. nov., with ABT (PCM 3040T = CEST 30706T) designated as the type strain.
Financial Resilience Perspective onCOVID‐19 Business Support: A Comparative Study of Four European Countries
Authors: van Helden Jan , Budding Tjerk , Gomes Patricia , Hesse Mario , Smolders Carine
Published: August 2024

This paper investigates COVID‐19 business support in Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, and Portugal. Simple and generally applicable programs for wage and fixed‐cost support are predominant. From a financial resilience perspective, support programs can be seen as coping responses to the crisis through attempts at bouncing back to the situation before the virus outbreak. This also holds for the dynamics of the support during the pandemic, where governments balanced the desire to return to normal economic circumstances that called for stricter access conditions, and the need to provide support for a longer‐lasting pandemic that required the opposite. Bouncing‐forward responses, such as setting up new post‐shock configurations, were largely absent, which is likely to be due to the need for quick and adequate responses that gave limited time for critical reflection. The impacts of business support on the number of bankruptcies and employment figures were positive. Unemployment and fiscal impacts diverged among the four countries, and it is suggested that governmental structure was influential: unitary states performed better than federal states. The paper also reflects on the lessons learned from COVID‐19 for support in future crises, like the recent energy crisis, and points to an increasing attention to information‐sharing within the government system, but also notes limited progress in critical thinking.
Wide‐ranging genetic variation in sensitivity to rapamycin in Drosophila melanogaster
Authors: Harrison Benjamin R. , Lee Mitchell B. , Zhang Shufan , Young Bill , Han Kenneth , Sukomol Jiranut , Paus Vanessa , Tran Sarina , Kim David , Fitchett Hannah , Pan Yu‐Chen , Tesfaye Philmon , Johnson Alia W. , Zhao Xiaqing , Djukovic Danijel , Raftery Daniel , Promislow Daniel E. L.
Published: August 2024

The progress made in aging research using laboratory organisms is undeniable. Yet, with few exceptions, these studies are conducted in a limited number of isogenic strains. The path from laboratory discoveries to treatment in human populations is complicated by the reality of genetic variation in nature. To model the effect of genetic variation on the action of the drug rapamycin, here we use the growth of Drosophila melanogaster larvae. We screened 140 lines from the Drosophila Genetic References Panel for the extent of developmental delay and found wide‐ranging variation in their response, from lines whose development time is nearly doubled by rapamycin, to those that appear to be completely resistant. Sensitivity did not associate with any single genetic marker, nor with any gene. However, variation at the level of genetic pathways was associated with rapamycin sensitivity and might provide insight into sensitivity. In contrast to the genetic analysis, metabolomic analysis showed a strong response of the metabolome to rapamycin, but only among the sensitive larvae. In particular, we found that rapamycin altered levels of amino acids in sensitive larvae, and in a direction strikingly similar to the metabolome response to nutrient deprivation. This work demonstrates the need to evaluate interventions across genetic backgrounds and highlights the potential of omic approaches to reveal biomarkers of drug efficacy and to shed light on mechanisms underlying sensitivity to interventions aimed at increasing lifespan.
Accelerated forest restoration may benefit spotted owls through landscape complementation
Authors: Jones G. M. , Stanley C. K. , Peery M. Z. , Maxwell C. , Wilson K. N.
Published: August 2024

Animals often rely on the presence of multiple, spatially segregated cover types to satisfy their ecological needs; the juxtaposition of these cover types is called landscape complementation. In ecosystems that have been homogenized because of human land use, such as fire‐suppressed forests, management activities have the potential to increase the heterogeneity of cover types and, therefore, landscape complementation. We modeled changes to California spotted owl (Strix occidentalis occidentalis) nesting/roosting habitat, foraging habitat and habitat co‐occurrence (i.e. landscape complementation) within a 971 245‐ha forest landscape restoration project area, the Tahoe‐Central Sierra Initiative (TCSI) landscape, through mid‐century as a function of fuels reduction, fire and climate change. Compared to a minimal management scenario, accelerated management within the TCSI landscape was predicted to increase the number of potential 400‐ha spotted owl territories containing a high degree of landscape complementation (defined as containing >20% nest/roost habitat and >20% foraging habitat) at lower elevations (<5000 ft.) by an average of 90 to 118 territories by 2050, depending on the climate scenario examined. At higher elevations (>5000 ft.), potential benefits of treatments to spotted owl nesting/roosting and foraging habitat were less evident, but accelerated management did not result in habitat loss. Our results suggest that accelerated fuels reduction and forest restoration treatments within this large landscape are expected to benefit spotted owls by improving the spatial juxtaposition of nesting/roosting and foraging cover types by 2050 compared to a minimal management scenario. Fuels reduction and forest restoration in this landscape thus can both increase the resilience of forest ecosystems to disturbances as well as benefit the habitat of a sensitive old‐forest species.
What is the prevalence of anabolic‐androgenic steroid use among women? A systematic review
Authors: Piatkowski Timothy , Whiteside Bianca , Robertson Jonathan , Henning April , Lau Eric H. Y. , Dunn Matthew
Published: August 2024

Background and aim

Evidence suggests there has been an increase in anabolic‐androgenic steroid (AAS) use among women, driven by the evolving landscape of women's participation in sport. However, the extent of use is unknown. This systematic review aimed to estimate the prevalence of women's AAS use.

Method

We conducted a systematic review of peer‐reviewed articles in English, focusing on AAS use among women aged 18 and above. We excluded grey literature and studies that measured doping through some form of analysis (e.g. urine or hair). Searched databases were MEDLINE, CINAHL, PsycINFO, SocINDEX, SPORTDiscus, Embase and Cochrane Library. Titles and abstracts for all articles were screened, followed by full‐text assessment and data extraction of included articles by multiple authors for accuracy. The pooled prevalence of lifetime use was determined using a random effects model and the risk of bias was assessed using the Joanna Briggs Institute Prevalence Critical Appraisal Tool.

Results

Based on 18 studies, participant numbers averaged 669 per study (median = 189; range = 16 to 7051). The overall pooled AAS use prevalence was 4% (95% confidence interval [CI] = 2–9%) with high heterogeneity overall (I2 = 95%). In the subgroup analysis, AAS use prevalence was 16.8% (95% CI = 11.0–24.9%, I2 = 44%) in the bodybuilder subgroup, 4.4% (95% CI = 1.2–15.1%, I2 = 93%) in athletes/recreational gym user subgroup, and 1.4% (95% CI = 0.4–4.7%, I2 = 96%) in the general population/other subgroup. Meta‐regression demonstrated significantly higher AAS use in bodybuilders compared with the other subgroup (P = 0.011).

Conclusion

Anabolic‐androgenic steroid use among women appears to be substantially higher among bodybuilders and athletes/recreational gym users than the general female population.
A genome‐wide association study reveals candidate genes and regulatory regions associated with birth weight in pigs
Authors: Deng Dadong , Wang Hongtao , Han Kun , Tang Zhenshuang , Li Xiaoping , Liu Xiangdong , Liu Xiaolei , Li Xinyun , Yu Mei
Published: August 2024

Piglet birth weight is associated with preweaning survival, and its related traits have been included in the breeding program. Thus, understanding its genetic basis is essential. This study identified four birth weight‐associated genomic regions on chromosomes 2, 4, 5, and 7 through genome‐wide association study analysis in 7286 pigs from three different pure breeds using the FarmCPU model. The genetic and phenotypic variance explained by the four candidate regions is 8.42% and 1.85%, respectively. Twenty‐eight candidate genes were detected, of which APPL2, TGFBI, MACROH2A1, and SEC22B have been reported to affect body growth or development. In addition, 21 H3K4me3‐enriched peaks overlapped with the birth weight‐associated genomic regions were identified by integrating the genome‐wide association study results with our previous ChIP‐seq and RNA‐seq data generated in the pig placenta, a fetal organ relevant to birth weight, and three of the regulatory regions influence TGFBI, MACROH2A1, and SEC22B expression. This study provides new insights into understanding the mechanisms for birth weight. Further investigating the variants in the regulatory regions would help identify the functional variants for birth weight in pigs.
The effects of testicular stromal stem cells on surgically injured testicular tissue in rats
Authors: Altinbasak Faruk , Unal Murat Serkant , Tan Semih , Yildirim Gul
Published: August 2024

This study investigated the effects of transplanted testicular stromal stem cells (tSSCs) on surgically damaged testis tissue. Ten‐week‐old male Wistar albino rats were divided into three groups: control (n = 6), damage (DG) (n = 6) and testicular stromal stem cell (TSSC) (n = 6) groups. Surgically induced damage was inflicted on the left testes of both the DG and TSSC groups, with no intervention on the right testes. In the TSSC group, damaged testes were treated with transplanted tSSCs, followed by orchiectomy after 15 days. Testes tissues were stained with haematoxylin–eosin (H&E), and recovery rates of functional structures were assessed by modified Johnsen scoring. The effects of tSSCs on testicular tissue were demonstrated by immunohistochemistry using BAX, BCL‐2 and caspase 3. Serum testosterone levels were analysed using the enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Surgical damage caused germ cell degeneration in some seminiferous tubules and a decrease in interstitial areas. With tSSC treatment, improvements in testicular architecture were identified through spermatogenesis in the seminiferous tubules and normal histological structures in the interstitial areas. Correspondingly, in the modified Johnsen score, the DG group showed a significant difference compared to the other groups (p = 0.001). High expressions of BAX, BCL‐2 and caspase‐3 in the DG group revealed prominent features of apoptosis. With the injection of tSSCs, these expressions significantly normalized according to H score analysis (all p = 0.004). Although serum testosterone levels in the tSSC group were higher compared to the control and DG groups, this difference was not statistically significant (p = 0.119). This study suggests transplanting tSSCs could accelerate tissue healing after testicular sperm extraction (TESE) surgery for azoospermia patients, potentially paving the way for a new and important clinical treatment.
External costs of water pollution in the drinking water supply sector
Authors: Cullmann Astrid , Rechlitz Julia , Sundermann Greta , Wägner Nicole
Published: August 2024

Nitrate pollution from agricultural production is a major threat to water resources worldwide. This study quantifies the consequences of groundwater nitrate pollution for the drinking water supply sector by estimating the effect of groundwater nitrate pollution on the costs of water utilities. In doing so, we contribute to the estimation of the external costs of agricultural nonpoint pollution associated with drinking water supply. Empirical evidence is based on fixed effects regressions using large panel data sets on water supply companies and groundwater sampling sites in Germany. Local nitrate pollution at the abstraction plant is approximated using spatial interpolation. Our findings reveal that water suppliers incur substantial costs through groundwater nitrate pollution in terms of increased treatment and total costs. The estimated cost elasticities range from 0.048 to 0.052 for treatment costs and up to 0.019 for total costs. For an average firm, these estimates imply annual increases in treatment and total costs of €39,000 and €116,000, respectively, for a 10 milligrams per liter increase in groundwater nitrate concentrations.
Changes in indicators of well‐being on moving from home to long‐term care for Māori in Aotearoa New Zealand: A retrospective cohort study
Authors: Hikaka Joanna , Abey‐Nesbit Rebecca , Wu Zhenqiang , Jamieson Hamish A. , Parsons Matthew , Kerse Ngaire , Gibson Rosemary
Published: August 2024

Objective

To investigate changes in well‐being measures for older Māori after moving from community to long‐term care (LTC).

Methods

We undertook a retrospective cohort study of older Māori in New Zealand (NZ) who had received assessments for their health needs whilst living at home (interRAI‐HC assessment) as well as a subsequent assessment after moving into a care facility (interRAI‐LTCF). All interRAI‐HC assessments from 01 July 2013 to 21 December 2018 were identified and matched to LTCF assessments that were undertaken at least 6 months later. Odds ratios (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were calculated to determine the difference in proportion of variables of interest (indicative of movement, socialising, sleep and nutrition, alongside general physical and mental health status) between participants' HC and subsequent LTCF assessments.

Results

Changes in well‐being measures were investigated among 1531 Māori (mean age 76.2 years, 61% female). Odds of having a fall (OR: 0.40 [95% CI 0.34, 0.48]), being lonely (OR: 0.13 [95% CI 0.09, 0.18]), sleeping difficulty (OR: 0.74 [95% CI 0.60, 0.91]) and fatigue (OR: 0.18 [95% CI 0.14, 0.23]) reduced on moving to LTC. However, the presence of depression (OR 3.96 [95% CI 2.58, 6.09]) and dependence with locomotion (OR 1.56 [95% CI 1.23, 1.97]) significantly increased when moving from home to LTC.

Conclusion

Despite some indicators of functional and health‐related decline, significant improvements are also apparent across multiple domains of well‐being. Further investigation of resident and family perceptions of well‐being in association with a move to LTC is warranted.
Taking the temperature of time: The influence of temperature on people's metaphorical perspectives on time through emotion
Authors: Qin Yutian
Published: August 2024

Space provides the conceptual scaffolding for the understanding of time. Customarily, the movement of events in time is metaphorically conceptualized from two spatial perspectives: the ego‐moving perspective that envisions an observer moving towards a stationary future and the time‐moving perspective that envisages the future moving towards a stationary observer. Extensive work has shown that emotions of opposite valence can yield contrary temporal perspective preferences. Relatedly, much evidence suggests that physical warmth and coldness prompt antithetical emotional evaluations. Threading together these two strands of insights, the current research explored whether ambient temperatures would influence people's metaphorical perspectives on time through a common link to emotion. Study 1 suggested that when deciphering two temporally ambiguous statements, people in warmer spring preferred the ego‐moving perspective, whilst those in colder winter favoured the time‐moving perspective. To determine a causal effect and test the hypothesized underlying mechanism of emotion, Study 2 examined the priming effect of temperature on temporal perspective preferences and emotional states. The results showed that differential temperatures induced opposite emotional responses, which in turn prompted diametric perspectives on time. These findings were replicated in Study 3 using an alternative measure of perspectives on time. Study 4 further validated the mediating role of emotion in the temperature–time relationship. Taken together, the current findings evince a unidirectional relationship between the incidental environmental factor of temperature and the metaphorical representation of time and accentuate the roles of sensory perception and emotional experience in temporal cognition.
Not all heroes wear shells: New data on the spicules' morphology in acochlidimorph mollusc
Authors: Mikhlina Anna L. , Nikitenko Ekaterina D. , Vortsepneva Elena V.
Published: August 2024

Calcareous skeletal structures are common among different invertebrate groups, including Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Mollusca, and Echinodermata. They appear externally as shells, plates, or scales, or internally as subepidermal spicules. Although typically formed outside of the cells, in one class of gastropod molluscs, the Heterobranchia, subepidermal and intracellular spicules are found—a rare case, at least for the molluscs. This type of spicules is present in several phylogenetically distant groups of heterobranch molluscs (Rhodopemorpha, Acochlidimorpha, and Nudibranchia), each different in terms of morphology and autecology. This raises questions about the origin and homology of subepidermal spicules in heterobranch molluscs. To answer these questions, understanding the process of spicule formation is crucial. This is impeded by insufficient data on the fine structure of the subepidermal spicules and adjacent epithelia. To address this problem, we carried out a comprehensive morphological study of subepidermal spicules and the body wall in one species of Acochlidimorpha. We revealed variations in the cellular composition of the epidermis, musculature organization, and spicules' arrangement, which most likely reflect the different functional roles of the spicule complex within Heterobranchia representatives. However, the obtained data are insufficient to answer the question of the origin of spicules and their homology within Heterobranchia.
Molecular monitoring of myelodysplastic neoplasm: Don't just watch this space, consider the patient's ancestry
Authors: Ribeiro Júnior Howard Lopes
Published: August 2024

The heterogeneity of Myelodysplastic Neoplasm (MDS) extends beyond mutational diversity to include significant ethnic variability, a factor that has been underexplored. While the development of the IPSS‐M prognostic tool has advanced our understanding of MDS, its reliance on data primarily from European cohorts limits its applicability to non‐European populations. Duployez et al.'s review highlighted the importance of molecular markers in MDS for personalized treatment and disease monitoring yet did not address the impact of genetic ancestry. This commentary critiques the IPSS‐M's limited sample of 110 Brazilian patients, questioning its adequacy in reflecting the influence of patient ancestry on prognostic accuracy. Given the potential for differing mutation profiles and prognostic implications across diverse ethnic groups, robust genomic ancestry studies are urgently needed. These studies should stratify MDS patients by ethnic background to investigate mutation incidence and impacts, thereby validating IPSS‐M and potentially identifying new prognostic markers. Incorporating ethnic diversity into prognostic models is essential for ensuring they are truly universal and inclusive, thereby improving personalized treatment and care for all MDS patients.

Commentary on: Duployez and Preudhomme. Monitoring molecular changes in the management of myelodysplastic syndromes. Br J Haematol 2024; 205:772‐779.
Commentary: Who gets the credit for “discovering” ADHD and what is the question, really?
Authors: Carlson Gabrielle A.
Published: August 2024

Recognition of hyperactivity, impulsivity, distractibility, and emotional lability as a clinical syndrome is at the heart of identifying whether there is a discoverer of the condition of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Just as clinics of children diagnosed with ADHD do not capture a homogeneous group of boys and girls, however, history does not either. What different observers/clinicians have chosen to highlight reflects what is important to them and to the times in which they lived. The child/children described by Heinrich Hoffman (of Fidgety Phil fame) and George Still (who highlighted impulsive aggression as a moral defect), for instance, did not come with a list of criteria (with which even now we cannot always agree) to prove unequivocally that they had ADHD. Who cares! It is sufficient that they recognized the importance of certain co‐occurring behaviors and shared their observations with us such that we can conclude our clinic's children were recognized by good past observers. ADHD‐like children, like the poor, have probably always been with us.
Tracing emotional experiences and the well‐being during the pandemic through drawings by Spanish children
Authors: Rodríguez‐Pascual Iván , Berasategui‐Sancho Naiara , Eiguren‐Munitis Amaia , Picaza‐Gorrotxategi Maitane , Serrano‐Díaz Noemí , González‐Gómez Teresa , Palasí‐Luna Eva
Published: August 2024

The changes in emotions experienced during the pandemic and their effects on children's well‐being remain a significant issue. This study analyses 86 drawings created by children aged 5–13, collected in fieldwork conducted through workshops across various regions of Spain. The main objective was to describe how children portray their emotional changes and the resulting impact on their lives within the context of the pandemic. We employed qualitative bottom‐up logic to code the drawings using CAQDAS. Findings revealed a discernible emotional impact, expressed more explicitly by girls, as well as lasting elements concerning the pandemic and the enduring restrictions on social interactions, even beyond the widespread lockdowns of 2020.
Assessment of the application of a novel three‐dimension printing individualized titanium mesh in alveolar bone augmentation: A retrospective study
Authors: Liu Chang , Li Jinmeng , Zhang Shuo , Xiao Hanyu , Wang Yanying , Zhang Jian
Published: August 2024

Objective

To assess the clinical and radiographic outcomes of alveolar ridge augmentation using a novel three‐dimensional printed individualized titanium mesh (3D‐PITM) for guided bone regeneration (GBR).

Materials and methods

Preoperative cone‐beam computed tomography (CBCT) was used to evaluate alveolar ridge defects, followed by augmentation with high‐porosity 3D‐PITM featuring circular and spindle‐shaped pores. Postoperative CBCT scans were taken immediately and after 6 months of healing. These scans were compared with preoperative scans to calculate changes in bone volume, height, and width, along with the corresponding resorption rates. A statistical analysis of the results was then conducted.

Results

A total of 21 patients participated in the study, involving alveolar ridge augmentation at 38 implant sites. After 6 months of healing, the average bone augmentation volume of 21 patients remained at 489.71 ± 252.53 mm3, with a resorption rate of 16.05% ± 8.07%. For 38 implant sites, the average vertical bone increment was 3.63 ± 2.29 mm, with a resorption rate of 17.55% ± 15.10%. The horizontal bone increment at the designed implant platform was 4.43 ± 1.85 mm, with a resorption rate of 25.26% ± 15.73%. The horizontal bone increment 2 mm below the platform was 5.50 ± 2.48 mm, with a resorption rate of 16.03% ± 9.57%. The main complication was exposure to 3D‐PITM, which occurred at a rate of 15.79%.

Conclusion

The novel 3D‐PITM used in GBR resulted in predictable bone augmentation. Moderate over‐augmentation in the design, proper soft tissue management, and rigorous follow‐ups are beneficial for reducing the graft resorption and the incidence of exposure.
Over‐the‐scope clip closure with dual thin grasping forceps after gastric endoscopic submucosal dissection
Authors: Sasaki Ryo , Hikichi Takuto , Yanagita Takumi
Published: August 2024

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Impact of CBCT acquisition protocols and artifact reduction filters on diagnosing vertical root fractures
Authors: Hilgert Eduarda Adams , Liedke Gabriela Salatino , da Silveira Tiecher Priscila Fernanda , Arus Nádia Assein , de Oliveira Gamba Thiago , da Silveira Heraldo Luis Dias , Vizzotto Mariana Boessio
Published: August 2024

Aim

To evaluate the impact of acquisition protocols and artifact reduction filters in cone beam computed tomography on diagnosing vertical root fractures in endodontically treated teeth with and without intraradicular posts.

Materials and Methods

We analyzed 480 tomographic images acquired from two J. Morita scanners (0.125‐ and 0.08‐mm voxel sizes protocols), with application of a blooming artifact reduction filter. Three evaluators assessed these images for root fractures using a 5‐point Likert scale. Diagnostic accuracy between filters and protocols was determined using generalized linear models with binomial distribution for the outcome, considering protocol, filter, and dental status. Sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were also estimated for the filters and protocols.

Results

The 0.08‐mm voxel size protocol demonstrated a significantly higher percentage of accurate diagnosis compared to the 0.125‐mm protocol (p = .001). No statistically significant differences (p ≥ .087) were observed for filter application, interaction between protocol and filter, or dental status. Accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity values were respectively: .93, .87, 1.00 (protocol 1); .99, .99, .99 (protocol 2); .98, .96, .99 (no filter); .95, .90, 1.00 (with filter).

Conclusion

The new findings found for the two J Morita scanners used in our study were that images acquired using the voxel size of 0.08 mm showed an improvement in the diagnosis of root fractures and the filters in these devices have no relevance significant for the diagnosis.
Warming summer temperatures are rapidly restructuring North American bumble bee communities
Authors: Hemberger Jeremy , Williams Neal M.
Published: August 2024

A rapidly warming climate is driving changes in biodiversity worldwide, and its impact on insect communities is critical given their outsized role in ecosystem function and services. We use a long‐term dataset of North American bumble bee species occurrences to determine whether the community temperature index (CTI), a measure of the balance of warm‐ and cool‐adapted species in a community, has increased given warming temperatures. CTI has increased by an average of 0.99°C in strong association with warming maximum summer temperatures over the last 30 years with the areas exhibiting the largest increases including mid‐ to high latitudes as well as low and high elevations—areas relatively shielded from other intensive global changes. CTI shifts have been driven by the decline of cold‐adapted species and increases in warm‐adapted species within bumble bee communities. Our results show the pervasive impacts and ecological implications warming temperatures pose to insects.
Commentary: Perspectives of Early Career Professionals on Enhancing Cultural Responsiveness in Educational Measurement
Authors: Van Orman Dustin S. J. , Jackson Janine A. , Vo Thao T. , Taylor Darius D.
Published: August 2024

The “Foundational Competencies in Educational Measurement” framework aims to shape the field's future. However, the absence of emerging scholars and graduate students in the task force highlights a gap in representing those most familiar with current educational landscape. As early career scholars, we offer perspectives to enhance this framework by focusing on making educational measurement more inclusive, collaborative, and culturally responsive. Drawing on our diverse backgrounds and experiences, we propose expanding the framework to empower measurement professionals, diversify measurement practices, and integrate ethical considerations. We also advocate for a new visual representation of the framework as a budding plant, symbolizing the organic and evolving nature of foundational skills in educational measurement. This commentary aims to refine the foundational competencies to better prepare future professionals for meaningful, equitable educational contributions.
Self‐verification and social dominance in coworker dyads
Authors: Sajadi Pegah , Vandenberghe Christian , Ollier‐Malaterre Ariane
Published: August 2024

This article conceptualizes the bright and dark sides of self‐verification processes among dyads of coworkers from different social groups. We argue that these processes depend on coworkers' social dominance orientation (SDO), which determines whether they hold dominant, subordinate, or egalitarian social identities. The proposed typology identifies four types of dyads. In stormy dyads, the member of the dominant social group has a high SDO, the member of the subordinate social group has a low SDO, and self‐verification is associated with reciprocal covert (and occasionally overt) coworker antagonism. In conforming dyads, both members have high SDO, and self‐verification leads to covert antagonistic behaviors from the dominant member. In egalitarian dyads, both members have low SDO, and self‐verification leads to long‐term affective and instrumental coworker support. Finally, in compassionate dyads, the member of the dominant social group has a low SDO, the member of the subordinate social group has a high SDO, and coworker support is instrumental. We examine the implications of this typology for our understanding of self‐verification processes in the context of diversity among coworker relationships.
Estimating the fatigue limits for quenched and tempered steel rods treated with multifunction cavitation considering residual stress, hardness, and surface pits
Authors: Kikuchi Shoichi , Ono Keisuke , Yoshimura Toshihiko , Ijiri Masataka
Published: August 2024

In this study, multifunction cavitation (MFC) was performed on low‐alloy steel (AISI 4140 steel) rods with different hardnesses to increase their fatigue limit. It was found that a high compressive residual stress was generated on the surface of steel rods by MFC and that the magnitude of the compressive residual stress tended to increase with increasing specimen hardness, which resulted in a higher fatigue limit. However, fatigue cracks are known to be initiated from the pits and red rust that form on the surface during MFC treatment in water. Furthermore, relaxation of the compressive residual stress was also investigated during the fatigue test to elucidate the mechanism for improving the fatigue properties. The results showed that the fatigue limit for MFC‐treated steel rods was accurately estimated by considering residual stress relaxation, hardness, and pit formation. Validation of the fatigue limit estimation was also conducted through comparison with Murakami's equation.
Population genetic structure of the endemic sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis in Lake Baikal in the light of mass disease and mortality events
Authors: Yakhnenko Alena , Bukin Yurij , Bondar Evgeniya , Khanaev Igor , Kirilchik Sergei , Kondratov Ilya , Itskovich Valeria
Published: August 2024

The study of the state of Baikal endemic sponge populations is of great interest because of the occurrence of mass mortalities and disease in recent decades. To identify possible signs of species vulnerability to extinction, it is crucial to develop appropriate genetic markers that help developing measures for conservation.

In this paper, we describe the population genetic structure of the Baikal endemic sponge Lubomirskia baikalensis examined with the set of microsatellite markers we developed. We analysed 251 samples from eight locations that cover all three basins of Lake Baikal.

A genetic subdivision into three clusters was revealed. Such a structure can be explained mainly by the low ability of larvae to disperse.

Despite the presence of dead and diseased individuals in all studied locations, all populations were in Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and no bottleneck effect was found at all.

This is the first time that a genetic connectivity study has been performed for L. baikalensis, a species endemic of Lake Baikal.

Reconstruction of the changes in the effective population size agrees with the results obtained during drill sample analysis and it demonstrates that the effective population size was 55.5 times lower about 24,000 years ago, which indicates that apparently there is no threat of extinction of the Baikal endemic sponges at present.
Meflin/ISLR is a marker of adipose stem and progenitor cells in mice and humans that suppresses white adipose tissue remodeling and fibrosis
Authors: Ishihara Toshikazu , Kato Katsuhiro , Matsumoto Kotaro , Tanaka Miyako , Hara Akitoshi , Shiraki Yukihiro , Morisaki Hidenori , Urano Yuya , Ando Ryota , Ito Kisuke , Mii Shinji , Esaki Nobutoshi , Furuhashi Kazuhiro , Takefuji Mikito , Suganami Takayoshi , Murohara Toyoaki , Enomoto Atsushi
Published: August 2024

Identifying specific markers of adipose stem and progenitor cells (ASPCs) in vivo is crucial for understanding the biology of white adipose tissues (WAT). PDGFRα‐positive perivascular stromal cells represent the best candidates for ASPCs. This cell lineage differentiates into myofibroblasts that contribute to the impairment of WAT function. However, ASPC marker protein(s) that are functionally crucial for maintaining WAT homeostasis are unknown. We previously identified Meflin as a marker of mesenchymal stem cells (MSCs) in bone marrow and tissue‐resident perivascular fibroblasts in various tissues. We also demonstrated that Meflin maintains the undifferentiated status of MSCs/fibroblasts. Here, we show that Meflin is expressed in WAT ASPCs. A lineage‐tracing experiment showed that Meflin+ ASPCs proliferate in the WAT of obese mice induced by a high‐fat diet (HFD), while some of them differentiate into myofibroblasts or mature adipocytes. Meflin knockout mice fed an HFD exhibited a significant fibrotic response as well as increases in adipocyte cell size and the number of crown‐like structures in WAT, accompanied by impaired glucose tolerance. These data suggested that Meflin expressed by ASPCs may have a role in reducing disease progression associated with WAT dysfunction.
Interleukin‐33 and liver natural killer cells: A novel perspective on antitumor activity in liver fibrosis
Authors: Imaoka Yuki , Ohira Masahiro , Imaoka Kouki , Bekki Tomoaki , Nakano Ryosuke , Yano Takuya , Tanaka Yuka , Nakayama Toshihiro , Akabane Miho , Tajima Tetsuya , Yokota Shinichiro , Krams Sheri M. , Martinez Olivia M. , Esquivel Carlos O. , Sasaki Kazunari , Ohdan Hideki
Published: August 2024

Aim

Liver fibrosis, heralding the potential progression to cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), compromises patient survival and augments post‐hepatectomy recurrence. This study examined the detrimental effects of liver fibrosis on the antitumor functions of liver natural killer (NK) cells and the interleukin‐33 (IL‐33) signaling pathway.

Methods

Our investigation, anchored in both human physiologies using living and deceased donor livers and the carbon tetrachloride (CCl4)‐induced mouse fibrosis model, aimed to show a troubling interface between liver fibrosis and weakened hepatic immunity.

Results

The Fibrosis‐4 (FIB‐4) index emerged as a salient, non‐invasive prognostic marker, and its elevation correlated with reduced survival and heightened recurrence after HCC surgery even after propensity matching (n = 385). We established a strong correlation between liver fibrosis and liver NK cell dysfunction by developing a method for extracting liver NK cells from the liver graft perfusate. Furthermore, liver fibrosis ostensibly disrupted chemokines and promoted IL‐33 expression, impeding liver NK cell antitumor activities, as evidenced in mouse models. Intriguingly, our results implicated IL‐33 in diminishing the antitumor responses of NK cells. This interrelation, consistent across both mouse and human studies, coincides with clinical data suggesting that liver fibrosis predisposes patients to an increased risk of HCC recurrence.

Conclusion

Our study revealed a critical relationship between liver fibrosis and compromised tumor immunity, emphasizing the potential interference of IL‐33 with NK cell function. These insights advocate for advanced immunostimulatory therapies targeting cytokines, such as IL‐33, aiming to bolster the hepatic immune response against HCC in the context of liver fibrosis.
Hedges and boosters in L2 (Czech) Master's theses and published research articles: A contrastive analysis
Authors: Dontcheva‐Navratilova Olga
Published: August 2024

This article studies the use of lexical hedges and boosters in English‐medium Master's theses by L2 (Czech) graduates in English language and literature programmes. Drawing on the metadiscourse framework and adopting a corpus‐based approach, the study analyses the frequency, realisations, and function of hedges and boosters in a corpus of 48 Master's theses in linguistics, literature, and education. The results are also compared to a reference corpus representing L1 English published academic discourse in the same disciplines. The analysis shows that the Master's theses of Czech students use fewer hedges and slightly more boosters than L1 expert writers and thus display a somewhat less cautious stance. The results also indicate that Czech graduates show a strong preference for content‐oriented hedges and emphatics as boosters. This suggests that the rhetorical choices of Czech graduates bear features of learner discourse and may be affected by the merging of L1 and L2 academic conventions and the power relations between the student‐writer and the examiners inherent to the Master's thesis. Based on these findings, the article draws some implications for L2 writing pedagogy.
The ‘meathybrid’ concept: bridging the gap between texture, taste, sustainability and nutrition
Authors: Boukid Fatma , Baune Marie‐Christin , Terjung Nino , Francis Aditya , Smetana Sergiy
Published: August 2024

Positioned midway between traditional meat and plant‐based options, hybrid alternatives cater to a broader consumer category due to the intersection of flavours, textures and ethical considerations. This review aims to provide a current landscape and forthcoming challenges of hybrid options, exploring their formulation, processing, distinctive features, consumer acceptance and sustainability aspects. Even though there is no standard definition of the ‘meathybrid concept’, scientists and industrials explored different ingredients including purified proteins or whole vegetables/grains/seeds to formulate palatable hybrid products maintaining comparable sensory features to meat. Consumers' attraction to hybrid meat products is mostly related to taste, sustainability and nutritional aspects. Future challenges for hybrid options may include optimising production scalability, ensuring consistent quality and taste and effectively communicating the benefits of hybrid products to diverse consumer segments. Additionally, ongoing research and development efforts will be crucial in enhancing hybrid alternatives' sensory attributes, nutritional profiles and environmental sustainability.
Early‐life body mass index and the risk of six cardiovascular diseases: A Mendelian Randomization study
Authors: Zhou Bojun , Zhu Lianghao , Du Xia , Meng Hua
Published: August 2024

Background

Observational studies consistently indicate an association between early‐life body mass index (BMI) and several cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). However, the causal relationship remains uncertain. The primary objective of this study was to assess the causal relationship between early‐life BMI and six types of CVDs using the Mendelian Randomization (MR) approach.

Methods

The dataset for this study was derived from large‐scale, summary‐level Genome‐Wide Association Studies. Specifically, the following datasets we used, early‐life BMI (n = 61 111, age = 2–10), heart failure (HF) dataset (n = 977 323), atrial fibrillation (AF) dataset (n = 1 030 836), coronary artery disease (CAD) dataset (n = 184 305), peripheral artery disease (PAD) dataset (n = 243 060), deep venous thrombosis (DVT) dataset (n = 1 500 861) and myocardial infarction (MI) dataset (n = 638 000). Multiple MR methods were utilized to evaluate the causal relationship between exposure and outcomes, accompanied by sensitivity analysis.

Results

Early‐life BMI positively correlates with the risk of developing the six distinct CVDs included in this study. Specifically, elevated BMI during childhood is associated with a 31.9% risk for HF (Odds ratio [OR] = 1.319, 95% CI [1.160 to 1.499], p = 2.33 × 10−5), an 18.3% risk for AF (R = 1.183, 95% CI [1.088 to 1.287], p = 8.22 × 10−5), an 14.8% risk for CAD (OR = 1.148, 95% CI [1.028 to 1.283], p = 1.47 × 10−2), a 40.5% risk for PAD (OR = 1.405, 95% CI [1.233 to 1.600], p = 3.10 × 10−7) and 12.0% risk for MI (OR = 1.120, 95% CI [1.017 to 1.234], p = 2.18 × 10−2). Interestingly, the risk for deep venous thrombosis only increased by 0.5% (OR = 1.005, 95% CI [1.001 to 1.008], p = 2.13 × 10−3).

Conclusion

Genetically inferred early‐life BMI is significantly associated with six distinct CVDs. This indicates that elevated early‐life BMI is a significant risk factor for multiple cardiovascular disorders.